When religious processions were abandoned at the time of the Reformation these parochial processions also generally fell into disuse, although it was then ordered that they should be continued, but a principal cause of their discontinuance of late years was the passing of the Parochial Assessment Act in 1836, which gave power to Boards of Guardians to cause the various parishes under their jurisdiction to be properly mapped and valued. Where this was complied with, the existence of the new maps rendered it less necessary that a minute personal recollection of the boundaries of the parish should be impressed on the minds of the youthful generation by means of processions. The Worcester Board of Guardians have not availed themselves of the power conferred by this Act, for under the Parochial Assessment Act not a single parish of this city has hitherto been mapped and valued, until now that All Saints' is under contract for that purpose. The Guardians have not felt it necessary to do so, as no churchwardens or overseers have yet (1855) called upon them to exercise their powers; and it seems that the concurrence of the latter officers is necessary for the ordering of maps and valuations. Processioning, however, is still recognised by the law, for by an act passed so recently as 1844 (7th and 8th Victoria, chap. 101) power is given to charge for all necessary expenses properly incurred in perambulations and in setting up and keeping in repair the boundary stones of the parish, provided that such perambulation do not arise more than once in three years. Queries. CIVIL AND MILITARY. What was the origin of ordering military troops out of the city at times of assizes and sessions, and in what other places besides Worcester is the custom observed? THE BLACK PEAR. How many (if any) trees of the celebrated black pear of Worcester still remain in this city and suburbs? KING CHARLES'S COINS. Is there, in any private collection of coins in Worcester, one of King Charles's Worcester half-crowns or a specimen of the leaden halfpenny struck at the mint in this city? HOPS. Were hops cultivated in East Worcestershire? In many places in Beoley parish, hops are found growing in the hedgerows, and there is a large field there which is called "The Hop-garden." The year 1855 is believed to have produced a larger crop of hops than has ever been known (duty £398,635. 6s. 5-3/4d.). In 1801 the Worcester district paid a larger duty than had been on previous record, though far below the duty of 1855; and in 1826 the duty was higher than in 1801, being £269,331; or £129,304 less than in 1855. Can any one tell, by document or otherwise, what was the hop acreage in this district in the year 1801? NEEDLE TRADE. In what year was the needle trade introduced into Redditch, by whom, and where from? MARINE STORE DEALERS. What was the origin of applying the term "marine store dealers" to shopkeepers buying and selling old metal, &c.? GROVES.