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tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance." [Acts ii. 2, 3, and 4.]

In commemoration of this extraordinary supernatural endowment, the church very early established the DAY OF PENTECOST, as a solemn CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL; a name it still retains, though its more common appellation is that of WHIT-SUNDAY,Dominica in Albis,—one of the antient names also of Low-SUNDAY, as explained P. 316.

In the early ages of Christianity, Baptism, excepting in cases of urgency, was administered only at the two great festivals of Easter and Whitsuntide; at the former period from a conceived resemblance between the great events then celebrated of Christ's death and resurrection, and that part of the service of Baptism which typifies the dying from sin, and rising again unto righteousness: while Whitsuntide was deemed also peculiarly appropriate for that holy sacrament, not only from the apostles having been "baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire;" but from their having commenced their public ministry on that day; and themselves baptized three thousand persons. In token of the spiritual purity obtained by the holy participation of Baptism, the garments of those admitted to that sacrament were made of white linen, and from this cause ensued the synonimous names of WHIT-SUNDAY, WHITESUNDAY, WHITIN-SUNDAY, or DOMINICA ALBA. Much ingenuity, however, has been exerted to

prove that Whit-Sunday is derived from the French word huiet, which signifies eight, thereby making the affirmed original name, the eighth Sunday, which Whit-Sunday stands from Easter; reckoning Easter-Sunday as one of them. Some authors state that it was a custom of former times, for the rich to bestow upon the poor, on this day, all the MILK of their kine, in order to qualify themselves to receive the gift of the HOLY GHOST; and that milk having been denominated white meat, the day was from that cause called White Sunday. Other authorities contend that the original name of this season of the year was WITTENTIDE, or the time of choosing the WITS or WISE MEN to the WITTENAGEMOTE, FOLK-MOTES, or conventions of our Saxon ancestors; that the day was consecrated to HERTHA, the goddess of peace and festivity; that when Paganism gave way to Christianity, the period still kept its primitive title as well as that given to it of Pentecost; and that most of the festivities of the WITTENTIDE were continued to the people, which they yet enjoy in a manner not much surpassing, in a religious point of view, those they before indulged in. Some writers suppose the word to have been corrupted from WIED, the Saxon word for sacred; but they do not offer any good arguments for such title being bestowed upon this Sunday, in preference to others at least as sacred in their object; and VERSTEGAN alleges the day to have been called WIED Sunday, from

the old Saxon Wied or Wihed, in token of the descent of the HOLY GHOST.

PENCAS and PENKAST in the Cornish language, now totally lost, signified Whit-suntide, both evidently corruptions of Pentecost.

Whit-Monday and-Tuesday,

(18TH AND 19TH MAY, 1812,)

are regarded by the Church as days of much solemnity; and the collects and other offices appointed for them respectively, are extremely appropriate to the great and important points commemorated at this Season. Like the two first days of Easter week, however, the religious ceremonies, except in the example of some amiable individuals, are disregarded; and these days are become Holidays to the commonalty in the modern sense only; or, in other words, are so passed that neither business, nor any other concern however important, are suffered to interfere with the general idleness and profligacy of low association.

Most of the antient superstitious pastimes of Whitsuntide are now discontinued near the metropolis; but it is to be lamented that one of these abominations is yet retained in Lancashire. In that county it is a common frolic for one per-,

son to hold a stick over the head of another, and a third slily to strike it, so as to cause a smart blow to the unsuspecting object of their jocularity. This custom, now perhaps only indulged in as a species of low fun, took its rise from a less justifiable cause, and was designed to express, that at this Season the HOLY GHOST descended upon the heads of the Apostles: and it is assuredly one of the most vile remnants of ignorance and depravity, that has withstood the abrasion of time.

Queen Charlotte born.

(19TH MAY.)

Her present most excellent Majesty, the Queen, was born on the 19th of May, 1744; but the anniversary of the day occurring so very near to that of the birth of the Sovereign, it has been found expedient, from motives of policy and courtly ceremony, and more particularly for the advantage of trade, that it should be celebrated at another season of the year.

The very exemplary deportment of Her Majesty, and the exercise of every virtue that could add lustre to a diadem, since she became the consort of our beloved Sovereign, are such as might naturally be expected from the perfections

of her mind, which early in life gave strong indications of superior accomplishments: and these more solid advantages first influenced the King's choice. The following letter, written by her, whilst Princess CHARLOTTE of Mecklenburg, addressed to the Prussian Monarch, when he entered the territories of her cousin the Duke of Mecklenburg Swcherin, is every way worthy of the high esteem in which it was held; and it was to the perusal of that epistle, which the King of Prussia sent to His Majesty, that we may principally attribute the happy union, which, immediately after its receipt, became the object of the King's solicitude.

"TO THE KING OF PRUSSIA.

May it please your Majesty,

"I am at a loss whether I shall congratulate or condole with you on your late victory; since the same success that has covered you with laurels, has overspread my country with desolation.

"I know, Sire, that it seems unbecoming my sex, in this age of vicious refinement, to feel for one's country, to lament the horrors of war, or wish for the return of peace. I know you may think it more properly my province to study the art of pleasing, or to turn my thoughts to subjects of a more domestic nature; but however unbecoming it may be in me, I cannot resist the desire of interceding for this unhappy people.