—By the parish register abstract accompanying the population returns of 1831, it appears that in that year the earliest existing register of Petworth commenced in 1559. We are indebted to the late Mr. Rickman for this abstract of the dates of all the parish registers in the kingdom; and it would be well if, at the next census, a similar return was called for, that it may be seen what registers are then missing.
As to lost registers, I may state that I possess the bishop's transcripts of sixty registers, signed by the minister and churchwardens of parishes in the county of Kent; they comprise the baptisms, marriages, and burials for the years 1640 and 1641. The registers of sixteen of these parishes do not begin until after 1641, consequently these transcripts are the only records now existing of the baptisms, marriages, and burials in those sixteen parishes for 1640 and 1641.
J. S. B.
Death (Vol. iii., p. 450.).
—The ancients found in the successive transformations of the butterfly a striking and beautiful parallel to the more important career of human existence. Thus to their fancy the caterpillar, or larva, represented man's earthly course; the pupa, or chrysalis state, his death and utter inanition; while the perfect state of the insect typified man's rise to life and glory, a bright glorious being, without spot or trace of earthly stain. The Greeks from this notion named the butterfly "Psyche." A careful examination of the anatomy and physiology of the insect world will show the strict and amazing beauty of this simile.
TEE BEE.
Lord Mayor not a Privy Councillor (Vol. iv., p. 9.).
—Your printer has misprinted clamour instead of your own expression demur. Let me add that there was neither clamour nor even demur on that occasion—all went off quietly in the usual course. There is also an omission of two words in a subsequent line, which, though easily supplied, I may as well notice.
"The proclamation is that of the peers alone, but assisted by the others," should rather be "the proclamation is that of the peers alone, but assisted by the ex-Privy Councillors and others," as this marks the distinction between the two classes of assistants more strongly.
C.