July 13. BISHOP THOMAS. July 13, 1752. Under this date in the MS." Observationes Medica" of Mr. J. Jones, is a memorandum to this purport: Dr. John Thomas, who died bishop of Salisbury in 1766, being at Copenhagen, and there consulting an eminent physician, nearly ninety years of age, concerning the best method of preserving health, had this rule given him (amongst seven other rules), viz. "Last of all," said the old physician," Fuge omnesmedicos, atque omnimoda medicamenta." The other rules related to temperance, exercise, &c.-Quære. Whether it might not have been somewhat apropos to have told his lordship the following little story presently after his own, viz. "A very old man, nearly ninety years of age, being asked what he had done to live so long, answered, When I could sit, I never stood; I married late, was a widower soon, and never married again." This prelate married four times. The motto, or poesy, on the wedding ring at his fourth marriage, was, If I survive, I'll make them five. This prelate suddenly diffused a glow of feeling over his auditory, when, at the annual general meeting of charity children at Christ Church, in Newgate Street, he opened his mouth to preach, and with great pathos read Matt. xviii. 14, "It is not the will of your Father who is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." When this Bishop was chaplain to the British factory at Hamburgh, a gentlemen of the factory, being ill, was ordered into the country for the benefit of the air; accordingly he went to a village at about ten miles distance, but after some time died there: upon this, application was made to the parson of the parish, for leave to bury him in the church-yard; the parson inquired what his religion was, and was told that he was a Calvinist: "No," says he," there are none but Lutherans in my churchyard, and there shall be no other." "This," says Dr. Thomas, was told me, and I wondered that any man of any learning or understanding should have such ideas: I resolved to take my horse, and go and argue the matter with him, but found him inflexible; at length I told him he made me think of a circumstance which once happened to myself, when I was curate of a church in Thames Street. I was burying a corpse, and a woman came, and pulled me by the sleeve in the midst of the service - Sir, Sir, I want to speak to you.'-' Pr'ythee,' says I, woman, wait till I have done. No, Sir, I must speak to you immediately.'Why, then, what is the matter?'Why, Sir,' says she, you are burying a man who died of the small pox, next my poor husband, who never had it.' This story," said the bishop, "had the desired effect, and the curate permitted the bones of the poor Calvinist to be laid in his church-yard."* Bishop Thomas was a man of humor and drollery. At a visitation he gave his clergy an account of his being married four times; and," says he, cheerfully, "should my present wife die, I will take another; and it is my opinion I shall survive her. Perhaps you don't know the art of getting quit of your wives. I'll tell you how I do. I am called a very good husband; and so I am; for I never contradict them. But don't you know that the want of contradiction is fatal to women? If you contradict them, that circumstance alone is exercise and health, et optima medicamenta, to all women. But, give them their own way, and they will languish and pine, become gross and lethargic for want July 13. Sun rises of this exercise." He squinted much. He was entertaining the company with a humorous account of some man. In the midst of his story he stopped short, and said, "the fellow squinted most hideously;" and then, turning his ugly face in all the squinting attitudes he could, till the company were upon the full laugh, he added, "and I hate your squinting fellows." sets h. m. 354 8 6 Henbane flowers abundantly. Young marigolds in full flower, and continue to blow through the summer and autumn. Toadflax begins to flower in the hedges. • Gentlemans Magazine. July 14. SLEEP. Care-charming sleep, thou easer of all woes, On the 15th of July, 1751, died, aged fifty-five, John Wilson, author of the "Synopsis of British Plants," and the first writer that attempted a systematic arrangement of our indigenous plants in the English language. He was born in Longsleddal, near Kendal, in Westmorland, and became a shoemaker in the ca pacity of a journeyman, which occupation he exchanged for the more lucrative employment of a baker, soon enough to afford his family the common conveniences of life. He ranks among the self-elevated men who without a liberal education distinguished themselves by scientific and literary abilities. When he studied botany, the knowledge of system was not to be obtained from English books, and Ray's botanical writings, of whose method he was a perfect master, were all in Latin; and yet Wilson became an expert and accurate botanist, before Linnæus's method of discriminating species improved the science. His business of a baker was principally managed by his wife. A severe asthma, which prevented him from pursuing his trade as a shoemaker, assisted He him to cultivate his favorite science. amused the lingering hours of sickness with frequent excursions, and explored the marshes and hills of his native county, often accompanied by lovers of botany and the scenes of nature. He expressed himself with unreserved freedom, and many of his sententious remarks will be long remembered. Being once in the county of Durham, he was introduced to a person who cultivated rare plants for his pleasure, and who, judging of Wilson's abilities by his humble appearance, challenged him to a trial of skill. In the course of it be treated Wilson, of whose knowledge he had heard, with much disrespect. Wilson perceived this, and after naming most of the rarities contained in the