P.S. The word "corrigia" is taken from the word "corium," a skin of leather. [Were not these leather coverings?--that for the rope, to prevent its cutting the ringer's hands (as we constantly see), and also to prevent his hand slipping; and that for the clapper, to muffle it--straps of leather girded round them.] * * * * * _Tu Autem_ (Vol. iii., pp. 265. 308.).--The "Tu Autem," still remembered at Oxford and Cambridge, and yet lingering at the public dinners of the canons of Durham, is the last fragment of what was once a daily, or at least an almost daily, religious form or service at those ancient places; and it is rather strange that such a fragment should have remained so long in the collegiate and cathedral refectory without having preserved any remembrance of its real origin and meaning. If Bishop Hendren or Father Holdfast would forego their favourite pursuits for a few minutes, and look into your interesting and improving miscellany, they might inform you that in the Romish Breviary--which, no doubt, has preserved many ancient religious services--there is a form entitled _Benedictio mensæ_. As the generality of your readers may not have the Breviary at hand, I send you so much of the service as may suffice for the present purpose. "BENEDICTIO MENSÆ. "_Ante prandium Sacerdos benedicturus mensam, incipit_, Benedicite, _et alii repetunt_, Benedicite. _Deinde dicit_ Oculi omnium, _et alii prosequuntur_. In te sperant, Domine, et tu das escam illorum in tempore opportuno" &c. &c. Then "Gloria Patri" &c., and "Pater noster" &c. &c. "_Posteà Sacerdos dicit_: "Oremus. "Benedic Domine nos, et hæc tua dona, quæ de tua largitate sumus sumpturi. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. "_Deinde Lector._ Jube Domine benedicere. _Benedictio._ Mensæ coelestis participes faciat nos Rex æternæ gloriæ. Amen. "_Post prandium aguntur gratiæ hoc modo. Dicto à Lectore_, Tu autem Domine miserere nobis. Deo gratias, _omnes surgunt_. "_Sacerdos incipit._ Confiteantur tibi Domine omnia opera tua. Et Sancti tui benedicant tibi. Gloria Patri, &c. "_Posteà Sacerdos absolutè dicat_: _A_gimus tibi gratias, omnipotens Deus, pro universis beneficiis tuis, &c. "_Deinde alternatim dicitur Psalmus._ Miserere mei Deus. "_Vel Psalmus 116._" (in our version, 117.), &c. &c. &c. The service then proceeds with very much repetition. The performance of the whole would probably occupy twenty minutes. I must note that there are variations in the service depending upon the season, &c. &c. I have indicated the _rubric_ of the Breviary by _Italics_. J. YALC. Preston, Lanc. * * * * *