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The Red-rose-house lamenteth much that

this unhappy day

Should bring this fall of leaf in March before the spring in May.

Albones much condoles the loss of this great viscount's charter,

Who suffering for his conscience sake is turn'd FRANCISCAN MARTIR.

XIII.

A Curious Advertisement (printed). To all persons whome these presents may concern, of what estate and degree

soever.

No man may arrogate to himself the name and title of a perfect and absolute surveyor of castles, manors, lands, and tenements, unless he be able in true form, measure, quantity, and proportion, to plat the same in their particulars, ad infinitum, and thereupon to retrieve and heat out all decayed, concealed, and hidden parcels thereof, fitting the same to their evidence, how ancient soever; although blemished, obliterate, and very much worne; besides the quickening and receiving of rents, customes, liberties, privileges, &c. thereunto belonging; with perfect knowledge of customary tenures, and titles of all sorts; framing entries accordingly, together with good and commendable penmanship, as well for the plat as booke from the same. And for that more abuse in concealment, in croachments, &c. hath beene offered in these last 100 years than in 500 before, and that many do now refuse (as more hereafter will) to pay their rents and du ties, otherwise than on the Meereshead, (their lands and tenements first singled out, and set forth unto them, metis et bundis,) I may not terme him so much as a surveyor that performeth not these difficulties, and such like incident to survey.

By Radulph Agas, of Stoke, next Nayland, in Suffolk.

Practised in survey more than 40 years,
Vol. 163.

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XV.

Rewards offered by King James I. for
bringing Arrears into the Treasury.
1. Whoever shall bring by his diligence
any debt into our receipt of Westminster,
due from the first year of King Edward
VI. upwards, shall have two parts there
of to his own use, for his pains, and to
wards his charge.

2. Whoever shall bring by his dili gence any debt, not extant upon record, into our receipt of Westminster, due from the 30 of the late Queen Elizabeth, upward, to the first of King Edward VI. he shall be allowed a moitie towards his travaile and charge.

3. Whosoever shall bring by his diligence any debt due upon record in or before 30 Elizabeth, into the receipt, for the recovery whereof no process hath been awarded since the said 30 yeare of the said late Queen Elizabeth, he shall be allowed one moitie thereof for his travaile and charges.

4. Whosoever shall bring by his diligence, into the receipt of Westminster, any debt for which process hath gone out at any time since 30 of the late Queen Elizabeth till this day, and nothing.levied thereupon, he shall have one moitie thereof for his paines and charges.

5. Whosoever shall discover, and bring into our receipt, any forfeiture concealed by any informer, heretofore by agreement with the partie offending, and not notifying the same to the court where the first information was entered, shall have the moitie thereof for his paines and charges.

6. Whosoever shall discover and bring proof of any wilful concealment done by any sheriff, under-sheriff, bailiff, or like

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1814.]

The Portfolio of a Man of Letters.

officer, in omitting the seizure of goods or lands, for the seizure whereof they have had sufficient warrant out of our court, he shall be rewarded with the moitie of whatsoever fine shall be enforced upon the said offender.

TE

333 Provided always that no suitor or undertaker, in any of these kindes aforesaid, shall reape any benefit by any grant of these debts, unless he bring the same to perfection within the space of two years. Vol. 149.

Extracts from the Portfolio of a Man of Letters.

EUCHARIST.

◄ECLA, an Abyssinian monk, in an account of the ritual of his church communicated to the jesuit missionaries, says, that they celebrate monthly lovefeasts with leavened bread; and on the Thursday before Easter, celebrate with unleavened bread an annual sacrament, when they communicate in both kinds, and receive the eucharist standing. This is the closest imitation of the original rite preserved in any christian church.

The same writer also describes the annual baptism of the adult Abyssinians.

DRAMAS.

