TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-Among the papers of a worthy country parson who flourished in Lancashire about a century ago, I found two or three common-place books, which have afforded me a good deal of entertainment. They seem to be made up of proverbial expressions, quaint sayings, useful remarks, and striking sentiments, collected in a course of very desultory reading. They are arranged not according to the subjects, but in alphabetical order, and this often produces a ludicrous effect, by the rapid transitions from one kind of subjects to subjects of a contrary description. If you think they will be conducive in the least to the amusement of your readers, I shall send you occasionally a few extracts, of which you will be pleased to accept of the following as a specimen. I am, &c.

SCRAPIANA.

No. I.

INDEX.

VARIETIES.

PROOF OF CIVILIZATION!

particulars of his being cast away, thus concludes: A writer of a modern book of travels, relating the After having walked eleven hours without having traced the print of a human foot, to my great comfort and delight, I saw a man hanging upon a gibbet; my pleasure at the cheering prospect was inexpressible, for it convinced me that I was in a civilized country."

A German Poet having written a gastronomic song upon the pastry of one of the best pastry-cooks of his place, the latter thought he could not better testify his gratitude, than by sending him one of the objects he had celebrated in his song. The Poet was at first enchanted with the work. But O, grief! on finishing the last morsel, he recognized in the paper on which it lay, when baked, the copy of his song with which he had testified his homage to the pastry-cook. In a great rage he ran to his shop and accused him of the crime of læsæ pœticæ. "Ah, Sir," replied the artist, not in the least disconcerted, "why so angry? I have only followed your example.-You made a song on my pastry, and I have made a pie upon your song."

ANTIQUITIES.

Rome. On the 7th of February, a Columbarium, in perfect preservation, with beautiful paintings and 200 inscriptions, was discovered in the Vigna Ruffini on the Via Nomentana. Among the inscriptions, one only belongs to a person of the age of eighty (Vixit Annis LXXX.) Friends have scratched their names on the monument, which therefore furnish a remark

able addition to the specimens of Roman running

hand. The proprietor means to leave the whole as it was found, and to build a shed over it.

JACK TAR'S RETORT.

A sailor went into a pastry-cook's shop at the west end of the town, and taking up a custard, crammed it in his mouth; Polly my dear!' said he, what may ye call this?' It is a custard ;

Ambition among the heathen to derive their arts from some of their Gods.

Adam never look'd towards Eden without tears.
Adrian IV. the only English Pope.
Alas, alas, poor Prince Leo.

Amor pes Anima.

Alexander kept hope for himself, when he gave largely to his military captains.

}

An Petrus Romæ fuerat, sub judice lis est;
Simonem Romæ nemo fuisse negat.
Amor civium, Regis munimentum. K. Ch. I. Motto.
Asher's shoes were brass, bat his feet were dipt in
oyle.

Eternitatis Gemma, anima.

Æsop had a deformed body, but an excellent witt. Atheistical speeches, words cloathed with death. Aliud canto, aliud cogito. St. Bernard. Væ mihi quoniam ibi pecco, ubi peccatum emendare debeo. Idem, ibidem.

Anger seekes a man's own reputation, but envy the injury of another.

An ill grounded hatred draws God's blessing upon the party unjustly hated.

As a man is friended so is his matter ended.
Aben-zama is gone abroad. Jewish Proverb.

he replied, to pay so much for dividing ones

teeth asunder.'

In the beginning of the French Revolution, when party spirit ran high, Mons. Foulon, the Minister of War, in a moment of heat, or irritation, happened to hay. Some time after this, when he was out of power, let fall the expression that the people deserved to eat and the mob was almighty, they remembered this, and a body of them went to the house of his friend, Mons. de Sartines, at Viry, some short distance from Paris, where Mons. F. was in concealment, and dragged him thence, and, by way of punishment for what he had formerly said, they put a necklace of nettles about his neck, and a bouquet of thistles and a bundle of hay on his back, and in this state he was conducted to the hotel de ville, of Paris, and de

livered over to a Committee, where he underwent a

long and painful examination: which ended, the committee were for sending him to prison, in order that he might be regularly tried; but this was not what the mob wanted, and they were loud and clamorous for his instant execution. It was in vain that the Marquis de la Fayette, their favorite, endeavoured to appease them: the dreadful cry of à la lanterne re

means conducing to the end be good too.

