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ARMS OF THE ISLE OF MAN.

sition parfaite de l'année." (Le Chou-king, by Gaubil,
p. 7.) Yao lived 2357 years B. c. In Egypt, Osiris
was killed by Typhon the 17th of the month Paophi;
this was formerly the Autumnal Equinox; the reign of
Typhon then commences, and continues till the Vernal
Equinox, when the death of Osiris is avenged by Horus;
and the evil introduced by Typhon is repaired. This is
a space of six months, and constituted one season; viz.,
Winter. Autumn was unknown to the ancients; what
we now call Autumn was what they called Winter; and
it lasted six months. I believe originally they had
only two seasons, the reign of the good and the bad
principle, each beginning and ending at the equinoxes.
At a later period, the death of Osiris was transferred
to the 17th of the month Athyr, and, as I conjecture,
to make room for Serapis, the representative of the
Sun, at the Autumnal Equinox. Plutarch states that
duced the statue of Serapis into Alexandria; this must
Ptolemy the Saviour, in consequence of a dream intro-
have been about 300 B. C.
introduction of Autumn in Egypt? A history of Autumn
and Serapis would be deeply interesting, if written
by a person of erudition; it would be found so inter-
woven with the doctrines of Christianity as would fill
the public mind with astonishment.

SIR,-With your permission, I will make a few observations on the "Arms of the Isle of Man." There is neither difficulty nor mystery; yet it seems to puzzle the Rev. T. R. Brown very much. The figure in your September number, and also in that of March, is a symbol of the year of three seasons generated by the sun; Capricorn being put in to indicate the month in which the sun begins his upward course, viz. on the 25th of December; it is in fact the same thing as the tripod of Apollo, and will therefore mean the same. However strange it may appear, nearly all nations originally had but three seasons, and the tripod was the symbol. Gebelin gives the best account of it. "Ce trépied auquel présidoit Apollon, n'est pas un trépied ordinaire: c'est l'année à trois saisons, suivant les Orientaux, qui marchoit ainsi à trois pieds: aussi faisoit-on des calendriers à trois jambes, qui partoient d'un mème centre et formoient une espèce de roue ; sur chaque jambe étoit le détail d'une saison ou de quatre mois de l'année," &c. (Vol. 1, p. 185.) The Chinese also had it: "On assure que le plus ancien simulacre religieux que les Chinois ayent fabriqué, a été un trépied." (Pauw, Recherches, Vol. 2, page 210.) The Egyptians also had three seasons: "On divisait l'année en trois époques principales ou trois saisons." (Dupuis, Origine des Constellations.) The ancient Greeks had only three seasons, Eunomia, Dike, and Eirene (Taylor's Notes on Pausanias). Hesiod, Apollodorus, and Diodorus Siculus only mention three. (Montfaucon.) On this account Minerva was called ToiToyéveta, because she changed her nature three times a year, in Spring, Summer, and Winter. All the Northern nations had only three seasons; for Freja is described in the Edda as having sometimes a black, sometimes a green, and sometimes a white dress. Freja corresponds to Minerva, or Isis. Bailly was unable to account for all nations having three seasons, except on the supposition that it originally came from the North. "En descendant à des latitudes moins boréales, vers le 79° où la nuit n'est plus que de 4 mois, on trouveroit peut-être l'origine de ces années singulières, et de la révolution solaire partagée en trois saisons. Dans nos climats l'astronomie n'offre aucun moyen de faire ce partage de l'année, il Typhon triumdevient naturel sous le parallèle de 79 où le soleil, invisible pendant 4 mois, s'élévant sur l'horison vers le pole dans un pareil intervalle, et employant le même temps à redescendre, divise l'année en trois saisons." (Bailly, Histoire de l'Astronomie, page 104.) Again, "Mais les années de quatre mois sont plus singulières. Nous n'ignorons pas que les anciens auteurs nous disent, qu'il n'y avoit autrefois que trois saisons à l'année qui par conséquent étoient de quatre mois." (Page 158.) Though all nations had only three seasons once, yet they all had four subsequently. The Chinese appear to have been the first who used four seasons. pereur (Yao) appella Hi et Ho, et leur dit remarquez une période de 366 jours; l'intercalation d'une lune et la détermination des quatre saisons servent à la dispo

"L'Em

Is this the date of the

With respect to the legend (in March No.), it is easy to explain. The sun at the top of the mountain (viz., Summer Solstice) in descending to the bottom (viz. Winter Solstice) arrives at Capricorn, and of course is changed into a goat, then ascending, and arriving at Aries, he becomes a sheep. Personify the sun, and the legend is beautifully true. This allegory is still To feel the full force of the allusion in Scripture, it is used in the New Testament. (Matt. xxv. 32, 33.) necessary to bear in mind that the goat is in the region of darkness, and the sheep in the region of light.

phant. Autumnal equi

DOX.