The French have some tragedies in one act, after which they perform a comedy in five acts. Such is Thamire, such is Arcagambis, and several more. There are reasons for which a revival of this practice is occasionally desirable. Tragedies of the last age, full of tedious love-scenes, could be shortened into permanent fore-pieces; and thus all that is really of value in a play, formerly suc cessful, could be preserved for posterity. Many a work of art distilled to its essential beauties would keep, which putrifies in its dilute state.

LAPIDARY STYLE OF THE AMERICANS.

A man, who signed himself Senex, and who was a German, or from German descent, but who was only known as a resident in Pennsylvania, established himself at Brooklyn, on Long Island, as a water-doctor. He prescribed gratis, and many hundred people applied to him for relief: he sel dom saw his patients, except the case was desperate; the usual method was, for the patient to mention the age and the complaint to the doctor's clerk, those items were written on the label attached to the phial. The man who was the cause of this epitaph, arrived at the doctor's house in a waggon, but in such a wretched state that he requested the doctor would help him up stairs: this he refused, on the plea that he received no in-patients; the poor man, however, exhibited such symptoms of bodily pain, that the doctor helped him up stairs; he laid him on his bed, but the position was MONTHLY MAG, No, 254.

so painful that he was afterwards reI moved to a chair; the doctor then ran down stairs for an assistant, and when he returned, the poor man was prostrate on the floor, and dead. This mournful event afflicted the humane doctor; and, by his order, the grave-stone, from which the following epitaph is faithfully transcribed, was erected at the expence of seventy dollars:

In

the mournful instances of human frailty,

concording to demonstrate the destiny; also, as a baneful occurrence of both, and of an unshaken resolution, and usual disappoint ment: here lies the no more animated and wasting remains of Apolos Nicoll, born in Smith Town, April 11, 1776. The 14th of the same month, 1811, departed and delivered up to the elemen tary menstruum of dissolution, nought, resurrection, and ascension. Conspi cuous example of an unavoidable fate; who, after having been tired of experi encing eight months of various diseases, in expectation to find alleviation to his painful existence, started in quest of relief; and firm in his resolution, notwithstanding an inconsiderable distance, contended three weeks in the road against the progressive obstacles of his perilous situation, opposing his design, to reach a dwelling, which his delusive confidence had flattered himself to find alleviance, the end of his distress, and complicated misery, but unfortunately found the one of his days accelerated by his bold attempt, and both his dropsical state, and the strenuous motion of the last vehicle which conveyed him to the one by whom he eagerly expected to be alleviated, and receive his existence prolongation: but vain hope! soon aborted! subject likewise to asthmatical affection by a sudden violent paroxysm, effect of the combusted system stimulating the accumulated aqueous mass out of its recess, and which completely obstructing the airy passage, speedily produced suffocation, and that fatally; this incident ter

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minated the earthly career, in putting a
period to the painful life of the suffering
venturing afflicted; sorrowful conse-
quence which insuperably has condemned
the one he so inconsiderately intrusted
with his corporeal repair, to become of
his disaster passive spectator, instead of
a desirous benefactor; pre-determined in
the witness, which initially and preremp
torily was to sustain the view of such
sinister catastrophe, the inexorable par-
thees manifested to only have af-
forded to their destined victim enough of
vital faculty, for reaching the where
spot
upon the minutest residue of the last
hour was to be exhausted, and for im-
placably having after the fatal final thread
cut off. To memorise such a dismal
event, the concern it has caused to the
unaccustomed beholder, may this cold
stone, relating the particulars, be of a
consolatory nature for the surviving con-
sort and relatives of the deceased, and
help them to be in their privation, re-
signed to the unalterable supreme will,
and with fortitude submit to the ex-
ecution of its irrevocable decree.

ASPARAGUS.

Augustus, in order to express the celerity of an action, was wont to say: it was done before you could boil an asparagus.

TABULE CATECHETICE.

Philip Jacob Spener was born in 1635, at Rappolsweiler, in Alsace, was brought up to preach in the Lutheran church, became preceptor to the young Pfalsgrave, and at length consistorial provost at Berlin. He invented a new method of teaching the catechism by tablets, which may perhaps bear some resemblance to the celebrated improvement of Dr. Bell. It was proclaimed in work entitled, "Tabula Catechetica."

