though an extreme case, is a very common one, and the unfortunate seings who approximate to it in a considerable degree are still more numerous. Many of the miseries and diseases of young and old, male and female, in this city, may be traced eventually to want of exercise. Give us pure air, and we can exist with comparatively little exercise; but bad air and no exercise at all, are poisons of a very active description.

These exercises are so contrived that they exert equally every part of the body without straining or tiring any; and I speak from my own experience, when I say that after two hours' practice in pro

fessor Voelker's gymnasium, opposite Mary-le-bone church in the new Paddington-road, I am not more fatigued than when I entered it, and feel an agreeable glow of body, and flow of spirits, which walking or riding does not create. I, as well as some other pupils, have two or three miles to walk to the gymnasium; we have the option of going morning or evening, and we do not find the walk and two hours of the exercises before breakfast, fatigue us or incapacitate us in the slightest degree from going through our customary avocations. I should also add that in bodily strength I am under, rather than above, par.

muscles of the arms and body. Thirdly, The horizontal round pole supported by posts from five to eight feet high, according to the height of the performer. An endless variety of exercises may be per formed on this pole, such as raising the body by the arms, going from one end to the other by the hands alone, vaulting, swinging the body over in all directions, &c. &c. Fourthly, The horse, a large wooden block shaped like the body of a horse the pupils jump upon and over this much-enduring animal in many ways. Fifthly, Leaping in height and distance with and without poles. Sixthly, Climbing masts, ropes, and ladders of various heighths. Seventhly, Throwing lances, running with celerity and for a length of time, hopping, &c. &c. &c. It is, moreover, in our option to take whatever portion of the exercises we may find most agreeable.

The improvement which the gentlemen who practise these exercises experience in health (not to mention strength, agility, and grace,) is very considerable, and altogether wonderful in several who have entered in a feeble and sickly state. This, one would think, would be sufficient to prove that the exercises are not attended with danger, even were I not to mention that I have not seen a single accident. Neither is their utility necessarily confined to boyhood, as several gentlemen upwards of forty can clearly testify; nor does the pleasure of practising them depart with the novelty, but always increases with proficiency and time.

The expense the professor has already incurred in providing implements and adequate accommodation has been very considerable, and his terms are so moderate that a small number of pupils can*not possibly remunerate him; it is therefore to be hoped, no less for his sake than for our own, that he should meet with encouragement in this city.

With respect to the professor himself he has every quality that can recommend him to his pupils. The grace with which he performs the exercises is only equalled "by his attention and care, and his mild and unassuming manners have won the nearts of all who know him. His pupils feel grateful not only for the benefits they nave themselves received, but for the advantage that is likely to accrue to the country from the introduction of these wholesome, athletic amusements. I am, &c.

G*.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian.
These saints are said to have been be-

headed under Dioclesian.

In a church dedicated to these saints at Isernia, near Naples, while sir William Hamilton was ambassador from Great Britain to that court, votive offerings were presented of so remarkable a nature, as to occasion him to acquaint sir Joseph Banks with the particulars. They were the grossest relics of the ancient pagan worship. The late Mr. Richard Payne Knight wrote a remarkable "Dissertation" on the subject for the use of the Dilettanti.

This saint is in our almanacs and in the calendar of the church of England. The day is a great festival in the Romish church. The rev. Edward Barnard, of Brantinghamthorpe, in "The Protestant Beadsman," an elegantly written "series of biographical notices and hymns, commemorating the saints and martyrs whose holidays are kept by the church of England," says, "The rank of archangel is given in scripture to none but Michael, who is represented as the guardian and protector both of the Jewish church, and the glorious church of Christ, in which the former merged. On this account he is celebrated by name, while the rest of the holy angels are praised collectively. St. Michael is mentioned in seripture five times, and always in a military view; thrice by Daniel, as fighting for the Jewish church against Persia; once by St. John, as fighting at the head of his angelic troops against the dragon and his host; and once by St. Jude, as fighting personally with the devil, about the body of Moses; for the very ashes of God's servants have angelic protection. It has been thought by many, that there is no other archangel but Michael. An author of great name, who has not given his reasons or authority, inclines to this opinion; and adds, that he succeeded Lucifer in this high dignity. Others imagine, and not without strong probability, that Michael is the Son of God himself. The interpretation of his name, and the expression (used by St. John) of 'his angels,' strengthen this supposition; for to whom can the angels belong but to God, or Christ? The title, by which Gabriel spoke of him, when he required his assistance, (Michael your prince") is likewise brought forward, by bishop Horsley, in confirmation of this opinion. Besides, the Jews always claimed to be

under the immediate spiritual protection and personal government of God, who calls them his peculiar people. How then can Michael preside over them? This festival will not loose any dignity by the adoption of such an interpretation, but will demand a more conscientious ob servance from those, who celebrate in it, not only the host of friendly angels, but, Christ the common Lord both of angels likewise (under the title of Michael) Jesus and men." A well-informed expositor of the "Common Prayer-book," Wheatley, says that the feast of St. Michael and all angels is observed, that the people may know what benefits are derived from the ministry of angels.

