R.
A Phonetic Peculiarity.—I venture to note as a very curious phonetic peculiarity, that we have in the English language a large number of monosyllabic words ending is sh, all of which are expressive of some violet action or emotion. I quote a few which have occurred without search, in alphabetical order. "Brush, brash, crash, crush, dash, gash, gush, hash, gnash, lash, mash, pash, push, quash, rush, slash, smash, squash, thrash."
J.M.B.
MISCELLANEOUS.
NOTES ON BOOKS, CATALOGUES, SALES, ETC.
At the late Annual Meeting of the Shakespeare Society it was announced that a complete collection of the works of Thomas Heywood had been determined upon, and the first volume containing six plays was laid upon the table. It was also shown that Mr. Collier's Essay on the Chandos Portrait had only been delayed from a desire to obtain the most novel and accurate information.
The members of the Percy Society will be glad to hear, that at the Annual Meeting on the 1st instant, the immediate publication of the third volume of Mr. Wright's edition of the Canterbury Tales was announced.
The plan for the restoration of Chaucer's tomb in Poet's Corner has at length assumed a practical shape. It has been ascertained that less than 100l. will do every thing that can be desired to repair the ravages of time, and preserve the monument for centuries to come. It is proposed to raise this sum by subscriptions of five shillings, that more may share in the good work; and a committee has been formed to carry out this scheme, which has already received the sanction of the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Ellesmere, Lord Braybrooke, Mr. Charles Wynn, and other distinguished lovers of literature. Subscriptions are received by every member of the committee, and parties resident in the country may remit them by post-office orders payable at Charing Cross in favour of William Richard Drake, Esq., F.S.A., of 46. Parliament Street, the Honorary Treasurer; or of William J. Thoms, Esq., the Honorary Secretary of the Committee.
The Annual Meeting of the Camden Society on the 2d instant, under the Presidentship of Lord Braybrooke, gave general satisfaction. The council reported the publication during the past year of the Peterborough Chronicle; the Letters of Elizabeth and James VI.; and the Chronicle of Queen Jane. This last volume was then only on the eve of circulation; it has since been issued, and found to justify the announcement of the council that it is work of great historical value, and an interesting companion to Machyn's Diary.