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ard's "Tables," is on the 7th of December This quarter of the year comprehends

St. Ambrose, A. D. 397. St. Fura, Ab- eighty-nine days, except in leap-year, bess, A. D. 655.

WINTER.

The natural commencement of the winter season, according to Mr. How

when it has ninety days. Winter exhi bits as large a proportion of the cold, as summer did of the heat. In spring the cold gradually goes off, to be replaced in

the middle of the season by warmth; the respective proportions being like those which obtain in autumn, while their positions are reversed.

"The mean temperature of the season in the country is 37.76 degrees. The medium temperature of the twenty-four hours, descends from about 40 to 34 degrees, and returns again to the former point.

"The mean height of the barometer is 29.802 inches, being .021 inches above that of autumn. The range of the column is greatest in this season; and in the course of twenty winters it visits nearly the two extremities of the scale of three inches. The mean winter range is however 2.25 inches.

"The predominating winds at the beginning of winter are the south-west: in the middle these give place to northerly winds, after which the southerly winds prevail again to the close: they are at this season often boisterous at night.

"The mean evaporation, taken in situ ations which give more than the natural quantity from the surface of the earth, (being 30 467 inches on the year,) is 3.587 inches. This is a third less than

the proportion indicated by the mean temperature; showing the dampness of the air at this season.

"De Luc's hygrometer averages about 78 degrees.

"The average rain is 5.868 inches. The rain is greatest at the commencement, and it diminishes in rapid proportion to the end. In this there appears a salutary provision of divine intelligence: for had it increased, or even continued as heavy as in the autumnal months, the water instead of answering the purpose of irrigation, for which it is evidently designed, would have descended from the saturated surface of the higher ground in perpetual floods, and wasted for the season the plains and valleys.

"Notwithstanding the sensible indications of moisture, which in the intervals of our short frosts attend this season, the actual quantity of vapour in the atmosphere is now, probably, at its lowest proportion, or rather it is so at the commencement of the season; after which it gradually increases with the temperature and evaporation."*

Winter.

This is the eldest of the seasons: he

Howard's Climate of London.

Moves not like spring with gradual step, nor grows From bud to beauty, but with all his snows

Comes down at once in hoar antiquity.

No rains nor loud proclaiming tempests flee
Before him, nor unto his time belong

The suns of summer, nor the charms of song,
That with May's gentle smiles so well agree.
But he, made perfect in his birth-day cloud,
Starts into sudden life with scarce a sound,
And with a tender footstep prints the ground,

As tho' to cheat man's ear: yet while he stays He seems as 'twere to prompt our merriest days, And bid the dance and joke be long and loud.

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Hairy Achania. Achania pilosa.
Dedicated to St. Ambrose.

December 8. The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Romaric, Abbot, a. D. 653. The winter season of the year 1818, was extraordinarily mild. On the 8th of December, the gardens in the neighbourhood of Plymouth showed the following flowers in full bloom, viz. :-Jonquils, Larcissus, hyacinths, anemonies, pinks,

Literary P. Book.

stocks, African and French marigolds, the passion flowers, and monthly roses, in great perfection, ripe strawberries and raspberries. In the fields and hedges were the sweet-scented violets, heart'sease, purple vetch, red robin, wild strawberry blossom, and many others. The oak and the elm retained much of their foliage, and the birds were sometimes heard as in spring.

PLORAL DIRECTORY.

Aro vitæ. Thuja occidentalis. Dedicated to the Conception of the B. V. Mary.

December 9.

St. Leocadia, A. D. 304. The Seven Martyrs at Samosata, A. D. 297. St. Wulfhilde, A. D. 990.

BURIED ALIVE.

A remarkable instance of premature interment, is related in the case of the rev. Mr. Richards, parson of the Hay, in Herefordshire, who, in December, 1751, was supposed to have died suddenly. His friends seeing his body and limbs did not stiffen, after twenty-four hours, sent for a surgeon, who, upon bleeding him, and not being able to stop the blood, told them that he was not dead, but in a sort of trance, and ordered them not to bury him. They paid no attention to the injunction, but committed the body to the grave the next day. A person walking along the churchyard, hearing a noise in the grave, ran and prevailed with the clerk to have the grave opened, where they found a great bleeding at the nose, and the body in a profuse sweat; whence it was conjectured that he was buried alive. They were now, however, obliged to let him remain, as all appearance of further recovery had been precluded by his interment *

A writer in the "Gentleman's Magazine" some years before, observes, "I have undoubted authority for saying, a man was lately (and I believe is still) living at Hustley, near Winchester,December, 1747, who, after lying for dead two days and two nights, was committed to the grave, and rescued from it by some boys luckily playing in the churchyard !"

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Corsican Spruce. Pinus Laricio.
Dedicated to St. Leocadia.

December 10.

St. Melchiades, Pope, A. D. 314.
Eulalia.

