[Dr. Johnson expressed his surprise that the inventor of spectacles was regarded with indifference, and has found no biographer to celebrate his deeds. Most authorities give the latter part of the thirteenth century as the period of their invention, and popular opinion has pronounced in favour of Alexander de Spina, a native of Pisa, who died in the year 1313. In the Italian Dictionary, _Della Crusca_, under the head of "Occhiale," or Spectacles, it is stated that Friar Jordan de Rivalto tells his audience, in a sermon published in 1305, that "it is not twenty years since the art of making spectacles was found out, and is indeed one of the best and most necessary inventions in the world." This would place the invention in the year 1285. On the other hand, Dominic Maria Manni, an eminent Italian writer, attributes the invention to Salvino Armati, who flourished about 1345. (See his Treatise, _Degli Occhiali da Naso, inventati da Salvino Armati_, 4to. 1738.) On the authority of various passages in the writings of Friar Bacon, Mr. Molyneux is of opinion that he was acquainted with the use of spectacles; and when Bacon (_Opus Majus_) says, that "this instrument (a plano-convex glass, or large segment of a sphere) is useful to old men, and to those who have weak eyes; for they may see the smallest letters sufficiently magnified," we may conclude that the particular way of assisting decayed sight was known to him. It is quite certain that they were known and used about the time of his death, A.D. 1292.] _Stoke._--What is the meaning of the word _stoke_, with regard to the names of places, as Bishopstoke, Ulverstoke, Stoke-on-Trent, &c.? W. B. [Bosworth (_Anglo-Saxon Dict._) derives it from "_stoc_, a place; hence stoke, a termination of the names of places; locus:--Wude stoc _sylvarum locus_, Sim. Dunelm. anno 1123."] _Author of Psalm Tune "Doncaster."_--Our organist is about to add another selection of psalm tunes to the large number already existing. He has been able to assign all the tunes which it comprises to their proper composers, with one exception--the tune called "Doncaster," the author of which he has failed to discover. Will any of your correspondents kindly supply this desideratum? W. SPARROW SIMPSON, B.A. [The well-known tune called "Doncaster" was composed by Dr. Edward Miller, for fifty-one years organist of Doncaster Church, but better known as the author of _The History and Antiquities of Doncaster_. See his _Collection of Psalm Tunes for the Use of Parish Churches_, 4to. 1790, pp. 32. 46. 106.] _Dr. Henry Sacheverell._--Can any of your correspondents refer me to a copy of the Assize Sermon preached at Derby by Dr. Sacheverell, and which formed part of the charge against him? L. J. [We can favour L. J. with the loan of a copy of this sermon for a week or two. It shall be left for him at our publisher's.] Replies.