Death of Osiris.

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Diagram illustrating years of two, three, and four seasons; also the legend of Mona, and Matt. xxv. 31, 32, 33. With respect to the Magi, the star at each leg does not represent them, but the Sun, the generator of each

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monogram.

Legend" Bermondsey Spa Gardens."

R. A group of musical instruments, and in the centre
of them a flaming heart: date "1789.”
No. 2. Ob. Inscription across the field; "T. Keys,
Bermondsey Spa Gardens, 1796 "

R. Similar to that of No. 1.

It will be observed that there is an interval of seven

years between the two dates. My impression is, that these pieces were not tokens at all, from their not having the word "Token or" Halfpenny" upon them, and not being made "payable anywhere. They were probably used as checks, or tickets of admission; and they are of such extremely coarse workmanship as to favour the idea that they were struck by a common blacksmith.

According to Lysons, the Spa was not discovered until 1770, but Keys was proprietor of the gardens in 1765. In 1778, he obtained a license for music, and gradually introduced a variety of amusements similar to those which prevailed at Vauxhall. Probably they very much resembled those now so popular at the Surrey Zoological Gardens, for Keys, though a self-taught artist, produced a representation of the siege of Gibraltar which covered several acres of ground, and which seems to have been the prototype of Mr. Danson's scenic paintings at the Surrey Zoological Gardens. The Spa, which was chalybeate, never had much repute, and does not appear to have been resorted to for purposes of health.

There are several small Bermondsey tokens of the seventeenth century,* but they are of little interest, and the question of R. T. S. seems only to apply to those of Keys's time.

B. N.

CURIOSITIES OF EARLY PERIODICAL LITERAture.

The Punch of the Commonwealth.

IT is not a little remarkable that we should be in

debted to the psalm-singing days of the Commonwealth On the 8th of April, 1652, under the very nose of his for the first English periodical devoted to fun and satire. Highness the Protector, was published the first number of

"Mercurius Democritus, or a true and Perfect Nocturnall, communicating many strange Wonders, out of the World in the Moon, the Antipodes, Muggy-land, Tenebris, Fary-land, Green-land, and other adjacent countries. Published for the Right Understanding of all the Mad-merry People of Great Bedlam."

The size is the usual small 4to. of the journals of the period, and its matter consists of sarcastic comments upon passing events, together with a plentiful sprinkof broad humour, but the wit, if wit it can be called, is ling of fictitious intelligence, narrated with a deal of so gross a nature, that I fear your lively contemporary would scarcely feel complimented by the assimilation conveyed in the heading. Here and there, however, I can pick out a paragraph which will give the readers of Current Notes an idea of the literary ware which amused their ancestors of the Commonwealth.

Blake and Van Tromp are blazing away in the Channel, and the hits at the Dutch are consequently numerous, and appear to "take."

"There is a fresh-water sea-man lately come sick home from the navy, saith that the Dutch Fleet lies so heavy on many of the seamen's stomachs since the last engagement, that their breaths smell of nothing ever since but pickled herrings."

And again a short time after

"The Dutch have lately devised a stratagem to keep their harbours from freezing, by placing in every haven a fire ship that's so hot that it thawes the ice faster than it freezeth."

Lilly also is fair game.

"Will. Lilly hath put in Bayle, and hath his liberty on condition that he will make the aspect of Mars and Saturn to be more milde, and for his penance to take the Carter's Whip and jerk the Beares three times round about the pole, and after this to be put again into his primer and to learn to forsake the devil and all his works."

The unfortunate star-gazer appears to have excited the wrath of Mercurius in no small degree-scarce a number in which he is not roughly handled. Here is another

"Mr. Lilly hath been missing certain days; some think he hath made away himself; others affirm that he is metamorphosed into an owle, that sings by daylight and writes all night in a hollow tree; others say he was overtook by an old lame shepherd in the Zodiac, mounted on the Dragon tail," etc.

