home, each with his large apron bellying out before him, stuffed full of cakes, and perhaps scarcely able to waddle under the load. Such a mass of oaten alms is no inconsiderable addition to the comfort of the poor man's household, and tends to make the season still more worthy of its jocund title. In the evening of this day, as on Christmas night, the guizards are all astir. Such of the boys as can pretend to any thing like a voice, have for weeks before been thumbing the collection of excellent new songs, which lies like a bunch of rags in the window sole, and being now able to screech up 'Barbara Allan,' or the 'Wee Cot-house and the wee Kail-yarde,' they determine upon enacting the part of the guizards. For this purpose they don old shirts belonging to their fathers, and mount casques of brown paper, shaped so like a mitre, that I am tempted to believe them borrowed from the Abbot of Un-reason: attached to this is a sheet of the same paper, wbich, falling down in front, covers and conceals the whole face, except where holes are made to let through the point of the nose, and afford sight to the eyes and breath to the mouth. Each vocal guizard is, like a knight of old, attended by a kind of 'humble squire,' who assumes the habiliments of a girl, with an old woman's cap, and a broomstick, and is styled 'Bessie.' Bessie is equal in no respect, except that she shares fairly in the proceeds of the enterprise. She goes before her principal; opens all the doors at which he pleases to exert his singing powers, and busies herself during the time of the song, in sweeping the floor with her broomstick, or in playing any other antics that she thinks may amuse the indwellers. The common reward of this entertainment is a halfpenny; but many churlish persons fall upon the unfortunate guizards, and beat them out of the house. Let such persons, however, keep a good watch upon their cabbage gardens next Halloween! Guizarding is proper to four nights in the year :Christmas, Hogmanay, New-year's Day, and Hansel Monday. We observe it is tried in a small and unpretending way at Edinburgh. It were unnecessary, in this place, to enter into an account of the practices at midnight between Hogmanay and the New-year's Day, which are already so minutely described in other works. Neither, for the same reason, is it worth while to particularize the customs of the first day of the year itself. I may only mention, that the custom of New Year gifts, still so rife in France, was formerly much more common in this country than it is at present. We find, for instance, from Mr. Pitcairn's great work, that James IV. would have a gift of ten angels presented to him in his bed on New-Year's morning; as also a caudle, which, by the way, must have been exactly the same thing which the modern people of Edinburgh know by the term of het-pint. It is pleasant also to find that, on the 1st of January, 1490-1, the same monarch presented Blind Harry, the minstrel, author of the 'Life of Wallace,' with eighteen shillings. Still more delightful is it to know, that on the New-Year's Day of 1507, the monarch gave to diverse 'Menstrallis, schawmeris, trumpeteris, tabrounaris, fithelaris, luteris, clarshaasis, and piparis,' the aggregate sum of fourty-one pounds sixteen shillings. The custom of giving and receiving New-Year's gifts was still more common at the court of James VI., who was exactly the kind of man to give encouragement to at least one branch of the system. We find Elizabeth also a great receiver of NewYear's gifts. And after James went to England, the practice had reached such a height, and was so indispensable, that it is grievously complained of as a tax upon the pockets of the courtiers. I shall conclude this rambling and imperfect article with an account of a very curious New-Year's-Day_custom of the Highlands of Scotland. In many parts of this wild territory, young and old collect on the first night of the year, and perform the following strange ceremony. One of the stoutest of the party drags behind him a dried cow-hide, while all the rest follow, and beat it with sticks, singing the following rhyme: Collin a Chuilig, Callich cli in ceun im tennie, Translated literally thus: 'Hug man a', After going round the house three times, they all halt at the door, and each person utters an extempore rhyme. extolling the hospitality of the landlord and landlady; after which, they are plentifully regaled with bread, butter, cheese, and whisky. Before leaving the house, one of the party burns the breast part of the skin of a sheep, and puts it to the nose of every one, that all may smell it, as a charm against witchcraft and every infection. Edin. Lit. Jour. Anecdotiana. A CURE FOR Coldness.