so near their dwelling;-he had lost his sow his story it was further stated, that the shoe ticularly with those who are destitute and with nine bonniveens (sucking pigs,) his horse lay for the inspection of the curious at the friendless, to deny themselves the common fell into a quarry and was killed, and three newspaper office. The most prominent fea- necessaries of life, and to hoard up every of his sheep died, all through the means of ture in the vulgar creed respecting the Lepre- trifle they can collect for the expenses of the fairies. Though the lime-kiln had cost haune is, his being the possessor of a purse, their wake and funeral. Looking forward to him five guineas, he declared he would never supposed to be, like that of Fortunatus, in- their death as to a gala given by them to their burn another stone in it, but take it down, exhaustible; and many persons, who have acquaintances, every possible preparation is without delay, and build one away from the surprised one of these fairies occupied in shoe- made for rendering it, as they consider, 'crefort, saying, he was wrong in putting that making, have endeavoured to compel him to ditable;' their shroud and burial dress are kiln in the way of the good people," who deliver it; this he has ingeniously avoided, often provided many years before they are were thus obliged to go out of their usual averting the eye of his antagonist by some wanted; nor will the owners use these gartrack. The back door of his house unfortu- stratagem, when he disappears, which it seems ments whilst living, though existing in the nately also faced the same fort, but this of- he has not the power of doing as long as any most abject state of wretchedness and rags. fence was obviated by almost closing it up, person's gaze is fixed upon him. It is not unusual to see even the tomb-stone leaving only a small hole at the top, to allow in readiness, and leaning against the cabin the good people free passage, should they rewall, a perpetual memento mori' that must quire it. In these raths, fairies are repremeet the eye of its possessor every time he sented as holding their festive meetings, and crosses his threshold. entering into all the fantastic and wanton mirth that music and glittering banquets are capable of inspiring. A fairy chieftain, of much local celebrity, named Knop, is sup. posed to hold his court in a rath, on the road side between Cork and Youghall, where often travellers, unacquainted with the country, have been led astray by the appearance of lights, and by alluring sounds proceeding from within; but when "The village cock gave note of day, Up sprang in haste the airy throng; The word went round,' away! away! The night is short, the way is long" and the delicious viands change into carrion. The crystal goblets become rugged pebbles, and the whole furniture of the feast undergoes a similar metamorphosis. "On the whole, from what may be collected, the present state of Irish superstition closely resembles that of England during the age of Elizabeth; a strong proof of the correct measurement of those who have stated a space of two centuries to exist between the relative degree of popular knowledge and civilization attained by the sister kingdom." The belief in witches is not so strong as in other parts of the British empire; but this is compensated by greater bigotry in more serious respects. At Youghall, Mr. C. states, --"The bigotry of the Protestants against their Roman Catholic brethren in those towns under his influence reached a degree of marked violence unknown in any other part of the kingdom, and which feeling is not entirely eradicated at the present hour; I need only instance the town of Bandon, where, over the principal gate, an inscription once stated that JEW, TURK Or Atheist MAY ENTER HERE a Protestant freeman, presuming to go to or be set in the stocks. "An eddy of dust, raised by the wind, is attributed to the fairies journeying from one "At Youghall it was forbidden, in 1678, of their haunts to another; on perceiving and remains on record, that a Papist should which, the peasant will obsequiously doff his buy or barter any thing in the public market; hat, muttering, 'God speed ye, God speed ye, and the manuscript annals of the town, from Gentlemen; and returns it to his head, with which I have been favoured with extracts, the remark, good manners are no burthen,' afford evidence of the illiberality of its coras an apology for the motive, which he is poration towards those of the Catholic perashamed to acknowledge. Should he, how-suasion; nor is it without regret that I add, ever, instead of such friendly greeting, repeat the enactments quoted were made during the any short prayer, or devoutly cross himself, mayoralties of ancestors of my own. using a religious response, the fairy journey "In 1696, it was ordered that any person but is interrupted, and if any mortals are in their train, the charm by which they were detained is broken, and they are restored to human society. On these occasions, the production" of a black hafted knife is considered as extremely potent in dissolving the spell. This weapon is believed to be effective not only against fairy incantation, but also against any supernatural being; and accounts of many twilight rencontres between shadowy forms