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FRACTITIONERS IN SURGERY AND
PHLEBOTOMY.

EDWARD IV. (son of Richard, Duke of York,) granted the Charter of Incorporation to Barber-Surgeons; the barber and surgeon being performed by the same operators in this branch of arts for three centuries and upwards.

The first introduction of surgery to the shaving community, is said to have been by the priesthood of the darker ages, who were then the only practitioners, but finding the expertness of barbers in the use of their edge tools in removing the hair that protruded forward on the parts they wished bare, initiated them in making salves, the dressing of wounds, bleeding, and tooth-drawing. Such was the origin of barber-chirurgery. In the fourteenth century however the barbers gained ground so fast in the practice of surgery, that in France, the Legislature interfered, but their old friends, the priests, putting in a good word for them, they were admitted into a newly formed surgical establishment under the title of Barber-Surgeons, so that the co-partnership between shaving and surgery has existed in France and England until near the present time, 1827.

PRICE OF WAGES TO HUSBANDMEN
AND LABOURERS.

In the year 1539, the wages of husbandmen and labourers, were 8d. a day, each. In the reign of Henry VIII. the wages of a falconer were generally a groat a day, with 1d. per day for the food of each hawk under his care. A huntsman received 35s. 5d. a quarter, and as well as mos of the other servants, he had 4d. a day for his board wages. The allowance for the board of boys of the stable, 26d. each per week: and of the king's riding boys, 2s. a week each. The keeper of the Barbary horse was allowed is. and 8d. per week, for his board, his wages being £4. a year; the hen taker however, better paid, as he received 45%. 7d. a quarter. The regular wages of the king's waterman were 10s. a quarter. The fool's wages were 15s. a quarter. The gardener of York place, (Cardinal

wa,

Wolsey's,) and of Baulie or New Hall, in Suffolk, received about £12 per annum. The gardener of Greenwich, £20 a year, and the gardener of Windsor and Wandstead, £4 per annum.

FEMALE ANCESTOR OF THE QUEENS MARY AND ANNE.

THE wife of the celebrated Lord Clarendon, the author of the History of the Rebellion, was a Welsh pot girl, who, being extremely poor in her own country, journeyed to London to better her fortune, and became servant to a brewer. While she was in this humble capacity, the wife of her master died, and he happening to fix his affections on her, she became his wife; himself dying soon after, leaving her heir to his property, which is said to have amounted to between twenty and thirty thousand pounds. Among those who frequented the tap at the brewhouse, was a Mr. Hyde, then a poor barrister, who conceived the project of forming a matrimonial alliance with her. He succeeded, and soon led the Brewer's Mr. Hyde being widow to the altar.

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endowed with great talent, and at the in his profession, becoming head of the command of a large fortune, quickly rose Chancery Bench, and was afterwards the celebrated Hyde Earl of Clarendon. The eldest daughter the offspring of this union, won the heart of James, Duke of York, and was married to him. His Majesty (Charles II.) sent immediately for his brother, and having first plied him with some very sharp raillery on the subject, James as you have finished by saying, brewn, so you must drink ;" and forthwith commanded that the marriage should be legally ratified and promulgated. Upon the death of Charles, James mounted the throne, but a premature death frustrated this enviable consummation in the person of his amiable Duchess. daughters however, were Queen Mary the wife of William, and Queen Anne, both grandchildren of the ci-devant pot girl from Wales, and wearing in succession the crown of England.

Her

CUSTOMS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES. (No. I.)

FESTIVALS HELD ON THE EPIPHANY
AT ROME.

