"A list of all the inhabitants of Stratford assessed to the levies in 1617, wherein I cannot discover any apparently _respectable_ person the initials of whose name agree with 'W. S.:' but from this assessment, though probably copied from an anterior one, nothing conclusive can be estimated, it being made in the year subsequent to Shakspeare's death; and I should, from a close observation of the ring, be inclined to suppose that it was {590} made in the early part of the poet's life. Mr. Malone, in a conversation I had with him in London," (adds Mr. Wheler), "the 20th April, 1812, about a month before his death, said that he had nothing to allege against the probability of my conjecture as to its owner." Mr. W. afterwards proceeds: "That such a seal was used by a person connected with Shakspeare by a marriage is certain; for I possess an impression of the seal (and apparently a seal-ring) of Adrian Quiney, bailiff of Stratford in 1559-60; and who, I have every reason to believe, was the uncle of Thomas Quiney, our poet's son-in-law. This seal of Quiney's, which is appended to a deed dated June 28, 9 Eliz., 1567, being a conveyance of property in Bridge Street, Stratford, very minutely corresponds with the Shakspeare ring in size, and has a very near resemblance to it in _the string and tassels_ uniting the Roman initials 'A. Q.;' which ornamental junction is carved somewhat similar to what is now called _The True Lover's Knot_, and in the Shakspeare ring the upper bow or flourish resembles a heart." In Shakspeare's age-- "Seal-rings were very fashionable, but were probably more limited than at present to the nobility and respectable families; for I still confine myself to the respectability of its proprietor.... After numerous and continued researches into public and private documents, I find no Stratfordian of that period so likely to own such a ring as Shakspeare." Mr. Wheler concludes-- "At present, I possess no positive proof whatever. Let it be remembered that my observations are merely relative. I yet hope to meet with an impression of the ring in my possession; and in this I am more particularly encouraged by the fact, that should success attend the investigation, this seal-ring would be the _only existing article_ PROVED to have originally belonged to our immortal poet." When Mr. Wheler wrote, the signatures in Montaigne's work, &c. had not been restored to the light. A HERMIT AT HAMPSTEAD. * * * * * REASON AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO COLERIDGE. (Vol. v., p. 535.)