Birmingham."
Old Grumbleton.—We believe the real origin of the phrase By hook or by crook to be the "right of taking fire-bote by hook or by crook," as explained in "N. & Q.," Vol. i., p. 405. Much curious illustration of the phrase will be found in our earlier volumes.
H. H. (Glasgow). We cannot give the receipt you ask for. Brunswick black, which you will have no difficulty in procuring, answers very well.
Ponders End.—The syllable ness, in Sheerness, is the French nez and the Danish næs, "a point or tongue of land."
W. J. E. C. has, we fear, only lately become a reader of "N. & Q.," or he would have remembered the numerous communications in our pages on the subject of the pronunciation of Cowper's name. The poet was called Cooper.
Sol. Sir D. Brewster's Treatise on Optics, price 3s. 6d., published by Longman.
A Party who won't, &c. We are sorry to say we cannot alter the arrangement referred to.
W. S. S. E. It is impossible for us to undertake to insert a Query in the same week in which it is received.
P. T. (Stoke Newington). The communication respecting the Cotton Family has been forwarded to R. W. C.
J. M. will find his Query respecting Après moi le Déluge has been anticipated by Mr. Douglas Jerrold in our 3rd Vol., p. 299. Proofs of its antiquity are given in the same volume, p. 397.