-As the unfortunate Louis XVI. one very sharp day, was riding in his carriage, and muffled up in furs, he observed a gentleman about his own age walking gaily along, exposed to the frosty breeze, in a light summer dress, and without the covering of a surtout. As the gentleman was very smart in his appearance, the king was surprized how he could keep himself so apparently warm, and ordered an attendant to ask him what method he adopted for that purpose. The gentleman, whom the king afterwards particularly noticed, replied that his majesty could not possibly feel any effect of the keen air, if he would condescend to follow the method of the person whom he honoured by his enquiries, and which was, to put on at once his whole wardrobe. There weakness, his usual reply was, COLLEY CIBBER, who knew the world as well as most men now in it, made the following observation, which is very applicable to the present day, and indeed to all times. "Until the number of good places is equal to the number of those who think themselves qualified for them, there must ever be a cause of contention among us. While great men want great posts, the nation will never want real or seeming Patriots; and while great posts are filled with persons whose capacities are but human, such persons will never be allowed to be without errors." ABOUT the time of the restoration, when, according to Mr. Baxter's account, 1800 clergymen were deprived College, Cambridge, was representing for nonconformity, a fellow of Emanuel formity in point of conscience, and conto a friend the great difficulties of con. cluded with these words: but we must LIVE; his friend replied in a like number of words, but we must_DIE. THE WHIMS OF ROYALTY.-Louis the Eleventh was a very arbitrary monarch, and as whimsical as tyrannical. The Abbot de Baignes, à man of great wit, having invented many things relating to musical instruments, was introduced to Louis, and retained by him in his service. One day the king imagining the thing as absolutely impossible, commanded the abbot to procure him harmonious sounds from the cries of hogs. The abbot, like a true courtier, did not seem surprised at the proposal, but said the matter was feasible, if a great deal of money was advanced to enable him to perform it. The king ordered the money demanded to be immediately paid him, and desired the abbot presently to set about it; he did so, and effect AN ANECDOTE OF A LATE CHANCELLOR'S FATHER.-After the death of his first lady, he rose one morning, with the whimsical resolution of marrying any one of his maids who should first appear upon his ringing the bell. He rang, and the chambermaid came up, to whom he abruptly said, "Get yourself ready, and go with me to be married.' The silly girl, treating the affair as a joke, refused, and withdrew. He rung the bell a second time, when the cooked the most surprising and remarkable maid appeared, to whom he said, "Well, my girl, I intend this day to make you my wife; go and dress yourself in the best you have, and order the coach to be ready immediately." She took him at his word, dressed herself, and coming down stairs was met by the silly chamber-maid, who asked her "Where she was going?" She answered, "Abroad-I have my master's leave." She had scarce uttered these words, when her master came down, and took her by the hand to the coach, which drove to St. Benet's church, where they were married. Whenever this gentleman was upbraided by his acquaintance and relations for his concert ever seen or heard. He got together a number of hogs of different ages, and placed them in a tent or pavilion, covered with velvet, before which was a wooden painted table, representing the front of a large organ. He then contrived an instrument behind it, with a certain number of stops, so artfully made, that when he touched the keys belonging to the stops, they answered to so many spikes, which pricking the hogs, who stood tied up behind, within the tent in due order, made them produce such a concord of sweet sounds," that the king was extremely delighted, and liberally rewarded the inventor of this singular piece of music. Diary and Chronology FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Lessons for the Day.-44 c. Isaiah, b. 1 Morn.4 b. c. Isaiah, b. 2. From the middle to the end of this month, the throstle is seen under sunny hedges and southern walls in pursuit of snails, which he destroys in abundance, particularly in hard winters; he delights also in chrysalids and worms. Other birds now quit their retreats in search of food. The nuthatch is heard, and larks congregate and fly to the warm stubble for shelter. Sparrows, yellow hammers, chaffinches, crowd into farms, and attend the barn-door to pick their scanty fare from the chaff and straw. The red-breast ventures into the house. Monday, Jan. 9. Plough Monday. High Water Om after 6 Morn.