garden, and referring to authors who describe them, he plucked a wild herb, from a neglected spot, and presented it to his opponent, who endeavoured to get clear of the difficulty by pronouncing it a weed; Wilson Immediately replied, a weed is a term of art, not a production of nature. He added that the explanation proved his antagonist to be a gardener, not a botanist, and the contest ended. The hospitality of several persons of taste and fortune enabled Wilson to prosecute his researches on an economical plan suited to his condition. Mr. Isaac sident at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was his Thompson, an eminent land-surveyor, resteadiest patron, and warmest encourager. Wilson frequently accompanied this gentleman, when travelling in the line of his profession, under the character of an assistant, which left him at full liberty to examine the plants of the different places they visited. His "Synopsis" was published in the year 1744; it comprehends that part of Ray's method which treats of the more perfect herbs, beginning at the fourth genus, or class; and ending with preface, to complete the performance at a the twenty-sixth. He promised, in the second volume, which was intended to future period; but did not live to finish a contain the fungi, mosses, grasses, and trees. The last three or four years of his rendered him unfit for application. The life were passed in a state of debility that England shortly after Wilson's death, or writings of Linnæus became popular in his attainments and character would have become better known and estimated.* To render complete your account of this celebrated hoax, you should insert the subjoined bantering apology for the imposter's non-appearance, which was published in the newspapers a day or two after the transaction:— "WHEREAS various stories have been told the public about the man and the bottle, the following account seems to be the best as yet given of that odd affair: viz. A gentleman went to him the evening he was to perform in the Haymarket, and asked him what he must have to perform to him in private. He said £5, on which they agreed, and the conjurer getting ready to go into the bottle, which was set on a table, the gentleman, having provided a parcel of corks, fitted one to the bottle, then the conjurer, having darkened the room as much as was necessary, at last, with much squeezing got into the bottle, which in a moment the gentleman corked up, and whipt into his pocket, and in great haste and seeming confusion went out of the house, telling the servants, who waited at the door, that their master had bewitched him, and bid them go in and take care of him. Thus the poor man being hit himself, in being confined in the bottle, and in a gentleman's pocket, could not be in another place; for he never advertised he would go into two bottles at one and the same time. He is still in the gentleman's custody, who uncorks him now and then to feed him, and to let in some fresh air to him; but his long confinement has so dampt his spirits, that instead of singing and dancing, he is perpetually crying, and cursing his illfate. But though the town has been disappointed of seeing him go into the bottle, they will have the pleasure in a few days of seeing him come out of it, of which timely notice will be given in the daily papers." Another paragraph of the same kind excused the performer upon this score,that he had undertaken to go into a tavern quart bottle; yet, after diligent enquiry at all the taverns in London, he had been unable to meet with any "quart bottle" that would hold more than a pint. In the "Scot's Magazine for Jan. 1749," I find this joke versified as follows :— "On the Haymarket Conjurer. Crowds fill the house before the hour of six, To see this wondrous artist show his tricks ; Some laugh, to find their foolish hopes defeated; And others swear, to be so bilk'd and cheated, The interest excited by the affair i proved by the numerous pleasantries of this kind which for some time after continued to appear in the Magazines and Newspapers, but, as they display little variety, I refrain from transcribing more, preferring to close my notice of this hoaxing subject with an account of a still more audacious imposture, taken from the "Cheltenham Journal of January 17, 1825." In a village near that town a fellow hired an apartment at the principal tavern, and circulated bills throughout the place, of which a copy is annexed. "FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY "Felix Downjumpthroatum, the emperor of all the conjurors, begs leave to announce to the nobility, gentry, and inhabitants, that he has just arrived with five Arabian Conjurers, which he intends to exhibit for this night only. Any attempt to describe their extraordinary performances must be needless, as the proprietor flatters himself that they must be seen to be believed. They are all brothers by the same father: their names, Muley, Benassar, Abdailah, Mustapha, and Suckee. At the conclusion of their never yet equalled feats of sleight of hand, legerdemain, &c., &c., they will take each a lighted torch in either hand, when lo! incredible to relate! Suckee, with the burning torches, will jump clean down Mustapha's throat, who in an instant, with equal dexterity, will pass down the throat of Abdallah, then Abdallah will jump down that of Benassar, and Benassar down his brother Muley's; who, lastly, notwithstanding he is encumbered with his four brothers and their four torches, will throw a flip-flap-somerset down his own throat, and leave the audience in total darkness!