brought from the Madeira Islands, and from Palma, one of the Canaries; Claret, pale red, is a name given by the French to wines of a clear transparent colour; Schiraz is so named from Schiras, or Schirauz, a city of Persia, called the Athens of Persia; Tokay is brought from a town in Upper Hungary of the same name. 6 J.W.B. The saying the Mullet feeds the Gullet. When the Romans had arrived at such a pitch of luxury that the Mullet' was reckoned stale, which did not die in the hands of the guest, it was said, that the throat was ever open to receive the greatest dainty. Thus, it is alluded to in the Pas Bleu, Intemp❜rance, list'ning to the tale, An old Heraldist says, 'that all fishes that are born feeding, shall in blazon be termed devouring, and that whereon they feed must be expressed. The Mullet is born by Sir John Mallet. P.R.J. Derivation of Midwife. This word is derived from Mede Wife, a woman of merit or worth. Henshaw says, it is a woman hired for money; and Minshew, that because she is employed by wives in the midst of danger. E.X. Newport Pagnell.-It is stated, there were two sisters, Peggy and Nelly; these sisters left a piece of free land to the parish of Newport, and that their names might be coupled with the bequest, it was resolved to add them to the original cognomen of Newport. Hence Peggy and Nelly being contracted after the fashion of the Romans, the place has been called Newport, Peg or Pag-nell, to this day. J.R.P. What! Wansford in England?-At Wansford in Lincolnshire, there is the sign of the Haycock' with a countryman gazing at it. It stands just over the bridge, which, as the legend goes, gave rise to its application. At some distance down the meadows a man being very tired, sat down on a large haycock and fell asleep. Meanwhile, a storm arose, and the floods increasing fast, swept the baycock on which the man slept quite away from its ground, down the river, floating to the bridge; and who, by the time he arrived there, awoke by the in terposition of some villagers that were witnessing his perilous situation; and who handed him safely to land on the other side. As soon as he collected his senses, he asked inoffensively where he was? At Wansford, to be sure,' they replied. 'What! Wansford in England?' he ejaculated. Ay, even so,' was the re Permanent Ink.-Ink made of the following ingredients Mr. Murray says, he found triumphant over the most violent chemical agencies, and of whose permanence in valuable records there can be no doubt. oz. of nitrate of silver in solution. A portion of finely levigated Indian ink and gum arabic added to these ingredients, is recommended by Mr. M. The fluid ounce is to be here understood. Simple process for restoring illegible MSS. The restoration of illegible manuscripts may be obtained, Mr. Murray informs us, by the following process: To effect this desideratum, apply very finely powdered chlorate or oxymuriate of potassa, mixed with the tincture of galls hot to the manuscript with a sponge, and when dry lime-water should be passed over the surface. The application of the tincture of galls, combined with oxymuriate of potassa, by means of a sponge, may be repeated if the manuscript is found not sufficiently restored. It is preferable to use the sponge in a manner similar to that adopted by pressmen, when using the balls to ink their types, rather than wiping the sponge over the surface. Chinese Mode of making Vermillion. -Take quicksilver and sulphur, in the proportion of sixteen taels of the former to four of the latter; after powdering the sulphur place them in an earthern jar, 'the outside of which must be plastered with mud and salt, to the thickness of three inches and a half; place an iron cover on the mouth of the jar, and let it be kept constantly moist.. Plaster the sides of it so as to let there be no passage for air. Then place the jar in an oven, with 120 catties of charcoal, Let this be done early in the morning, and the next morning about the same hour extinguish the fire, and at noon take it out of the oven, and when cold break the jar in pieces, and take out the contents. Pick out the dross, and then reduce the rest to a fine powder. Let this be poured into a large jar full of water. After a time a thin coating is found on the surface of the water, which is carefully skimmed off, and a portion of the water let off; after a time this operation is repeated, the third time all the water is drained off, and the sediment is then exposed to dry, and afterwards taken out in cakes. This last portion of the ver*million is called "the heart of vermillion."-Asiatic Jour. Chinese mode of making Indigo.Immerse fifty catties of indigo leaves in a vat of clear water, let them be washed clean, and exposed to the air, after which let them be steeped in water for twenty'four hours. A small jar of burnt shell ashes must then be added, and the whole stirred up with a bamboo. Clear off the scum, and throw in half a catty of the powder of burnt ox-hide; mix these, and let them settle, and when the surface of the water becomes transparent, let it off, and expose the sediment which remains to the open air; if rainy weather render this impracticable, let a charcoal fire be kindled 'round the vat. When dry, the indigo may be taken out, and is fit for immediate use. The above quantity should yield upwards of two catties of indigo.