Chapter LXVII: Act II: Scene III (1)

King of Egypt fights, and is killed.

_Enter Prince George._

Oh! what is here? oh! what is to be done?
Our king is slain, the crown is likewise gone;
Take up his body, bear it hence away,
For in this place no longer shall it stay.

_The Conclusion._

Bouncer Buckler, velvet’s dear,
And Christmas comes but once a year,
Though when it comes it brings good cheer,
But farewell Christmas once a year.
Farewell, farewell, adieu! friendship and unity,
I hope we have made sport, and pleas’d the company;
But, gentlemen, you see we’re but actors four,
We’ve done our best, and the best can do no more.

HORNCHURCH.

_For the Every-Day Book._

On Christmas-day, the following custom has been observed at Hornchurch, in Essex, from time immemorial. The lessee of the tithes, which belong to New College, Oxford, supplies a boar’s head dressed, and garnished with bay-leaves, &c. In the afternoon, it is carried in procession into the Mill Field, adjoining the church-yard, where it is wrestled for; and it is afterwards feasted upon, at one of the public-houses, by the rustic conqueror and his friends, with all the merriment peculiar to the season. And here it may be observed, that there is another custom, at this place, of having a model of an ox’s head, with horns, affixed on the top of the eastern end of the chancel of the church. A few years ago it had been suffered to fall into decay; but in the year 1824 it was renewed by the present vicar. This church formerly belonged to the convent on Mount St. Bernard in Savoy; and it has been suggested, that the ox’s head, with the horns, may perhaps be the arms or crest of the convent, and that the custom, as well as the name of the place, originated from that circumstance. I shall be happy to be informed whether this suggestion be founded on matter of fact; and if not, to what other cause the custom can be assigned.

IGNOTUS.

* * * * *

Of the ancient doings of Christmas, there is a bountiful imagining, by a modern writer, in the subjoined verses:--

The great King Arthur made a sumptuous feast,
And held his Royal Christmas at Carlisle,
And thither came the vassals, most and least,
From every corner of this British Isle;
And all were entertained, both man and beast,
According to their rank, in proper style;
The steeds were fed and littered in the stable
The ladies and the knights sat down to table.

The bill of fare (as you may well suppose)
Was suited to those plentiful old times,
Before our modern luxuries arose,
With truffles and ragouts, and various crimes;
And therefore, from the original in prose
I shall arrange the catalogue in rhymes:
They served up salmon, venison, and wild boars
By hundreds, and by dozens, and by scores.

Hogsheads of honey, kilderkins of mustard,
Muttons, and fatted beeves, and bacon swine;
Herons and bitterns, peacocks, swan, and bustard,
Teal, mallard, pigeons, widgeons, and in fine
Plum-puddings, pancakes, apple-pies, and custard
And therewithal they drank good Gascon wine,
With mead, and ale, and cider of our own;
For porter, punch, and negus, were not known.

All sorts of people there were seen together,
All sorts of characters, all sorts of dresses;
The fool with fox’s tail and peacock’s feather,
Pilgrims, and penitents, and grave burgesses;
The country people with their coats of leather,
Vintners and victuallers with cans and messes;
Grooms, archers, varlets, falconers, and yeomen,
Damsels and waiting-maids, and waiting-women.

WHISTLECRAFT.

SUBTERRANEAN CHRISTMAS BELLS.

_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._

Dear Sir,--Near Raleigh, in Nottinghamshire, there is a valley, said to have been caused by an earthquake several hundred years ago, which swallowed up a whole village, together with the church.

Formerly, it was a custom for people to assemble in this valley, on Christmas-day morning, _to listen to the ringing of the bells of the church beneath them_! This it was positively asserted might be heard by putting the ear to the ground, and harkening attentively. Even now, it is usual on Christmas morning for old men and women to tell their children and young friends to go to the valley, stoop down, and hear the bells ring merrily.

I am, &c.

C. T.

CHRISTMAS AT CHRIST’S HOSPITAL.

In an Essay on Christ’s Hospital, “Let me have leave to remember,” says Mr. Lamb, “the festivities at Christmas, when the richest of us would club our stock to have a gaudy day, sitting round the fire, replenished to the height with logs; and the pennyless, and he that could contribute nothing, partook in all the mirth, and in some of the substantialities of the feasting; the carol sung by night at that time of the year, which, when a young boy, I have so often laid awake from seven (the hour of going to bed) till ten, when it was sung by the older boys and monitors, and have listened to it in their rude chanting, till I have been transported to the fields of Bethlehem, and the song which was sung at that season by the Angels’ voices to the shepherds.”

NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.

Mean Temperature 37·57.

[555] Bellman’s Treasury.

~December 26.~

ST. STEPHEN.

For some remarkable observances on this festival, see vol. i. 1643.

GEORGE BARNWELL.

The representation of this tragedy was omitted in the Christmas holidays of 1819, at both the Theatres, for the first time.

* * * * *

When Mr. Ross performed the character of _George Barnwell_, in 1752, the son of an eminent merchant was so struck with certain resemblances to his own perilous situation, (arising from the arts of a real _Millwood_,) that his agitation brought on a dangerous illness, in the course of which he confessed his error, was forgiven by his father, and was furnished with the means of repairing the pecuniary wrongs he had privately done his employer. Mr. Ross says, “Though I never knew his name, or saw him to my knowledge, I had for nine or ten years, at my benefit, a note sealed up with ten guineas, and these words--“A tribute of gratitude from one who was highly obliged, and saved from ruin, by witnessing Mr. Ross’s performance of _George Barnwell_.””

* * * * *

This year, 1742, celebrated in dramatic annals as the year wherein Mr. Garrick first appeared on the stage, the theatrical season at Goodman’s-fields was 169 nights; Garrick played 159 nights; and, it is remarkable that the theatre was open on _Christmas-day_. The play was the “Fop’s Fortune,” and Garrick performed _Clodio_.

NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.

Mean Temperature 38·40.

~December 27.~

ST. JOHN.

For wine manchets on this festival to preserve the eaters from poison annually, see vol. i. 1647.

THE CLAYEN CUP.

_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._

_January 12, 1825._

Sir,--In your account of the ceremonies now practised in Devon at Christmas, regarding the apple-trees,[556] you are wrong in calling it a “_clayen_ cup,” it should be a _clome_ or _clomen_ cup: thus all earthenware shops and china shops are called by the middling class and peasantry clome or clomen shops, and the same in markets where earthenware is displayed in Devon, are called clome-standings. I feel assured you will place this note to the right account, a desire that so useful and interesting a work should be as perfect as possible.

Perhaps the spirit of Christmas is kept up more in Devon, even now, than in any other part of England.

I am, &c.

AN EXONIAN.

NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.

Mean Temperature 36·75.

