fellow rather receiving fifty or á hundred pounds "hush money," than bring his action, when, perhaps, from some technical informality in the proceedings, (should he find a lawyer willing to act for him, being poor,) he would be nonsuited, with all the costs of both parties on his own shoulders, and be, moreover, ruined for ever, in both purse and person. These remarks were suggested by reading an American work, some time since, on the above subject, from which I have extracted the following

Stage-coach Adventures.

INSIDE.-Crammed full of passengersthree fat, fusty, old men-a young mother and sick child-a cross old maid-a pollparrot a bag of red herrings-doublebarreled gun, (which you are afraid is loaded) and a snarling lap-dog, in addition to yourself-awaking out of a sound nap, with the cramp in one leg, and the other in a lady's band-box-pay the damage (four or five shillings) for "gallantry's sake"-getting out in the dark, at the half-way-house, in the hurry stepping into the return coach, and finding yourself the next morning at the very spot you had started from the evening before-not a breath of air-asthmatic old man, and child with the measles-windows closed in consequence-unpleasant smell-shoes filled with warm water-look up and find it's the child-obliged to bear it-no appeal-shut your eyes, and scold the dog-pretend sleep, and pinch the child-mistake— pinch the dog, and get bit-execrate the child in return-black looks-"no gentleman"-pay the coachman, and drop a piece of gold in the straw-not to be found-fell through a crevice-coachman says, "he'll find it"-can't. - get out yourself-gone-picked up by the 'ostler. No time for "blowing up"-coach off for next stage-lose your money-get inlose your seat-stuck in the middle-get laughed at-lose your temper-turn sulky, and turned over in a horse-pond.

OUTSIDE.-Your eye cut out by the lash of a clumsy coachman's whip-hat blown off, into a pond, by a sudden gust of wind -seated between two apprehended murderers, and a noted sheep-stealer in irons, who are being conveyed to gaol-a drunken fellow, half asleep, falls off the coach, and, in attempting to save himself, drags you along with him into the mud-musical guard, and driver, "horn mad "-turned over-one leg under a bale of cotton, the other under the coach-hands in breeches pockets-head in a hamper of wine-lots

of broken bottles versus broken heads-cut and run-send for surgeon-wounds dress. ed-lotion and lint, four dollars-take post-chaise-get home-lay down, and laid up.

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.-Drunken coachman-horse sprawling-wheel off-pole breaking, down hill-axle-tree splittingcoach overturning-winter, and buried in the snow-one eye poked out with an umbrella, the other cut open by the broken window-reins breaking-impudent guard -hurried at meals-imposition of innkeepers-five minutes and a half to swallow three and sixpennyworth of vile meatwaiter a rogue-"Like master, like man

half a bellyfull, and frozen to death-internal grumblings and outward complaints -no redress-walk forward while the horses are changing-take the wrong turning-lose yourself and lose the coachgood-by to portmanteau-curse your ill luck-wander about in the dark and find the inn at last-get upon the next coach going the same road-stop at the next innbrandy and water, hot, to keep you in spirits-warm fire-pleasant companyheard the guard cry “All right?”-run out, just in time to sing out "I'm left," as the coach turns the corner-after it "full tear"-come up with it, at the end of a mile-get up "all in a blowze "-catch cold sore throat-inflammation-doctor -warm bath-fever-DIE.

was considerably obstructed in his work by some heavy body, which he feared would injure the net; but by proceeding slowly and cautiously, he drew it ashore untorn, and found that it contained a round substance, in the shape of a large plate or dish, thickly encrusted with a coat of hardened mud; the dark colour of the metal beneath induced him to consider it as iron. A silversmith, accidentally present, encouraged the mistake, and, after a few affected difficulties and demurs, bought it for a trifling sum, immediately carried it home, and, after carefully cleaning and polishing his purchase, it proved to be of pure silver, perfectly round, more than two feet in dia meter, and weighing upwards of twenty pounds. Fearing that so massy and valua ble a piece of plate, offered for sale at one time and at one place, might produce suspicion and inquiry, he immediately, without waiting to examine its beauties, divided it into four equal parts, each of which he disposed of, at different and distant places.

One of the pieces had been sold, at Lyons, to Mr. Mey, a wealthy merchant of that city, and a well-educated man, who directly saw its value, and after great pains and expense, procured the other three fragments, had them nicely rejoined, and the treasure was finally placed in the cabinet of the king of France.

