celebrated the Mass upon it himself. Upon the present sumptuously adorned altar is the image of the Virgin, "Our Lady of Loreto;" and that Saint Luke may have the credit of having been a sculptor, as well as a painter and physician, the workmanship of it is ascribed to him. The interior of the Virgin's house is plain and unadorned; the exterior presents a striking contrast! Art has shown her wonders, and genius has called upon skill, to form a casket for such a jewel. The Santa Casa is encased in marble! and prodigies still attend as if they were but common things in relation to it. The stones of the original building could not be united with other things less sacred, not even of tionis-Propitium altissimi-Civitas refugii-Puteus | is an opening, through which the square stones of the aquarum viventum-Terror dæmonum-Spes desperan-original altar can be seen. The Prince of the Apostles tium-Gloria Hierosolyma—Tabernaculum Federis-is said to have consecrated the altar, and to have Sacrarium Divinitatis-and Sacra Santa Casa are amongst them, and others even more high-sounding might be quoted! The Sacra Santa Casa, however, consists of but one apartment, of about thirty-two feet in length, thirteen in breadth, and seventeen in height; the walls are composed of stones of varied form, cemented together, the interstices showing a kind of mortar, which can be in places broken away, the sight of which reminded me of the little boxes prepared at the relic-shops for its reception; I was informed that the supply was never wanting, for the holes soon became replenished with cement and ready for the next concourse of pilgrims. A different result, however, appears in reference to any interference with the stones of the walls; two instances are re-marble, and perceiving this, the workmen desisted from corded of the danger of intermeddling with them. A Spanish bishop obtained permission of Pope Paul III. to remove one of the stones, of which he accordingly possessed himself, but not one day of peace or health could the bishop enjoy whilst he kept it, and at length becoming severely ill, he returned the stone to its place, and then immediately recovered. Now this is all, duly attested by a letter from the aforesaid bishop, preserved amongst the records of the Holy House. The conduct of the other stone was still more surprising; having been taken without the Pope's, or any other proper permission, it returned to its place in the wall of its own accord. The continual burning of lamps and incense within the confined space has made the whole interior nearly black in colour, by which the objects which formerly adorned the walls are almost entirely hidden, amongst which there were anciently several frescoes. On the western wall is the opening for the window, through which, tradition reports, the Angel Gabriel entered; above it is an ancient wooden cross, after the Greek manner, with a figure of the Saviour, and which are believed to have been brought with the House itself. There are some niches in the walls, which have a wonderful interest, for in them were discovered some earthen vessels, forming, as it is stated, an undoubted part of the culinary apparatus of the house at Nazareth of these precious relics there are two cup-like vessels, which were broken and despoiled of their covering of gold during the French invasion; the Pope, however, has remounted and replaced them, but fortunately a small earthen cup was saved from the ravage, and though now covered with gold, is stated to be one of the vessels of Terra Cotta which served for the use of the Iloly Family; and these sacred relics are sometimes produced for veneration by the faithful. The House, as it will be remembered from the account, was said to have been consecrated as a church at a very early period; the original altar, we are informed, has been marvellously preserved, being found in the house after its translation. The ancient altaris at present covered by the one now in use, in which however there the attempt, and the Holy House stands isolated, be- "Virgine Matre satus extent, there are six Corinthian columns in each façade. | The compartments are all likewise filled up with his torical sculpturings, and the Prophets Isaiah, Daniel, Amos, Malachi, Zacharias, and King David, are strangely placed in company with an equal number of prophesying Sibyls, all of them bearing some oracular sentence. of Loreto should be one of the wonders of the world? not only to those who believe, but also to those who do not believe, in its facts or its offers! But enough of description, for were we to enter into details of the church itself, and of its varied riches, our sketch must swell into a volume. We will not, therefore, even give a resumé, interesting though it would be, of the Whilst viewing the exterior, we observed numerous rich property and possessions which are again accudevotees making their way around it, on their knees, mulating in the treasury; but it would be unjust on and a circle might be traced, in which the very stones leaving Loreto to be altogether silent as to the evihave been worn away by this species of penance. dence, or the facts on which its claims to the belief of There were amongst these votaries many peasants in an enlightened world repose, or the judgments which their picturesque costume, and some young girls, who, wise and pious men have formed of such things. Let having just partaken of their first communion, were Leandro Alberti, who so gracefully described the fair dressed in white, wore veils on their heads, and a crown | land of Italy, say-so far at least as translation can of white flowers. Amongst the numerous visitors to convey his words-all that a devoted son of Loreto, a the shrine, and who doubtless perform their knee- priest as well as historian, wished, when speaking of pilgrimages with great fervour, are those from the the Santa Casa. Thus he writes:places which the Santa Casa first visited. Many of such are known to enter even the church on their knees, kissing the very pavement as they approach the sanctuary, and bitterly lamenting their loss, pray the Virgin to return to them,-" Ritorna, ritorna a noi, 0 Maria! Ritorna a Tersalla, O Maria! Maria! Maria!" "What a grand testimony," remarks a Catholic writer, "do such terms and tender lamentations as these offer to this admirable sanctuary!" "My very powers fail me, when I remember that most sacred chamber, and all the wonderful events which have passed within it. I know not how to express myself, so as to satisfy devout and curious readers, but yet I will write a little, and first I say, one ought to believe this to be the chamber where was born the Queen of the earth, because independently of the authentic writings which we read of it, and how it was conveyed by angels, there is not a man so hard of heart, nor so wicked, who entering there, does not feel himself softened, and disposed within himself to make his reverence to the Virgin, and humbly to pray her to be pleased to intercede for him, and obtain the remission of his sins from the Saviour! And one feels in doing this, to be moved by a certain spiritual influAnd also to confirm this there are the miracles there shown, and the favours granted to mortals who have thus had recourse to the Mother of the Lord, and which they continually do, as their writings credibly inform us, and the statues of gold, and silver, and wax, and pictures, and other similar things, which are there continually brought through many ages. I should be too long, were I to describe the great miracles performed, and great favours granted, in this place, which are such, that they would appear incredible to those who do not believe the Lord to attend to the petitions of his sweet Mother. And not only should I be long, but I want powers to do this properly, so that I shall not proceed further; praying that most amiable Mother to pardon me, if I have not praised her as I ought, and as it is my duty to do." The pilgrims who visit Loreto are highly favoured also, not only by all the benefits which the place itself with all its associations affords, but by the substantial | advantages which the liberality of Popes has annexed to a due reverence for it. There is the grant by the Pope Paul II. of seven years of indulgence to all the faithful, who being contrite, confessed and communicated, should visit the Holy House in the graudence. festival of the Virgin's Assumption; and on all the Sundays in the year. Julius II. with a more liberal hand offers plenary indulgence for another feast-day; Leo X. for another; Gregory XIII. for every day in the holy week, for all the feasts of the Virgin herself, and even for the octave or eighth day after them. Clement VIII. kindly remembers strangers and pilgrims, and gives them the opportunity of gaining indulgences every day in the week. Then Clement XI. not only ratifies the privileges so granted, but actually renders them applicable to souls in purgatory. Benedict XIII. concedes forty days' indulgence to all whom the rod of penitence shall touch, which consists of a very gentle tap on the shoulder; and it is no wonder that so many should make the tour of the sanctuary on their knees, for Clement VIII. has annexed an indulgence of seven years to the performance. The very keepers of the Holy House have virtue imparted to them by Pius VII., who so lately as 1806 granted to them the faculty to bless the crucifixes, and medals for dying pilgrims, and foreigners; and if such devoted beings should touch the sacred image of the Virgin, all the benefits of the indulgences of Saint Brigida herself should be theirs! such treasures and such inducements, can it be a matter of surprise that the Holy House of our Lady After Alberti wrote in 1550, and although Loreto since then may have lost some of its attractions, its character and claims remain to the present time unaltered. A mighty change was, however, in Alberti's time, coming over the spirit of Christendom, and we will put in opposition to the views of which he is the representative, those of one of the children of the Reformation, as presenting quite another construction; and the quaintness of the style may not diminish the interest of the observations, which I shall quote from the work entitled, "A Briefe Inference upon Guicciardine's Digression," published in 1629; at the conclusion of which the Author thus writes :"There remaines yet one other thing, wherin they of the Romane Church have much prejudiced the sinceritic of Christian religion, and that is their miracles. For, as they have beene too full of their canonicall Constitutions, and too free of their philosophicall conclusions, wherewith their great tomes, and volumes, are loaden, like Cardinal Campegius's Sumpters, (with much trash, and little or no treasure,) so have they beene too lavish, and vulgar in their hyperbolicall miracles. A great miracle, sure it is, (if it were true) that they should grow so thicke in the Popish aire territories, and thrive so little in this moist climate of ours. For if we have one in an age, it is but of a straw, and yet not worth a straw