Literary And Antiquarian Gossip.

We understand that Mr . John Potter Briscoe , F . R . H . S ., author of "Midland Notes , " " Nottinghamshire Facts and Fictions , " " The Book of Nottinghamshire Anecdote , " ancl other well-written and favourably received works on the historical ancl antiquarian associations of Notts and the neighbourhood , will shortly publish an important volume entitled " Old Nottinghamshire . " Mr . Briscoe is a sedulous gleaner in the bye-ways of historical literatureand

, writes with a profound knoAvleclge of old-world lore , a cultivated taste , and large authorial experience . His position as public librarian of Nottingham , together with the circumstance of his presiding over the excellent "Notes ancl Queries " columns of the Nottingham Guardian , give Mr . Briscoe special facilities for the production of a very valuable archaeological work , and we doubt not his HBAV A olume will be one of exceptional interest .

Under the title oi " St . Martin s Summer , Messrs . Hurst ancl Blackett have just published an absorbing work of fiction from the pen of Shirley Smith , the gifted author of "His Last Stake" and other popular circulating library stories . "St . Martin ' s Summer " takes its title from a picture of the same name painted by J . E . Millais , R . A ., and the novel is appropriatel y dedicated to that talented artist .

From Mr . Robert Plant , F . G . S ., we have the prospectus of "The History of Cheadle , " a Avork which will be issued at an earl y date . The annals of the ancient Staffordshire town will be traced from the time of the Conqueror to this our year of grace , and everything of importance elucidated . A chapter on local geology will be cmitributed b y Mr . W . Molyneux , an eminent authority on tbe subject ; and Mr . Charles Lyndon will add an account of Croxton Abbey . The book is to be printed in demy octavo , and embellished with engraving's on AVOOC ! ancl steel ; and will form a complete chronicle of every interesting occurrence in connection with Cheadle ancl its celebrities . Mr . Clemesha , of Leek , is the local publisher .

A new weekly journal of fun ancl satire , called The Archer , has recently been started iu the Scottish capital . Containing in each issue four pa ° 'es of clever cartoons and a large amount of smart reading matter , this latest born of our comic serials should command success . The Bradford Times , a high class family weekly journal , AA'hich has for some

ten years past been discontinued , has just commenced a neAv lease of life under the spirited editorial control of Mr . W . H . Hatton , F . R . H . S ., of The Bradford Daily Chronicle and Mail . Amongst the special attractions presented are a serial story from the pen of Mr . B . L . Farjeon , the popular author of "Joshua Marvel , " " London ' s Heart , " etc . ; well-written articles descriptive of Yorkshire scenery ; biographical sketches of West Riding worthies ; papers on remarkable episodes in local history ; ancl notes and queries dealing with antiquarian topics . For excellence of reading matter The Bradford Times seems likel y to compete favourably AA'ith the best of the northern newspapers .

Iu tho September number of The Antiquary is an article entitled " The Largest Oak in Britain , " from the pen of Bro . Thomas B . Trowsclale The writer gives a description , with historical remarks , of the famous tree , which , he tells us , stands in the parish of CoAvthorpe , three miles from Wetherby , in tbe West Riding of the county of York . It is stated that sevent y persons have assembled inside the hollow trunk of the old oak at one ancl the same time . The tree has been termed "The g lory of England and the pride of Yorkshire , " but it is now , though magnificent in its decay , scarce the shadow of its former self . Its age has been calculated at upwards of 1500 years .