glorious services rendered his country by Field-Marshal Marquis Wellington," with an embossed portrait of the marquis, surrounded by genii and military trophies, and bearing the following inscription :"1813. This Plate is given to celebrate the duration of this Box for One Hundred Years, by Elisha Gard, Thomas Gullan, and George Henry Malme, overseers." Almost every overseer appears to have vied in securing posthumous fame by a presentation of a silver ornament; and hence the cases are crowded with the names of official donors. The top of the second case of the box is engraved to represent the governors and directors of the poor, assembled in their board-room, administering relief, with this inscription : "This plate, and the new case to contain the original box and case, were given by Thomas Bray, and Thomas Hitchen, churchwardens of St. Margaret's; Joseph Smith, Daniel Gwynne, and John Gaunt, overseers of St. Margaret and of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster; who also repaired the box and the case. The original box and cases to be delivered to every succeeding set of overseers, on penalty of fifty guineas. 1783."

From the manner in which the Society's Tobacco-Box and its cases have been annually entrusted to different overseers, without control as to the kind of ornaments required to be added, or the efficiency of the artists employed to execute them, the embellishments are of varied design and execution, and not of equal merit. The gem of the collection is undoubtedly the engraving of the old Duke of Cumberland, by Hogarth, upon a plate, within the lid of the original hornbox.

Hav

Notwithstanding the precautions adopted by the past overseers' society, for the preservation of their Tobacco-Box and its adjuncts, its safety was endangered while it was in the custody of Mr. William Gilbert, the senior overseer, 1785. ing a party of friends to dine with him, he produced the box for their inspection, and after their departure in the evening the dining-room was entered by thieves, who carried off every article of plate which had been used. Very fortunately Mr. Gilbert, under a due sense of the trust reposed in him, had previously removed the society's Tobacco-Box.

Nine years afterwards, the TobaccoBox was still more jeopardized by the conduct of another keeper. In 1793, Mr.

Per

James Read, the overseer on whom its custody had devolved, refused to attend the annual meeting of the past overseers' society in the spring of that year, when, according to customary usage, it became his duty to surrender his deposit, for the purpose of its being transferred to his successor in office. Mr. Read alleged, as a reason for his non-attendance, that the vestry had refused to pass his accounts, and he menaced the society with the destruction of their Tobacco-Box. sisting in his contumacy, and repeating his threat, the society, in the name of its members, brought an action against him for the recovery of their Tobacco-Box, and a verdict in their favor was reckoned upon as certain; but two recreant members of the society, Mr. Simeon Handley and Mr. George Byfield, unexpectedly gave Mr. Read a release, which, as they were plaintiffs, he successfully pleaded in bar to the action. Foiled by this unexpected turn of the law, the society resolved upon an appeal to equity. They accordingly filed a bill inChancery against Mr. Read, in which they included Mr. Handley and Mr. Byfield, as defendants; and fearing, that pending the proceedings, Mr. Read would destroy the box, as he had threatened, they plied to the court to compel Mr. Read to deliver it to a master in chancery for safe keeping; and the court, in tender consideration of the premises, ordered Mr. Read to deposit the TobaccoBox in the office of Master Leeds, there to abide the event of the suit. It may be reasonably considered, that during the absence of their Tobacco-Box, the past overseers' society held their usual monthly and annual meetings with as little comfort and order as either house of parliament without the authoritative presence of a mace. Three long years of litigation and disquietude the members endured, until, upon the 5th of March, 1796, the important cause, "The Past Overseers Society of the joint parishes of St. Margaret and St. John the Evangelist, against Read, Handley, and Byfield," came on for decision. Upon hearing the arguments of counsel on both sides, Loughborough, Lord Chancellor, decreed, “That the Tobacco-Box and Cases should be restored to the plaintiffs, that the defendants should pay the costs of the suit in that court, and that the defendant Read should pay the plaintiffs their costs at law;" the total amount of which was about £300. Under this decree, the society recovered their