-Ib. Customs of Carious Countries. NORTH COUNTRY WEDDING CUSTOMS. It is both amusing and instructive to observe the usages and habits of any race of people. It were pity that such particulars should be lost. Mirror for Magistrates. Bride Ale.-The day of marriage has always been a time of festivity. Among the lower classes in Cumberland, it glides away amidst music, dancing, and revelry. Early in the morning, the bridegroom, attended by his friends on horseback, proceeds in a gallop to the house of the bride's father. Having alighted, he salutes her, and then the company breakfast together. This repast concluded, the whole nuptial party depart in cavalcade order towards the church, accompanied by a fiddler, who plays a succession of tunes appropriate to the occasion. Immediately after the performance of the ceremony, the company retire to some neighbouring ale-house, and many a flowing bumper of homebrewed is quaffed to the health of the happy pair. Animated with this early nectar, they set off at full speed towards the future residence of the bride, where a handkerchief is presented to the first who arrives. In Craven, after the connubial knot is tied, a ribbon is proposed as the subject of contention, either for a foot or a horserace. Should any of the doughty disputants, however, omit to shake hands with the bride, he forfeits the prize, however otherwise entitled to win. Whoever first reaches the bride's habitation, is ushered into the bridal chamber; and after having performed the ceremony of turning-down the bed, he returns, carrying in his hand a tankard of warm ale, previously prepared, to meet the bride, to whom he triumphantly offers his humble beverage, and by whom, in return, he is presented with the ribbon, as the honourable reward of his victory. Bride Cake. It is customary in the above part of England, after the bridalparty leave the church, to have a thin currant cake, marked in squares, though not entirely cut through. A clean cloth being spread over the head of the bride, the bridegroom stands behird ber, and breaks the cake. Thus hallowed, it is thrown up and scrambled for by the attendants, to excite prophetic dreams of love and marriage, and has much more virtue than when it is merely put nine times through the ring. Bride-wain is a custom also observed in Cumberland, where the friends of a new married couple assemble together in consequence of a previous invitation, (sometimes actually by public advertisement) and are treated with cold pies, frumentry, and ale. The company afterwards join in all the various pastimes of the country, and at the conclusion, the bride and bridegroom are placed in two chairs, the former holding a pewter dish on her knee, half covered with a napkin. Into this dish every person present, how high or low soever, makes it a point to put something; and these offerings occasionally amount to a considerable sum. It is supposed that the name of wain is derived from a very ancient custom, now obsolete in the north of England of presenting a bride, who had no great stock of her own, with a waggon load of furniture or provisions. On this occasion the horses were decorated with ribbons. As of yore, when thy panoplied chieftains so brave, Drew the sword in thy quarrel and fought to the death, CONUNDRUM. H.B.A. Why is a quack doctor like a bombardier?-Because he uses his mortar for the destruction of mankind. H.B.A. EPITAPH IN BANBURY CHURCHYARD, OXFORDSHIRE. That no power might subdue thee, no tyrant (From Cole's MS, in the British Mu enslave, But now Caledonia e'en thrall'd is thy breath! seum.) ་ Diary and Chronology. Wednesday, Sept. 29. St. Jerome.-High Water 8m after 4 morn.-25m after 4 Aftern. St. Jerome.-Our saint, who is allowed to have been one of the most learned fathers of the church, was born at Stridonium, now Idigni, a small town upon the confines of Pannonia. Having triumphed over all vices, and made his life a martyrdom of penance and labours, at length by a fever he died, much advanced in years, A.D. 420. The writings of St. Jerome are particularly elegant, and his manner of treating his subject, impressive. Thursday, OCTOBER. 1. St. Piat, mart. A.D. 286.-Sun rises 12m after 6-sets 47m after 5. Oct. 1, 1811.-Expired at Dromore, in his 82nd year, Dr. Percy, the pious, liberal, and benevolent, bishop thereof. The writings of this distinguished prelate are held in the highest estimation; and his "Reliques of Ancient Poetry," will endear his name to every lover of Old English Poesy. Friday, October 2. St. Thomas.-High Water 17m after 5 Morn.-35m after 5 Aftern. St. Thomas. This saint was bishop of Hereford, and he is said to have died on his way to Rome, to complain of wrongs done him by the Archbishop of Canterbury, A.D. 1282. Oct. 2, 1803.