POND. an Almanac for 1678-amplified with "many good things both for pleasure and profit "-inserts the following notice as belonging to these pleasurable and profitable things:—

"Times prohibiting Marriage.

"Marriage comes in on the 13th day of January, and at Septuagesima Sunday it is out again until Low Sunday; at which time it comes in again, and goes not out until Rogation Sunday; thence it is forbidden until Trinity Sunday, from whence it is unforbidden till Advent Sunday; but then it goes out and comes not in again till the 13th day of January next following."

"

Wedding Rings, and the Ring Finger.

The wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, because it was anciently believed that a small artery ran from this finger to the heart. Wheatley, on the authority of old missals, calls it a vein. It is," he says, "because from thence there proceeds a particular vein to the heart. This indeed," he adds, "is now contradicted by experience: but several eminent authors, as well gentiles vines, were formerly of this opinion, and as Christians, as well physicians as ditherefore they thought this finger the properest to bear this pledge of love, that from thence it might be conveyed as it were to the heart.

Ascensio Isaia vatis, opusculum pseud epigraphum, &c., et cum versione Latina Anglicanâque publici juris factum a Ricardo Lau rence, LL. D., &c., Oxon. 1819.8vo

Levinus Lemnius, speaking of the ringunger, says, that "a small branch of the artery and not of the nerves, as Gellius thought, is stretched forth from the heart unto this finger, the motion whereof you may perceive evidently in all that affects the heart in women, by the touch of your fore finger. I used to raise such as are fallen in a swoon by pinching this joint, and by rubbing the ring of gold with a little saffron; for, by this, a restoring force that is in it passeth to the heart, and refresheth the fountain of life, unto which this finger is joined. Wherefore antiquity thought fit to compass it about with gold."

According also to the same author, this finger was called "Medicus;" for, on account of the virtue it was presumed to derive from the heart, "the old physicians would mingle their medicaments and potions with this finger, because no venom can stick upon the very outmost part of it, but it will offend a man, and communicate itself to his heart."

To a question, “Why is it that the person to be married is enjoined to put a ring upon the fourth finger of his spouse's left hand?" it is answered, "there is nothing more in this than that the custom was handed down to the present age from the practice of our ancestors, who found the left hand more convenient for such crnaments than the right, because it is less employed. For the same reason they chose the fourth finger, which is not only less used than either of the rest, but is more capable of preserving a ring from bruises, having this one peculiar quality, that it cannot be extended but in company with some other finger, while the rest may be singly stretched to their full length and straightness."

Some married women are so superstitiously rigid, in their notions concerning their wedding ring, that neither when they wash their hands, nor at any other time, will they take it off their finger; extending, it should seem, the expression of "till death us do part," even to this golden circlet, the token and pledge of matrimony.

There is an old proverb cn wedding rings, which has no doubt been many a time quoted for the purpose of encouraging and hastening the consent of a diffident or timorous mistress :

Manchester, the seat of cotton mills, manufactories, and mechanical and musical science, is a place of great antiquity. It is surrounded by old halls of curious structure, and contains within itself many vestiges that excite peculiar admiration in lovers of literature and ancient remains. By the munificience of one of its merchants, Humphrey Chetham, there exists a Public Library in the full meaning of the term. With merely an incidental mention of the noble collegiate or parish church, and wholly passing by other edifices and institutions, some notices are subjoined of Humphrey Chetham's endowments and of the edifice in which his liberality is still fostered and dispensed.

Thomas West, lord de la Warre, the last male heir of that family, who was first rector of Manchester and then succeeded to the peerage, procured a license in the ninth year of Henry V., 1422, for making the parish church of Manchester collegiate. The college consisted of a warden and eight fellows, of whom two were parish priests, two canons, and four deacons, with two clerks and six choristers. The building of the house cost at that time £5000. The value of twelve lordships was bestowed by the founder on the college and to other pious uses.

About the time of the foundation of the

college was erected the present fabric of Christ Church, which, being the parish church, is now usually called the Old Church, to distinguish it from other churches in the town. It is a fine Gothic structure, ornamented with sculpture on the outside, and contains several chapels belonging to considerable families in the neighbourhood. It is enriched with curious tabernacle work over the stalls, and very grotesque carvings under the foldings of the seats.

