May 28.

BIDDING TO A WEDDING.

28th May, 1797.-" Bell's Weekly Messenger" of this date contained the following advertisement :

"May no miscarriage prevent my marriage." "MATTHEW DAWSON, in Bothwell, Cumberland, intends to be married at Holm church, on the Thursday before Whitsuntide next, whenever that may happen, and to return to Bothwell to dine. "Mr. Reid gives a turkey to be roasted; Ed. Clementson gives a fat lamb to be roasted; Win. Elliot gives a hen to be roasted; Jos. Gibson gives a fat calf to be roasted.

"And, in order that all this roast meat may be well basted, do you see Mary Pearson, Betty Hodgson, Mary Bushley, Molly Fisher, Sarah Briscoe, and Betty Porthouse, give, each of them, a pound of butter. The advertiser will provide every thing else for so festive an occasion.

"And he hereby gives notice,

"TO ALL YOUNG WOMEN desirous of changing their condition, that he is at present disengaged; and advises them to consider, that altho' there be luck in leisure, yet, in this case delays are dangerous; for, with him, he is determined it shall be first come first served.

"So come along lasses who wish to be married,

MATT. DAWSON is vex'd that so long he has tarried."

The preceding invitation is stated to be an extract from the "Cumberland Packet."

anniversary of his Restoration, "as there had usually been."

THE ROYAL OAK.

In the sign or picture representing Charles II., in the Royal Oak, escaping the vigilance of his pursuers, there are usually some erroneous particularities. Though I am as far as any other Briton can be from wishing to "curtail" his majesty's wig "of its fair proportion," yet I have sometimes been apt to think it rather improper to make the wig, as is usually done, of larger dimensions than the tree in which it and his majesty are concealed. It is a rule in logic, and, I believe, may hold good in most other sciences, that "omne majus continet in se minus," that "every thing larger can hold any thing that is less," but I own I never heard the contrary advanced or defended with any plausible arguments, viz. "that every little thing can hold one larger." I therefore humbly propose that there should at least be an edge of foliage round the outskirts of the said wig; and that its curls should not exceed in number the leaves of the tree. There is also another practice almost equally prevalent, of which I am sceptic enough to doubt the propriety. I own I cannot think it conductive to the more effectual concealment of his majesty that there should be three regal crowns stuck on three different branches of the tree. Horace says, indeed,

- Pictoribus atque poetis Quidlibet audendi semper fuit æqua potestas. Painters and Poets our indulgence claim, Their daring equal, and their art the same. And this may be reckoned a very allowable poetical licence; inasmuch as it lets the spectator into the secret, "who is in the tree." But it is apt to make him at the same time throw the accusation of negligence and want of penetration on the three dragoons, who are usually depicted on the fore ground, cantering along very composedly with serene countenances, erect persons, and drawn swords very little longer than themselves.*

LAWLESS DAY AT EXETER,

Of the origin of the custom on the 29th of May which I am about to describe, or

The Microcosm.

how long it has existed, I am unable to give any information, and, as it is more than a dozen years since I left Exeter, I am likewise ignorant whether it is discontinued or not. It is asserted and believed by many of the Exonians, that the statutes "made and provided" take no cognizance of any misdemeanors and breaches of the peace, short of downright rioting, on this day; hence it has acquired the cognomen of "Lawless Day," a name every way appropriate to the proceedings upon its celebration.

Early on the morning the bells at the various churches ring merry peals, and squads of the mischief-loving part of the mobility, with large bludgeons, haste to different situations which they have previously selected for the scene of operations. The stations are soon, but not always peaceably occupied; for it frequently happens that two parties have chosen the same spot, and the right of possession is decided by violent and obstinate contests. As the day advances, and these preliminaries are rightfully adjusted by the weak giving place to the strong, the regular business commences. The stoutest and most resolute remain to guard the stations while the rest are detached, and busily employed in collecting mud, stones! brick bats, old mats, hay, straw, and other materials suitable to the purpose of form ing dams across the kennels for stopping the water. These pools are sometimes as much as two feet deep, and are called bays. If the water does not accumulate fast enough in these "bays," the deficiency is supplied by parties, who fetch it from various parts, in all kinds of vessels, and, when they can get nothing better, in their hats. Any one acquainted with Exeter, at the time to which I refer, will be aware that a deficiency of slop could not often occur, the streets and lanes being mostly very steep and narrow, with deep and ill-made kennels in the midst; most of the houses without drains, or even common conveniences; and the scavenger being seldom in requisition, render that city peculiarly adapted to the dirty sports and mud larks of "Lawless Day." At a short distance from the "Bay," its foundaries are marked out; and at each bay one of the party belonging to it is stationed to solicit donations from passengers. If a gift be refused he makes a signal by whistling to his companions, and they directly commence splashing and bedabbling most lustily, and render it impos

sible for any one to pass by without a thorough drenching; but if a trifle, however small, is bestowed, the donor is allowed safe conduct, and three cheers for liberality. Persons who are no enemies to rough pastime sometimes throw a few half-pence into the water, and become bystanders to enjoy the sight of the snatching, raking, tumbling, and rolling of the poor fellows, in their endeavours to find the money, which, as fast as it is got, is mostly spent at the nearest public house. The effects of the liquor is soon perceived in the conduct of the various parties. The more they drink the more outrageous they become, and it mostly happens that the interference of the beadles and constables is absolutely necessary to put an end to the violence, by locking up some of the ringleaders, who are thus taught that, if there is no law upon "Lawless Day," there is law the next day.

Upon "Lawless Day" the lawless rabble frequently drag out the parish engines, and play them upon any on whom it is presumed the trick can be practised with impunity. This has been done even in the principal streets. Towards the close of the day the stations are gradually deserted, one after the other, and the groups who occupied them, and have not spent all the money they collected, go to the public houses and drink it out. In the mean time their vacant places in the streets are eagerly taken possession of by ragged children, who imitate the boisterous folly of their elders. J-s S-LLm—n.