obtained a prebend in the cathedral of retained in the church of England calenSarum, and other church preferment, and dar and almanacs, are related under the being a man of ready wit, was favoured day in last year's volume. by king James I., who made him one of his chaplains. In 1618, he took a journey NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. to France, of which be wrote an amusing Mean Temperature ... 44 · 40. narrative. In 1627, his majesty gave him the deanery of Christchurch ; in 1629, he November 12 was raised to the bishopric of Oxford, and in 1632, translated to that of Norwich. ADMIRAL VERNON'S BIRTH-DAY. He died in 1635. The poems of bishop To the mention of the pageant “ at Corbet are lively and amusing composi- Chancery-lane end,” in honour of admiral tions, such as might have been expected Vernon on this day, in the year 1740, from a man of learning, and genius, pos- may be added some ingenious verses sessed of a superabundance of constitu commemorative of Vernon's exploits. They tional hilarity. The latter quality appears were written in the same year by John to have drawn him into some excesses, Price, a land-waiter in the port of Poole, not altogether consistent with the gravity and are preserved in Mr. Raw's “ Suffolk of his profession. After he was a doctor Garland," with the following introducof divinity, being at a tavern in Abingdon, tion :a ballad-singer came into the house, complaining that he could not dispose of his Admiral Vernon's AnswER TO ADstock; the doctor, in a frolic, took off his MIRAL HOSIER's Ghost. gown, and assuming the ballad-singer's In Dr. Percy's “ Reliques of Ancient leather jacket, went out into the street, Poetry,” vol. ii. p. 376. is an admirable and drew around him a crowd of admir- ballad, intituled “Hosier's Ghost," being ing purchasers. Perhaps he thought he an address to admiral Vernon, in Portocould divest himself of his sacerdotal cha- Bello harbour, by Mr. Glover, the author racter with his habit; for it seems he shut of Leonidas. The case of Hosier was himself up in his well-stored ceHar, with briefly this :-his chaplain, Dr. Lushington, and taking In April, 1726, he was sent with a strong off his gown, exclaimed : “ There goes the fleet to the Spanish West Indies, to block doctor," then throwing down bis episco- up the galleons in the ports of that counpal hood, " there goes the bishop"-after try; but being restricted by his orders which the night was devoted to Bacchus. from obeying the dictates of his courage, Riding out one day with a Dr. Stubbins, he lay inactive on that station, until he who was extremely fat, the coach was became the jest of the Spaniards. He afoverturned, and both fell into a ditch. terwards removed to Carthagena, and conThe bishop, in giving an account of the tinued cruizing in those seas, till far the accident, observed, that Dr. Stubbins was greater part of his crews perished by the up to the elbows in mud, and he was up diseases of that unhealthy climate. This to the elbows in Stubbins. Bishop Cor- brave man, seeing his officers and men bet was not distinguished as a divine; thus daily swept away, his ships exposed his sentiments however were liberal, and to inevitable destruction, and himself he inclined to the Arminian party, which made the sport of the enemy, is said to then began to prevail in the church of have died of a broken heart. The ballad England.* concludes— In the bishop's lines “to his son on his birth-day,” there is something of the feel « O'er these wares, for ever mourning, ing in the wise man's supplication, “Give Shall we roam, depriv'd of rest, If to Britain's shores returning, me neither poverty nor riches." You neglect my just request: After this proud foe subduing, When your patriot friends you see, And for England-sham'd in me." In 1739, vice-admiral Vernon was apThe customs of this festival, which is pointed commander-in-chief of a squadron • General Biographical Dictionary, 1826, vol, i, * In vol. i, col. 1478. then fitting out for destroying the settle And I ne'er will cease pursuing And for England sham'd in thee. As we are to-day on a naval topic, it that town; when, after a most furious en seems fitting to introduce a popular gagement on both sides, it was taken on usage among sailors, in the words of the 22d, together with a considerable num captain Edward Hall, R. N., who comber of cannon, mortars, and ammunition, municated the particulars to Dr. Forster, and also two Spanish ships of war. on the 30th of October, 1823. He then blew up the fortifications, and eva CROSSING THE LINE. cuated the place for want of land forces sufficient to retain it; but first distributed tom of shaving at the tub by Neptune, as The following is an account of the custen thousand dollars, which had been sent practised on board vessels crossing the to Porto-Bello for paying the Spanish Equator, Tropics, and Europa Point. troops, among the forces for their bravery, The two houses of parliament joined in ancient, and it is commonly followed on The origin of it is supposed to be very an address of congratulation upon this board foreign, as well as 'British ships. success of his majesty's arms; and the nation, in general, was wonderfully elated the places, it may have arisen at the time Europa Point at Gibraltar being one of by an exploit, which was certainly magni- when that was considered the western fied much above its intrinsic merit. boundary of Terra Firma. Hosier! with indignant sorrow, On the departure of a vessel from EngI have heard thy mournful tale land by either of the aforesaid routes, And, if heav'n permit, to-morrow much ingenuity is exerted by the old Hence our warlike fleet shall sail. seamen and their confederates to discover O'er