_Ash-trees attract Lightning._--Is it true that ash-trees are more attractive to lightning than any others? and the reason, because the surface of the ground around is drier than round other trees? C. S. W. _Symbol of Sow, &c._--A sow suckled by a litter of young pigs is a common representation carved on the bosses of the roofs of churches. What is this symbolical of? F. G. C. Ottery St. Mary. _Passage in Blackwood._-- "I sate, and wept in secret the tears that men have ever given _to the memory of those that died before the dawn_, and by the treachery of earth our mother."--_Blackwood's Magazine_, December, 1849, p. 72., 3rd line, second column. Will some of your readers give information respecting the above words in Italic? D. N. O. _Rathband Family._--Can any of your readers assist me in distinguishing between the several members of this clerical family, which flourished during the period of the Commonwealth, and immediately preceding? From Palmer's _Nonconformist Mem._ (vol. i. p. 520.), there was a Mr. William Rathband, M.A., ejected from Southwold, a member of Oxford University, who was brother to Mr. Rathband, sometime preacher in the Minster of York, and son of an old Nonconformist minister, Mr. W. Rathband, who wrote against the Brownists.--I should feel obliged by any information which would identify them with the livings they severally held. OLIVER. _Encaustic Tiles from Caen._--In the town of Caen, in Normandy, is an ancient Gothic building standing in the grounds of the ancient convent of the Benedictines, now used as a college. This building, which is commonly known as the "Salle des Gardes de Guillaume le Conquerant," was many years ago paved with glazed emblazoned earthenware tiles, which were of the dimensions of about five inches square, and one and a quarter thick; the subjects of them are said to be the arms of some of the chiefs who accompanied William the Conqueror to England. Some antiquaries said these tiles were of the age of William I.; others that they could only date from Edward III. I find it stated in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for March, 1789, vol. lix. p. 211., that twenty of the tiles above spoken of were taken up by the Benedictine monks, and sent as a present to Charles Chadwick, Esq., Healey Hall, Lancashire, in 1786. The rest of the tiles were destroyed by the revolutionists, with the exception of some which were fortunately saved by the Abbe de la Rue and M. P. A. Lair, of Caen. What I wish to inquire is, firstly, who was Charles Chadwick, Esq.? and secondly, supposing that he is no longer living, which I think from the lapse of time will be most probable, does any one know what became of the tiles which he had received from France in 1786? GEORGE BOASE. P.S.--The _Gentleman's Magazine_ gives a plate of these tiles, as well as a plate of some others with which another ancient building, called "Grand Palais de Guillaume le Conquerant," was paved. Alverton Vean, Penzance.