ates in a conspicuous character. This did not altogether fail, but it did not become popular; it wanted energy, and it had not much originality; there was little to disapprove, but there was nothing to admire. Her next and most popular production was *Rofina*, which, in a most liberal manner, she presented to Mr Harris. Few modern pieces have been equally successful. Her last musical piece, entitled *Marian*, which was introduced by Shield, continued for some time to be occasionally exhibited. Mrs Brooke was also the translator of various books from the French. She was esteemed by Dr Johnson, valued by Miss Seward, and her company courted by all the first characters of her time. She died in January 1789, two days after her husband. Her husband enjoyed the rectory of Colney in Norfolk, to which he had been preferred after his arrival from America.

**BROOM.** See *Genista*, Botany Index.

**Butcher's Broom.** See *Ruscus*, Botany Index.

**Spanish Broom.** See *Spartium*, Botany Index.

Broom also denotes a well-known household implement wherewith to sweep away dirt, dust, and the like. We say, a *bird-broom*, a *hair-broom*, a *rush-broom*, a *beats-broom*. The primitive kind of brooms, from whence the denomination is given to all the rest, was made of the genista or wild broom growing on commons.

*Broomflower* gives the denomination to an order of knights instituted by St Louis of France, on occasion of his marriage. The motto was, *Exaltat humiles*, and the collar of the order made up of broom flowers and husks, enamelled and intermixed with *fleur-de-lys* of gold, set in open lozenges, enamelled white, chained together; and at it hung a cross florent of gold. This answers to what the French call *Ordre de la Genèse*, from the name of a species of broom so called; different from the common broom, as being lower, the stalk smaller, and leaf narrow; the flower is yellow, and bears a long husk. Some also speak of another order of the *Genèse* or *Broom* established by Charles Martel, or rather Charles VI.

*Broom-Gall*, in *Natural History*, a name given by authors to a remarkable species of galls found on the *genista vulgaris* or common broom. This is occasioned, like all other galls, by the puncture and eating of an insect; and, when opened, is found to contain a small oblong worm, of a red colour, whose size requires the use of a glass in order to see it distinctly.

*Broom-Rope.* See *Orobanche*, Botany Index.