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Not so my song;
I'd near forgot
(Oh no! I'd not),
The steward FORD,
Upon my word,

Without the aid of silk and lace;
His native dignity and grace
Make him a good one for his place.

My tale is o'er, my lyre unstrung,
The last, last rhyme upon my tongue;
My donkey, first and best of asses,

Well fed to day, at least, on grass is ;
Farewell, then! should the toward muse
Expire, e're the next Montem views,
O, give a pearly drop of tear,
If not, a pint of purl, or beer-
TO HERBERT STOCKHORE,
Punctual as clock, or

Bailiff, or dun,

Or Tartar, or Hun.

Farewell, the world hath been, and must be,
To poets, statesmen, fiddlers, and to me.

C. Andrews, Printer, Windsor.

It must be confessed that, in point of sense-I had well nigh said nonsensethis Ode comes up to its subject. Really I am surprised that something better is not produced, considering that one Montem is three years distant from another, and that Eton boys have a reputation for talent, which such a composition tends to falsify.

March, 1831.

PILGARLICK.

[From the same Correspondent.] To render more complete the account of the Montem, which I have already sent, I transmit the following:

Their royal highnesses the dukes of Kent and Cumberland, earl Morton, and general Gwynne, all on horseback, dressed in the Windsor uniform, except the prince of Wales, who wore a suit of dark blue, and a brown surtout over.

Then followed the scholars, preceded by the marechal, sergeants, the musicians of the Staffordshire band, and Mr. Ford, captain of the seminary, the sergeantmajor, sergeants, colonels, corporals, musicians, ensign, lieutenant, steward, saltbearers, polemen, and runners.

The cavalcade being brought up by her majesty and her amiable daughters in two carriages, and a numerous company of equestrians and pedestrians, all eager to behold their sovereign and his family. Among the former lady Lade was foremost in the throng; only two others dared venture their persons on horseback in such a multitude.

The king and royal family were stopped on the bridge by Messrs. Young and Mansfield, the salt-bearers, to whom their majesties delivered their customary donation of fifty guineas each.

At Salt Hill, his majesty, with his usual affability, took upon himself to arrange the procession round the royal carriages; and, even when the horses were taken off, with the assistance of the duke of Kent, fastened the traces round the pole of the coaches, to prevent any inconvenience.

An exceedingly heavy shower of rain coming on, the prince took leave, and went to the Windmill Inn, till it subsided. The king and his attendants weathered it in their great coats.

After the young gentlemen had walked round the carriage, ensign Vince, and the salt-bearers, proceeded to the summit of the hill, but, the wind being boisterous, he could not exhibit his dexterity in display

Extract from the Courier, May 1799.† Yesterday this triennial ceremony took place, with which the public are too well acquainted to require a particular description. A collection, called salt, is taken from the public, which forms a purse, to support the captain of the school in his studies at Cambridge. This col-ing his flag, and the space being too small lection is made by the scholars, dressed in fancy dresses, all round the country.

At eleven o'clock, the youths being assembled in their habiliments at the college, the royal family set off from the castle to see them, and, after walking round the court yard, they proceeded to Salt Hill in the following order:

His majesty, his royal highness the prince of Wales, and the earl of Uxbridge.

Query, Odd. PRINTER'S DEVIL. t Copied from Miss Edgeworth's Parent's Assistant, p. 239, vol. iii., eď tion in 3 vols. 1831.

before the carriages, from the concourse of spectators, the king kindly acquiesced in not having it displayed under such inconvenience.

Their majesties and the princesses then returned home, the king occasionally stopping to converse with the dean of Windsor, the earl of Harrington, and other noblemen.

The scholars partook of an elegant dinner at the Windmill Inn, and in the evening walked on Windsor Terrace.

Their royal highnesses the prince of Wales and duke of Cumberland, after taking leave of their majesties, set off for

town, and honored the Opera House with their presence in the evening.

The profit arising from the salt collected, according to account, amounted to above £800.

The stadtl.older, the duke of Gordon, lord and lady Melbourne, viscount Brome, and a numerous train of fashionable nobility were present.

The following is an account of their dresses, made, as usual, very handsomely, by Mrs. Snow, milliner, of Windsor :Mr. Ford, captain, with eight gentlemen to attend him as servitors.

Mr. Serjeant, marechal.
Mr. Brandrith, colonel.
Mr. Plumtree,* lieutenant.
Mr. Vince, ensign.

Mr. Young, college salt bearer, white and gold dress, rich satin bag, covered with gold netting.

Mr. Mansfield, oppident, white, purple, and orange dress, trimmed with silver; rich satin bag, purple and silver, each carrying elegant poles with gold and silver cord. Mr. Keity, yellow and black velvet, helmet trimmed with silver.

Mr. Bartelot, plain mantle and sandals, Scotch bonnet, a very Douglas.

Mr. Knapp, flesh-color and blue; Spanish hat and feathers.

Mr. Ripley, rose-color; helmet. Mr. Islip (being in mourning), a scarf; helmet, black velvet; and white satin.