IN Rome, on the evening of the Epiphany, a feast is held, particularly dear to children. Not that they draw King and Queen, as in England, or have their Fête des Rois, as observed at Commercy in France. But cakes, sweetmeats, fruit, and an assemblage of othe good things are

sold and given away upon this occasion. The Piazza della Rotonda is distinguished by the tasteful appearance of the cake and fruit stalls, loaded with conserves and the choicest of Pomona's gifts, splendidly decorated with flowers, and irradiated by ornamental paper lanterns, the whole appearance having a very pleasing effect. Persons dressed up to resemble the grotesque appearances of Mother Bunch and Mother Goose, under the appellation of Beffana, are led about the streets to the gratification of their pleased spectators, who never fail to display a fund of popular wit at their expense. But these visible Beffanas are nothing in importance to the invisible. When the children retire to bed, it is usual to hang at their head a stocking, when if the child has behaved itself to the satisfaction of its friends, the stocking is filled with sweetmeats, &c. before morning, but if otherwise, the offended Beffana places within stones and dirt, so that many smiles and tears are occasioned by the dispensation of the gifts of the Beffana.

The carnival commences at Rome on

Twelfth day, (see our Chronology,) when every species of entertainment and spectacle are resorted to, though not carried to the excess of by-gone days. The great support of the carnival is occasioned by the attendance of vast multitudes of foreigners, who crowd to Rome to be witnesses of a spectacle, to which they are the principal contributors. The pleasing variety of the scene has an attraction for them, which is wanting to the Italians. To the visitants of other countries, the carnival and festivals now owe their splendour.

DERIVATION OF NAMES AND

PHRASES.

"Saint Mary Overy," ," "Saint Mary over Rhe; i. e. over the River."-"Waltham ;” ;""Wealdnam."-" Billingsgate" to have been " Belings or Bellings gate -"Charter House," corrupted from "Chartreux," and that from "Carthusian;" the name of an order of Friars."Worcester," from "Wireceaster.""Farnham," from "Fernham ;" a bed of Fern." Surrey," from "Suthrhe, or Suthiey;" the south side of the River. "Wolverhampton," from "Vulpene's Hampton;" who built a monastery, &c. Rosamond," from "Rosa Mundi.". "Rosemary, from "Ros Mary." "Seymour, from "Sain Maur."Gibraltar," from "Ghibal Tairiff.". To "Cabbage," should be " Kabage," a northern word for STEAL.-" Selvedge,"

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or Salvedge;" or safe edge.""Swithin," from "Swithealm," meaning very high.“ Botolph,” from “ Botall." -Cyprian," from "Cypria ;" a name of Venus. Dunstan," from two words "Dun and Stan ;" denoting a high hill or mountain.-"Garret," from Gerard and Gerald."- -"Guy," from " Guido or Guidi ;" i. e. a guide or director."Borough, Burgh, and Brough," from Burgus," meaning a fortified place.' "Acre," from Ager." "Bach or Beck," a river or streamlet.-" Combe," a valley.-"Thorp," a village.—“Kirk” from "Kuirace ;" i. e. a church.

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Anecdotiana.

THE OCCASION OF BRUCE'S PERSEVERANCE.

dote which rests only on tradition in the THE principal features of this Anecfamilies of the name of Bruce, according to Sir W. Scott, in his recently published work for the juvenile classes, the Tales of found its way, into collections of miscela Grandfather, has for a period of time lanea, but as there is a novel difference in the account, as related by Sir W. in the above work to that so often printed, we are induced to give it a place within last unpleasant intelligence from Scot our columns. "Bruce after receiving the land, was lying one morning on his himself whether he had better resign all wretched bed, and deliberating with thoughts of again attempting to make good his right to the Scottish crown, and dismissing his followers, transport himself, and his brothers to the Holy Land, and spend the rest of his life in fighting against the Saracens; by which he thought perhaps to deserve the forgiveness of Heaven, for the great sin of stabbing Comyn in the Church at Dumfries. But then, on the other hand, he thought it would be both criminal and cowardly to give up his attempts to restore freedom to Scotland, while there yet remained the least chance of his being successful in an undertaking, which, rightly considered was much more his duty, than to drive the infidels out of Palestine, though the superstition of his age might think otherwise. While he was divided betwixt these reflections, and doubtful of what he . should do. Bruce was looking upward to the roof of the cabin in which he lay, and his eye was attracted by a spider, which, hanging at the end of a long thread of his own spinning, was endea

