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small money. A relic of this custom is still preserved at St. James's, by an annual distribution of alms. King James, however, was the last of our kings who washed the feet of the poor people in person; and king William III. the first of our sovereigns who deputed the ceremony to his almoner. George IV. is too fat to perform this humble office, and may be well excused.

CHRONOLOGY.-1596. Descartes, an eminent philosopher and mathematician, born at La Haye, in Touraine.

1654.-Cock-fighting was prohibited by Oliver Cromwell. This barbarous amusement was practised by the Greeks and Romans; but the aggravated cruelty of the battle-royal, or Welsh-main, is peculiar to England, and to be found in no other country. In a battle-royal an unlimited number of fowls are pitted; and when they have killed one another, the surviving bird is esteemed the victor, and carries away the prize. Suppose the Welshmain consists of sixteen pair of cocks; of these the sixteen conquerors are pitted a second time-the eight conquerors a third time the four conquerors a fourth time -and lastly the two conquerors a fifth time; so that thirty-one of the poor birds are sure to suffer. Happily, this and similar sports are much on the decline; and have been superseded by amusements of a more intellectual and less brutal character.

April I.-GOOD FRIDAY.

High Water, Morn. XII. 8 m.-Even.XII. 37 m. CUSTOMS. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Holy Friday, or the Friday in holy week, was the more ancient and general appellation: the name Good Friday is peculiar to the English church. It was a day of extraordinary devotion. Buns, with crosses upon them, are usually eaten in London, : and some other places, on this day at breakfast. Mr. Bryant derives the good: Friday bun from the sacred cakes which were offered at the Arkite temples, styled boun, and presented every seventh day.

At Rome, Barcelona, and Madrid, penitents on Holy Friday punish themselves by vigorous flagellation. The ceremony takes place at the time of vespers. It is preceded by a short exhortation, during which a bell rings; and whips, that is, strings of knotted whipcord, are distributed quietly among such of the audience as are on their knees in the middle of the nave. On a second bell the candles are extinguished, and the former sermon hav. ing ceased, a loud voice issues from the altar, which pours forth an exhortation to

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think of unconfessed, or unrepented, or unforgiven crimes. This continues a sufficient time to allow the kneelers to strip off their upper garments: the tone of the preacher is raised more loudly at every word, and he vehemently exhorts his hearers to recollect, that Christ, and the martyrs, suffered much more than whipping.

"Show, then, your penitence-show your sense of Christ's sacrifice-show it with the WHIP." The flagellation begins. The darkness, the tumultuous sound of blows, in every direction-" BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, pray for us!"— bursting out at intervals-give the whole a maniac and horrible appearance. The scourging continues ten or fifteen minutes, and, when it sounds as if dying away, a bell rings, which seems to invigorate the flagellants, for the lashes beat about more thick than before. Another bell rings, and the blows subside. At a third signal, the candles are relighted, the minister collects the whips, and the penance is concluded.

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TO CORRESPONDENTS...

W. H. next week, if possible.

We agree with S in opinion on the author of Waverly.

G. W's query, next week.

A. N., W., P. T., Silex, and Fabricius are received.

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London: Printed by A. APPLEGATÍ, Stamford Street, for THOMAS BOYS, No. 7, Ludgate Hill, to whom all Communications (free of expense) are requested to be addressed; and sold also by all Booksellers, Newsmen, and Venders in Town and Country.-Published every Saturday. ·

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ALL-FOOLS' DAY.

"A CUSTOM," says "The Spectator," "prevails every where amongst us on the first of April, when every body strives to make as many fools as he can." The wit consists chiefly in sending persons on sleeveless errands, for the history of Eve's Mother, for pigeon's milk, with similar ridiculous absurdities. The French, who have a similar custom on April-day, term the object of this jokery un poisson d'Avril," a name which they likewise give to the mackarel, a silly fish, that is easily caught in vast multitudes during this season. It is probable we borrowed the practice from our neighbours, changing the appellation from fish to fool. There is good reason for believing that with us the custom is of no great antiquity; as

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Similar fooleries prevail in Portugal, as we learn from Mr. Southey. "On the Sunday and Monday," says he, "preceding Lent, as on the first of April in Eng land, people are privileged here (Lisbon) to play the fool. It is thought very jocose to throw water on any person who passes, or throw water on his face; but to do both is the perfection of wit."

To trace the origin of All-Fools' Day, has baffled the inquiries of the most learned and diligent antiquaries, and none of the conjectures yet offered appear very plausible. It is supposed by some to have allusion to the mocking of Jesus Christ by the Jews. A learned rabbi has traced its origin to the mistake of Noah, in sending the dove out of the ark, before the waters of the deluge had abated on the first day of the month among the Hebrews, which answers to our first of April. Lastly, it has been supposed to have originated from the custom of letting all insane persons be at large on April-day, when idle boys amused themselves by sending them on ridiculous errands.

THE DIORAMA.

