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the ancient notions of magnificence. The hall where the coronation took place is an oblong chamber, or rather a chapel, such as we find in moderate country mansions of Great Britain. The worn-out likenesses of the emperors, the more ancient of whom have visibly been renovated at various times, and the scene of desolation which reigns throughout, are true representations of the present state of the holy Roman Empire.

The country between Frankfort, and Leipsic, if we except the Fichtel mountains and a dozen small residences of Saxon princes, is of little interest. We visited at Leipsic the spot where the gallant Poniatowsky fell, the hope and the idol of his countrymen. Fanciful and enthusiastic as they are, it was no wonder they once clung with fondness to the hope of seeing him seated on the throne of the Sobieskys and Casimirs. A very curious circumstance respecting the fate of this interesting prince, and one authenticated by several of his friends, is the following. He was about six years before his death, on a visit to a relation of his in Silesia, with a numerous party. They were assembled in the pavilion of the country seat, when a plaintive but melodious voice was heard before the gate. It came from a gipsey, who was called in to prophesy the fate of each person. The first who stepped forth was Prince Poniatowsky. The gipsey took his hand, looked attentively at it, then at him, and muttered in a low voice, Prince, an Elster will bring you death." As Elster in the German language denotes both the river Elster and a magpie, the company made merry, wrote the prophecy down, witnessed and sealed it. It is still extant.Austria as it is.

66

ILLUSTRATIONS OF HISTORY.

THE ATTEMPT TO SURPRISE AND TAKE THE CASTLE OF CALAIS.

THE following account of this transaction we have collected from the pages of one of our early chroniclers; to us it appears to be the super-structure on which the late Mr. Henry Neele founded his highly interesting tale of the Chaplet of Pearls, which we inserted in our fourth number, from his Romance of History.

"In the year 1349, the 23 of Edward the Third, Geoffry de Charmy, captain of St. Omer, agreed with Aymery of Pavia, whom King Edward had left governour of Callice, to render it up for twenty thousand crownes; whiche king Edward hearing of, sent to Aymery, and charged him with

this perfidiousness; whereupon

Aymery comes to the king, and humbly desiring pardon, promiseth to handle the matter so as shall be to the king's advan tage, and therupon is sente back to Callice The king, the night before the time of agreement, arrives with three hundred men at armes, and six hundred archers. Mon sieur de Charmy sets out likewise the same night from St. Ömer's with his forces, and sent a hundred men before with the crownes to Aymery.

The men are let in at a postern gate, the crownes received and assured to be all weight: which done the gates of the town are opened, and out marches the king before day to encounter Monsieur de Charmy, who perceiving himselfe betrayed, defended himselfe the best he could, and put king Edward to hard bickering, who for that he would not be known there in person, put himselfe and the prince under the colours of the lord Walter Manny, and was twice beaten down on his knees by Monsieur de Riboumont, a hardy knight, (with whom he fought hand to hand) and yet recovered, and in the end took Riboumont prisoner. Charmy was likewise taken, and all his forces defeated. King Edward the night after (which was the first of the new year) feasted with prisoners, and gave Riboumont, in honour of his valour, a rich chaplet of pearl which himself wore on his head (for a new year's gift) forgave him his ransome, and set him at liberty.Amongst the prisoners who were taken on this occasion, were Geffrey Charney, and his son, Edward de Renty, Robert Danquil, Otto de Gulo, the baron Mactingham, Baldina Saylly, Henry de Piees, Garinus Baylofe, Peter Renell, Peter Dargemole, Estace de Riplemount, and many other, lords, knights, and baronets, who were chased and ranne away with their auncients, as the lord de Mounmarice, also Laundas, who maryed the ladie Saint Paul, countess of Pembroke, in England; also the lord Fenas, the L. Planckes, and another Eustace de Riplemount. There were slaine in the skirmish, the lord Henry de Boys, the lord Archiband, and many others, whose names the conquerers were not able to certify."

DUELLING PERMITTED BY SOVEREIGNS.

ANCIENTLY, when any matter of importance was brought before the justices, which could not be proved by witness, combat was granted; and in this case, if the accused was vanquished, he was convicted of the crime he was accused of; and if the accuser, he was punished as a perjured man and a false witness. The culprit was then executed (if he was not slain in the combat) without any further examination. This was the case between

two esquires in the reign of Richard the Second. The one of Navarre accused an English esquire, called John Welch, of treason; for trial thereof a day was appointed for a combat, which was to be performed in the king's palace at Westminster. Accordingly being met, there was a valiant fight betwixt them; but at last the Englishman was the conqueror, and the vanquished Frenchman was despoiled of his armour, drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged for his untruth.

