that deficiency, by attributing to him numerous miracles of a most extraordinary nature: some actually profane, others, if we can pardon their fabrication, puerile and ridiculous. Just prior to his decease, he earnestly prayed to our LORD that "Whosoever desired hys helpe fro thy informpte of the throte, or requpred apde for any other sekenes or informpte, that he wold here him, and might deserve to be quarisshyd and heled:" and they add, that "ther cam a voys fro Hevene to hym, sayeng, that his peticion was graunted, and shold be donn as he had prapd.” After this solemn assurance, all those who prayed to him for help were, of course, restored to health, let their complaints have been either mental or bodily,-recent, or of long duration,- of which, many astonishing instances are on legendary record. Before this saint's martyrdom, his exertions were chiefly confined to offices of a more humble nature, such as saving from death the son of a devout woman, who without his aid would have been choaked by a fish bone,-forcing a wolf to return to another, a pig which that voracious animal had stolen;-with others of the like ridiculous tendency.

In honour of St. BLAZE, there formerly were offered to him candles, which after receiving benediction were considered holy, and became highly serviceable to all pious uses. Even until very lately, and perhaps in some places in England at this time, fires were kindled upon different eminences on the day of his anniversary.

Whether these customs had any allusion to the saint's life, or merely originated from the reference such lights or blazes bore to his name, as some have conjectured, does not any where appear.

ST. BLAZE was once a very popular Saint throughout this country; and there are accounts extant, which state him to have first procured such favour by visiting this Island and converting many of our barbarous forefathers. St. Blazy, a village in Cornwall, is alleged to have been the place where he commenced his pious labours; which from that circumstance bears his name.

The WOOLCOMBERS still esteem bishop BLAZE as their patron saint: and regardless of propriety, make him the inventor of their useful art. But his election to that office would seem to have arisen merely from the circumstance of the "combe of gren," with which he was tortured previously to his martyrdom.

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Wool, either in a raw or manufactured state, has ever been held the staple commodity of this kingdom. But so far from this saint having been the inventor of wool-combing, there establishments for the manufacture of cloths made from that "most excellent fleece of our sheep" during the times of even our Roman conquerors. Popular error is not, however, to be easily eradicated; and the Copper Coins, or TOKENS, circulated by the Manufacturers of wool, strongly exhibit the pertinacity with which this Saint is yet held in respect by them-On the

Obverse of one of these local halfpence is a head in profile of the Bishop, with the legend "Success to the Yorkshire Woollen Manufactory," and a view of Leeds Cloth Hall on the Reverse, while on the Obverse of other of these Leeds halfpence, the Bishop is exhibited in full length, a lamb by his side, and a Comb in his right hand, with the légend "Artis Nostræ Conditor," directly expressive of his being regarded as the Founder of their Art: The Reverse of these latter Tokensare the Arms of Leeds, Crest an Owl, with the year 1791, in which they were circulated. To this day the effigy of ST. BLAZE is continued to be carried by the artificers in procession about many of the great towns, in which wool is manufactured, in the North of England. But unmindful of their reputed founder having been a Christian Martyr, the ceremonies of the day bear a closer analogy to Pagan history, than is quite consistent, as will appear by the following account of a recent festival of this kind."

"The procession was led by JASON, as the champion and protector of the golden fleece, who was followed by shepherds and shepherdesses; a beautiful girl elegantly dressed, carried a lamb upon her lap, with a bouquet of flowers made of wool in her bosom next followed the venerable bishop, his mitre with the keys of ST. PETER gilt in front were formed of wool; and he had a large wig of the same material, which reached down to the saddle; his bridle was held on each side by a

page, and another was at the stirrups carrying a Bible in one hand and a wool-comb in the other his followers dressed in white, with sashes, scarfs, and high caps, carrying two large flags, all made of wool, and wands; two persons elevated on a stage were at work shewing the manner in which the wool is combed."

The importance of our woollen manufactory cannot be too highly appreciated; it has ever been one of the most important branches of our commerce; and our annual exports are estimated generally to amount to the vast sum of from 4 to £5,000,000. From time immemorial down to the present day, the TWELVE JUDGES in the House of Lords sit on woolsacks covered with crimson cloth, to remind the legislature that in all their deliberation it is their most prominent duty to have an especial regard to the prosperity of those manufactures, of which wool forms the most essential branch. Not only does every historical account concur in the importance of this commodity, but it has also been kept in remembrance by many old proverbial sayings to the like import. Among these may be particularly noticed the very common one "that London Bridge was built upon wool-sacks;" that is, the expence of the fabric which was intrusted to the care of "PETER," the minister of St Mary Colechurch, about the end of the 12th century, was defrayed by an impost, expressly laid for the purpose, upon the wool brought to the metropolis.,

It is particularly worthy of notice, that by the statute, 35th George the Third, "all those who have served apprenticeship to the trade of a woolcomber, or who are by law entitled to exercise the same, and also their wives and children, may and exercise such trade, or any other trade or business they are apt and able for, in any town or place within this Kingdom."

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Saint Agatha,

(5TH FEBRUARY.)

St. AGATHA appears to have been born in Sicily, where she is chiefly honoured: but her history is not preserved with the accuracy that might have been expected for so considerable a Saint. The general outline of her life and sufferings is, however, to be collected from various antient authors, some of whom not being satisfied with the description of her severe sufferings, which are too probable to be doubted, have, in their extreme zeal, favoured us with some miracles attending her which are not entitled to so implicit a belief.

QUINTIANUS, the prætor, or governor of Catania, smitten with the beauty and extraordinary accomplishments of AGATHA, in vain attempted, by the most artful and animated expressions of