Even a queen must have first her own and then her husband's surname. So thought the "guid wife" in the Highlands, when upon being visited by our gracious Sovereign, she welcomed Royalty with "Weel Mrs. Albert, and is it your nain sel ?" membered that the feminine taste is almost metropolitan rival in the Fleet Prison. A and the taking out of a licence were reninvariably gratified by a display of choice person could not walk down Fleet Street dered essential preliminaries to any matridrapery far exceeding that seen by the nor Ludgate Hill without occasionally having monial plans. A few days of grace were general public in its every-day life; and such queries addressed to him as "Would still allowed, the last legal Fleet marriage then, secondly, and far before the former in you like to be married, sir ?" and various allowed to take place being completed during importance, that this most interesting situa-interrogations of a similar nature. If" sir" the evening of the 24th of March, when, tion is one in which every young spectator had not decided to be married before he while on the previous day one officiator may have some hopeful idea of sooner or left home, it is probable that even this united one hundred and seventy three coulater personally engaging in-the bride- alluring facility would hardly bring him up ples, on the 24th, the last day, the number groom, of course, to be stared at and pro- to the scratch. The system was truly an reached the goodly figure of over three bably pitied; the bride, to be admired and extraordinary one. Such notices as "Wed- hundred events! envied! Fortunate it is that in this enlight-dings performed here," &c., were common At such a time good occasion might there ened century we have come to a clear enough, and, as might be expected, adver- be for the Scotch clergyman's philosophical understanding as to the age at which a tisements setting forth the superior situa- advice to the young couple he had just victim or a votary becomes fit for the tion and other advantages of rival establish- wrongly united: "Ah, weel, ye mun just sort matrimonial market. Juvenile marriages ments were extensively circulated through yerselves." A double wedding had been and baby couples are no longer admissible the medium of the public press. proposed, but a mistake on the part of the in our country, not even for the sake of The facility afforded for sharpers of every officiator mixed the two couples, and united family or financial convenience. Occasion-description to inveigle into marriage young, the wrong man to the wrong woman. He ally, it is true, do we still hear of a maiden wealthy, and unsophisticated partners, was took it coolly, however, merely giving them bride of some seventeen or eighteen sum-for long a crying evil; while, on the other the philosophical advice we have mentioned mers approaching to borrow from the hand, the prison and its precincts were, per- above, and which it is hardly necessary to penny-a-liners-the hymeneal altar; but haps, the most profitable rendezvous for add, doubtless they speedily acted upon. in such cases the happy bridegroom is clerical debtors that could be imagined; and The custom of the wife assuming her husgenerally nominally his own master, and since by the time they reached this lucrative band's and ceasing to use her own surname has attained to the proud position of being post their self-respect would be pretty tho- existed, we learn, among the early Romans, out of his teens. In this respect we are at roughly gone, we suppose that they would with the distinction that in those ancient least more particular than our friends of be in no hurry to return to public life again. days it was the custom to speak of a married other nationalities, among whom, in some To a popular man, the profits were huge! woman so, even more particularly than now, tropical countries and also in China, it is Probably the most amusing feature of to accentuate the fact that she was her quite a common occurrence for a young this altogether singular state of affairs was husband's property, by the interposition of couple to be united in marriage who, from the "touting" for matrimonial customers a preposition; for example, Octavio of their tender years, can hardly be expected down Fleet Street and in the neighbourhood. Cicero. to entertain very definite ideas as to what No sooner did a likely carriage appear, are the responsibilities-what the nature of bound for "The Fleet," than it and its inthat solemn engagement-whose aggregate teresting occupants were surrounded by a and united ages amount to about two dozen noisy, bawling crowd of touters-"Madam, and a-half! In tropical countries, where you want a parson; I am the clerk and rethere is so very little childhood, and where gistrar of the Fleet!" Another, "Go with the jump from babyhood to man or woman-me; he will carry you to a brandy-shop!" It has been pointed out-a melancholy hood is of such minute proportions as to be These and such like were the cries that fact that many celebrated literary men almost imperceptible, such a state of affairs reached the ears of the probably rather have been unhappy in their married lives. is, perhaps, little to be wondered