SINCE the recent change made in this not only very extraordinary, but truly astonishing, exhibition, we have had the pleasure of paying it a visit. How strong the illusion here presented to the eye! Who that has seen the Diorama, is not tempted to believe, that by some magical powers, he has been suddenly transported from the Regent's Park to the interior of Chatres Cathedral, or the Chapel at Holyrood?-Though the internal view of the French edifice was not new to us, that of Scotland burst upon our sight not only

with all the effect of its beautiful and powerfully deceptious features, but with the additional attraction which novelty brings with it. The former scene of Brest Harbour has been changed for a subject much better adapted to scenic painting. Than the view of Holyrood Chapel, we cannot, bating some few exceptions, imagine any thing more perfect, within the reach of human art. The picture furnishes a proud and pleasing proof of the imitative power of the pencil in the hand of genius, and seems to triumph in rivalling nature.

The first point that arrests the attention, as the moving floor, upon which are the seats of the spectators, brings them in front of the painting, is the great eastern window, mouldering and decayed by the winnowing breath of time; while just above the moss-covered wall peeps the silver head of Luna. The greater portion of the left side of the picture, consisting of the Saxon arches, catches the light, and owes no small degree of its dazzling effect to the contrast offered by the deep shade projected by the wall. By degrees, almost imperceptible, the moon is seen to surmount the fabric, and take her aërial course through the heavens, till, at length, just as the scene is closing, light fleecy clouds veil half her disc. Nearly in the centre of the chapel stands the ruin of a vast column, the headless trunk of which bends over in obstinate fixity, as deter mined to resist the future ravages of time. In that part of the sky where the lunar rays are less strong, innumerable twinkling stars are visible, whilst the light floating vapours, instead of being casually scattered, are seen marshalled and retain ed in the train of the queen of night. On the right side of the picture, standing near the monument, almost too dusky in her tints to wear any defined form, stands the figure of a woman.

Some of these things are wrong in principle. In the graphic art, as in every other, it is a fault to attempt more than it can' realize, a fault by which it not only fails to gain any thing, but loses much-and the reflection seems to have escaped the ingenious artists, Messrs. Daquerre and Bouton, that the nearer a known imitation approximates to reality, the more circumspect is the mind of the spectator to discover discrepancies and detect the delusion.

It is one of the established maxims of scene painters, to exclude from their canvass all living and moving objects. In the present case, the motions of the moon, clouds, and stars, are not, could not be, accompanied by any of the changes in the lights and shades of the other objects in

MEMOIRS OF THE AFFAIRS OF EUROPE.

the scene, the natural consequences of such motions, any more than the eyes and lips of the woman could be made to move. However, for this inconsistency, some atonement is made by the striking and appropriate effect of the distant sounds of a pipe, the soft notes of which flow sweetly to the ear, and most effectively favour the pleasing melancholy that pervades the whole of the sacred and solemn scenery.

Passing then the little errors we have mentioned, and the radical anomaly of a motion and changed position of the spectators, with the practicability of producing any corresponding alterations, in the perspective bearings of the different parts of the building, as they would take place in nature, we must give it as our decided opinion, that regarded in its aggregate, this exhibition is not only a very extraordinary, but an astonishing, triumph of the scenic powers of lines and colours, and as honourable to the talents by which its effects have been produced, as those effects are gratifying to all by whom they are witnessed.

Review and Analysis.

MEMOIRS OF THE AFFAIRS OF EUROPE FROM THE PEACE OF UTRECHT. 4to. LONDON. MURRAY.

We have till now been deterred from looking into this work, thinking, from its grave and imposing title, it was chiefly intended for the edification of senators, diplomatists, and other high personages. On perusal, however, we have been agreeably undeceived, and had it appeared (as it well might,) in a more diminutive form, we should at once have pronounced it, an entertaining and instructive " little volume." Indeed, there are few individuals of the present day who enjoy a more respectable name as a man, an author, and a member of parliament, than lord John Russell. But, though so far distinguished, his lordship has never been remarkable for the display of any great power in writing or thinking, nor has shewn himself superior to those prepossessions and feelings usually predominant in the party and class to which he belongs. We do not think the present work forms an exception, and, to show we have some reason for the opinion, we will forthwith commence our examination of its contents and character.

The present volume appears to be the first of a series, intended to comprise memoirs of Europe, from the peace of Utrecht 'downwards; and, should subsequent events, in proportion to their, number and importance, be treated on a commensurate scale, it is impossible to foresee

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the number to which they will finally amount. At present, the noble author has scarcely advanced beyond the threshold of his undertaking, having only sketched the history of France, at the close of the reign of Lewis XIV., and under the regency of the duke of Orleans-of England, from the death of queen Anne to the accession of the elector of Hanover. Russia, which about this period was as suming an important station in the Euro pean commonwealth, is not adverted to; and of Germany we have little more than a chronological notice of the victories of prince Eugene over the Turks. In the Introduction, which is somewhat languidly and vaguely written, the author points out the characteristic differences between an cient and modern governments, and, taking a retrospective glance at European history, advances sundry novel and, in our humble opinion, untenable positions.

Of the two evils, a commonplace and a paradoxical writer, we certainly prefer the former; for, though such an author tells us nothing new, we are not deluded into any hurtful and fantastical errors. Of the latter description we conceive the paradoxes of the noble author before us: but we will enable the reader to judge for himself.