and mortals are related, to establish its power, gouts of blood or jelly being found in the morning where the vision had appeared. A respectable farmer has been pointed out to me, whose familiar appellation in Irish was 'Kill the Devil,' from the report of his having quelled, by means of a black-hafted knife, a phantom that long had haunted him. "There is evidently a constitutional difference in the composition of the English and Irish peasant; but this peculiarity may be more satisfactorily accounted for by the prevailing belief with the latter of a future state being a material one, and subject to wants even more urgent than those of this life; under this impression, shoes, considered a luxury quite unworthy a thought, are believed almost indispensable after death, when it is supposed much walking has to be performed, probably through rough roads and inclement weather. The superstition evidently proceeds from the tenet of purgatory or qualification for heaven, held by the Romish church; and on this particular, the general belief of the Irish peasantry is somewhat at variance with the representations of their pastors: the priest describes it as a place of fire, but the people imagine it to be a vast and dreary extent, strewed with sharp stones and abounding in thorns and brambles. "The influence of this doctrine affects rich and poor, according to their circumstances, and is a most valuable one, for I have been assured the emolument it yields to the Catholic church of Ireland, by a late limited calculation, exceeds 650,000l. per annum. "The attachment manifested towards particular burial-places arises from the same cause; and the anxiety amongst the vulgar to be interred with their deceased relatives, bestows even on death a feeling of social in 1702. Several Papists, who had been ad-terest. "1744. Gregory Grimes, victualler, was dis- "I am tempted to notice, as curiosities, Our last quotation relates to that very marked feature in the Irish character-the regard of the natives for their funeral ceremonies: "Cluricaune or Leprehaune is the name given to the Irish Puck. The character of "An easy death and a fine funeral' is a this goblin is a compound of that of the Scotch proverbial benediction amongst the lower Brownie and the English Robin Good fellow, orders in Ireland. Throughout life the peaHe is depicted (for engraved portraits of the sant is accustomed to regard the manner and Irish Leprechaune are in existence) as a small place of his interment as matters of the greatand withered old man, completely equipped est importance; to be decently put in the in the costume of a cobbler, and employed in earth, along with his own people,' is the wish repairing a shoe. A paragraph recently ap- most frequently and fervently expressed by peared in a Kilkenny paper, stating that a him. When advanced in life, it is usual, parlabourer, returning home in the dusk of the evening, discovered a Leprehaune at work, from whom he bore away the shoe which he was mending; as a proof of the veracity of scription is said to have caused its removal : "A remarkable instance occurred not long since. An old beggar woman, who died near the city of Cork, requested that her body might be deposited in White Church burialground. Her daughter, who was without the means to obtain a hearse or any other mode of conveyance, determined herself to undertake the task, and, having procured a rope, she fastened the coffin on her back, and, after tedious journey of more than ten miles, fulfilled her mother's request. - a "Separate interests (as in the case of marriage) often cause disputes at funerals; and as no acknowledged rule exists in such cases, a battle usually ends the dissension, and the corpse is borne away in triumph by the victorious party to a cemetery perhaps twenty miles distant from that originally intended. - “I remember once overhearing a contest between a poor man and his wife, respecting the burial of their infant. The woman wished to have the child laid near some of her own relations, which the husband strongly op posed, concluding her attachment to her friends was superior to her love for him; but he was soon convinced by his wife's argument, that as her sister had died in child. birth only a few days previous, she would afford their poor infant suck, which nourish- of Catharine II., who, though herself the most more fortunate, and had partaken of two or openly licentious and profligate of sovereigns, three dishes, seemed to enjoy a triumph, ment it might not have if buried elsewhere. "Another instance of similar superstition acted well in suppressing a public establish- when a servant approached him and demandoccurred in the case of a woman, who pre- ment for fornication and adultery,-a noble ed two roubles and a half;-so much for each sented several beggars with a loaf and por- brothel. Though this monarch had had some dish, and half a rouble for his dram. His ringer, that her deceased child might not want individuals severely chastised, for having astonishing wild stare of surprise, fury, and a porringer or bread in the next world. She merely babbled about her own imperial indignation, and his hearty curses, I shall not accounted for her knowledge of the wants of amours, she thought proper to have a number readily forget. He paid the