-Probatum est.” The promised wonders drew crowds of rustics to gape at them, and the room was literally crammed; but, five minutes before the time fixed for commencing, the conjuror decamped with the money received at the door, and was no more heard of probably he jumped down his own throat. J. B Staffordshire Moorlands. July 17. COURT REVELRY, 1606. On the 17th of July, 1606, Christian IV., king of Denmark, arrived in England, on a visit to James I. Sir John Harington, a courtier, describes soine of the festivities" The sports began each day in such manner and such sort, as well nigh persuaded me of Mahomet's paradise. We had women, and indeed wine too, in such plenty as would have astonished every sober beholder. Our feasts were magnificent, and the two royal guests did most lovingly embrace each other at table. I think the Dane hath strangely wrought on our good English nobles; for those whom I never could get to taste good liquor, now follow the fashion, and wallow in beastly delights. The ladies abandon their sobriety, and are seen to roll about in intoxcation." er brevity. Faith followed her from the royal presence in a staggering condition. Charity came to the king's feet, and seeming desirous to cover the sins of her sisters, made a sort of obeisance; she brought gifts, but said she would return home again, as there was no gift which heaven had not already given his majesty: she then returned to Hope and Faith, who were both sick in the lower hall. Next came Victory in bright armour, and presented a rich sword to the king, who waved it away; but Victory persisted, in a strange medley of versification, till, after much lamentable utterance, she was led away like a captive, and laid to sleep on the outer steps of the antichamber. Peace took offence in endeavouring to get up to the king, and wielded her olive branch in warlike assault upon the heads of the attendants. These sensual diversions at the court of James greatly scandalised old Harington, who could not forbear comparing them with the recreations in which he had assisted at the court of Elizabeth. He says, "I ne'er did see such lack of good order, discretion, and sobriety, as I have now done. The gunpowder fright is got out of all our heads, and we are going on, hereabouts, as if the devil was contriving every man should blow up himself by wild riot, excess, and devastation. The great ladies do go well masked, and indeed it is the only show of their modesty; I do often say that the Danes have again conquered the Britons, for I see no man, or woman either, that can now command himself or herself." Harington's account of a dramatic entertainment, or masque, at a festival in honor of the royal visitor, is exceedingly descriptive. After dinner the representation of Solomon's Temple, and the coming of the Queen of Sheba was made, or meant to have been made, by desire of the earl of Salisbury and others. But, alas! as all earthly things fail to poor mortals in enjoyment, so proved this. The lady who played the queen's part, carried precious gifts to both their majesties; but, forgetting the steps arising to the canopy, overset her caskets into his Danish majesty's lap, and fell at his feet, or, rather, into his face. Much hurry and confusion ensued, and cloths and napkins made all clean. His majesty then got up and would dance with the Queen of Sheba; but he fell down and humbled himself before her, and was carried to an inner chamber, and laid in a bed of state, which was not a little defiled with the presents which had been bestowed on his garments; such as wine, cream, jelly, cakes, spices, and other good matters. The entertainment and show went forward, and most of the presenters July 17. Sun rises went backwards, or fell down, wine so occupied their upper chambers. Then appeared, in rich dresses, Hope, Faith, and Charity. Hope tried to speak, but wine so enfeebled her endeavours, that she withdrew, and hoped the king would excuse At a This Christian king of Denmark appears to have been an eminent sot. banquet at Theobalds our James got so drunk with him, that he was obliged to be carried to bed. The same Danish monarch gave an entertainment at Rheinsburgh, where, after giving thirty-five toasts, he was carried away in his chair; and most of the officers of his court were so drunk that they could not rise till late the next day. sets Prince's feather Garden convolvolus flower. Love-lies-bleeding Nuga Antiquæ, i. 348 8 2 MORRIS DANCER AND MAID MARIAN. In the celebrated ancient window at the house of George Tollet, esq., at Batlev, in Staffordshire, there are twelve panes of glass representing the May-pole and eleven characters in the morris-dance; two of the latter are on this page. and two others, the fool and the taborer, are given subsequently the May-pole has been already placed in this work, on May-day. The morris dance, in which bells are gingled, or staves or swords clashed, was learned, says Dr. Johnson, by the Moors, and was probably a kind of Pyrrhick, or military dance. Blount says, "Morisco, a Moor; also a dance, so called, wherein there were usually five men, and a boy dressed in a girl's habit, whom they called the Maid Marrian, or, perhaps, Morian, from the Italian Morione, a head-piece, because her head was wont to be gaily trimmed up. Common people call it a morris-dance." The morris-lance is presumed by Mr. Peck to have been first brought to England in the time of Edward III., when John of Gaunt returned from Spain, where he had been to assist Petro, king of Castile. He says, "This dance was usually performed abroad by an equal number of young men, who danced in their shirts, with ribands, and little bells about their legs. But here, in England, they have always an odd person besides, being a boy dressed in a girl's habit, whom they call Maid Marian, an old favorite character in the sport." The morris-dance became introduced into the May-games, in which there was formerly a king and queen of the May: subsequently, it appears, the king of the May was disused, and |