[556] See vol. i. 41.

~December 28.~

INNOCENTS.

How children were annually whipped on this festival, and of its reputed luck as a day, see vol. i. 1648.

NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.

Mean Temperature 36·10.

~December 29.~

“CHRISTMAS GAMBOLS.”

A play, with this title, appears to have once existed in MS. It is noticed in an early quarto auction catalogue, printed before 1700, though unfortunately without a title, _penes me_; the catalogue contains a rich sprinkling of English poetry, and this play, with others, occurs in Lot 40, amid a rare, though not very copious collection of old plays and miscellaneous tracts.

J. H. B.

NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.

Mean Temperature 38·35.

~December 30.~

The following communication, though relating to an earlier period of the year, is now inserted, in order to include it, as its subject requires, in the present work.

AVINGHAM FAIR AND SPORTS.

_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._

Sir,--As I have frequently derived much pleasure from the amusing descriptions of local customs in your _Every-Day Book_, I take the liberty of forwarding some reminiscences of customs which existed when I first drew halfpence from my breeches pockets, and which still remain in the north of England; I allude to a fair held at Avingham, a small hamlet situated on the banks of the Tyne, about twelve miles west of Newcastle.

Avingham fair is on the 26th of April and 26th of October. Formerly, an agricultural society awarded prizes to the successful candidates for the breed of horses, cows, sheep, &c. The _April_ cattle show was entirely of the male kind, and in every respect calculated to afford pleasure and instruction to the naturalist, being replete with variety, form, colour, and as much beauty as could be found in that part of the animal creation; so much so, that in turning from the scene with reluctance, you might exclaim, “Accuse not nature, she hath done her part; man, do thou but _thine_.” Morland, Potter, Cooper, and Bewick[557] might _all_ have found variety for the exercise of their several powers; and, indeed, the latter has given portraits of many of the specimens there exhibited, in his “History of Quadrupeds.” The _October_ show was of the female kind, and inferior to the former. At this meeting, two additional prizes were given; one to the grower of the finest crop of turnips, which was decided by taking so many rows of a given number of yards in length, and weighing them; the other was the sum of ten pounds, to the person who could prove that he had reared the largest family without assistance from the parish. The privilege of contest was confined to hinds (husbandmen.)

The fair is principally for the sale of cattle, and the show is not greater than that of Smithfield on market-day, excepting pigs, which here and at Stainshaw (Stagshaw) bank fairs supply the principal stock to the Cumberland and Westmoreland pig feeders. In the morning a procession moves from the principal alehouse for the purpose of _riding the fair_, as they call it, headed by the two Northumberland pipers, called _the duke of Northumberland’s pipers_, in a light blue dress, a large cloak of the same colour with white cape, a silver half-moon on one arm as a _cognizance_, and white band and binding to the hat. Each is mounted on a rosinante, borrowed, without consent, by the busy hostler from some whiskey smuggler or cadger, reconciled to the liberty by long custom. Those who have noticed the miller and his horse in Stothard’s picture of the “Pilgrimage to Canterbury,” may form a tolerable notion of the manner in which this “Jemmy Allen” and son are mounted; the accompanying sketch, from recollection, may more conveniently illustrate my description:

And what have those _troopers_ to do here to-day?
The duke of Northumberland’s _pipers_ are they.

The pipers, followed by the duke’s agent, bailiff, constable, and a numerous body of farmers, principally the duke’s tenantry, proceed first through the fair, where the proclamation is read, that the fair shall last nine days, &c.;[558] and then, the duke being lord of the manor, they walk the boundary of all that is or has been common or waste land. That task completed, they return to the alehouse with the pipers playing before them, where they partake freely of store of punch at the duke’s expense. The farmers are so proud of being able to express their attachment to his grace “_in public_,” as they term it, that they mount their sons on cuddies, (asses,) rather than they should not join the procession, to drink with them “the health o’ his grace, and lang may he leeve ta pratect and study the interests o’ his tanentry.” Then there’s “Here’s te ye Tam, thank’s te ye Joke,” and so they separate for the fair, there to “settle how mickle per heed they con git for their nowte an swine.”

Avingham fair, like others, is attended by many a “gaberlunzie,” with different kinds of amusement for children, such as the “E and O, black-cock and grey;” and, above all, for the amusement of the pig drivers and “gadsmen,” Punch and Toby, (so called by them,) and a number of those gentlemen who vomit fire, as if they had swallowed the wicks of all the candles they had snuffed for Richardson. Many of those worthies I recollect having attended ever since I was able to see above the level of their stalls. At my last visit, I was much amused with one who seemed to have been just arrived from the sister kingdom; he was surrounded by ploughboys and their doxeys, their cheeks as red as their topknots. He had a large pan suspended from his neck, and, as the girls observed, a “skimmering” white apron and bib, and he bellowed as loud as he could, “Hearse a’ yer rale dandy candy, made ap wa’ sugar an brandy, an tha rale hoile a mint; it’s cood far young ar hold, cough or cold, a shortness a’ breath, ar a pain at tha stamach, it’s cood far hany camplaint whatsamever; A, fate! an yil try it:--noo leddies, hif ye try it, an yer sure ta buy it.” And sure enough this was the case, for whatever might be its qualities, it pleased the “leddies,” who purchased in such abundance, that they besmeared their faces so as to destroy that rosy red, love’s proper hue, which dwells upon the cheeks of our northern rustic beauties.

