In the romance of _Trancred_, Mr. D'Israeli mentions the Ansareys, one of the tribes of Lebanon, as worshipping the old heathen gods, Jupiter, Apollo, and Astarte, or Venus. A writer of fiction is certainly not expected to be bound to fact; but in such a matter as the present religion of an existing people, I feel doubtful whether to suppose this religion his own invention, or if he has any authority for it, and its connexion with pagan Antioch. A people to-day retaining the worship of the old gods of Greece and Syria, is a matter of great interest. I have looked into Volney's _Travels in Syria and Egypt_, and in some later writers, but none of them state the paganism of Tancred to be the religion of the Ansareys. It is, however, said to be a mystery, so not impossibly the account in _Tancred_ may be the reality. In the same work, the Sheikhs of Sheikhs, and his tribe, the Beni-Rechab children of Rechab, are said to be Jews on horseback, inhabiting the desert, and resembling the wandering Arabs in their mode of life. This also is curious, if there be such a people; and some of your readers acquainted with the history and manners of Syria may give information on these matters. The other tribes of Lebanon are singular and equally interesting:--the Maronites, Christians of the Roman Catholic sect, who, however, allow their priests to marry; the Metualis, Mahomedans of the sect of Ali; and the Druses, whose religion is unknown, and, as Lamartine tells us, was entirely so to Lady Hester Stanhope, who lived years in the middle of them. Volney divides the Ansareys {170} in several sects, of whom one worshipped the sun, another a dog, and a third had an obscene worship, with such lewd nocturnal meetings as were fabled of the Yesedee. F. * * * * * PRIMERS OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. Little is known respecting the Primers of this reign, and yet several editions were published. My object will be to give some information on the subject, in the hope that more may be elicited from your correspondents. There is an edition of the year 1559, 4to. Two copies only are known at present; one in the library at Christ Church, Oxford, and the other at Jesus College, Cambridge. It has been reprinted by the Parker Society. This Primer contains certain prayers for the dead, as they stand in that of Henry VIII., 1545. In short, with the exception of "An Order for Morning Prayer," with which it commences, this Primer follows the arrangement of that of 1545; some things, relative to saints, angels, and the Virgin Mary, having been excluded. But I have in my possession another edition in 12mo. of this reign, of which I can trace no other copy. My book wants the title, and consequently I cannot ascertain its date. It was formerly in Gough's possession. I am inclined to think that it is earlier than the edition reprinted by the Parker Society.