_Abigail_ (Vol. iv., p. 424. Vol. v., pp. 38. 94. 450.).--The inquiry suggested in the first of the above references, "Whence, or when, originated the application of Abigail, as applied to a lady's maid?" has not yet, to my mind, been satisfactorily answered. It occurs to me that it may have been derived from the notorious Abigail Hill, better known as Mrs. Masham, a poor relative of Sarah Duchess of Marlborough, and by her introduced to a subordinate place about the person of Queen Anne. She rapidly acquired sufficient influence to supplant her benefactress. The intrigues of the Tory party received sufficient furtherance from this bedchamber official to effect ultimately the downfall of the Whig ministry; and the use of the term by Dean Swift, of which your original Querist MR. WARDEN speaks, would suffice to give currency and to associate the name of so famous an _intriguante_ with the office which she filled. It must be matter of opinion whether the Dean (as MR. W. thinks) employed the term as _not new in those_ days, or as one which had _taken_ so rapidly in the current conversation of the day, as to require but his putting it in print to establish it in its new sense so long as the language shall be spoken or written. BALLIOLENSIS. _Handbook to the Library of the British Museum_ (Vol. viii., p. 511.).--Neither Lord Seymour, nor MR. BOLTON CORNEY, nor Mr. Richard Sims, can with justice claim originality in the suggestion carried out by the latter gentleman in the publication of his _Handbook to the Library of the British Museum_. In my own collection is a book entitled,-- "A Critical and Historical Account of all the celebrated Libraries in Foreign Countries, as well ancient as modern, with general Reflections on the choice of Books," &c.... "A work of great use to all men of letters. By a Gentleman of the Temple. London, printed for J. Jolliffe, in St James's Street, MDCCXXXIX." In the preface to which work the author says: "It will be highly useful to such noblemen and gentlemen as visit foreign countries, _by instructing them in the manner of perusing whatever is curious in the Vatican and other famous libraries_." And in which he promises that-- "If it should meet with the approbation of the public, he (the author) will proceed with the _libraries of these kingdoms_," &c. F. SEYMOUR HADEN. Chelsea.