Bounce Buckram Velvet's dear;

Christmas comes but once a year,

And when it comes it brings good cheer.

Bona dona, quædam damna.

}

led to a lamp-post, where, after three different attempts, they at length succeeded in terminating his sufferings. When he was dead, they crammed a handful of hay into his mouth, and cut off his head, which was carried on a pole about the streets of Paris. Hist. de la Revol.

From the first equation, by transposition, we have xy 2 40 40y, whence, dividing by 1-y, we have x + xy = 40. And 2x + 2ry which, added to the second given equation, gives 50x x2 + 50y y2 + 2xy = 625. Whence, by substracting 4xy and changing the signs, 2+2xy—50x + y2 —50y + 625 = 4xy. And xy- 25 = Vary, whence √x + √y = 5, &, by reduction, ☛ = : 4 & y = 9. We have to acknowledge the receipt of solutions to the same question from Amicus, Mercurius, and J. H.

Question, No. 9, by Mr. W. M. Laurie. With what part of a cylindrical stick should a a person strike, to give the greatest blow; the length of the arm being 24 inches, and that of the stick 60?

Question, No. 10, by Gamma.

hours, A. and C. in 20, and B. and C. together in 15 A. and B. together can do a piece of work in 12 hours. In what time can each person do it separately?

REPOSITORY OF GENIUS.

POETRY.

SONNET.

I dreamed-I saw a little rosy child,

With flaxen ringlets, in a garden playing; Now stopping here, and then afar off straying, As flower or butterfly his feet beguiled. 'Twas changed;-one summer's day I step't aside, To let him pass: his face had manhood's seeming; And that full eye of blue was fondly beaming On a fair maiden whom he called "his Bride;" Once more ;-'twas evening, and the cheerful fire I saw a group of youthful forms surrounding, The room with harmless pleasantry resounding; And in the midst I marked the smiling Sire.-The heavens were clouded;-and I heard the tone Of a slow moving bell ;-the white-haired man was gone!

TO A LADY WHO FROWNED.

Dispel the sad frown which encircles thy brow,
In its stead let a smile there be placed;
Thy beauty I often have gaz'd on ere now,
And still pray it may not be effac'd.

A smile looks as cheerful as sun-beams in June,
While a frown but resembles a dull wintry noon!
The rose in its blossom is charming to view,
And the violets which bloom in their bed
Are lovely-but ah! my dear girl it is true,
That no nettle should there raise its head.
A smile looks as cheerful as sun-beams in June,
While a frown but resembles a dull wintry noon!
G. G.-M.

WOMAN.

Woman, dear Woman! in thy name,
Wife-Sister-Mother, meet;
Thine is the heart by earliest claim,
And thine its latest beat!

In thee the angel virtues shine ;—

An angel's form is given ;

Then be an angel's office thine,

And lead the soul to heaven.

From thee we draw our infant strength;Thou art our childhood's friend ;

And when the man unfolds at length

On thee his hopes depend.

For round the heart thy powers have spun A thousand, dear, mysterious ties !--Then take the heart thy charms have won, And nurse it for the skies!

PYTHIAS.

HYMN TO VIRTUE.

Ever lovely and benign,
Endow'd with energy divine,

Hail VIRTUE, hail! from thee proceed.
The great design-th' heroic deed,
The heart that melts for human woes,
Valour, and truth, and calm repose.

Though fortune frown, though fate prepare
Her shafts, and wake corroding care;
Though wrathful clouds involve the skies,
Though lightning glare, and storms arise,—
In vain to shake the guiltless soul
Chang'd fortune frowns, and thunders roll.

