[Footnote 2: At p. 252. of the same article is an account of the battle of the gnats, noticed by MR. E. W. JACOB.--ED.] _Battle of the Gnats._--In reading Stowe's _Chronicles of England_, I hit upon the following passage recorded in the reign of King Richard II., p. 509.: "A fighting among gnats at the King's Maner of _Shine_, where they were so thicke gathered, that the ayre was darkned with them: they fought and made a great battaile. Two partes of them being slayne, fel downe to the grounde; the thirde parte hauing got the victorie, flew away, no man knew whither. The number of the deade was such that might be swepte uppe with besomes, and bushels filled weyth them." This is a curious incident, and I have never heard of anything of the sort taking place in modern times. Would some of your readers who study natural history be good enough to give me another instance? I am at present inclined to think that the account is one of the many myths which Stow doubtless believed. EUSTACE W. JACOB. _Sandford of Thorpe Salvine, Co. York._--Wanted, the arms and crest of the Sandfords of Thorpe Salvine. Also any particulars of the family, from the commencement of their residence at High Ashes, in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, co. Lancashire, until the termination of that residence. Were they of the same family with Sandford, Baron Mount Sandford? J. B. "_Outlines of the History of Theology_," 8vo., London, 1844, said to be privately printed. Any information as to the author, &c. will oblige JOHN MARTIN. Woburn Abbey. _"Mawkin."_--Is this word, which signifies here "a scarecrow," merely a Norfolk pronunciation of _mocking_? i. e. an imitation of a man--composed of coat, hat, &c. hung upon a cross bar of wood? J. L. S. _"Plain Dealer."_--Can any one of your readers inform me where I can see a copy of Aaron Hill's _Plain Dealer_, as originally published, and before it was collected and printed in two volumes? D. _Hymn attributed to Handel._--Can any of your readers give information concerning a hymn which commences thus: "We'll proclaim the wond'rous story Of the mercies we receive, From the day-spring's dawn in glory, To the fading hour of eve." It has been attributed to Handel. On what authority? W. P. STORER. Olney, Bucks. {304} _Degrees in Arts._--In the diploma of Master of Arts which I obtained from the University of Edinburgh, occur the words: "Cunctaque consecutum esse Privilegia, Immunitates, Jura, quae hic aut usquam alibi Bonarum Artium Magistris concedi solent." What are (or rather _were_, for I suppose they do not now exist) these _privilegia_, _immunitates_, and _jura_? ANNANDALE.