-22m after 6 After. The custom of opening 'the New Year with agricultural ceremonies, in which the plough was a chief agent, is of an extremely remote origin, The Chinese, the Persians, and the Greeks, ob served them at the earliest periops to which their history has been traced; and in general they appear to have been connected with the sacred mysteries of religion. Sheridan, in his edition of Persius, mentions the "Compatalia" of the ancients, which were feasts instituted, some say by Tarquinius Priscus, in the mouths of January, and celebrated by servants alone, when their ploughing was over." Plutarch informs us that the Athenians were accustomed to celebrate "three sacred ploughings." Du Cange, in his Glossary, has a reference to some old laws which mention" the drawing a plough about';" and in a curious tract, printed by Pynson, in 1493, with the title A Compendiouse Treatise of Dives and Pauper,' among the superstitions censured at the beginning of the year, is that of "Ledyng the ploughe aboute the firr, as for gode begynnyng of the yere, that they should farre the better all the yere following." It would seem also to have been once customary to perfume the ploughs with incense; for the learned Bale, in his very rare book, intituled. "Yet a Course at Romyshe Foxe," printed at Zurick in 1542, mentioning the auncyent rytes and laudable ceremonies of Holy Church," can only allude to this where he says-" then ought my lorde," meaning Bishop Bonner" to suffer the same self-punnyshment for not sending the plowhess upon Plough Mondaye." "-Times Tel. for 1832. " Wednesday, Jan. 11. St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch, A.D. 529. Moon's First Quarter, 50m Oh Morning. The weather is usually remarkably cold about this time, and fieldfares and other bybornal birds, very numerous. The kingfisher has been seen on this day in the marshes about Lea-bridge, in Essex, of which instances are on record as early es the year 1780. If it should happen to be mild, the mole begins to' work and to throw up those noted hillocks which, if not levelled by the bush farrow, but let to get hard are such an obstruction to the cythe in mowing in the solstitial season. In digging into the ground, and in stubbing up the hollow roots of trees, we find at this time of the year the hybernacula of various pormant animals; several sorts of field-mice dwell in subterraneous caves during winter. Cockchafers, and other insects, bury themselves, and the larvæ of sphinxes and moths are found concealed. St. Aclead, abbot of Rieval, in Yorkshire, A.D. 1109 High Water 26m after 8 Mor-57m 8 After. Jan. 12, 1685.-A letter from Venia of this day's date, printed in the London Gazette of the Times relates, what perhaps is not generally known that the then Duke of Hanover employed a body of his own troops, in the service of the Venetian State. being here, has composed the difference arisen "Venier, January 12.-The Duke of Hanover, among his troops, which now serve this Republick; concerning the distribution of the money of the Senate gave them as a present for their good services during the last campagne ; and we are told, that his highness has made an agreement to assist this state with 4000 men." Friday, Jan. 13. St. Veronica, virgin of Milan, A.D. 1497. Sun rises 55m after 8-Sets 5m after 4. This appears to have been the day when the Romans celebrated the Restoration of the Provinces, to which Virgil has been said, by some authors, to allude in the first Eblogue:Fortunate senex; ergo tua rura manebunt. Saturday, Jan. 14. St. Hiliary, Bish. A.D. 361. High Water, 36m after 10 Morn—10m after 11 After 14th Jan. 1831-Expired Mr. Henry Mackenzie the Mirror and Lounger are familiar to most of whose Man of the World, and excellent essays in thors life he enjoyed the situation of Comptroller our readers. During the greater part of our anof the Taxes for Scotland. In conversation he was full of the wit and playfulness that distinguish his essays; and he was wont to delight his friends with recollections of his earlier years, which were full of interest and amusement. It was no trivial praise when Sir Walter Scott, in dedicating Waverley to him, styled him the SCOTTISH ADDISON. Sunday, Jan. 15. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Lesson for the Day, 51 chap. 1saiah, b. 1 Morn53 chap. Isaiah, b.2, Even. Hlustrated Article. THE HISTORY OF AN ASSASSIN. BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. AUTHOR OF RICHELIEU. WHEN I was at Grenoble, some ten or twelve years ago, I took up my abode at the Hotel des Ambassadeurs; and, having seen all that Grenoble has to see, wandered on the banks of the Isere, and stood gazing for many an hour on the tall Alps, I began to think, that as six days must still elapse prior to that on which I had appointed to meet some friends at Chambery, I might as well visit those objects which are most worthy of notice in the neighbourhood of Grenoble itself. Not having a guide-book with me-in the raree show-box of which I might see VOL. IX. 1age Es all the curiosities of the place magnified into miracles-I applied to the innkeeper, who, after asking if I had visited the Prefecture, the Palais des Justice, the Four Statues, and the various fabriques de Ganterie, declared that he was sure Monsieur had not seen the "Grande Chartreuse, la plus belle horreur de l'univers." I replied by telling him to have a horse and a guide at the door the next morning by sunrise; and, on the 19th June, 18-, I set