those hostile waves, wide roaming, the uninitiated, and it is seldom that any We will urge our bold design, escape detection. A few days previous to With the blood of thousands foaming, arriving at the scene of action, much mysFor our country's wrongs and thine. tery and reserve is observed among the On that day, when each brave fellow, ship's company: they are then secretly Who now triumphs here with me, collecting stale soapsuds, water, &c., arStorm'd and plunder'd Porto-Bello, ranging the dramatis personæ, and pre All my thoughts were full of thee. Thy disast'rous fate alarm'd me; paring material. At this time, also, the Fierce thy image glar'd on high, novices, who are aware of what is going And with gen'rous ardour warm'd me, forward, send their forfeits to the captain To revenge thy fall, or die. of the forecastle, who acts as Neptune's deputy; the forfeit is either a bottle of From their lofty ships descending, rum, or a dollar: and I never knew it Thro' the flood, in firm array, To the destin'd city bending, refused, except from a cook's mate who My lov'd sailors work'd their way. had acted negligently, and from a steStrait the foe, with horror trembling, ward's mate who was inclined to trick the Quits in haste his batter'd walls; people when serving provisions. And in accents, undissembling, On board of a man-of-war it is generally As be flies, for mercy calls. performed on a grand scale. I have wit nessed it several times, but the best exeCarthagena, tow'ring wonder ! At the daring deed dismay'd, cuted was on board a ship of the line of which I was lieutenant, bound to the Shall ere long by Britain's thunder, West Indies. On crossing the Tropic, a Smoking in the dust be laid. Thou, and these pale spectres sweeping, voice, as if at a distance, and from the surRestless, o'er this wat ry round, face of the water, cried “Ho, the ship ahoy! Whose wan cheeks are stain'd with weeping, I shall come on board :” this was from a Pleas'd shall listen to the sound. person slung over the bows, near the Still rememb’ring thy sad story, water, speaking through his hands. PreTo thy injur'd ghost I swear, sently two men of large stature came over By my hopes of future glory, the bows; they had hideous masks on: War shall be my constant care : one personated Neptune--he was naked were to his middle, crowned with the head of a board across each, were ranged around the huge wet swab, the ends of which reached pumps and engine, and plenty of buckets to his loins to represent flowing locks; a filled with water. Thus prepared, they piece of tarpaulin, vandyked, encircled the divided themselves into gangs of a dozen head of the swab and his brows as a dia- each, dashed off in different directions, dem; his right hand wielded a boarding, and soon returned with their subjects. pike manufactured into a trident, and his The proceedings with each unlucky wight body was marked with red ochre to repre as follows:-Being seated on a sent fish scales: the other personated Am. board across a tub of water, his eyes were phitrite, having locks also formed of quickly bandaged, his face lathered with swabs, a petticoat of the same material, the delightful composition; then a couple with a girdle of red bunten; and in her of scrapes on each side of the chin, folhands a comb and looking-glass. They lowed by a question asked, or some prewere followed by about twenty fellows, tended compassionate inquiry made, to also naked to their middle, with red ochre get his mouth open, into which the barber scales as Tritons. They were received on either dashed the shaving-brush, or a pill, the forecastle with much respect by the which was the signal for slipping the old sailors, who had provided the carriage board from under the poor devil, who of an eighteen-pounder as a car, which was then left to flounder his way out of their majesties ascended, and were drawn the tub, and perhaps half drowned in ataft along the gangway to the quarter-deck tempting to recover his feet, by buckets by the Tritons; when Neptune, address- of water being dashed over him from all ing the captain, said he was happy to see quarters; being thus thoroughly drenched him again that way, that he believed there and initiated, I have often observed spiwere some Johnny Raws on board that rited fellows join their former persecutors had not paid their dues, and who he in- in the remainder of their work. After an tended to initiate into the salt water hour or two spent in this rough fun, which mysteries. The captain answered, he was all seem to enjoy, Neptune disappears happy to see him, but requested he would somewhere in the hold to unrobe, the make no more confusion than was neces- decks are washed and dried, and those sary. They then descended on the main that have undergone the shaving business, deck, and were joined by all the old oil or grease their chins and whiskers to hands, and about twenty barbers, who get rid of the tar. This custom does not submitted their razors, brushes, and accord with the usual discipline of a mansuds to inspection ; the first were made of-war ; but, as the old seamen look on it from old iron hoops jagged, the second as their privilege, and it is only about an from tar brushes, and the shaving suds hour's relaxation, I have never heard of from tar, grease, and something froin the any captain refusing them his permispigsty; they had also boxes of tropical sion. E. H.