"Let the dusting or sanding of presidents in books be avoided, rather using _fine brown paper to prevent blotting_, if time of the ink's drying cannot be allowed; for sand takes away the good colour of the ink, and getting into the backs of books makes them break their binding." From this passage it may be inferred, that fine brown paper, to prevent blotting, was then rather a novelty. C. H. COOPER. Cambridge. _Riddles for the Post-Office_ (Vol. vii., p. 258.).--The following is an exact copy of the direction of a letter mailed a few years ago by a German living in Lancaster county, Pa.: "Tis is fur old Mr. Willy wot brinds de Baber in Lang Kaster ware ti gal is gist rede him assume as it cums to ti Pushtufous." meaning-- "This is for old Mr. Willy, what prints the paper in Lancaster, where the jail is. Just read him as soon as it comes to the Post-Office." Inclosed was an essay _against public schools_. UNEDA. Philadelphia. _Mulciber_ (Vol. iii., p. 102.).--I beg to inform MR. WARDE that in the printed Key to the _Dispensary_ it is said, "'Tis the opinion of many that our poet means here Mr. Thomas Foley, a lawyer of notable parts." T. K. * * * * * Miscellaneous. NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC. Although, like Canning's knife-grinder, we do not care to meddle with politics, we have one volume on our table belonging to that department of life which deserves passing mention, we mean Mr. Urquhart's _Progress of Russia in the West, North, and South, by opening the Sources of Opinion, and appropriating the {186} Channels of Wealth and Power_, which those who differ most widely from Mr. Urquhart will probably deem worth reading at a moment when all eyes are turned towards St. Petersburgh. It is of course a knowledge of the great interest everywhere felt in the Russian-Turkish question, which has induced Messrs. Longman to reprint in their _Traveller's Library_, in a separate form and with additions, _Turkey and Christendom, an Historical Sketch of the Relations between the Ottoman Empire and the States of Europe_. The Rev. R. W. Eyton announces for publication by subscription _Antiquities of Shropshire_, which is intended to contain such accessible materials as may serve to illustrate the history of the county during the first two centuries after the Norman Conquest, though that period is not proposed as an invariable limit. The preface to the first Number will give an account of the public authorities which the author has consulted, as well as of the materials which have been supplied or promised by the kindness of individuals. Each Number will contain six sheets (96 pages), and will be accompanied by maps or illustrations referable to the period. Each fourth Number will include an Index. The first part will be put to press as soon as 200 Subscribers are obtained, and the number of copies printed will be limited to those originally subscribed for.