_Nuns of the Hotel Dieu._--What is the religions habit of the nuns at the hospital of the Hotel Dieu in Paris at the present day? M. L. _Purlieu._--Some of your correspondents seem afraid that an attempt to repair the deficiencies of our English dictionaries, by research into disputed etymologies in "N. & Q.," would tend to produce too much and too tedious discussion, and fill its space too much. Could _this_, at least, not be done without much objection? Could we not co-operate in finding the earliest known mention of words, and thus perhaps trace the occasion and manner of their introduction? At any rate, this word _purlieu_ is certainly in want of some examination. Johnson has adopted the wretched etymology of _pur_, Fr. for pure, and _lieu_, Fr. for place; and he defines it as a place on the outskirts of a forest free of wood. The earliest record in which this word occurs, so far as I have seen, is in an act of Edward III., quoted by Manwood, and it is there spelt _puraley_; and it relates to the disafforested parts which several preceding kings permitted to be detached from their royal forests. Might I ask if any of your correspondents find an earlier use of the word; and can it be gifted with a probable paternity? The tracing of the earliest known mention of disputed words is a task capable of being finished, and might perhaps be attended, in many cases, with happy results. It would rid us probably of many puerilities which degrade our current dictionaries. M. C. E. _Jennings Family._--Some time since I requested as a great favour that your correspondent PERCURIOSUS would kindly inform me where I could get a sight of the Spoure MSS. I repeat that I should feel greatly obliged if he would do so: and as this is of no public interest, I send postage envelope, in the event of PERCURIOSUS obliging me with the desired information. J. JENNINGS-G. _Latimer's Brothers-in-Law._--In Bishop Latimer's first sermon, preached before King Edward VI., we find the quaint martyr-bishop magnifying the paternal prudence for having suitably "married his sisters with five pounds, or twenty nobles, apiece;" but neither the editors of the sermon, nor the writers of several biographical notices of Latimer consulted by me, and in which the extract appears, give any account of the fortunate gentlemen whom the generous parent thus doubly blessed with his twofold treasure. Can you, or any of your readers, oblige by furnishing the _names_ of Bishop Latimer's brothers-in-law, or by giving some references or brief account of them? * *