I must not forget to mention that the October fair is more numerously attended by those who go for pleasure. Unlike the southern holyday folks, they prefer autumn for this reason, that “hearst” is just ended, and they have then most money, which, with the “leddies,” is generally expended in dress suitable to this and similar occasions. After baking a sufficient number of barley bannocks for the following day, and the milk set up, they throw off their “linsey-woolsey petticoats,” and “hale made bed-goons” for a gown, a good specimen of their taste, in the two warmest colours, a red flower or stripe upon a yellow ground, and as much of a third colour round the waste, as would make them vie with Iris. In this butterfly state they hasten to the scene of mirth, and most of them dance till they have reason to suppose it is time to “gang hame, an git a’ ready be’ crowdie time.” The style of dancing is the same as in Scotland, country dances, reels, jigs, and hornpipes; the last mentioned is much admired. No merry-making is allowed to pass over without some rural “admirable Crichton” having shown his agility in this step. The hornpipe is introduced between each country dance, while “Love blinks, wit sleeps, an’ social mirth forgets their’s care upon the earth.” The following day is called by the inhabitants “gwonny Jokesane’s” day; why so is not known; all they know is, that it is and has been so called since the recollection of the oldest alive; and that is sufficient to induce them to continue a custom, which is peculiar to it, as follows. When a sufficient number have assembled, they elect what they are pleased to call a mayor, who they mount upon a platform, which is borne along by four men, headed by the musician that attended the preceding evening, and followed by a number of bailiffs with white “wans,” and all the men, wives, maids, and white-headed urchins in the village. Thus, all in arms, they proceed first to the minister’s house, and strike up a dance in front. His worship, “the mayor,” as a privileged person, sometimes evinces a little impatience, and if the minister has not made his appearance, demands to speak to him. On his advancing, “his worship” begins thus, “A yes! twa times a yes! an’ three times a yes! If ony man, or ony man’s man, lairds, loons, lubburdoons, dogs, skelpers, gabbrigate swingers, shall commit a parliament as a twarliament, we, in the township o’ Avingham, shall hea his legs, an heed, tied ta tha cagwheel, till he say yence, twice, thrice, prosper the fair o’ Avingham, an’ gwonny Jokesane’s day.” This harangue, however ridiculous, is always followed with cheering, in which their good-tempered pastor freely joins, with his hat above his head, and stepping forward, shakes “his worship” by the hand, giving him a cordial welcome, trusting he will not leave the manse till he takes a “drap a yel, a’ his ain brewin.” This is of course acceded to. The ale being handed round in plenty, and being found to be good, “an’ what is na guid that the minister hes,” they engage themselves for some time, “while news much older than their ale goes round.” The musicians meanwhile play such airs as “The Reel Rawe,” “The Bonny Bit,” “Laddie Wylam away,” &c. The dance goes round, “the young contending as the old survey,” until silence is called, when “his worship” gives as a toast, “Health, wealth, milk, and meal, the de’al tak ye a’ thot disent wish him (the minister) weal--hip! hip! huzza!” Raising “his worship” shoulder height again, they proceed round the village, repeating their gambols in front of every respectable house where they meet with a similar reception.

After this, foot-racing commences, for hats, handkerchiefs, and (as Mathews calls them) she-shirts. The several races run and prizes distributed, they return to the last and gayest of their mirthful scenes, not without bestowing some little pains in selecting colours calculated to give the finishing touches to the picture.

“Wi’ merry sangs, an’ friendly cracks,
I wat they did na weary;
An’ unco tales, an’ funny jokes,
Their sports were cheap an’ cheary.

* * * * *

Syne, wi’ a social glass o’ strunt,
They parted aff careerin,
Fu’ blythe that night.”

So ends the fair of Avingham and its sports, which was to me, “in my youthful days,” a source of great amusement, but whether it is in comparing the present with the past, from a consciousness of having

“Dealt with life, as children with their play,
Who first misuse, then cast their toys away,”

that we do not derive the same pleasure from what passes before us in maturer age; or whether, in boyhood, the impressions of such trifles as I have related are deeper rooted in the memory; yet, certain it is, whatever be our situation in life, we all come to the conclusion, that our early days were our happiest.

I am, &c.

J--N J--K--N.

BATH ANECDOTES.

_A Member for the City_, 1645.

In December 1645, the following letter was sent by the mayor and first alderman of Bath, to sir John Harrington, announcing their design of electing him one of their representatives, entreating him to accept the trouble thereof. The bold eagerness with which a seat in parliament is _solicited_ now, and the modest coyness that marked the conduct of those who were _called_ to that honour in the early part of the seventeenth century, strikingly contrast. The person chosen at that period to represent a county or city, was generally allowed a gratuity by his constituents in consideration of his trouble.

COPY.

_To our muche honoured and worthie Friend, John Harrington, Esq. at
his house at Kelstone, near Bathe._

Worthie Sir,

Out of the long experience we have had of your approved worth and sincerity, our citie of Bathe have determined and settled their resolutions to elect you for a burgess for the House of Commons in this present parliament, for our said citie, _and do hope you will accept the trouble thereof_; which if you do, our desire is, you will not fail to be with us at Bathe on Monday next, the _eighth of this instant, by eight of the morning, at the furthest_, for then we proceed to our election: and of your determination we entreat you to certify us by a word or two in writing, and send it by the bearer to

Your assured loving friends,

JOHN BIGG, the maior,

WILLIAM CHAPMAN.

_Bathe, Dec. 6, 1645._

SIR JOHN’S ACCOUNT OF HIS PROCEEDINGS.

_A Note of my Bathe businesse aboute the Parliament._

Saturday, Dec. 26th 1646 went to Bathe, and dined with the maior and citizens, conferred about my election to serve in parliament, as my father was helpless, and ill able to go any more; went to the George inn at night, met the bailiffs, and desired to be dismissed from serving, _drank strong beer and metheglin_, expended about _iijs_, went home late, but could not get excused, as they entertained a good opinion of my father.

Monday, Dec. 28th went to Bathe, met sir John Horner, we were chosen by the citizens to serve for the city. The maior and citizens conferred about parliament busines. _The maior promised sir John Horner and myself a horse apiece_, when we went to London to the parliament, _which we accepted of_, and we talked about the synod and ecclesiastical dismissions. I am to go again on Thursday, and meet the citizens about all such matters, and take advice therein.

Thursday 31st, went to Bathe, Mr. Ashe preached. Dined at the George inn with the maior and four citizens, spent at dinner _vjs_ in wine.

Laid out in victuals at the George inn _xjs_ 4_d._

Laid out in drinking _vijs ijd_.

Laid out in tobacco and drinking vessels, _iiijs_ 4_d._

Jan. 1st, _My father gave me_ £4 _to pay my expenses at Bathe_.

_Mr. Chapman the maior came to Kelston, and returned thanks for my being chosen to serve in parliament, to my father, in name of all the citizens._ My father gave me good advice, touching my speaking in parliament as the city should direct me. Came home late at night from Bathe, much troubled hereat, concerning my proceeding truly, for men’s good report and mine own safety.

Note. I gave the city messengers _ijs_ for bearing the maior’s letters to me. Laid out in all £3 _vijs for victuals, drink and horse hire, together with divers gifts_.

SUFFERING A RECOVERY.

In December, 1822, a poor man made application to the Bath forum magistrates, and stated that six months prior, he had bought the goods and chattels of a neighbour, together with his _wife_, for the sum of four pounds ten shillings, for which he produced a regular stamped receipt.

The man had spent all the money and wanted to have his wife back again, but he refused to part with her. The magistrates told him he had no claim to her, and advised him to deliver her up to her husband, which he at last reluctantly did. The following is a true copy of the stamped receipt.

“RECEIVED of Edward Gale, the sum of four pounds ten shillings, for good and chattels; and also the black mare and Mrs. Naish, as parting man and wife. As agreed before witnesses this 8th December, 1822.

“WITNESS, the mark of Edward Pulling X Mary Gale, George Lansdowne, and Edward Gale.

“_Settled the whole concern_,

By me John Naish.”

NINE MEN’S MORRIS.

