palm-play, because the exercise consisted in receiving the ball, and driving it back again with the palm of the hand. Formerly they played with the naked hand, then with a glove, which in some instances was lined; afterwards they bound cords and tendons round the hands to make the ball rebound more forcibly: hence the rack derived its origin. in the reign of Charles I. palm-play was very fashionable in France, being played by the nobility for large sums of money when they had lost all they had about them, they would sometimes pledge a part of their dress, rather than give up the game. In England it was a favourite pastime among the youth of both sexes, and in many parts of the kingdom, they played during the Easter holidays, for tansy cakes. It is still played, though under a different name and probably under a different modification of the game it is now called FIVES.

STOOL-BALL is frequeutly mentioned by the writers of the last century, but without any description of the game. Dr. Johnson describes it as a play, where balls are driven from stool to stool, but does not say in what manner, or to what purpose. It seems to have been a game more appropriated to the women than to the men, but occasionly played by both sexes, as appears from the following song, written by D'Urfey to the play of Don Quixote;

"Down in a vale, on a summer's day,
All the lads and lasses met to be merry;
A match for kisses at stool-ball to play,

And for cakes, and ale, and cider, and perry.

Chorus. Come all, great, small, short, tall, away to stool-ball."

FOOT-BALL was formerly much in vouge among the common people, though of late years it has fallen into disrepute, andis little practised. Many games with the ball require the assistance of a club or bat, and probably the most ancient is that well-known game in the North, under the name of GoFF. It requires much room to play this game properly, therefore it is rarely seen in the vicinity of the metropolis. PALL-MALL had some resemblance to Goff. The game consisted in striking a round box ball with a mallet, through two high arches of iron, one at each end of the alley; which he that could do at the fewest, blows, or at the number agreed upon, wins. It was a fashionable amusement in the reign of Charles II. and a well

known street, then a walk in St. Jame's Park, derived its name from Charles and his courtiers there playing at mall: the denomination mall, being evidently derived from the mallet or wooden hammer used by the players.

The noble game of CRICKET has superseded most of the ancient ball-games, and this is now so frequent a pastime among all ranks, that it does not require illustration.

RUNNING AT THE QUINTAIN is a game of great antiquity. The quintain at first was nothing more than the trunk of a tree or post, set up for the purpose of tyros in chivalry. In process of time, the diversion was improved, and the resemblance of a human figure, carved in wood, was introduced. To render the appearance of this figure more formidable, it was generally made in the likeness of a Turk or Saracen, armed at all points, bearing a shield upon his left arm, and a sword in his right. The quintain thus fashioned was placed upon a pivot, and so constructed as to move round with great facility. In running at the figure, it was necessary for the horseman to direct his lance with great adroitness, and to make his stroke upon the forehead between the eyes, or upon the nose; for if he struck wide of these parts, especially upon the shield, the quintain turned about with velocity, and if he was not exeedingly careful would give him a severe blow on the back with the wooden sabre held in the right hand, which was considered highly disgraceful to the performer, while it excited the laughter of the spectators.

The exercise of the quintain was practised in London in summer, and in winter, but especially about Christmas. Stowe relates, he had seen the quintain set on Cornhill, where "the attendants of the lords of merry disports have ran, and made great pastime." Tilting or running at the ring, was evidently a sport derived from the quintain.

HOCK-DAY was once a popular holiday, mentioned by Matthew Paris and other ancient writers. It was usually kept about Easter, and distinguished by various sportive pastimes, in which the men and women, divided into parties, were accustomed to bind and draw each other with ropes. Hock-DAY was generally observed, so late as the sixteenth century.

SHEEP-SHEARING and the HARVEST-HOME were both celebrated in ancient times, with feasting and rustic sports: at the latter the masters and servants used to sit down at the same table, to a plentiful regale, and spend the night in dancing and singing, without distinction. At the present day, excepting a dinner, or more frequently a supper, at conclusion of sheep-shearing and harvest, we have little remains of these great rural festivals.

