It is most probable that the Marquis here alludes to the geometrical staircase now in such general use, with the addition of a small flight of stairs in the centre, in lieu of the common handrail, which being surrounded by a partition of boards, would readily serve as a private communication with the upper stories: sufficient space being left between the ceiling and under side of the principal staircase to admit of a passage to the inner rooms. Since writing the above, the Editor has seen a more explicit account of this species of staircase. It occurs in "Evelin's Memoirs," vol. i. page 59, and forms part of that learned and amusing author's tour through France in 1644. The following is an extract. "Quitting our barke, we hired horses to Blois, by way of Chambourg, a famous house of y^e King's, built by Francis I. in the middle of a solitary parke, full of deere; the enclosure is a wall. I was particularly desirous of seeing this palace, from the extravagance of the design, especially the _stayrecase_, mentioned by Palladio. It is said that 1800 workmen were constantly employed in this fabric for twelve yeares; if so, it is wonderfull that it was not finish'd, it being no greater than divers gentlemen's houses in England, both for roome or circuit. The carvings are very rich and full. The stayrecase is devised w^{th} four entries or ascents, which cross one another, so that though four persons meete, they never come in sight, but by small loope-holes, till they land. It consists of 274 steps (as I remember), and is an extraordinary worke, but of far greater expense than use or beauty." No. XLIX. A portable engine, in way of a tobacco-tongs, whereby a man may get over a wall, or get up again, being come down, finding the coast proveth insecure for him. NOTE. It is not very easy to discover to what the noble author here alludes: if by _tobacco-tongs_, he means a combination of levers such as is used by gardeners, to gather choice fruit or lop the upper boughs of trees, the mode of applying them is extremely easy. A number of short pieces of brass, jointed together, and made to resemble a row of _trellis_ work, may, by distending the joints in an horizontal direction, be made to go in the smallest compass; and again, by closing the arms, the machine will be elevated. An ingenious mechanic has constructed a _fire-escape_ upon this principle, of which a model is preserved in the Museum of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. No. L. A complete light portable ladder, which taken out of one's pocket, may be by himself fastened an hundred feet high to get up by from the ground. NOTE.