Without intending by any means to question the fact that in numerous instances the terminal-_ham_ is derived from the Teutonic, and rightly bears the meaning of “home,” “habitation,” or “enclosure,” I deem it desirable, whilst on this subject, to draw attention to an interesting remark in reference to it which has been made by so high an authority as Mr. Benjamin Thorpe. In commenting on the fact that the Kentish kingdom was founded by adventurers from _Jutland_ (if not actually by Hengist and Horsa), Mr. Thorpe proceeds to observe: “The termination-_ham_, so common in Kent and elsewhere in England, corresponding to the German _heim_, does _not appear in Jutland_, so far as my means enable me to ascertain.”[82] The very general, indeed the almost universal reference of “ham” to a Teutonic origin, seems to invest this observation by Thorpe with peculiar interest, and I would venture accordingly to commend its consideration to all those who can discover in “ham” nothing else than the Saxon “heim,” “home,” or “dwelling.” On the other hand, it must at once be admitted that the derivation of “ham” from the Celtic _Afon_ has received little or no recognition from the days of Camden down to the present time. In regarding it, however, from this point of view, enough it is presumed has now been said to rescue it for the future from this neglect, and to establish its title, in many cases at least, to be rightly and legitimately referred to the Celtic, as here contended for. AMONG the “South Kensington Art Handbooks” now in course of preparation is one on the “Saracenic Art of Egypt,” by Mr. Stanley Lane-Poole. IT is reported that there are only five genuine signatures of Shakespeare in existence. “From this it is inferred,” writes the _San Francisco News Letter_, “that the Bard of Avon did not make a practice of endorsing his friends’ notes--another evidence of his good sense.” Collectanea. CHRISTMAS-EVE IN DEVONSHIRE.--In Devonshire is still observed on Christmas-Eve an ancient custom, which is supposed to ensure a good crop of apples. The farm-servants procure an ash-fagot, round which they carefully put as many binds as possible, because they are rewarded with cups of cider equivalent in number to the binds which encircle the fagot. The fagot is then placed on the fire, and as each bind bursts they claim a cup of cider; they have also a bowl of toast and cider which they take into the orchard, and, putting a piece of toast on the king or principal apple-tree, repeat the following lines:-- “Apple-tree, we wassail thee, To bear and to blow apples enow, Hats full, caps full, Three bushel bags full, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” It appears that exactly the same words are not always used on this occasion, a different version being given in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1791.