Pile, Avarice, thy yellow hoard;
Spread, Luxury, thy costly board;
Ambition, crown thy head with bays;
Let sloth recline on beds of ease,
Admir'd ador'd; let Beauty roll
The magic eye that melts the soul,—
Unless with purifying fires

VIRTUE the conscious soul inspires,
In vain to bar intruding woe
Wealth, fame, and pow'r, and pleasure flow.

To me thy sov'reign gift impart,
The resolute unshaken heart,
To guide me from the flow'ry way
Where pleasure tunes her syren lay;
Deceitful path! where shame and care
The pois'nous shaft conceal'd, prepare ;
And shielded with thy gen'rous pride,
When fashion scoffs, and fools deride.

Ne'er let ambition's meteor-ray
Mislead my reason and betray
My fancy with the gilded dream
Of hoarded wealth and noisy fame;
But let my soul consenting flow
Compassionate of others' woe:
Teach me the kind endearing art
To bind the mourner's broken heart,
To heal the rankling wounds of care
And sooth the frenzy of despair.

So lovely Virgin, may I gain
Admission to thy hallow'd fane,
Where peace of mind, of eye serene,
Of heav'nly hue, and placid mien,
Leads, smiling, thy celestial choir,
And strikes the consecrated lyre.

TO THALIA.

Goddess of the dimpled smile,

In sweet laughter's robe array'd;
Whose fond charms so soft beguile
Thoughts that oft our spirits jade-
Tripping light the plain along-
Hark! I hear thy pleasing song.

Ye who slaves to cold-care made,
Direful ills and woes produce;
Ye with hands to foreheads laid

Vexing brains to little use:
Come, from all your sorrows flee,
Come, and laugh away with me.

Come, we'll skip the verdant ground,

While the stream sweet music breathes, In the fairy dance we'll bound;

By the white-moon bind our wreaths : By the broad-leaf'd tree we'll sing, Pale care flies on outstretch'd wing.

Or upon the sea-beat shore,

Let us run the sportive maze;
While the waves with sullen roar,
On our joyous pastimes gaze;
All among the yellow sand,
Side by side, and hand in hand.

We'll not seek the black-wood's shade-
Thither grief, deep-brooding, glides:
We'll not seek the dreary glade-
Thither madness, shrieking, strides :
But upon the beach, along,
There we'll tune the merry song.
When the white-moon rises high,
When her shade at last shall go;
First, in frolio-chace we fly,

Then we sing the vespers low;
Then we swift prepare for flight;
Part, to meet again at night.

Manchester, April 15th, 1822.

S***N.

SCIENTIFIC NOTICES.

Mr. Applegarth is about to apply one of those inventions by which he proposed to improve Banknotes to book printing. His first experiment will be made on an Universal Catechist. As a book in question and answer, the monotonous effect of the page will be relieved by the questions being in red and the answers in black; as both colours are produced at the same instant by one machine, the volume will be a curiosity in typography.

ANTIDOTE FOR VEGETABLE POISONS.

E. Drapiez has ascertained by numerous experiments, that the fruit of Fewillea Cordifolia is a powerful antidote against vegetable poisons. He poisoned dogs by the Rhus Toxicodendron (Swamp Sumac), Hemlock, and Nux Vomica. All those that were left to the poison died; but those to whom the Fewillea was administered recovered completely, after a short illness.-American Paper.

HOOPING COUGH.

Dr. Archer, an American physician, says, relative to the cure of the hooping-cough by vaccination, "I have vaccined six or eight patients that had the hooping-cough, and in every case it has succeeded in curing this most distressing disease. To arrest this afflicting disorder in its progress, I would recommend vaccination in the second or third week of the hooping-cough, i. e. when the symptoms of the hooping-cough are fully ascertained, then to vaccinate. Should the convulsive cough be violent, I should immediately vaccinate; being well assured that the distressing symptoms of the hooping-cough are checked by vaccine disease. The termination of the vaccine disease will be the termination of the hooping-cough."

