duces sleep; and in a still larger, it puts an end to life. In many spasmodic diseases it is given freely, without producing the bad effects which it would if given in the same quantity to a person in health. The solution of opium in spirit, or laudanum, is the best form of the medicine for a cholera patient, as it is in that form most likely to act on the stomach without delay. The usual dose of laudanum is from ten to forty drops. In a case of cholera thirty or forty drops should be given at first in the brandy and water. If the edge of the laudanum bottle is made wet on one side, it will be easy to drop it out, drop by drop, into an empty glass; if it runs out too fast, the dropping must be done over again, until done properly.

Common sense will inform every reader that this dose, which is meant for a grown person in a severe attack of the disease, would be more than necessary for a young person, or for a weak person, in a less severe attack of the disease. Without the exercise of the judgment, medicines become more destructive than diseases.

So also the repetition of the medicine-laudanum and brandy, or any other medicine, or the changing of the medicine for anything else-these are points which few could be competent to without medical knowledge. While what has been already recommended has been done, if not before, it is to be hoped that some medical man will see the patient. When the blankets are warming, and the brandy and water preparing, a messenger should be sent off in all possible haste to the medical man. Every thing depends upon that. Many of those who died at St. Petersburg died in consequence of not having medical assistance soon enough.

Historic Fragmenta.

ORIGIN OF LICHFIELD.-Lichfield arose from the ruins of the Roman Etocelum and owes its name to the massacre of a thousand Christians, slain by the fury of the Pagans in the tenth persecution. Lich signifies in the old Saxon, a corpse, from whence comes the word lichwake, to watch with the

dead.

Saxons. At a incuh later period, it is, nevertheless, a fact, that the Romans were as well acquainted with the organ as the moderns of the present day. In a painting at Pisa copied from an ancient Roman sculpture, is a concert in which appears a man playing on four bells, a female with a lyre, a figure with a trumpet, another with a violin, another playing the organ, and a sixth at the bottom blowing the bellows attached to that instrument. Also on the obelisk, two figures performing on separate organs and nymphs dancing.From an extremely rare and valuable work in the British Museum, entitled Artes et Metieres des Anciens illustres par des Monumens, &c. &c.

ORIGIN OF MILITARY Vows -Military vows did not originate with the Normans. It was usual among all the old warriors of the North when they undertook any enterprise of moment, at some festival to lift on high their mead cups, and make a solemn vow which nothing could afterwards induce them to break. This was called Astrenga heit, to vow on high.

The Note Book.

I will make a prief of it in my Note-book M.W. of Windsor. LANGTON, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTER BURY.-To this great prelate we are indebted for the division of the Bible into chapters and verses. He is said to have shown to the barons a copy of the Saxon laws, so much and so earnestly wished for by the English, and on this the Magna Charta was founded. The advantages which Magna Charta gave to the barons and clergy are of little consequence to the present age, as the hardships they were meant to lessen are now all done away. that it imports us to know is "What the people gained." Here then are the clauses in their favour. "Immunities granted to barons are extended to their vassals. No baron to levy money from his vassal except in trinodal cases.* Weights and measures equal through the realm. Merchants not to be illegally taxed. Free egress and regress to freemen. London and all cities, &c. to preserve their privileges, and not to be taxed except by the great council.+

All

These were: 1-Attending the king to war; 2-Repairing his castles; 3-Repairing bridges, roads, &c. &c.

Great Council and parliament seem here synonymous. The term parliament is not found in any English record (according to Sir R. Cotton) before the year 1205.

Bridges to be equitably built or supported. Freeman to dispose of his goods by will, or if intestate the next heir to succeed. The king's purveyor not to seize goods, &c. Courts of justice not to follow the king, but to be stationary, open and equal to all men. Justice not to be paid for, nor to be refused to any one. Sheriffs not to put any one on tryal, without good cause and lawful witnesses. No freeman to be any way injured in person or goods, unless by the law of the land. Redress to be given to those who have suffered illegally. No extravagant-fines to be levied on freemen. No villein (rustic) to be deprived of his carts or other instruments of husbandry by fine.". These regulations](says the acute Hume) involve all the chief points of a legal government and provide for the equal distribution of justice and free enjoyment of property. J. R.