money, and the I was about to quit the an after-state, by saying that a very good of the members of the Physical Club punished, affair ended. Application was then made to man, who used to have occasional trances, in in order to present an example to society. some of the other guests, who absolutely rewhich it was known his soul left his body and Countess, one of the most distinguished fused payment. became familiar with disembodied spirits, re-ornaments of this association, was placed for grand hall, when a servant approached me and turning to its former habitation after a short some weeks under confinement; several of demanded a rouble and a half. I felt insulted, absence, told her, on his recovery from one her co-partners in open prostitution, suffered and while scolding, desired that Prince of these fits, that children, dying at an early degradation; and others incurred imperial might be told, that I had been present at a age, whose parents' neglect deprived them of displeasure. These particulars I received public entertainment, and that I should never the use of a porringer, were obliged to lap from a source of unquestionable veracity, pay a kopeek, and off I went. Every indivimilk out of their hands; whilst others, who which prudence must, at present, conceal. dual present understood, that the paltry had a similar Indeed, I am acquainted with a gentleman breakfast was given by Prince ———, and were provided in life with one, article prepared for their comfort in a future who was a rejected member of the Physical indeed a number of his favourites were not state; and now,' continued the woman, as Club. He went to that noble place of con- asked payment. His steward was master she bestowed her last loaf and porringer on a venience, by the recommendation of some of the ceremonies; his cooks prepared the mendicant, my mind is eased of its burthen, friends, and was willing to have submitted to dishes in the assembly-rooms of the town; and my poor child is as happy as the best of the usual formalities and requisite probation. his servants waited at table; and he himself Having arrived at the Club, a few minutes acted as host during the entertainment. Dethem.' after the candles had been extinguished, and servedly he was abused by his countrymen already there being present more males than for this acte éclatant. females, he could find no partner; but he was kindly invited to return to an approaching assembly, for these promiscuous social meetings only took place at fixed periods. Report, however, says, that the gentleman alluded to was admitted a probationer, but that his fair partner having declared against him, he was rejected. Be this as it may, he certainly never returned to the Club. 6 "Many other anecdotes of the same nature might be related, but these are sufficient for the purpose of illustration." The Character of the Russians, and a detailed 1823. Or this very strange book it is not our intention, this week, to say a syllable. Our extracts, selected from the writer's Essay on the Russian character, will (we fancy) render it unnecessary for us to give our reasons for this silent course. We have only to state that the Doctor left Moscow in a prodigious hurry, without taking formal leave of his friends or of the surviving members of the infamous Physical Club. "A nobleman of the highest rank, now in his grave, invited his friends to an elegant dinner and splendid entertainment, in his fine gardens on the banks of the Moskva. The olis were present. With surprise, one of most distinguished personages of the metrothe guests was remarked, as he most dexterbeen using, into his pocket. Immediately ously conveyed a silver spoon, which he had "An institution which at once outraged the after dinner, this noble left the party, and best feelings of human nature,-insulted vir-attended by livery servants, got into his carA prince of the northern empire having toe,-did open violence to morality,-broke riage and drove home." through the divine law, - unshackled the bonds of society, -and degraded man to the entered one of the magazines at Moscow, level of brutes: an institution so uncommon, wandered up and down, passed a number of that its equal is not to be found in the history articles in review, and demanded their prices. "The too frequent practice of making mar- of nations, might well excite the curiosity of While the proprietor and his assistants were riages for convenience; the feebleness of the some, the incredulity of others, and the de-busily occupied in shewing a variety of wares clandestinely,-and, as he thought, without bonds of wedlock; the toleration of married testation of all. Thank heaven its days are to numerous purchasers, the said nobleman couples, who live together, and shut their past! "I have already given my opinion as to being seen,-seized a gilded tea-cup and eyes to each other's well-known infidelity; and the frequent separation of husbands and the meanness of the Russian nobles;-many saucer; conveyed it under his cloak; comwives, sometimes not long after the pleasures of them are given to profligacy;-sensuality menced a general conversation; pretended to of the honey-moon, are but too notorious, in is a very general characteristic;-and novelty have forgotten something; ran off with his has, no doubt, an almost