at. It is flurried bride and her future husband, for In illustration of the fact the reader's attencurious, however, to find that during the whichever might happen to be the catcher, tion has been drawn to Socrates, Dante, reign of "Good Queen Bess" in this model which the caught, or even were it a mutual Marlborough, and many other worthily land of ours a baby couple, for the sake of love match, flurry would certainly be theirs honoured names; unfortunately, a little refamily reasons, were made "man and at such an interesting crisis! Every indul- flection will show that such cases are not wife." gence-in return for anticipated liberal fees rare, and that many men of letters and We thus learn that William Howard,* -was allowed, and "false names, half talent have, by the formation of ill-sorted son of the fourth Duke of Norfolk, executed names, or no names at all" were sufficient. alliances, deprived themselves of that symfor his supposed connection with the un- Indeed, one of the most harmful features in pathetic encourgement and love, which they, happy Mary Queen of Scots, was elevated the situation was the convenient loophole of perhaps, of all men, most surely need, and above the kind consideration of his sove- escape thus afforded for women in prison have a right to expect from their wives. reign, who retained the duke's estates by a for debt, since by coming to be married to It is to be remarked, however, that a knowhappy matrimonial alliance. It little mat- a husband "kept upon the premises" for ledge of human nature, such as is necessary tered that the bridegroom was only fifteen such purposes, the ceremony once over, and for the poet, the essayist, the novelist, does years old and his bride five years younger, arrangements completed-perhaps over a not by any means ensure that judicious sesince the lady-his father's ward, Lady modified wedding breakfast, the newly lection, or, perhaps, even forbearing disElizabeth Dacre-brought him a handsome wedded husband and wife might part for crimination, which their several writings dowry both in landed property and filthy good, the former quite content for a hand- might frequently lead us to expect. lucre. Their united years, we are told, at some gratuity to face his better half's cre- A man may not marry his deceased wife's the time of their marriage, was only twenty- ditors; that better half to recommence sister, as we all know; and yet, despite five; but, despite this confession of their swindling fresh shopkeepers by running this and numerous other prohibited relaown part, their marriage turned out a most headlong into further and new debts. The tionships, the most curiously complicated happy and fortunate one. Without doubt, memorandum books of one of the most alliances and connections are constantly however, the experiment is one consider- popular of the trading clericals show for being established. We somewhere read, ably too risky for everyday life! Not one month's services the receipt of £57 12s. the other day, a short and curious calculaevery one is aware that Gretna Green-9d. of last century's money. tion made by a person who considered that how charmingly does the name savour of However, these halcyon days were draw-in a sort of way he had attained the proud romance, even now!-had at one time ing to a close. The united voice of the position of being his own grandfather! during the early part of the eighteenth highest authorities sounded the death-knell Having made the acquaintance of a certain century, and probably much earlier, a of a system so baneful; and in the face of a widow and her daughter, he ultimately fierce opposition by the Marriage Bill in succumbed to the senior lady's charms. His 1753, we learn that the publication of banns father, on the other hand, when staying # Knight's "Old England." with his newly-married son, fell in love and was united in marriage with his son's stepdaughter. Whereupon, by a somewhat complicated and abstruse calculation, the son found himself to be the stepfather of his stepmother or his own step-grandfather. Not a calculation for a warm day, you will say, and we daresay that you are right. Certain it is that endless and absurd further genealogical trees might be educed from so extraordinary a reversion of relationships. No paper upon Matrimonial Oddities would be complete without at least some allusion to that most absurd branch of our subject—the matrimonial columns in our daily newspapers. Individuals who resort to this last plan of partner-hunting by advertisement must, we think, either be very much clutching at their last straw or predisposed to regard matrimony from a severely business-like point of view. It is needless to remark that such a system must harshly clash with the ethereal ideal of love's young dream; and, although the practical can to a certain extent go handin-hand with less prosaic Cupid, we question if happy alliances are ever brought about by such agencies. Of course, on the other hand, it may be argued that such circumstances are not in reality vastly different from the habits of other nations, who arrange and settle their progeny without consultation with the wishes of the parties most interested. I AM