This relic of antiquity, no less remarkable for the beauty of its workmanship, than for having been buried at the bottom of the Rhone more than two thousand years, was a votive shield, presented to Scipio, as a monument of gratitude and affection, by the inhabitants of Carthago Nova, now the city of Carthagena, for his generosity and self-denial, in delivering one of his captives, a beautiful virgin, to her original lover. This act, so honourable to the Roman general, who was then in the prime vigour of manhood, is represented on the shield, and an engraving from it may be seen in the curious and valuable work of Mr. Spon.

The story of "Scipio's chastity," which this shield commemorates, is related by Livy to the following effect.-The wife of the conquered king, falling at the general's feet, earnestly entreated that the female captives might be protected from injury and insult.-Scipio assured her, that she should have no reason to complain.

"For my own part," replied the queen, "my age and infirmities almost ensure me

against dishonour, but when I consider the age and complexion of my fellow captives, (pointing to a crowd of females,) I feel considerable uneasiness."

are

"Such crimes," replied Scipio, neither perpetrated nor permitted by the Roman people; but if it were not so, the anxiety you discover, under your present calamities, to preserve their chastity, would be a sufficient protection :" he then gave the necessary orders.

The soldiers soon after brought him, what they considered as a rich prize, a virgin of distinction, young, and of such extraordinary beauty, as to attract the notice and admiration of all who beheld her. Scipio found that she had been betrothed, in happier days, to Allucius, a young Spanish prince, who was himself a captive. Without a moment's delay, the conqueror sent for her parents and lover, and addressed the latter in the following words:

"The maid to whom thou wert shortly to have been married has been taken prisoner from the soldiers who brought her to me, I understand that thy affections are fixed upon her, and indeed her beauty confirms the report. She is worthy of thy love; nor would I hesitate, but for the stern laws of duty and honour, to offer her my hand and heart. I return her to thee, not only inviolate, but untouched, and almost unseen; for I scarcely ventured to gaze on such perfection; accept her as a gift worthy receiving. The only condition, the only return. I ask, is, that thou wilt be a friend to the Roman people."

The young prince in a transport of de light, and scarcely able to believe what he saw and heard, pressed the hand of Scipio to his heart, and implored ten thousand blessings on his head. The parents of the happy bridegroom had brought a large sum of money, as the price of her redemption; Scipio ordered it to be placed on the ground, and telling Allucius that he insisted. on his accepting it as a nuptial gift, directed it to be carried to his tent.

The happy pair returned home, repeating the praises of Scipio to every one, calling him a godlike youth, as matchless in the success of his arms, as he was unrivalled in the beneficent use he made of his victories,

Though the story is known to most readers, its relation, in connection with the discovery of the valuable present from the conquered city to its illustrious victor, seemed almost indispensable, and perhaps the incident can scarcely be too fami liar.

To the Editor.

Sir, The remarkable vessel from which this drawing is taken, was discovered a few days since, by a labourer employed in sinking one of the coffer-dams for the new London bridge, embedded in clay, at a depth of about thirty feet from the bed of the river. It is of bronze, not cast, but sculptured, and is in so perfect a state, that the edges of the different parts are as sharp as if the chisel had done its office but yesterday. The only portion which has suffered decay is the pin that attached the lid to the other part, which crumbled away as soon as exposed to the air.

At first, it was conjectured that this vessel was used for a lamp; but the idea was soon abandoned, as there was no part calculated to receive the wick; and the space to contain the oil was so small that it would not have admitted of more oil than was sufficient for one hour's consumption, or two, at farthest.

One of the members of the Antiquarian Society has given it as his opinion, that it was used for sacrificial purposes, and intended to receive wine, which, after being

put in, was to be poured out through the mouth, the under jaw being evidently protruded to an unnatural distance on this account.

The upper part of the head forms the lid, which the horns serve as a handle to raise; the bottom of the neck is flat, so that it may stand securely.

That it represents a head of Bacchus will be evident, at first glance, as it is encircled with a torse of ivy; but the features being those of a Nubian, or Carthaginian, prove that it must have an older date than that of the Romans, who borrowed their first ideas of Bacchic worship from the Egyptians. Perhaps it might have been part of their spoils from Carthage itself, and have been highly valued on that account. Certain however it is, that this curiosity (destined for the British Museum) must have laid below the bosom of father Thames for many centuries; but how it came there, and at such a depth in the clay, we can only guess at; and till Jonathan Oldbuck, alias Monkbarns, rise from the dead to set us right, it is to be feared that there will be left nothing but conjecture respecting it.

There is some account, but not very wellsupported, of the course of the Thaines having once been diverted: should this

however be true, it is possible that the head, of which we are now speaking, might have been dropped on the then dry bottom; the bed of the river must, in that case, have been afterwards considerably raised.