omnipotent influence booty; deposited it in his carriage; re-entered the Russian empire. "I shall here take notice of the most ex- upon their minds. I shall here introduce a the magazine; bought some trifling article; traordinary of establishments, the Physical few anecdotes in illustration of these points. departed, and, followed by a couple of ser"In the spring of 1821 I resided at Serpu- vants in gorgeous apparel, seated himself in Club of Moscow, because it must have had a street to his splendid palace. frightful influence upon public morals. In chof, a district town in the government of his vehicle, and, no doubt, dwelt with com"But though such striking cases of noble this institution, the mysteries of nature were Moscow. The Maslenitsa, or Butter-week, placency on his triumph, as he was hurled promiscuously celebrated, among the princes which precedes the Carnival, was distinguish- along the and princesses, the male and female nobles, ed, as in the metropolis, by balls and amuseof the freezing northern empire, by the ar-ments, and even a well-managed masquerade.meanness and theft now and then occur, the A tutor, who was attached to two pupils, bitration of chance. According to some ac- A sledge parade was announced for Saturday, counts, the candles being extinguished, and and a dejeuner à la fourchette, by Prince the whole assembly in confusion, every one le Maréchal de la Noblesse; and I, among seized a companion; according to others, others, accepted the invitation. The number sons of one of the most distinguished of the tickets were drawn, with correspondent num- of sledges was not great, nor the spectacle at ancient noble famflies of Russia, carried them bers, the bearers of which paired off from the all imposing. As the weather was cold, every with him to an exhibition of animals, bird,&c. grand saloon, to bed-rooms, prepared on pur. individual present seemed to await the break. In the collection was an amusing monkey, pose, for the enjoyment of libidinous inter- fast with impatience. After being tantalized which was said to be very dexterous in seizing course. Almost all travellers make particular till 2 o'clock, a shabby entertainment follow-those little insects which generally have their enquiries respecting the former existence of ed. Half of the ladies and gentlemen never abode in the heads of children. It was prothis Club. One of their first questions gene- sat down, but ate and drank while standing posed to make the experiment; but the keeper rally is to the following effect: Is the account on their feet; some seized a piece of fish of the menagerie said he was sorry on account of the Physical Club, in the Voyage de Deux with a fork, put it upon a plate, and with- of its being the dinner hour and none of the Français, a fable or a truth? The repetition drew from the table; others, without cere- servants present, that unless they would wait of this enquiry led me to make every investi- mony, got hold of pieces of a pie, divided on gation, and I now boldly state, that the Phy-purpose, and retired with them in their hands. sical Club did exist at Moscow; that its mem- Some got a dram of sweet Votki, others a bers were ladies and gentlemen of some of glass of wine, &c. &c. All I could come at, the most distinguished families of the Russian in the universal scramble, was a little Votki empire ; and that it was abolished by order and a bit of pie. A gentleman who had been suppose that they are very common." a little, they could not be gratified. One of the pupils easily overcame this objection, by proposing that his brother's head should be examined. Accordingly, the monkey began his operations among the hair, and discovered abundance of prey, to the no small amuse ment and laughter of the few visitors who were present." grocers, butchers, &c. we may remark their large as measure will, for I love nó smäll Various domestic affairs are treated in a striking way in other letters from John Paston to his brother and mother. For example: "At the first tables, jellies, marmalades, and preserved fruits, are generally served up as a part of the dessert, and every guest has his own plate; but sometimes it happens, that the same spoon makes the round of the table, with the preserves or jelly, and serves the whole company; each individual having filled his mouth, kindly passing the spoon for the accommodation of his neighbour. Among the lower nobility, the ladies and gentlemenI beg pardon, la noblesse-having retired from dinner, often find fruits and jellies placed upon a covered table, to which they approach and help themselves at their pleasure, one spoon serving all the party, however numerous; or sometimes a servant hands both the jelly and the spoon in succession to each individual. This practice is carried to the per- "A young lady, who was received into the fection of disgust, among the rich merchants, very first society of Russia, and who seemed "Also remember your right of your wreck among the clergy, and among those peasants to have been thoroughly imbued with the idea at Winterton: these are the men's names of who have acquired wealth by their industry. of beauty when unadorned adorned the most,' Winterton, Robert Parker, of West-Somer"There is another custom very prevalent exposed herself in the most