illustration how one writer follows another blindly, without testing his statements. There is a remarkable instance of this, where such authorities as Bishop Stubbs and Mr. Horace Round have gone wrong, in the matter of the Grocer-Aldermen of Richard II.'s reign, which I examined at length in The English Historical Review for July, 1907. A similar case is that of Canning's first constituency, which is almost invariably wrongly given. Copies of a little pamphlet (printed for private circulation) dealing with this point are to be seen in the British Museum and Bodleian Libraries. Alfred B. Beaven, M.A.
The National Flag (10 S. ix. 502).—The following report from the proceedings of the House of Lords of Tuesday, the 15th inst., confirms the statement of the official letter I received from the Home Office, dated the 19th of June, that "the Union Jack is to be regarded as the National Flag, and may be used generally by British subjects on land," as well as the further intimation I received, also official, that the Royal Standard, being the personal flag of the Sovereign, cannot be flown except with His Majesty's permission. It is good to know that this question, so long agitated, is now finally settled:
"Earl Howe asked the Government, with a view to removing any possible doubt that might exist on the subject, whether it was a fact that the full Union Jack might be flown on land by every citizen in the Empire, as well as on the Government offices and public buildings.
"The Earl of Crewe: There has existed in the public mind a curious confusion as to what flags may be flown and what may not be flown. At one time it seemed to be believed that the Royal Standard could be flown anywhere and by anybody. That, however, we now know is not the case. It was formally announced that the Royal Standard is the personal flag of the Sovereign, and cannot be flown without His Majesty's permission, and that is only granted when the King and Queen are present. Of course, a very different state of things applies with regard to the Union Jack. I think it may fairly be stated that the Union Jack should be regarded as the National Flag, and it may undoubtedly be flown on land by all His Majesty's subjects."
[For earlier communications on the subject see 10 S. ix. 128, 154, 174, 255, 292, 396, 514.]
Milton and Christ's College, Cambridge (10 S. x. 30).—In 1642 Milton published 'Animadversions upon the Remonstrant's Defence against Smectymnuus,' which evoked a severe and extremely personal diatribe from an anonymous critic. This straightway prompted the poet to the production of an elaborate reply, which he entitled 'An Apology against a Pamphlet call'd a Modest Confutation of the Animadversions upon the Remonstrant against Smectymnuus.' Having pointed out that his critic spends the first part of his attack "not in confuting, but in a reasonlesse defaming of the book," the apologist proceeds to consider the grievous personalities in the indictment. He holds that his assailant knows nothing of him further than "his owne conjecture," and presently he
writes as follows:—
"I must be thought, if this libeller (for now he shewes him self be to be so) can finde beliefe, after an inordinat and riotous youth spent at the University, to have bin at length vomited out thence. For which commodious lye, that he may be incourag'd in the trade another time, I thank him; for it hath given me an apt occasion to acknowledge publickly with all gratefull minde, that more then ordinary favour and respect which I found above any of my equals at the hands of those courteous and learned men, the Fellowes of that Colledge wherein I spent some yeares: who at my parting, after I had taken two degrees, as the manner is, signifi'd many waves, how much better it would content them that I would stay; as by many Letters full of kindnesse and loving respect, both before that time and long after, I was assur'd of their singular good affection towards me."
In the second edition of 'The Life of John Milton,' by Dr. Charles Symmons, it is said on p. 57 that "a son of Bishop Hall is supposed to have been the immediate advancer of the charge." John T. Curry.
[Mr. Holden MacMichael also thanked for reply.]
Plaxtol (10 S. ix. 430, 477; x. 33).—The original of Adam de Gurdon's charter cited by White is in Magdalen College, Oxford, from which it appears that the "place" given by him to the Priory of Selborne was not for a recreation ground, but in order that the convent might there hold the market which they had by the gifts of King Henry III., and might build houses and shops upon it. See the 'Calendar of Charters relating to Selborne,' printed by the Hampshire Record Society in 1891, p. 64. W. D. Macray.
"Thurcet" (10 S. x. 29).—I do not think that any such word is to be found in any of the Selborne charters preserved in Magdalen College. W. D. Macray.
Book Margins (10 S. ix. 285).—I quite agree with C. C. B.'s remarks as to the futility of giving a wider outer margin at the expense