vouring, as is the fashion of that creature, to swing himself from one beam in the roof to another, for the purpose of fixing the line on which he meant to stretch his web. The insect made the attempt again and again without success; and at length Bruce counted that it had tried to carry its point six times, and been as often unable to do so. It came into his head that he had himself fought just six battles against the English and their allies, and that the poor persevering spider was exactly in the same situation with himself, having made as many trials, and been as often disappointed at what it aimed at. "Now," thought Bruce, " as I have no means of knowing what is best to be done; I will be guided by the luck which shall attend this spider, if the insect shall make another effort to fix its thread, and shall be successful; I will venture a seventh time to try my fortune in Scotland; but if the spider shall fail, I will go to the wars in Palestine, and never return to my native country again. "While Bruce was forming this resolution, the spider made another exertion, with all the force it could muster, and fairly succeeding in fastening the thread on its beam, which it had so often attempted to reach. Bruce seeing the success of the spider, resolved to try his own fortune, and has he never before gained a victory, so he never afterwards sustained any considerable check or defeat Sir W. adds that he has known many people of the name Bruce, so firm in their belief of the truth of this story, that they would on no account kill a spider, because it was an insect, which had shewn the example of perseverance, and given the signal of good luck, to their great namesake.

EPIGRAM ON THE GOUT
(From the Greek.

Goddess who shunn'st the cottage gate,
Companion of the rich and great;
To feet of strangers you confide,
Your arms a crutch on either side,
Whilst tottering round the gilded room,
You fling the costly rich perfume;
To you the tables' sumptuous fare,
And rose encircled wreath are dear,
For you the mantling bowl shall flow!
(Joys which the poor can never know)
In whose sad path, with thorns o'erspread,
Your pamper'd form shall never tread;
But to the purple couch shall go,
Where lies in state the great man's toe.

HENRY IV,

Being importuned to allow the prosecution of a person who had written at libel on him, magnanimously replied, "I cannot in conscience do any harm to a man who tells truth, although it may be unpalatable.

FRANCIS THE FIRST AND THE MONK.

Guyon, a French historian, relates that a monk, playing at tennis with Francis I. against several noblemen, struck a blow which decided the match in favour of the king. Francis surprised at his skill, said "that was a fine stroke for a monk." "Sire," replied the monk, it shall be the stroke of an abbe whenever you think fit." The king highly pleased at his reply, gave him an abbe, which fell vacant three days afterwards.

CATO OF UTICA.

It is told of this great man, that in a certain debate in the assembly of the Senate, that he was making a long speech, merely for the purpose of protracting the business, and preventing the adoption of a measure which he disapproved. His intention being evident, Julius Cæsar (then Consul, and friendly to the measure in question,) determined to put an end to his obnoxious harrangue; and with that view, arbitrarily ordered an officer to take him into custody, and conduct him to prison. But no sooner was the order issued, than the entire assembly at once rose from their seats, to accompany him, and partake of his imprisonment; so great was the respect which his countrymen bore towards him. The effect this voluntary movement had upon Cæsar induced him by a sense of shame, to revoke his imperious mandate.

"

HENRY THE EIGHTH.

Of all the vices that men are addicted

to, perhaps there is none more pernicious, or more baneful in its effects than gaming, for your gamester never has any scruples as to the stakes, he hazards, however disgraceful the act he is about to commit may be to his character and honour. This perhaps may be exemplified by a disgraceful transaction related of Henry the Eighth, who was much addicted to deep play, it being told of him, that once playing high with a Sir Miles Partridge, and having a run of ill luck, and being at a loss for another venture, he staked Jesus bells, as they were termed, (the stake consisting of four bells hanging in one of the towers of Old St. Paul's church,) which were lost by the dice cast, turning up in favour of his lucky adversary. An old author makes the following remark on Sir Miles's winning the bells, that though by such unworthy means, he did cause he bells to ring in his pocket, yet he could not prevent the ropes twisting about his neck: for he was afterwards hanged, for malpractices in the reign of Edward the Sixth.]