The polemical spirit of the times is lashed with a free hand, but the extreme coarseness of the satire renders it unfit for your columns. In one number it is recorded

See "Akerman's Tradesmen's Tokens, current in that London between 1648 and 1672.

"To-morrow is a great dispute at the Bare-garden be.

tween a Presbyterian Chamber-maid, who hath challenged an Independent Fish-woman, to dispute with her about the point of Predestination."

66

JOSEPH ASHBURY.

"A THEATRICAL Amateur" is informed that Joseph A discussion which probably came off at a time menAshbury was born in London, in 1638. He was of good tioned further on, "when 3 tydes flow'd in the New family; his father married a near relative of Sir Walter River, and a quire of Mermaids heard to sing wonder-Raleigh. He was educated at Eton, and subsequently fully sweetly by Jack Adams of Clerkenwell." through the interest of his friends obtained a pair of colours in the army under the Duke of Ormond. He administration, and was one of the officers who seized went over to Ireland in the last year of Cromwell's Dublin Castle, when Governor Jones was made prisoner, of Ormond became Lord Lieutenant, he was appointed the influence of the Duke, was made Master of the. one of the gentlemen of his retinue, and in 1682, through

The lover of folk-lore and popular customs will meet with much interesting matter in these columns, where the manners of the period are more faithfully and vividly depicted than in any other with which I am acquainted, always excepting the daguerreotypes of "the curious Mr. Pepys." From the following it would appear that the rites of St. Valentine were not formerly confined to pen and paper.

and secured in behalf of Charles II. When the Duke

Revels. He married twice; his first wife was a sister "A young gentlewoman, casting her apron over her face, of Richards, the eminent actor; and his second a Miss because she should see nobody till she came to her sweet-Darling, a clergyman's daughter, by whom he had

heart's bedside, on Valentine's morning, was met withal in

the street by another spark, who claiming her for his Valentine, and offering to salute her, she denied to uncover her lips, whereupon he kissed her apron, which another seeing him, and laughing at him, he told him he was but a fool to laugh at him, for the gentlewoman's lips tasted sweetest when strained through her apron!" (No. 85.) The editor appears to have been a madcap Royalist, always in hot water on account of his vile personalities. The publication was very irregular, and the tavernhaunters were often left some weeks without their favourite. At such times, we gather from the insinuations of rival journals that Democritus was in durance. One fine day, however, he yielded up the ghost in earnest, and not long after there came forth a little pamphlet, now of the most excessive rarity, entitled, "A Hue and Cry after Mercurius Democritus.- O yes, O yes, O yes! If any man, woman, or child, in city or country, can tell any tale or tidings of a laughing, merry conceited fellow, called Mercurius Democritus, who hath been lost about ten weeks, and can by no means be found or heard of, let them bring word to the crier or bearer hereof, and they shall be well rewarded for their pains."

After giving a humorous description of a poor author of that era-which, by the way, presents a sad similarity to that of one of the present-the writer winds up with a pathetic "sonnet," relating his quest after his friend, whom he purports to have found where few of your

readers would care to follow him.

"To Wood Street Counter then I came,
Where in a darksome cell

I called Democritus by name,

Who cry'd out I'm in hell.

On Cerberus I then did fly,
For to redeem my friend,

And then I ceaz'd my hue and cry
And so I made

AN END."

several children. Joseph Ashbury was perhaps the best actor of his day. Chetwood, who knew him in the latter part of his career, says his person, figure, and manner in Don Quixote were inimitable. Another favourite character was Careless, in "The Committee." His wife was also a good actress; and having an interestwith considerable credit, particularly as Mrs. Pinching person and a winning countenance, acquitted herself wife, in Wycherly's comedy of "The Country Wife."

Joseph Ashbury excelled in teaching others the "noble art," and had the honour of instructing the Queen when she was Princess Anne; and performed the part of Semandra in a play acted at Whitehall by persons of the highest rank.

He died July 24, 1720, in the 82nd year of his age, retaining his judgment to the last moment of his life.