Tobacco-Box, with costs of suit; but, by the refractory and illegal proceedings of Mr. Read, they had incurred extra costs, which amounted to £76 13s. 11d. To defray that sum, they commenced a subscription among themselves, and so cheerfully did the members contribute, that they raised £91 7s. Od., and with the surplus repaired the Tobacco-Box, and added a new octagon case to it, forming the third. To record the detention of the box, their memorable struggle, and their signal victory, the top of the new case was honored with a silver plate, upon which was engraved a figure of Justice trampling upon a prostrate man, whose face, from which a mask drops upon a writhing serpent, is evidently the portrait of their vanquished antagonist; the inscription upon this representation is, "Justice triumphant! Fraud defeated! The Box restored!" A second plate on the outside of the flylid, in the top of the new case, bears an engraving of the Court of Chancery, with counsel pleading before the Chancellor, inscribed in capital letters, "THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S DECREE, RESTORE the BOX to the PAST OVERSEERS' SOCIETY." On a third plate, withinside the fly-lid, is inscribed, "This Plate and the Case were added by the Society," and the inscription records the circumstances relating to their suit in Chancery, and its successful termination.

To these particulars concerning the original Tobacco-Box, it is proper to add, that at the bottom of the fourth case, which is the outer one, there is a large circular view of the members of the society at a table, taking wine, and attending to the proceedings of their chairman. The scene may be imagined from the inscription upon the plate, which runs thus, "The Anniversary Meeting of the Past Overseers' Society, with theChurchwarden giving the Charge, previous to delivering the Box to the succeeding Overseer." The outer case, inclosing the box, with its other cases, is represented at the head of the table before the churchwarden, who, with his right hand on the case, is in the attitude of giving the "charge" to the "succeeding overseer."

The ceremonies attending this annual transmission of the Tobacco-Box from one overseer to another, testify, in the strongest manner, the solicitude of the society for its preservation. The transfer takes place after dinner, at the general meeting held by the society, upon the ap

pointment of the new overseers, when, as at all other meetings of the society, the senior churchwarden of St. Margaret's presides. After having proposed some of the usual toasts, he demands the restoration of the society's Tobacco-Box, with its appurtenances, from the senior overseer superseded that day. Upon compliance with this demand, the secretary proceeds to examine and report whether they are in as good state and condition as when they were delivered; whether any and what ornament had been added; and whether the original box contains the proper quantity of tobacco. If the report be satisfactory, the box is placed before the chairman, and he proposes for a toast, "The late overseers of the poor, with thanks to them for their care of the box, and the additional ornaments." He then enquires of the new senior overseer, whether he is willing to accept the Tobacco-Box and cases upon the usual conditions; upon whose assent, they are delivered to him by the chairman, with the following Charge:-"THIS Box, and the several Cases, are the property of the Past Overseers' Society, and delivered into your custody and care, upon condition that they are produced at all parochial entertainments which you shall be invited to, or have a right to attend, and shall contain three pipes of tobacco at the least, under the penalty of six bottles of claret. And, also, upon condition that you shall restore the Box, with the several cases belonging to it, to the Society, in as good a state as the same now are, with some additional ornament, at the next meeting thereof, after you shall go out of office, or sooner, if demanded, under the penalty of two hundred guineas." Immediately after the delivery of the charge with the box, the chairman proposes as a toast, "The new Overseers, wishing them health to go through their office." This toast concludes the ceremony.

Owing to the continued increase in weight and bulk, from successive additions of cases and ornamental plates to the box, it has become inconvenient for the overseer entrusted with its possession to produce the whole on every occasion, according to the original regulations; he is, therefore, now required to produce at the evening meetings the original box, with only one case; but it must be produced with all its cases at the annual dinner, or when the overseers are invited to dine with the churchwardens. The

high estimation in which it is held by the members, is derived from its being the most valuable and authentic monument of the society from its first institution, and from bringing to recollection many acquaintances now no more, who once belonged to the festive circle, and enlivened it with their wit and humor. Above all, it reminds the society of the unanimity and social feeling which have hitherto distinguished the chief agents in the administration of the parochial concerns, and which, in the language of the society's historiographer, "all are bound to perpetuate, who enroll themselves under the standard of the TOBACCO-Box."

After Christmas day, during the remainder of December, there is a Presepio, or representation of the manger in which our Saviour was laid, to be seen in many of the churches at Rome. That of the Ara Cœli is best worth seeing; which church occupies the site of the temple of Jupiter, and is adorned with some of its beautiful pillars.