indecent manner ton, John Langard, of Winterton, Thomas among all classes of the Russian nobility, before the servants, male and female, of a Goodknape, of the same, William Wrantham, which is extremely disagreeable, that of great house, and afterwards boasted of her and John Curteys, of the same Winterton, spitting upon the floor. Neither fine inlaid wanton conduct. As I knew something of that carried off your several ground 22 carts floors, nor even Wilton carpets, oppose any her obscene language, and her lewd beha- full of stuff, 8 score Bowstaves, 3 score and obstacle to this detestable practice. The viour, this event did not surprise me so much 7 Wainscots, 1400 Clapald (q.? Clapboard), Russian noble will spit immediately before as the report which lately prevailed, of her 5 barrels of tar, 4 couple of oars, and great you, and rub the saliva with his foot. It is being about to enter a monastery. She might plenty of wreck of the ship, that is worth but just to say, however, that he sometimes have gone there for purification. much money, as ye shall understand the truth retires to a corner of the room to conceal after this; and as for your Herring that this deposit. I once visited a prince, in the should into Essex, they are there by the country, the exterior of whose palace was grace of God; as for your Swans, they shall imposing. I was shown into his cabinet, the be there by our Lady's day next coming, I walls of which were elegantly adorned with trust to God, who have your mastership in his paintings, and its floor covered with a beautikeeping. ful foreign carpet. His Excellency and I entered into a long conversation, by the conclusion of which, it was completely bedaubed all round his vicinity." "Written at Maultby, whereas I am right weary, on St. Andrew's day, the 17th of Edward IV. "At Kaséno, about eight or nine miles from Moscow, there is a lake which is celebrated for curing diseases, and especially the curse of barrenness;' and hence it is often called the prolific lake. This village is much frequented, particularly on Sundays, and the devotees, male and female, after attending divine service in an adjoining church, as in the times of primeval innocence, bathe promiscuously in the lake; and then, very frequently, "Sir, if it please your mastership, I sold "What Dr. Clarke says, of living victims' withdraw to the shades of the neighbouring yet no barley, nor none can above 14d. the being seen in distress, in platefuls of soup, woods. A friend of mine was one of a Sun- Comb, as I sent word in a letter by John must be regarded as very extravagant. How day-dinner party in the country, who, in their Russ; and I took 41. in money to bring to many times have I dined at the tables of the way home, made a détour to Kaséno. When nobles, without ever once having made such near the bathing place, which was then in the a discovery. The circumstance occurred open air, they quitted their carriages, and my once or twice to one of my friends, and once friend, with a lady of high rank, led the van. to myself, when obliged to dine upon the road, Perceiving some individuals in the water, in at the house of the steward of Countess a state of nature, he suddenly stopped, but The filth of almost all the Russian the lady made a movement, and they adkitchens might justify the most disagreeable vanced. At the brink of the bath, she said suspicions. But to discover victims so fre- to him, 'Ce n'est rien. Pourquoi avoir une quently in one's plate, as Dr. Clarke seems honte denaturée?'. to have done, during his short abode in Russia, would probably require microscopic aid, and microscopic imagination. The Briton who is resident in the houses of the nobles, or who even frequents them as an intimate friend, is necessitated to witness enough of disagreeable scenes, without the least exaggeration. "Russians, farewell! May heaven grant your speedy elevation in the scale of intellect, show you the value of morality, and inspire you with true religion!" THE PASTON LETTERS. your mastership. The price of your Herrings is 41. 3s. 4d. besides other costs. Harry Cook would go with your Swans, for his gift should be 6s. 8d., and therefore he would give you his labour, if so be ye payed for his costs. Ipse dixit." "Also, Mother, I heard while I was in London, where was a goodly young woman to marry, which was daughter to one Seff, a mercer, and she shall have 2001. in money to her marriage, and 20 marks (131. 6s. 8d.) by year of land after the decease of a stepmother of hers, which is upon fifty years of age; and ere I departed out of London, I spake with some of the maid's friends, and have gotten their good wills to have her marHAVING on Saturday mentioned the comple- ried to my brother Edmund, notwithstanding, tion of Fenn's original Letters, by the publi- those friends of the maid's, that I communed cation of the fifth volume, and extracted a with, advised me to get the good will of one few specimens illustrative of early manners Sturmyn, which is in Master Pykenham's in England, we think it due to the value of danger [debt] so much that he is glad to please the work to continue our course for yet an- him; and so I moved this matter to Master other page of our miscellany. The purchase Pykenham, and incontinent [immediately] he of horses on the