The accompanying engraving is from an ancient print emanating from the "contemplations" of catholic churchmen, among whom there is diversity of opinion concerning the number of archangels. Their inquiries have been directed to the subject, because it is an article of the catholic faith that angels, as well as saints, intercede for men, and that their intercession may be moved by prayers to them. In conformity with this persuasion pa tron saints and angels are sometimes drawn for, by putting certain favourite names together, and selecting one, to whom, as the patron-saint or angel, the invocations of the individual are from that time especially addressed.

In the great army of angels the archangels are deemed commanders. The angels themselves are said to be divided into as many legions as there are archangels; whether these are seven or nine does not appear to be determined; but Michael, as in the present engraving, is always represented as the head or chief archangel, he is here accompanied by six only.

Dr. Laurence, regius professor of Hebrew at Oxford, and now archbishop of Cashel, recently printed at the Clarendon press, the long lost "Book of Enoch." This celebrated apocryphal writing of ancient times calls "Michael one of the holy angels, who, presiding over human virtue, commands the nations." It says, that Raphael "presides over the spirits of men;" that Uriel" presides over clamour and terror" and Gabriel, "over paradise and over the cherubims."

Our old heraldic friend, Randle Holme, says, Michael is the head of the "order of archangels ;" his design is a banner hang

Our forefathers were told by the predecessor of Alban Butler, that Michael bore the banner of the celestial host, chased the angel Lucifer and his followers from heaven, and enclosed them in dark air unto the day of judgment, not in the upper region, because there it is clear and delightful, nor upon the earth, because there they could not torm nt mankind, but between heaven and earth, that when they look up they may see the joy they have lost, and when they look downward, may see men mount to heaven from whence they feil. The relation says, they

mandy which Michael wore in his combat with the dragon.

Bishop Patrick who wrote subsequently, in 1674, says "I hope that the precious piece of St. Michael's red cloth is forthcoming-his dagger and his shield were to be seen at the beginning of this age, though one of their historians says, that five years before he came thither, in 1607, the bishop of Avranches had forbidden his shield to be any more showed: but who knows but some of the succeed ing bishops may have been better natured, and not have denied this gratification to the desires of their gaping devotees."

Bishop Patrick cites a Roman catholic litany, wherein after addresses to God, the Trinity, and the virgin Mary, there are invocations to St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, together with all the orders of angels, to " pray for us." He also instances that in the old Roman missal, and in the Sarum missal, there is a proper mass to Raphael the archangel, as the protector of pilgrims and travellers, and a skilful worker with medicine. Likewise an office for the continual intercession of St. Gabriel, and all the heavenly militia. In these catholic services St. Michael is invoked as a "most glorious and warlike prince," "chief officer of paradise," captain of God's hosts," "the receiver of souls," "the vanquisher of evil spirits," and "the admirable general." After mentioning several miracles attributed by the Romanists to St. Michael, the bishop says, "You see from this legend, that when people are mad with superstition, any story of a cock and a bull will serve their turn to found a festival upon, and to give occasion for the further veneration of a saint or an angel, though the circumstances are never so improbable." He relates as an instance, that in a Romish church-book, Michael is said to have appeared to a bishop, whom he required to go to a hill-top, where if he found a bull tied, he was to found a church, and dedicate it to God and St. Michael. The bishop found the bull, and proceeded to found the church, but a rock on each side hindered the work, wherefore St. Michael appeared to a man, and bade him go and put away -the rock, and dread nothing; so the man went, and "sette to his shoulders," and hade the rock go away in the name o God and St. Michael; and so the rocks

departed to the distance necessary to the work. "This removing the rock," says bishop Patrick, " is a pretty stretcher !"..

Michaelmas

It is noticed by Mr. Brand in his "Popular Antiquities," which cites most that "It has long been and still continues of the circumstances presently referred to, the custom at this time of the year, or thereabouts, to elect the governors of towns and cities, the civil guardians of

the

peace of men, perhaps, as Bourne supposes, because the feast of angels naturally enough brings to our minds the old opinion of tutelar spirits, who have, or are thought to have, the particular charge of certain bodies of men, or districts of country, as also that every man has his guardian angel, who attends him from the cradle to the grave, from the moment of his coming in, to his going out of life."

Mr. Nichols notices in the "Gentleman's Magazine," that on Monday, October 1st, 1804,-"The lord mayor and alderman proceeded from Guildhall," and the two sheriffs with their respective companies from Stationers'-hall, and having embarked on the Thames, his lordship in the city barge, and the sheriffs in the stationers' barge, went in aquatic state to Palace-yard. They proceeded to the court of Exchequer: where, after the usual salutations to the bench (the curșitor baron, Francis Maseres, Esq. presiding) the recorder presented the two sheriffs; the several writs were then read," and the sheriffs and the senior undersheriff took the usual oath. The ceremony, on this occasion, in the court of Exchequer, which vulgar error supposed

to

a

an unmeaning farce, is solemn and impressive; nor have the new sheriffs the least connection either with chopping of sticks, or counting of hobnails. The tenants of a manor in Shropshire are directed to come forth to do their suit and service; on which the senior alder-1 man below the chair steps forward, and' chops a single stick, in token of its having been customary for the tenants of that manor to supply their lord with fuel. The owners of a forge in the parish of St. Clement (which formerly belonged to the city, and stood in the high road from the Temple to Westminster, but now ne longer exists,) are then called forth to do