not going to broach theory, but sim- "I hereby give notice to all unmarried women that I, John Hobnail, am at this writing five-and-forty, a widower, and in want of a wife. As I wish no one to be mistaken, I have a good cottage with a couple five children, four of them old enough to be in emof acres of land, for which I pay £2 a year. I have ployment; three sides of bacon and some pigs ready for market. I should like to have a woman fit to Diogenes said, "we might as well eat the take care of her house when I am out. I want no flesh of man as the flesh of other animals," she likes. A good sterling woman would be preferred of natural reason " there was little difference second family. She may be between 40 and 50 if and Dr. Cheyne thought that on "the foot who would take care of the pigs." between feeding on human flesh and that of The permission to be between " 40 and 50 brute animals. would obviate all need of census deception. pyle were fed upon the plainest vegetable if she likes," is very comical, and of course It is said that the Spartans of ThermoIt is a well-authenticated fact that husbands aliment. They were forbidden the use of have occasionally carried the idea of a wife wine, and enjoined the strictest continence. realize her for what she will bring. Cases meat made pugilists more savage (see being her husband's property, so far as to Later on they thought they found the use of of this kind have occurred, but always in "Rollin's Ancient History"); but free use such isolated numbers as to call for no of it had an ill effect, and with the general public attention From this reason it is impossible to make the Republic. or remedial measures. corruption of which it formed part, ruined a matrimonial quotation; and then, too, we In Napoleon's day the Carpathian peasant presume that age, appearance, and cha-lived almost entirely on oatmeal, bread, and racter would tend to fluctuate average potatoes, and showed wonderful vigour. prices. coppers. bread and raw onions only. vadore would beat two American sailors, not that a wife had been sold for 7s. 6d., With all due respect, however, to the consideration that in neither case is there necessarily much or any previous intercourse before the interested parties are brought together for the purpose of being made man and wife, we must consider that the system is vastly more amusing than Graham, in his Lectures, II. 198, remarks beneficial or useful. As examples of the that in the three higher classes of Hindoos matrimonial advertisement under its most primary stake in the proceedings. Thack- everything but beef; these are ill-formed, no flesh meat is allowed, but the fourth eats amusing phase, we have culled the two amusing phase, we have culled the two eray has so amply exposed the matrimonial the others symmetrical and large grown. following specimens from Mr. Pike's amusing "Handbook of Advertisements, &c.,"market, and the doings of fond, innocent The letter-carriers, who run 62 miles a day, and now proceed to give them in all their mamma therein, that we need only touch take only a little boiled rice. the evil be in reality so crying a one, as the American miners, states that they carry briefly upon this Matrimonial Oddity. If Sir Francis Head, writing about South great author depicts it, then we advise the immense loads, and their diet is grain and read that they were in the habit of holding system of the Babylonians, of whom we pulse. A naval officer, at the Sandwich Islands, a sort of marriage fair every year, when gives evidence that English sailors stood no the marriageable ladies being assembled, chance with the natives in boxing, for they they were severally disposed of to the fight precisely in our manner. highest bidder. However, we have hopes is in "Sinclair's Code of Health." They still that love marriages, if generally more take no stimulating food nor drink. adulterated with a calculation of the practical than was formerly the case, are yet not altogether unknown-that Cupid and his influence are not altogether extinct. native naïvété and humour for our readers' benefit. The first was originally taken from a Scotch newspaper, and its interest is considerably enhanced by the smart reply tacked on, originally inserted in the same newspaper : “MATRIMONY.-A young man, of good position, and all that sort of thing, wishes to correspond with a young lady; age under twenty-five; good-looking, of a pleasant temperament, and accomplished. Money no object, at same time no objection. Address, Sylvanus, &c." Reply: "MATRIMONY.-A young lady, rising twenty-four, beautiful, of genial temperament, and all that sort of thing, recommends Sylvanus to apply to Brigham Young, Wife Nurseries, Utah!" A. C. BLAIR. OLD HOUSES.