"But as for these _misers_ within my father's tent." Again, in Lord Stirling's tragedy of _Croesus_, 1604: "Or think'st thou me of judgement too remiss, A _miser_ that in miserie remains." Otway, however, in his _Orphan_, published in 1680, uses it for a covetous person: "Though she be dearer to my soul than rest To weary pilgrims, or to _misers_ gold, Rather than wrong Castalio, I'd forget thee." So also does Pope: "No silver saints by dying _misers_ given, Here brib'd the rage of ill-requited heaven." _"Acis and Galatea."_--Is there any good evidence in support of the commonly received opinion that the words to Handel's _Acis and Galatea_ were written by Gay? Hawkins merely states that they "are said to have been written by Mr. Gay." I have no copy of Burney at hand to refer to; but I find the same statement repeated by various other musical historians, without, however, any authority being given for it. The words in question are not to be found among the _Poems on several Occasions_, by Mr. John Gay, published in 1767 by Tonson and others. Have they ever been included in any collective edition of his works? G. T. Reading. [In the musical catalogue of the British Museum, compiled by Thomas Oliphant, Esq., it is stated that the words to _Acis and Galatea_ "are said to be written, but apparently partly compiled, by John Gay." This serenata is included among Gay's _Poems_ in Dr. Johnson's edition of the _English Poets_, 1790, as well as in Chalmers's edition of 1810, and in the complete edition of _British Poets_, Edinburgh, 1794.] _Birm-bank._--The bank of a canal opposite to the towing-path is called the _birm-bank_. What is the derivation of this? UNEDA. Philadelphia. [The word _birm_ seems to have the same meaning as berme (Fr. _berme_), which, in Fortification, denotes a piece of ground of three, four, or five feet in width, left between the rampart and the moat or foss, designed to receive the ruins of the rampart, and prevent the earth from filling the foss. Sometimes it is palisaded, and in Holland is generally planted with quickset hedge.] _General Thomas Gage._--This officer commanded at Boston at the breaking out of the Revolution, and served under General Braddock. Where can I find any details of the remainder of his history? SERVIENS. [An interesting biographical account of General Gage is given in the _Georgian Aera_, vol. ii. p. 67.] * * * * * Replies. RAPPING NO NOVELTY. (Vol. viii., pp. 512. 632.)