L —— Rectory, S ——, May 4. 1850.
Trunck Breeches (No. 24. p. 384.), more commonly called "trunk-hose," were short wide breeches reaching a little above, or sometimes below the knees, stuffed with hair, and striped. (See The Oxford Manual for Brasses, p. cvi.; and Planche's British Costume, pp. 334-339. new ed.) Two years ago, I saw in the Strand an old man with a queue; a sight which I made a note of as soon as I got home, influenced by the same motive that, no doubt, led Smith in 1640 to append to the death of "old Mr. Grice" the remark, "who wore truncke breeches," namely, the antique singularity of the habiliment.
ARUN.
Mercenary Preacher (No. 24. p. 384.).—I think mercenary here is used in its primary signification, and in the sense in which we still apply it to troops in the pay of a state foreign to their own; to designate one who, having no settled cure, was at liberty to be "hired" by those who had occasion for his services.
ARUN.
Abdication of James the Second (No. 3. p. 40.).—"J.E." would probably hear of the MSS. mentioned by Sir Harris Nicholas, on application to the Rev. Sir Thomas Miller, Bart., Froyle, near Alton, Hants.
E.W.
Clifton.
Toom Shawn Cattie (No. 24. p. 383.).—An entertaining volume, containing the life and adventures of Twm Sion Catti, was published at Biulth some years ago, by Mr. Jeffery Llewelyn Prichard, who recently told me it was out of print, and that inquiries had been made for the book which might probably lead to a new and improved edition.
ELIJAH WARING.