The _Short Critical Review of the life of Oliver Cromwell, by a Gentleman of the Middle Temple_, has always been attributed to John Bankes, an account of whom will be found in Chalmers's _Biog. Dict._, vol. iii. p. 422., where it is confidently stated to be his. It was first published in 1739, 8vo. I have two copies of a third edition, Lond. 1747. 12mo. "Carefully revised and greatly enlarged in every chapter by the author." In one of the copies the title-page states it to be "by a gentleman of the Middle Temple;" and in the other "by Mr. Bankes." Bishop Gibson did not die till 1748, and there seems little probability that, if he were the author, another man's name would be put to it during his lifetime. I conclude therefore that neither of these two works are by Bishop Gibson. JAS. CROSSLEY. _Lines on the Temple_ (Vol. iii., pp. 450. 505.).--In the _Gentleman's Mag._ (Suppl. for 1768, p. 621.), the reviewer of a work entitled "_Cobleriana, or the Cobler's Miscellany_, being a choice collection of the miscellaneous pieces in prose and verse, serious and comic, by Jobson the Cobler, of Drury Lane, 2 vols.," gives the following extract; but does not state whether it belongs to the "new" pieces, or to those which had been previously "published in the newspapers," the volume being avowedly composed of both sorts:-- "_An Epigram on the Lamb and Horse, the two insignia of the Societies of the Temple._ "The Lamb the _Lawyers'_ innocence declares, The Horse _their_ expedition in affairs; Hail, happy men! for chusing two such types As plainly shew _they_ give the world no wipes; For who dares say that suits are at a stand, When _two_ such virtues both go hand in hand? No more let _Chanc'ry Lane_ be endless counted, Since they're by Lamb and Horse so nobly mounted." The _Italics_, which I have copied, were, I suppose, put in by the reviewer, who adds, "Q. Whether the Lamb and Horse are mounted upon Chancery Lane, or two virtues, or happy men?" Poor man! I am afraid his Query has never been answered; for that age was not adorned and illustrated by any work like one in which we rejoice,--a work of which, lest a more unguarded expression of our feelings should be indelicate, and subject us to the suspicion of flattery, we will be content to say boldly, that, though less in size and cost, it is cotemporaneous with the Great Exhibition. A TEMPLAR. These lines are printed (probably for the first time) in the sixth number of _The Foundling Hospital for Wit_, 8vo.: Printed for W. Webb, near St. Paul's, 1749 (p. 73.). The learned author of _Heraldic Anomalies_ (2nd edit. vol. i. p. 310.) says they were _chalked_ upon one of the public gates of the Temple; but from the following note, preceding the lines in question, in _The Foundling Hospital for Wit_, this statement is probably erroneous: