I beg to refer MR. F.S. MARTIN (No. 14. p. 215.), for the derivation of "Calamity," to the _Etymologicon Linguæ Latinæ_ of Gerard Vossius, or to the _Totius Latinitatis Lexicon_ of Facciolatus and Forcellinus. He will there find that the word _calamitas_ was first used with reference to the storms which destroyed the stalks (_calami_) of corn, and afterwards came to signify metaphorically, any severe misfortune. The terrific hail-storm of the summer of 1843, which destroyed the crops of corn through several of the eastern and midland counties of this kingdom, was a _calamity_ in the original sense of the word. "W.P.P." has also kindly replied to this query by furnishing a part of the Article on _Calamitas_ in Vossius; and "J.F.M." adds, _Calamitas_ means-- "The spindling of the corn, which with us is rare, but in hotter countries common: insomuch as the word _calamitas_ was first derived from _calamus_, when the corn could not get out of the stalk."--Bacon, _Nat. Hist_. sect. 669. _Derivation of "Zero"_ (No. 14. p. 215.).--_Zero_ Ital.; Fr. _un chiffre_, _un rien_, a cipher in arithmetic, a nought; whence the proverb _avere nel zero, mépriser souverainement_, to value at nothing, to have a sovereign contempt for. I do not know what the etymology of the word may be; but the application is obvious to that point in the scale of the thermometer below the numbered degrees to which, in ordinary temperatures, the mercury does not sink. [Greek: Philologos] Deanery of Gloucester, Feb. 7. 1850. "_Zero_" (No. 14. p. 215.)--_Zero_, as is well known, is an Italian word signifying the arithmetical figure of nought (0). It has been conjectured that it is derived from the transposition from the Hebrew word _ezor_, a girdle, the zero assuming that form. (See Furetière, vol. iii.) Prof. le Moine, of Leyden (quoted by Ménage), claims for it also an Eastern origin, and thinks we have received it from the Arabians, together with their method of reckoning ciphers. He suggests that it may be a corruption from the Hebrew [Hebrew: rphs], _safara_, to number. _Complutensian Polyglot_.--I cannot pretend to reply to "MR. JEBB'S" inquiry under this head in No. 12. p. 213.; but perhaps it may assist him in his researches, should he not have seen the pamphlet, to refer to Bishop Smallridge's "Enquiry into the Authority of the Primitive Complutensian Edition of the New Testament, as principally founded on the most ancient Vatican MS., together with some research after that MS. In order to decide the dispute about 1 John v. 7. In a letter to Dr. Bentley. 8vo. London, 1722." J.M. Oxford, Feb. 5. _Sir William Rider_.--In reply to the queries of "H.F.," No. 12. p. 186., respecting Sir William Rider, I beg to say that among the many MS. notes which I have collected relating to the Rider family, {269} &c., I find the following from the _Visitation of Surry_, 1623, and from a MS. book of _Pedigrees of Peers_ in the Herald's College, with additions.