_Petrarch's Laura._--Mr. Mathews, in his _Diary of an Invalid in Italy, &c._, p. 380., in speaking of the outrages and indignities which, during the Revolution, were committed throughout France on the remains of the dead, and were amongst the most revolting of its horrors, mentions, on the authority of a fellow-passenger, an eye-witness, that the body of Petrarch's Laura had been seen exposed to the most brutal indignities in the streets of Avignon. He told Mr. Mathews that {563} it had been embalmed, and was found in a mummy state, of a dark brown colour. I have not met with any mention of these these circumstances elsewhere. Laura is stated to have died of the plague (which seems to render it unlikely that her body was embalmed): and according to Petrarch's famous note on his MS. of Virgil, she was buried the same day, after vespers, in the church of the Cordeliers. The date was April 1, 1348. That church was long celebrated for her tomb, which contained also the body of Hugues de Sade, her husband. The edifice is stated to be ruined, its very site being converted into a fruit-garden; but the tomb is said to be still entire under the ground: and more than twenty years after the French Revolution, a small cypress was pointed out as marking the spot where Laura was interred. Is the circumstance of the desecration of her tomb mentioned by any other writer? If it really took place, are we to conclude that the tree--if it still exists--marks only the place where she had been interred: for, that the body was rescued and recommitted to the tomb, can hardly be supposed? WM. SIDNEY GIBSON. "_Epitaphium Lucretiæ._"--The following lines are offered for insertion, not because I doubt their being known to many of your readers, but with a view to ask the name of the author: "_Epitaphium Lucretiæ._ Dum foderet ferro tenerum Lucretia pectus Sanguinis et torrens egrederetur: ait, 'Accedant testes me non cessisse tyranno 'Ante virum sanguis, spiritus ante Deos.'" BALLIOLENSIS. _McDowall Family._--More than a century ago there was a family (since extinct) of the name of McDowall, in the county Cavan, Ireland, belonging to some branch of the ancient and noble Scottish family of that name, who had migrated to these shores. Perhaps some of your readers could inform me as to what branch they belonged, and when they settled in Ireland, as also if there be any pedigree of them extant, as I am very anxious to learn something of them at all events? GULIELMUS. Dublin. _Arms of Geneva._--Will any of your correspondents oblige me with a technical blazon of the arms of the town of Geneva? F. F. B. Bury St. Edmunds.