The college was dissolved by act of Parliament in the first year of Edward VI., and the land and revenues taken by the king, and by him demised to Edward earl of Derby. Queen Mary afterwards refounded the college, and restored almost all the lands. The house called the college remained in the Derby family until the civil wars, when, with the rest of the property of James earl of Derby, it was sequestrated by the parliament. At that time it was greatly dilapidated; some parts were used as private dwellings, others were employed as magazines for powder and arms, and the greater part was devoted to the purposes of a prison. After the restoration it returned once more to the Derby family, and was ultimately destined to its present use.

Humphrey Chetham, by his will dated

16 December, 1651, made provision for the foundation and endowment of an hospital and library in Manchester. The hospital was to maintain and educate forty poor boys to the age of fourteen, when they were to be bound apprentice or otherwise provided for. He directed that they should be elected out of various townships named in the will, and recommended the trustees to purchase the old college for a place of residence for the children, and for the use of the library. For commencing the library he bequeathed £1000 to be expended in books, and gave the residue of his personal estate to augment the collection. The college was accordingly purchased of the celebrated Charlotte de Tremouille countess of Derby, the gallant defender of Lathom house, and in 1665 the trustees were incorporated by charter. In a short time the trustees were enabled to extend the beneficence of the founder to sixty boys, and, since 1780, eighty boys have been supported and educated in this establishment. They are clothed in the same fashion as at the first foundation, in long blue vests with a petticoat of yellow, blue worsted stockings, with a blue cap or bonnet, and linen bands at the neck. The make of this dress is similar to that of the children in Christ's hospital, London.

Humphrey Chetham resided at Clayton Hall near Manchester, and Turton Tower, near Bolton, in Lancashire. He was born on the 10th of July, 1580, realised a large property in trade, and died unmarried on the 12th of October 1653, in the seventyfourth year of his age. This, and what is related by Dr. Fuller, who places him among his "Worthies," is all, perhaps, that is known of this beneficent man.

Fuller says "Humphrey Chetham, third son of Henry Chetham, of Cromp sall, gentleman, is thought (on just ground) to descend from Sir Geffery Chetham, cf Chetham, a man of much remark in former days, and some old writings in the hands of worshipful persons, not far remote from the place, do evidence as much; but the said Sir Geffery falling, in troublesome times, into the King's displeasure, his family (in effect) was long since ruinated. It seems his posterity was unwilling to fly far from their old (though destroyed) nest, and got themselves handsome habitation at Crompsall, hard by, where James, elder brother of this Humphrey, did reside. The younger brethren, George, Humphrey, and Ralph,

a

betook themselves to the trading of this county, dealing in Manchester commodities, sent up to London; and Humphrey signally improved himself in piety and outward prosperity. He was a diligent reader of the Scriptures, and of the Works of sound Divines; a respecter of such Ministers as were accounted truly godly, upright, sober, discreet, and sincere. He was High Sheriffe of this County, 1635, discharging the place with great honor; insomuch that very good gentleman of birth and estate did wear his cloth at the assize, to testify their unfeigned affection to him; and two of the same profession with himself, viz. John Hartly and H. Wrigley, Esquires, have since been Sheriffes of the county. Grudge not, Reader, to go through so long a porch; for I assure thee it leads unto a fair palace! to as great a master-piece of bounty as our age hath afforded. This Mr. Chetham, by his will, bearing date the 16th December, 1651, gave £7000 to buy a fee-simple estate of £420 for ever, for the educa tion of forty poor children, in Manchester, at school, from about six till fourteen years of age, when they are to be bound out apprentices. They must be of poor but honest married parents, not diseased at the time wherein they are chosen, not lame or blind; in regard the town of Manchester hath ample means already (if so employed) for the maintenance of such impotents. Indeed, he intended it for a seminary of religion and ingenuity, where the aforesaid boys were to have diet, lodging, apparel, and instruction. He gave £1000 for books to a library, and £100 to prepare a place for them. Ile bequeathed £200 to buy books (such as he himself delighted in) for the Churches of Manchester, Bolton, and other Chapels thereabouts. He gave the remainder of his estate (debts and legacies first paid) to the increase of the books in the library--Now, as the loaves in the Gospel multiplied in the breaking, so Mr. Chetham's estate did not shrink, but swelled, in the calling of it in: insomuch that the surplusage is known to be the better part of two thousand pounds. Dying a batchelor, he appointed George Chetham, Esq., ci tizen and grocer, of London (whereof he was chosen alderman, 1656, and fined for the same) and Edward Chetham, gentleman, executors of his will and testament: "God send us more such men, that we may dazzle the eyes of the Papists with the light of Protestant good works."-And

