The language spoken at that time on the sea-coast of Caithness must have been Norse. Sutherland would appear to have been wrested from the Orkney-Norwegians before that period, and the Celtic tongue and race gaining on the Norse; but on the sea-coast of Caithness I should apprehend the Norse continued to be the spoken tongue till a later period, when it was superseded by the Scottish. The Norwegians in the end of the ninth century colonised Orkney, and expelled or destroyed the former inhabitants. The Western Isles were also subjugated by them at that time, and probably Caithness, or at all events a little later. It would be desirable to know the race and tongue previously existing in Caithness, and if these were lost in the Norwegians and Norse, and an earlier Christianity in Scandinavian Paganism. This may, however, lead to the unfathomably dark subject of the Picts. Is it known when Norse ceased to be spoken in Caithness? The story of the burning of the Bishop of Caithness forms the conclusion of the _Orkneyinga Saga_; and vide Torfæus, _Orcades_, p. 154., and Dalrymple's _Annals of Scotland_, of dates 1222 and 1231. F. _Martha Blount_ (Vol. vii., pp. 38. 117.).--At "Brandon," the seat of the Harrisons on the James River, Virginia, is a likeness of Miss Blount by Sir Godfrey Kneller; and at "Berkeley," also on the James River, and the residence of another branch of the same family, is one of the Duchess of Montagu, also by Kneller. Thus much in answer to the Query. But in this connexion I would mention, that on the James River are many fine pictures, portraits of worthies famous in English history. At "Shirley" there is one of Col. Hill, by Vandyke; at Brandon, one of Col. Byrd, by Vandyke; also Lord Orrery, Duke of Argyle, Lord Albemarle, Lord Egmont, Sir Robert Walpole, and others, by Kneller. These pictures are mentioned in chap. ix. of _Travels in North America during the Years_ 1834-1836, by the Hon. Charles Augustus Murray; a gentleman who either is, or was, Master of the Queen's Household. T. BALCH. Philadelphia. _Longevity_ (Vol. viii., p. 113.).--As W. W. asserts that there is a lady living (or was two months ago) in South Carolina, who is _known_ to be 131 years old, he will no doubt be good enough to let the readers of "N. & Q." _know_ it also. And although W. W. thinks it will not be necessary to search in "annual or parish registers" to prove the age of the singular Singleton, yet he must produce documentary evidence of some sort; unless, indeed, he _knows_ an older person who remembers the birth of the aged Carolinian. Having paid the well-known Mr. Barnum a fee to see a negress, whom the _cute_ showman exhibited as the nurse of the great Washington, I have fifty cents worth of reasons to subscribe myself A DOUBTER.