hedges may be formed, in a more expediArts, for having discovered that hawthorn tious manner than usual, by cutting the roots of this shrub into small pieces, and planting them with the top one-fourth of an inch above the ground; the upper end of each piece may be marked when cutting, by giving it two cuts, and the lower end but one. The spring is the best time to plant the sets; of those planted by Mr. Taylor, not five in one hundred were lost.

ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES. The first of May stands in the church calendar as the festival day of these apostles, respecting whom, and for large accounts of the celebration of May-day, reference may be had to the Every-Day Book.

MAY.

Up, up, let us greet
The season so sweet,

For winter is gone:

And the flowers are springing,
And little birds singing,
Their soft notes ringing,

And bright is the sun!
Where all was drest
In a snowy vest,
There grass is growing
With dew-drops glowing,
And flowers are seen
On beds so green.
All down in the grove,
Around, above,

Sweet music floats;
As now loudly vying,
Now softly sighing,
The nightingale's plying
Her tuneful notes,
And joyous at spring
Her companions sing.
Up, maidens, repair

To the meadows so fair
And dance we away
This mery May!

Godfrey of Nifen, 13th Century.*

William Camden, the illustrious explorer of our antiquities, who was born in the Old Bailey, on the 2d of May, 1551, relates concerning the objects of worship with our forefathers, as follows,SAXON DEITIES.

Mercury whom they called Woodan, bis sacrifices were men, and the day consecrated to him the fourth of the week, which we therefore at this day call Wednesday. The sixth they consecrated to Venus, whom they called Frea and Frico, whence we call that day Friday, as Tuesday is derived from Tuisco, the founder of the German nation. They also worshipped the goddess Herthus, i. e. their mother earth, imagining that she interested herself in the affairs of men and nations. In a temple (called in their vulgar tongue Ubsola, the furniture whereof is all of gold) the people worshipped the statues of three gods. Thor, the most powerful of them, has a room by himself in the middle; on each side of him are Woodan and Frico; the emblems of them are these:Thor they take to be the ruler of the air, and to send as he sees convenient thund and lightning, winds and showers, fair weather and fruit. Woodan, the second, is more valiant; it is he that manages wars, and inspires people with courage against their enemies. Frico, the third, presents men with peace and pleasure, and his statue is cut with a terminus, as sometimes seen in representations of the god of gardens. They engrave Woodan armed, as Mars is with us. Thor seems to be represented with the sceptre of Jupiter.

THE SPRING SHOWER. Away to that sunny nook; for the thick shower Rushes on stridingly: Ay, now it comes, Glancing about the leaves with its first dips, Like snatches of faint music. Joyous thrush, It mingles with thy song, and beats soft time To thy bubbling shrillness. Now it louder falls,

Pattering, like the far voice of leaping rills; And now it breaks upon the shrinking clumps With a crash of many sounds,-the thrush is still.

There are sweet scents about us; the violet hides

On that green bank; the primrose sparkles there:

The earth is grateful to the teeming clouds, And yields a sudden freshness to their kisses. But now the shower slopes to the warm west, Leaving a dewy track; and see, the big drops, Like falling pearls, glisten in the sunny mist. The air is clear again; and the far woods Shine out in their early green. Let's onward,

then,

For the first blossoms peep about the path, The lambs are nibbling the short dripping grass,

And the birds are on the bushes.

Knight's Quarterly Magazine.

"For so have I seen a lark rising from his bed of grass, and soaring upwards, singing as he rises, and hopes to get to heaven, and climb above the clouds; but the poor bird was beaten back by the loud sighings of an eastern wind, and his motion made irregular and inconstant, descending more at every breath of the tempest than it could recover by the vibrations and frequent weighings of his wings; till the little creature was forced to sit down, and pant and stay till the storm was over, and then it made a prosperous flight, and did rise and sing as if it had learned music and motion from an angel, as he passed sometimes through the air, about his ministries here below." -Jeremy Taylor.