BIG MAN.

obliged to be taken off before the coffin could be admitted, and it was so heavy, that the attendants were forced to move i along the churchyard upon rollers.*

FLORAL DIRECTORY,

Portugal Cyprus. Cupressus Lusitanica.
Dedicated to St. Eulalia.

December 11.

St. Damasus, Pope, A. D. 384. Sts. Fuscian, Victoricus, and Gentian, a. d. 287. St. Daniel, the Stylite, a. D. 494.

ST. NICHOLAS IN RUSSIA.

A gentleman obligingly contributes the subjoined account of a northern usage on the 5th of December, the vigil of St. Nicholas. He communicates his name to the editor, and vouches for the authenticity of his relation, “ having himself been an actor in the scene he describes."

(For the Every-Day Book.)

In the fine old city of Leewvarden, the capital of West Friezland, there are some curious customs preserved, connected with the celebration of the anniversary of this saint. From time immemorial, in this province, St. Nicholas has been hailed as the tutelary patron of children and confections; no very inappropriate association, perhaps. On the eve, or Avond, as it is there termed, of this festival, the good saint condescends, (as currently asserted, and religiously believed, by the younger fry,) to visit these sublunar spheres, and to irradiate by his majestic presence, the winter fireside of his infant votaries.

During a residence in the above town, some twenty years agone, in the brief days of happy boyhood, (that green spot in our existence,) it was my fortune to be present at one of these annual visitations. Imagine a group of happy youngsters sporting around the domestic hearth, in all the buoyancy of riotous health and spirits, brim-full of joyful expectation, but yet in an occasiona! pause, casting St. frequent glances towards the door, with a

On the 10th of December, 1741, died Mr. Henry Wanyford, late steward to the earl of Essex. He was of so large a size, that the top of the hearse was

• Gentleman's Magazine, 1751

comical expression of impatience, mixed up with something like dread of the impending event. At last a loud knock is heard, in an instant the games are suspended, and the door slowly unfolding, reveals to sight the venerated saint himself, arrayed in his pontificals, with pas

* Gentleman's Magazine.

toral staff and jewelled mitre. Methinks I see him now! yet he did "his spiriting gently," and his tone of reproof, "was more in sorrow than in anger!"

In fine, the family peccadillos being tenderly passed over, and the more favourable reports made the subject of due encomiums, good father Nicholas he his parting benediction, together with the promise, (never known to fail,) of more substantial benefits, to be realized on the next auspicious morning. So ends the first act of the farce, which it will be readily anticipated is got up with the special connivance of papa and mamma, by the assistance of some family friend, who is quite au fait to the domestic politics of the establishment. The concluding scene, however, is one of unalloyed pleasure to the delighted children, and is thus arranged.

Before retiring to rest, each member of the family deposits a shoe on a table in a particular room, which is carefully locked, and the next morning is opened in the presence of the assembled household; when lo! by the mysterious agency (doubtless) of the munificent saint, the board is found covered with bons bons, toys, and trinkets.

It may not be deemed irrelevant to add, that on the anniversary, the confectioners' shops display their daintiest inventions, and are gaily lighted up and ornamented for public exhibition, much in the same way as at Paris on the first day of the new year.

These reminiscences may not prove unacceptable to many, who contemplate with satisfaction the relics of ancient observances, belonging to a more primitive state of manners, the memory of which is rapidly passing into oblivion; and who, perhaps, think with the writer, in one sense at least, that modern refinements, if they tend to render us wiser, hardly make us happier!

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Aleppo Pine.

Н. Н.

Pinus Halipensis. Dedicated to St. Damasus.

Becember 12.

Sts. Epimachus and Alexander,&c.A.D.250. St. Finian, or Finan, Bp. in Ireland, A. D. 552. St. Columba, son of Crimthain, A. D. 548. St. Cormac. St. Colman, Abbot, A. D. 659. St. Eadburge, A. D. 751. St. Valery, Abbot,

A. D. 622. St. Corentin, 1st. Bp. of Quimper, 5th Cent. Another St. Corentin, or Cury, a. D. 401

An intoxicated Servant.

In Lloyd's Evening Post of December 12-14, 1781, there is the following advertisement :

left his master's service in SmithYOUNG MAN having yesterday

field, on a presumption of his pocket being picked of one hundred pounds, his master's property, when he was in liquor; this is to inform him, that he left it in the shop of his master, who has found it; and if he will return to his master's service he will be kindly received

Such was the state of society, in the year 1781, that a drunken servant would be "kindly received" by his employer. We are so far better, in the year 1825, that if such a servant were kindly received, he would not be permitted to enter on his duties till he was admonished not to repeat the vice. Drunkenness is now so properly reprobated, that no one but a thorough reprobate dares to practise it, and the character of sot or drunkard invariably attaches to him.

In the subjoined extract taken from an old author, without recollection of his name, there is something apt to the occasion.