Continent (the breed here sent for Sturmyn, and desired his good will not having been perfected, as since effected) for my brother Edmund, and he granted him and the qualities required in that noble ani- his good will, so that he could get the good mal, are curiously illustrated in the following will of the remanent that were executors to epistle: Seff, as well as the said Sturmyn was; and thus far forth is the matter; wherefore, Mother, we must beseech you to help us forward with a letter from you to Master Pykenham to remember him for to handle well and diligently this matter now this Lent; and, for I am acquainted with your conditions of old, that ye reek [care] not, who enditeth more "In addition to what Dr. Clarke has said of Prince Potemkin's abominable practice, I have been informed, by a gentleman who had access to his Excellency at all times, that when making his morning visits on business, he often found him simply habited in his shirt, night-gown, and stockings, and stretched upon a sofa, while one of his nieces was most delectably employed in insect-hunting amidst the avenues of his bushy head of hair. "I must_candidly state, that I have never "Sir, this is the fifth letter that I have sent seen any of the beauteous princesses of Mos- you, wherein this intent that followeth was cow, nor even of the lower classes of the fe- always one, that is to say, that it pleased you male nobility in Russia, imitate the elegant some one day to take so much labour for me action laid to the charge of Prince Potemkin. for to see the gentlest horse in Calais that is In the streets of the ancient metropolis, we to be sold, and to let me know his colour, may see lazy loungers; and in the shops of deeds, and price, remembring that he be also letters than ye, therefore I have drawn a note to your Secretary's hand, Fryer Perse, which letter we must pray you to send us, by the bearer hereof, and I trust it shall not be long from Master Pykenham." "And as for Hellesdon, my Lord of Suf. folk was there on Wednesday in Whitsun week, [13th May,] and there dined, and drew a stew, and took great plenty of fish; yet hath he left you a pike or two, again ye come, the which would be great comfort to all your friends, and discomfort to your enemies; for at his being there that day, there was never no man that played Herod in Corpus Christi play better, and more agreeable to his pageant, than he did; but ye shall understand that it was afternoon, and the weather hot, and he so feeble for sickness, that his legs would not bear him, but there was two men had great pain to keep him on his feet; and there ye were judged, some said slay, some said put him in prison; and forth come my ་ such meat as they had, blessed be God, who of gold of Venice, and upon the crupper of The following extracts are similar to those that precede, and display many points of our ancestors' fashions: "Also, Sir, I pray you send me by the next man that cometh from London, two pots of have spent out that I had with my young wife, treacle of Genoa, they shall cost 16d. for I and my young folks, and myself." "Sir, I pray you that ye will send some child to my Lord of Buckingham's place, and to the Crown, which, as I conceive, is called Gerard's Hall, in Bread Street, to inquire whether I have any answer of my letter sent to Calais, which ye know of; and that ye will remember my brother's stone, so that it might be made ere I come again, and that it be cleanly wrought; it is told me, that the man of Saint Bride's is no cleanly pourtrayer, therefore I would fain it might be pourtrayed by some other man, and he to grave it пр. "John Carr and William Parr, coats like son velvet, with tassels of gold, and bells gilt. the horses, gray of Parr, trapped with crim Carr's horse bay, with an Almayne harness of silver, an inch broad of beaten silver, both the coats of goldsmith's work the bodies, the sleeves one stripe of silver, the other gilt. "Edward Neville upon a gray horse trapped with black velvet full of small bells; his coat the one half of grain velvet, the other of white cloth of gold; these two the rutters [casters or throwers] of the spears, with other divers well appointed. "On the King of Castile's party, the Lord Chamberlain Chief, I cannot tell his name as yet, his apparel was sad [dark coloured], and so was all the residue of his company, with cloaks of sad tawny [dark dusky yellow] and black guarded, some with velvet and some with sarsenet, not passing a dozen in number. "It is said there are many behind, which shall come with the Queen of Castile, which shall come upon Tuesday. Lord, and he would meet you with a spear, and have none other mends [amends], for that trouble that ye have put him to, but your heart's blood, and that will he get, and with bis own hands, for and [if] ye have Hellesdon and Drayton, ye shall have his life with it; and so he comforted your enemies with that word, that they who have dealed and deal with the wood, and [the] most principal now is Nicholas Ovy, for as for Farrer, the mayor, he deals not, without it be under covert; for it is said that he besought my Lord that he might have other assignments for his money that he had paid, for plainly he would deal no more with the wood; and so my Lord hath set in the bailiff of Cossey: and "Sir, your