Peal of Bells (Vol. i., p. 154.).
—The definition of a peal, viz., "a performance of above 5,000 changes," was recently confirmed to me by the two following inscriptions, which I read in the belfry of the curfew tower at Windsor:—
"Feb. 21, 1748, was rung in this steeple a complete 5,040 of union trebles, never performed here before."
"College Youths.—This society rung in this steeple, Tuesday, April 10, 1787, a true and complete peal of 5,040 grandsire triples in three hours and fourteen minutes."
A stone tablet in the bell chamber of Ecclesfield church records, that a few months ago "was rung in this tower a peal of Kent treble bob major, consisting of 5,024 changes in three hours and five minutes."
ALFRED GATTY.
Pope's "honest Factor" (Vol. iv., p. 6.).
—If any one ever made a rational guess at who this factor may have been, he must have been still more likely to have known who was meant by Sir Balaam, at whose identity I have never yet heard a guess. I suppose that both factor and knight were fancy characters.
C.