_Life of Lucullus_.

"Women have a sort of natural tendency to cross their husbands:
they lay hold _with both hands_ [à deux mains] on all occasions
to contradict and oppose them, and the first excuse serves for a
plenary justification."--Montaigne, _Essays_, book 2. chap. 8.

"Marmout, deceived by the seemingly careless winter attitude of
the allies, left Ciudad Rodrigo unprotected within their reach
and Wellington jumped _with both feet_ upon the devoted fortress
of Napier," _Pen. War_, vol. iv. p. 374.

Any apology for the unwarrantable length of this discursive despatch,
would, of course, only make matters worse.

C. FORBES.

Temple.

* * * * *

ETYMOLOGICAL NOTES.

1. _Gnatch._--"The covetous man dares not gnatch" (Hammond's
_Catechism_). From this, and the examples in Halliwell's _Dictionary_,
the sense seems to be "to move." Is it related to "gnake?"

2. _Pert._--I lately met with an instance of the use of this word in the
etymological sense _peritus_: "I beant peart at making button-holes,"
said a needlewoman.