_Authors' Trustee Society._--Authors, as a class, are perhaps the most unfit men in the world to make the most of their own property; and were they ever so competent, it will often happen that their works do not attain to any great value as copyrights till after the poor author is laid in his grave. It is then, when his family are sometimes exposed to severe distress, that more favourable terms might be obtained from publishers; but there is no one left who is capable of acting for the benefit of the widow or children. A Society might be formed to take charge as trustees of the property of an author in his works, to make engagements with booksellers for the privilege of publishing future editions as they may be required, and to take care that the _honorarium_ for each edition be duly paid into the hands of the person who is entitled to receive it. No expense would attend the formation of such a Society. Its meetings could be held at scarcely any cost. The advertisements, to announce from time to time what works are open for offers from printers, booksellers, and publishers, would amount to a very small sum in the course of the year--I dare say the Editor of "N. & Q." would insert them gratuitously. But, if necessary, a small percentage on the fees paid would cover all the disbursements of the Society. L. P. K. _The Old Clock at Alderley._--In the investigation of this very old and curious piece of mechanism by the Rev. Joseph Bockett, in the year 1833, an inscription was found signifying that it was presented to the church of Alderley by the great Sir Matthew Hale. It was copied, _verbatim_ {270} _et literatim_, by the said reverend gentleman, and is as follows: "This is the Guift of the Right Honourable the Lord Cheif Justice Heale to the Parish Church of Alderly. John Mason, Bristol, Fecit, Nov[=e]m. 1^{st} 1673." It appears, by this inscription, to have been presented on his birth-day; which, from his tomb, was found to be November 1. Alderley is the family place of the Hale family to this day. JULIA R. BOCKETT. Southcote Lodge. _The Olympic Plain, &c._--The success which has attended the excavations of Dr. Layard at Nineveh, has rekindled the curiosity of the antiquary and the classical scholar with regard to the buried remains of ancient Greece and Rome: "The Tiber at Rome," Dodwell says, "is supposed to contain a vast assemblage of ancient sculpture; and thoughts are entertained of turning its course, in order to explore its hidden treasures." The same distinguished traveller remarks (_Classical and Topog. Tour through Greece_) that--