2000, 1500, or 1000 acres? Richardson variously describes the term as
almost any kind of dwelling, or "an enclosure of walls to keep cattle
from being stolen at night;" in fact, a court-yard. This, however,
conveys a very unsatisfactory idea, unless I am justified in supposing
that a court-yard was insisted upon, even when a house could not be
built, as insuring a future residential settlement, and thereby warding
off the evils of absenteeism.

At page 514. of the same volume, I read,--

"Wentworth had so balanced the protestant and recusant parties,
employed so skilfully the resources of fair promises and
intimidation, that he procured six subsidies to be granted
before a prorogation, without any _mutual_ concession from the
crown."

Will Dr. Kennedy, or any other strict verbal critic, sanction this use
of the word "mutual?"

ALFRED GATTY.

April 6. 1850.

[It is obvious, from the following lines from Swift's poem, _The
Grand Question debated whether Hamilton's Bawn should be turned
into a Barrack or Malt-house_, 1729, that a Bawn was there used
to signify a building, and not an inclosure:--

"This _Hamilton's bawn_, while it sticks in my hand,
I lose by the house what I get by the land;