* pills procured from the sheep pen. Large tubs full of stale suds, with a movable • Perennial Calendar. A Sea-PIECE-IN THREE SONNETS Scene- Bridlington Quay. The morn was beautiful, the storm gone by; Montgomery. Brit. NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. allowed the privilege of going to fires, Mean Temperature 43.85. did more mischief by their audacity and perverseness, than they did good by working the Bridewell engine. These disorders occasioned them to be deprived November 13. of their distinguishing costume, and pat under proper arts’-masters, with ability to teach them useful trades, and authority Tue “ BRIDEWELL Boys,” AND BAR- to controul and regulate their conduct. The bridewell boys at this time are never THOLOMEW AND SOUTHWARK FAIRS. heard of in any commotion, and may now, On the 13th of November, 1755, at a therefore, be regarded as aceable and court of the governors of Bridewell hos- industrious lads. pital, a memorable report was made from the committee, who inquired into the NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. behaviour of the boys at Bartholomew and Southwark fairs, when some of them Mean Temperature ... 42. 85. were severely corrected and continued, and others, after their punishment, were ordered to be stripped of the hospital November 14. clothing and discharged. * A TRIFLING MISTAKE. The is bridewell-boys" were, within recollection, a body of youths distinguished The “ Carbonari," a political associaby a particular dress, and turbulence of tion in the Italian states, occasioned con They infested the streets to siderable disturbance to the continental the terror of the peaceable, and being governments, who interfered to suppress an order of persons that kept ihem in continual alarm : “ His Holiness' . See vol. 1. col. 1473. Gentleman's Magazie. especially desired their suppression manners. An article from Rome, dated the 14th son brought its particular custom, which of November, 1820, says, Bishop Ben was always strictly adhered to. venuti, vice-legate at Macerata, having Wiltshire consists of beautiful and exreceived orders from the holy father to tensive downs, and rich meadow and have all the Carbonari in that city ar- pasture lands, which support some of the rested and sent to Rome, under a good finest dairies and farms that can be met escort, proceeded forthwith to execute the with in the kingdom. The natives are a order. In consequence he had all the very strong and hardy set of men, and are colliers by trade (Charbonniers de profes- particularly fond of robust sports; their sion, which he could find within his reach chief and favourite amusement is back-men, women, and children, arrested, swording, or singlestick, for which they and sent manacled to Rome, where they are as greatly celebrated as the inhabitwere closely imprisoned. The tribunal ants of the adjoining counties, Somersethaving at length proceeded to examine shire and Gloucestershire. them, and being convinced that these Car At this game there are several rules bonari had been colliers ever since they observed. They play with a large round were born, acquitted them, and sent them stick, which must be three feet long, with to their homes. Bishop Benvenuti was a basket prefixed to one end as a guard deprived of his employment."* for the hand. The combatants throw off their hats and upper garments, with the exception of the shirt, and have NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. the left hand tied to the side, so that Mean Temperature ...43 • 25. they cannot defend themselves with that hand. They brandish the stick over the head, guarding off the adversary's November 15. blows, and striking him whenever an op portunity occurs. Great skill is often Machutus.t used in the defence. I have seen two HUNGERFORD Revel, Wilts. men play for upwards of half an hour To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. without once hitting each other. The blood must flow an inch from some part October 20, 1826. of the head, before either party is declared Dear Sir,--In your last week's number victor. of the Every-Day Book, your correspon Blackford, the backsword player, was a dent * P. gives a short account of butcher residing at Swindon ; he died a Blackford, the backsword-player, and also few years ago. His “ successor” is a mentions one of his descendants who blacksmith at Lyddington, named Morris signalized himself at the “ Hungerford Pope, who is considered the best player revel" about two years since. In the year of the day, and generally carries off the 1820, I visited the latter revel; perhaps prizes at the Hungerford revel, which he a description may be acceptable to you, always attends. This revel is attended and amusing to your readers. by all the best players in Wiltshire and I think it may be generally allowed Somersetshire, between whom the contest that Wiltshire, and the western counties, lies. To commence the fray, twenty very keep up their primitive customs more excellent players are selected from each than any counties. This is greatly to the county; the contest lasts a considerable credit of the inhabitants; for these usages time, and is always severe, but the Wilttend to promote cheerful intercourse and shire men are generally conquerors. Their friendly feeling among the residents in principal characteristics are skill, strength, the different villages, who on such occa- and courage—this is generally allowed by sions assemble together In Wiltshire I all who are acquainted with them. have remarked various customs, particu But Hungerford revel is not a scene of Jarly at Christinas, which I have never contention alone, it consists of all kinds seen or heard of in any other place. If of rustic sports, which afford capital fun these customs were witnessed by a to the spectators. They may be laid out stranger, I am sure he must fancy the thusgood old days of yore, where every sea 1st. Girls running for “smocks," &c., which is a well-known amusement at • New Times. country fairs. 2d. Climbing the greasy poli for a + See vol. i.col. 14180, |