"_Imprest_" (Vol. ii., p. 40).--D.V.S. will find an illustration of the early application of this word to advances made by the Treasury in the "Rotulus de _Prestito_" of 12 John, printed by the Record Commission under the careful editorship of Mr. T. Duffus Hardy, whose preface contains a clear definition of its object, and an account of other existing rolls of the same character. EDWARD FOSS. _Derivation of News._--P.C.S.S. has read with great interest the various observations on the derivation of the word "News" which have appeared in the "NOTES AND QUERIES," and especially those of the learned and ingenious Mr. Hickson. He ventures, however, with all respect, to differ from the opinion expressed by that gentleman in Vol. i., p. 81., to the effect that-- "In English, there is no process known by which a noun plural can be formed from an adjective, without the previous formation of the singular in the same sense." P.C.S.S. would take the liberty of reminding Mr. H. of the following passage in the _Tempest_:-- "When that is gone, He shall drink nought but brine, for I'll not show him Where the quick freshes lie." Surely, in this instance, the plural noun "freshes" is not formed from any such singular noun as "_fresh_," but directly from the adjective, which latter does not seem to have been ever used as a singular _noun_. While on the subject of "News," P.C.S.S. finds in Pepys' _Diary_ (vol. iii. p. 59.) another application of the word, in the sense of a noun singular, which he does not remember to have seen noticed by others. "Anon, the coach comes--in the meantime, there coming a _news_ thither, with his horse to come over." In other parts of the _Diary_, the word _News-book_ is occasionally employed to signify what is now termed a newspaper, or, more properly, a bulletin. For instance (vol. iii. p. 29.), we find that-- "This _News-book_, upon Mr. Moore's showing L'Estrange Captain Ferrers's letter, did do my Lord Sandwich great right as to the late victory." And again (at p. 51.): "I met this noon with Dr. Barnett, who told me, and I find in the _News-book_ this week, that he posted upon the 'Change,'" &c. &c. Much has been lately written in the "NOTES AND QUERIES" respecting the "Family of Love." A sect of a similar name existed here in 1641, and a full and not very decent description of their rites and orgies is to be found in a small pamphlet of that date, reprinted in the fourth volume (8vo. ed.) of the _Harleian Miscellany_. P.C.S.S. {108}