May 3.

The driving boy, beside his team Of May month's boauty now will dream, And cock his hat, and turn his eye On flower, and tree, and deepening sky, And oft burst loud in fits of song, And whistle as he reels along; Cracking his whip, in s'arts of joyA happy, dirty, driving boy.

TALLIS'S LITANY

May 3, 1751, the anniversary festival of the sons of the clergy was held at St. Paul's cathedral, upon which occasion, by order of the dean, was revived the ancient manner of chanting the Litany, as composed by Dr. Tallis, music-master to Henry VIII. The collection at the church and dinner, and at a previous rehearsal, with a benefaction of £50 from the Apollo Academy, amounted to £1140. 16s., which was the largest sum ever before contributed.

HORSEMANSHIP.

May 3, 1758, a wager was laid at Newmarket, by a young lady, that she would ride 1000 miles in 1000 hours, which she accomplished in little more than a third of the time.

WHIPPING TOMS, LEICESTER.
[To Mr. Hone.]

Sir-If you consider the following account of a Shrovetide custom at Leicester worth preserving in your amusing miscellany it is much at your service.

On the south-western side of Leicester, and adjoining to the remains of its ancient castle, once the residence of the powerful and warlike earls of Leicester, and also of several of our early monarchs, and in the spacious hall of which the assizes and other courts for the county are still held, is a large open space in the shape of a cross, forming in the centre a handsome square surrounded by large and principally old fashioned mansions, occupied by the wealthy manufacturers and bankers of that thriving town. This space is called "the Newark," i. e. Newworks, being additions and outworks made principally by John of Gaunt, with whom the castle was a favorite residence. It is open at three of the extreme ends of the cross, two of which are entered by ancient embattled gateways and the fourth is a Cul-de-sac.

Boyle's Chronology

So much for the locality, which during the afternoon of Shrove-Tuesday is the scene of considerable mirth. In this space several (I think three) men, called “Whipping Toms," each being armed with a large waggon whip and attended by another man carrying a bell, claim the right of flogging every person whom they can catch, while their attendant bell-man can keep ringing his bell. If you have occasion to go to any of the houses in the place a small gratuity secures you from a whipping. The amusement consists in surrounding the bell-man, and silencing his bell; for during the cessation of ringing the whipper is powerless: this however is a service of some hazard and requires the combined address and activity of the young men who take part in the frolic. As soon however as a whipping Tom finds nis companion silenced, and subject to the iaugh of the spectators, he hurries with his attendant bell to the rescue, and the scene becomes one of considerable mirth and animation, and many daring attempts are often made to capture the succoring bell, and increase their amusement on the one hand, and to liberate the captured bell and get both whips into action on the other. By the three outlets escape is easy, and the fourth contains a space dignified by the name of little London, within which if attained you are entitled to sanctuary. The bustle, activity, and address occasioned by the attempts to "silence the dreadful bell," or to cross the space in defiance of the whipping Toms, together with the mishaps of the luckless wights who are unsuccessful in the attempt, and the boisterous mirth of the spectators when successful, render it a scene of gaiety and humor to which the young look forward with considerable animation.

I have vainly endeavoured to ascertain the origin and antiquity of this custom: none of the inhabitants are able to afford any information respecting it. The town and neighbourhood contain several objects interesting to the antiquarian and general enquirer, of which I will cheerfully furnish you some brief notices if you consider them worth your acceptance, and remain Yours, truly, J. C. B.

Cross flower flowers. Poetic narcissus flowers Germander speedwell flowers abundantly.

Stock gilliflowers are out in profusion. Common wallflower is numerously in flower.

May 4.