The advent of the New-Year is still marked by the observance of some old customs; the old year being considered well ended by copious libations, and the new by sending presents, termed New-Year-gifts, to friends and acquaintance. Young women formerly went about with the famous Wassail bowl; that is-a bowl of spiced ale, on New-year's eve, with some verses which were sung by them in going from door to door.

FAIRS were formerlya greater kind of market, to which people resorted periodically, for the purchase of all kinds of necessaries for the ensuing year. One of the chief of them, was that of St. Giles's Hill, near Winchester: it was at first for three days, but afterwards by Henry III. prolonged to sixteen days. Its jurisdiction extended seven miles round; comprehending even Southampton, then a capital trading town. A toll was levied on all merchandize brought to the fair, the produce of which had been given by the Conqueror to the bishop of Rochester.

Fairs were often the anniversary of the dedication of a church, when tradesmen used to sell their wares in the churchyard; as at Westminster, on St. Peter's day; at London, on St. Bartholomew's; at Durham, on St. Cuthbert's day. They have long been on the decline in public estimation. Southwark fair, May fair, and St. James' fair, in the city of Westminster, were suppressed at the begining of the last century; and if the present hostility of the magistrates continues to these annual assemblages, few will shortly remain in the villages and hamlets round the metropolis.

MAY-GAMES are of great antiquity, and were formerly generally celebrated, èspecsally in the metropolis. Stowe says, on May-day, in the morning, the citizens used to walk into the sweet meadows and green woods, there to rejoice their spirits with the beauty and savour of sweet flowers;" and he gives an account of Henry the: Eighth's riding a

Maying from Greenwhich to Shooter's hilk, with Queen Catherine, accompanied with many lords and ladies. He further says, that "every parish, and sometimes two or three parishes, joining together, had their Mayings, and did fetch in May-poles, with divers warlike shows, with good archers, morris dancers, and other devices for pastime, all the day long; and, towards evening, they had stage plays and bonfires in the streets." It was a custom to elect a lord and lady of the May, who presided over the sports. Robin Hood and his merry companions were personified in appropriate dresses, and added much to the pageantry of the May-games. He presided as lord of the May, and a female, or man habited like a female, called the Maid MARIAN, his faithful mistress, was the lady of the May. The May-pole, in some villages, stood the whole year without molestation. The only ren.ains of May-games in the south is Jack-in-the-Green, who still parades the streets; though a very trumpery representation of the old sports.

The WITSUNTIDE-HOLIDAYS were celebrated by various pastimes and drolleries. Stutt says, that at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, a fat lamb was provided; and the maidens of the town, having their thumbs tied behind them, were permitted to run after it; and she who, with her mouth, took hold of the lamb, was declared the Lady of the Lamb; which being killed and cleaned, but with skin hanging upon it, was carried in procession before the lady and her companions to the green, attended with music, and a morris dance of men, and another of women. The rest of the day was spent in mirth and glee.

COUNTRY WAKES are the last rural holiday I shall no. tice: they were generally observed in the northern and southern parts of the kingdom, consisting of feasting, dan. cing on the green, wrestling, and cudgel-playing. They were originally intended to commemorate the dedication of the parish church, when the people went to pray with lighted torches, and returned to feast the remainder of the night.

To these rural pastimes and ancient sports succeeded the less healthy amusements of balancing, tumbling, and juggling-the tricks performed by bears, monkeys, horses, and dancing dogs. Astley's Amphitheatre and the Royal Cir

cus exhibited feats of equestrianship. Music began to form a principal ingredient in popular amusements, and Vauxhall, Ranelagh, Sadler's Wells, and the Marybonne Gardens, were the chief marts for recreation. These, with the great attraction and variety of dramatic entertainments and a more sedulous devotion to cards, dice, and billiards, have continued, to the present day, the prevalent amusements.