Carved Ceiling in Dorsetshire.—In the south of Dorsetshire there is a house (its name I do not remember) which has a beautifully carved ceiling in the hall. This is said to have been sent from Spain by a King of Castile, who, being wrecked on this coast, and hospitably entertained by the owners of the mansion, took this method of showing his gratitude. Can any of your readers inform me what king this was, or refer me to any work in which I may find it?
JERNE.
Publicans' Signs.—Will any of your readers inform me whether the signs of publicans were allowed to be retained by the same edict which condemned those of all other trades?
ROVERT.
To a T.—What is the origin of the phrase; and of that "To fit to a T.?" (Query, a "T square" = ad amussim.)
A. A. D.
Skeletons at Egyptian Banquet.—Where did Jer. Taylor find this interpretation of the object of placing a skeleton at the banqueting table:—
"The Egyptians used to serve up a skeleton to their feasts, that the vapours of wine might be restrained with that bunch of myrrh, and the vanities of their eyes chastened by that sad object."
Certainly not in Herodotus, 2. 78.; which savours rather of the Sardanapalian spirit: "Eat, drink, and love—the rest's not worth a fillip!" Comp. Is. xxii. 13., 1 Cor. xv. 32.
A. A. D.