Can any of your readers inform me _when_ the elder Tradescant came over to England, and when he was appointed royal gardener? Was it not in the reign of Elizabeth? J. C. B. Lambeth. _Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Craigs._--L. M. M. R. is very anxious to be informed as to the origin of the name of Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Craigs, the well-known hill and rocks close to Edinburgh. _Lincoln Missal._--Is a manuscript of the missal, according to the use of the church of Lincoln, known to exist? and, if so, where may it be seen? EDWARD PEACOCK, JUN. * * * * * Replies. MEANING OF EISELL. (Vol. iii., p. 66.) I must beg a very small portion of your space to reply to your correspondent H. K. S. C., who criticises so pleasantly my remarks on the meaning of "eisell." The question is: Does the meaning MR. SINGER attaches to this word require in the passage cited the expression of quantity to make it definite? I am disposed to think that a definite quantity may be sometimes understood, in a well-defined act, although it be _not_ expressed. On the other hand, your correspondent should know that English idiom requires that the name of a river should be preceded by the definite article, unless it be personified; and that whenever it is used without the article, it is represented by the personal pronoun _he_. Though a man were able "to drink _the Thames_ dry," he could no more "drink up _Thames_" than he could drink up _Neptune_, or the sea-serpent, or do any other impossible feat.