[To THE EDITOR OP TUB "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I have read with
great interest the review in the Spectator of June 4th of Miss Jekyll's book on " Old West Surrey." In the old expressions mentioned therein I recog- nise many—in fact, the majority—as belonging also to old Kent. I think I should be right in saying that these ex- pressions are common to all the older parts of the South- Eastern counties. Two quaint expressions which I have heard used only in Kent are the following :—" Caterwise," which means "in a diagonal direction." For instance, hops are said to be planted " caterwise." The other is the verb " to chastise," meaning to correct in the sense of pointing out mistakes. I remember once talking to an old woman in a village in Kent. We were joined by a companion of hers, equally old. The first said to the other : " I was just chastising Mr. — long of our Tom," meaning that some- thing I had said about the boy in question was not quite accurate.—I am, Sir, &c., W. L. MEADE. 94th Russell's Infantry, Nabat Dakin, S.W. Arabia.
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