_Blew-Beer._--Sir, having taken a Note according to your very sound
advice, I addressed a letter to the _John Bull_ newspaper, which was
published on Saturday, Feb. 16. It contained an extract from a political
tract, entitled,--

"The true History of Betty Ireland, with some Account of her
Sister Blanche of Brittain. Printed for J. Robinson, at the
Golden Lion in Ludgate Street, MDCCLIII. (1753)." {247}

In allusion to the English the following passage occurs,--

"But they forget, they are all so idle and debauched, such
gobbling and drinking rascals, and expensive in _blew-beer_,"
&c.

Query the unde derivatur of _blew-beer_, and if it is to be taken in the
same sense as the modern phrase of "blue ruin," and if so, the cause of
the change or history of both expressions?

H.


_Carpatio._--I have lately met with a large aquatinted engraving,
bearing the following descriptive title: "Angliæ Regis Legati
inspiciuntur Sponsam petentes Filiam Dionati Cornubiæ Regis pro Anglo
Principe." The costume of the figures is of the latter half of the
fifteenth century. The painter's name appears on a scroll, OP. VICTOR
CARPATIO VENETI. The copy of the picture for engraving was drawn by