_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._

_Ludgate-hill, 10th Nov. 1826._

Dear Sir,--I was much pleased on reading and being reminded of an ancient game in your book, called _Ninepenny-marl_; a game I had scarcely heard of during the last twenty years, although perfectly familiar to me in my boyish days, and played exactly the same as described by your correspondent P.[559]

I have since visited my native county, Norfolk, and find the game is still played by the rustics, and called, as it always has been there, “the game of _Morris_,” or “_Nine Men’s Morris_.” The scheme is frequently chalked on the ground or barn floors, and the game played with different coloured stones or beans. I think the name is more appropriate than “Ninepenny-marl;” and moreover, we of Norfolk have the authority of our immortal bard in his “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where the queen of the fairies, speaking to Oberon, says, “The _Nine Men’s Morris_ is filled up with mud.”

There are some men who are not a little proud at being proficients at this game. I heard an anecdote at North Walsham of a man named Mayes, still living in that neighbourhood, who is so great a lover of the pastime, that a wager was laid by some wags, that they would prevent his going to church, by tempting him to play; and, in order to accomplish their purpose, they got into a house, building by the road side, where Mayes was sure to pass. Being a great psalm-singer, he had a large book under his arm; they called him in to settle some disputed point about the game, and he was very soon tempted to play, and continued to do so till church time was over, and got a good scolding from his wife for being too late for dinner.

I have been led to make these remarks from the pleasure I have derived from your publication; and you may excuse me, perhaps, if I add, with a smile, that I have found some amusement in the game of Morris, by playing it with my chess men: it requires more art to play it well, than you would imagine at first sight.

I am, dear sir,

Yours sincerely,

T. B.

* * * * *

With almost the same pleasure that room has been made for this letter, from a well-remembered kind neighbour, will his communication be read in Norfolk by his fellow-countrymen.

He graces it from charmed metre, but
I (spoil’d of Shakspeare’s line) take prose from Strutt.

The erudite historian of the “Sports and Pastimes of the People of England,” says, that “_Merelles_, or, as it was formerly called in England, _Nine Men’s Morris_, and also _Fivepenny Morris_, is a game of some antiquity.” He gives a figure of the “Merelle-table,” as it appeared in the fourteenth century, the lines of which are similar to those in the scheme of “_Ninepenny Marl_,” engraved with the account of the game communicated by *, *, P., with only this difference, that at each corner, formed by the angles and intersections, are black spots.

The game is played in France with pawns or men, made on purpose, termed _merelles_: hence the pastime derived that denomination. The manner of playing is briefly thus: two persons, each having nine men, different in colour and form, for distinction sake, place them alternately one by one upon the spots; and the business of either party is to prevent his antagonist from placing three of his pieces so as to form a row of three, without the intervention of an opponent piece. If he forms a row he takes one of his antagonist’s pieces from any part, except from a row, which must not be touched if he have another piece on the board. When all the pieces are laid down, they are played backwards and forwards in any direction that the lines run, but they can only move from one spot to another at one time. He that takes all his opponent’s pieces is the conqueror.

The rustic players of “Nine Men’s Morris,” in England, who draw their lines on the ground, make a small hole for every dot, and play in them with stones of different forms or colours. The pastime is supposed to have derived the appellation of “Nine Men’s Morris,” from the different coloured men being moved backwards or forwards as though they were dancing a morris.[560]

NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.

Mean Temperature 38·70.

[557] The small cottage wherein Bewick was born, stands at a short
distance from this village (Avingham.)

[558] It never continues longer than one day.

[559] At col. 983.

[560] Strutt.

~December 31.~

TO DECEMBER.

The passing year, all grey with hours,
Ends, dull month, with thee;
Chilled his summer, dead his flowers,
Soon will his funeral be;
Frost shall drink up his latest breath,
And tempests rock him into death.

How he shivers! from his age
All his leaves have faded,
And his weary pilgrimage
Ends at last unaided
By his own sun that dims its ray,
To leave him dark in his decay.

Hark! through the air the wild storm bears
In hollow sounds his doom,
While scarce a star its pale course steers
Athwart the sullen gloom;
And Nature leaves him to his fate,
To his grey hairs a cold ingrate.

She goes to hail the coming year,
Whose spring-flowers soon shall rise--
Fool, thus to shun an old friend’s bier,
Nor wisely moralize
On her own brow, where age is stealing
Many a scar of time revealing:--

Quench’d volcanoes, rifted mountains,
Oceans driven from land,
Isles submerged, and dried up fountains,
Empires whelm’d in sand--
What though her doom be yet untold--
Nature, like Time, is waxing old!

_New Monthly Magazine._

NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.

Mean Temperature 37·50.

* * * * *

THE INDEXES TO THE VOLUME WILL END THE EVERY-DAY BOOK.

On taking leave, as Editor of this work, I desire to express my thanks for its favourable acceptation. It seems to have been regarded as I wished--a miscellany to be taken up by any body at any time. I have the pleasure to _know_ that it is possessed by thousands of families of all ranks: is presented by fathers to their sons at school; finds favour with mothers, as suited to the perusal of their daughters; and is so deemed of, as to be placed in public and private libraries enriched with standard literature. Ascribing these general marks of distinction to its general tendency, that tendency will be maintained in my next publication,

THE TABLE BOOK.

This publication will appear, with cuts, _every Saturday_, and in monthly parts, at the same price as the _Every-Day Book_, and will contain several original articles from valued correspondents, for which room could not be here made.

The first number and the present year will be “out” together. I gratefully remember the attachment of my friends to the present sheets, and I indulge a hope that they will as kindly remember me, and my new work.

THE TABLE BOOK.

Cuttings with Cuts, facts, fancies, recollections,
Heads, autographs, views, prose and verse selections,
Notes of my musings in a lonely walk,
My friends’ communications, table-talk,
Notions of books, and things I read or see,
Events that are, or were, or are to be,
Fall in my TABLE BOOK--and thence arise
To please the young, and help divert the wise.

_December 23, 1826._

W. HONE.

INDEXES.

I. GENERAL SUBJECTS.
II. ROMISH SAINTS.
III. POETRY, ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
IV. CORRESPONDENTS’ SIGNATURES.
V. ENGRAVINGS IN THE VOLUME.

* * * * *

TO THE BINDER.

If the work be required in FOUR Volumes, commence “VOL. I.--PART II.”
at col. 867, and place the Indexes to that Volume at the end--commence
“VOL. II.--PART II” at col. 833, and conclude with the Indexes to Vol.
II.

