that we could only obtain entrance through the vestry, and might be said to be behind the scenes. Hence we saw a figure, represented on a cross, and intended for our Saviour, which was veiled from the rest of the congregation by a dark curtain. The preacher having arrived at the proper part of his sermon, describing the agonies of Christ, stamped his feet, and at the second stamp the sombre veil fell from before the figure, whilst a discharge of cannon without announced the supposed convulsion of nature; and the apparently bleeding figure, surrounded by numerous lights, was suddenly exposed to the general gaze. The effect of all this performance was so successful, that many of the females shrieked and fainted. Shortly after, the figure was taken down and carried to a sepulchre, gaily adorned, and having the representation of a Roman sentinel sitting on the top. After the sermon, Colonel Rieux and myself walked into the body of the church, and were immediately presented with long wax tapers, intimating the necessity of joining the procession about to pass through the town; to which we did not object, as it afforded us the opportunity of seeing the whole population of the place, ranged on either side of the streets through which we passed. The beauty of the sex did not appear very conspicuous on this occasion. The procession was also graced by the guard of the sepulchre, dressed in white jackets, blue trowsers covered with black crape, and dark veils concealing the face. They had high conical caps with long feathers hanging over them, which only needed bells to complete the tout ensemble, and to afford a lively representation of Tom Fool's cap. They were armed with lances and swords. A man clothed in a white shroud was performing a penance, which consisted in keeping his arm extended as in the act of offering something contained in a glass, and intended to represent the nauseous liquor presented to our Saviour. I observed that he had a stick pass ing through his sleeve so as to support his arm. He, as well as the guards, marched backwards with a kind of pantomimic step.' 'On the Wednesday evening preceding Good Friday,' adds the Captain, there was a procession, which consisted of the cross, decorated with white scarves, and brilliantly illuminated with lamps; a large car followed, borne by fourteen men, having on it a figure intended as a representation of our Saviour, with his hands bound, and being scourged by a man dressed in the old Spanish costume, and another man as an officer looking on.' It was the manner in times past, upon Festival Evens (as Easter, Whitsuntide, &c.) for parishioners to meet in their church-houses and church-yards, and there to have a drinking fitt for the time. Here they used to end many quarrells between neighbour and neighbour. Hither came the wives in comely manner; and they that were of the better sort had their mantles carried with them, as well for show, as to keep them from cold at the table. These mantles also many did use at morrowe masses, and other times.'-Aubrey MS. A.D. 1686. 25.-ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, OR LADY-DAY. This festival, which was intended to celebrate the angel's message to the Virgin Mary, respecting the Saviour of the world, is not of very high antiquity. Bingham refers its institution to the seventh century. Lady Day is one of the legal quarter days. For an interesting account of the festa of the Annunciation as observed at Rome on this day, see T. T. for 1823, p. 63; and a description of some Spanish customs, in T. T. for 1824, p. 71. AVE MARIA. Ave Maria! blessed be the hour! The time, the clime, the spot where I so oft While swung the deep bell in the distant tower, And yet the forest-leaves seemed stirred with prayer.. Ave Maria! 'tis the hour of love! Ave Maria! may our spirits dare Look up to thine and to thy son's above! Ave Maria! oh that face so fair! Those downcast eyes beneath th' almighty dove- 26.-EASTER DAY. BYRON. The word Easter is derived from the goddess Eastor, worshipped by our Saxon ancestors, with peculiar ceremonies, in April. The anniversary festival in memory of Christ's resurrection falling upon the same time of the year, gave occasion to the transfer of the heathen name in this country to the Christian celebration. There was a dispute, so early as the second century, as to the precise day for the paschal festival. The Asiatic churches kept the feast on the day on which the Jews held their passover, viz. quarta decima luna, upon the 14th day after the Paris, or appearance of the paschal moon. But the western churches kept Easter upon the Lord's Day following the day of the Jewish Passover. The Asiatics pleaded the practice of the Apostles, Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who had lived and conversed with them, observing it upon that 14th day. Yet the bishops of Rome, even at that early season, stickled hard to impose their custom upon the eastern churches. Polycarp travelled from Smyrna to Rome, to confer with the Roman bishop, Anicetus, on the point. They were not able to settle the dispute, but, in the happy spirit of Romans xiv, agreed to celebrate the eucharist, or communion, together, in token that each regarded the other as a Christian, notwithstanding this difference of opinion and practice. Happy would it have been for the world, if subsequent ecclesiastics had shown an equal dislike to the hiera-picra of religious controversy! It is now settled that Easter Day is always to be observed on the first Sunday after the full moon which happens upon, or next after, the 21st day of March; and if the full moon happen on a Sunday, Easter Day is the Sunday after. The earliest day upon which Easter can fall is March 22; the latest day is April 25.-Imperial Almanack. Inferior customary tenants paid a certain number of eggs to their lord at Easter, called, in Yorkshire, Pasch-eggs. This solemnity of Easter (says Bishop Kennett) was anciently observed in Ireland with so great superstition, that they thought it lawful to steal and rappine all the year to hoard up provisions against this festival time.'-Kennett MS. In Ireland, at Easter, a cake, with a garland of meadow flowers, is elevated upon a circular board upon a pike, apples being stuck upon pegs around the garland. Men and women then dance round; and they who hold out longest, win the prize. Plutarch mentions a trial for dancing, a cake the prize. In the puritanical times of Cromwell, a pretty custom in the parish of Twickenham was abolished, as appears by the following senatorial mandate: April 2, 1645. Order'd in the H. of Comm. that the custom of the Parish of Twitnam (being that on Easter Day two great cakes should be broken in the church, and given to the young people) should be forborn, and instead thereof, bread be given to the poor.'-(Whitl. Mem., p. 135.) It was an old custom for the barbers to come and shave the parishioners in the church-yard, on Sundays and high Festivals (as Easter, &c.) before matins, which liberty was restrained by a particular inhibition of Richard Flemmyng, Bishop of Lincoln, A.D. 1422.-Vid. Reg. Flemmyng. G 27, 28.-EASTER MONDAY AND TUESDAY. The church ales, formerly common at this and other festive seasons, and which have been noticed in our preceding volumes, Mr. Aubrey considers to have been derived from the Love-Feasts mentioned in the New Testament. At Zerbst, in Germany, every housekeeper that is able bakes at Easter Eve (as also at Whitsuntide) several great cakes, about a yard long, and an half yard broad, for his family to eat in the holydays. As also all the journeymen of every handycraft in the same weeke doe nothing but drink and are merry, going in procession two abreast into the fields, with their ensign or flying colours made of silk, and the joyners make themselves one out of chips variously interwoven and coloured; but the ploughmen have a white tablecloth or sheet, instead of an ensign.'-Aubrey MS. A.D. 1686. An account of some curious customs on these days in different parts of England will be found in T. T. for 1822, p. 107: see also our volume for 1823, p. 75. *27. 1802. PEACE OF AMIENS. The articles of the Peace of Amiens were ratified on this day, when thousands had an opportunity of witnessing so unexpected yet joyous and desirable an event. Never was a peace founded on so perishable a basis as this; indeed, it appeared to be made in one of those pauses from war, which occasionally happen when the combatants wait to draw in fresh breath and courage, and rally their powers for a more arduous struggle. For ere the people had felt what the advantages of peace were, their energies were called forth to meet their treacherous enemy in war, who had availed himself of the calm he had created by raising such forces, and making such provisions to ensure success in his attack upon a free people, as in all human probability would effect his aim, and terminate the strife in his favour. But though great the struggle, and protracted the contest, that ambi |