long, and ready for what is in the house to be put thereon for strangers, travellers, friars, and pilgrims; so 'twas, I have heard my grandfather say, in his grandfather's time.

Heretofore noblemen and gentlemen of fair estates had their heralds, who wore their coats of armes at Christmas, and at other solemn times, and cryed Largesse thrice.

A neat-built chapel, and a spacious hall, were all the rooms of note, the rest more small.

At Tomarton in Gloucestershire, anciently the seat of the Rivers, is a dungeon thirteen or fourteen feet deep; about four feet high are iron rings fastened to the wall, which was probably to tye offending villians to, as all lords of manors had this power over their villains (or soccage tenants) and had all of them, no doubt, such places for their punishment. It is well known all castles had dungeons, and so I believe had monasterys, for they had often within themselves power of life and death.

Mr. Dugdale told me, that about Kirg Henry the Third's time, the Pope gave a bull or patent to a company of Italian architect's, to travel up and down Europe to build churches.

In days of yore lords and gentlemen lived in the country like petty kings; had jura regalia belonging to their seigniorys, had their castles and boroughs, had gallows within their libertys, where they could try, condemn, and execute. Never went to London but in parliament time, or once a year to do their homage to their King. They always eat in Gothick halls, at the high table or oreille (which is a little room at the upper end of the hall, where stands a table) with the folks at the side tables. The meat was served up by watch words. Jacks are but of late invention. The poor boys did turn the spits, and licked the dripping for their pains. The beds of the men servants and retainers were in the hall, as now in the grand or privy chamber.

Here in the hall, the mumming and loaf-stealing, and other Christmas sports were performed.

The hearth was commonly in the middle, whence the saying, "Round about our coal fire."

Every baron and gentleman of estate kept great horses for men at arms. Some had their armories sufficient to furnish out some hundreds of men.

The halls of the justices of peace were dreadful to behold; the screen was garnished with corslets and helmets gaping with open mouths, with coats of mail, lances, pikes, halberds, brown bills, batterdastors and buckles. Public inns were rare. Travellers were entertained, at religious houses for three days together, if occasion served. The meetings of the gentry were not at taverns, but in the fields or forests, with hawks and hounds, and their bugle horns in silken bawderys.

In the last age every gentleman-like man kept a sparrow-hawk, and a priest kept a hobby, as dame Julian Berners teaches us, (who wrote a treatise on field sports, temp. Hen. VI.) it was a divertisement for young gentlewomen to manne sparrow hawks and merlines.

Before the reformation there was no poors rates; the charitable doles given at religious houses, and church ale in every parish, did the business. In every parish there was a church-house, to which belonged spits, pots, crocks, &c. for dressing provision. Here the housekeepers met and were merry, and gave their charity. The young people came there too, and had dancing, bowling, shooting at butts, &c. Mr. A. Wood assures me, there were few or no almshouses before the time of King Henry the Eighth; that at Oxford, opposite Christ Church, is one of the most ancient in England. In every church was a poor man's box, and the like at great inns.

Before the wake or feast of the dedication of the church, they sat up all night fasting and praying, (viz.) on the eve of the wake.

In the Easter holidays was the clerk's ale for his private benefit, and the solace of the neighbourhood.

In these times, besides the jollities above-mentioned, they had their pilgrimages to several shrines, as to Walsingham, Canterbury, Glastonbury, Bromholm, &c. then the crusades to the holy wars were magnificent and splendid, and gave rise to the adventures of knights errant and romances, the solemnity attending processions in and about churches, and the perambulations in the fields were great diversions also of those times.

Glass windows, except in churches and gentlemens houses, were rare be fore the time of Henry the Eighth. In my own remembrance, before the

civil wars, copyholders and poor people had none in Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, and Salop, it is so still.

About ninety years ago, noblemens and gentlemens coats were of the bedels and yoemen of the guards, i. e. gathered at the middle. The benchers in the inns of court yet retain that fashion in the make of their gowns.

Captain Silas Taylor, says, that in days of yore, when a church was to be built, they watched and prayed on the vigil of the dedication, and took that point of the horizon where the sun arose for the east, which makes that variation, so that few stand true, except those built between the two equinoxes. I have experimented some churches, and have found the line to point to that part of the horizon where the sun rises on the day of that Saint to whom the church is dedicated.

In Scotland, especially among the Highlanders, the women make a courtesy to the new moon, and our English women in this country have a touch of this, some of them sitting astride on a gate or style the first evening the new moon appears, and say, "A fine moon, God bless her!" The like I observed in Herefordshire.

The Britains received the knowledge of husbandry from the Romans; the foot and the acre, which we yet use, is the nearest to them. In our west country (and I believe so in the north) they give no wages to the shepherd, but he has the keeping so many sheep with his master's flock. Plautus hints at this in his Asinaria, Act III. Scene I. etiam Opilio, &c.