The order of the combat, with the process, was as follows:-The accused, strongly denying the fact alledged against him, threw down his gauntlet, or any other gage, calling the accuser a lyar, and thereby challenging him to combat; then the other took up the gage of the accused, and threw down his own, declaring his willingness to prove by battle the truth of his assertions: the gages were then sealed, and delivered to the marshal, and leave to combat demanded of the king; which if he granted, a day and place was then appointed, by which time a scaffold was erected for the king and his attendants (the earl marshal, and high constable of England) who were to see that no undue advantage might be taken by either party; and the lists were railed round.-This method of trial was not often put in execution

CUSTOMS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES-No. X.

ON THE ORNAMENTS OF THE GREEKS.

"EAR-RINGS of gold, silver, inferior metals, or even horn, were worn by the Hebrew women in all ages; and in the flourishing period of the Jewish kingdom, probably by men; and so essential an ornament were they deemed, that in the idolatrous times, even the images of their false gods were not considered becomingly attired without them. Their ear-rings were larger, according to the Asiatic taste; but whether quite large enough to admit the hand, is doubtful. In a later age, as we collect from the Thalmud, Part VI, 43, the Jewish ladies wore gold or silver pendants, of which the upper part was shaped like a lentil, and the lower hollowed like a little cup or pipkin. It is probable also, that, even in the oldest ages, it was practice amongst them to suspend gold and silver rings, not merely from the lower but also from the upper end of the ear, which was perforated like a sieve. The tinkling sound, with which, upon the slightest

motion, two or three tiers of rings would be set a-dancing about the cheeks, was very agreeable to the baby taste of the Asiatics.

From a very early age, the ears of Hebrew women were prepared for this load of trinketry; for, according to the Thalmud, II. 23, they kept open the little holes, after they were pierced, by threads or slips of wood: a fact which may show the importance they attached to this ornament.

NOSE-RINGS, at an early period, became a universal ornament in Palestine. We learn, from Biblical and from Arabic authority, that it was a practice of Patriarchal descent amongst both the African and Asiatic Bedouins, to suspend rings of iron, wood, or braided hair, from the nostrils of camels, oxen, &c.—the rope by which the animal was guided being attached to these rings. It is probable, therefore, that the early Hebrews who dwelt in tents, and who, in the barrenness of desert scenery, drew most of their hints for improving their personal embellishment from the objects immediately about them, were indebted for their nose rings to this precedent of their camels. Sometimes a ring depended from both nostrils; and the size of it was equal to that of the ear-ring; so that, at times, its compass included both upper and under lip, as in the frame of a picture; and in the age succeeding to Solomon's reign, we hear of rings which were not less than three inches in diameter. Hebrew ladies of distinction had sometimes a cluster of nose-rings, as well for the tinkling sound which they were contrived to emit, as for the shining light which they threw off upon the face.

That the nose-ring possessed no unimportant place in the Jewish toilette, is evident, from its being ranked, during the nomadic state of the Israelites, as one of the most valuable presents that a young Hebrew woman could receive from her lover. Amongst the Midianites, who were enriched by the caravan commerce, even men adopted this ornament; and this appears to have been the case in the family to which Job belonged, [chap xli. 2.] Under these circumstances, we should naturally presume that the Jewish courtezans, in the cities of Palestine, would not omit so conspicuous a trinket, with its glancing lights, and its tinkling sound: this we might presume, even without the authority of the Bible; but, in fact, both Isaiah and Ezekiel expressly mention it amongst their artifices of attraction.

Judith, when she appeared before the tent of Holofernes in the whole pomp of

her charms, and appareled with the most elaborate attention to splendour of effect, for the purpose of captivating the hostile general, did not omit this ornament. Even the Jewish Proverbs show how highly it was valued; and that it continued to be valued in later times, appears from the ordinances of the Thalmud, II. 21, in respect to the parts of the female wardrobe which were allowed to be worn on the Sabbath.

The Hebrew women of high rank, in the flourishing period of their state, wore NECKLACES Composed of multiple rows of pearls. The thread on which the pearls were strung, was of flax or woollen,and sometimes coloured, as we learn from the Thalmud, VI. 43; and the different rows were not exactly concentric; but whilst some invested the throat, others descended to the bosoin, and in many cases, even to the zone. On this part of the dress was lavished the greatest expense; and the Roman reproach was sometimes true of a Hebrew family, that its whole estate was locked up in a necklace. Tertullian complains heavily of a particular pearl necklace, which had cost about ten thousand pounds of English money, as of an enormity of extravagance. But after making every allowance for greater proximity to the pearl fisheries, and for other advantages enjoyed by the people of Palestine, there is reason to believe that some Hebrew ladies possessed single pearls which had cost at least five times that sum. So much may be affirmed, without meaning to compare the most lavish of the ladies of Jerusalem with those of Rome, where it is recorded of some elegantes, that they actually slept with little bags of pearls suspended from their necks, that even when sleeping, they might have mementos of their pomp.