A YOUNG TRAVELLER.

A 'strange little boy was one day brought before the magistrate at the police office, New York, reported on the watch returns as being a lodger. This extraordinary child, ten years of age, was very thinly clad, and but four feet two inches high, of delicate make, and weak eyes. On being asked by the magistrate who he was, and whence he came, he gave the following

account.

"My name is De Grass Griffin; I am ten years old; my father is a boatman in Killingworth, Connecticut ; my mother left there last summer; she parted from my father; he don't take any care of me. About four weeks ago I started from Killingworth for Philadelphia, to see my mother; had not a cent when I started; walked part of the way, and rode part. My sister, who is a married woman, told me in what part of Philadelphia I would find my mother. When I got there, I found that she was dead; I remained there, going about the town, about a week; I then started to come back. A gentleman in Philadelphia gave me a twenty cent piece, an eleven-penny bit, and a fivepenny bit; I have the twenty cent piece yet. I got into this town yesterday morning; had nothing to eat all day yesterday, till in the evening, when I got some clams at a little stand near the river. I calculate to start for home this morning, and to get a stage driver to give me a ride." Magistrate. I will send you to the alms-house, over the way, that you may get your breakfast, and be taken care of." Answer. Very well, but I wish to start on.'

It was truly astonishing to behold such a child perform (in the depth of winter) a journey of upwards of two hundred miles, with such a trifle of money, without warm clothing, and the snow on the road nearly as high as himself. His deportment was manperly; his answers prompt, clear, and brief; he appeared to feel no want, asked for nothing, nor made any complaint; but had perfect confidence in his own powers and ability to get to the end of his journey on his twenty cent fund. The decision and fortitude of this little destitute boy, might furnish a profitable example to many an irresolute and desponding individual of riper years.

THE MUSAEID.

No. V. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1822.

Quid rides? mutato nomine, de te Fabula narratur. HOR. Change but the name, and, what you think your friend; You'll find yourself; then laugh not, but amend.

We prefer the Concerts to the Assemblies. Bad taste, we know, some of our fashionables will call it; but not bad feeling, at any rate, for every body seems happier at the Concerts. All the discontents

ing a sly and stolen glance of immoveable gravity on the dazzling chandeliers, the figurative embellishments of the walls, and the living scene of beauty on the benches; to our first parade in lapped coat and black silken neckcloth, when we had just sufficient confidence to reply, yes ma'am,' and 'yes sir,' to the enquiries whether we were pleased, or mournfully to ejaculate next week,' when asked how soon we should return to school, by some grave gentleman or lady who had formerly patted or stroked us on the head, and would now condescend to shake hands. From this period we cannot specificate the additional coxcombries which every half-year taught us to assume. But very soon, we remember, we felt in nowise dashed at addressing ourselves to the severest and most solemn personages, and would perk with our interrogatories and compliments to the gayest and the proudest belles of the company. Even now we think it is something of old recollection that fastens in our memories and makes us love this scene, associated with happiness and childhood, better than the gayer spectacles and amusements which we have entered upon in maturer age. It is the spirit of remembered pleasure which rises amid all the follies and distractions with which we must now commingle, and haunts us with its secret charm in the maze of tumult and dissipation, which without this consecrating influence must indeed appear despicable and absurd.

