_Bull the Barrel_ (Vol. v., p. 200.).--The practice of "bulling the barrel" or "cask," as mentioned by C. FORBES, is an every-day occurrence in the Navy. As soon as a rum cask is emptied, a few gallons of water are put into the cask (and it is struck down again into the spirit-room); this is done to keep the wood moist, and prevent it from shrinking, so as to keep the cask water-tight: this is called "bulling the cask;" and from the water receiving after some time a strong impregnation, which makes it really strong grog, salt water is used, though even the "salt-water bull," as it is called, when again poured out, has often proved too attractive for seamen to resist. Again, it is common to talk in the same way of "bulling a tea-pot," coffee-pot, &c.; that is, after the first "brew" has been exhausted, by adding fresh water, and boiling over again, to make a "_second brew_" from the old materials. This probably was derived from "bulling the cask;" but whether the "bulling" originally applied to the preserving the water-tight qualities of the cask, or to the making the "second brew," I cannot pretend to say, though I should define the present acceptation of the term "bulling" to be "the obtaining an impregnation from that which had been already used." G. M. T. R. N. _Bishop Kidder's Autobiography_ (Vol. v., p. 228.).--Mr. Bowles, in the introduction to his _Life of Bishop Ken_, vol. i. p. xi. (Lond. 1830), expresses his thanks to the late Bishop of Bath and Wells "for the information contained in the MS. life of Ken's successor, Bishop Kidder;" and adds: "This work, never printed, is a very curious and valuable document, _preserved in the episcopal palace of Wells_." J. C. R. _Which are the Shadows?_ (Vol. v., p. 196.).--The story is told as of Wilkie at the Escurial by Southey in _The Doctor_, vol. iii. p. 235.; also, with a fine compliment to the "British Painter," by Wordsworth, in one of the pieces published with _Yarrow Revisited_ (1835, pp. 305-6.). The coincidence with the note by Mr. Rogers--to whom, by the way, Wordsworth's volume is dedicated--has long perplexed me. One is unwilling to suppose that the touching words ascribed to the two monks were a stock speech common to aged monks who have such pictures to show; but what better explanation is there? I believe that the first edition of _Italy_ appeared, not in 1830, as your correspondent supposes, but in 1822. Is the story to be found in _that_ edition? J. C. R.