The taverns of London were many and much frequented. An old bard has favoured us with a list of them in _Newes from Bartholomew Fayre_, a black letter poem, the title page of which is torn off, viz. "There hath been great sale and utterance of wine, Besides beere, and ale, and ipocras fine, In every country, region, and nation, But chiefly in Billingsgate, at the Salutation; And the Bore's Head, near London Stone, The Swan at Dowgate, a taverne well known; The Mitre in Cheape; and then the Bull Head, And many like places that make noses red; Th' Bore's Head in Old Fish Street, Three Crowns in the Vintry, And now, of late, St. Martin's in the Sentree; The Windmill in Lothbury; the Ship at th' Exchange, King's Head in New Fish Street, where roysters do range; The Mermaid in Cornhill, Red Lion in the Strand, Three Tuns, Newgate Market; Old Fish Street, at the Swan." The first drinking song that appeared in the English tongue is connected with _Gammer Gurton's Needle_, and was published in 1551. P.T.W. * * * * * _Governesses_.--A lady wrote to her son, requesting him to look out for a lady, such as she described, and such as is ordinarily expected in a governess, that is to say, all accomplished, with the disposition of an angel. The gentleman wrote back that he had long been looking out for such a person, and that when he found her, he should not recommend her for a governess, but take her for a wife.--_New Monthly Mag_. _Counterfeit Kings_.--In the infancy of the Roman Empire, we find a counterfeit Agrippa, after him a counterfeit Nero; and before them two counterfeit Alexanders, in Syria. But never was a nation so troubled with these mock kings as England; a counterfeit Richard II. being made in the time of Henry IV.; a counterfeit Mortimer in the time of Henry VI.; a counterfeit Duke of York; a counterfeit Earl of Warwick under Henry VII.; and a counterfeit Edward VI. under the reign of Queen Mary; and a counterfeit Protector, in Oliver Cromwell. G.K. * * * * * _Reading at Meals, &c._--Lectores, among the Romans, were servants in great men's houses, who were employed in reading while their masters were at supper. They were called by the Greeks, Anagnostae. Acroama, was a name given by the Romans to amusing tales, which they recited at their repasts. The Emperor Severus read himself at table. Atticus never supped without reading. Charlemagne had the histories and acts of ancient kings read to him at table. This was a relic of the ancient Greeks, who had the praises of great men and heroes sung to them while at table. Celsus tells us, reading is bad, especially after supper, for those whose heads are weak; but he recommends reading with an audible voice, for such as have weak stomachs. P.T.W. * * * * * _Epigrams from the French._ "On peut, en vous voyant, devenir infidèle Mais c'est pour la dernière fois."