Richa. Beale."


"1660.--Marye, the daughter of John Smith, Esq. was baptized on the
thirteenth daye of Januarie, 1660, by John Case, Vicar. The first
that hath been baptized at the font since it was re-erected by the
appoynm't of the said Mr. Smith, being full sixteene yeers paste. One
Thomas Scoone, an elder, having, out of his blinde zeale, defaced and
pulled it downe, w't other ornaments belonging to the churche."

E.R.J.H.

Chancery Lane, 7th March.

* * * * *

BIS DAT QUI CITÒ DAT.

Inquiry has been often made as to the origin of this proverb. Alciatus
is referred to generally as the authority whence it was derived. I
think, however, it may be traced to Publius Syrus, who lived about
forty-four years before Christ. It is equally probable, from the
peculiar species of composition in which the thought, if not the exact
words are found, that the proverb was derived from another and an
earlier source. The object of mimic exhibitions is to impress the mind
by imitation. Human life is burlesqued, personal defect heightened and
ridiculed; character is never represented in degree, but in extremes.
The dialogue of satirical comedy assumes naturally the form of the
apophthegm--it is epigrammatic and compressed that it may be pungent
and striking. Hence, no species of writing is more allied to or more