Notaries Public (Vol. ii., p. 393.).—­Why does your correspondent MANLEIUS think this form of expression “putting the cart before the horse?” Public notary (though that phrase is sometimes erroneously used) is not so exact as “notary public;” for a notary is not, as the first form would imply, a public officer appointed by the public to perform public services, but an individual agent through whose ministry private acts or instruments become publici juris.  The same form, and for analogous reasons, prevails in several other legal and technical titles or phrases, as Attorney-General, Solicitor-General, Accountant-General, Receiver-General, Surveyor-General; Advocate Fiscal; Theatre Royal, Chapel Royal; Gazette Extraordinary; and many other phrases in which it is evident that the adjective has a special and restricted meaning.

C.

Tobacconists (Vol. ii, p. 393.).—­There was, in the old house of commons, a room called the smoking-room, where members tired of the debate used to retire to smoke, and in later years to drink tea or write letters.  These, no doubt, were meant by the Tobacconists, members within call, though not actually within the house.

C.

Vineyards (Vol. ii., p. 392.).—­In answer to CLERICUS, I beg to say that there is a piece of land called the Vineyards situated in the warm and sheltered valley of Claverton, about two miles from Bath:  it formerly belonged to the Abbey of Bath.

There is also in the suburbs, on the north side of the city of Bath, a street called the Vineyards; but I do not know that this ever belonged to the Abbey.

G. FALKNER.

Devizes.

* * * * *

MISCELLANEOUS.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.

Those who know Mr. Craik’s happy tact for seizing on the more striking points of a character or an incident, his acquaintance with our national history and biography, his love of research, and perseverance in following up a clue, were prepared to expect both instruction and amusement from his Romance of the Peerage.  Nor were they doomed to disappointment.  Each succeeding volume has added to the interest of the work and there can be little doubt, that the favour with which the first three volumes have been received by the reading world, will be extended to the one now published, and which concludes the first series, or main division of Mr. Craik’s projected work.