1. THE GENERAL INDEX.

ABBEY, (Fountain’s,) Yorkshire, ruins of, 1061.
Abgarus, portrait sent by Christ to, 63.
Abraham, his oak at Mamre, 1033.
Actors, power formerly exercised over, by lord chamberlain, 1063.
Adanson, Michael, naturalist, notice of, 1067.
Addison, his library noticed, 696.
Aerostation, 1567.
Ague, charm for, 1560.
Aguelar, baron, the miser, lottery anecdote about, 1526.
Alberoni, cardinal, notice of, 878.
Aldhelm, bishop of Sherborne, 1308.
Aleppo, thorns called Glastonbury brought from, 1642.
Ales, local customs about, 675, 693.
All-fools’ day, 485, 487.
Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, narrative relating to, 1631.
Alnwick. Northumberland, the freeman’s well at, 249.
Ambleside church, notice of, 1369.
Amsterdam, lotteries in, 1532.
Anderson, Jem, champion for mayor of Garrett, 834.
Andrew, Merry, derivation of, 503.
Anglers, important to, 767.
Angling, article on, 769.
Ann of Denmark, notice of her jewels, 749.
Anthony, parish of, in Cornwall; accident in church of, 663.
Antigua in 1736, 1304.
Antiquaries, remarks in favour of, 308.
Apparitions, forged account of, in Ireland, 278, 281; at Woodstock,
history of, 583; relating to death, &c., 1111; judicious remarks on,
quoted, 1011; farther notice, 1578.
Apples, receipt for keeping, 1213.
---- see Cider.
Archery at White Conduit-house, 1564.
Argyle, earl of, notice of, 758, 759.
Arm-chairs, opera, 630.
Armour, articles of, lottery prizes consisting of, 1411.
Ardmore, bishopric of, 1034.
Arones, J., lottery fraud of, 1466.
Art, black, printing so called, 1240.
Arthur’s seat, Edinburgh, engraving of May-dew dancers at, 609.
Ash Wednesday, 197.
Ashburnham family, 1376.
Ashburton, lord, (John Dunning,) died, notice of, 1087.
Ashmole, Elias, extracts from his diary, 1305.
Ashton-under-line, custom at, 467.
Ashton Ralph, tradition concerning, 469.
Asidew, Arsedine, or Orsden, explanation of, 1376.
Auckland, (Bishop,) custom at, 1043.
Augsburg cathedral, engraving of a monument in, 1073.
Avingham fair and sports, 1653.
Authors, curious instance of one, 1068; instance of anxiety of one,
1315.
Autographs; of Browne Willis, 295, 296; of Dr. R. Willis, bishop of
Winchester, 296; of Benjamin West, 366; of earl of Mansfield, 396;
of John Hampden, 476; of William Emerson, 690; of George Heriot,
913.
Autumn, engraving of ancient dress for, 1342.

Baal, fires in honour of, See Fires.
Backsword or singlestick, notices of, 1207, 1341, 1399.
Bacon, gammon of, custom of eating at Easter, 439; custom about flitch
of bacon, and engraving, 799; receipt for making Somersetshire
bacon, 813.
---- lord, his singular recommendation about garden walks, 518; his
plan of a mansion house, 1621.
Balcanquel, Dr., rules for Heriot’s hospital drawn by, 756.
Baldwin, Samuel, remarkable funeral willed by, 684.
Bales, Peter, curious caligraphy by, 1215.
Balmerino, lord, executed, notice of, 1096.
Band, Elizabeth, daughter of Heriot; her sons provided for in their
grandfather’s hospital, 755.
Bank of England, anecdote of clerks of, 1447; singular details of
forgery on, see Price, Charles.
Baptism; of bells, 139; of Jews at Rome before Easter Sunday, 437; a
curious case of one, 899; a Welch one described, 1613.
Barber-surgeons, 758.
Barbers, numerous convictions of, in 1746, 1564.
Baretti, Joseph, notice of, 643.
Barming, Kent, custom of doleing at, 1627.
Barnwell, George, acting of at Christmas, effect of, 1651.
Barrington, viscount, expelled house of commons, 1447.
Bartholomew fair, 1196.
Bartlemass, mayor of, mock election of at Newbury, 1045.
Bath anecdotes, 1659.
Battles, singular opening of one, 875; notice of a great naval one,
_ib._
Baubleshire, duke of, a remarkable character so called; engraving and
notice of, 679.
Baxter’s “World of Spirits,” anecdote from, 1239.
Beadle, parish, 1558.
Bears, various descriptions of, 1560.
Beasts, satire on over-fattening for the market, 1547.
Beaucaire, in France, fair of, 1037.
Beaufoy, colonel, his account of a remarkable storm, 553.
Beaume, Sainte, near Marseilles, notice of, 1003.
Beauty, supposed to be promoted by washing with May-dew, 611.
Becket, Thomas à, engraving and notice of, 929.
Beckford family, notice of, 1371.
Bees, taking honey without killing them, 1323.
Bell-man’s verses, 1594.
Bells, notices of, 135, 138; consecration of, 136; description of
passion bell, 392; how guarded in Lent, 434; England called the
ringing island, 509; horse-racing for silver bells, 539; their
redundant ringing and tolling, 744, 745, 907; notice of Bow bells,
1256.
Beltain or Beltane, in Scotland, Scottish May-day festival, 659.
Ben, Old General, of Nottingham, 1569.
Bennet, old, the newscrier, notice of, 1275.
Bentinck, count, duke of Portland, 1374.
Benvenuti, bishop, costly mistake of, 1398.
Berkshire, derivation of the name, 1033.
Berwick, duke of, notice of, 789, 1323.
Bexhill, Sussex, notice of, 743.
Beziers, in France, procession of the camel in, 641.
Biddenden, Kent, notice of, 442, 449.
Bills, exchequer, origin of, 29.
Birds, amusement of shooting at a wooden one, 289; rearing and
treatment of young ones, _ib._; the eagle, a royal one, _ib._;
singular collision of flocks of, near Preston, 1139.
Birds-nests, anecdote concerning, 238.
Births, insurance of, 1436.
Bish, the last man, lottery puff, 1507.
Bishop Auckland, custom of, 1043.
Bishops, the devil called by king James a busy bishop, 1230; notice of
the boy bishop, 1601.
Black, lamp, receipt for, 266.
---- art, printing so called, 1240.
Blackberry jam, how to be prepared, 1116.
Blackburn weavers, memorial of their wretched state, 562.
Blackford, an able backsword player, 1341.
Blacking, burlesque company for making, 1581.
Blagden, Dr., and others, experiments on heat, 776; his narrative,
_ib._
Bland, Mrs., notice of, 1204.
Blanks, lottery, 1447; one made a prize, 1466.
Blase, sir W. and lady, their equipage at mock election for Garrett,
851.
Blind persons, remarks on their dreams, 1539.
Block, wetting the; shoemakers’ custom of, 470.
Blood showers, explanation of, 1127.
Bloomfield, (the poet,) an early amusement of, 901.
Blue-coat boys, tampered with about lottery tickets, 1463; remarks on
their singing Christmas carols, 1651.
Boadicea, 1198.
Boar’s head at Christmas, 1649.
Bochsa, Mr., 1599.
Bolton-upon-Swale, Henry Jenkins born in, 1602.
Bolton, duke of, 1375.
----, duchess of, (before Kitty Fisher,) advertisement by, 474.
Bonaparte, 1070.
Books, advertisement of one in 1653, 1314; lottery for, 1414; list of
the books, 1418.
Bosworth, battle of, 1104.
Bottesford, curious entry in church book of, 371.
Bow bells, notice of, 1256.
Bowl, wassell, notice of, 7.
Bowls, long, 1070.
Bowyer, Wm., printer, notice of, 1557.
Boxeley, rood of, account of, 417.
Boy, the laughing, engraving of, 543.
---- bishop, notice of, 1601.
Boys, one said to be murdered by his school-master, 1371; notice and
cut of boys about a sugar hogshead, 1543.
----, climbing, remarks on, from 617 to 626. See Chimney-sweepers.
Bray, sir Reginald, notice of, 1071.
Bridal, royal, 374.
Bridewell boys, former turbulence of, 1398.
Bridgewater, duke of, canals by, 1266.
Bright, Edward, the largest man, 1581.
Brighton, 1257.
Brill, (The,) Middlesex, Cæsar’s camp called, 1345, 1566.
Brindley, James, civil engineer, died, notice of, 1263.
Brittany, superstitions in, 972.
Brockbank, William, the walking post, 1593.
Brothers, the, 316.
Brough, Westmoreland, 1596.
Brown, baron, Durham poet, engraving and notice of, 1217.
---- Joe, account of, 549.
Brushes for sweeping chimneys, engraving of one, 617.
Bubbles, (speculations called,) notice of, 28, 520, 1579.
Buck and doe, carried in St. Paul’s cathedral, origin of, 119.
Buckingham, custom at, 707.
Buckles and shoes, notice of, 1354.
Buffon, count de, naturalist, notice of, 519.
Bulkeley, Mr., circumstances of his child’s baptism, 899.
Buns, hot-cross, 410.
Burial, provision against in a will, 1325; general invitations
published to attend burials, 1645.
Burnet, sir Thomas, died, 43.
Bury, Suffolk, dispute about bells in, 907.
Burwell, Cambridgeshire, fatal fire at, 1225.
Busby, Dr., his chair a supposititious one, 901.
Bushell, Isaac, a backsword player, 1341.
Butler, William, died, 1316.
Butterworth, Billy, an eccentric character, notice of, 1142.