But the Hebrew necklaces were not always composed of pearls, or of pearls only sometimes it was the custom to interchange the pearls with little golden bulbs or berries, sometimes they were blended with the precious stones; and at other times, the pearls were strung two and two, and their beautiful whiteness relieved by the interposition of red coral.

Next came the BRACELETS of gold or ivory, and fitted up at the open side with a buckle or enamelled clasp of elaborate workmanship. These bracelets were also occasionally composed of gold or silver

*Cleopatra had a couple of that value, and Julius Cæsar had one, which he gave to Servilia, the beautiful mother of Brutus.

thread: and it was not unusual for a series of them to ascend from the wrist to the elbow. From the clasp, or other fastening of the bracelet, depended a delicate chain-work or netting of gold; and in some instances, miniature festoons of pearls. Sometimes the gold chain work was exchanged for little silver bells, which could be used upon occasions, as signals of warning or invitation to a lover.

This bijouterie for the arms, naturally reminded the Hebrew lady of the ANKLEBELLS, and other similar ornaments for the feet and legs. These ornaments consisted partly in golden belts, or rings, which, descending from above the ankle, compressed the foot in various parts, and partly in shells and little jingling chains, which depended so as to strike against clappers fixed into the metallic belts. The pleasant tinkle of the golden belts in collision, the chains rattling, and the melodious chime of little silver anklebells, keeping time with the motions of the foot, made an accompaniment so agreeable to female vanity, that the stately daughters of Jerusalem, with their sweeping trains flowing after them, appear to have adopted a sort of measured tread, by way of impressing a regular cadence upon the music of their feet. The chains of gold were exchanged, as luxury advanced, for strings of pearls and jewels, which swept in snaky folds about the feet and ankles.

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This, like many other peculiarities in the Hebrew dress, had its origin in a circumstance of their early nomadic life. It is usual with the Bedouins to lead the camel, when disposed to be restive, by a rope or a belt fastened to one of the fore feet, sometimes to both; and it is also a familiar practice to soothe and to cheer the long suffering animal with the sound of little bells, attached either to the neck or to one of the fore legs. Girls are commonly employed to lead the camels to water; and it naturally happened, that with their lively fancies, some Hebrew or Arabian girl should be prompted to repeat, on her own person, what had so often been connected with an agreeable impression in her mute companions to

the well.

It is probable, however that afterwards, having once been introduced, this fashion was supported and extended by Oriental jealously. For it rendered all clandestine movements very difficult in women; and by giving notice of their approach, it had the effect of preparing men for their presence, and keeping the road free from all spectacles that could be offensive to female delicacy.

From the Hebrew Bedouins, this custom passed to all the nations of Asia, Medes, Persians, Lydians, Arabs, &c. and is dwelt on with peculiar delight by the elder Arabic poets. That it had spread to the westernmost parts of Africa, early in the Christian times, we learn from Tertullian, who cannot suppress his astonishment, that the foolish women of his time should bear to inflict such compression upon their tender feet. Even as early as the times of Herodotus, we find from his account of a Lybian nation, that the women and girls universally wore copper rings about their ankles. And at an after period, these ornaments were so much cherished by the Egyptian ladies, that, sooner than appear in public without their tinkling ankle-chimes, they preferred to bury themselves in the loneliest apartments of the Harem.

Finally, the fashion spread partially into Europe, to Greece even, and to polished Rome, in so far as regarded the ankle-belts, and the other ornamental appendages, with the single exception of the silver bells; these were too entirely in the barbaresque taste, to support themselves under the frown of European culture.-Blackwood's Mag.

HARVEST OF THE SAVAGES.

IT has been asserted and believed that the Savages derive no benefit from the soil; this is an error. They are principally hunters, it is true, but all of them apply themselves so some kind of culture, and all know how to employ plants and trees for the purposes of life. Those who occupied the fine country now forming the states of Georgia, Tenessee, Alabama, and Mississipi, were in this respect more civilized than the natives of Canada.

Among the Savages all public labours are festivals. When the last frosts were past, the Siminole, Chickasaw, and Natches women, provided with spades of walnut-tree wood, lifted upon their heads baskets containing compartments filled with the seeds of maize, water-melons, beans, and sunflowers. They repaired to the common field, for which was usually chosen a situation easy to be defended, such as a neck of land between two rivers, or a spot surrounded by hills.

