"Primo igitur ditionis nostrae fines ad Thamesim fluvium evehuntor: Inde ad Leam flumen profecti, ad fontem ejus deferuntor: tum recta ad Bedfordiam porriguntor, ac denique per Usam fluvium porrecti ad viam Vetelingianam desinunto." Another translation will be found in Wilkins's _Leges Anglo-Saxonicae_, p. 47., and the Saxon original in both. As to the boundaries here defined, see note in Spelman's _Alfred_, p. 36. At Cirencester Guthrun remained for twelve months after his baptism, according to his treaty with Alfred. (See _Sim. Dunelm. de gestis Regum Anglorum_, sub anno 879.) J. F. M. * * * * * CURIOUS CUSTOM OF RINGING BELLS FOR THE DEAD. (Vol. viii., p. 55.) W. W., alluding to such a custom at Marshfield, Massachusets, asks "if this custom ever did, or does now exist in the mother country?" The curiosity is that your worthy Querist has never heard of it! Dating from _Malta_, it may be he has never been in our _ringing island_: for it must be known to every Englishman, that the custom, varying no doubt in different localities, exists in every parish in England. The _passing bell_ is of older date than the canon of our church, which directs "that when any is passing out of this life, a bell shall be tolled, and the minister shall not then slack to do his duty. And after the party's death, if it so fall out, then shall be rung no more than one short peal." It is interesting to learn that our colonists keep up this custom of their mother country. In this parish, the custom has been to ring as quickly after death as the sexton can be found; and the like prevails elsewhere. I have known persons, sensible of their approaching death, direct the bell at once to be tolled. Durand, in his _Rituals of the Roman Church_, says: "For expiring persons bells must be tolled, that people may put up their prayers: this must be done twice for a woman, and thrice for a man." And such is still the general custom: either before or after the _knell_ is rung, to toll three times _three_, or three times _two_, at intervals, to mark the sex.[6] "Defunctos plorare" is probably as old as any use of a bell; but there is every reason to believe that--