Cæsar’s pretorium at Pancras, 1345, 1566.
Cake, Biddenden, account of, 442.
Calculation, an extraordinary one, 396.
Calendar, naturalists’, 25.
Calico-printing, a chemical black for, 269.
Caligraphy, notice of, 1215.
Calves-head club, 158.
Camps, description of Cæsar’s at Pancras, 1345, 1566.
Canals by Brindley, notice of, 1265; the Grand Junction one commenced
in 1766, 970.
Candlemas day, 173, 223; judges’ entertainment and dance, 174.
Cann, the Devonshire champion in wrestling, 1009.
Canonbury tower, supposed subterraneous passage from, 1607.
Canterbury, Thomas à Becket, archbishop of, notice and engraving of,
929.
Carbonari, ludicrous anecdote about, 1398.
Cardan, curious circumstance of, 456.
Caraboo, impostor, self-called, notice and engraving of, 1632.
Cards, a child played for at, 1344.
Carlos, colonel, and Charles II., notice of, 698.
Carna, goddess of the hinge, 727.
Cars, travelling ones in Ireland, engravings of, 239, 241.
Carter, farmer, ludicrous “trial of farmer Carter’s dog,” 198.
Carving, ancient, engraving of, 497.
Cat, engraving of a street image of one, 312.
Catholics and Protestants, mutual interest of, 1370.
Cavendish, house of, 1376.
Ceres, represented in harvest, 1155, 1162.
Chabert, the human salamander, 771.
Chairs, opera arm, 630.
----, Dr. Busby’s, a supposititious one, 901.
----, sedan, _ib._
----, shoemakers’ amusement with, _ib._
Chalmers, James, curious advertisement by, 938.
Chamberlain, lord, power formerly exercised by, over actors, 1063.
Chancery, a hoax in, 1145.
Chances in lotteries, computations touching, 1456.
Charitable corporation, notice of, and of lottery for the sufferers
by, 1451.
Charles I., behaviour of, 143, 146.
---- II., notice of, 698; public notice of his continuing to heal the
evil, 682.
---- V., anecdote of, 458; curious pageant at Dunkirk by, 870.
Charlotte, queen, notice of, 1084.
Charlton, Mr. T., notice of, 1627.
Cheap Tommy, (Thomas Hogg,) notice of, 942.
Cheldonizing, or swallow-singing, explained, 1111.
Chemists, anecdote of, 635.
Chepstow castle, sports at, 1562.
Cherries, feast of, at Hamburgh, 1040.
Cheshire, customs in, 450, 597, 1371.
Chester, ancient horse-racing at, 539.
Chicheley, archbishop, artifice of, 1141.
Child, Mr., banker, notice of, 1445.
---- one played for at cards, 1344.
Chillcott, Charles, notice of, 969.
Chimes, 138.
Chimney-sweepers, rhetoric of one, 56; May-day exhibition of, 613;
procession, public dinner, and oratory of the masters, 617;
engraving of “the last chimney-sweeper,” _ib._; masters’ hand-bill,
_ib._
Chimneys, how to dress for the summer, 517.
Chinese festival of lanterns, 90.
Cholera morbus, remarks on, 1243.
Cholmondeley, marquis of, 376.
Christians, their hatred of Jews, 533.
Christmas, usages and celebrations respecting, 1628, 1638, &c.
Christmas out of doors, at Ratzburg, 11.
Christopher, Bartholomew, a sufferer by gambling, 1527.
Christ’s Hospital. See Blue-coat Boys.
Chuneelah, the elephant killed at Exeter Change, 321.
Churches pressing for the navy in, 443; watching of in Yorkshire, 548;
curious colloquy on images, &c. in, 1367; Hogarth’s satire on some
old supposed embellishments in, 1369.
Churchill, (Stuart,) Arabella, notice of, 1325.
---- John, (duke of Marlborough,) 1376.
---- sir Winston, letter of, 1322.
Churchwardens, chosen on Easter-Monday, 458.
Cibber’s Apology, notice of, 1064.
Cider, preparation for making, 1269; excellence of the Herefordshire
cider, 1270.
Cookery, old receipts for, their costliness, 518.
Clack Fall Fair, 1371, 1584, 1606.
Clapham, old church of, notice of, 1369.
Clay, Hercules, delivered from danger by a dream, 367.
Clayton, Mr., an old and good tenant, 1256.
Cleobulus, his riddle on the year, 26.
Clerkenwell in 1730, notice of, 699.
Cleves, patent for Order of Fools at, 1287.
Climate, changes of, 70; Howard’s work on climate of London
recommended, 3.
Climbing boys, society for suppressing, 622. See Chimney-sweepers.
Clinton, Samuel, an extraordinary sleeper, 96.
Clogs, engraving of an old shoe and clog, 1635.
Clothing counteractive of heat, 779.
Clouds, singular case of their electricity in Java, 1082; notices
respecting heights, motions, and shapes of clouds, _ib._
Club, calves-head, 158.
Coachmen, (Hackney,) instances of honesty of, 902.
Coat and badge, Dogget’s prize of, for rowing, 1062.
Cobblers, festival of, at Paris, 1054, 1055. See Shoemakers.
Cock, W., (sir W. Swallowtail,) notice of, 835, 838.
Coffins, anecdotes of, 1020.
Coleridge, Mr., his description of Christmas out of doors at Ratzburg,
114.
Coleshill, customs of, 467.
Collars, a remarkably heavy one, 530; worn by judges, 538.
Colman, George, the elder, died, notice of, 1087.
Comedy, street, notice of, 1310.
Common prayer, strictures on, 149.
Connaught, rigid fasting at, on Good Friday, 411.
Connor, rev. J., his description of ceremonies of Greek church at
Jerusalem, 438.
Conjugal indifference, 1301.
Conway, William, a noted London-crier, 470.
Cook-maid, engraving of, in a lottery puff, 1503.
Cooper’s hall, lotteries latterly drawn in, 1119.
Copenhagen-house, 1564.
Corbet, Richard, bishop of Norwich, 1390.
Cornwall, Christmas drama of St. George as acted in, 122; customs in,
676, 1008; earthquake in, in 1757, 1007.
Coronations, Mr. Taylor’s excellent work on, 995.
Corpse candles, exhalations so called, 1019.
Corpus Christi day, notice of, 695.
Cotswold, harvest home on, 1155.
Country and town, contrast of, 1366.
---- mansions, description of, 1620, &c.
Court, (Lawless,) notice of, 1286.
Covent-garden market, 1187.
Coventry, earl of, 1376.
Cow-mass, 870.
Cowper, earl, 1375.
Cracknell, T., notice of, 838.
Craniology, notice of, 838.
Credulity, popular, 1139.
Criminals, elephants employed as executioners of, 356.
Crispe, sir Charles, notice of, 941.
Crocodile, the first living one in England, 1605.
Croker, T. C., jaunting car described by, 241.
Cromwell, Oliver, original letter of, 911.
Cross, Paul’s, history and engraving of, 415.
---- Mr., account of his elephant at Exeter Change, 323.
---- buns, 410.
Crucifixion, Christ’s, celebration of at Seville, 422; relics of, 426.
Cruikshank, George, phrenological illustrations by, 1119.
Cuckoo, the, observations on, 1138.
Cumberland, customs in, 450, 668.
Cup, the clayen, or clome, or clomen, 1652.
Cupid, the popular representation of, engraving of, and satire on,
1545.
Curling, game of, 163.

