_Dutch Language_ (Vol. i., p. 383.).--E. V. asks what are the best _modern_ books for acquiring a knowledge of the Dutch language. If E. V. insist upon _modern_ books, he cannot have better than Hendrik Conscience's novels, or Gerrits's _Zoon des Volks_. I would, however, advise him to get a volume of Jacob Cats' _Poems_, the language of which is not antiquated, and is idiomatic without being difficult to a beginner. H. B. C. _"Construe" and "Translate"_ (Vol ii., p. 22.).--It is very common, I apprehend, in language, for two words, originally of the same meaning, or two spellings of the same word, to be gradually appropriated by usage to two subordinate uses, applications, and meanings of the word respectively, and that merely by accident, as to which of the two is taken for one of the subdivisions, and which for the other. We have made such an appropriation in our own time,--despatch and dispatch. It may be curious, however, to inquire how far back the distinction mentioned by your correspondent is found. "Construe," originally, must probably have meant, not to turn from one language into another, but to explain the construction, or what is called by the Greek name syntax, much like what in regard to a single word is called parsing. C. B. _Dutton Family_ (Vol. ii., p. 21.).--B. will find the _Dutton_ proviso in the statute 17 Geo. II. explained by reference to Ormerod's _Cheshire_, vol. i. pp. 36. 477. 484.; Lyson's _Cheshire_; Blount's _Antient Tenures_, 298., &c. An early grant by one of the Lacy family transferred to Hugh de Dutton and his heirs "magistratum omnium leccatorum et meritricum totius Cestriae." In the fifteenth century the jurisdiction was claimed by the Dutton family, in respect of the lordship or manor of Dutton, and was then confined to a jurisdiction over the minstrels and musicians of the palatinate and city of Chester, who constituted, I presume, a department among the _leccatores_, or licorish fellows, mentioned above. In virtue of this jurisdiction the lord of Dutton had the advowry or "advocaria" of the minstrels of the district, and annually licensed them at a _Court of Minstrelsy_, where the homage consisted of a jury of sworn fiddlers; and certain dues, namely, flagons of wine and a lance or flagstaff, were yearly rendered to the lord. The last court was held in 1756. As the early Vagrant Acts included "minstrels" in their definition of rogues and vagabonds, it is evident that the suitors of the Minstrelsy Court would have run the risk of commitment to the House of Correction and a whipping, if the acts had not specially excepted the franchise of the Dutton family from their operation. The earliest statutes are 14 Eliz. c. 5.; 39 Eliz. c. 4.; and 43 Eliz. c. 9. Section 27. of the last Act clearly shows that it was the power of licensing minstrels which the proviso of the acts was intended to save. The pedigree of the Dutton family will be found in the volume of Ormerod already cited. E. S. June 5. 1850.