[A diversity of opinion prevails as to the exact import of this term. The great musical critic Mattheson, in a work written on the word, having rejected eleven meanings, decides in favour of the twelfth, which makes the word equivalent to the modern Italian da capo. In this view, the word selah directs a repetition of the air or song from the commencement, to the parts where it is placed. Herder held that selah denoted a swell, or a change in the rapidity of the movement, or in the key. The Easterns, he says, are fond of a very uniform, and, as it appears to Europeans, mournful music; but at certain points, they of a sudden change the key, and pass into a different melody. These points, he thinks, were among the Hebrews indicated by the word selah. The balance of authority, however, is in favour of the former view.—The People's Dict. of the Bible. Consult also, Julius Bate's Critica Hebræa, and Gesenius' Hebrew and English Lexicon.]
The Long Parliament.—Where is a list of it, including its various changes, to be seen?
Y. S. M.
[Among the King's Pamphlets in the British Museum (Press-mark, E. 1836.) is the following "A List of the Names of the Long Parliament, anno 1640; likewise of the Parliament holden at Oxford; as also of the three ensuing Parliaments holden at Westminster in the years 1653, 1654, 1656, and of the late Parliament, dissolved April 22, 1659, with a Catalogue of the Lords of the other House. London: Printed in the year 1659." There is also another pamphlet entitled "The Names of the Members of Parliament which began on the 4th June, 1653. 4to. London, 1654.">[
"The Three Pigeons."—Was it the house at Brentford, mentioned by Dr. Rimbault (Vol. ix., p. 331.), that suggested Tony Lumpkin's convivial ballad in praise of "The Three Jolly Pigeons?"
G. Taylor.
Reading.
[It is highly probable that the scene "An Ale-house Room" in Goldsmith's comedy She Stoops to Conquer is the "Three Pigeons" at Brentford, as this remarkable hostel dates its origin from the days of Shakspeare and Ben Jonson. It is frequently mentioned by the early dramatists, and appears at one time to have been in some repute, having had for its landlord the celebrated tragedian, John Lowin, cotemporary of Shakspeare, and one of the original actors in his plays, who died in this house at a very advanced age:
"Thou art admirably suited for the Three Pigeons
At Brentford, I swear I know thee not."—The Roaring Girl.