68 NOTES AND QUERIES. to* B. VL JULY a, wax are often called by the above name, " The snakes of Aberdare." Can any reader give me the reason for the popular nickname ? D. M. R. MOLLE.-In 1621 Adam Islip published in small folio The Living Librarie,' translated trom the Latin of P. Camerarius by John Molle; and in 1625 a second edition, " with some additions by his son H. Molle." Is anything known of John Molle or his son ? C. D. 1 THE WHOLE ART OF THE STAGE.' — I picked up the other day a quarto work published in 1684 called V T.ue Wh,ole Art of the Stage. Containing not only the Rules of the Drammatick Art, but manv curious Observations about it. Which may be o'f great use to the Authors, Actors, and Spectators u Pla?8- o T°K«ther with much Critical Learning about the Stage and Plays of the Antients. Written V? ,Jenc? °y the command of Cardinal Richelieu. ay Monsieur Hedelin, Abbot of Aubignac, and now made English. London, printed for the Author, and sold by William Cadman at the Pope's-Head in the JNcw Exchange ; Rich. Bentley, in Russell Street, Oovent Garden ; Sam Smith at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church Yard; and T. Fot in West- minster Hall 1684." Who was the author of the translation ? Is this English version well known ? I confess my ignorance of it personally, though I have heard of it. Any information will be gladly welcomed. g. j. A. F. [The translation is not uncommon. We own a copy, but cannot without research put our hands on it.J MASONS' NAMES ON GRAVESTONES.—Can any of your correspondents please inform me when the custom of cutting the mason's name on ordinary tombstones came in ? WILLIAM ANDREWS. Royal Institution, Hull. THE WOODWORK OF ENGLISH CATHEDRALS. —Is the woodwork of our cathedrals generally varnished, or "dead-polished," or "french- pohshed " ? " Dead-polishing " has certainly the best effect to the eye, but seems to be open to the fatal objection of rapidly soiling 1 should be glad to know what is the usual mode of treatment in English cathedrals. AUGUR. THE BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALS AND READERS.—Can any of your readers kindly give information to one who wishes to become a reader in the above? I believe a permit must be obtained from the secretary of the French Embassy, London. Having obtained one, what is required on entering the institution ? Are books catalogued as in B.M. ? What forms have to be filled in ; are they somewhat similar? Can a book be reserved for the next day ; if so, how ? I shall be thankful for any other information. STRANGER. SAHARA.— I shall be greatly obliged if you will kindly inform me what books I should study to gather some reliable informa- tion regarding the Sahara Desert and the surrounding districts. JOHN W. HOBDAY. Smithies Library, Exeter Hall, Strand. CONTENTS BILLS.— When were contents bills of newspapers first used ? The question is suggested by a copy of an old placard issued on 20 May, 1815, which is now being exhibited in a Hull shop, and which relates to the Hull Packet, now incorporated with the Hull Daily Mail. It runs as follows :— " Retreat of Bonaparte Into the mountains beyond Lyons. General Lefebre taken. Two other treacherous generals tried and shot. Grenoble retaken. The Duke of Belluno Advancing on Bonaparte with 15,000 men. Marseilles offers a reward of two millions of francs for the head of the Rebel Bonaparte. Marshal Ney sworn to brin^ Bonaparte to Paris dead or alive. The Hull Packet of this day will contain the above important particulars, to be published at 4 o'clock. March 20, 1815." ' JOURNALIST. LETTERS OF MARSHAL CONWAY.—Is any- thing known of the present whereabouts of a collection of the private letters of Field- Marshal Henry Seymour Conway (1721- 1795)? According to the life of Conway in 'D.N.B.' the letters were collected by C. Knight with a view to the biography of Conway. H. T. B. BOOK OF SERMONS.—I have a book contain- ing about forty sermons, dated from 18 May, 1651, to 15 April, 1655, and in the margin of i. to xxxi. is printed "Serm at Mary Wol- noth Lon." I should like to know who wrote the sermons and who printed the book, for the pagination is very irregular, and the title-page is missing. H. J. B. LEIGHTON, LIGHTON, OR LEYTON FAMILY. —I shall feel greatly obliged for any infor- mation relating to the family of Leighton using as arms, Argent, a bugle-horn between three crescents sable. This coat occurs in Papworth, Burke, and Robson, but is not in Quillim. I want the original authority for it, and the county where the family resided. Can any of your readers possessing North- umbrian rolls of arms inform me of any coats