-Died on this day at New York, John Adams, the successor of Washington in the presidency of the United States of America. He was a conspicuous leader in the American revolution. 1 Saturday, October 3. St. Gerard, Abbot, died 959.-Sun rises 16m after 6-sets 43m after 5. Oct. 8, 1812.-On this day commenced the dreadful burning of Moscow, which destroyed the greater part of the city. The firing of the capital by the governor placed Buonaparte and his invading army in the greatest.distress, and compelled him to make a most precipitate retreat. Before the conflagration began, Moscow contained 9158 houses, and afterwards there remained standing only 2926; and a large part of those were materially damaged. Sunday, October 4. SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Lessons for the Day, 2 chap. Ezekiel Morn.-13 chap. Ezekiel Even. Festival of the Rosary. The festival of the Rosary, which takes place in catholic countries, on the first Sunday of this month, was instituted by Pius V. in thanksgiving for the victory gained over the infidels at Lepanto, on Sunday, the 7th October, 1751. The habit of saying the Rosary on the beads at night, as practised by pious christians at the present day, does not comprehend the whole office of the Rosary, as said on this festival; it is, however, a practice of devotion, in which, by fifteen Our Fathers, and a hundred and fifty Hail Marys, the faithful are taught to honour our divine Redeemer in the fifteen principal mysteries of his sacred life. The number of these Pater Nosters and Ave Marias, is often lessened in the evening devotions, and in the Angelical Salutation, repeated at certain hours of the day. Monday, October 5. St. Placidus,-Moon's First Quar. 49m after 11 nigh. St. Placidus. Our saint was the founder of a monastery at Messina, in Sicily, where he had not lived many years before a pagan barbarian landed, and, out of hatred to the christian name, and the religious profession of these servants of God, put St. Placidus and his fellow-monks to the sword, and burnt their monastery, about the year 546. Oct. 5, 1087.-Anniversary of the coronation of King William Rufus, the second surviving son of the Norman conqueror. He had all his father's vices, without his few virtues, a stern magnanimity perhaps excepted; imperious, cruel, and avaricious, he regarded his word or oath only as means to delude the credulous'; religion be scorned; an Israelite who knew his character, gave him a large sum of money to persuade his converted son to return to Judaism. Rufus did his honest endea. vour, but in vain; "Well," said he, to the father, "I have done what I could, but I have not succeeded. It is not my fault, though, so we will divide the money between us." Another time, when ten Englishmen had been cleared by the ordeal of fire, from a charge of killing deer, the impious Rufus exclaimed, "Pretty justice above, indeed, to let ten such scoundrels escape." To close the character of Rufus :-He was a man more fierce than seemed consistent with human nature. By the advice of the worst of men, (which he always followed) he perpetually harrassed his neighbours with war, and his own subjects with soldiers and taxes. Tuesday, October 6. St. Bruno.-High Water, 31m after 8 Morn.-12m after 9 Aftern. St. Bruno-This saint, who was the founder of the Carthusian monks, died A.D. 1101. Oct. 6, 1794.-On this day, the committee of Public Safety announced to the convention, that the French had gained a complete victory over the Austrians, near Juliers, in Germany. The surrender of that city, which is situated adjacent to Cologne, was the result of the engagement. Illustrated Article. VALDRWULF; OR, THE FIEND OF THE MOOR. A SCALDIC LEGEND. By the In imitation of the ancient Saxon. Author of " Tales of a Modern Genius." (For the Olio.) VALDRWULF was illustrious in war; he was the Etheling of the isles beyond the eastern ocean of mists. He was the pride of the Scald, descended from the Father of ages, whose glory fills the halls of Valhalla. He was tall and graceful as a pine on the mountain tops of Scandia; his strength was like the oak's in the forest of Andreswald; his flowing locks streamed on the winds like the golden banner of Ella; his face was beautiful as the countenance of Balder, and his eyes bright and sunny as those of the luminous Genii who dwell in the boundless heaven; his voice to his friends was sweet as the honey-dew that blesseth the night-blown flowers of the * Vide the ninth fable of the Edda. 12-VOL. IV. N valley, dropping from the fountain of Past Timet:-but his shout in the day battle, rang like the voice of Thor, when he thunders in the stormy chamber of his clouds; his sinewy limbs were marked with spell-figures and devices of many colours; for he was of the warlike race of the Angles. Ella, who had won dominion in the seaencircled land of the Britons, whose raven-banner had conquered its southern shores, but could not his kingly state protect in peace, sent to Valdrwulf for aid against his foes, that he might take CaerAndred, their chief city of strength. Valdrwulf drew his sword, and clashed on his sounding buckler the signal of warfare; he girded on his garments of ring |