"Ye lesser shekel weighed a quarter of an ounce, ye greater half an ounce. We cannot therefore suppose yt ye loppings of Absalom's hair weighed either 50 or 100 oz. But yt wn it was cut off his serv'ts might have sold it for 12lb 10s or 25lb to ye Ladys of Jerusalem, who were ambitious of adorning yr heads wth ye Hair of ye beautifull Absalom: wth ye locks of ye Ks son...." It is recorded that when Absalom was buried "they laid a very great heap of stones on him." Was this in detestation and abhorrence (cf. Joshua vii. 26., viii. 29.), or in honourable memory of a prince and chief? If the former, did it give rise to the custom of flinging stones in the graves of malefactors? CUTHBERT BEDE, B.A. _Bowbell_ (Vol. v., pp. 28. 140. 212.).--Several of your correspondents have pointed out instances of the use of the word _Bowbell_ as nearly synonymous with _Cockney_. The following lines are, I believe, of earlier date than any which have been quoted on this subject; but it is not quite clear in what sense the word _Bowbell_ is there used. They are from a satirical poem by John Skelton, who died in 1529; and the subject of them is Sir Thomas More. "But now we have a knight That is a man of might, All armed for to fight, To put the truth to flight By _Bowbell_ policy." JUVENIS. _Quid est Episcopus?_ (Vol. v., p. 255.).--I know not to whom Bingham may refer these words in the edition of 1843; but in that of 1840 he expressly refers them to "the author of the _Questions upon the Old and New Testament_, under the name of _St. Austin_." But, the spurious book being part of the collection printed as _S. Augustini Opera_, the reference "Aug.," &c. very properly occurs there "at the foot of the page." A. N. _Nightingale and Thorn_ (Vol. iv., pp. 175. 242.).--As an addition to the examples already adduced concerning this fable, I give the following: "Come, let us set our careful breasts, Like Philomel, against the thorn, To aggravate the inward grief That makes her accents so forlorn." Hood, _Ode to Melancholy_. CUTHBERT BEDE, B.A. _The Article "An"_ (Vol. v., p. 297.).--"_Hospital_" is to be found with the prefix "an" in Addison, and probably in the works of all other writers who need the word and the prefix; but, as to there being only _six_ words beginning with _h_ to which the case of the said prefix will apply, I cannot assent to the assertion. Witness the following words, which will form decided exceptions to a supposed rule of that kind:--_Harangue_, _hereafter_, _historical_, _hour_, _hostler_, _hyperbole_, _hypothesis_, _hysteric_. Can any one speak these words in succession with the prefix "a" to each without impediment? I trow not. C. I. R.