Again, what reader of gossip does not know that when George III. went to Weymouth, the Mayor, in making his address, mistook the private directions of his prompter for parts of his address, and gave it the King as follows:--"Hold up your head, and look like a man--what the ---- do you mean?... By ----, Sir, you'll ruin us all." This story was told in a newspaper in 1797, as having happened between James II. and the Mayor of Winchester. In the _Monthly Magazine_ in 1798, is a paper on peculiarities of expression, among which are several which we flatter ourselves belong to our own time. For instance, "to _cut_ a person," which was then current: some tried to change it into _spear_, but failed. Also, to _vote_, as in "he voted it a bad lounge;" and the words _bore_, _done up_, _dished_, &c.; not forgetting _spilt_ for "upset" in a carriage. The parliamentary phrases of "catching the speaker's eye," "being upon his legs," "meeting the ideas of the house," "committing himself," "taking shame to himself," "being free to confess," "putting a question roundly," "answering it fairly," "pushing an investigation," are all noted as then worthy of remark. And, if we are to trust the article cited, the word _truism_ was born and bred in the House of Commons, in the sense of a forcible and undeniable truth. And the same origin is given to the idiom "in my own mind" as in "I feel no doubt, in my own mind,..." M. _Corruptions recognised as acknowledged Words._--I recollect two curious historical instances of mere vulgar mis-pronunciation, which have established themselves in use; perhaps others of your readers may mention more, which it would be interesting to trace to their origin. _Massaniello_ is universally recognised as the name of the celebrated Neapolitan insurrectionist, who at one time nearly overturned the government of that kingdom. How few who use the word are aware that "Mas-Aniello" is but a corruption of _Thomas Aniello_, so pronounced by his vulgar companions, and now raised to the dignity of an historical name. _Hougoumont_ is a conspicuous feature of the great field of Waterloo, and a name familiarly used in speaking of the famous battle; in course of time it will be forgotten that this is a mere mistake, said to have originated with the great general who achieved the victory, catching up from the peasantry around, the sound of _Chateau Goumont_, the real name of the little rural demesne in question. Nobody doubts, however, the right of the "Great Duke" to call a place he has made so famous by any name he might please to apply, and so _Hougoumont_ it will remain while history lasts. A. B. R. Queries. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS AND BOTHWELL'S CONFESSION.