On entering, we found daylight completely excluded from the church; and, until we advanced, we did not perceive the artificial light, which was so managed as to stream in fluctuating rays, from intervening silvery clouds, and shed a radiance over the lovely babe and bending mother, who, in the most graceful attitude, lightly holds up the drapery which half conceals her sleeping infant from the bystanders. He lies in richly embroidered swaddling clothes, and his person, as well as that of his virgin mother, is ornamented with diamonds and other precious stones; for which purpose, we are informed, the princesses and ladies of high rank lend their jewels. Groups of cattle grazing, peasantry engaged in different occupations, and other objects, enliven the picturesque scenery; every living creature in the group, with eyes directed towards the Presepio, falls prostrate in adoration. In the front of

this theatrical representation a little girl, about six or eight years old, stood on a bench, preaching extempore, as it appeared, to the persons who filled the church, with all the gesticulation of a little actress, probably in commemoration of those words of the psalmist quoted by our blessed Lord — "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." In this manner the Scriptures are acted; not “read, marked, and inwardly digested." The whole scene had, however, a striking effect, well calculated to work upon the minds of a people whose religion consists so largely in outward show.*

CORNISH MIDSUMMER FIRES.

I

An immemorial and peculiar custom prevails on the sea-coast of the western extremity of Cornwall, of kindling large bonfires on the evening of June 24; and on the next day the country people, assembling in great crowds, amuse themselves with excursions on the water. cannot help thinking it the remains of an ancient Druidical festival, celebrated on midsummer-day, to implore the friendly influence of heaven on their fields, compounded with that of the first of May, when the Druids kindled large fires on all their sacred places, and on the tops of all their cairns, in honor of Bel, or Belinus, the name by which they distinguished the sun, whose revolving course had again clothed the earth with beauty, and diffused joy and gladness through the creation. Their water parties on the 24th prove that they consider the summer season as now so fully established, that they are not afraid to commit themselves to the mercy of the waves. If we reflect on the rooted animosity which subsisted between the Romans and Druids, and that the latter, on being expelled from their former residences, found, together with the miserable remnants of the Britons, an asylum in the naturally fortified parts of the island, we shall not be surprised at their customs having been faintly handed down through such a long succession of ages. Cornwall was one of their retreats is sufficiently proved by the numerous remains of their circular temples, cromlechs, cairns, &c. Even in the eleventh century, when Christianity was become the national religion, the people were so attached to

A narrative of three years in Italy.

That

their ancient superstitions, that we find a law of Canute the great strictly prohibiting all his subjects from paying adoration to the sun, moon, sacred groves and woods, hallowed hills and fountains. If, then, this propensity to idolatry could not be rooted out of those parts of the kingdom exposed to the continual influx of foreigners, and the horrors of frequent war, how much more must it have flourished in Cornwall, and those parts where the Druids long preserved their authority and influence. It may, therefore, be fairly inferred that, from their remote situation, and comparative insignificancy with the rest of England, they preserved those religious solemnities unmolested; and, corrupted as they must naturally be by long usage and tradition, yet are handed down to us to this day with evident marks of a Druidical origin.*

"In this quarter of the town the curious are likewise invited to visit an antique pot-house, known by the historical sign of Whittington and his Cat.+ Here that laborious Antiquarian Mr. Thomas Hearne one evening suffered himself to be overtaken in liquor. But it should be remembered that this accident was more owing to his love of antiquity than of ale. It happened that the kitchen where he and his companion were sitting was neatly paved with sheep's trotters, disposed in various compartments. After one pipe, Mr. Hearne, consistently with his usual gravity and sobriety, proposed to depart; but his friend, who was inclined to enjoy more of his company, artfully observed that the floor on which they were then sitting was no less than an original tessel

* Gents. Mag. April, 1795.

lated Roman pavement. Out of respect to classic ground, and on recollection that the Stunsfield Roman pavement, on which he had just published a dissertation, was dedicated to Bacchus, our antiquary cheerfully complied: an enthusiastic transport seized his imagination; he fell on his knees and kissed the sacred earth; on which, in a few hours and after a few tankards, by a sort of sympathetic attraction, he was obliged to repose for some part of the evening. His friend was probably in the same condition; but two printers accidentally coming in conducted Mr. Hearne, betwixt them, to Edmund, Hall, with much state and solemnity."

Then follows a print of " this unusual procession," which is aptly denominated "a lively representation from an original

kindly communicated by Mr. Daniel Prince," the Oxford bookseller, of whom there is a preceding notice. In the "Oxford Sausage" there is merely the following ical poem on Warton's prose satire :

EPISTLE FROM THOMAS HEARNE, ANTIQUARY, TO THE AUTHOR OF THE COMPANION TO THE OXFORD GUIDE, &c.