4th May, 1733, died Mr. John Underwood, of Whittlesca, in Cambridgeshire. At his burial, when the service was over, an arch was turned over the coffin, in which was placed a small piece of white marble with this incription, "Non omnis Moriar, 1733." Then the six gentlemen who followed him to the grave sang the last stanza of the 20th Ode of the second book of Horace. No bell was tolled, no one was invited but the six gentlemen, and no relation followed his corpse. His coffin was painted green. He was laid in it with all his clothes on; under his head was placed Sanadon's Horace, at his feet Bentley's Milton, in his right hand a small Greek Testament, with this inscription in gold letters, ELMI EN ΤΩΙ ΣΤΑΥΡΩ, J. U., in his left hand a small edition of Horace, with this inscription, "MVSIS AMICVS, J. U.," and Bentley's Horace, sub podice. After the ceremony the six gentlemen returned to his house, where his sister had provided a cold supper; and, on the cloth being removed, they sang the 31st Ode of the first book of Horace, drank a cheerful glass, and went home about eight. Mr. Underwood left nearly 6000l. to his sister, on condition of her observing this his will; he ordered her to give each of the gentlemen ten guineas, and desired they would not come in black clothes. The will ends thus :-"Which done, I would have them take a cheerful glass, and think no more of John Underwood."

May 5.

SHARK AND BOY.

5th May, 1803, at Ongar Point, on the coast of Java, John Walker, aged 13, boatswain's boy of the Ganges East Indiaman, then lying at anchor, was swiming close to the ship, when he was discovered by a shark, which immediately approached him, and in spite of the exertion of a boat's crew alongside, who instantly endeavoured to intimidate the hungry monster, he seized the unfortunate boy, by including within his mouth the whole of the right leg, and more than half the thigh. He pulled the boy with him beneath the water, in the presence of upwards of 100 men, who were spectators of the scene, and kept him below for nearly two minutes, in which time he had torn off the leg and thigh to the extent above-mentioned. The boy once more made his appearance on the surface of the water, and the shark turned upon his back, with his jaws again extended, to finish his prey, when a lad from the boat struck him with the boat-hook, and by the same instrument laid hold of the boy, and dragged him board. The boy had lost a vast deal of blood; the stump was dreadfully lacerated, and the bone so splintered as to require amputation close to the hip joint. Under all these untoward circumstances, the poor fellow recovered within three months from the date of the operation, and the fleet, compassionating his extraordinary case, subscribed upwards of

2801. for him.*

For more than three years previously to 1792 the abolition of the slave trade, carried on from the coast of Africa to the WestIndia islands, by British subjects, was warmly agitated in the parliament of Britain; and a committee of the house of commons appointed to examine witnesses during two successive sessions of parliament, collected a great body of evidence, which was printed for the informa

tion of the members. As this formed a large volume in folio, an abridgment of the whole was made and printed also, for the use of the members, and several abridgments of this abridgment were afterwards published throughout the nation. The people, in general, warmly espoused the abolition, and petitions were presented to parliament, from almost every class of persons in the kingdom, praying that this Rombay Courier.

traffic, which they deemed a disgrace to humanity, and a reproach to the name of Christians, might be abolished. In 1792 the house of commons resolved, in a committee of the whole house, that the slave-trade was improper to be continued; but, on account of certain considerations of expediency, determined that its abolition should be gradual, and a bill was passed, permitting the trade, under certain limitations, to be carried on till the 1st of January, 1796, after which it was to be totally prohibited. When this bill was carried to the house of lords, the peers found it inconsistent with their dignity to admit evidence which had not been taken at their own bar; and, as their examination of witnesses could not be closed during the then session of parliament, the bill was necessarily lost for that year. In the mean time the claims of certain parties, whose "vested interests" were likely to be affected by the abolition of the traffic, were represented by the foilowing

PETITION

To the Right Honorable, &c.
"Sheweth,

"That your petitioners are a numerous body, and, at present, in a very flourishing situation, owing chiefly to the constant visitation of the shipping of your island.

"That, by hovering round these floating dungeons, your petitioners are supplied with large quantities of their most fa

vorite food-human flesh.