and jealousies, disappointments, envies and vexations, which so mightily prevail at the one, seem wholly to be laid aside or forgotten at the other. There are no anxious mammas fidgetting to display their daughters; no daughters sighing to find themselves outshone; no rival fair ones stratagematizing for superiority of attraction; no manoeuvring for partners; no laying out for beaux; no fond lovers jealous of their mistresses' flirtations, or gloomed by their neglect; no systems of distinction and exclusion; or if such things be they are not the bases but the adjuvants of the scene. Besides, these, the Concert has other advantages, negative to be sure in their nature, but positive in their effects. We do not go there to submit our pleasures to the humours and caprices of the company we meet; we do not depend for gratification on the smiles and good temper of this or that fair lady, nor These reflections were suggested to us on Thursday on the talents and conversation of such and such a last by meeting, at our first entering the room, aa companion: we are not there bound to be pleased, old lady whom seventeen years ago, we remember, delighted, charmed, enchanted, or, what is much the accompanied our father and mother when they same thing, to appear pleased, delighted, charmed, first took us to the Concert. We then thought enchanted, for a tedious two thousand seconds, with her the wisest woman in the universe; and we have dallness, titter and grimace. Oh! the horrors that we since had reason to know she is the best. How have endured in this way. Nor, ah us! are we ob- d'ye do, William,' said she, putting out her friendly liged, on the other hand, at the expiration of a few hand, how d'ye do, my good boy?' 'Dear madam,' fleeting minutes of enjoyment, to quit and surrender said we with emphasis, and for an instant all our to some triumphant and fortunate successor, grace,quizzical intentions evaporated in a sigh, as deep beauty, wit, modesty and goodness, which might make as the grave of memory from which it was exhaled. us happy for ever. Ah us, again! this too we have How do we look, dear madam?' said we again, suffered. after a pause, and in a more lively tone than that in But the Concert is a garden of the fairest flowers, which we first addressed her, do you think we are where we human butterflies and bees flutter round improved since you first saw us at a concert, or are the gay parterre, and skim the surface of a we as little changed as yourself?' again shaking her thousand hues and fragrancies, or rest in tranquil hand, and smiling pleasedly to see how well the old pleasure with some favourite blossom, and gather the lady was looking. Our good friend shook her head, delicacies of converse and the joys of sentiment, which and pointing to her fair companion, bade us 'flatter honied lips impart. Some people may think this Mary and not her,' and at the same time found a place metaphor too refined for the occasion, and indeed, for us betwixt them. We sate down according to from the difficulty we had in its composition, we her invitation, and the first act of the performance are led to the suspicion that there is something in it was passed in a delightful chitchat of events, past more than natural,' and, only that we dislike the trouble and present, and to come, in a flow of animated senof erasements, we would not suffer it to stand. timent from the young lady, and of condescending Seldom has it been our lot to gather the sweets of cheerfulness from the old, which so abstracted us intellect at the Concert. Occasionally we may have from surrounding objects, that in the centre of a gay met with something conversible in female shape, but and crowded assembly we had a retirement as perfect the general class of imaginations can only range and entrancing as any which the heart could wish. among the feathers and the flowers, the features and When the orchestra was cleared, we remained for a the forms, the names and the occupations of the people few minutes absorbed in the contemplations to which that are present. We look for nothing more, and are the evening had given rise; we thought Mary had therefore never disappointed. At the Assembly it is never appeared so enchanting before, and the amiable otherwise, the company there form the only enter- qualities of our good old friend had never been more tainment, and when they are not amusing us with eminent or pleasing. Is Mr. Volatile about to faint,' their heels, it is but natural to expect that the balance said the former, tapping us playfully on the shoulder of diversion should be found in the opposi'e extremity. with her fan. We started from our reverie. • Wont But alas, how the order of nature is inversed in a you walk round the room?' said Mrs. ball-room! The understanding sinks into the legs, and capers ascend into the head; and the body and the mind seem equally whirled into confusion.

·

The interlude of bustle, clamour and confusion had commenced. The beaux were swarming in the alleys, each elbowing his passage to some prime point of particular attraction, and nodding most familiarly and grossly to any one he might recognize in his route,-nods which so eloquently express I see you, but you're not worth stopping at.' Remembering our design for the Musaeid, we hastily requested our old friend to reserve a seat for our return, and plunged into the stream, suffering the living. current to carry us whithersoever it might please.