Another noted actor of that time was Joe Trefusis; and while I am on the subject, perhaps a few anecdotes of him may not be out of place. He was the original Trapland in "Love for Love;" and distinguished himself as a low Comedian, and was famous for dancing an awkward country clown. It seems he was very fond of fishing, and on one occasion was enjoying his usual sport on the banks of the Liffey, when some friends ed to see them safe on board, and gave his fishing-rod were on the point of embarking for England-Joe wishto a friend on shore to take care of till his return; however, he was prevailed upon by his companions to accompany them to London, where he arrived with his fishing clothes upon his back, not a second shirt, and only a few shillings in his pocket. His companions left him at London, and a noted actor, named Wilks, found him gazing at the Dial in the square of Covent Garden. He hardly knew him at first, but by his particular gait, which was beyond all imitation. When he asked him how he came there and in that plight, "Hum! ha! why faith, Bobby," replied Joe, "I only came from Dublin to see what a clock it was at Covent Garden!" However, Wilks supplied him with money and clothes, and sent him back to Ireland.

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THEODORE HOOK.

IN reviewing-I mean looking over your "Current Notes," I perceive frequent allusions to poor Theodore Hook, some of them dull enough, but I do not remember to have seen in print the following bon mots, to the credit of which he is fairly entitled.

When leaving a somewhat crowded and miscellaneous party one evening at the same moment with the Duke of Rutland, his Grace's hat had been so carefully deposited by some obsequious servant as not readily to be discovered. "I wish you would find my hat," said the Duke, somewhat impatiently.

"And I wish," said Hook almost in a whisper at the Duke's car, “that you could only find me such another (Belvoir-pronounced) Beaver."

Hook it is well known aided the late Thomas Haynes Bayly, the lyrist, "Butterfly Bayly," as he was called (the "Grub" Bayly of Ingolsby when found at luncheon in Cleveland-row), to dodge his creditors through London. On his way to Boulogne, where, I think, Bayly died, his previous pecuniary anxieties had seriously affected his health, and Hook prescribed for him a drive upon Putney Heath. Bayly was at this time in or nearly on the verge of the rules of the Bench, but he contrived by going quietly in the dusk by the Surrey side of the water to reach Hook's cottage at Fulham or Putney unrecognised.

Here he dined and slept, and in the afternoon of the following day, kind-"a fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind"-good-natured, and generous Hook proposed to drive Bayly through the quiet green lanes of Roehampton, where Hook asserted there was no chance of any unpleasant recognition taking place.

However, they were recognised in going across Barnes Common, and Hook whipped on his cab with the view of placing his friend in safety before any unpleasant enquiries could be made.

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In endeavouring to make his way towards Richmond Park he was stopped by a bar not to be overcome by payment of a toll, for which he tendered a shilling. The stolid gate-keeper's enquiry was, " Are you authorized?" Yes," said Hook in his own sometimes peculiar and solemn manner, pointing first to Haynes Bayly and then to himself; "Authorized enough I promise you." The gate was flung open with a low bow, the shilling flung upon the ground by Hook, who muttered "This is the

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Prince BALLY-BUTTERFLYAnd I am his Highness's attendant,

HOOK-AM-Snivee."

Another and more respectful bow.

"Hark ye, old man," said Hook drawing up, " Mind who you let through this gate. We are going upon Hippopotimus business express, and should any one enquire after us, you can explain the matter to him clearly, very clearly to him. You now know who we are. Good morning;" and so Hook drove off triumphantly.

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"CASTLE CORNET" IN GUERNSEY.

I AM most anxious to learn the exact period of the Island of Guernsey. If you or any of your friends can commencement of the erection of Castle Cornet in the give it I shall be most happy, and am, Šir,

A subscriber to your valuable Current Notes,
H. R.

HAUNTED HOUSE AT WILLINGTON. DECIDEDLY the best and most authentic ghost story of the nineteenth century is that related by Mrs. Crowe in her Night-side of Nature, and by Mr. Richardson in his Table Book, of the haunted house at Willington, near Newcastle-on-Tyne. The names of Mr. Howitt and several members of the Society of Friends are given as vouchers for the truth of the statements, and the whole affair appears to wear a respectable and trustworthy aspect. The details in the works alluded to are so curious that one naturally wishes to know something further. Will some of your Tyne-dale correspondents say whether the house is still standing, and if so are the "noises " still heard? Has the imposture or illusion ever been satisfactorily explained, and who are the present occupiers? Above all I would wish to enquire the title and date of the very suspicious "old book" in which Mr. Proctor found an account of former ghostly proceedings on the same spot. An exposure or explanation of this affair would, I have no doubt, be interesting to many of your correspondents who, like myself, have been puzzled by its seeming straightforwardness.

