festival is still kept by them at Norwich, and also at Doncaster, with a solemn guild. Perhaps the iron combs, with which he is said to have been tormented, gave rise to this choice. For an account of the anniversaries of the different trades at Montpelier, in France, see T.T. for 1818, p. 29. 5.-SAINT AGATHA. 'The cities of Palermo and Catana dispute the honour of her birth: but they do much better, who, by copying her virtues, strive to become her fellow-citizens in heaven.' (Butler.) She suffered martyrdom under Decius, in the year 251. 7.-SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. The institution of this and the two following Sundays cannot be traced higher than the beginning of the sixth or the close of the fifth century. When the words Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima (seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth), were first applied to denote these three Sundays, the season of Lent had generally been extended to a fast of six weeks, that is, thirty-six days, not reckoning the Sundays, which were always celebrated as festivals. (Shepherd.) *8. 1576.-ROBERT BURTON BORN, The celebrated author of the Anatomy of Melancholy, a book full of all such reading as never was read,' and the only one which Dr. Johnson said would induce him to rise at six o'clock in the morning to peruse. The following lines by this author are thought to have suggested to Milton many ideas in his Il Penseroso.' When I goe musing all alone Thinking of divers things fore-known, When I goe walking all alone, Methinks the time moves very slow: When to my selfe I act and smile, *8. 1817.-FRANCIS HORNER, ESQ. m.p. died. This gentleman, at the age of thirty-eight, was cut off by a pulmonary consumption at Pisa, whither he had ineffectually removed for the recovery of his health. In regard to his talents, reputation, and integrity, it is sufficient to say, that the late Mr. Ponsonby frequently deferred to his judgment; and when that justly celebrated leader thought of retiring, he pointed out Mr. Horner as worthy to be his political successor. *9. 1815.-DR. CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN DIED, ÆT. 49. With the name of Dr. Buchanan will ever be associated the cause of promoting Christianity in India. He was a rare instance of zeal, judg 1 See the remainder of this poem, prefixed to the Anatomy of Melancholy.' ment, and munificence. His Christian Researches' in Asia is a most interesting work; and his prizes for promoting a knowledge of the state of India, by calling attention to the country and its circumstances, evinced a princely generosity. His Three Discourses on the Jubilee show him to have been the christian and the patriot. *12. 1814.-CUSTOM-HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE. In a very few hours the destruction of this old but useful pile of building was complete. The first custom-house built in London was in 1559; which was burnt down in 1718, and rebuilt the same year: and it was on Saturday, the above date, again totally consumed by fire. The first custom-house, therefore, stood 159 years; the second 96 years. The present building, recently finished, is in a style of magnificence worthy of the immense metropolis and the noble river to which it forms so conspicuous an ornament. 14.-SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.-See Septuagesima, p. 38. 14.-SAINT VALENTINE. Valentine was an antient presbyter of the church; he suffered martyrdom in the persecution under Claudius II, at Rome. Being delivered into the custody of a man named Asterius, one of whose daughters was afflicted with blindness, he restored the use of her sight, and, by this miracle, converted the whole family to Christianity. They afterwards suffered martyrdom. Valentine, after a year's imprisonment at Rome, was beaten with clubs, and then beheaded, in the Via Flaminia, about the year 270.-The modern celebration of this day, with young persons, is well known. See T.T. for 1814, p. 32 and p. 33, note, for an elegant jeu d'esprit on this subject; T.T. for 1815, p. 52; and T.T. for 1817, p. 40. *14. 1780.-SIR WILLIAM BLACKSTONE died, The learned author of Commentaries on the Laws of England,' which are at once celebrated for the perspicuity and elegance of their style, and (generally speaking) for their sound and constitutional principles. He is charged, however, with softening some passages in his first edition, to make them more agreeable to the crown lawyers. His Farewell to the Muse' contains some pleasing lines. We select the following: As by some tyrant's stern command, How blithesome were we wont to rove, Where fervent bees with humming voice In sweet society with thee! Then all was joyous-all was young, But now the pleasing dream is o'er, These scenes must charm me now no more! Farewell! a long-a last adieu! Me wrangling courts and stubborn law There selfish faction rules the day, In frighted streets their orgies hold; 6 *15. 1708.-JOHN PHILIPS DIED, Author of 'The Splendid Shilling,' Blenheim,' and Cyder;' which possess considerable merit as poems: and he is a strenuous advocate for smoking, to which he was himself much addicted. *17. 1571.-REMOVAL OF MARCLEY HILL. On this day, an earthquake in Herefordshire removed Marcley Hill to a considerable distance from the place where it stood. It continued in motion two or three days, and either carried away or overturned every thing which impeded its progress. The ground thus moved was about twentysix acres. (Speed and Camden.) And in 1583, according to Stow, a similar prodigy happened in Dorsetshire. 6 COWFER. Philips, in his Cyder,' thus notices the removal of Marcley Hill : I nor advise nor reprehend the choice Of MARCLEY HILL; the apple nowhere finds Deceitful ground: who knows but that once more And settle on a new freehold, AS MARCLEY HILL had done of old. HUDIBRAS. |