4 MARCH 1905, Page 17

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."3 SIR,—The happy adaptation of

Virgil's line to trembling parsons is much older than Dean Mansel (Spectator, Febru- ary 18th). If Mr. Tollemache will turn the pages of George Cox's brilliant satire, "Black Gowns and Red Coats," he will find that the line was quoted in New College Common Room during the terrors of the first Reform Bill, by Lipscomb, afterwards Bishop of Jamaica. The story was told of Mansel- and corrected—in the Athenwum two or three years ago. It may be observed that "Due nigros pecudes " was the

Sibyl's counsel to Aeneas.—I am, Sir, Sze., W. T.