mast that lay at Yarmouth is let all is done in his name; and as for his ser- to a ship of Hull for 13s. 4d. and if there fall vants, they daily threat my master your bro- any hurt thereto, ye shail have a new mast ther and me to slay, for coming on their Lord's therefore." ground; and they say that we made avenIn the whole collection, however, we find ture, and they be answered, as ye command-no letter which better contrasts ancient times ed me, for many a great challenge make they with the present, and that in high matters too, to Master John, both Master Wodehouse, than the annexed, which gives a peculiarly inWiseman, with other divers that I know not teresting account of the meeting of Henry VII. their names, but he holdeth his own that they and the King of Castile in Jan. 1505-6: get no ground of him; and this he lets them "To the Right Worshipful Master Robert Darcy know, that if they beat him, or any of his, and Master Giles Alington, being at the George "And at the alighting the King of Castile they shall abide [suffer] six for one, and so in Lombard Street, be this delivered in haste. was off his horse a good space ere our King they deal not but with their tongues; and as "Right Worshipful Masters, I recommend me was alighted; and then the King's Grace yet, since Farrer was at London, there passes unto you, certifying you that the King's Grace offered to take him by the arm, the which he not three acres of wood down, but they carry and the King of Castile met this day, at three would not, but took the King by the arm, and fast for fear of rain, &c." of the clock, upon Elworth Green, two miles so went to the King's of Castile chamber, ["We have here (adds the Editor) a Letter out of Windsor, and there the king received which is the richestly hanged that ever I saw; full of business, containing many curious cir-him in the goodliest manner that ever I saw, seven chambers together, hanged with cloth cumstances relative to the manners of the and each of them embraced [the] other in [his] of Arras wrought with gold as thick as could times. The public delivery of a Subpœna, at be; and as for three beds of state, no king morning service, deserves notice, and the vio- "To show you the King's apparel of Eng-christened can show such three. lent behaviour of the Duke of Suffolk will not land, thus it was, his horse of bay, trapped "This is as far as I can show you of this escape the attention of the reader; the com- velvet; a chain with a George of Diamonds, have knowledge. with needle work; a gown of purpure [purple] day, and when I can know more, ye shall paring him to the character of Herod, in a and a hood of purpure velvet, which he put Mystery, wherein, I suppose, the Murder of the Innocents was represented, is an humornot off at the meeting of the said King of Casous allusion to the blustering and violent tile; his hat and his bonnet he availed, and language and manner attributed to that perthe King of Castile in case like. sonage."] arms. "When the King rode forth to Windsor Castle, the King rode ever [always] upon the right hand of the King of Castile; however the King's Grace offered him to take him upon the right hand, the which he refused. "From Windsor this Saturday at five of the clock. By Yours, WILLIAM MAKEFYR. "Windsor, Saturday, 17th January, 1505-6. 21 H. vii." ["This curious Letter, describing a state duction. procession, requires a short historical Intro "And the King of Castile rode upon a sorThe next contains an account of Walter his apparel was all black, a gown of black relled hobby, which the king gave unto him; Paston's being made a Bachelor of Arts, the velvet, a black hood, a black hat, and his custom of making a feast, &c. and the ex-horse-harness of black velvet. "Isabella, the wife of Ferdinand, the first pectations he had of receiving venison, &c. King of all Spain, dying in 1504, the kingfrom the neighbouring gentry. "To show you of the king's company; my doms of Castile and Leon came by succession "And if ye will know what day I was made cloth of tissue, tucked, furred with sables; a Arch-Duke of Austria, Governor of the NeLord Harry of Stafford rode in a gown of to Johanna, their daughter, married to Philip, bachelor, I was made on Friday was sev'night hat of goldsmith's work, and full of stones, therlands. [18th June,] and I made my feast on the Mon- diamonds and rubies, riding upon a sorrelled fohanna set out on their voyage in order to day after [21st June.] I was promised venison courser barded with a bard of goldsmith's proceed to Spain, to take possession of those against my feast of my Lady Harcourt, and work, with roses and dragons red; and my Kirigdoms, which Ferdinand still continued to of another person too, but I was deceived of Lord Marquis riding upon a bald sorrelled go vern as administrator to his late queen. both; but my guests held them pleased with horse, with a deep trapper ful of long tassels A violent storm arising during their pas In January, 1505-6, Philip and sage through the English Channel, they were ceeds best when exposed to northerly breezes; nished with small plates of raw ham, an- ants; the caparisons of their horses, &c. are "Besides the riches of her mineral and During the time that these royal per "Henry detained his royal guests here between three and