Augustine's remarks (c. xviii. § 39.) on these and similar phenomena are well worth reading. He begs the learned not to mock him as speaking confidently, and the unlearned not to take what he says on trust, but hopes that both will regard him simply as an inquirer. He compares these visions to those in dreams. Some come true, and some false; some are clear, others obscure. But men love to search into what is singular, neglecting what is usual, though even more inexplicable; just as when a man hears a word whose sound is new to him, he is curious to know its meaning; while he never thinks of asking the meaning of words familiar to his ear, however little he may really understand them. If any one then wishes for a satisfactory account of these strange phenomena, let him first explain the phenomena of dreams, or let him show how the images of material objects reach the mind through the eyes. J. E. B. MAYOR. St. John's College, Cambridge. * * * * * EDWARD GIBBON, FATHER AND SON. Gibbon mentions in his _Memoirs_ (edit. 1796, p. 18.), that in 1741 his father and Mr. Delmé successfully contested Southampton against Mr. Henly, subsequently Lord Chancellor, but that, after the dissolution in 1747, he was unable or unwilling to maintain another contest, and "the life of the senator expired in that dissolution." Not so the hopes of the senator, as will appear from the following extract from a letter, dated "Beriton, January 27, 1754:" "I received the favour of your letter according to the time you promised. As Lord M---- has promised his own votes, I find there is nothing to be done: strange behaviour, sure! But there seems to be such infatuation upon this poor country, that even a good Catholic shall join with a Dissenter to rivet on her chains. There are several of the Independents would have me stand it out, but I would not on any account, for I find it would make great dissensions, and even several of Lord M----'s fagots and tenants would vote against him; and another thing, it would lessen him in the opinion of a _great many people_ to have him making interest for the two _present worthy candidates_ against me. I shall therefore, upon his account, give over all thoughts of standing; and I hope it may give me some little more credit and merit with him against another election, especially if you would _be so good as to improve it for me_." The following is of far greater interest--full of character. How well it illustrates the paragraph in the _Memoirs_ (pp. 82-3.): "My stay at Beriton was always voluntary ... I never handled a gun, I seldom mounted a horse; and my philosophic walks were soon terminated by a shady bench, where I was long detained by the sedentary amusement of reading or meditation."