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France, and at Rome, are described at length in T. T. for 1815, p. 5.

*6. 1800.-REV. WM. JONES, OF NAYLAND, DIED. In all the writings of this eminent divine, whether religious, philosophical, or in natural history, the christian is eminently conspicuous. His Physiological Disquisitions; those on Fossils; and his three Sermons on the Philosophy of Botany, of Animals, and of the Earth; with that on the NaturalEvidences of Christianity, will ever be a rich mental repast to the Christian naturalist.

8.-SAINT LUCIAN.

Lucian, a native of Syria, was celebrated in his youth for his eloquence, and intimate acquaintance with polite literature. After the death of his parents, he gave all his fortune to the poor, and confined himself to the study of the scriptures. He was a proficient in Hebrew, and revised the Septuagint version of the Bible. He wrote an apology for the Christians, and presented it to Maximinus II. After having undergone various torments, at the instigation of this emperor, he was martyred in the year 312. *10. 1645.-Laud, abp. OF CANTERBury, died.

Speaking of his learning and morals, Hume observes, he was virtuous, if severity of manners alone, and abstinence from pleasure, could deserve that name. He was learned, if polemical knowledge could entitle him to that praise.' Though he was an avowed Protestant, the genius of his religion was, though in a less degree, the same with that of the Romish. The same profound respect was demanded to the sacerdotal character, the same submission required to the creeds and decrees of synods and councils, the same pomp and ceremony was effected in worship, and the same superstitious regard to days, postures, meats, and vestments.' In his government of the church he displayed a total want of charity towards those who had made the least opposition to the doctrines and ceremonies established by authority; and, under his coun

tenance, the Star-chamber wore all the horrors and exercised all the cruelties of an inquisition. In state affairs, his counsels were high and arbitrary, and he was extremely active in promoting those desperate measures and illegal projects, which ultimately proved the ruin of the king and constitution. But every medal has its reverse. We must not forget to mention his care of the ecclesiastical edifices, his reparations of St. Paul's Cathedral, and his generosity and munificence to the University of Oxford, as displayed in the many noble buildings which he erected, and the expensive collection of books and MSS. which he presented to it.

*11. 1753. SIR HANS SLOANE DIED, Æt.

92.

He was first physician to George II, and many years president of the Royal Society. His immense collection of books, manuscripts, and curious productions of nature and art, now form a most valuable part of the British Museum. His library consisted of 50,000 volumes; and his catalogue contained a description of 69,352 curiosities; a treasure which he said was destined to magnify God and benefit mankind. The beautiful botanical garden at Chelsea was left by him to the Company of Apothecaries, on condition of their introducing every year fifty new plants, till their number should amount to 2000. Sir Hans Sloane was born at Killileagh in Downshire, in the north-east part of Ireland; and was buried in Chelsea churchyard, where his tomb is still in tolerable preservation. It is surmounted by the mystic symbols of the egg and the serpent in a good style of sculpture.-See Butler's Chronological Exercises, p. 23.

12. PLOUGH MONDAY.

On this day, or about this time, in the north, the fool-plough goes about, a pageant that consists of a number of sword-dancers, dragging a plough, with music, and one, sometimes two, in a very fantastic. dress; the Bessy, in the grotesque habit of an old woman, and the fool, almost covered with skins,

wearing a hairy cap, and the tail of some animal hanging from his back. The office of one of these characters is, to rattle a box among the spectators of the dance, in which he collects their little donations.

The fool-plough, in Germany, is somewhat different. In Franconia, young women are yoked to the plough, upon which a piper sits and plays; and the ladies are then dragged into some river or pool.

13. SAINT HILARY.

Hilary was born at Poictiers in France, of an illustrious family; and of this place he was chosen bishop in the year 353. Having taken an active part against the Arians, he was banished to Phrygia, by order of the Emperor Constantius, in 356, where he remained for three years. After various travels in different parts, and many sufferings, Hilary died at Poictiers in 368. He was an excellent orator and poet; his style abounds with rhetorical figures.