four months, during which time Philip was personally installed a Knight of the Garter."] In conclusion we have to state, that the Antiquities broached in this work are as interesting for the antiquarian as its pictures of manners are for the general reader. There are curious portraits of Henry VI., Richard 11., and Margaret Duchess of Burgundy; and many seals, fac-similes of autographs, and other matters worthy of preservation. Lady Fenn, the wife of the representative of the family and projector of the work, was the original Mrs. Teachwell, Mrs. Lovechild, &c. to whom the young generation of her day owed so much, and whose example in publishing books for children has since been followed so greatly to the advantage of the present race. "Besides the usual fare, snails," ink-fish, frogs, hawks, jackdaws, and small birds of every kind, are eaten; but maccaroni, with cheese grated over it, is the standard and favourite dish of all classes; and there are not a few, even of their public characters, renowned for their prowess in its attack; a kind of honour corresponding to that enjoyed by our five and six bottle men. Their bread is very fine, and of good quality, with the sweetish seeds of the gingiolina,' an in-. digenous Sicilian plant, strewed over it. They eat a greater quantity of salads, fruit, pulse, and other vegetables, than, perhaps, would be wholesome, were they not qualified by numerous culinary ingredients, among which cinnamon and other spices, sugar, oil, and garlic, form a prominent feature. "The usual drinks are light wines, lemonade, and orgeat; beer and tea they are strangers to, except medicinally. Iced creams are a favourite luxury, with which they daily, regale themselves, besides drinking iced water at their meals, sometimes corrected by a few drops of zambù,' a spirit distilled from aniseed." at "The clupea encrasiocolus, or anchovy, is taken in shallow water, during the months of March, April, and May, by means of nets ten or twelve feet wide, and very long. The curing occupies about a month. The fish are first thrown into brine to give the salters time to nip off their heads with the thumb and finger, and pack them regularly with al ternate layers of salt in the barrels designed for their exportation, which generally contain about two hundred and fifty pounds each. When the cask is filled, a round board some- The drama, like the literature, of Sicily has what smaller than the head-piece is placed fallen into decline, and love airs in opera are over the whole, and loaded with stones, by its only substitutes which obtain popular which the contents are sufficiently compressed favour. And even as it regards these, in a few days to allow of the casks being tention, after the first night of a performance, properly coopered for exportation." is not a trait of the character of the Sicilian From their supplies we may turn to the amateurs, as they make the theatre a rendezdiet of the Sicilians. In this they are "ge-vous, where they receive and pay visits, take In our last Gazette we spoke of this publica- exceptions; and when an entertainment is nerally temperate, though there are many coffee and ices, and even play at cards. tion in terms of praise suited to its merits, given, the guests are expected to taste of all and gave such extracts as we thought would the dishes, which are, therefore, successively justify our opinion. It is not in our power to handed round by the servants, after having exemplify it so fully as we wish during this been carved; the old adage of Siculus coquus busy period of the publishing year; but we et Sicula mensa,' is still applicable. At the should ill satisfy our feeling regarding it did we not add a second Paper to our first incomplete sketch. Still adhering to the chapters which take the general view of Sicily, we find it stated among its natural productions, * The word fuatted occurs in one letter-"a ffuatted gentleman," p. 53. What is ffuatted?-Ed. SICILY AND ITS ISLANDS.* "The theatres being illuminated only on great festivals, there prevails in general a sombre effect; the more so, because the boxes being all private, those only who choose, light up one or two candles, which are placed at the back of the box, so as to throw light only on the occupiers of it, tending very little to improve the general effect. There are no galleries for the reception of the lower orders, nor have they permission to enter the pit, though the back of it is often crowded with the servants of those in the boxes. Detachments of soldiers attend in all the theatres, and sentinels are placed not only on the stage, but in various parts of the house. Even priThe table, during the changes, remains gar. Ivate families apply for sentiuels, when they feasts of the great, the head of the table is opposite the door where the servants enter, and is appropriated to the most honoured of the company, while the dependants are ranged at the opposite end, around the family chaplain, who is, too often, the butt of the party. "Manna is extracted from the fraxinus The meal commences with soup, which is folornus, a species of ash tree, of moderate lowed by maccaroni, vegetables variously height and plea-ing appearance, which suc-dressed, and shell-fish, called ' frutti di mare. By Captain Smyth, R.N. 4to. J. Murray, that |