THE DANISH CREED.-A brave man, said the Danish creed of honour, "should attack two, stand firm against three, give ground a little to four, and only retreat from five." J R.

TRIAL BY ORDEAL.-1. Four kinds of ordeal were chiefly used by our GerThe "kampfight" or man ancestors. combat, during which the spectators were to be silent and quiet, on pain of losing an arm or leg, an executioner attending with a sharp axe. 2. "The fire ordeal," in which the accused might clear his innocence by holding red-hot iron in his hands, or by walking blindfold amidst fiery ploughshares." 3. "The hot water ordeal," much of the same nature as the last. 4. "The cold water ordeal." This need not be explained, since it is still looked on as supreme when a witch is in question. Pope Stephen, by a bull, put down all these picturesque illusions. The cross ordeal has been described before, and the corsned (or bread and cheese) ordeal was reserved for the clergy. These if accused might prove their innocence by swallowing two consecrated morsels taken from the altar after proper prayers. If these fragments stuck in the priest's throat he stood ipso-facto condemned. But we have no record of

such a condemnation.

J R.

SUICIDES AT PARIS.-In a recent number of the Annales d'Hygeine, there is a memoir on the suicides com

This was a necessary proviso in a realm where bribes were received by the king to a great amount and shamelessly set down in a book kept on purpose,

mitted by persons in the several stages of life, in which the author, who has examined about 9,000 judicial accounts of suicides in Paris from 1796 to 1830, thinks himself warranted in assuming 1. That philosophical, or premeditated, suicide takes place during the night, and a little before day-break. 2. That accidental, or unpremeditated suicide takes place during the day, because it is then that the occasional causes arise, such as quarrels, bad news, losses at play, intemperance, &c. &c. At every age man chooses particular modes of committing suicide. In youth he has recourse to hanging, which he soon abandons for fire-arms. In proportion as his vigour declines, he returns to his first mode; and it is most commonly by hanging that the old man perishes who puts an end to his existence. These considerations are extremely curious with respect to medical jurisprudence. The following table shews the mode of suicide the most common at different ages:

From

Age. 10 to 20.

forms us, that when the Duke of NeTYRANNY OF LOUIS XI.-Mezerai inmours was beheaded, Louis commanded his two infant sons to be placed under the scaffold, that the father's blood might fall upon the children's heads! He put to death upwards of four thousand persons by various modes of torture, and without any form of trial, and frequently attended their execution in blood and his desire of revenge. person, to glut at once his thirst for Iron cages were constructed by his order, in which many of the nobility were inclosed, carried about, exhibited to the populace, and afterwards handed over Tristan l'Hermite, Trois Escheues, and to the favourite agents of his cruelties, Petit Andre, in order to be dispatched, whilst others of his victims were immured in dark and dreary dungeons, where they perished by famine or secret assassination. In the

tower of London, Mr. Pennant remarks, is a narrow room or dungeon, called Little Ease, but, this will appear a luxurious habitation compared with the inventions of Louis XI. with his iron cages, in which persons of rank lay for whole years, or his oubliettes, dungeons made in the form of reversed cones concealed with trap-doors, down which dropped the unhappy victims of the tyrant, brought there by Tristan l'Hermite, his companion and executioner in ordinary. Sometimes, their sides were plain, sometimes set with knives or sharp-edged, wheels; but in both cases, they were true oubliettes.-the devoted were certain to fall into the land, where all things are "forgotten."

NIGGARD.-Nithing (modern niggard) was the most opprobrious term that could be used to a person among the Saxons, implying every thing sordid, villainous, base, cowardly, stingy, and infamous. We have a remarkable proof in English history how much this name was dreaded and abhorred by our ancestors. King William Rufus having occasion to draw together suddenly a body of forces, only sent word to all such as held him in fee that those who did not repair to his assistance should be deemed nithing; and without further summons they all flocked to his standard.

Anecdotiana.

LORD NELSON.-The gallant admiral was on a visit at Mr. Beckford's mansion in Grosvenor-squure, at a time of general scarcity, when persons of every rank in life denied themselves the use of that necessary article of life, bread at dinner, and were content for the sake of example with such vegetables as the season afforded. Lord Nelson, however, contrary to the established etiquette, asked for bread, and was respectfully informed by one of the domestics in waiting that in consequence of the scarcity of wheat, bread was wholly dispensed with at the dinner parties of Mr. Beckford. Lord Nelson looked angry, and desiring his own attendant to be called, he drew forth a shilling from his pocket and commanded him to go out and purchase him a loaf, for after he had fought for his bread, he thought it hard that his countrymen should deny it to him. This was egotism, and an affectation of being different to the rest of the world and as such it was considered.