But at the Concert, as we were saying, we are never disappointed. We have known the Concerts ever since we ran among the people's legs in the holidays, and we know what to expect there. We believe, if we could prove it, that it was at the Concerts we first learned to be pert. We can trace the degrees by which we advanced in presumption and consequence, from sitting betwixt our father and mother, with a frill neatly turned over the collar of The first person we could find in our patience to our light blue jacket, the bow of a black ribbon peep-notice was Miss Gossamer, and we hope you have ing under our chin, the nankeen trowsers and the spruce been entertained,' was the only salutation which our yellow gloves, in which we hardly dared bend our fin-invention could immediately suggest. Delighted; gers; our eyes devoutly fixed on the performers, or cast- who's this,' using an arch and winking expression of

the eye towards a lady on her left. We did not know. Can you tell me who that is on the opposite side-there about the centre-she sits one, two, three, four-the sixth from Mrs. Minton-don't you know her-how stupid you are there, can you tell me who this is-this gentleman in the olive coat-stands close at your back." Would you have us turn round and ask him?' 'Good gracious, no; who's that with the curious head-dress, about the middle of the room-do look what a fright Miss Mainon is-did · you ever see any thing so vile as Mrs. Renyon's feathers?' These observations and enquiries were uttered in such rapid succession, that, had we been in the humour to indulge Miss Gossamer's curiosity, we should have been bewildered in following the direction of her eye, as frequently and quickly as it was changed. Good night,' said we, Mr. Allknown is coming to you, a much better assistance than we are; together you will find out every body in the room, good night?'

'What has Miss Gossamer been saying?' asked Mrs. Twanam as we addressed her. 'She seemed to be speaking about us, her eye glanced constantly this way.' She was coveting Miss Twanam's flowers we believe.' 'Well she might,' said Miss T. for her own are dropping to pieces, I've seen them in this room a hundred times.' 'Mamma, look at Maria Hinchman's body- the same-the very same; dont you remember I said last night she'd have it on, I knew as well as possible,-the old quilled tucker and every thing. I wonder Sarah Jenner will wear that odious gauze twisted in her hair, it is so very shabby, I'm quite surprized at her.' Do see,' said she, elevating her glass in order to display her own costly appendage, is not that the old family chain which Miss Garron is wearing on her neck, I think it looks better. than usual, it must have been new gilt or lackered perhaps, that's cheaper.' At these, and fifty other similar, remarks, we knew our cue was to laugh, and when we had endured, what we thought, a sufficient penance of this kind, we left the young lady and her mamma to go through the same routine of observation with the next person that might accost them.

Miss Ryddons were looking about quite disconsolately. We had compassion on their forlornness. How pale, how woe begone,' said we, approaching them. Good heavens! pale!' cried they, turning towards each other with faces of fearful anxiety. You're not pale, Bessy; am I?' said the elder. 'Not at all,' replied the other. Heavens! how you frightened us,' said Miss Ryddon. Miss Wingrove's pale if you please, do look at her.' 'O, call her fair, not pale.' Why could you not pay us that compliment. We once did tell you that you were passing fair, can we say more?' Yes,' that now they're past!' whispered Miss Jornan, who it seems had been listening to the conversation. Our attention was now divided between these waning damsels, and for some minutes we were placed in the awkward situation of being obliged to listen to their remarks on each other, without being able to repeat a syllable that was said by either. Miss Jornan occupied the right ear, and Miss Ryddons the left, and their acrimonious jealousies often met midway in our head, where they effervesced and were neutralized like the union of an alkali and an acid.

