"Two young Finnish students are wandering through the districts round Tammerfors, for the purpose of collecting and preserving old Finnish folk-tales, legends, songs, runes, riddles, and proverbs, &c. Their names are B. Paldani and O. Palander. They are not assisted by the Finnish Literary Society, whose funds at this moment are not in a condition to bear any extra expenses, but by two divisions of the students at Helsingfors, namely, the West Finnish and the Wiborg students, each of which has subscribed _fifty_ silver rubles for this purpose. The two literary pilgrims have already collected rich treasures of Finnish folk-lore. _Why do we not follow their example? When will some of our accomplished young scholars wander over the hills and dales of merry England, rescuing from oblivion our rich traditions, before they pass for ever from among us? Surely the Society of Antiquaries might arrange similar visits for a similar purpose. There is no want of men able and willing to undertake the task, only the ARRANGING HAND is wanting. In the meantime let every man do what he can in his own neighbourhood._" In hopes that the "_arranging hand_" may, through the medium of "N. & Q.," start out of chaos ready for its work, and the "_men able and willing_" not be wanting, I beg to state that (being unable to aid the cause otherwise) I will gladly contribute in the way of money, as far as my abilities go, should any systematic plan be arranged. C. D. LAMONT. Greenock. LONDON STREET CHARACTERS. Mr. Dickens's graphic description of the Court of Chancery, in his new work, _Bleak House_, contains the following sketch: "Standing on a seat at the side of the hall, ... is a little mad old woman in a squeezed bonnet, who is always in court ... expecting some incomprehensible judgment to be given in her favour. Some say she really is, or was, a party to a suit: but no one knows for certain, because no one cares. She carries some small litter in a reticule which she calls her documents: principally consisting of paper matches and dry lavender." There is a diminutive creature, somewhat answering to this description, who limps on a stick and one leg that is shorter than the other, all the early morning in the still courts of the Temple; and seems to be waiting the result of some consultation, before she reappears, as is her wont, in Westminster Hall. Whether this person suggested the victim of _Bleak House_, is a question of no moment. The story commonly told of her is a very similar one, namely, that she was ruined and crazed, like Peter Peebles, by the slow torture of a law-suit. Is anything known of her real history?