pulchre, one of the most mutable and unreasona ble saints in the calendar. He died A. D. 686, in a hermitage upon the Farne Island, having re signed the bishopric of Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, about two years before. His body was brought to Lindisfarne, where it remained until a descent of the Danes, about 763, when the monastery was nearly destroyed. The Monks fled to Scotland, with what they deemed their chief treasure, the reliques of St Cuthbert. The saint was, however, a most capricious fellow-traveller; which was the more intolerable, as, like Sinbad's Old Man of the Sea, he journeyed upon the shoulders of his companions. They paraded him through Scotland for several years, and came as far west as Whithern, in Galloway, whence they attempted to sail for Ireland, but were driven back by tempests. He at length made a halt at Norham; from thence he went to Melrose, where he remained stationary for a short time, and then caused himself to be launched upon the Tweed in a stone-coffin, which landed him at Tillmouth, in Northumberland. This boat is finely shaped, ten feet long, three feet and a half in diameter, and only four inches thick; so that, with very little assistance, it might certainly have swam. It still lies, or at least did so a few years ago, in two pieces, beside the ruined chapel of Tillmouth. From Tillmouth, Cuthbert wandered into Yorkshire; and at length made a long stay at Chester-le-street, to which the bishop's see was transferred. At length, the Danes continuing to infest the country, the monks removed to Rippon for a season; and it was in return from thence to

Chester-le-street, that, passing through a forest called Dunholme, the Saint and his carriage became immoveable at a place named Wardlaw, or Wardilaw. Here the Saint chose his place of residence ; and all who have seen Durham must admit, that, if difficult in his choice, he evinced taste in at length 'fixing it. It is said, that the Northumbrian catholics still keep secret the precise spot of the Saint's sepulchre, which is only entrusted to three persons at a time. When one dies, the survivors associate to them, in his room, a person judged fit to be the depositary of so valuable a secret.

Although we do not learn that Cuthbert was, during his life, such an artificer as Dunstan, his brother in sanctity, yet, since his death, he has acquired the reputation of forging those Entrochi which are found among the rocks of Holy Island, and pass there by the name of St Cuthbert's beads. While at this task, he is supposed to sit during the night upon a certain rock, and use another as his anvil. Marmion-Notes, p. 47, 8, 50.

THE demonstrations of friendship in a rude state, have a savage and gross character, which it is not a little curious to observe. The Tartars pull a man by the ear to press him to drink, and they continue tormenting him till he opens his mouth. It is then they clap their hands and dance before him.

No customs seem more ridiculous than those practised by a Kamschatskan, when he wishes to make another his friend. He first invites him to eat. The host and his guest strip themselves in a

cabin which is heated to an uncommon degree. While the guest devours the food with which they serve him, the other continually stirs the fire. The stranger must bear the excess of the heat as well as of the repast. He vomits ten times before he will yield; but at length obliged to acknowledge himself overcome, he begins to compound matters. He purchases a moment's respite by a present of cloaths or dogs; for his host threatens to heat the cabin, and to oblige him to eat till he dies. The stranger has the right of retaliation allowed to him: he treats in the same manner, and exacts the same presents. Should his host not accept the invitation of his guest whom he has so handsomely regaled, he would come and inhabit his cabin, till he had obtained from him the presents he had in so singular a manner given to him.

For this extravagant custom a curious reason has been alledged. It is meant to put the person to a trial, whose friendship is sought. The Kamtschadale, who is at the expence of the fires and the repast, is desirous to know if the stranger has the strength to support pain with him, and if he is generous enough to share with him some part of his property. While the guest is employed on his meal, he continues beating the cabin to an insupportable degree; and for a last proof of the stranger's constancy and attachment he exacts more cloaths and more dogs. The host passes through the same ceremonies in the cabin of the stranger; and he shews, in his turn, with what degree of fortitude he can defend his friend. It is thus the most singular customs would appear simple, if it were possible for the philosopher to contemplate them on the spot.

As a distinguishing mark of their esteem the negroes of Ardra drink out of one cup at the same time. The king of Loango eats in one house and drinks in another. A Kamtschadale kneels before his guest; he cuts an enormous slice from a seacalf; he crams it entire into the mouth of his friend, furiously crying out, "Tana!"There! and cutting away what hangs about his lips, snatches and swallows it with avidity.

Curiosities of Literature, v. 1, p. 288.

Gaming-Houses.It may be some sort of amusement to present our readers with the following list of officers established in the most notorious gaming-houses, as far back as the year 1731. Since that period, the English nation, having made rapid advances towards improvement in every branch of commerce, the polite arts, and public amusements, the gaming-houses of the present day, the resort of the whole world of fashion, must undoubtedly have banished all persons of the following description, and established themselves on a much more polished and liberal plan :—

1. A commissioner, always a proprietor, who looks in of a night, and the week's account is audited by him, and two others of the proprietors.—2. A director, who superintends the room.-8. An. operator, who deals the cards at a cheating game called Faro-4. Two crowpees, who watch the cards, and gather the money for the bank.-5. Two puffs, who have money given them to decoy others to play.-6. A clerk, who is a check upon the puffs, to see that they sink none of the money that

is given them to play with.-7. A squib, who is a puff of lower rank, and serves at half salary, whilst he is learning to deal.-8. A flasher, to swear how often the bank has been stripped.-9. A dunner, who goes about to recover money lost at play.10. A waiter, to fill out wine, snuff candles, and attend in the gaming-room.-11. An attorney, a newgate solicitor.-12. A captain, who is to fight a gentleman that is peevish for losing his money.— 13. An usher, who lights gentlemen up and down stairs, and gives the word to the porter.-14. A porter, who is generally a soldier of the foot guards.

15. An orderly man, who walks up and down outside of the door, to give notice to the porter, and alarm the house at the approach of the consta bles.-16. A runner, who is to get intelligence of the justices' meeting.-17. Linkboys, coachmen, chairmen, drawers, or others, who bring the first intelligence of the justices' meetings, or of the constables being out, at half-a-guinea reward.—18. Common bail, affidavit men, ruffians, bravoes, assassins, multus cum aliis.

THE following whimsical notice was sent a few days ago to the parish clerk of a town in the west of England:

"Sir, the negotiation respecting the Hymeneal bands being terminated betwixt part, and

on the one

on the other, you are hereby requested to cause the preliminaries to be published to-morrow, in the temple, as a prelude to the ratification of the definitive treaty."

Morning Chronicle.