"Manifesta causa est mihi, quoniam die ilio quando te sposavi, promiseram tibi dare _justitiam_ tuam secundum _legem meam_ [qr. _my Lombard_ law in opposition to the Roman, which he had a right to choose,] in Morgencap, id est, quartam portionem omnium rerum mobilium et immobilium," &c. Cancianus thus comments:-- "Animadverte, quam recte charta hÊc cum supra alligatis formulis conveniat. Sponsus promiserat Morgencap, quando feminam desponsaverat, inde vero ante conjugium chartam conscribit: et quod et Liutprandi lege, et ex antiquis moribus _Donum_ fuit mere gratuitum, hic appellatur _Justitia_ secundum legem Langobardorum." The Morgencap here assumes, I apprehend, somewhat the form of _dower_. That it was so, is very doubtful. (Grimm, vol. ii. p. 441. "Morgengabe.") "An demselben Morgen empf‰ngt die JungFrau von ihrem Gemahl ein ansehnliches Geschenk, welches Morgengabe heisst. Schon in der Pactio Guntherammi et Childeberti, werden Dos und Morganagiba _unterschieden_, ebenso _Leg. Rip._ 37. 2. _Alaman_. 56. 1, 2. Dos und Morgangeba; _Lex Burgend._ 42. 2. Morgangeba und das 'pretium nuptiale;' bei den Langobarden, 'Meta und Morgengab.'" I do not say this answers the question of your correspondent G., which is, what is the _derivation_ of the word? Its actual signification, I think, means left-handed; but to think is not to resolve, and the question is open to the charitable contributions of your learned and able supporters. As regards the Fairy Morgana, who was married to a mortal, I confess, with your kind permission, I had rather not accept her as a satisfactory reply. It is as though you would accept "once upon a time" as a chronological date! She was _married_ to a mortal--true; but _morganatically_, I doubt it. If morganatic came from this, it should appear the _Fairy Morgana_ was the _first lady_ who so underwent the ceremony. Do not forget Lurline, who married also a mortal, of whom the poet so prettily sings: "Lurline hung her head, Turned pale, and then red; And declared his abruptness in popping the question So soon after dinner had spoilt her digestion." This lady's marriage resembled the other in all respects, and I leave you to decide, and no man is more competent, from your extensive knowledge of the mythology of Medieval Europe, whether Morgana, beyond the mere accident of her name, was more likely than Lurline to have added a word with a puzzling etymology to the languages of Europe. The word will, I think, be found of Eastern origin, clothed in a Teutonic form. After all, Jacob Grimm and Cancianus may interest your readers, and so I send the Note. S.H. AthenÊum, Sept. 6. 1850 * * * * * MINOR NOTES. _Alderman Beckford._--Gifford (_Ben Jonson_, vol. vi. p. 481.) has the following note:--