P. C. S. S.
Francis Browne (Vol. viii., p. 639)—It is not stated in the general pedigrees when or where he died, whether single or married. His sister Elizabeth died unmarried, Nov. 27, 1662; and his elder brother, Sir Henry Browne of Kiddington, in 1689. A reference to their wills, if proved, might afford some information if he, Francis, survived either of these dates. The will of Sir Henry Knollys, of Grove Place, Hants, the grandfather, might be referred to with the same view, and the respective registers of Kiddington and Grove Place.
G.
Catholic Bible Society (Vol. viii., p. 494.).—Mr. Cotton will find some account of this Society (the only one I know of) in Bishop Milner's Supplementary Memoirs of the English Catholics, published in the year 1820, p. 239. It published a stereotype edition of the New Testament without the usual distinction of verses, and very few notes. The whole scheme was severely reprobated by Dr. Milner, on grounds stated by him in the Appendix to the Memoirs, p. 302. The Society soon expired, and no tracts or reports were, I believe, ever published by it. The correspondence between Mr. Charles Butler and Mr. Blair will be found in the Gentleman's Magazine for the year 1814.
S.
Fitzroy Street.
Legal Customs (Vol. ix., p. 20.).—The custom, related by your correspondent Causidicus, of a Chancery barrister receiving his first bag from one of the king's counsel, reminds me that there are many other legal practices, both obsolete and extant, which it would be curious and
entertaining to collect in your pages, as illustrative of the habits of our forefathers, and the changes that time has produced. I recognise many among your coadjutors who are well able to contribute, either from tradition or personal experience, something that is worth recording, and thus by their mutual communications to form a collection that would be both interesting and useful. Let me commence the heap by depositing the first stones.
1. My father has informed me that in his early years it was the universal practice for lawyers to attend the theatre on the last day of term. This was at a period when those who went into the boxes always wore swords.
2. It was formerly (within fifty years) the custom for every barrister in the Court of Chancery to receive from the usher, or some other officer of the court, as many buns as he made motions on the last day of Term, and to give a shilling for each bun.