20 AUGUST 1910, Page 17

A COINCIDENCE.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

Bridgeman (Spectator, August 6thl is incorrect if he asserts that the word " Cabal" came into existence in 1670 formed out of the initials of the five statesmen. We were taught this at school, but the word is French, and was used at least in the sixteenth century. The Due de Sully in his Memoirs uses it frequently both as a substantive and a verb,—e.g., Livre V., p. 219, anno 1593, there is found: " de la Ligue et de la Cabale," and Livre VI., p. 249, anno 1594: "pour cabaler contre Villars."—I am, Sir, Ac., W. E. K.