-The glory of a building is We wonder if "Sylvanus" felt himself to in its age and in that deep sense of voicebe "sat upon or not. fulness, of stern watching, of mysterious No. 2 is very characteristic, and evi- sympathy, nay, even of approval or condently emanated from a man who made a demnation, which we feel in walls that point of calling a spade a spade. It has have long been washed by the passing an unpleasant flavour of the not being waves of humanity. Ruskin's Ruskin's "Seven responsible for "my wife's debts" order, Lamps." which for a would-be bridegroom is rather malapropos. * Haydn's "Dictionary of Dates." This account Forbes' Tables, derived from 800 individuals, show that the Irish are better developed than the Scotch, and the Scotch than the English; and the Irish hardly used animal food at all. The Esquimaux, Laplanders, Fuegians, Kamschatdales live exclusively almost on animal food, and yet are the smallest people on the globe and least brave. Lord Heathfield, who held Gibraltar so gallantly, never eat meat nor drank wine; bread, vegetables, and water were his diet. There are many more examples, that I forbear to cite out of consideration to the patience of your readers, so I conclude with the evidence of Dr. Joshua Porter. He says that one of his neighbours weighed, when he ate flesh, 180 lb. He changed his diet, and his cheeks fell in; meat-eaters said he would die. He persevered, however, regained his strength, and far went beyond what he had been before. On Oct. 26, 1827, the strongest men in North Brookfield tried to lift a cask of lime (500 lb.), and all but one failed to raise it from the ground. The vegetable eater lifted it four or five times without difficulty. He now weighs 165 lb. This is evidence from a great variety of sources. What I wish is that any reader of the "Antiquarian Chronicle" would favour us with a collection from as many different sources, with facts, or supposed facts, tending to confirm as forcibly the advantages of a meat diet over a vegetable. One thing is indisputable: that if flesh eating were abolished entirely, England could feed her population without importation from abroad. No nation that cannot so exist can be independent long. C. A. WARD. If, after the vital spark has fled from the body of any person deceased, the corpse continues an inordinate length of time ere it commences to stiffen, many persons consider a second death in the family circle will soon follow. Three drops of blood from the nose, too, are in some places believed to foretel death: and if every remnant of Christmas decoration is not removed out of a church by Candlemas Day, there are people who think that in the ensuing year one of the family who occupy a pew in which a leaf or berry has been left is sure to die. Perhaps the death-omen that has obtained the most wide-spread evidence is the clicking of the little insect known as the death-watch. The ancient baronet's family of Clifton, of Clifton Hall, in Nottinghamshire, is forewarned that death is about to visit one of its members by a sturgeon forcing its way up the river Trent, which flows past the family estate. In a note to the "Lady of the Lake," Sir Walter Scott gives the following curious account from the manuscript memoirs of Lady Fanshaw. Her husband, Sir Richard, and herself chanced, during their abode in Ireland, to visit a friend, the head of a sept, who resided in an ancient baronial castle surrounded with a moat. At midThree loud and distinct knocks at the night Lady Fanshaw was awakened by a bed's head or door of a sick person, or of ghostly and supernatural scream, and, any of his relations, portend that his time looking out of bed, beheld by the moonlight is near at hand. Apparitions of various a female face and part of the form hoverkinds, such as human or supernatural figures ing at the windows. The distance from the beckoning any person towards them, or the ground, as well as the circumstance of the appearance of a white dove hovering round moat, excluded the possibility that what she the house, are also regarded as warnings saw was of this world. The face was that of death. of a young and rather handsome woman, but pale; and the hair, which was reddish, was loose and dishevelled. The dress, which Lady Fanshaw's terror did not prevent her OMENS PORTENDING DEATH. remarking accurately, was that of the ancient LINGERING amongst us on every hand, often A notion is current as well that a child Irish. This apparition continued to exhibit in situations the most unexpected, we find who does not cry when sprinkled in bap- itself for some time, and then vanished with traces of the superstitious sayings and tism will not live, and that children pre- two shrieks familiar to that which had first beliefs of olden days; and no branch of our maturely wise rarely reach maturity. excited Lady Fanshaw's attention. In the folk-lore is clung to with such almost Several of our old families of distinction morning, with infinite terror she communireverential tenacity as those signs and have, according to legendary story, death-cated to her host what she had witnessed, tokens which are held to presage the portents peculiar to themselves. Price, in and found him prepared not only to credit, approach of death. Accustomed as we are, his "Worthies of Devon," alludes to a but to account for the apparition. “A near in this hard-thinking nineteenth century, to family of considerable standing, named relation of my family," said he, "expired heap with ridicule everything that savours Oxenham, who reside at South Yawton, last night in the castle. We disguised our of superstition, we are yet compelled to near Okehampton, before the death