*14. 1753.-BISHOP BERKELEY DIed.

This eminent man, so celebrated for his metaphysical dissertations, was also intimately acquainted with the arts and business of common life. Mechanic operations, and the processes by which crude materials are meliorated and manufactured; the maxims of trade, and its connections with agriculture, were all familiar to him That his genius was capable of embracing those scenes and emotions of which the lively conception forms poetical ability, is evident not only from various animated letters which are to be found in the collection of Pope's works, but also from several compositions in verse, particularly some stanzas written at the time when he was looking towards Bermudas, with what he supposed to be an encouraging certainty that his favourite scheme would take place. -See his Works, vol. ii, p. 443.

18.-SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

The institution of this and the two following Sundays cannot be traced higher than the beginning of

the sixth or the close of the fifth century. When the words Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima (seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth), were first applied to denote these three Sundays, the season of Lent had generally been extended to a fast of six weeks, that is, thirty-six days, not reckoning the Sundays, which were always celebrated as festivals. At this time also, the Sunday which we call the first Sunday in Lent was styled simply, Quadragesima, or the fortieth, meaning, no doubt, the fortieth day before Easter. Quadragesima was also the name given to the season of Lent, and denoted the quadragesimal or forty days' fast. When the three weeks before Quadragesima ceased to be considered as weeks after the Theophany (or Epiphany), and were appointed to be observed as a time of preparation for Lent, it was perfectly conformable to the ordinary mode of computation to reckon backwards, and, for the sake of even and round numbers, to count by decades.'-(Shepherd.)

18.-SAINT PRISCA.

Prisca, a Roman lady, was early converted to Christianity; but refusing to abjure her religion, and to offer sacrifice when she was commanded, was horribly tortured, and afterwards beheaded, under the Emperor Claudius, in the year 275.

20. SAINT FABIAN.

St. Fabian succeeded St. Anterus in the pontificate, in the year 236. Eusebius relates, that, in an assembly of the people and clergy, held for the election of a pastor in his room, a dove, to the great surprise of all present, settled on the head of St. Fabian; and that this miraculous sign united the votes of the clergy and people in promoting him, though a layman and a stranger. He governed the church sixteen years, sent St. Dionysius and other preachers into Gaul, and condemned Privatus, the promoter of a new heresy in Africa, as appears from St. Cyprian. St. Fabian died a glorious martyr in the persecution

of Decius in 250, as St. Cyprian and St. Jerom bear witness. The former, writing to his successor, St. Cornelius, calls him an incomparable man; and says, that the glory of his death was equal to the purity and holiness of his life.

21. SAINT AGNES.

St. Jerom says, that the tongues and pens of all nations are employed in the praises of this saint, who overcame both the cruelty of the tyrant and the tenderness of her age, and crowned the glory of chastity with that of martyrdom. St. Austin observes, that her name signifies chaste in Greek, and a lamb in Latin. She has been always considered by the Catholics as a special patroness of purity, with the immaculate Mother of God and St. Thecla. Rome was the theatre of the triumph of St. Agnes; and Prudentius says, that her tomb was shown within sight of that city. She suffered not long after the beginning of the persecution of Dioclesian, whose bloody edicts appeared in March in the year of our Lord 303. She was only thirteen years of age at the time of her glorious death.

On the eve of St. Agnes's-day, many kinds of divination are practised by the rustic damsels in the north, to discover their future husbands.-See T. T. for 1815, p. 9, where are some further particulars of this saint.

*21. 1814.-SAINT PIERRE DIED.

The well known author of the charming tale of Paul and Virginia, and the Studies of Nature,' a most fascinating work. The posthumous publication entitled Harmonies of Nature' has not added to his reputation; and some doubts have been suggested as to its genuineness.

22.-SAINT VINCENT. Vincent, a deacon of the church in Spain, suffered martyrdom in the Dioclesian persecution, about year 303. A full description of the dreadful cruel

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