Twelfth-day; but its public festivities are reserve for the last week or ten days. Formerly, they co menced with an execution, a criminal being reserve for the purpose. But this custom, Cardinal Go salvi has, to his great honour, abolished. The Ca nival holds out some most favourable traits of th actual condition of the Italians; for if the young ar profligate abuse its days of indulgence, a large po tion of the middle and inferior classes are exhibite to public observation in the touching and respectab aspect of domestic alliance and family enjoymen which under all laws, all religions, and all gover ments, those classes best preserve. A groupe three generations frequently presents itself, crowde into an open carriage, or ranged on hired chairs alor the Corso, or towering emulously one above th other in galleries erected near the starting-post of th course; taking no other part in the brilliant tumul than as the delighted spectators of a most singul and amusing scene. For several days before th beginning of these festivities, 'the city of the dea exhibits the agitation, bustle, and hurry of the livin The shops are converted into wardrobes; who streets are lined with masks and dominos, the rob of sultans and jackets of pantaloons; canopies a suspended, balconies and windows festooned wi hangings and tapestry; and scaffolds are erected for th accommodation of those who have not the intere to obtain admission to the houses and palaces alor the whole line of the Corso.

'At the sound of the cannon, which, fired from th Piazza di Venezia, each day announce the con mencement of the amusements, shops are closed palaces deserted, and the Corso's long and narro defile teems with nearly the whole of the Roma population. The scene then exhibited is truly sing lar, and for the first day or two infinitely amusing The whole length of the street, from the Porta d

more than a mile, is patrolled by troops of the windows and balconies are crowded first to the sixth story by spectators and ho from time to time descend, and take their d parts in the procession of carriages, or he maskers on foot. Here and there the crown and cardinal's red skull-cap are seen among heads not more fantastic than their he chairs and scaffolding along the sides of t are filled to crushing with maskers, and folk in their gala dresses (by far the most e that the carnival produces). The centre orso is occupied by the carriages of princes, es, the ambassadors of all nations, and the ality of Rome; and the two lines of carnoving in opposite directions on each side, 1 by English peers, Irish commoners, Polish Spanish grandees, German barons, Scotch nd French marquises; but above all, by the bs of the badauds and pizzicaroli of Rome'. ɔrm not the least curious and interesting part rocession, and best represent the carnival, as d' a century back. In an open carriage sits, right, la signora padrona, or mistress of the her neck covered with rows of coral, pearl, or ms; her white satin robe and gaudy headft to the pitiless pelting of the storm, showerscriminately from all the houses and: by the ians on the occupants of carriages, in the form r-plums, but in substance of plaster of Paris

Opposite to her sits her caro sposo, or hus Iressed as à grand sultan or Muscovite czar: all the little signorini of the family, male and habited as harlequins, columbines, and kings eens, are crammed into the carriage: even the

rive out to the Corso in a hired job, full of children, &c. is r il pizzicarolo to go on a cockney party of pleasure.

coachman is supplied with a dress, and appears the character of an elderly lady, or an Arcadia shepherdess; and the footman takes the guise of a English miss, or a French court lady; and figures a spencer and short petticoat,or,accoutred with a hoo and a fan, salutes the passers-by with "Buon giou Messieurs."

At the Ave Maria, or fall of day, the canno again fire as a signal to clear the street for the hors course. All noise then ceases; the carriages file by the nearest avenue, their owners scramble to the windows, balconies, chairs, or scaffolds; while th pedestrians, that have no such resources, driven I the soldiery from the open street, are crowded on t footways to suffocation. But no terror, no disciplin can restrain their ardour to see the first starting the horses.

A temporary barrier, erected near the Porta d Popolo, is the point from which the race commence another on the Piazza di Venezia is the terminati of the course. The horses are small, and of lit value. They have no rider, but are placed each in stall behind a rope, which is dropped as soon as t moment for starting arrives; when the animals seldo require to be put in motion by force. A number tinfoil and paper flags are stuck over their hau ches; small pointed bodies are placed to operate a spur; and the noise and the pain of these decor tions serve to put the horse on its full speed, which it is further urged by the shouting of the p pulace. At the sound of the trumpet (the signal f starting), even at the approach of the officer w gives the order, the animals exhibit their imp tience to be off, and they continue their race, rather their flight, amidst the screams, plaudits, a vivats of the people of all ranks. This scene for the last act of each day's spectacle, when every o is obliged to quit his carnival habit; for it is only

vo particular evenings that there is a masked ne Aliberti Italy, vol. ii, p. 287.)

7.➡PLOUGH MONDAY.

curious ceremonies are observed on this he northern counties, particularly in York hey are thus described in The Rev. G. History and Antiquities of Whitby ough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth I some days following (observes our author), a procession of rustic youths dragging a who, as they officiate for oxen, are called stots. They are dressed with their shirts on ide of their jackets, with sashes of ribbons ross their breasts and backs, and knots or ribbons fastened on their shirts and on their Besides the plough-draggers there is a band a the same dress, furnished with swords, who the sword dance, while one or more musi lay on the violin or flute. The sword-dance, ly introduced by the Danes, displays consi - ingenuity, not without gracefulness. The 3 arrange themselves in a ring with their elevated; and their motions and evolutions first slow and simple, but become gradually rapid and complicated. Towards the close ne catches the point of his neighbour's sword, rious movements take place in consequence; f which consists in joining or plaiting the into the form of an elegant hexagon or rose, centre of the ring, which rose is so firmly that one of them holds it up above their heads it undoing it. The dance closes with taking ieces, each man laying hold of his own sword. g the dance, two or three of the company, called or Clowns, dressed up as harlequins, in most stic modes, having their faces painted or maskre making antic gestures to amuse the specs; while another set called Madgies or Madgy

Pegs, clumsily dressed in women's clothes, and als masked or painted, go from door to door rattling old canisters, in which they receive money. Wher they are well paid they raise a huzza; where the get nothing, they shout hunger and starvation When the party do not exceed forty, they seldor encumber themselves with a plough. Sometimes kind of farce, into which songs are introduced, i acted along with the sword dance: the principa characters in this are, the King, the Miller, th Clown, and the Doctor. Egton Bridge has long bee the chief rendezvous for sword-dancers in the vi cinity of Whitby.

8.-SAINT LUCIAN.

Lucian, a native of Syria, was celebrated in hi youth for his eloquence, and intimate acquaintanc with polite literature. After the death of his parent he gave all his fortune to the poor, and confine himself to the study of the scriptures. He was proficient in the Hebrew, and revised the Septuagir version of the Bible. He wrote an apology for th Christians, and presented it to Maximinus II. Afte having undergone various torments at the instigatio of this emperor, he was martyred in the year 312.

13.-SAINT HILARY.

Hilary was born at Poictiers in France, of a illustrious family; and of this place he was chose bishop in the year 353. Having taken an activ part against the Arians, he was banished to Phry gia, by order of the Emperor Constantius, in 350 where he remained for three years. After variou travels in different parts, and many sufferings, H lary died at Poictiers in 368. He was an excelle orator and poet; his style abounds with rhetorica figures.

*17.-SAINT ANTHONY.

The Benediction of Beasts' is annually perform ed at Rome, on the above day, in a little churc