H. B.

Shanghai.

_Rub-a-dub_ (Vol. iii., p. 388.).--Your correspondent seems at a loss for

an early instance of this expression. In Percy's _Reliques_ there is a

song, the refrain or burden of which is:

"Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub, so beat your drums,

Tantara, tantara, the Englishman comes."