of any certain expectation of this event from you, admit that a long, long time will elapse member of which a beautiful white spectral lest it should throw a cloud over the cheerbefore the onward march of intellect has bird is said to be seen for a while fluttering ful reception which was your due. Now, finally eradicated its last remnant from the about the bedside, and then to suddenly before such an event happens in this family minds and hearts of the people. In the vanish. and castle, the female spectre whom you words of the poet,— have seen, always is visible. She is believed to be the spirit of a woman of inferior rank, whom one of my ancestors degraded himself by marrying, and whom afterwards, to expiate the dishonour done to his family, he caused to be drowned in the castle moat." ""Tis a history Handed for ages down; a nurse's tale We propose to bring together within the limits of this paper a number of the most remarkable of these long-cherished and time-honoured premonitions, which have on various occasions come under our notice. This legend is enshrined in a pretty local ballad, but we have only space for one verse : "Poor Margaret now grows cold with death, The phantom bird for her last breath, There is an ancient family in Yorkshire, In the "Peveril of the Peak," Sir Walter of the name of Middleton, which is said to mentions a similar female spirit or banshee, be apprised of death by the apparition of a said to attend on the Stanley family, warnBenedictine nun. Two owls of enormous ing them, by uttering a shriek, of some apThe howling of a dog at night under the size, according to popular belief, premonish proaching calamity; and especially "weepwindow of a sick room is regarded as an the noble family of Arundel of Wardour of ing and bemoaning herself before the death omen of death to its occupant: and an owl approaching mortality-perching on the of any person of distinction belonging to the flapping its wings against the window-pane, battlements of the mansion whenever a family." or screeching without, is held to presage scion of the house is about to die. the same. Antiquarian matters are just now reIn the "Magna Britannica," we read, in ceiving much attention in the provincial The circumstance of rats gnawing the relation to the illustrious Brereton family: newspaper press. Local "Notes and hangings of a room is reckoned the fore-This wonderful thing respecting them is Queries" have recently been commenced in runner of a funeral in the family: and the commonly believed, that for some days several county journals, and all are, we are breaking of a looking-glass is dreaded as before the death of the heir to the estates, glad to say, being well supported. Much a certain sign of speedy death within the valuable matter, which cannot fail to be of service to our future local historians, is thus being collected. Well-written papers on antiquarian and historical subjects are being contributed to several of the leading provincial newspapers. We are pleased to see this interesting branch of our national literature in such increasing favour. house. the trunk of a tree has always been seen "Yes! I have seen the ancient oak On the deep dark water cast, But by that sign too well I know, THOS. B. TROWSDALE. ANTIQUARIAN NATURAL HISTORY. that about twelve months ago brought board a barge near the Folly, against Cupid's HIEROGLYPHICS OF NATURE.-In "The forth three young lions, is now ready to Bridge, alive, and in perfect health, where Beastiary" of Philip de Thaun, written at litter again."-Daily Post, July 16, 1726. he will be show'd to any that have the cuthe commencement of the 12th century, "Aug. 25, 1726. This day the three riosity to see him.-The Daily Post, Aug. very interesting hieroglyphical or emble- young lions lately whelped in the Tower, 13, 1725. matical meanings, chiefly of a religious were carried to Kensington and shewed to THE BUSTARD. In a newspaper advercharacter, are extracted from the habits his Majesty."-Daily Post. tisement, in 1712, of Heydon, near Walden there attributed to animals of all classes. "There is now arrived in London, a huge and Royston, Essex, the seat of Sir Peter An edition of that work, accompanied by a African Lion, lately brought over by an Soame, Bart., deceased, being then to let, it translation by Thomas Wright, was printed English Operator, whose name is Corn- is mentioned that it has large woods, wherefor the Historical Society of London, in 1841. well. He has been 14 years abroad and in is "great plenty of all game, even to the CROCODILE.-There is an old folio engrav-perform'd many notable exploits, particu- bustard and pheasant." ing, by "Ioan. Stradanus," which exhibits larly at the Court of France, where this Within these few days a bustard was four men riding on crocodiles in the Nile, in Lion was presented to him by His Serene killed at Rudstone-on-the-Wolds by a the manner related by Waterton in his Highness the Duke of Bourbon; and since gamekeeper belonging to Sir Griffith BoynWanderings." his arrival in England has performed won-ton. The width of the wings was seven A WHALE IN THE THAMES.-" Whitehall, derful things, particularly at Sudbury in feet over.