THE TRADE OF BREWING.

By a writer, in the year 1621.

Of all the trades in the world, a brewer is the loadstone which draws the customes of all functions unto it. It is the mark or upshot of every man's ayme, and the bottomlesse whirlepoole that swallowes up the profits of rich and poore. The brewer's art (like a wilde kestrell or lemand hawke,) flies at all games; or like a butler's boxe at Christmasse, it is sure to winne, whosoever loses. In a word, it rules and raignes, (in some sort,) as Augustus Cæsar did, for it taxeth the whole earth. Your innes and alehouses are brookes and rivers, and their clients are small rills and springs, who all, (very dutifully) doe pay their tributes to the boundless ocean of the brewhouse. For, all the world knowes, that if men and women did drinke no more than sufficed nature, or if it were but a little extraor dinary now and then upon occasion, or by chance as you may terme it; if drinking were used in any reason, or any reason used in drinking, I pray ye what

would become of the brewer then? Surely we doe live in an age,* wherein the seven deadly sins are every man's trade and living.

Pride is the maintainer of thousands, which would else perish; as mercers, taylors, embroydrers, silkmen, cutters, drawers, sempsters, laundresses, of which functions there are millions which would starve but for Madam Pride, with

is a post, beam, or pillar, which holds up the brewhouse; for as the barke is to the tree, so is a good drinker to the brewer.

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Crowded Heath. Erica conferta. Dedicated to St. Eadburge.

December 13.

her changeable fashions. Letchery, what St. Lucy, a. d. 304. St. Jodoc, or Josse,

ap

a continual crop of profits it yeelds, ap pears by the gallant thriving and gawdy outsides of many he and she, private and publicke sinners, both in citie and suburbs. Covetousnesse is embroydered with extortion, and warmly lined and furred with oppression; and though it be a divell, yet is it most idolatrously adored, honoured, and worshipped by those simple sheep-headed fooles, whom it hath undone and beggared. I could speake of other vices, how profitable they are to a commonwealth; but my invention is thirsty, and must have one carouse more at the brewhouse, who (as I take it) hath a greater share than any, in the gaines which spring from the world's abuses.

If any man hang, drowne, stabbe, or by any violent meanes make away his life, the goods and lands of any such person are forfeit to the use of the king; and I see no reason but those which kill themselves with drinking, should be in the same estate, and be buried in the highways, with a stake drove thorow them; and if I had but a grant of this suite, I would not doubt but that in seven yeeres (if my charity would but agree with my wealth,) I might erect almes-houses, freeschooles, mend highways, and

make

bridges; for I dare sweare, that a number (almost numberlesse) have confessed upon their death-beds, that at such and such a time, in such and such a place, they dranke so much, which made them surfeite, of which surfeite they languished and dyed. The maine benefit of these superfluous and manslaughtering expenses, comes to the brewer, so that if a brewer be in any office, I hold him to be a very ingrateful man, if he punish a drunkard; for every stiffe, potvaliant drunkard

♦ Some make a profit of quarreling; Home pick their livings out of contentions and debate; some thrive and grow fat by gluttony; many are bravely maintained by bribery, theft, cheating, roguery, and villiany; but put all these together, and joine to them all sorts of people else, and they all in general are drinkers, and consequently the brewer's clients and cus

ton ers

A. D. 669. St. Kenelm, King, A. D. 820. St. Aubert, Bp. of Cambray and Arras, A. D. 669. B. John Marinoni, A. D. 1562. St. Othilla, A. d. 772.

St. Lucy.

This saint is in the church of England calendar and the almanacs. She was a young lady of Syracuse, who preferring a religious single life to marriage, gave away all her fortune to the poor Having been accused to Peschasius, a heathen judge, for professing christianity, she was soon after barbarously muidered by his officers.*

TRANSATLANTIC VERSES.

The following effusions are from America. The first, by Mr. R. H. Wilde, a distinguished advocate of Georgia; the second, by a lady of Baltimore, who moots in the court of the muses, with as much ingenuity as the barrister in his

own court.

STANZAS.

My life is like the summer rose

That opens to the morning sky,
But, ere the shades of evening close,
Is scattered on the ground to die.
Yet on that rose's humble bed
The sweetest dews of night are shed,
As if she wept such waste to see;
But none shall weep a tear for me.
My life is like the autumn leaf

That trembles in the moon's pale ray, Its hold is frail, its date is brief,

Restless, and soon to pass away. Yet, ere that leaf shall fall and fade, The parent tree shall mourn its shade, The winds bewail the leafless tree, But none shall breath a sigh for me. My life is like the prints which feet

Have left on Tempe's desert strand, Soon as the rising tide shall beat

All trace will vanish from the sand. Yet, as if grieving to efface All vestige of the human race, On that lone shore loud moans the sea; But none, alas! shall mourn for me.

• Audley's Companion to the Almanac

VOL. I.

785

3 E

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