THE KING OF NAPLES.-The Calabrian bandit, Angel Del Duca, was the terror of the Neapolitan territory. Even the king of Naples trembled at his name, for he only waged war against persons of princely rank, and very frequently deprived the Neapolitan treasury of its supplies by intercepting the officers, who, protected by a strong guard, were conveying the gold which had been collected by the tax-gatherers to the metropolis. On one occasion he wrote to the King of Naples to desire he would send him a supply of mattrasses for himself and his band, accompanied by a threat, that if his demand was not complied with, he would cut off the mustachios of every soldier in his Majesty's dominions to make one for himself. Strange as it may appear, the king obeyed his commands and the mattrasses were forwarded to a pass in the mountains, which Angel Del Duca had pointed out as the spot where they were to be "left till called for."

ARABIAN WIT. A poor woman having been wronged by the Caliph of an orchard, a venerable cadi (or judge) accompanied her to demand redress. He found the successor of Mahomet giving audience on the very ground which he had unjustly acquired. Permit me (said the cadi) to fill the sack I have brought with the soil of this orchard; he filled it and then required the Caliph to assist him in raising the burthen from the ground. The sovereign though he thought the request odd, humoured the respectable magistrate, complaining at the same time of the weighty load. Alas! commander of the faithful (rejoined the cadi) if this sack of earth appears so heavy to your arms, how will you support the weight of this whole estate, which will hang on your soul hereafter and sink it to perdition! The Caliph heard without resentment and restored the orchard.

MARCH OF ORTHOGRAPHY.-The following is taken verbatim from the original:-"John parker of whatley have had misfortune fell from his Donkey Broke his fiddel he begs of eny Good Cristaine to give him some small Trifel to get it mended been poor Cripel he been done his one parish for Donkeys so meny the Cante give him all ways your Humbel

John Parker Friende 1s 6d" Oxford Herald. THE HONESTY OF AN M. P.-A member of Parliament talking one day to a friend, said, "If the minister don't send me some money, I really will vote according to my conscience." J. M. B.

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Tuesday, Feb. 14.

St. Valentine, p. and mar. A'D. 270. High Water, Oh. O. m. Morn. Oh. 32m. Aftern. The rites of this day remind us of the old custom of guessing sweethearts and of drawing lots for girls; a practice reprobated by St. Francis of Sales, who was aware that Valentine customs originated in the rites instituted in honour of Hymen and of Februato Juno by the Romans. Herrick, the most playful of poets, to his mistress has addressed the following billet-doux :

Choose me your Valentine:

Next let us marry ;
Love to the death will pine
If we longer tarry.

Promise and keep your vows

Or vow ye never;
Love's doctrine disallows
Troth-breakers ever.

You have broke promise twice
Deare, to undoe one;
If you prove faithless thrice
None then will wooe you.

Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Lupercalia. Rom. Cal.

Sun rises 4m aft 7-Sets 57m aft 4. The Lupercalia may be considered a yearly - festival held by the Romans in honour of the god Pan. Many absurd ceremonies took place during the Lupercalia: among others, two goats and a dog were sacrificed, and the blood from the knife was sprinkled on the heads of certain young persons. The skins of the beasts were cut into thongs with which whips were made, and employed for the festive castigation of persons of both sexes, who considered themselves honoured by the stripes. Processions of young people, quite naked, took place in the Roman streets; and many other rites, too disgusting to be detailed, were performed. Cicero wrote a philippic against Antony for running about with his clothes at this feast. The Priests who officiated were called Luperci, and were esteemed an ancient and most bonourable order.

Thursday, Feb. 16.

St. Juliana Vir, mart. A.D. 309. Full Moon 19m. after 3 Morn. Now hard frosts, if they come at all, are followed by sudden thaws; and now, therefore, if ever, the mysterious old song of our school days stands a chance of being verified, which sings

"Three children sliding on the ice
All on a Summer's day!"