-Sporting Magazine, Oct., 1792. June 2, 1658. This evening came hither Suffolk, where he rode upon the Lion's OSTRICH. At the Bell-Savage Inn, on divers seamen and watermen, to give an Back, in the publick market-place before Ludgate Hill, is to be seen, the Greatest and account of their having taken a whale in the Mayor and Aldermen and thousands of Noblest Work of Nature of its kind, being a the Thames, not far from Greenwich. It is Spectators on the Coronation Day, and fine large Cock Ostrich, alive. This bird is strange that this kind of monster should drank healths to the King, the Queen, and lately arrived from Barbary, 30 hands high, quit the sea to come up a river, and advance all the Royal Family, firing off pistols at and of a very curious structure; he has but beyond the salt water so far into the fresh. each health."-Daily Post, Nov. 24, 1727. two claws on each foot, yet he walks very He hath lain upon the shore these three Last Friday morning three young lions firm, and with a majestick stateliness, very days at Greenwich Town's end, a spectacle were whelped at the Tower, being the delightful to behold. He will eat iron, of to many thousands of people that have fifth litter produced there from the same which he is very fond, and digest the hardflocked thither to behold him. He is none lion and lioness. - Daily Post, Aug. 12, est of bodies. We recommend the curious of the bigger sort, being supposed but young, 1728. to that passage of Scripture, Job 29, &c. yet about sixty feet long, and carrieth a very Died, Nov. 10, 1758, the oldest lion in There have none of this species of fowl been great bulk in the other dimensions."-Mer- the Tower. He was 68 years old. seen in England since the Reign of King curius Politicus, June 3 to June 10, 1658. Charles II., nor any so large as this ever before. There is also a White Crow, alive; the like hath not been seen since the aforesaid King's Reign. N.B.-The skeleton of the Hen will be exposed with the Cock, in about a week's time.-The Daily Post, Jan. 15, 1725. "The Whale cast ashore near Appledore, in Devonshire, was upwards of fourscore feet in length, and in bulk proportionate, which (as we are informed) required a ladder of eight or ten rounds to get up upon him. The fish being cast ashore dead, the body of it was for the most part given to the poor country people thereabouts, and was by them in three days' time cut in pieces, and carried away, which will be some considerable help to many of them, by helping them to train oyl for burning." -The Protestant Intelligence, Feb. 17, 1679. "A Rhinoceros and Elephant, lately brought to London," are the subject of a mezzotint engraving, sold by Pierce Tempest, in 1684. The skin and skeleton of a Rhinoceros, anatomiz'd and put together (being the only one that was ever brought into or seen in England), now lying at Mr. Thomas Evans's, a shipwrite, near Cuckold's Point in Rotherhith, is to be sold, or lett out to be shown: Enquire of said Mr. Evans; or of Mr. John Barret, at Mr. Martin's, nr. Wapping New Stairs.-Post Boy, May 24-26, 1711. LIONS IN THE TOWER." We are inform'd that the Lions that were in the Tower are dead; and its confidently reported, that Dr. Partridge, the ingenious and worthy astrologer, has prophesied their death is an omen of Peace."-The Post Boy. Jan. 10-13, 1711-12. "Since our last, we have a certain account of the death of all the Lions in the Tower. Just so they all died about the year 1676, in the time of the late Lord Shaftsbury's Hellish Plot, which, by the blessing of God, prov'd abortive, and the King lived many years after."-The Post Boy, Jan. 12-15, 1711-12. "The Lioness in the Tower of London WOLVES IN FRANCE.- "Paris, Sept. 16, 1712.-There are several troops of wolves which do much damage about Orleans, and tear both people and cattle to pieces. They enter the houses, and destroy women and children. One of those ravenous creatures, which had destroyed 53 persons, was lately killed near a country house belonging to the Archbishop of Roan, being pursued by one hundred and fifty peasants. The worst on't is, that we cannot make a General Hunting of those destructive creatures till the vintage be over."-The Flying Post, Sept. 13, 1712. On Wednesday last [July 8, 1724] a Wild Bull and a Cow, a present from the King of Prussia to his Majesty, were carry'd that evening to the paddock in Hyde Park (the enclosed part near Kensington), and his Majesty came there and view'd them. They breed in a wilderness, near Lithuania, and are called by the natives Auer oxen, being a sort of buffaloes, very fierce and strong.-The Daily Post, July 10, 1724 London, Sept. 28, 1724. Several outlandish creatures were brought over on board the St. Quintin, Capt. Bird, lately arrived from Buenos Ayres, as a present from the President of the Factory there, to Sir John Eyles; among which there is a Tyger, Leopard, Antelope, and Wannocks; this latter hath a body like a deer, a long neck and head like a camel, feeds like an ox on hay or grass, chews the cud, is a tame beast, and very harmless, but if any advance near him, he levels his head at him, spits directly in his face, and thereby bedaubes him plentifully, which occasions much diversion to the spectators.