Mr. Lyte's Collodion (Vol. ix., p. 225.).—Our readers may remember that in "N. & Q.," Feb. 18, Mr. F. Maxwell Lyte furnished our readers with a detailed plan of his mode of preparing collodion. In that article, written from Pau, that gentleman was so good as to promise us that when he had an opportunity he would send us a couple of specimens of his workmanship. He has more than fulfilled his promise, for we have received from him this week four photographs, which, for general beauty and minuteness of detail, cannot be surpassed. The subjects are, I. Study of Trees, No. 2.; II. Study of Trees, No. 5. Old Pollard Oak; III. Study of Trees, Peasants collecting Leaves; IV. Old Church Porch, Morlâas, Monogram of the Eleventh Century. Mr. Lyte, who is a first-rate chemist, has shown himself by these specimens to be also a first-rate practical photographer. From him, therefore, the art may look for much future progress.
Replies to Minor Queries.
Burton's "Anatomy of Melancholy" (Vol. ix., p. 191.).—Dr. Rimbault may perhaps be interested in hearing that some years ago I urged upon two London publishers the desirableness of bringing out a new edition of Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, but they both declined to undertake the work. I then resolved to publish myself the latter part of the work (on Religious Melancholy), and made known my intention in. "N. & Q.," in the hope of obtaining some casual notes and observations; but in this also I was disappointed. As, however, my intention is only suspended for the present, not abandoned, I shall be obliged by any assistance that Dr. Rimbault, or any of your readers, can afford me. Can any one correct the following list of editions of the Anatomy of Melancholy?
| 1621. 4to. Oxford. 1624. fol. Oxford. 1628. fol. Oxford. 1632. fol. Oxford. 1638. fol. 1651-2. fol. 1660. fol. London. 1676. fol. 1728. fol. |
1738. fol. 1800. fol. 2 vols. 1804. 8vo. 2 vols. 1806. 8vo. 2 vols. 1827. 8vo. 2 vols. 1829. 8vo. 2 vols. 1837. 8vo. 2 vols. 1839. 8vo. 1845. 8vo. |
If Watt's Biblioth. be correct, the last folio edition was not that of 1676 (see "N. & Q.," Vol. ix., p. 121.); but on this and other similar points I shall be glad to hear Dr. Rimbault's opinion.
M. D.
Original Royal Letters to the Grand Masters of Malta (Vol. viii., p. 99.).—When making out the list of English Royal Letters, which has already appeared in "N. & Q.," we were not aware that any others besides those which we recorded at the time were to be found in the Record Office. Since then Dr. Vella has examined other manuscript volumes, and, fortunately, brought to light nine more autograph letters, to which, according to their dates, we hope to call your attention hereafter. They are as follows:
| Writer. | Date. | In what Language written. | To whom addressed. |
| Charles II. | 28th November, 1670. | Latin. | Nicholas Cotoner. |
| Ditto | 12th February, 1674. | Ditto. | Ditto. |
| Ditto | 19th May, 1675. | Ditto. | Ditto. |
| Ditto | 28th October, 1676. | Ditto. | Ditto. |
| Ditto | 2nd November, 1678. | Ditto. | Ditto. |
| James II.* | 24th August, 1685. | Ditto. | Gregory Caraffa. |
| Ditto | 10th day of Jan. 1686-7. | Ditto. | Ditto. |
| Ditto | 9th April, 1687. | Ditto. | Ditto. |
| George I. | 5th May, 1715. | Ditto. | Raymond Perellos. |
* The letters of James II. are countersigned "Comes de Sunderland,"[[7]] and that of George I. "I. Stanhope."