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Sir William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, th Lord Treasurer of England, under Queen Elizabeth, enjoyed a large portion of her favour, for we find according to the witty Fuller, that her Majesty, counted him for his wisdom, not only her Treasurer, but her principal treasure." And although she had an aversion to her Nobles sitting in her presence, yet she would permit her favourite Lord Treasurer to enjoy the hon

our of being seated when before her at Court, as he was occasionally troubled with the gout, not forgetting at the same time to tell him. My Lord, we make much of you not for your bad legs, but for your good head.”

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RAVAILLAC.

In Sir Walter Raleigh's preface to his History of the World, he gives the following as the exclamation of the deranged regicide Ravaillac, while perpetrating the assassination of Henry the Fourth, of France.

Thus the smallest things,
Can stop the breath of Kings.

SPANISH ETIQUETTE.

The Etiquette observed in the Royal Palaces of Spain, for keeping order at Court, being still carried to as great excess in the present day as formerly, induces us to give the following anecdote, which plainly shews however fatal the consequences may be, that a Spaniard would sooner fall a martyr to his pride, than give way to the rules of Etiquette, and lessen his grandeur.

Philip the Third being gravely seated— as Spaniards generally are-by a chimney where the fire-maker of the court had kindled so great a quantity of wood that the monarch was nearly suffocated with heat, his grandeur would not suffer him to

rise from the chair; and the domestics could not presume to enter the apartment, because it was against the ETIQUETTE.

At length, the Marquis de Pota appeared, and the king ordered him to damp the fires; but he excused himself; alleging that he was forbidden by the ETIQUETTE to perform such a function, for which the Duke d' Usseda ought to be called upon, as it was his business. The Duke was gone out; the fire burned fiercer; and the king endured it, rather than derogate from his DIGNITY. But his blood was heated to such a degree that an erysipelas broke out in his head the next day; which being succeeded by a violent fever, carried him off in 1621, and in the twenty-fourth year of his age.

FREDERICK THE GREAT AND ZIMMERMAN.

man into

sician of celebrity, known in England by Dr. Zimmerman, the author and phyhis works on Solitude, and National Pride, went from Hanover to attend Frederick the Great, in his last illness. One day, the king said to him, "You have, I preanother world?" This was rather a bitter sume, sir, helped many a pill for the doctor; but the dose he gave the king in return, was a judicious mix ture of truth and flattery." Not so many as your majesty, nor with so much honour to myself."

THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, AND GENERAL OGLETHORPE

During the voyage of Mr. Wesley to the cabin of General Oglethorpe, (the GoAmerica, he hearing an unusual noise in stepped in to enquire the cause of it, of vernor of Georgia, with whom he sailed, which the General immediately addressed him; "Mr. Wesley, you must excuse me, I have met with a provocation too great for man to bear. You know the only wine I drink is Cyprus wine, as it agrees with me the best of any. I therefore provided myself with several dozens of it, and this villain Grimaldi," (his foreign servant who was present, and almost dead with fear,)" has drank up the whole of it. But I will be revenged of him. I have ordered him to be tied hand and foot, and to be carried to the man of war that sails with us. The rascal should have taken care how he used me, for I never forgive." "Then, I hope, Sir," said John Wesley, looking calmly at him, “you never sin." The general was quite confounded at the reproof, and putting his hand into his pocket, took out a bunch of keys, which he threw at Grimaldi, saying, "There villian, take my keys, and behave better for the future "

RECEIPT FOR MAKING FRIENDSHIP.

