_Classic Authors and the Jews_ (Vol. ix., p. 221.).--In Smith's _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography_ a few references are given, under the words "Herodes," "Hyrcanus," &c., to classical authors who refer to the Jewish people, their country and customs. Probably many more will be given in the _Dictionary of Geography_, under the words "Palestine," "Jerusalem," &c., when the work is completed. To suppose that the classical authors allude but seldom to the Jews is a mistake. Roman writers of the post-Augustan period abound in allusions to them. I can supply {385} B. H. C. with a few. The _Histories_ of Tacitus refer to them in almost every page, and book v. especially contains an account of their origin, institutions, chief city, and temple. Juvenal also has frequent allusions to their customs and habits, _e. g._ Sat. iii. 14., xiv. 101. &c.; see also Horace's _Satires_, I. iv. 143., I. v. 100., and I. ix. 70., with Macleane's notes on the two latter passages; Pliny, V. xiv. 15., XIII. iv. 9., XXXI. viii. 44.; Quint., III. vii. 21.; Just., xxxvi. 2. I am not aware of any work which gives _all_ the passages in classical authors referring to the Jews. FRANCIS J. LEACHMAN, B.A. In answer to your correspondent B. H. C., I beg to say that I have found out the following passages in classic authors bearing on Judea and the Jews, all of which I have authenticated myself, except where I had not the book at hand: Tacitus. Annales, ii. 85.; xii. 23. 54.; xv. 44. Ditto. Historiae, i. 10.; ii. 1. 4, 5. 78. 79. 81.; v. _passim_. Horace. Satires, i. 4. 143.; i. 5. 100.; i. 9. 70. Juvenal. Satires, ii. 14.; vi. 158-160, 537-547.; xiv. 96-106. Persius. Satires, v. 180-189. Martial, iv. 4. Suetonius. Tiberius, 36.; Augustus, 76.; Claudius, 25.; Vespasian, 5. &c.; Julius Caesar, 84. Pliny, v. 14, 15, 16. &c.; vii. 15.; xxviii. 7. Dio Cassius, lx. s.6.; xxxvii. s.17. Lucan, ii. B. H. A. _Mawkin_ (Vol. ix., p. 303.).--An attempt to explain the origin of the word _maukin_, or _malkin_, may be seen in the _Philological Museum_, vol. i. p. 681. (See also Halliwell's Dict., in _Malkin_ and _Maulkin_.) The most probable derivation of the word is, that _malkin_ is a diminutive of _mal_, abbreviated from _Mary_, now commonly written _Moll._ Hence, by successive changes, _malkin_ or _maukin_ might mean a dirty wench, a figure of old rags dressed up as a scarecrow, and a mop of rags used for cleaning ovens. The Scotch _maukin_, for a hare, seems to be an instance of an animal acquiring a proper name, like _renard_ in French, and _jack_ for _pike_ in English. L. _Mantelpiece_ (Vol. ix., p. 302.).--_French_, Manteau de cheminee. _German_, Kamin Mantel. This is the moulding, or mantle, that serves to hide (screen) the joint betwixt the wall and the fire-stove. H. F. B.