A FIELD OF BATTLE,

A clergyman who went over the field of battle after the defeat of the Russians by the King of Prussia at Soldin, wrote and published the following account' of it:

"At one o'clock (says this gentleman) the cannonading ceased, and I went out on foot to Soldin, in order to learn to whose advantage the battle turned out : towards evening, seven hundred of the Russian fugitives came to Soldin, a pitiful sight indeed! some holding up their hands, cursing and swearing; others praying, and praising the King of Prussin, without hats, without clothes, some off foot, others two on a horse, with their heads and arms tied up; some dragging along by the stirrups, others by the

horses tails. When the battle was de
cisive, and victory shouted for the Prus-
sian army,
I ventured to the place where
After walking
the cannonading was.
some way, a cossack's horse came run-
I mounted
ning full speed towards me.
him, and on my way for seven miles and
a half, on this side the field of battle, I
found the dead and wounded lying on
The
the ground, sadly cut in pieces.
farther I advanced, the more these poor
creatures lay heaped one upon another.
This scene I shall never forget! The Cos
sacks, as soon as they saw me, cried out,
Dear Sir, water! water! water!--Righ
teous God, what a sight! Men, women,
children, Russians and Prussians, car
riages, horses, oxen, chests, baggage, all
lying one upon another, to the height of
a man; seven villages around me in
flames, and the inhabitants either mas
sacred, or thrown into the fire.

"The poor wounded still firing one at another in the greatest exasperation. The field of battle was a plain two miles and a half long, and wholly covered with dead and wounded; there was not even room to set my foot without treading on some of them. Several brooks were so filled up with Russians, that I do affirm it, they lay heaped up, one upon another, as high as two men, and appeared like bills to the even ground; I could hardly recover myself from the fright occasioned by the great and miserable outcry of the wounded.

A noble Prussian officer, who had lost both his legs, cried out to me, Sir, you are a priest, and preach mercy; pray shew me that compassion which God has not for me, and dispatch

me at once.

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WALNUT OIL.

In Switzerland great use is made of the oil of green walnuts, which is preferred to olive oil for salads and delicate The walnuts are gathered purposes. while the interior shell is white, soft and pulpy; and are squeezed in adapted presses.

INSCRIPTION.

Lately, under a bust of Mr. Pitt, was pasted the following inscription, which appeared to me well applied.

Non sibi, sed patriæ vixit, regique, suisque. Mr. Pitt was a disinterested patriot, who lived not for himself, but for his country; he strengthened, however, the influence of the crown; and gave much unmerited emolument among his kindred. praise, therefore, is just; the definition of qualities is precise, not indeed complete; and the anti-climax of the phraseology has almost the effect of sneer.

The

ORIGINAL

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LINES,

[ 335 ]

ORIGINAL POETRY.

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Why drops not o'er the page soft pity's dew?
Is there no tear for thy unhappy lot?
Is tenderness no more? is love forgot?
Chill'd is my breast by fifty winters' snow,
And dead the touch of sympathetic woe?
No-o'er this bosom, fifty winters old,

To pilot his queen to Parthenope's shore, Whither oft, with the Dolphin, he'd`travell'd before,5

On arriving, the Whale was delighted to view

All his subjects assembled a spectacle new-
And as he appear'd at the close of the day,
The fishes contriv'd to illumine the bay
With Pholades' torches, which, Pliny hath
told,

Oft shone on the lips of the Romans of old :6
Nay, further, to pay due respect to their king,
The Fishing-Frogs compass the bay in a ring,
And angle for viands his table to grace,

Love, wedded love, still waves his torch of When the nobles have ended their nautical

gold;

Still spreads his purple wing; and o'er my urn,
With brightest rays, his holy lamp shall burn.
Not so thy torch of love-in angry mood,
By Furies lighted, rashly quench'd in blood!
From the black deed affrighted Pity flew;
And Horror dried the tear Compassion drew;
Whilst, from thy gloomy page, I learnt to
know

That virtuous tears alone for virtuous sorrows flow.

