"Nil mutum Natura dedit: non aeris ales Quadrupedesve silent," &c. should be compared with the celebrated stanza of Spenser's _Faerie Queen_ (book ii. canto xii. st. 71.), beginning with "The joyous birds shrouded in cheareful shade;" and with D'Israeli's animated defence, in his _Amenities_ (vol. ii. p. 395.) of these charming verses against the [Greek: plemmeles] and tasteless, the anti-poetical and technical, criticism of Twining, in his first _Dissertation on Poetical and Musical Imitation_. T.J. _Darby and Joan_ (Vol. iii., p. 38.).--I never heard of the tradition mentioned by H. I can only suppose that the poet referred to was the first person who introduced the ballad at the manor-house. Helaugh Nichols, an excellent authority in such matters, whose trade traditions, through the Boyers, father and son, went back a century and a half, tells us that the ballad was supposed to have been written by Henry Woodfall, while an apprentice to Darby. The Darbys were printers time out of mind--one Robert Darby was probably an assistant to Wynkyn de Worde, who certainly left a legacy to a person of that name. The Woodfalls, too, can be traced up as printers for nearly two centuries. _The_ Darby, and Joan, his wife, were probably John Darby, printer, in Bartholomew Close, who was {70} prosecuted in 1684 for printing "Lord Russell's Speech," and died in 1704. _The_ Woodfall, the printer, is understood to have been Henry Woodfall, afterwards "Woodfall without Temple Bar," grandfather of Henry Sampson, the printer of _Junius' Letters_, and great-great-grandfather of the present excellent printer of the same name. J.D.Y. _Did Bunyan know Hobbes?_ (Vol. ii., p. 518.).--Before this question, put by JAS. H. FRISWELL, can be answered satisfactorily, it should be shown that Bunyan was the author of the _Visions of Hell_. In _Chambers' Journal_ for Sept. 7. 1833, n., it is taken for granted that he was, and the passage alluding to Hobbes is noticed. Your correspondent more justly questions the fact. A very intelligent friend of mine, who has devoted much research into the supposed origin of the _Pilgrim's Progress_, the result of which I hope ere long will appear, tells me that he is decidedly of opinion that the _Visions_ in question are not the production of the "prince of dreamers."