-The Daily Post, Sept. 28, 1724. The Sea Dog, brought from Greenland, in one of the South Sea Company's ships (and since reported to be dead), is now on FOWLS.-A few days ago, a Hen, belonging to Mr. Barclay, hatter, in Leith Wynd, Edinburgh, laid an egg of a most surprising figure. One side represents in a very lively manner the human face with all its attitudes in just proportion, and the other side the hind part of the head. Last year this fowl was as black as a raven, but this year she has changed to black and white, in colour more resembling a pyet, or magpie.—London Chronicle, April 9, 1770. Amongst a brood of young chickens hatched last week, at Mr. Sims's, of Bruton, in Dorsetshire, is one with four legs and four wings; it is likely to live, and a great many persons daily call to see this extraordinary lusus naturæ.-The Sun, Sept. 23, 1794. LARGE BIRD.-There is just brought home in the Marquis of Granby East Indiaman, a present as is said to Captain Raymond, of a bird of the first magnitude in the world. Without stretching it can take off anything six feet high. This prodigious fowl seems to be the same described by Dr. Derham, in his "Physico-Theology," under the name of contur or condur of Peru, for size, strength, and appetite.—London Chronicle, July 17-21, 1770. A few days ago, a Cormorant was killed in the neighbourhood of Beverley, out of which, on its being opened, was taken entire a salmon trout, seventeen inches in length, and one pound and a half in weight, which the bird had swallowed.-The Sun, Feb. 26, 1795. In October, 1858, a beautiful specimen of kind remaining no lesse manifest in their twilly coat, and boot shoes: Went away on that very rare bird, the cream-coloured bodies, then affections to women: of which Monday, January 19, from the service of courser (Cursorius Europeus), was shot in there are so many living witnesses, as it John Denne of Littlebourne Court [Kent], to the Hackney Marsh, near the Victoria Sta- were superfluous to endeavour to prove it. whom they are hir'd servants; He does tion. It was in the open marsh, and ran Onely this may be added as a further testi- therefore forbid all Persons from hiring or with incredible swiftness, so as to render it mony; that myself have seen two monkies harbouring them; and whoever takes them very difficult to make it take wing, and thus that for many years did not fail to have up, so as they be brought to Justice, shall secure a better aim. This was the only duly a lunary purgation."-F. Osborn's have 10s. a-piece; but if they return to their specimen that had been shot since the one "Miscellany of Essayes, 1659.)" Master upon this notice, and behave well, that was shot on October 15, 1827. they will be forgiven, paying the Charges, and for Loss of Time.-January, 1756. KENT GLEANINGS. Monday last there was at a house on Tower Hill four brothers, all men of Kent, whose ages put together make 267 years. They had not all been together before since they attended the burial of their father, which is 36 years ago. One of them walked 42 miles last Friday, in his way to town.March, 1762. Margate, May 17, 1762.-The spermaceti and blubber of the four whales, which were ashore at Burchington and BroadStairs, were sold last Wednesday for £374 18s., and that at Deal for £149, which was much more than was expected. BIRDS."I heard it first affirmed by a WONDERS OF NATURE.-"All things are French student in Physick, and known it not beyond the course of nature which verified by my own experience in relation "Monday morning, George Evans, of Lord seem to be extraordinarie; even many to many that all fowle may be eaten (if not Charles Hay's Regiment, was shot on Chatstrange seeming things are wrought by the for delight) in a siege, or time of necessity, ham-hill for Mutiny, having refused to work power of nature. . . . One man may see without danger. Opinion rather then Na- on the New Fortifications, and persuaded the cause when another cannot. God ture having caused a disgust generally most of the Corps to throw away their Tools, Almightie having both set and foreseen the arising against some (of themselves) delicate and leave working."-April, 1756. course of Nature long before, doth now meats, as my self can attest for young bald I, John Dean, in the Borough of Stapleuphold it by his Providence, instrumentally buzzards, sparrow-hawkes, owles, &c. Yet gate, Canterbury, in the Hair Trade this to perform his will. . . . He hath undoubt-in the mean time mushromes, frogs, whelkes, 20 years and upwards, have now prepared edly left his works to be sought out of all snayles, &c., have crawled into the dishes a large quantity of fresh goods, both for those who take pleasure therein; and according of princes, and are daily eaten in their Curl'd and Cut Work, and I likewise have to that portion of sound judgement which Courts for Dainties, which amongst other Rubbish of all kinds. Grizzle and Brown he hath given to every one, they may under- viands not in use amongst our ancestours Cow-tail in Ounces at 3d. per Ounce; Raw stand either more or lesse: for as one are not unlikely to occasion other vapours Hair of all kinds; Perriwig Ribbons; Cauls, starre differeth from another in lustre and then their more unsophisticated food did Weaving Silk, and Mounting Thread; with beautie; so one man's knowledge and alembecke the heads of such orderly persons every article used in Perriwig-making at better judgement transcends not seldome withall, whose dreames if not waking ima- the lowest Rates. Likewise all sort of Staabove the rest." (Swan's "Speculum ginations must needs differ from ours. As tionary.