Daft-days, 13.
Dalmahoy, Mr., statement of, 1527.
Dalmer, a baker, how his fortune made, 1561.
Danby, lord, anecdote of, 1095.
Dancing, (morris,) 792.
---- -bears, 1560.
Darkness and fog in 1813, 101.
Darlington, earl of, 1376.
Daughters, a curious present to one, 1560.
Davenant, sir W., notice of, 521.
Davis, George, a sleep-walker, 1296.
Days, lucky, notice of a supposed one, 1320.
Death, apparition of the chariot of, 978; account of the “death
fetch,” in an Irish tale, 1013; opera of “The Death-fetch” noticed,
1011; prayers for prisoners under sentence of death, 1378; death of
the State Lottery, 1499, 1502; annual death of a whole people, 1581.
Debtors, fraudulent, singular case of one, 1241.
Dedication, of joints of the fingers to saints, 94.
Deer, Sion Gardens lottery for, 1446.
D’Eglantine, Faber, why so called, 605.
Delaval, sir F. B., curious anecdote of, 1471.
Dellicot, William, convicted of stealing a penny, 899.
Den of the elephant killed at Exeter Change, engraving of, 335.
Denny, D., lottery fraud of, 1466.
Derby, West, customs of, 432.
Derbyshire, customs in, 451, 637.
Devil, history of the good devil of Woodstock, 582; engraving of St.
Michael standing on the devil, 1271; called by James I. a busy
bishop, 1239; his usual shape an empty bottle, 1241; overlooking
Lincoln College, 1236; superstitions respecting him, 1238.
Devils, printers’, 1239.
Devonshire, customs in, 666, 1009, 1170, 1652.
Dew, (May,) dancers at Arthur’s seat, Edinburgh, 409.
Diaries, curious extracts from one, 1305.
Dibdin, Charles, his opera of “The Waterman” noticed, 1062.
Digby, lord, annual tolling for, 1255.
Dimsdale, sir H., mayor of Garrett, 824, 838.
Dinners, curious invitation to one, 508; anecdote of an election one,
1193.
Diogenes and his lantern, print of, 644.
Dissenters, their celebrations of throwing out the Schism Bill, 1061.
Diversions, curio is one of a widowed husband, 1020.
Doctors, the Whitworth one, 477.
Does, origin of carrying a buck and a doe in St. Paul’s cathedral,
119.
Dogget, Thomas, actor, notice of, and of his coat and badge rowing
for, 1062.
Dog, ludicrous trial of, 198; and of the dog of Heriot’s hospital,
759.
Dolmoors, Somersetshire, custom at, 917, 921.
Dragon, St. George and the, engraving of, 1274.
Dramas, fertility in producing, 1133.
Draper, Elizabeth, account of her wedding-dress in 1550, 796.
Drawing of the Lottery, engraving of, 1441. See Lottery.
Dreams, Mr. Clay delivered from danger by one, 367; curious remarks on
dreams, 1537; notices of dreams, 1578, 1581.
Dress, a lady’s in 1550, 796; engraving of an ancient dress for
autumn, 1342.
Drop handkerchief, custom of, 665.
Drummond, lady Jane, notice of, 743.
Drunkenness, singular advertisement touching, 938.
Dublin, May-day in, 595.
Duck, Stephen, the thresher poet, 1103.
---- hunting, description of, 1403.
Duelling, memorandum to men of honour touching, 942.
Dulce domum, supposed origin of, 710.
Duncan, lord, notice of, 1315.
Dunck, Miss, a great heiress, 898.
Dunkirk, cow mass at, 870.
Dunmow, Essex, ancient custom at, engraving of, 799.
Dunning, John, (lord Ashburton,) died, notice of, 1087.
Dunstable, mode of catching larks at, 118.
Dunstan, sir Jeffery, mayor of Garrett, 824, 829.
Durham, county of, ceremony of a new bishop entering, 1044.
---- city of, custom at, 447.
---- ox, complaint of, 1547.
Dwarf, curious one, 1605.
Dyne, Corey, a noted backsword player, 1341.

