epitaph upon a Hoyman appears in the churchyard at South Benfleet. Though not a very scholarly production, it is said to be the work of a former rector of the parish. “James Mathews, Ob. July 14, 1728. Sixty-three years our Hoyman sailed merrily round, Forty-four lived parishioner where he’s aground, Five wives bare him thirty-three children--enough: Land another as honest before he gets half.” A hoy was a one-masted, sloop-rigged coasting vessel, formerly much used. It is extremely difficult to suggest any likely origin for the sign of the PLOUGH AND SAIL, which occurs no less than four times in the county, namely, at Tollesbury, East Hanningfield, Paglesham, and Maldon. Larwood and Hotten do not allude to it. The two first are each at least forty years old. At first one might suppose it a meaningless impalement of two distinct signs, the PLOUGH and the SAIL, but it does not appear that the latter figures as a sign, either singly or in combination with any other article except a plough, in any part of England. Moreover, it is hardly likely that the two signs would appear impaled four times in Essex, while the combination is (with one exception) unknown in all other counties of England. An examination of the lists of signs in thirty of the principal counties of England will show that it does not occur in any of them, with the exception of the adjoining county of Suffolk, wherein the sign occurs twice. It appears probable, therefore, that the sign has some local significance, though it is difficult to say exactly what. Several gentlemen have offered suggestions as to its origin. It has been thought to be a corruption of the “Plow and Flail” (and therefore doubly agricultural), or a representation of the old toast of “Agriculture and Commerce” (represented by a plough and a ship), but the most likely suggestion seems to be one put forward by the Rev. H. L. Elliot, who thinks it is intended as an appeal for the custom of thirsty souls working both on land and sea. All our Essex examples, except that at Hanningfield, are upon the coast. The same gentleman suggests that the sign may be a corruption of the “Plough-tail” or handle, which Edwards, in his _Words, Facts, and Phrases_, says is probably derived from the Anglo-Saxon _stail_, a handle. The word is still in use, meaning a handle, in Warwickshire and other parts of the country. An appeal to the readers of _Notes and Queries_ has so far thrown no light on the meaning of this sign. Forty years ago there was a SHIP AND EXCISE OFFICE at Waltham Abbey and a PRIVATEER at Harwich. At Wivenhoe there is a SHIP AT LAUNCH. Forty years ago it was known as the SHIP LAUNCH. This large fleet of sign-board ships is, however, supplied with only eighteen ANCHORS; and, as some of these may represent the symbol of Hope, the supply must be regarded as very inadequate. One of them, belonging to Barking, is described as a BLUE ANCHOR. Another of