"Fortunately, the gentlemen did not lose their presence of mind; and there happening to be a carpet in the room, a thing very uncommon in that that country, they covered her with it," &c.
Can any of your readers oblige me by informing me whether it is a fact, that the luxury of a carpet was very uncommon at Rome at the period referred to; and when carpets were first introduced at Rome?
L. A. M.
Great Yarmouth.
Nursery Rhymes.—Can you or any of your correspondents tell me where I shall find an account of the origin of our common nursery rhymes? Is there not reason to believe that many of them are of great antiquity?
L.
Oxford.
Gloves at Fairs.—I think that I have read that at some large fair it was customary to hang out on the town-hall a large gilt glove, as a token of freedom from arrest for debt during the period that the fair lasted. Can any of your correspondents inform me if such was the case, and where? In Halliwell's Dictionary, "hoisting the glove" is said to be practised at Lammas Fair, in Devonshire: but why? In the east of England certain village fairs are called Gants,—Mattishall Gant, &c. Forby derives this from A.-S. gan, to go; but may it not have some reference to the French gants, gloves?
E. G. R.
Mr. Caryl or Caryll.—Every one knows that the Rape of the Lock was written at the request of Mr. Caryl, stated by Pope to have been private secretary to James II.'s queen before the