Mr. Tomkins, violet and silver; helmet. Mr. Thackery, lilac and silver; Roman cap.

Mr. Drury, Mazarin blue; fancy cap.
Mr. Davis, slate-color and straw.
Mr. Routh, pink and silver; Spanish hat.
Mr. Curtis, purple; fancy cap.
Mr. Lloyd, blue; ditto.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the royal family returned to Windsor, and the boys were all sumptuously entertained at the tavern, at Salt Hill. About six in the evening, all the boys returned in the order of procession, and, marching round the great square of Eton, were dismissed. The captain then paid his respects to the royal family, at the queen's lodge, Windsor, previous to his departure for king's college, Cambridge, to defray which expense the produce of the Montem was presented to him.

Afterwards a master, and at present a fellow of Eton.-PIL.

At present second master of Eton, having succeeded Mr. Yonge, 1830.-PIL.

The day concluded by a brilliant promenade of beauty, rank, and fashion, on Windsor Terrace, enlivened by the performance of several bands of music.

Now

The origin of the procession is from the custom by which the manor was held. The custom of hunting the ram belonged to Eton College, as well as the custom of Salt; but it was discontinued by Dr. Cook, late dean of Ely. this custom we know to have been entered on the register of the royal abbey of Bee, in Normandy, as one belonging to the manor of East or Great Wrotham, in Norfolk When the harvest was finished, the tenants were to have half an acre of barley,and a ram let loose, and, if they caught him, he was their own to make merry with, but if he escaped from them, he was the lord's. The Etonians, in order to secure the ram, houghed him in the Irish fashion, and then attacked him with great clubs. The cruelty of this proceeding brought it into disuse, and now it exists no longer.-See Register of the Royal Abbey of Bee, folio 58.

The article in the Courier concludes with this statement-"After the dissolution of the alien priories, in 1414, by the parliament of Leicester, they remained in the crown till Henry VI., who gave Wrotham manor to Eton College; and if the Eton fellows would search, they would, perhaps, find the manor, in their possession, that was held by the custom of Salt."

The Courier narrative differs but in a very slight degree (and that almost entirely on account of the different reign in which the Montem described in the "Courier" took place) from the descrip

tion

which I have already furnished. Thirty years have elapsed between that Montem and the last, another thirty years may find it extinct, or deprived of all its present splendor. April, 1831.

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PILGARLICK

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Twilight ends 10 33

German Flower de Luce flowers. Pale piony flowers; in a few days it is succeeded by the common crimson variety; but the pale retains its petals longer.

Scentless hesperis flowers. Motherwort (HESPERIS MATRINALIS) flowers

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If hawking were fashionable, May would be a busy season with lovers of the diversion. It was the most predominant rural amusement for many ages, and followed by all the gentry of the country at a great expense. There were large tracts of land in and near Cranbourne chase, called "Hawking Downs," which were covered with gorse and fern, and resorted to by pheasants and partridges. The bordering woods produced woodcocks; these, when disturbed from the woods, came to "a flight" for the hawks, in the open glades, and showed great sport.

The amusement was carried to such a height, that no gentleman could be completely dressed for company without having a glove on his left hand, and a hawk sitting on it. He who bore his nawk in the most graceful manner was deemed the most accomplished cavalier; and, to please the ladies, it was the practice to play flirting tricks with the plumes of the hawks, at the same time, and in like manner, as the ladies did with their fans

According to the reverend Mr. Chafin, although falconry had such a despotic sway for many ages, it is now a question whether there is one reclaimed foreign hawk in the western part of the kingdom; but there may be a few English hawks annually trained in the neighbourhood of Bridport, in Dorsetshire, for the taking of land-rails in the hemp and flax fields near that town, in which, during some seasons, they are very plentiful.

W. Tregonwell Frampton, Esq., seems to have been, about the year 1670, the most active pursuer of this diversion in the west of England. He was a gentleman of family and fortune in Dorsetshire, and generally resided there; but he had a house also at Newmarket, and was a person of great notoriety on the turt there. He had race-horses in training, and regularly attended all the race meetings, carrying with him several casts of fine hawks, for the diversion of his numerous associates.

May 13.

THE TEARS OF OLD MAY DAY.

Led by the jocund train of vernal hours,

And vernal airs, uprose the gentle May; Blushing she rose, and blushing rose the flowers That sprung spontaneous in her genial ray. Her looks with heav'n's ambrosial dews were bright,

An dam'rous zephyrs flutter'd in her breast: With every shining gleam of morning light The colors shifted of her rainbow vest. Imperial ensigns grac'd her smiling form,

A golden key, and golden wand, she bore; This charms to peace each sullen eastern storm, And that unlocks the summer's copious store. Onward, in conscious majesty, she came,

The grateful honors of mankind to taste; To gather fairest wreaths of future fame, And blend fresh triumphs with her glories

past.

Vain hope! No more in choral bands unite
Her virgin votaries, and at early dawn,
Sacred to May, and Love's mysterious rite,
Brush the light dewdrops from the span-
gled lawn.