"That your petitioners are not only sustained, by the carcases of those who have fallen by distempers, but are frequently gratified with rich repasts from the bodies of living negroes, who voluntarily plunge into the abodes of your petioners, preferring instant destruction by their jaws, to the imaginary horrors of a lingering slavery.

"That, among the enormous breakers and surfs which roll on the shores of your petitioners, numbers of English boats are destroyed, the crews of which usually fall to their lot, and afford them many a delicious meal; but, above all, that large vessels, crowded with negroes, are sometimes dashed on the rocks and shoals, which abound in the regions of your petitioners, whereby hundreds of human beings, both black and white, are at once precipitated into their element, where the gnawing of human flesh, and the crashing of bones, afford to your petitioners the highest grati

fication which their natures are capable of enjoying.

"Thus benefited, as your petitioners are, by this widely-extended traffic, a traffic which has never before been molested, it is with the utmost indignation they hear that there are in Britain men, who, under the specious plea of humanity, are endeavouring to accomplish its abolition. But your petitioners trust that this attempt at innovation, this flourishing of the trumpet of liberty, by which 'more is meant than meets the ear,' will be effectually frustrated.

"Should the lower branch of the legislature be so far infatuated by this newfangled humanity as seriously to meditate the destruction of this beneficial commerce, your petitioners have the firmest reliance on the wisdom and fellow-feelings of the lords spiritual and temporal of Great Britain.

"Your petitioners know that the truly benevolent will ever be consistent, that they will not sacrifice one part of animated nature to the preservation of another, that they will not suffer sharks to starve, in order that negroes may be happy ;yet your petitioners are apprehensive that the baleful influence of this philanthropic mania is already felt, even within the walls of your lordships; wherefore they crave to be heard by counsel, at the bar of your august assembly, when, notwithstanding the wild ravings of fanaticism, they hope to evince that the sustenance of sharks, and the best interests of your ordships, are intimately connected with the traffic in human flesh.

"Fearful of becoming tedious, your petitioners have only to add, that, should the abolition take place (which the god of sharks avert!) the prosperity of your petitioners will inevitably be destroyed, and their numbers, by being deprived of their accustomed food, rapidly diminished. But, on the other hand, should your lordships, in your legislative capacity, scorn the feelings of the vulgar, and nobly interfere, either openly, or by procrastination, to preserve this invigorating trade from the ruin that now seems to await it, your petitioners, and their wide-mouthed posterity, as by nature urged, will ever prey, &c."

Heav'n speed the canvass, gallantly unfurl'd
To furnish and accommodate a world,
To give the pole the produce of the sun,
And knit the unsocial climates into one.-

"What greater measure can we have, than that we should bring joy to our brother, who, with his dreary eyes, looks to heaven, and round about, and cannot find so much rest as to lay his eyelids close together; than that thy tongue should be tuned with heavenly accents, and make the very soul to listen for ease and light, and when he perceives there is such a thing in the world, and in the order of things, as comfort and joy, to begin to break out from the prison of his sorrows, at the door of sighs and tears, and by little and little melt into showers and refreshment? This is glory to thy voice, and employment fit for the brightest angel. But so have I seen the sun kiss the frozen earth, which was bound up with the images of death, and the colder breath of the north; and then the waters break from their enclosures, and melt with joy, and run ir useful channels; and the flies do rise again from their little giaves in walls, and dance awhile in the air, to tell that their joy is within, and that the great mother of creatures will open the stock of her new refreshment, become useful to mankind, and sing praises to her redeemer: so is the heart of a sorrowful man under the discourses of a wise comforter; he breaks from the despairs of the grave, and the fetters and chains of sorrow; he blesses God, and he blesses thee; and he feels his life returning; for, to be miserable is death; but, nothing is life but to be comforted; and God is pleased with no music from below, so much as in the thanksgiving songs of relieved widows, of supported orphans, of rejoicing, and comforted and thankful persons."-Jeremy Taylor.