The Normans brought with them into England civility and building, which though it was Gothick yet magnificent. Upon occasion of bustling in those days, great lords sounded their trumpets, and summoned those that held under them. Old Sir Walter Long, of Draycot, kept a trumpeter, rode with thirty servants and retainers. Hence the sheriffs trumpets at this day. No younger brothers were to betake themselves to trade, but were churchmen or retainers to great men.

From the time of Erasmus till about twenty years last past, the learning was downright pedantry. The conversation and habits of those times were as starcht as their bands and square beards, and gravity was then taken for wisdom. The doctors in those days were but old boys, when quibbles passed for wit, even in their

they

sermons. The gentry and citizens bad little learning of any kind, and their way of breeding up their children was suitable to the rest. They were as severe to their children as their schoolmasters, and their schoolmasters as masters of the houses of correction: the child perfectly loathed the sight of his parents as the slave his torture. Gentlemen of thirty and forty years old were to stand like mutes and fools bareheaded before their parents; and the daughters (grown women) were to stand at the cupboard-side during the whole time of the proud mother's visit, unless (as the fashion was) leave was desired forsooth that a cushion should be given them to kneel upon, brought them by the serving man, after they had done sufficient pennance in standing. The boys (I mean the young fellows) had their foreheads turned up and stiffened with spittle were to stand mannerly forsooth thus, the foretop ordered as before, with one hand at the bandstring, the other behind the breech. The gentlewomen had prodigious fans, as is to be seen in old pictures, like that instrument which is used to drive feathers, and had in it a handle at least half a yard long; with these the daughters were oftentimes corrected: (Sir Edward Coke, lord chief justice, rode the circuit with such a fan, Sir William Dugdale told me he was an eye-witness of it; the Earl of Manchester also used such a fan;) but fathers and mothers slasht their daughters in the time of their besom discipline when they were perfect women. At Oxford (and I believe at Cambridge) the rod was frequently used by the tutors and deans; and Loctor Potter, of Trinity College, I knew right well, whipt his pupil with his sword by his side, when he came to take his leave of him to go to the inns of court.

LITTLE OR NOTHING.

DEAR SIR,-Safe from Coblentz ten days ago, but no time to write till now. Your Moselles will have arrived? Shipped on the 28th. Delicious!Ask O'Doherty else. Of a vintage ultra ante-diluvian. Friend of mine discovered 'em in the corner of a neglected cellar. Key lost (by tradition) in his great-grandfather's time. Have them bottled about a week hence. One glass, (just to taste,) from the ton. And about

July-well iced! Byron himself should confess that such wine was worth living for. Town rather livelier than when I left it. Came in on the 2d. Kentish road crowded with late members of parliament. Dover quite full-horrible place! Shocking, the inns! Amphibious wretches, the population. Ashore (from steam packet) at four in the morning. Fires out at The Ship. No beds! Think of it! Had to wait till a party got up-going off at six. Six came, changed their minds, (lazy,) wouldn't go! Woke the whole house with ringing the bells, however-took care they shouldn't sleep. Filthy breakfast! Bad butter-vile chops-eggs! I never got an egg properly boiled in my life! Royal Society ought to give a premium. Set off, starved and shuddering Roads heavy-four horses ruined with the expense. Man wanted to take half. Fat-looked greasy. Thought ruin best. Got up to Pagliano's a petrifaction! Worthy creature, the cook! Tossed me up such a "Saumon-Tartare"-" Vol au veut." "Maccaroni"-all light. Coffee liqueur-no wine for fear of fever went to bed quite thawed in body and mind; and walked round Leicestersquare next morning, like "a giant refreshed."

Got Maga as soon as I arrived. All good. Songs magnificent! Those two lines alone,

"The great Lord Mayor,
"In civic chair," &c.

able to sell a quarto.

Parliament met just in time. Murder began to be "out of tune." They tried, I see, to make a move with Hunt's confession, but the dog had no genius in his lying. Prose article, I see, on Thurtell this month; put it home, if you love me. How the great beast does love to howl and wonder! The praises of his defence, too, poor creature! Written for him (of course, you know) every line; and the worst that ever was written, into the bargain.

But, talking of the worst that ever was written, you have seen the "Westminster Review!" It is too rich, is it not? Such a deal of it too. The Balaam crop must have been more abundant than usual; why, the Liberal has not been dead two months? I give 'em four numbers. The general opinion is three.

Skimmed Maturin's Albigenses-rather stuffy. The contortions without

the inspiration, as Canning told Folkstone. Maturin has done nothing (in the way of novel) equal to his House of Montorio and his Wild Irish Boy.

Peeped into the Pilot (American)seems to have point here and there about it. Read Hajji Baba; which I understand turns out to be Morier's. Hope will chuckle over your review of it.

Politics, not much novelty yet.-Houses met on the 3d-warm weather to begin with. Opposition rather shy. Brougham let off the usual speech, but not quite with the usual talent. Every thing wrong, of course; they, pretty souls! you know, are on the "wrong" side; but the best grievances will wear out in time.