-Feb. 1756. Mundi," 4to., 1643, pp. 342-344, abridged.) I can instance from a repeated experiment COMPARATIVE ANATOMY.-"If any in cu-of my own. Who encouraged, through the riosity desire to make scrutiny into their former French man's confidence, did eat at own originall, I cannot but with Solomon supper a considerable quantity of the greensend them to the Insects for their further woodspite with the long-tongue."-(F. Ossatisfaction, and perswade them to be more born's "Miscellany," 1659.) studious after the causes of such animalls as the sun doth yearly create or regenerate. Nor can any cause of discouragement be DIED, John Hussey, at Sydenham, formerly well apprehended in the prosecution of life's a farmer of Crawford, Kent, aged 116. He originall, through a more curious inspection had lived on balm tea, sweetened with into the production of insects, which once perfectly survey'd and found out, cannot but open a window towards the prospect of our own beginning. Since he that hath They write from Canterbury, that the discovered the spring by which a small Last week, died at Maidstone, aged 34, whole country, from Deal to Dover, has watch is inlived, not to be denyed the neater John Callam, Esq. He is the last of that been very much alarmed at a report that workmanship, cannot in reason be farre to family who brought from Holland, and the son of John Ladd, of the parish of East seek what causeth and continues the opera- settled in Maidstone, the advantageous trade Langdon, between thirteen and fourteen tions of a church-clock; their motions being of manufacturing of thread.-April, 1742. years old, was bewitched. The father and one and the same, no lesse their engines, CHARLTON FAIR.-The 18th instant, being mother of the boy reported that some hunthough bound up in a smaller volume, and St. Luke's day, a large body of cuckolds, dreds of needles and pins worked out of supported by more leggs and feet."-(F. both real and reputed, attended the King, the boy's body; but unluckily they affirmed Osborn's "Miscellany of Essayes," 1659.) the Miller, and his Wife, from Sun-Yard in that the heads came foremost; and they TAIL-LESS DOGS.-F. Osborn, speaking of Bishopsgate Street, to Horn Fair, held at accused the wife of one John Pritchers, of man's power of imprinting new qualities Charlton, in Kent, according to annual cus- West Langdon, a very decent woman, upon animals, says it has "already become tom. The same night a large Press-gang, somewhat in years, of bewitching the said manifest in a succession of doggs whelped with horns on their heads, and two fidlers boy. This attracted great multitudes of without tayles. To which mutilation (at playing before them, march'd from Green-people to East Langdon, by whom money first no question purely humane or meerly wich, through Deptford and Rotherhith, was collected for the pretended unhappy accidentall), Nature hath been so indulgent which drew many spectators of both sexes; boy, and everybody threatened the supposed already, as insteed of an unsightly Bob, to by which stratagem they seiz'd several witch withd estruction. Accordingly on the forme a sharp comely bone like the scut of sailors who came out of their holes to see a deer. Now since we are able to adde to, what was the matter.-Oct. 1742. or diminish from Nature's work, both in reference to body and mind, it cannot appear improbable that many alterations (perhaps greater than we are able to imagine, or ready to believe) have had their flux or reflux often repeated or changed since the beginning, which may render it no improbable opinion (but as true as formerly it hath been common), that apes were of the seed of Cham, or else the by-blowes of some wild stock of humanity: the characters of whose honey, for his breakfast, and pudding for The Royal Anne, a first Rate, now rebuilding at Woolwich, is esteemed the largest ship ever built in Europe; she is to carry 112 brass guns, and 1100 men, is 12 feet wider, and 8 feet more in length than the late unfortunate Victory.-July, 1751. Whereas, Ralph Cousens, about five foot ten inches high, wears a brown wig, a white twilly coat, and had a pair of boot shoes on: And John Dale, about sixteen years of age, wears his own light hair, had on a light 28th of November last, a number of people surrounded the dwelling of John Pritchers, drew his wife out by violence, and compelled her to go to Ladd's house, about a mile from her own, into the room where the boy then lay, he having kept his bed for some time before; where by the assistance of one Richard Beard, the boy, and his mother too, to carry on the farce agreeable to the old notion of drawing blood from a witch, scratched her arm very deep, as did Beard likewise, with great pins, in a most cruel manner, and part of her face also; |