know, reader, I am beholden for my exact information herein, to my worthy friend Mr. Johnson, late preacher of the Temple, and one of the Feoffees appointed by Mr. Chetham, for the uses aforesaid."

Where the college was erected by Thomas West, lord de la Warre, formerly

stood the old manor house, called the "Baron's Hall," which for many centuries had been the chief residence of the Gresleys, and De la Warres, lords of the manor of Manchester. More anciently it was the pleasing impregnable site of the summer camp of the Romans, lined with tall impregnable precipices, covered with a fosse enormously deep and broad before, and insulated by threc lively currents of water around it. There, where for more than eight successive centuries, the public devotions of the town were regularly offered-where, for more than twenty successive generations, the plain forefathers of the town were regularly reposited in peace—where the bold barons of Manchester spread out the hospitable board, in a rude luxurious magnificence, or displayed the instructive mimicry of war, in a train of military exercises-where the fellows of the college studied silently in their respective apartments, or walked conversing in their common gallery-where the youthful indigent now daily receive the judicious dole of charity, and fold their little hands in gratitude to Godwhere peaceful students may now peaceably pursue their inquiries-there arose the spreading pavilions of the Romans, and there previously glittered the military ensigns of the Frisians. The site of the college was the site of the Roman prætorium. The old approach to the camp was by a military gateway, and probably with a light bridge of timber across the ditch, drawn up then (as it certainly was in after ages) for the security of the man. sion. Hence it acquired the appellation of the hanging bridge, and communicated to the fosse the abbreviated name of the "Hanging Ditch," which still adheres to a street constructed along the course of the fosse, and skirting the cemetery of Christ Church.

Be it remembered, by seekers of street literature who visit Manchester, that at Hanging Ditch lives the celebrated "Swindells," the great Manchester printer of murders, executions, marvellous tales,

ghost stories, ballads, prophecies, christmas carols, and other wonders and delights, published at suitable seasons, and oftener if need be, by the flying stationers, "at the small price of one halfpenny."

The public library founded at Manchester college by Humphrey Chetham is the great attraction in Manchester to a bookish man. It is the only library in the kingdom in which every person has the liberty of unlicensed reading. It is open to the public daily, from nine in the morning noon; except in the interval from Octotill one, and from two till five in the afterber to Easter, when it is closed at four o'clock. Any one that chooses, whether library, and requiring to read, is requested resident or not, on going to Chetham's by the sub-librarian to write his name and having done this, he is at liberty to read address in a book kept for that purpose, and, on that and every other day, in a room provided with requisites for writing. In

1791 a catalogue of the collection of books and MSS. was printed in two octavo volumes, and in 1826 a third volume of the MSS. are exceedingly curious; containing subsequent additions. Several the printed books are, in general, the best with good editions of the classics. The works in history, philosophy, and science, liberality which has provided, and thrown open to unrestricted use, so vasta library, is without example

In a gallery, which leads to the library, there is a collection of what formerly were deemed "curiosities." This is shown and described to visitors who desire it for a trifling acknowledgment. The boys of the college are exhibitors in turn, and, except perhaps to natives of Lancashire, the show-boy is the greatest curiosity. With a loud voice, and in a dialect and intonation so peculiar as to be indescribable, the boy directs the attention of the rustic and genteel alike. to the objects he exhibits. Happily, of what he says there exists a report, which, however seemingly ludicrous, is literally faithful.

As soon as the show-boy enters the gallery of curiosities, he points at the articles, and describes them as follows:

"That's th' Skeleton of a Man-that's a Globe - that's a Telescope - that's a Snake-over th' snake's backs two Watch Bills-those are four ancient