when wee have it: a miracle, but of foolish fancie, and unsettled imagination, such a one as the eye of conceit may daily see, if it looke upon broken clouds; and the care of credulous fancie hourely heare, if it listen to the ring of bells. But, let them no longer scandalize the truth, nor thinke to cozen the world with this counterfeit kinde of coyne. Their golden legend, of leaden lies, is no more current. Men are no longer babes, to take such counters for good payment, or so simple to beleeve they see a man in the noone. Let them, if they be wise, stamp us no more miracles of this mint, lest while they endevour to make men beleeve what they see to be false, they be hardly trusted in what is true. I dare undertake, there be more of these juggling miracles to be seen in the countries of Poperie, than there have beene houres since Christ wrought his first miracle at Cana in Galile: as appeareth by the crutches, armes, legs and other gambolls hung up for shew thereof in all the churches and chapells of Italie; some of which have beene so palpably forged, and so notoriously discovered, as all the figleaves in Italy and Spaine are not sufficient to cover their nakednesse, whereof the modester sort are much ashamed, confessing them to be pia mendacia, and the wiser sort laugh at them. Of this kind of stuffe Rome itself is stuffed, more than any place else; where for my part I beleeved very few, but onely this; that it is a miracle God suffereth the pride and abomination of that See, so long unpunished. But of such miracles as this, the whole earth is full: All the workes of God, from the great frame of the world to the most small and contemptible creatures, are miracles of his power, the stay and upholding them in their first being are miracles of his providence, the punishing of the wicked, and protecting his children, are miracles of his justice. "What should I speak of those great miracles of God's infinite mercie? the sending of our Saviour into the world, his Incarnation, Resurrection, and Ascension, and all other workes of his, as raising the dead, curing the diseased, restoring the lame, and blinde, to their limmes and sight, registred to us in the sacred chronicle of his holy word? These indeed were truly miracles such as all Christians are bound to beleeve, and confesse." After such contrasted opinions, we will take leave of the Holy House of Loreto. The facts and the feelings connected with it are perhaps best left, without other comment, to the reflection and judgment of the reader. THE ENGLISH HOUSEWIFE.1 NEXT unto her sanctity and holiness of life, it is meet that our English housewife be a woman of great modesty and temperance, as well inwardly as outwardly inwardly, as in her behaviour and carriage towards her husband, wherein she shall shun all vio lence of rage, passion, and humour, coveting less to direct than to be directed; appearing ever unto him pleasant, amiable, and delightful; and though occasion of mishaps, or the mis-government of his will, may induce her contrary thoughts, yet virtuously to suppress them, and with a mild sufferance rather to call him home from his error, than with the strength of anger to abate the least spark of his evil, calling into her mind, that evil and uncomely language is deformed, though uttered even to servants; but most monstrous and ugly, when it appears before the presence of a husband: outwardly, as in her apparel and diet, both which she shall proportion according to the competency of her husband's estate and calling, making her circle rather strait than large: for it is a rule, if we extend to the uttermost, we take away increase; if we go a hair's breadth beyond, we enter into consumption: but if we preserve any part, we build strong forts against the adversaries of for tune, provided that such preservation be honest and conscionable: for, as lavish prodigality is brutish, so miserable covetousness is hellish. Let, therefore, the housewife's garments be comely and strong, made as well to preserve health as to adorn the person, altogether without toyish garnishes, or the gloss of light colours, and as far from the vanity of new and fantastic fashions, as near to the comely imitation of modest matrons. Let her diet be wholesome and cleanly, prepared at due hours, and cooked with care and diligence; let it be rather to satisfy nature, than her affections, and apter to kill hunger than revive new appetites; let it proceed more from the provision of her own yard, than the furniture of the markets; and let it be rather esteemed for the familiar acquaintance she hath without it, than for the strangeness and rarity it bringeth from other countries. To conclude, our English housewife must be of chaste thoughts, stout courage, patient, untired, watchful, diligent, witty, pleasant, constant in friendship, full of good neighbourhood, wise in discourse, but not frequent therein, sharp and quick of speech, but not bitter or talkative; secret in her affairs, comfortable in her counsels, and generally skilful in the orthy knowledges which do belong to her vocation. (1) From "The English House-Wife, containing the inward and edition, 1683. By Gervase Markham. outward Virtues which ought to be in a Complete Woman."