When we left these contentious spirits, we made our obeisance to Mrs. Surron. Here Mr. Volatile,' said the lady seeing we were about to pass by her. Here Mr. Volatile, don't shun me in that manner.' Who are those people you've been talking to.' Miss Ryddons and Miss Jornan.' Dear o' me, I did'nt know them,' turning round and jerking her head with the most intimate and delighted recognizance. I do so hate those women,' said she, almost I believe as ill as they dislike each other,' drawing back her head, apparently with the ntmost. reluctance, and then twisting her neck again and nodding as pleasantly as before. But they're a sort of persons it's as well to keep on terms with; pray how have you been pleased?' This question recalled our thoughts to the other end of the room, and we hastened to station ourselves again with the happy party we had left.

WEEKLY DIARY.

MAY.

MAY is so called from Maia, the mother of Mercury, to whom sacrifices were offered by the Romans on the first of this month; or, according to some, from respect to the senators and nobles of Rome, who were named Majores, as the following month was termed Junius, in honour of the youth of Rome.

REMARKABLE DAYS.

WEDNESDAY, 1st.-May Day.

We have now reached that period of the year which was formerly dedicated to one of the most pleasing and splendid festal rites. The observance of May Day was a custom which, until the close of the reign of James the 1st, alike attracted the attention of the royal and the noble, as of the vulgar class. Henry the Eighth, Elizabeth, and James, patronized and partook of its ceremonies; and, during this extended era, there was scarcely a village in the kingdom but had a May-pole, with its appropriate games and dances.

Eight masqueraders in the most grotesque dresses, consisting of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, Little John, the Fool, Tom the Piper, the Hobby-Horse, and the Dragon, with from two to ten morris-dancers, or, in lieu of them, the same number of Robin Hood's men, in coats, hoods, and hose of green, with a painted pole in the centre, represented the most complete establishment of the May-game.

who personified Robin Hood; he was attired in a bright grass-green tunic, fringed with gold; his hood and his hosen were parti-coloured, blue and white; he had a large garland of rose-buds on his head, a bow bent in his hand, a sheaf of arrows at his girdle, and light blue tarantine, embroidered with silver; a bugle-horn depending from a baldrick of he had also a sword and a dagger, the hilts of both being richly embossed with gold.

Fabian a page, as Little John, walked at his right hand; and Cecil Cellarman the butler, as Will Stukely, at his left. These, with ten others of the jolly outlaw's attendants who followed, were habited in green garments, bearing their bows bent in their hands, and their arrows in their girdles. Then came

Two maidens, in orange-coloured kirtles with white courtpies, strewing flowers; followed immediately by

The Maid Marian, elegantly habited in a watchet-coloured tunic reaching to the ground; over which she wore a white linen rochet with loose sleeves, fringed with silver, and very neatly plaited; her girdle was of silver baudekin, fastened with a double bow on the left side, her long flaxen hair was divided into many ringlets, and flowed upon her shoulders; the top part of her head was covered with a net work cawl of gold, upon which was placed a garland of silver, ornamented with blue violets. She was supported by

"Two bride-maidens, in sky-coloured rochets girt with crirason girdles, wearing garlands upon their heads of blue and white violets. After them, came

Four other females in green courtpies, and garlands of violets and cowslips. Then

All these characters may be traced, indeed, Sampson the smith, as Friar Tuck, carryso far back as the middle of the fifteenth cen- ing a huge quarter-staff on his shoulder; and tury; and, accordingly, Mr. Strutt, in his Morris the mole-taker, who represented Much, interesting romance, entitled 'Queen-hoo the miller's son, having a long pole with an Hall,' has introduced a very pleasing and ac-inflated bladder attached to one end: And curate description of the May-games and Mor- after them ris of Robin Hood, which, as written in a lively and dramatic style, and not in the least differing from what they continued to be in the youthful days of Shakespeare, and before they were broken in upon by the fanaticism of the puritans, we shall copy in this place for the entertainment of our readers.

In the front of the pavilion, a large square was staked out, and fenced with ropes, to prevent the crowd from pressing upon the performers, and interrupting the diversion; there were also two bars at the bottom of the inclosure, through which the actors might pass and repass, as occasion required.