THE FISHES' REGATTA. THE Whale, ever famous for conjugal love, So famous 'tis said he eclipses the dove, At suit of his consort, sends forth a decree, Importing, that all who are tenants of sea, To Parthenope's coral-pav'd bay shall repair;2

And, by mirth-kindling feasts and regattas, held there,

In jollity rival the tenants of air:

Fór "Sir Argus's Rout," as reported by fame, Had so charm'd the sea-monarch's unwieldy old dame,

That she instant resolv'd such a gala to give, As thro' ages unspawn'd should continue to

live.

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race.7

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5 The Sword-Fish and Dolphin frequently visit the bay of Naples.

6 Pliny says, the Pholasis is so luminous that it shines in the mouth of the person who eats it. This fish, which was deemed a great delicacy by the ancient Romans, may be found in Devonshire, buried in rocks of marl and stone, on the sea-shore.

7 The Angler, or Fishing Frog, grows to the length of five feet, and immediately above its nose are two filaments resembling fishinglines, with which it angles for its prey.

8 The Flying-Fish is small, about the size of a herring, and by the aid of immense fins is able to fly.

9 The Dorado, a tropical fish, is about six feet long, and the most active and beautiful of the finny race; its back being, as it were, enamelled with spots of bluish-green and sil ver, its tail and fins the colour of gold, and its large and brilliant eyes surrounded with circles of shining gold.

10 Sannazaro, whose Arcadian name was Sincerus, immortalized himself by his Piscatory Eclogues. 2 X 2

Her

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II The Shark swims remarkably fast, and is armed with three rows of teeth, and a great warrior.

12 The Remora, or Sucking Fish, constantly follows the Shark; and has the power of adhering to, and extracting moisture from, whatever animal it sticks against; it frequent ly destroys the Shark by a gradual decay.

13 The Wolf Fish grows to a very large size, is ravenous and fierce, and bites so hard that it will even seize upon an anchor.

14 The Narwhal, or Sea Unicorn, is about sixty feet in length; and has, in its upper jaw, a husk, or spear, harder than ivory, straight as an arrow, thick as the small of a man's leg, wreathed like a twisted bar of iron, and tapering to a sharp point; but, notwithstanding this formidable weapon, added to strength and celerity unequalled, the Nar whal is one of the most peaceable, sportive, and sociable monsters of the ocean.

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The bravest opponent; yet, gentle as strong,
He wars not, save when he avenges a wrong.

Now Jealousy, veil'd in the Sea-Devil's
guise, 15

Each combatant's bosom with rancour supplies:

The Shark, yawning dreadful, the Wolf-Fish assails,

And awhile, by the strength of his grinders, prevails;

When the Sword-Fish, of warriors most fam'd in the deep,

Takes over his friend, just exhausted, a leap, And buries his beak in the Shark's ample side,

Till the waters around him with crimson are dy'd.

To aid the spent Shark brave Sir Dolphin appears, fo

And the helm-crown'd Sea-Porcupine furious-
ly rears*/

His quiver of darts; whilst the subtle Sting
Ray,

The Porpesse, and Cachalot, 19 join in the
fray,

The peace-loving Shell-Fish, amaz'd and alarm'd, Bid their soldiers, the Lobsters, in panoply arm'd,

Their district defend-whilst the lord of the

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15 An ugly blackish looking fish, of the Ray kind.

16 The Dolphin is of the Whale tribe.

17 The Sea-Porcupine is covered over with long spines, which point on every side; and its head is armed with a bony helmet.

18 The Porpesse is of the Whale tribe. 19 The Cachalot is the Spermaceti-Whale. 20 The Torpedo has a power of giving, to every animal it touches, a shock of electricity, so violent that it seems to dislocate all the joints of the body, and for a while benumbs like the stroke of death; before it strikes it is, observed to flatten its back, and raise its head and tail.

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