To her no more Augusta'st wealthy pride
Pours the full tribute of Petosi's mine;
Nor fresh blown garlands village maids provide,
A purer off'ring at her rustic shrine.
No more the Maypole's verdant height around
To valour's games th' ambitious youth ad-
vance;

No merry bells, and tabors sprightlier sound
Wake the loud carol, and the sportive dance.
Ah me! for now a younger rival claims

My ravish'd honors, and to her belong My choral dances, and victorious games, To her my garlands and triumphal song. O say, what yet untasted bounties flow,

What purer joys await her gentler reigu ? Do lilies fairer, vi'lets sweeter blow?

And warbles Philomel a sweeter strain? Do morning suns in ruddier glory rise?

Does ev'ning fan her with serener gales? Do clouds drop fatness from the wealthier skies,

Or wantons plenty in her happier vales? Ah! no; the blunted beams of morning light Skirt the pale orient with uncertain day; And Cynthia, riding on the ear of night, Through clouds embattled faintly wins her way.

Pale immature, the blighted verdure springs, Nor mountain juices feed the swelling flow'r, Mute all the groves, nor Philomela sings,

When silence listens at the midnight hour. Nor wonder man that nature's bashful face, And op'ning charms her rude embraces fear;

⚫ Alluding to the custom of gathering May-dew. The plate Garlands of London

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Lucky and unlucky days are by many anxiously observed. That day of the week on which the fourteenth of May happens to fall, for instance, is deemed unlucky through all the remainder of the year; none marry or begin any serious business upon it.

None choose to marry in Januaryor May, or to have their banns proclaimed in the end of one quarter of the year and marry in the beginning of the next.

Some things are to be done before the full moon: others after.

In fevers, the illness is expected to be more severe on Sunday than on other days of the week; if easier on Sunday, a relapse is feared.

Immediately before the celebration of the marriage ceremony, every knot about the bride and bridegroom (garters, shoestrings, strings of petticoats, &c. &c.) is carefully loosened After leaving the church the company walk round it, keeping the church walls always upon the right hand. The bridegroom, however,

first retires one way with some young men, to tie the knots which were loosed about him; while the young married woman, in the same manner, retires elsewhere to adjust the disorder of her dress. When a child was baptised privately, it was not long since customary to put the child upon a clean basket, having a cloth previously spread over it, with bread and cheese put into the cloth; and thus to move the basket three times successively round the iron crook, which hangs over the fire from the roof of the house, for the purpose of supporting the pot when water is boiled, or victuals are prepared. This might anciently be intended to counteract the malignant arts which witches and evil spirits were imagined to practice against new born infants.

Such is the picture of the superstitions of Logierait, as drawn twenty-five years ago.*

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In May, 1718, Sir Francis Page, a remarkable legal character, was created a baron of the Exchequer. He was the son of the vicar of Bloxham, in Oxfordshire, and bred to the law, but possessing, few requisites for the profession, he pushed his interest by writing political pamphlets,

which were received with attention in the proper quarters, so that he was called to the coif, in 1704, and became king's serjeant in 1714-15. He was made a Justice of the Common Pleas in 1726; and in the following year a justice of the King's Bench. His language was mean and tautologus. In a charge to the grand jury at the assizes, he said-" Gentlemen of the jury, you ought to enquire after recusants in that kind, and such as do not frequent the church in that kind; but, above all, such as haunt ale-houses in that kind; drunkards and blasphemers in that kind, and all notorious offenders in that kind, are to be presented in that kind, and, as the laws in that kind direct, must be pro

• Communicated by a juvenile correspondent, J W., from Arlis's Pocket Magazine.

ceeded against in that kind." To the grand jury of Middlesex in May 1736, he began his charge: "I dare venture to affirm, Gentlemen, on my own knowledge, that England never was so happy both at home and abroad as it now is.' At a trial at Derby, about a small spot of ground, been a garden, an old woman, a witness for the defendant, deposed, there never had been a flower grown there since Adam was created. "Turn the witness away," said this arbiter of law and language. It was said of him, that "he was a judge without mercy and a gentleman without manners." He rendered his name odious by a dreadful severity. He endeavoured to convict, that he might have the luxury of condemning; and was called, in consequence, "the hanging judge." He indulged in making doggerel lines upon those he knew. In a cause at Dorchester, treating one King, a rhyming thatcher, with his usual rigor, the man retorted after the trial was over,

God, in his rage, Made a Judge Page.

Ile was the judge who tried Savage, the poet, on a charge of murder, and was so anxious to convict him, that he was afterwards brought to confess that he had been particularly severe. When phthisicky and decrepid, as he passed along from court, a gentleman enquired particularly of the state of his health. "My dear Sir, you see I keep hanging on, hanging on." This disgrace to the bench outlived all his ermined brethren, and died, unla mented in December, 1741, at the age of 80. Mr. Noble heard, when a boy, some very severe lines that had been placed upon his monument, which his relatives greatly resented.

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