_Exeter Controversy_ (Vol. v., p. 126.).--This controversy was one of the many discussions relating to the Trinity which have engaged the theological activity of England during the last two hundred years. It arose in consequence of the imputed Arianism of some Presbyterian ministers of Exeter, the most conspicuous of whom were James Peirce and Joseph Hallet. It began in 1717, and terminated in 1719, when these two ministers were ejected from their pulpits. Your correspondent who put the question will find some account of this controversy in Murch's _History of the Presbyterian Churches in the West of England_,--a work well worth the attention of those who take interest in the antiquities of Non-conformity. T. H. GILL. _Corrupted Names of Places_ (Vol. v., p. 375.).--When my father was at one time engaged in collecting the numbers drawn for the Sussex militia, he began by calling out for those men who belonged to the hundred of _Mayfield_; and though he three times repeated his call, not a single man came forward. A person standing by suggested that he should say "the hundred of _Mearvel_," and give it as broad a twang as possible. He did so; when _nineteen_ out of _twenty-three_ present answered to the summons. _Hurstmonceaux_ is commonly pronounced _Harsmouncy_; and I have heard _Sompting_ called _Summut_. G. BLINK. _Poison_ (Vol. v., p. 394.).--Junius, Bailey, and Johnson seem all to agree that our word _poison_ comes from the French _poison_. I am inclined to think, with the two first-mentioned lexicographers, that the etymon is πόσις, or _potio_. Junius adds, that "Ita Belgis venenum dicitur _gift_, donum;" and it is curious that in Icelandic _eitr_ means both poison and gift. In the _Antiquitates Celto-Scandicæ_ (p. 13.), I find the following expressions:--"Sva er sagt, at Froda væri gefinn banadryckr." "Mixta portioni veneno sublatum e vivis tradunt Frotonem." Should it not be _potioni_, inasmuch as "bana," in Icelandic, signifies to kill, if I do not err, and "dryckr" is drink? Certainly, in Anglo-Saxon, "bana" (whence our _bane_) and "drycian" have similar significations. C. I. R. Is there any possible doubt that _poison_ is _potion_? Menage quotes Suetonius, that Caligula was _potionatus_ by his wife. It is a French word undoubtedly. C. B. _Vikingr Skotar_ (Vol. v., p. 394.).--In the _Antiquitates Celto-Scandicæ_ it is stated (p. 5.), that after the death of Guthormr, and subsequently to the departure of Harald (Harfagr) from the Hebrides, "Sidan settug i löndin vikingar margir Danir oc Nordmenn. Posthac sedes ibi occupant piratæ plurimi, Dani æqua ac Normanni." The word _vikingar_, the true Icelandic word for pirate, often occurs in the same saga, but not combined with _skotar_, though this latter term is repeated, signifying "the Scotch," and also in composition with _konungr_, &c. C. I. R.