"The absence of slavery," it is said, "has Imade a difference between ancient and modern states, of which it would be diffi-' cult at one view to estimate all the conse quences. Every one who has a pulse in his heart for the happiness of mankind, must rejoice, that in almost all the nations of modern Europe, man is not accustomed to believe that he can have a property in man; and that freedom from personal slavery is the birthright of every one. Yet one political consequence has followed, that must not be entirely overlooked. In ancient states a citizen prided himself on his freedom, and felt impelled by a kind' of party spirit, as it were, to defend the liberties of his country. In modern Europe, to be free is no distinction; it does not prevent men from being sordid, dependent, totally ignorant, and little better than the cattle of the field a new distinction, therefore, has been desired, and vanity seeks to be noble. A strange result which is not easily to be foreseen has followed. The distinction of freedom induced men to defend liberty; the distinction of nobility has induced them to defend a monopoly of power and privilege, and to favour a system of political slavery nearly as degrading to human nature as the personal slavery of ancient republics."

It might be inferred from this passage, that the strength of communities is weakened by liberty being made the common

right of every individual. Such a paradox ROUTINE OF THE DAY UNDER LEWIS XIV. hardly requires refutation. Ireland, however, at once offers a practical example; and we are sure the noble writer does not, consider the strength of that country, either greater or more secure, because a minority enjoys privileges and immunities interdicted to the rest of the community. Indeed it must be obvious, that the most effective mode of augmenting the power and stability of any state, consists in giving to every individual an interest in its institutions.

In the latter part of the paragraph a distinction is made where none exists. The citizens of the ancient republics were nothing more than a privileged aristocracy, monopolizing powers, and enjoying privileges incompatible with the rights of their fellow men: and their social polity scarcely exhibited a more equitable and rational system of liberty than now prevails in the West India Islands.

We pass on to another paradox: after sketching the decline of the feudal aristocracy, and the contemporaneous augmentation of the power of the sovereigns throughout Europe, we have the following curious reflection :

"Thus the period of the revival of letters, to which we are accustomed to look back as the commencement of every liberal art and civilized institution, was, in fact, the era of the downfal of freedom, and of the establishment of arbitrary power."

Agreeably to this new version, we ought to associate the decline of liberty in Europe with the revival of learning. A most unfortunate conjunction truly! But, happily, the liberty that declined, was of that sort the loss of which is not at all to be regretted it was the liberty of a ruthless aristocracy, to oppress and tyrannize over the unhappy victims of feudal violence, Another advantage accompanied the revival of letters-namely, the rise of cities and towns, and the consequent decline of villanage-changes with which it has been úsual to associate the greatest improvements and ameliorations of the present day.

There are several other strange doctrines advanced in the Introduction, but we are fearful of wearying our readers, and shall pass them over to the less objectionable and more entertaining portion of the work. An interesting survey is taken of the vain-glorious reign of Lewis XIV., in which the happiness of the people was sacrificed to the extension of military conquest. There is also a good account of the Mississippi scheme, and the, projects of the famous Law during the regency. We shall endeavour to select an illustrative extract of each.

At eight o'clock the valet-de-chambre who slept in his room, waked him. The first physician, the first surgeon, and the nurse came in together; the two former rubbed him. At a quarter past eight, the great chamberlain and the grandes entrées came in: they staid only a minute. One of these opened the curtain, gave holy water, and a prayer book. When the king had said his prayers, the same persons returned, and gave him his dressinggown. After this the secondles entrées came in; then all persons of distinction; then all the court; by this time he was putting on his boots or shoes. When he was dressed, he prayed in public at the foot of his bed. He went into his cabinet with those who had the entrées, gave orders for the day, and saw those whom he wished in private audiences After this he went to mass; in going and returning any one might speak to him, provided only that the captain of the guards was first informed. After mass, a council was held, except on Thursdays and Fridays. Dinner was at one o'clock; the king dined alone, and always au petit couvert, or très petit couvert; either of these consisted of three courses, besides fruit. The great chamberlain, or the first gentleman of the chamber, served the king. Every one present stood, except monsieur, to whom the king always offered a chair. The dauphin and other princes stood. The grand couvert, disused in the latter part of the reign, was a more magnificent spectacle. To see the king eat, seems to have been one of the rights and privileges preserved, though rarely enjoyed, by the great nobility and gentry of France. Every one could not look on this show with the philosophy of madame de Sevigné, who says, "I have seen this scene. The king and queen eat in a melancholy way (tristement). Madame de Richelieu is seated, and then the ladies according to their dignities, some seated, the others standing; those who have not dined, are ready to snatch the dishes; those who have, are suffocated by the smell of the meat; so that the company is all in a state of suffering." Neither the presence nor the suffering of the courtiers, however, spoilt the appetite of the king. "I have often," says the duchess of Orleans," seen the king eat four plates of soup, a whole pheasant, a partridge, a large platefull of salad, mutton, with gravy and with garlic, two good slices of ham, and a platefull of pastry, besides fruit and sweetmeats." After dinner, the king retired for a short time to his room, and then went out hunting, or shooting, which he

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