With respect to the _legal_ definition of the modern _chapel_, I may mention that, in stat. 7 & 8 Geo. IV. c. 29. s. 10., it signifies, according to Mr. Stephens (_Eccl. Statutes_, p. 1357.), "a chapel where the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England are performed, and does not include the chapels of Dissenters." In stat. 7 & 8 Geo. IV. c. 30., we read, notwithstanding, of "any _chapel_ for the religious worship of persons dissenting from the United Church of England and Ireland." C.H. St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge. _Chapels_ (No. 20. p. 333., and No. 23. p. 371.).--The opinion of the "BARRISTER" that this term had come into use as a designation of dissenting places of worship from no "idea of either assistance or opposition to the Church of England," but only as a supposed means of security to the property, is probably correct. Yet it is likely different reasons may have had weight in different places. However, he is mistaken in "believing that we must date the adoption of that term from about" forty years ago. I am seventy-six years old, and I can bear testimony, that from my infancy it was the term universally employed in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and, I think probable, in the more northern counties. In common speech, it was used as the word of discrimination from the Methodist places of worship, which bore the name of _Meeting-houses_, or, more generally, _Meetings_. But within the period (forty years) assigned by your learned correspondent, I think that I have observed the habit to have extensively obtained of applying the term _Chapels_ to the latter class of places. I have abundant evidence of the general use of the term for dissenting buildings, back to the seventeenth century. From my early life, I remember the current opinion to have been that _Chapel_ was the word in use north of the Trent, and _Meeting-house_ in Nottingham and southwards. An eminent antiquary, the Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A., could cast a full light upon this subject. J.P.S. Homerton, April 15. _Beaver_ (No. 21. p. 338.).--The earliest form of this word is _fiber_, which is used to signify the animal, the _Castor_, by Varro and Pliny. The fabulous story of the self-emasculation by which the beaver eludes pursuit, is thus introduced by Silius, in illustrating the flight of Hasdrubal:-- {418} "Fluminei veluti deprensus gurgitis undis, Avulsâ parte inguinibus caussaque pericli, Enatat intento prædæ _fibor_ avius hoste." _Punica_, IV. 485-8, where see Ruperti. The scholiast on Juvenal, xii. 34., has the low Latin _vebrus_. (See Forcellini, Lex. in _Fiber_ et _Castor_, Ducange in _Bever_, and Adelung in _Biber_.) Derivations of the word _bebrus_ occur in all the languages of Europe, both Romanic and Teutonic; and denote the Castor. _Beaver_, in the sense of a _hat_ or _cap_, is a secondary application, derived from the material of which the hat or cap was made. W.