—Ninth CONTAINS MUCH PLOTTING AND COUNTERPLOTTING. It was the evening of the Tuesday in Epsom week, the day before the Derby. Lord Bellefield, though outwardly calm, was inwardly a prey to the most painful mental excitement. His Lordship had met with a continued run of ill-fortune latterly, everything he had attempted had turned out badly; if he betted on a race, the horse he backed invariably lost; if he played, cards and dice equally declared against him; he had lavished hundreds in presents to a new opera dancer, and at the moment in which he deemed his suit successful, she had eloped with a younger, richer, and handsomer man; his tradesmen began to mistrust him, and to dun him unpleasantly; several of his intimates to whom he owed money, grew cool, and eyed him suspiciously; his extravagance had reached his father's ears, and Lord Ashford had not only ventured to remonstrate with him, but apparently bent on adding insult to injury, had cited the example of his younger brother, Charles Leicester, (whom from his heart he despised,) and held him up as a pattern for his imitation, while Lord Bellefield was forced to bear this lecturing patiently; for although the estates were entailed, his father had been a careful man, and was possessed of a large personalty which he could leave to whom he pleased. The only piece of good luck, to set against all this "monstrous quantity" of vexation, was the admirable promise displayed by the Dodona Colt. This exemplary quadruped, now individualized by the name of "Oracle," appeared to have been born with a metaphorical silver spoon in its delicate mouth, for from the moment in which its four black legs (suggestive of its future flectness, for black-legs are invariably fast,) put their feet into this | naughty world, everything had prospered with it. The breeder was astonished at it, the groom who watched over its infancy was delighted with it, Turnbull, the trainer, was so impressed by its merits that he never could speak of it without a volley of the strongest oaths in his vocabulary, by which expletives he was accustomed (transposing a certain poetical dictum), to strengthen his praise of anything which was so fortunate as to win his approval; and by the united kind regards of all these worthies, this favourite of nature had grown in public opinion until it now held the proud position of first favourite for the Derby. Lord Bellefield was by this time no new hand upon the turf; on the contrary, by dint of having been cheated, and associating with those who had cheated him, for several years, he had acquired, besides a sort of prescriptive diploma to do as he had been done, a considerable insight into the mysteries of the training stable, as well as the betting ring-he was therefore habitually cautious; but, in the present instance, all (1) Continued from p. 118. his acquired knowledge and natural acuteness coincided with the opinions of his underlings, to prove to him that in the Dodona Colt he had, indeed, drawn rare prize; and that if he could but ensure that which our sanguine country is popularly supposed to expect, viz. that "every man should do his duty," his horse, and none other, must be winner of the Derby. Accordingly all the powers of his intellect (which, although, not enlarged, was subtile and acute), were now directed to two points; viz. first to take all precautions to ensure that his horse should be fairly dealt by; and secondly, to make such a book on the event, as might retrieve his bankrupt fortunes. This last feat he had succeeded in accomplishing even beyond his utmost wishes; and accustomed as he was to hazard large sums upon the cast of a die, he began to grow alarmed at the magnitude of the stake for which he was about to contend. Having dined in Town at his club, he returned to his luxurious bachelor menage in- Street, and, desiring that he might not be disturbed, drew out his betting book, examined it carefully, went through the calculations again and again, referred to the latest odds,-and then closing it with a sigh, muttered room. Yes, they are all safe men, men who will pay to the hour, and if Oracle runs true, this cursed load of debt will be wiped off and -I shall be rich enough to begin afresh and contract a new one!-if! aye there's the rub,-if!" He strode up and down the "I am wretchedly nervous to-night," he exclaimed, ringing the bell;-" bring brandy," he continued, as the servant appeared; then filling a wineglass, he drank it off as if it had been water-"leave it"-he said; then resuming his walk, added,-" It must go right-there is not a horse that can come near him; Tartuffe was the only one that had a chance, and Turnbull swears he is safe to lose; he witnessed the private trial himself, and the colt won by a head, carrying 5 lbs. extra weight, that amusement cost me 50%., to bribe Austerlitz's trainer to allow the trial to take place.-True, Turnbull may have lied,— and yet why should he? he owes everything to me,though that has nothing to do with it,-gratitude, if there be such a quality, is simply prospective,―men are grateful to those only from whom they expect favours. Well, even thus, Turnbull is bound to me hand and foot, besides I know he has backed the colt heavily himself: barring accidents then, against which no foresight can provide, and of which therefore it is useless to think, I stand safe to win.