Some of your correspondents, SIR JAMES E. TENNENT especially, have been very learned on this subject, and all have thrown new light on what I consider a very curious inquiry. The following document I discovered some years ago in the Lord Steward's Offices. Your readers will see its value at once; but it may not be amiss to observe, that the name in its present application had its origin in the number of masterless boys hanging about the verge of the Court and other public places, palaces, coal-cellars, and palace stables; ready with links to light coaches and chairs, and conduct, and rob people on foot, through the dark streets of London; nay, to follow the Court in its progresses to Windsor and Newmarket. Pope's "link-boys vile" are the black-guard boys of the following Proclamation. PETER CUNNINGHAM. At the Board of Green Cloth, in Windsor Castle, this 7th day of May, 1683. Whereas of late a sort of vicious, idle, and masterless boyes and rogues, commonly called the Black-guard, with divers other lewd and loose fellowes, vagabonds, vagrants, and wandering men and women, do usually haunt and follow the Court, to the great dishonour of the same, and as Wee are informed have been the occasion of the late dismall fires that happened in the towns of Windsor and Newmarket, and have, and frequently do commit divers other misdemeanours and disorders in such places where they resort, to the prejudice of His Majesty's subjects, for the prevention of which evills and misdemeanours hereafter, Wee do hereby strictly charge and command all those so called the Black-guard as aforesaid, with all other loose, idle, masterless men, boyes, rogues, and wanderers, who have intruded themselves into His Majesty's Court or stables, that within the space of twenty-four houres next after the publishing of this order, they depart, upon pain of imprisonment, and such other punishments as by law are to be inflicted on them. (Signed) ORMOND. H. BULKELEY. H. BROUNCKER. RICH. MASON. STE. FOX. * * * * * THE CALVES' HEAD CLUB. (Vol. viii., pp. 315. 480.) The Calves' Head Club existed much earlier than the time when their doings were commemorated in the _Weekly Oracle_ (Vol. viii., p. 315.) of February 1, 1735, or depicted in the print of 1734 (Vol. viii., p. 480.). There is a pamphlet, {16} the second edition of which was published in small 4to., in 1703, entitled: "The Secret History of the Calves' Head Club, or, the Republican Unmasqu'd, wherein is fully shewn the Religion of the Calves-Head Heroes in their Anniversary Thanksgiving Songs on the Thirtieth of January, by their Anthems," &c. &c.