Inquisitive.—The name Sevenoaks does not refer to trees, but to the founder of the grammar school there, which was founded A.D. 1418 by Sir William de Sevenoke, or Sennocke. In 1675 Lady Margaret Boswell founded a school for poor children. It was at Sevenoaks that Sir Humphrey Stafford was unhappily defeated by the rebel army under Jack Cade, and fell in the action, June 27th, 1450, temp. Henry VI.
A. M. W.—1. You might perhaps repair your waterproof by making the following solution:—Dissolve an ounce of isinglass in a pound of soft water, and a quarter of an ounce of soap in one pound of water, all separately. Strain the solutions, mix them, and let them simmer for some time. Brush the preparation while hot over the worn spot, and when dry brush it well and lay on a little more. In a day or two you may wear the garment. 2. Yes, seals can hear very well, and, what is more, they enjoy music, and they have been known to follow a ship for miles to listen to the playing of a violin on board.
Emma.—A list of nine prayer unions and Scripture-reading societies is given in the little shilling manual of girls’ clubs just published by Messrs Griffith and Farran, corner of St. Paul’s-churchyard, E.C. The most considerable is that of the Rev. T. Richardson. We recommend the manual.
Patsy.—1. In calling on a newly-married couple for the first time, both husband and wife should call in person. After that the wife may leave her own card, should the lady be out, and two of her husband’s. As “Patsy” is the diminutive of “Patrick,” we presume our correspondent to be a man. 2. The harp is not a difficult instrument to play, provided you have a good ear, as it has to be tuned continually. You should go to a shop for musical instruments, and, if economy be essential, you might procure a secondhand one.
A Lover of the G. O. P.—1. At one time there was no intercourse between the people of Coventry and the soldiers garrisoned there, and hence arose the phrase being “sent to Coventry,” where the soldiers were doomed to know nobody, and a woman seen speaking to one of them was immediately tabooed. 2. Canaries are kept in wire cages. See that yours be a large one, and keep the wooden perches well scraped.
Yttria Laver.—Have you ever read the “Boston Monday Lectures,” by the Rev. Joseph Cook (Ward and Lock, Warwick House, Salisbury-sq., E.C.)? The vols. “Life and the Soul” and “God and the Conscience” are admirable, and well suited for the sceptical. A supreme divinity could not be created, as then he would not be supreme. He must be self-existent. The arguments you name are very feeble. Being omnipresent, of course He is in every corner of His dominion. See the 139th Psalm, 8th verse.
A. J. B.—September 18, 1864, was a Sunday. Unless intimate, bow only.
The Editor offers his best thanks to the undermentioned correspondents for their kindly sending him Christmas and New Year’s Cards.—“Old School Girl,” “A Dumpling,” Snowdrop, A Delicate Country Lassie, “Waitakerei” (Auckland, N.Z.), R. C. R., for Dora Hope; Viola Heath (a cheque on the Bank of Providence for 365 days of health and prosperity), Florence and Gertrude Farrier (Melbourne, Aus.), Violet, A Brighton Seagull, Pecksy and Flopsy, A Reader, Bessie, A Lover of the G.O.P.; Auntie Jessie, for “M.E.E.,” “Medicus,” and the Editor; L. A. L., Hilda Mesnard, Anonymous, from Stockport; Emily Agnes C., for Medicus and the Editor; Alice E. Howes, R. Stephens, “A Midsummer Daisy,” “Bee” and “Angels,” “Faust,” “Iris,” H. A. W. (Jamaica), “Idalia,” One of the Editor’s Colonial Girls; “Topsy” (Jamaica), “Four Jamaica Girls,” Gladys Maurice-Pendarves, C. E. Biggs, “Clericus,” Dayfie, Rita, “Calcutta Lizzie,” Susan H. Hunter, Elodie, “Michaelmas Goose,” M. T. W., Children of the Scholars’ News Club (Fairfield Endowed Schools), Constance, for Editor and Medicus; Mary and Ada Levestan (two Russian Girls), Emmie Buchanan, Julia Mary Pollock.