_Chip in Porridge_ (Vol. i., p. 382).--Though a long time has elapsed, I see nothing more on the subject of this phrase than Q. D.'s application for information regarding it. I take it to mean a nonentity, a thing of no importance, and to have no more distinctive origin than the innumerable other cant sayings in daily use. In a book recently published, _Personal Adventures of our own Correspondent_, by M. B. Honan, vol. i. p. 151., occurs this passage: "It is very easy to stand well with all by being, what is vulgarly called, 'a chip in porridge.'" W. T. M. Hong Kong. _"A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn"_ (Vol. viii., p. 102.).--See Pope's _Moral Essays_, Ep. 1. l. 136. F. B--W. _Gibbon's Library_ (Vol. vii., p. 407.)--_West's Portrait of Franklin_ (Vol. vii., p. 409.).--Gibbon's library was sold at Lausanne in 1833. I have a copy of _Le Théâtre de Marivaux_, four volumes 12mo. (Amst. et à Leipzig, 1756), which contains the following MS. note on the fly-leaf of the first volume: "Gibbon's copy, bought at the sale of his library at Lausanne, Sept. 1833.--JOHN WORDSWORTH." You will find a reference to this gentleman, "N. & Q.," Vol. v., p. 604. About four hundred of Gibbon's books were in the library of the late Rev. Samuel Farmar Jarvis, of Connecticut, who bought them at Lausanne. Among them was Casiri, _Bibliotheca Arabico-Hispania_. Some of these books had his name, E. GIBBON, printed in them in Roman letters; others had his coat of arms. Dr. Jarvis's library was sold by Lyman and Rawdon in New York on the 14th of October, 1851, for very good prices. I possess Gibbon's copy of Herrera's _America_, in English, 6 vols. 8vo. I think there must be some mistake about the portrait of Dr. Franklin by West, mentioned by {209} your correspondent H. G. D. I have never heard of but _one_ portrait by West of Dr. Franklin, and that was painted for my grandfather, Mr. Edward Duffield, one of the executors of the Doctor's will, and sent to him by the Doctor himself. It is now in my possession, in excellent preservation. A short notice of it will be found in the ninth volume of Franklin's _Writings_ (Sparks's ed.), p. 493. EDWARD D. INGRAHAM. Walnut Street, Philadelphia.