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SIR WALTER SCOTT'S FIRST LOVE.

In answer to the query of "M. M. P." in your last number, as to who was Sir Walter Scott's first love, the goddess of his idolatry," I beg to say she was a Miss Stuart, daughter of Sir John Stuart of Fettercairn, in the county of Kincardine, one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer. The more favoured suitor was the late Sir William Forbes, Bart., the eminent banker.

HONE'S HISTORY OF PARODY. HONE'S History of Parody, which your correspondent (M. L.) enquired about in your August number, [xx. p. 72.] is one of those projected books never completed by the projector. Hone advertized it shortly after his famous trials, finding that the curious collections he had made on the subject of Parody, and which he used for his defence, would be a good nucleus for such a work. Soon after his death his collections were sold, (at Southgate's, Feb. 25, 1843) and I subjoin the description of four lots from the Sale Catalogue, as specimens of his gatherings on the subject:

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:

Lot 272. Sheet Parodies-A very extensive and curious collection from the year 1664 to 1820; Book of the Acts of the Regent; Bonaparte's Ten Commandments; The Baker's Chronicle; The Evening Lesson, 1742; Book of the Chronicles of the Chief Minister of England, 1745; Old England's Te Deum; Form of Intercession for the Delivery of John Wilkes; Tryal of the Dog of Heriot's Hospital, 1682, &c.

Lot 274. The Beau's Catechism; Ladies' Catechism; and a large Collection of Religious and Secular Parodies.

Lot 275. Parodies relating to the Rebellion, 1745; Chronicle of William the Son of George; Lamentations of Charles the Son of James, for the Loss of the Battle of Culloden, &c.

Lot 276. The Ranelean Religion, with the Liturgy, 1750; Sermon to a Congregation of Glass Bottles, 1715, &c.

No one could have done the book better than Hone; he had great literary knowledge, and a true appreciation of humour. Such tracts and broadsides are of the

11, Montpelier Square, Brompton.

F. W. FAIRHOLT.

Sir William was a gentleman of a very high caste in greatest rarity; and many years constant search is every sense of the word, highly educated, very hand-requisite to obtain them. Such a book as he proposed some, but shy and diffident. I have not read Lockhart's to do, would be still both curious and acceptable. life since its first publication, but I remember to have had the same feeling at the time as "M. M. P." that there was unnecessary fastidiousness in suppressing the name of this lady, for I am certain its mention could give no possible offence to her family. When Sir Walter was overtaken by misfortune, the first of his friends to come to his aid was Sir William. In a letter written at the time, or entry in a diary (I forget which), given by Lockhart, Sir Walter feelingly alludes to the circumstance, that Sir William should be so intertwined with his fortunes at their most interesting periods.

North British Daily Mail.

THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.- In the Courier of Tuesday, June 20th, 1815, a rumour was mentioned of Napoleon "having been defeated in a great battle near Brussels, on Sunday evening, in which he lost all his heavy artillery." The official despatches, it will be recollected, did not reach London till midnight on Wednesday. Taking into consideration the absence of steam-communication, the circumstance appears totally inexplicable; but I should be glad to have any of your correspondents' suggestion. Your classical readers will no doubt call to mind the somewhat similar occurrence related of the battle of Platea. L. M.

66

SMOKING IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND.
How was it that for some time after the introduction

of tobacco its use was principally confined to the inhabi-
tants of the Western and Southern counties? An hitherto
unquoted passage, in a curious little book, entitled,
handled," Lond. 1685, places this in a curious light:
Maggots, or Pieces on several subjects never before
The West is the Tobacco pipe's chief throne,
He there like Saxon Monarch reigns alone;
Wild Irish Bratts, as soon as breath they draw,
Are dosed with a kind cup of Usquebaugh.
Discretion bids us learn where'er we can,
Since wiser brutes have often tutored man;
Thus Western children, tho' not quite so ripe
As theirs, are wean'd on a Tobacco pipe."
on which a note remarks: ""Tis common in some parts
of the West for children, no higher than their lace-
peels, to sit working and smoking." (p. 51.)

Can any reader offer any satisfactory explanation of this beyond the mere fact of the preponderance of the custom among the denizens of Southern and Eastern climates?

V. T.

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