Six young men first entered the square, clothed in jerkins of leather, with axes upon their shoulders like woodmen, and their heads bound with large garlands of ivy-leaves intertwined with sprigs of hawthorn. Then followed,

Six young maidens of the village, dressed in blue Kirtles, with garlands of primroses on their heads, leading a fine sleek cow decorated with ribbons of various colours, interspersed with flowers; and the horns of the animal were tipped with gold. These were succeeded by

Six foresters, equipped in green tunics, with hoods and hosen of the same colour; each of them carried a bugle-horn attached to a baldrick of silk, which he sounded as he passed the barrier. After them came

Peter Lanaret, the baron's chief falconer,

The May-pole, drawn by eight fine oxen, decorated with scarfs, ribbons, and flowers of divers colours; and the tips of their horns were embellished with gold. The rear was closed by The Hobby-horse and the Dragon.

spectators. He was followed by Peter Parker, the baron's ranger, who personated a dragon, hissing, yelling, and shaking his wings with wonderful ingenuity; and to complete the mirth, Morris, in the character of Much, having small bells attached to his knees and elmonsters in the form of a dance; and as often bows, capered here and there between the two as he came near to the sides of the inclosure, he cast slily a handful of meal into the faces of the gaping rustics, or rapped them about their heads with the bladder tied at the end of his pole. In the mean time, Sampson, representing Friar Tuck, walked with much gravity around the square, and occasionally let fall his heavy staff upon the toes of such of the crowd as he thought were approaching more forward than they ought to do; and if the sufferers cried out from the sense of pain, he addressed them in a solemn tone of voice, advising them to count their beads, say a paternoster or two, and to beware of purgatory. These vagaries were highly palatable to the populace, who announced their delight by repeated plaudits and loud bursts of laughter; for this reason they were continued for a considerable length of time: but Gregory, beginning at last to faulter in his paces, ordered the dragon to fall back the well-nurtured beast, being out of breath, readily obeyed, and their two companions followed their example; which concluded this part of the pastime.

:

Then the archers set up a target at the lower part of the green, and made trial of their skill in a regular succession. Robin Hood and Will Stukely excelled their comrades and both of them lodged an arrow in the centre circle of gold, so near to each other that the difference could not readily be decided, which occasioned them to shoot again; when Robin struck the gold a second time, and Stukely's arrow was affixed upon the edge of it. Robin was therefore adjudged the conqueror; and the prize of honour, a garland of laurel embellished with variegated ribbons, was put upon his head; and to Stukely was given a garland of ivy, because he was the second best performer in that contest.

The pole being sufficiently onerated with finery, the square was cleared from such as had no part to perform in the pageant; and then it was elevated amidst the reiterated acclamations of the spectators. The woodmen and the milk-maidens danced around it according to the rustic fashion; the measure was played by Peretto Cheveritte, the baron's chief minstrel, on the bagpipes, accompanied with the pipe and tabour, performed by one of his associates. When the dance was finished, Gregory the jester, who undertook to play the hobby-horse, came forward with his appropriate equipment, and, frisking up and down the square without restriction, imitated the galloping, curvetting, ambling, trotting, and other paces of a horse, to the infinite satisfaction of the lower classes of the

custom.'

There is a singular species of festivity at Padstow in Cornwall, on the 1st. of May. This is called the Hobby-horse; from canvass being extended with hoops, and painted to resemble a horse. Being carried through the street, men, women, and children, flock round it, when they proceed to a place called Traitorpool, about a quarter of a mile distant, in which the hobby-horse is always supposed to drink; when the head being dipped into the water, is instantly taken up, and the mud and water are sprinkled on the spectators, to the no small diversion of all. On returning home, a particular song is sung, that is supposed to commemorate the event that gave the hobbyhorse birth. According to tradition, the French on a former occasion effected a landing at a small cove in the vicinity; but seeing at a distance a number of women dressed in red, cloaks, which they mistook for soldiers, they fled to their ships, and put to sea. The day