Canning's reply, as to our interference with the internal arrangement of Austria, was as spirited as it was sound. It made its way. Taxes and burthens not a great deal about yet; but Hume has letters from Ithaca! What may this portend! Tread-mill question coming. You must speak out, North-the women (there are good reasons) ought to be exempt; let the men do double. Vagrant act, some talk upon last night; and it wants modification. I don't like making a victim here and there. Do the thing, or let it alone. Look at the state of Fleet-street; through which, after ten at night, a man cannot, with common decency, carry his wife or sisters. Mend this, and then we will come to the alleys and dark corners. On the West India question, not yet a word! These late facts seem to stick in the throats of the emancipators! You should rouse their slumbering philanthropy in your next. I'll do it myself, if I can find time.

Went to the Opera on Saturday night. Are you mad for Rossini? Zelmira heavy, to the degree of going to sleep, I assure you. Not a tenth part as good as the Moses in Egypt. Almost as fatiguing as the Othello, or the Donna del Lago. Company weak. Camporese gone. Angrisani gone. Madame Colbran all nonsense. Ballet stupid. House" done up" in paltry taste. Don't like any of it. All nonsense to make a fuss about, so far. Catalani may do something;—but we want a tenor among the gentlemen.

Theatres I think we have agreed never to talk about. Monstrously dull! Dull as the last Number of the London

Magazine; Colburn's I haven't had time to look at.'

Phrenology flourishes. Went to a lecture yesterday on the subject. Facetious artist the Professor;-never saw a man misguide himself more ingeniously. Bit of a rogue, tooDoesn't trust to the " art," where data are to be had; and tells (like the gyp sies) a pleasant story to all comers. Hoaxed him amazingly myself. Sure I had the organ of "oppositiveness." Shewed me Hume's head (in plaster) and found all qualities becoming a man most prominent in it. Near making a horrible mistake towards the end. Shewed us Dr. Dodd's head, and Mrs M'Kinnon's-such skulls could only gravitate towards the gallows. Felt inspired with science myself; and was just going to point out the same peculiarity in a boy's head that stood near.It was his son's!-Came away for fear of tempting Providence.

Nothing more I believe that I had to say-only take care of the Moselles. The very smell of those empty casks would intoxicate the whole presence of Cockaigne! Called in on Parson Irving since my return. He draws still; but the matter gets weaker and weaker. London horridly dirty, and M'Adamizing getting on very fast. no more (at present,) from yours,

(Blackwood's Magazine.)

So

ANECDOTE OF J. ELWES, ESQ.

When Mr. Elwes was at Marcham, two very ancient maiden ladies, in his neighbourhood, had for some neglect incurred the displeasure of the spiritual court, and were threatened with immediate excommunication. The whole import of the word they did not perfectly understand, but they had heard something about standing in a church, and a penance; and their ideas immediately ran upon a white sheet. They concluded, if they once got into that, it as all over with them; and as the excommunication was to take place the next day, away they hurried to Mr. Elwes, to know how they could make submission, and how the sentence might be prevented. No time was to be lost. Mr. Elwes did that which, fairly speaking, not one man in five thousand would have done he had his horse saddled, and putting, according to usual custom, a couple of hard eggs in his

pocket, he set out for London that evening, and reached it early enough the next morning to notify the submission of the culprit damsels.

Riding sixty miles in the night, to confer a favour on two antiquated virgins, to whom he had no particular obligation, was really what not one man in five thousand would have done: but where personal fatigue could serve, Mr. Elwes never spared it.

The ladies were so overjoyed-so thankful-so much trouble and expense! What returns could they make? To ease their consciences on this head, an old Irish gentleman, their neighbour, who knew Mr. Elwes's mode of travelling, wrote these words: “My dears, is it expense you are talking of? send him sixpence, and he gains twopence by the journey!"

A CONNOISSEUR IN CATS. Died 1791, in Southampton-row, Bloomsbury, Mrs. Gregg, a maiden lady, between fifty and sixty years of age, remarkable for her benevolence to cats, no fewer than eighty being entertained under her hospitable roof, at the time of her decease, at an allow ance of near a guinea a week. She was in affluent circumstances; and on the death of a sister, receiving an addition to her income, she set up her coach; but suffered no male servant to sleep in her house. Her maids being such a numerous household, she was frequently tired of their attendance on reduced at last to take a black woman to attend upon and feed them.

This is a second instance of an extraordinary attention to the feline race among us. The other was a person of property, of the name of Norris, at Hackney, who, from the multitude of cats assembled under his hospitable roof, acquired the name of Cat Norris.

The attachment of the Mahometans to cats is well known. "Amidst their disregard to the human species in their hospitals, Mr. Howard found an asylum for cats."-Aikin's Life of Howard, p. 159. See also, in Picart's Religious Ceremonies, vol. vii. p. 97, a Portrait of an Albanian Cat-feeder.

The Egyptians also held the cat in great veneration. A mummy of a young Egytian princess was lately brought to Bruges, and an embalmed cat was found in the same case with the lady.