Now the labour of the husbandman recommences; and it is pleasant to watch (from your library window) the plough-team moving almost imperceptibly along, upon the distant upland that the bare trees have disclosed to you. And now by the way if you are wise you will get acquainted with all the little spots that are thus by the bareness of the trees laid open to you, in order that when the summer comes, and you cannot look at them, you may be able to see them still.

Friday, Feb. 17.

St. Finstan Abbt. in Ireland. High IVater 57m. aft. 2 Mor.-22m. aft."3 after. FEBRUARY 17, 1781.-On this day a violent storm of thunder, lightning, and hail is recorded in a journal kept at Walthamstow; the storm proved very destructive from the size of the hailstones, the weather had been previously very showery, and Aurora Borealis often seen.

Saturday, Feb. 18.

St. Simeon B. of Jerusalem, Mart. A.D. 116. Sun rises 58m. aft. 6-Sets 3m. aft. 5. DIIS MANIBUS SACRA FERALIA.-Rom. Cal. Ovid notices this day sacred to the mames of departed parents and friends. It seems to correspond to the All Souls Day of more recent times. The feralia lasted eleven days and was a sort of fast during the whole time; presents used to be carried to the tombs of the dead, marriages were not solemnized, and the temples of the gods were shut, and it was believed that the spirits or ghosts of dead persons hovered over their graves, and that during this period their punishments in the inferual regions were suspended.

1

Sunday, Feb. 19.

SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

Lessons for the Day, 1 chap. Genesis Morn. 2 chap. Genesis, Even..

This Sunday is dependant upon Lent as that season is upon Easter. It is to be considered as the commencement of, or rather the preparation for the great and solemn fast of Lent, and its observation was instituted by Pope Gregory the Great, insensibly to withdraw the minds of the Christians from the festivities of Christmas, and by degrees to qualify them for the fasting and humiliation enjoined duirng Lent.

St. Mildrid, virg. abh. A.D. 670. High Water 3m, aft 5. Mor.-22m. aft. 5 Even. The Roman calendar records to day the celebration of the Terminalia, a festival held; in honour of Terminus, the God of Bounds, represented as having a head, but no limbs, nor orgaus of motion, indicating thereby that the limits of property being once fixed were immoveable.The worship of this deity was first introduced hy Numa Pompilius in order to make the people respect the landmarks of each other. Terminus had a temple on the Tarpeian rock, where, as fable goes, he refused to resign the scite of it to Jove himself, who desired a temple there, and was at length forced to build it collaterally. The Romans used to assemble near the bounds of their property, and trace them similar to the parochial perambulations which now take place on Holy Thursday.

Tuesday, Feb. 21.

St Severianus, bp. of Ecythopolis, m. A.D. 452. Sun rises 52m. aft. 6 Morn.-Sets 9m, aft, 5. FEBRUARY 21 1831. Died, the Rev, Robert Hall. A.M., Etat. 68. This eminent Baptist Minister was the son of the Reverend Robert Hall, Minister of the Particular Baptists at Arnsby, in Leicestershire. In 1791 he succeeded the Reverend Robert Robertson as Minister at Cambridge. Here he became known to some of the most distinguished scholars of the age, by whom he was much admired. Among them was Dr. Parr, who said "Mr. Hall, like Bishop Taylor, has the eloquence of an orator, the fancy of a poet, the acuteness of a schoolman, the profoundness of a philosopher, and the piety of a saint." In 1804, he removed from Cambridge to Leicester, where he was Pastor of the Meeting in Harvey Lane.Here he remained until 1826, when he was invited to succeed Dr. Ryland at Bristol, where his earthly labours terminated, and where his remains now lie in a small burying ground, attached to the chapel in Broad-mead.

grandeur on the verge of the hill. The oak and the pine have driven their roots slowly but irresistibly into the fissures of the ruined pile, which yawns upon the passing traveller, threatening every moment to bury him in its fall. This tower is the only remnant of the once magnificent castle of Jaromirz, a gloomy monument of the feudal power and atrocity of its lords. Fifteen skeletons may still be seen in its dungeon, in their frightful collars and leg and arm-irons, as if they had there lived and died, hideously grinning at the intruding stranger.

About four hundred years ago, and long before the reign of the Huniades, the haughty counts of Jaromirz held rule over this castle and the appertaining territory. Three thousand serfs acknowledged their supremacy, and

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