Thus, can I imagine, would the gentle reader soliloquise, on finding he had received two worthless bits of paper in return for his investment of postage-stamps. My thoughts were somewhat the same; for I, alas! sent "twelve postage-stamps," which are now lost to view in the dim perspective, and I shall only be too happy to sell Mr. A. B. C. his instructions, &c. at half-price. In the mean time, however, I forward them for Mr. Editor's inspection. CUTHBERT BEDE, B.A. * * * * * Minor Notes. _Cremona Violins._--As many of your readers are no doubt curious about the prices given, in former times, for musical instruments, I transcribe an order of the time of Charles II. for the purchase of two Cremona violins. "[_Audit Office Enrolments_, vi. 359.] "These are to pray and require you to pay, or cause to be paid, to John Bannester, one of his Ma^{ties} Musicians in Ordinary, the some of fourty pounds for two Cremona Violins by him bought and delivered for his Ma^{ts} Service, as may appeare by the Bill annexed, and also tenn pounds for stringes for two yeares ending June 24, 1662. And this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand, this 24th day of October, 1662, in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign. "E. MANCHESTER. "To S^r Edward Griffin, Kn^t, Treasurer of his Ma^{ties} Chamber." PETER CUNNINGHAM. _Prices of Tea._--From Read's _Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer_, Saturday, April 27, 1734: "Green Tea 9s. to 12s. per lb. Congou 10s. to 12s. " Bohea 10s. to 12s. " Pekoe 14s. to 16s. " Imperial 9s. to 12s. " Hyson 20s. to 25s. " E. _Coleridge a Prophet._--Among the political writers of the nineteenth century, who has shown such prophetic insight into the sad destinies of France as Coleridge? It is the fashion with literary sciolists to ignore the genius of this great man. Let the following extracts stand as evidences of his profound penetration. _Friend_, vol. i. p. 244. (1844): "That man has reflected little on human nature who does not perceive that the detestable maxims and correspondent crimes of the existing French despotism, have already dimmed the recollections of democratic phrenzy in the minds of men; by little and little have drawn off to other objects the electric force of the feelings which had massed and upholden those recollections; and that a favourable concurrence of occasions is alone wanting to awaken the thunder and precipitate the lightning from the opposite quarter of the political heaven." Let the events of 1830 and 1848 speak for themselves as to the fulfilment of this forecast. _Biographia Literaria_, vol. i. p. 30. (1847), [after a most masterly analysis of practical genius]: