J. S. Warden.
"The Angels' Whisper."—The admirers of that popular song will be surprised to find that there prevails in India a tradition very similar to the one on which that song is founded.
The other day our Hindoo nurse was watching our baby asleep, and noticing that it frequently smiled, said, "God is talking to it!" The tradition, as elicited from this woman, seems to be here, that when a child smiles in its sleep, God is saying something pleasing to it; but when it cries, He is talking to it of sorrow.
J. C. B.
Punjab.
Pronunciation of Coke (Vol. vii., p. 586.).—Probably the under-mentioned particulars may tend to elucidate the Query discussed in your paper touching the pronunciation of Chief Justice Coke's surname in his Lordship's time.
In numerous original family "Coke documents" in my possession, amongst which are a most spirited and highly interesting letter written by the celebrated Lady Elizabeth Hatton[[1]], Sir Edward Coke's widow, quite in character with her ladyship, shortly after her husband's death; and likewise several letters written by his children and grandchildren; Sir Edward's surname is invariably spelt Coke, whilst in other his family documents[[2]] and public precepts I possess, the latter of which came under the eye of Lords Keepers Coventry and Littleton, Sir Edward's name is, in nine cases out of ten in five hundred instances, spelt Cooke and Cook; thus, I submit, raising an almost irresistible presumption that, however the Chief Justice's surname was written, it was pronounced Cook and not Coke.
T. W. Jones.
Nantwich.
Footnote 1:[(return)]