_Tennyson's Lord of Burleigh_ (Vol. iii., p. 493.).--The poem of "The Lord of Burleigh" is founded upon a supposed romance connected with the marriage of the late Marquis of Exeter with his second wife, Miss Hoggins. This marriage has also formed the groundwork of a play entitled _The Lord of Burghley_, published by Churton in 1845. The story of the courtship and marriage perpetuated by this poem, may be found in the _Illustrated London News_ of the 16th November, 1844, having been copied into that paper from the _Guide to Burghley House_, pp. 36., published by Drakard in 1812. A very slight tinge of romance attends the real facts of this union, which took place when the late Marquis was Mr. Henry Cecil. The lady was not of so lowly an origin as the fiction relates. Mr. Cecil did not become the Lord of Burghley until the death of his uncle, the 9th Earl of Exeter, two years after this marriage, up to which time he resided at Bolas, Salop, the residence of his wife before her marriage, and there the two eldest of their _four_ children were born. The Countess of Exeter died greatly beloved and respected at the early age of twenty-four, having been married nearly seven years. J. P. JUN. _Bicêtre_ (Vol. iii., p. 518.)--It was certainly anciently called Vincestre. It is so in Monstrelêt, whose history begins about 1400. One of the treaties between the Burgundians and Orleanists was made there. President Hénault says (under Charles VI.) that this castle belonged to John, Bishop of Winchester. If he is right in the Christian name, he must mean _had_ belonged, not _appartenoit_, for the John Bishops that I find in Britton's list are: Elected. Died. John of Oxon 1261 1267 John de Pontessara 1282 1304 John de Sandale 1316 1319 John de Stratford 1323 1333 C. B. _On a Passage in Dryden_ (Vol. iii., p. 492.).--MR. BREEN appears to me decidedly wrong in the view he takes of the passage he quotes from Dryden. In the first place, he commits the mistake of assuming that Dryden is expressing his own opinion, or speaking in his own person. The fact is, however, that the speaker is Torresmond. Torresmond is "mad" enough to love the queen; he has already spoken of the "madness of his high attempt," he says he raves; and when the queen offers to give him counsel for his cure, he says he wishes _not_ be cured: "There is a pleasure, _sure_, In being mad, which none but madmen know!" This is inference, not assertion. Whether it be natural or not, I will not say, but I can see no blunder. S. H.