IN Pliny's Natural History we find a very curious receipt for making Roman friendship, the principal ingredients of which were union of hearts, a flower that grew in several parts of the empire-sincerity, frankness, disinterestedness, pity, and tenderness, of each an equal quantity. These were all made up together, with two rich oils, which they called perpetual kind wishes, and serenity of temper, and the whole was strongly perfumed with the desire of pleasing, which gave it a most grateful smell, and was a sure restorative against vapours of all sorts. The cordial, thus prepared, was of so durable a nature, that no length of time could waste it; but what is more remarkable, says our author, it increased in its weight and value the longer you kept it.

EPIGRAM.

Philemon Holland, Doctor of Physic, who died in his 85th year, February 9th, 1636; wrote the following epigram on his having written a large folio with a single pen.

With one sole pen I writ this book,
Made of a grey goose quill;

A pen it was when it I took,

And a pen I leave it still.

On which Dr. Fuller observes, that, "he must have leaned very LIGHTLY on the nib thereof, though WEIGHTY enough in another sense.

The practice of using only one pen, was followed by two other celebrated voluminous writers, viz. John Bunyan, and Matthew Henry.

The literary feats of Philemon were only exceeded by Andrew Toraqueau, who is said to have produced a book and a child every year, till there were twenty of each, or, as some say, thirty. This, with the circumstance of his being a water drinker, was the occasion of the following humorous epitaph :

Here lies a man, who drinking only water, Wrote twenty books, with each had son or daughter;

Had he but used the juice of gen'rous vats, The world would scarce have held his books and brats.

EXTRAORDINARY LENGTH OF A TIGER.

MR. RICHARD WILSON, an eminent lawyer, and member of the Beef Steak Club, one day called at the Secretary's office in the India House upon Cobb, author of the Siege of Belgrade, and many other dramatic pieces, who happened for a few minutes to be absent; but, on returning, whom should he see but Dick, earnestly exploring a map of

Asia that was suspended on the wall, measuring the scale of it with a pair of compasses that he found on the table, and then applying them to a large tiger, which the artist had introduced to embellish it. as one of the animals of that country. "By heavens, Cobb," exclaimed Dick, "I should never have believed it! Surely, it must be a mistake. Observe nowhere," pointing to the tiger, "here is a tiger that measures two and twenty leagues By G-, it is scarcely credible !”—Clubs of London

THE ORIGIN OF THE BLACK RACE.

The

IN Caldcleugh's Travels in South America, we find the following opinion of the Brazilians, as to the cause and origin of the blackness of the skins of the Negroes, at least as far as tradition goes. lower orders of Brazilians consider the Negroes to be the most inferior in the scale of human beings, and their belief as to their original formation, is not a little singular.

At the time say they, of the creation of Adam, Satan looked on, and formed a man of clay, but becoming disgusted at the blackness of every thing he touched, he determined to wash the being of his creation white in the river Jordan; on his nearing the river, its waters retired, leaving barely time to push the black man on the wet sand, which touching the soles of his feet, and the palms of his hands, accounts for the whiteness of these parts. The devil in a state of irritation struck his creation on the nose, by which the flatness of that organ was accomplished. The Negro then begged for mercy, and humbly represented that no blame could be attached to him, upon which his satannic Majesty, somewhat pacified, patted him on the head, and by the heat of his hands, curled his hair in the way it is seen in the present day. Such is the fanciful idea of the Brazilians, respecting the origin of the Black race.

MAGNANIMITY OF A BLIND AND AGED INDIAN CHIEF.

THE anecdote related is of an ancient patriarch of the Cherokees, who through extreme old age, had become blind, and wishing not to become a burthen to his countrymen, addressed them at their council as follows:- "You yet love me what can I do now to merit your regard? nothing. I am good for nothing; I cannot see to shoot the buck, or hunt up the sturdy bear; I know I am but a burthen to you; I have lived long enough; now let my spirit go; I want to see the warriors of my youth in the land of spirits,

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