5. _The Travels of Baron Munchausen_ were written to ridicule Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, whose adventures were at the time deemed fictitious. Bruce was a most upright, honest man, and recorded nothing but what he had seen; nevertheless, as is always the case, a host of detractors buzzed about him, and he was so much vexed at the impeachment of his veracity, that he let them get their own way. Munchausen, a veritable {118} name--the real possessor of which died in October, 1817--was assumed, and poor Bruce was travestied very cleverly, but most unjustly. The real author has not been ascertained; but at one time it was believed to have been James Grahame, afterwards a Scotch barrister, and author of a poem of much beauty, called _The Sabbath_. Circumstances which came to my knowledge, coupled with the exceedingly loveable character of Grahame, render this belief now incredible; but undoubtedly he knew who the real author was. The copy in my library is in two volumes: the _first_, said to be the second edition, "considerably enlarged, and ornamented with twenty explanatory engravings from original designs," is entitled _Gulliver Revived: or the Vice of Lying properly exposed_, and was printed for the Kearsleys, at London, 1793. The _second_ volume is called _A Sequel to the Adventures of Baron Munchausen_, and is described as "a new edition, with twenty capital copperplates, including the Baron's portrait; humbly dedicated to Mr. Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller," was published by H. D. Symonds, Paternoster Row, 1796. I had for years sought for an original copy of this very singular work, and I at last was so successful as to purchase the one above described, which had been picked up by a bookseller at the sale of some books originally forming part of the library at Hoddam Castle. On looking over a copy of Sir John Mandeville, "Printed for J. Osborne, near Dockhead, Southwark; and James Hodges, at the Looking Glass, on London Bridge:" I observe he gives--at least there--no account whatever of his peregrinations to the polar regions; and the notion of ascribing to him the story of the frozen words is preposterous. I have not in my library, but have read, the best edition of Sir John's _Travels_ (I don't mean the abominable reprint), but I do not remember anything of the kind there. Indeed Sir John, like Marco Polo, was perfectly honest, though some of their informants may not have been so. J. ME. * * * * * Minor Queries. _The Witches' Prayer._--Can you inform me where I can find the epigram alluded to by Addison, in No. 61. of the _Spectator_, as "The Witches' Prayer," which falls into verse either way, only that it reads "cursing" one way, and "blessing" the other? Or is the epigram only a creation of the pleasing author's fertile imagination? DOUBTFUL. St. John's Wood.