I remain, yours, respectfully,
M. BLACKMORE.

Wandsworth, Feb. 9, 1827.

P. S. The Romans always represent their satyrs with Roman noses, and I believe that Bacchus alone is crowned with ivy; the fauns and the rest being crowned with vine leaves.

It would be easy to compose a dissertation respecting Bacchus, which would be highly interesting, and yet throw little light on this very remarkable vessel. The relation of any thing tending to elucidate its probable age or uses will be particularly esteemed.

In addition to the favour of Mr. Blackmore's letter and drawing, he obligingly obtained the vessel itself, which being

Probably the insertion of this remarkable relique of antiquity, turned up from the soil of our metropolitan river, may induce communications to the Table Book of similar discoveries when they take place. At no time were ancient remains more regarded and illustrations of old manners and customs, of all kinds, are here especially acceptable.

JACK O' LENT.

This was a puppet, formerly thrown at, in our own country, during Lent, like Shrove-cocks. Thus, in "The Weakest goes to the Wall," 1600, we read of "a mere anatomy, a Jack of Lent ;" and in Greene's "Tu quoque," of "a boy that is throwing at his Jack o' Lent ;" and again, in the comedy of "Lady Alimony," 1659: "Throwing cudgels

At Jack a Lents or Shrove-cocks."

Also, in Ben Jonson's "Tale of a Tub:"

"On an Ash-Wednesday,

For boys to hurl three throws a penny at thee."

So, likewise, in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Tamer tamed:"

Ash Wednesday,

The copious particulars respecting these festivals, which have been brought together in another place,+ admit of some addition.

In France and other parts of the continent, the season preceding Lent is universal carnival. At Marseilles, the Thursday before Lent is called le Jeudi gras, and Shrove Tuesday le Mardi gras. Every body joins in masquerading on these nights, and both streets and houses are full of masks the whole night long. The god of fritters, if such a god there be, who is worshipped in England only on Shrove Tuesday, is worshipped in France on both the Thursday and Tuesday. Parties meet at each other's houses to a supper of fritters, and then set off masquerading, which they keep up to a very late hour in the morning.

On Ash-Wednesday, which has here much more the appearance of a festival than of a fast, there is a ceremony called interring the carnival." A whimsical figure is dressed up to represent the carnival, which is carried in the afternoon in procession to Arrens, a small village on the sea-shore, about a mile out of the town, where it is pulled to pieces. This ceremony is attended in some way or other by every inhabitant of Marseilles, whether gentle or simple, man or woman, boy or girl. The very genteel company are in carriages, which parade backwards and forwards upon the road between the town and the village, for two or three hours, like the Sunday processions in Hyde-park. Of the rest of the company, some make parties to dine at Arrens, or at the public-houses on the road;

Brand's Popular Antiquities. t The Every-Day Book.

others make water parties; but the majority only go and walk about, or sit upon the rocks to see and be seen. It was one of the most delightful evenings imaginable; the air was inexpressibly mild; the road where the carriages parade is about half way up the rocks, and this long string of carriages constantly moving, the rocks filled with thousands and thousands of spectators, and the tranquil sea gilded by the setting suu, and strewed over with numberless little barks, formed altogether one of the most beautiful and picturesque scenes that could be presented. We sat down on a little detached piece of rock almost encircled by the sea, that we might have full enjoyment of it, and there remained till some time after the glorious sun had disappeared for the night, when we walked home by a lovely bright moonlight, in a milder evening, though in the month of February, than we often find in England at Midsummer.*

Naogeorgus, in the "Popish Kingdome," mentions some burlesque scenes practised formerly on Ash Wednesday. People went hands, looking after the feast days which about in mid-day with lanterns in their they had lost on this the first day of the Lent fast. Some carried herrings on a pole, crying" Herrings, herrings, stinking herrings! no more puddings!"

And hereto joyne they foolish playes,
and doltish doggrel rimes,
And what beside they can invent.
belonging to the times.

66

Others, at the head of a procession, carried a fellow upon staves, or stangs," to some near pond or running stream, and there plunged him in, to wash away what of feasting-time might be in him. Some got boys to accompany them through the town singing, and with minstrels playing, entered the houses, and seizing young girls harnessed them to a plough; one man held the handles, another drove them with a whip, a minstrel sung drunken songs, and a fellow followed, flinging sand or ashes as if he had been sowing, and then they drove

both plough and maydens through
some pond or river small,
And dabbled all with durt, and wringing
wett as they may bee

To supper calle, and after that
to daunsing lustilee.

Miss Plumptre.