Divining Rod (Vol. viii., pp. 350. 400.).—Your correspondents do not tell us what was discovered in the places to which the rod pointed in the hands of the ladies named; but although they cannot for a moment be suspected of wilfully deceiving, may there not have been, as in table-turning, an unconscious employment of muscular force? I have long since read, and have tried with success, the following mode of producing the effect:—Holding the rod in the usual position, one branch of the fork in each hand, and grasping them firmly, turn your hands slowly and steadily round inwards, i. e. the right hand from the right to left, and the left from left to right—the point of the rod will then gradually descend till it points directly downwards.
J. S. Warden.
Orange Blossoms (Vol. viii., p. 341.).—The compliment of Captain Absolute to Mrs. Malaprop in The Rivals, contains, I have no doubt, the allegorical reason of the employment of these flowers on bridal occasions; and in that view they seem highly appropriate, at least in our colder climates—where we often see many "flowers" still on the parent stem, while the "fruit" has attained its full perfection.
J. S. Warden.
"Hip, hip, hurrah!" (Vol. viii., pp. 88. 323. 605.).—Allow me to correct two mistakes with reference to the notes on this subject. The note ascribed to Dr. Burney, in a copy of Hawkins's History of Music, in the British Museum, is in the handwriting of Sir John Hawkins, as are all the other notes scattered through the five volumes. These MS. notes have been included in the recent reprint of this valuable work. In the hurry of transcribing, Mr. Chappell (as your correspondent A. F. B. suggests) misread the MS. note. In future we must read "hop drinkers," and not "hep drinkers."
Edward F. Rimbault.
Belgium Ecclesiastical Antiquities (Vol. vii., p. 65.).—The inquiry of Ajax has only been recently brought under my notice. In reply, I refer him to Recueil Héraldique et Historique des Familles de Belgique. This is the finest work on the antiquities, civil, military, and ecclesiastic, of that country: it was printed at Antwerp by Rapell fils, and is in five large 4to. volumes. I saw a copy sold in Malines for about 3l.: it is now become more scarce, and probably could not be obtained under 4l.
Henry Daveney.