out to visit the scenes where St. Bruno fed, or rather starved, his flock. It is quite impossible-sitting down as I do at the end of a long autumn, and with nothing in prospect before my eyes but a long winter, dull, drear, and dripping-to describe the morning which shone on me as I trotted out of 225 Grenoble. There is something in the very name of morning that is sweet to man's heart. There is a flushing innocence about the young and unpolluted day, when it bursts first into existence from the dark womb of night, that awakens all the better feelings that associates itself with all the sweeter remembrances of man's nature, and man's memory-feelings and remembrances too soon lost and forgotten, amidst the noonday cares and the fervid passions of our being. How ever, it was then a June morning in the south of France; and every peculiar charm of the morning was there. The lark was in the sky, pealing his clear anthem to the gates of heaven: the perfumed voice of a thousand flowers was joining in his matin melody; the morning dew upon the grass shamed the midnight diamond of the brightest hall; and the coronet of sunbeams, that diademed the icy brow of the distant Alps, left the glory of a monarch's crown in shade indeed. As we made our way onward to Voreppe, I let the guide talk at will, about all the wonders of the place, and rode hither and thither, up this hill and down that valley on either side, to gratify imagination, and see the world beyond. Often I was disappointed, and found that in galloping after greater beauties, I met with less than the beaten road presented; but at times, also, I caught one of those bright, bright glimpses of nature's loveliness, that are only to be seen by those who seek them; the long winding perspective of some deep sequestered valley, whose dim blue atmosphere seems consecrated by solemn solitude, -or the wide, sudden burst of some bright and laughing prospect, where all the busy splendour of life, and industry, and cultivation, sparkles forth in the glad sunshine, over the gay and glittering earth. Such ramblings, however, somewhat tired our horses; and, by the time we reached Voreppe, the guide insisted upon it, that they would want half an hour's repose, and the mettle of half a peck of oats. Nothing could be done at Voreppe, that I knew of, to pass the time, but to graze upon the mountains that began here to tower up in mighty piles on the right bank of the Isere: and the very sight gave one a kind of thirst to plunge in amongst their dim recesses. Telling the guide, then, to fellow as soon as the horses had been fed, I walk ed on, on foot, along the road towards the Grande Chartreuse, which here branches off from the high road, and runs onward between two high hills; the one rich and cultivated, and the other rude and bare, rugged with rocks and precipices, and crowned with a deep forest of pines, which shut out the day. I walked on, and I walked on, and at length I began to perceive that I was tired, by the frequency of my halts to see whether the horses were coming up. At the same time the mountains grew higher, and the deep gorge, through which the road wound onward, more narrow. Torrent after torrent, swelled by some heavy rains that had fallen two days before, dashed fearfully through the ravines that every here and there broke across the path; and I found myself gradually plunging farther and farther amidst scenes, where the sublime reached the terrific. At length my eyes fell upon the little village of St. Laurent; and, resolving to wait there the arrival of the horses, I walked on towards the cabaret, through a street that showed but few inhabitants, while the tall mountains rising up around, looked over the houses whichever way my eyes were turned, seeming, like the last appearance of Kehama, to present the same mighty form on every side at once. At the door of the cottage, which by invariable signs announced itself as the auberge, sat a man of about sixtyfive years of age, who instantly caught my attention, I know not why. I suppose every body has felt the same occasionally, and has had their fancy attracted by faces or appearances, without being at all able to assign a reason. The old man of whom I speak had nothing particular, either in dress or in person, that would seem to merit much notice. He could never have been one of those very handsome men, who, like a fine building, remain magnificent even in decay. He was tall and well formed, it is true: his bald head, with the white locks that fell over his neck, was venerable and fine; and his eye, too, had in it a deep and restless fire, that even age, the quencher of all bright things, had hardly been able to dim. His dress was of brown cloth, simple and plain, but good, though somewhat travel-soiled; and in his hand he had a stout staff to help him on his way. I walked up to the bench, intending to sit down and enter into conversation with him; but almost at the same mo ment he rose, and proceeded out of the village by the other side. Near half |