vants, even down to her apothecaries, mastercook, sergeant of the pastry, &c. gave New Year's Gifts to her majesty, consisting either of a sum of money, or jewels, trinkets, wearing apparel, &c. Most of the peeresses gave rich gowns, petticoats, kirtles, doublets, mantles, some embroidered with pearls, garnets, &c. bracelets, caskets studded with precious stones, and other toys. The queen's physician presented her with a box of foreign sweetmeats; her apothecary with a box of lozenges, and a pot of conserves; her master-cook with a fayre marchepayne' (a macaroon then in fashion), her sergeant of the pastry, a fayre pye oringed,' &c. On the back of this roll was a list of the gifts presented by the queen in return, the whole of which consisted of gilt plate: To the Earl of Leicester one hundred and thirty-two ounces;' To the Earl of Warwick one hundred and six ounces,' &c. &c., the sum total being 4809 ounces.

In Paris, on this day, there is an exhibition of some of the finest specimens of china manufactured during the preceding year in the royal establishment at Sevres, which is open to the royal family only for a few days, and afterwards to the public. Sevres, being not far distant from Versailles, is often visited by English tourists in their way either to or from that celebrated palace; but, notwithstanding the munificent support of both royal and imperial patronage, we may be allowed to say, that the far-famed productions of this splendid manufactory, as well as of the Paris exhibition, are not such as would lead us to undervalue the equal, if not superior, china made by public-spirited individuals in this country.

The commencement of a New Year is a period for serious reflection; it becomes us to be thoughtful, as the lapse of time suggests topics of intellectual and moral improvement.

Ye gladsome bells-how misapplied your peal!
A day like this requires a solemn chime;
Infatuate mortals! why with sportive heel
Dance ye exulting o'er the grave of Time?

Is he your foe that thus you ring his knell,
That festive notes announce his awful flight?
Tire ye of day-that sounds of triumph tell
How swift the wing that wafts your last long night?

While circling years o'er thoughtless myriads roll,
Long folly, but to lend, and length of shame;
Ye metal tongues swing slow, with mournful toll,
Virtue's departed season to proclaim!

Sons of delay! whose duties, yet undone,
Await from year to year your hand in vain,
Drown-drown that brazen music with a groan!
The years ye lost-shall ne'er be yours again!

6. EPIPHANY.

FAWCETT.

The rites of this day, the name of which signifies an appearance of light, or a manifestation, are different in various places, though the object of them is much the same in all; namely, to do honour to the memory of the Eastern magi, to whom Christ on this day was manifested, and who, according to a tradition of the Romish church, were three in number, and of royal dignity. This being the Twelfth-day after the Nativity of our Lord, is celebrated in the metropolis and in the south of England, by drawing lots, and assuming fictitious characters for the evening:-formerly the king or queen was chosen by a bean found in a piece of divided cake; and this was once a common Christmas gambol in both the English Universities. The day after Twelfth Day was called St. Distaff's Day. The customs on this day in Northumberland, France, and at Rome, are described at length in T. T. for 1815, p. 5. On the Epiphany, the king of England offers annually, by proxy, at the chapel royal, St. James's, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

*6. 1786.-HALSEWELL EAST-INDIAMAN LOST. This lamentable catastrophe took place at Seacombe, in the isle of Purbeck, on the coast of Dorsetshire. The vessel was commanded by Captain Pierce, a man of ability and character. Among the passengers were two of his own daughters, and five other ladies, equally distinguished by their personal charms and mental attainments. These, together with the venerable commander, most of his officers, and the passengers, were all buried in the remorseless deep; and so complete was the wreck, that not an atom of the ship was ever after discoverable. (Butler's Chronological Exercises.)

Ocean! thou dreadful and tumultuous home
Of dangers, at eternal war with man:
Death's capitol, where most he domineers,
With all his chosen terrors frowning round.

YOUNG.

*7. 1796.—PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES

BORN.

That eye is dark-that gentle breast
Is loveless now, and chilled to rest ;
That soul is dwelling now on high,
And shines a star that cannot die,

She was

A pattern to all princes living with her,
And all that shall succeed.

BRITANNIA! tear thy laurel leaf,
Entwine it frae thy bonny brow;
Filled is the measure o' thy grief,
Nae splendour will become thee now:
Bind on thy temples wreaths o' rue,
And mournful rest on CHARLOTTE's tomb;
And Windsor Palace wave with yew-

And ceaseless wail her early doom.

Blest wi' the Husband o' thy choice,
Sweet CHARLOTTE! happiness was thine;
Life then to thee was fu' o' joys,
A foretaste o' the bliss divine:

But, Fate, why bind the eglantine
Wi' the dark blossoms o' the grave?
Why, why the mournful wreath entwine,
And bid it over CHARLOTTE wave?

When lingering on the verge of death,
Intent ye gazed upon thy love;

Grasped his warm hands to cheer his faith,
And never bade thy fond eyes rove;

Mildly they beamed, an' never strove
To stray frae him, but gazed their fill,
And, when in death they ceased to move,
They pointed to the Husband still!

Blest in the flush o' nature's bloom,
A nation's pride, a nation's joy,
How soon to slumber in the tomb
An' ilka brightnin' hope destroy!
Resting wi' thee th' bonny Boy
Wha might hae wore the British Crown,
The Star o' Brunswick's set in woe,
An' a' the lovely prospects flown.

Britannia! tear thy laurel leaf,
Entwine it frae thy bonny brow;
Filled is the measure o' thy grief,
Nae splendour will become thee now;
Bind on thy temples wreaths o' rue,
And mournful rest on CHARLOTTE's tomb;
And Windsor Palace wave with yew-
And ceaseless wail her early doom".

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

See the Cypress Wreath,' a collection of the best poems that have appeared on this melancholy occasion.

torments, at the instigation of this emperor, he was martyred in the year 312.

11.-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, be 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.

*13. 1818.-RT. HON. G. ROSE DIED, ÆT. 73.

A man whose whole life was active, laborious, and useful; and presented an instance of what may be accomplished by industry and integrity. He was up early and late, and, with a total disregard of amusement, was always and totally in his business. To his encouragement and exertions the country is, in a great measure, indebted for the excellent system of SAVINGS' BANKS, now so