At one end of the field the women ranged themselves in a line, and began to break up the earth with their spades moving backwards.

While they thus freshened the old soil without forming any trench, other women followed them, sowing the space prepared by their companions. The beans and the maize were thrown together on the ground; the stalks of the maize being intended to

serve for sticks to support the climbing vegetable.

Young girls were employed i.. making beds of fine black mould: on these beds they spread the seeds of gourds and sunflowers, and kindled around them fires of green wood, for the purpose of accelerating germination by means of the smoke.

The sachems and sorcerers presided over these operations, while the young men roved round about the common field, and drove away the birds by their shouts.

Science and Art.

MAGNETISM.

Eaton's Proposed Improvement on
Magnetic Needles.

PROFESSOR AMOS EATON proposes that compass needles should be tipped with silver, brass, &c. This not only preserves the points from rust, but withdraws the poles from any attractive power in the brass, whether it arises from hammering, or from any particle of steel or iron, which may have been accidently left in the brass. Edinburgh Journal.`

. METALLIC ALLOY FOR PLATING IRON AND PROTECTING IT FROM Rust.

THIS invention is the discovery of a gentleman at Leghorn, the friend of T. Appleton, Esq. the American consul there. It is easily and cheaply applied, forms an amalgam with the iron, penetrates to some depth, and effectually protects it from rust. It derives this property from its refusing to unite with oxygen at common temperatures, or even when artificially heated. It is formed out of many metals. It does not increase the hardness of the article to which it is applied, nor does it efface the finest lines on the surface. It does not injure the temper of knives. Four ounces of this composition is sufficient to cover an iron bedstead, and twelve ounces are valued at a dollar and a half.

A company is already formed at Bologna, with a capital of 100,000 dollars for coating iron-work, and they are now drawing out plates which can be united to one another by heat, without any injury to the coating.-Edinburgh Journal.

Anecdotiana.

RICHARD CŒUR DE LION.

UPON being told by Fulco, a French Priest, that he kept three evil daughters with him, viz. "Pride, Covetousness and Lechery, which would be sure to procure

him the wrath of God, if he did not rid himself of them speedily, replied, "That he would soon give his three daughters in marriage. The Knights Templars (said he) shall have my eldest, Pride; the White Monks of the Cisteaux order, shall have Covetousness; and as for the third daughter Lechery, I dont think I can do better than bestow her upon the Prelates of the Church, who in such pleasures take the most felicity.

LINES WRITTEN TO LASH THE PROFLIGACY OF THE STUDENTS OF ST. ALBAN'S ABBEY, BY JOHN HANVILLE A POET AND MONK OF ST. ALBAN'S, IN

THE TWELFTH CENTURY.

⚫ Each comes a blockhead, each departs a fool, Lads of the Nysan, not the Delian school, Deep draughts they quaff, Lyceus, from thy ton,

Nor snatch one draught from helicon.'

POPE SIXTUS V.

RAISED his sister, a washerwoman, to the rank of a Princess. The next day, Pasquino appeared in a dirty shirt. Why this? "he is asked. "Don't you know my washerwoman has become a Princess?" was the cutting answer. The Pope was so incensed that he promised one thousand crowns to the person who would detect the author: none appeared. He repeated the offer, with the promise that no bodily harm should be done if the author offered himself. This stratagem succeeded. The author claimed the thousand crowns; they were given to himhis life spared, but his tongue cut out.

HANS HOLBEIN.

A Nobleman, on some provocation, or other, having threatened the celebrated Hans Holbein. (painter to King Henry VIII.) with death, the painter immediately went and complained of him to the King, who, sent for the Nobleman, and charged him at the peril of his life not to meddle with Holbein.

On this the Nobleman desired his Majesty to consider the difference between a peer and a painter. The difference, my lord, replied the King, is this-I can easily of seven ploughmen make seven nobles, but out of seven times seven noblemen, I cannot make one Holbein.'

BEGGAR'S BUSH.

JAMES I. being near this place, observed to his Chancellor, Sir Francis?

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ON PALMER OF OLFORD ESQ. IN STROTHLAND CHURCH, KENT.

Palmers all our fathers were,

you will soon come to Beggers Bushe, Ia Palmer liv'd here,
and I may go along with you too, if we
be so Bountiful.'

And travell'd still, 'till worn with age,

MR. BACON.

I ended this worlds pilgrimage,

On the blest Ascension day,

In the cheerful month of May,
A thousand with four hundred seven,

A lady walking in the company of And took my journey, hence, to heaven

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