Eagle, a royal bird, 1077.
---- Tavern, City-road, wrestling at, 1337.
Earthquakes, one felt in Cornwall in 1757, 1007.
Earwigs, 1099.
East Bourn, custom of sops and ale at, 693.
Easter-day, 457; extreme possible difference of time in its happening,
457.
Edinburgh, celebrated for fine skaters, 117; notice of Heriot’s
hospital in, and of the founder, 746; custom in, 609.
Edward, king of the West Saxons, 390.
Egede, Paul, a Danish missionary, died, 731.
Eggs, paste, 439, 450; filled with salt, prophetic virtue of, 1560.
Election, general, in 1826, 799, 818; description of a Westminster
election, 853; occurrence at an election dinner, 1193; curious
account of election expenses, 1659, 1660.
Elections, mock, of mayor of Garrett, 819, 851; of mayor of
Bartlemass, for Newbury, 1045.
Electricity in clouds, curious and dreadful case of in Java, 1082.
Elephanta, island of, 349.
Elephantiasis, 357.
Elephants, account of the one called Chuny killed at Exeter Change,
321, &c.; narratives and anecdotes concerning elephants, 337-366;
particulars relating to one killed at Geneva, 700.
Elia, notice of the writings of Mr. Lamb, so signed, 1255.
Elizabeth, queen, and dean of St. Paul’s; curious colloquy between,
1367.
Emerson, W., autograph and notice of, 690.
Encroachments resisted, 1207.
Encyclopedia, a universal natural one, proposed by Adanson, 1168.
Enghien, storm at, 1235.
England, merry, description of, 36; called the Ringing Island, 509.
Englishmen, difference between their former and present habits, 11.
Ensham, Oxfordshire, custom in, 669.
Epitaphs, on T. Jackson, 390; on the State Lottery, 1525; on Henry
Jenkins, 1604.
Epping forest, Easter hunt in, 459, 460.
Equator, custom of sailors on passing, 1394.
Equinox, autumnal, gales of, 1283.
Erskine, lord, a poem on “The Rook” supposed to be written by, 1139.
Essex, great mortality of wives in, 923; harvest custom in, 1172.
Estates, the Three, curious political drama called, 15.
Every-Day Book; memoranda on Vol. I., 1550; to be immediately followed
by a work called “The Table Book,” 1664.
Evil, royal notice of continuing to heal it, 682.
Ewes, signs of rain given by, 510.
Exchequer bills, origin of, 29.
Executions, of lords Kilmarnock and Balmerino, 1096.
Exercises, gymnastic. See Gymnastics.
Exeter, Lammas fair, 1059.
---- Change, dead elephant at, 321.
Eye, evil; preventive against the blink of, in Scotland, 688.

Faces, (human,) curious medley of, 1537.
Facts, instances of their coincidence with predictions, 456.
Fair, (frost,) on the river Thames in 1814, 110.
Fairlop oak, a pulpit made of, 1564.
Fairs on St. Patrick’s day in Ireland, 383.
Falkirk, a gruel against witchcraft still made and sold at, 688.
Fallowfield, Mr., speculation of, 520.
Falstaff, the Cornish, (Payne Anthony,) notice of, 969.
Families, long exemption from death in one, 899.
Farrell, Mr., engraving of a fountain in his window, 785.
Farren, notice of, 894.
Fatality of days, work concerning, 1320.
Fathers, a curious present from one, 1560.
Fearn, Scotland, accident in church of, 1307.
“Feast of fools,” 485, 487.
Fens in Essex and Kent, dangerous residence in, 923.
Fermor, family of, 1376.
Fetch, (Death,) opera so called, notice of, 1011.
Fielding, Henry, his farce called “The Lottery,” 1447.
Figg, the prize-fighter, notice of, 780.
Fingers, joints of, dedicated to saints, 95.
Fires, great or fatal, in Lincoln’s inn, 880; at a puppet show, 1225;
hallow-eve fires, 1259; passing through fires, or lighting them in
honour of Baal or the the sun, 865, 870; beginning of the season for
lighting fires, 1359.
Fish, curious revolution in, 769.
Fisher, Kitty, (duchess of Bolton,) advertisement by, 474.
Fishing, Thunny, at Marseilles, 647.
Fitz-Ooth, (Robin Hood,) memoir of, 1636.
Fleet-ditch, notice of a boar passing through it into the Thames,
1113.
---- market, contract for building in 1736, 1357.
Fleetwood, recorder of London, a spring diversion of, 532.
Flies, notice of the May-fly, 770.
Flitch of bacon, custom touching, 799.
Floral games of Toulouse, 599.
Flower, Margaret and Phillis, executed for witchcraft, 371.
Flowers, artificial, curious advertisement of, 172.
Flying machines, fatal accident by, 1291.
Fog, remarkable one in 1813, 101.
Fontenoy battle, singular opening of, 560.
Fools, April, custom of making, 485; order of fools, 1287.
Foot-ball, 374.
Foote, Samuel, the actor, notice of, 845; his “Mayor of Garrett,” 846;
anecdote of, 1471.
Forcing-houses, guarded against hail, 1237.
Fordyce, Dr., and others, experiments on heat by, 776.
Forests, their beauty in autumn, 1283.
Forgery, extreme ingenuity and vigilance in, 1476.
Fortunatus lottery, 1440.
“Fortunes of Nigel,” a novel, notice of, 766.
Fortune-telling by means of snails in Scotland, 685.
Foster, rev. ----, a dissenting minister, notice of, 1096.
Fountain in June, engraving of, 785.
Fountain’s abbey, a beautiful ruin, 1061.
France, spending of twelfth night in, 31.
lotteries in, 1532, &c.; lark-shooting in, 90; harvest in, 377.
Free, Mrs., her curious application about a lottery prize, 1443.
Freeman’s well, the, at Alnwick, 249.
Freemasons, engraving and account of a procession burlesquing, 522.
French, Thomas, a singular pauper, 679.
Frost, great, in 1814, 101; frost fair, 109.
Fruits, the pleasure of buying our own, 1188; how to mark growing
fruits, 1213.
Funerals, a remarkable one, 681.
Fuseli, H., painter, notice of, 551.