-And yet it is a frightful sum to hazard on the uncertainties of a horserace. If I should lose I must either blow out my brains like poor Mellerton, or quit the country, marry Annie Grant, and live abroad on her money till my father dies, and he's as likely to last twenty years longer as I am. I scarcely know which alternative is preferable. What an infernal fool I've been to bring myself into such a scrape; but when a man has such a run of ill-tuck against him as I have been cursed with for the last year what is he to do?" He paused-stretched himself wearily, and then glancing at a gilt clock on the chimney-piece, muttered,"Twelve o'clock, I must be up early to-morrow, and keep a clear head-I'll smoke a cigar, and turn in." At this moment the house-bell rang sharply, and Lord Bellefield started like a guilty thing. With an oath at this fresh proof of his nervousness, he filled and drank a second glass of brandy, then stood listening with a degree of eager anxiety, which, despite his efforts, he could not restrain. Doors opened and shut, and at length a servant appeared. my lord- "What do you mean, sir ?" interrupted Lord Bellefield, drawing himself up with a haughty gesture. "Nothing, my lord, nothing," replied Turnbull "What is it?" exclaimed Lord Bellefield, before obsequiously, "only as our colt stands first favourite, the man could speak. and as we've made our calcilations to win, I thought "A person wishes particularly to see your lord- the Californian farthing would not be thrown away. ship," was the reply. Accordingly he brought up his mate, as he called him, Say I am engaged, and can see no one; I thought which was the hidentical boy as first rode the colt, I told you I would not be disturbed," returned his and he confessed that him and the boy that rode master angrily; stay," he continued, as a new idea Tartuffe had met one day when they was out a struck him, "what kind of person is it?" exercising, and just for their own amusement they "He desired me to inform your lordship that his give 'em a three mile gallop. They run very near name was Turnbull," was the answer. together, but Tartuffe beat our colt by above a length; With an oath at the man's stupidity, Lord Bellefield that he'd seen the trial afterwards, and that he knowed desired him to admit the visitor instantly. from the difference in Tartuffe's running, that he was "Well, Turnbull," he exclaimed eagerly, as the not rode fair, or was overweighted, or something. trainer entered; "what is it, man ?" Thus adjured, Turnbull, a tall stout-built fellow, with a clever but disagreeable expression of countenance, glanced carefully round the room to assure himself that they were alone, and then approaching Lord Bellefield, began, "Why you see, my lord, I thought I'd better lose no time, for there ain't so many hours between now and to-morrow's race, so I jumped on to my 'ack, cantered over to the rail, 'ailed a 'Ansom's cab, and 'ere I am." "Nothing amiss, eh? nothing wrong with the colt ?" asked Lord Bellefield, with an affectation of indifference, though any one who had watched him closely might have seen that he turned very pale. "No, bless his eyes, he's as right as a trivet, and as playful and impudent as-as a brick," continued Mr. Turnbull, rather at a loss for a sufficiently eulogistic simile; "it was only this morning he took up little Bill the 'elper by the waistband of his indispentionables, and shuk him like a tarrier would a rat. It would have done your lordship's 'art good to have seen him; he'll come out to-morrow as fresh as paint, bless his bones." “Well, then, what is it, if Oracle is all right?" returned his employer, greatly relieved. "Why unfortunately there's somebody else as has got a 'orse as is all right too, and I'm afraid we ain't quite so sure of the race as we fancied we was," was the dispiriting reply. "Why I thought you had satisfied yourself that there was not a horse that could run near him. You tell me he beat Tartuffe carrying 5 lbs extra weight." 'Aye, so I believed; but the sharpest of us is done sometimes. It's a wicked cross-bred world to live in, and a man need be wide-awaker than-than one o'clock, to be down to all their moves." So saying the discomfited trainer rubbed his nose as if to brighten his wits, and continued, "the truth is this, Well, my lord, this information bothered me, and made me feel suspicious that some move had been tried on which we was not up to, and while I was scheming how to cipher it out, the same boy cum again, and told me that the lad that rode Tartuffe at the second trial was a keeping company along with his sister, and that he thought she might worm something out of him if she could be got to try. Accordingly I sent for the gal, and between bribing, coaxing, and frightening her, persuaded her to undertake the job. She had some trouble with the young feller, but she is a sharp clever gal, and she never left him till she dragged it out of him." "Drew what out of him ?" interrupted Lord Bellefield, unable to restrain his impatience; "can't you come to the point at once? you'll distract me with your prosing." "Well, the long and short of it is, as I see your lordship's getting in a hurry, (and, indeed, there ain't no time to be lost,) the long and short of it is, that they've bin and turned the tables upon us : while we put 5 lbs. extra weight on our horse, they shoved 8 lbs. on theirs." "Then Tartuffe ran within a head of the colt, carrying 3 lbs. extra," exclaimed Lord Bellefield, "and of course without that disadvantage would again have beaten him." "I think Oracle is a better horse now than he was at the time the trial cum off," was the reply, "but the race ain't the safe thing I thought it. It's rather a ticklish chance to trust to, if your lordship's got at all a heavy book upon the ewent." As he made this uncomfortable acknowledgment, the trainer leered inquiringly with his cunning little eyes at his employer. Lord Bellefield did not immediately answer; but, leaning his elbow on the chimney-piece, remained buried in thought; his pale cheeks and the eager |