Etymology of "Grasson" (Vol. iii., p. 8.).—Grasson appears to be derived front "grassor," "to assail." Livy somewhere has the following—"Grassor in possessionem agri"—which would be rendered, "To enter upon it by force;" it being only by the payment of the fine (Grasson) that the entry, "Grassor," or alienation of copyhold lands, could be warded off: hence the act of the lord of the manor (Grassor) became the name for the fine paid by this tenant, "Grasson."
BLOWER.
Lynch Law (Vol. iii., p. 24.).—Webster's
American Dictionary (1848) explains this phrase thus—
"The practice of punishing men for crimes and offences by private unauthorized persons, without a legal trial. The term is said to be derived from a Virginian farmer, named Lynch, who thus took the law into his own hands." (U.S.)
Webster is considered the highest authority in America, or I should not offer the above.
G.H.B.
"Talk not of Love" (Vol. iii., p. 7.).—The song quoted by your Querist, A. M., was written by Mrs. MacLehose, the "Clarinda" of Burns, and is to be found in most of the lives of the Scottish poet.
[J.H., JR., says it is printed in Chambers's Journal, No. 1. New Series. DANIEL FERGUSON points them out at p. 212. of a Collection of Songs of England and Scotland, published by Cochrane, of Waterloo Place; and in vol. ii. of Johnson's Scots Musical Museum; and G.T. also refers to the last-named collection.]
The Butcher Duke (Vol. iii., p. 8.).—The song referred to by MEZZOTINTO is to be found in most of the collections of Scotch songs, under the name of "Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie," for which old air it was written; or, when only partially printed, by the commencing line of one of its stanzas:—