POINTS - FROM LETTERS

MR. SLUDGE.

IN the Review last week. of A _Domestic Poetess, page 725, lines 3 and 4, the following occurs : " certainly Hume was never satisfactorily exposed . . . the present, writer remem- bers having heard old people who had seen him declare them- selves completely nonplussed." I was present in one of the Courts of Chancery in the late 'sixties or early 'seventies, when it appeared to me that he was very completely exposed. A reference to the Chancery Reports of those years will show whether my recollection and impression are right or wrong. The facts, awl remember them, are as follows ; an old lady being anxious to get into communication with her deceased husband, applied for assistance to Mr. Home, as his name then was. He found no difficulty in discovering him, and gave Daniel " as his spirit name. " Daniel " was so much pleased that he instructed Mr. Home to tell his widow to present him with £10,000. She followed this injunction, but her relations were not unnaturally dissatisfied, and resorted to another medium, who was told by "Daniel " that he had' expressed no such wish as Home had stated, that, in short, it was .a fraud, and that she should at once take steps to recover the money. This she did, and I heard her evidence in a crowded court. I remember she said that when accom- panying Home to the City, to complete the transfer, the spirits were present in the cab, manifesting their delight. She succeeded in her suit, but I doubt if she recovered her money. Mr. H. had some difficulty when leaving the Court in escaping from the public disapproval. I heard that he went abroad for change of air and scene without delay.—H. B. A.

A RELATION OF SHELLEY.

I have copied the following inscription from a mural tablet in the east end of our church. I wonder if any of your readers could tell me what relation Sir Thomas Shelley is to the poet ?

" D. O. M.

Elizabeth Sheldon. Relict of Edward Sheldon, Esq. Departed this life at Bath, 16 Sep. 1766.

Aged 77. She was a daughter of Sir Thomas Shelley of Michelgrove in the County of Sussex, Baronet, and was buried in the 'Church Abbey, Bath, near her daughter

Elizabeth Sheldon, who died in the same place.

Jan. 2, 1794.

in the 20th year of her age.

—THE VICAR OF BEOLEY, The Vicarage, Beoley, near

• Redditch, Worcestershire.

THE RIGHT TO KILL.

I have read your article in the Spectator, and several others On the subject. It seems to me that there is a clear way out of the difficulty with which you and others deal. The law assumes the right to kill in the ease of a murderer, after due consideration of the evidence pro and con. The law assumes the right to dissolire contracts and covenants. If there be a good case,prinia facie,' for.putting a doomed person out of pain 'by killing' him or her, why could not this be 'done by sanction- of the courts, evidence pro and con being heard ? - Legislation would, no doubt, be necessary.—D. A. NIEL, 137 Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1.

BEARING-REINS.

In your issue of November 2nd you publish a letter, signed " M., ' on the subject of bearing-reins. I am afraid the use of this 'instrument of torture is by no means confined to the county of Cc' irnwall, where " M." saw it in use. In Oxfordshire, Berks, Wilts and Somerset, counties in which I frequently travel, it is the rule to see fine cart horses working for hours at the plongh with their, poor heads triced up by this cruel and unnecessary rein. It is doubtful if the drivers, even when they are' resting for their Midday meal, have the common sense or humanity to unhitch the rein for a time. It is desirable that the R.S.P.C.A. should, if possible, take sonic steps to combat this evil. If Royalty would lead the way by prohibiting the use of bearing-reins on State occasions it would probably be of great assistance.—" BETA."

THE FRAM.'

It was recently ascertained that Dr. Nansen's old ship the `Fram' was in danger of destruction. She is at present in dock in Norway. It will be remembered that, in order to withstand the ice pressure, the Frain ' was specially constructed and it was necessary for her timbers to be closely wedged together in a way that did not allow of proper ventilation. The result is that rot has set in, and in order to save the ship it is necessary to have her extensively repaired and protected. Four thousand pounds are required for the work, and no funds are available for it in Norway. Although Dr. Nansen knew nothing ' of the proposal to make this appeal until it had been issued in a preliminary form, he is able to confirm the statements which we make as to the present condition of the'Fram,' and the urgent need for action on the lines we suggest if she is to be saved. When the repairs have been carried out the ' Fram ' will be kept on permanent exhibition. Communications should be addressed to : The Committee for the Preservation of the Fram,' Bembridge School, Isle of Wight.

REGIMENTAL COLOURS.

I am collecting information regarding regimental colours, past and present, of the Indian. Army, and should be par- ticularly grateful for details of any such flags in churches in Great Britain, or in private hands.—H. BULLOCK (Captain), East India U.S. Club, 16 St. James's Square, London, S.W. 1.