Enquirer. A triolet is a stanza of eight lines, in which, after the third the first line, and after the sixth the first two lines, are repeated, so that the first line is heard three times: hence the name. It is suited for playful and light subjects, and is cultivated by the French and Germans. The volume of Patrick Carey's Trivial Poems and Triolets, edited by Sir Walter Scott, in 1820, from a MS. of 1651, is an early instance of the use of the term.
A. B. M. The line referred to—"Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war"—is from Othello, Act III. Sc. 3.
Jarltzberg. Has not our Correspondent received a note we inclosed to him respecting The Circle of the Seasons?
Old Mortality's offer of a collection of Epitaphs is declined with thanks. We have now waiting for insertion almost as many as would fill a cemetery.
Abhba. The proverb "Mad as a March hare" has appeared in our Fourth Volume, p. 208.—Also, in the same volume, p. 309. &c., will be found several articles similar to the one forwarded on "Bee Superstitions."
F. (Oxford.) The extract forwarded from Southey's Common Place Book is a copy of the title-page of the anonymous work required.
H. C. M. The date of the earliest Coroner's Inquest, we should think, cannot be ascertained. The office of Coroner is of so great antiquity that its commencement is not known. It is evident that Coroners existed in the time of Alfred, for that king punished with death a judge who sentenced a party to suffer death upon the Coroner's record, without allowing the delinquent liberty to traverse. (Bac. on Gov. 66.; 6 Vin. Abr. 242.) This officer is also mentioned by Athelstan in his charter to Beverly (Dugd. Monast. 171.).
I. R. R. Henry Machyn was a citizen and merchant-tailor of London from A.D. 1550 to 1563. See a notice of him prefixed to his Diary, published by the Camden Society.——An account of John Stradling, the epigrammatist, will be found in Wood's Athenæ (Bliss), vol. ii. p. 396.——Hockday, or Hokeday, is a high-day, a day of feasting and mirth, formerly held in England the second Tuesday after Easter, to commemorate the destruction of the Danes in the time of Ethelred.——For notices of George Wither in the Gentleman's Mag., see vol. lxxxvi. pt. ii. 32. 201.; vol. lxxxvii. pt. i. 42.; vol. lxxxviii. pt. i. 138.——An interesting account of the Paschal Eggs is given in Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. i. p. 246., vol. ii. pp. 439. 450.; and in Brand's Popular Antiquities.——Marvell's reference is probably to Charles Gerard, afterwards created Baron Gerard of Brandon, gentleman of the bed-chamber to Charles II., and captain of his guards.
W. S. The lens is certainly very good; you should practise to obtain an accurate focus on the ground glass. An experienced hand will often demonstrate how much the actual sharpness of a picture depends upon nice adjustment of the focus; for though the picture looks pretty, it is not sharp in detail.
Photo. We hope shortly to be enabled to report upon the new paper manufacturing by Mr. Saunders for photographic purposes.