taking off this machine, they are obliged to say three times, 'Tongue, thou hast lyed.'"] _Not caring a Fig for anything._--What is the origin of this expression? J. H. CHATEAU. Philadelphia. [Nares informs us that the real origin of this expression may be found in Stevens and Pineda's Dictionaries under _Higa_; and, in fact, the same phrase and allusion pervaded all modern Europe: as, _Far le fiche_, Ital.; _Faire la figue_, Fr.; _Die Feigen weisen_, Germ., _De vÿghe setten_, Dutch. (See Du Cange, in _Ficha_.) Johnson says, "To _fig_, in Spanish, _higas dar_, is to insult by putting the thumb between the fore and middle finger. From this Spanish custom we yet say in contempt, _A fig for you_." To this explanation Mr. Douce has added the following note: "Dr. Johnson has properly explained this phrase; but it should be added, that it is of Italian origin. When the Milanese revolted against the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, they placed the Empress his wife upon a mule with her head towards the tail, and ignominiously expelled her their city. Frederick afterwards besieged and took the place, and compelled every one of his prisoners, on pain of death, to take with his teeth a _fig_ from the posteriors of a mule. The party was at the same time obliged to repeat to the executioner the words _Ecco la fica_. From this circumstance _far la fica_ became a term of derision, and was adopted by other nations. The French say likewise, _faire la figue_."] _B. C. Y._--Can you give me any information respecting the famous B. C. Y. row, as it was called, which occurred about fifty years ago? A newspaper was started expressly to explain the meaning of the letters, which said it was "Beware of the Catholic Yoke;" but it was wrong. H. Y. [These "No-Popery" hieroglyphics first appeared in the reign of Charles II. during the debates on the Exclusion Bill, and were chalked over all parts of Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament. O B. C. Y. was then the inscription, which meant, "O Beware of Catholic York." On their re-appearance in 1809 the Y. was much taller than the B. C.; but the use and meaning at this time of these initials still remains a query.] _Earl Nugent's Poems._--I would be much obliged for any information relating to the poems written by Robert, afterwards Earl Nugent, between the years 1720 and 1780. It is supposed that they were first published in some periodical, and afterwards appeared in a collected form. JAMES F. FERGUSON. Dublin.