June. The emblem which we have given for this month is assigned to July in the Saxon Calendar; but Mr. Strutt is of the opinion that the illuminator transposed the emblems of June and July, as there would be no leisure for felling trees during the harvest time, which is represented in the original as taking place in June and in August. The field operations of August are properly a continuation of those of July, according to Mr. Strutt. But it is not improbable that the hay harvest was meant to be represented by one illumination, and the grain harvest by the other. June was called by a name which describes the pasturing of cattle in the fields not destined for winter fodder. These were the meadows, which were too wet and rank for the purposes of hay. The blythe business of hey-making was upon the uplands. Verstegan says: "Unto June they gave the name of Weyd-monat, because their beasts did them weyd in the meadows, that is to say, go to feed there, and thereof a meadow is also in the Teutonic called a weyd, and of weyd we yet retain our word wade, which we understand of going through watery places, such as meadows are wont to be." The felling of trees in the height of summer, when the sap was up, was certainly not for purposes of timber. It was necessary to provide a large supply of fuel for winter use. In grants of land sufficient wood for burning was constantly permitted

to be cut; and every estate had its appropriate quantity of wood set out for fuel and for building.

July. This was the Heu-monat or Hey-monat, the Haymonth. The July of Spenser bears the scythe and the sickle:

"Behind his back a scythe, and by his side

Under his belt he bore a sickle circling wide." These instruments were probably indifferently used in the harvests of the Anglo-Saxons, as they still are in many English counties.

The "President's House" on Ninth Street.-A CORRECTION. In the number of POTTER'S MONTHLY for June, it is stated that the building on Ninth street, erected for the President of the United States, and afterwards used by the. University of Pennsylvania, was torn down in 1820. This is most probably a mistake of the press. The room on the southern side of the building and on the second story was intended for a ball-room, and was used as a 66 by the Collegiate Department of the University of PennsylPrayer Hall" vania. In this room Lafayette was received when he visited Philadelphia in September, 1824, on which occasion the Provost, the Rev. Dr. Beasely, made an address to him on behalf of the University, and our fellow-citizen, Vincent L. Bradford, Esq., of Germantown, made an address to him on behalf of the Philomathean Society. I think that that building was taken down in 1830. W. D.

Major Andre and Mr. Carlisle's Defence. In the April number of the MONTHLY, page 295, there is given what purports to be an "Authentic Defence of Major André, copied from the 'Journal of the Court Martial.'" Now, the authorities on the subject of the trial are the "Proceedings of a Board of General Officers," ete., published by order of Congress, and the manuscript Minutes of Judge-Advocate Lawrance, preserved at Washington-neither of which contains any such defence.

Also, on page 294 of the same number of the MONTHLY is given a letter from Miss Seward to Lady Butler and Miss Ponsonby, beginning, "A letter from General Washington expressly addressed to myself," etc., which is strangely misquoted. If the writer of the article will take the trouble to turn to "Sargent's André," edition of 1871, page 391, he will find that the letter commences with the words, "No, dear madam, I was not, as you suppose, favoured with a letter from General Washington, expressly addressed to myself," etc.

C.

An Interesting Old "Ledger," containing, among other things, a copy of the poem cited under the assigned name of 66 Lady Washington's Lament" in the May number of the MONTHLY, by E. O. S., is much older than the time of Lady Washington. I find it inscribed in a Ledger kept by Joseph Taylor, a brewer in this city, that contains entries from 1715 to 1724. It would be interesting to know how Lady Washington since became connected with the song.

The poem is as follows, and the handwriting is the same as that in which all the entries in the Ledger have been made:

"Saw ye my hero,

Saw ye my hero,

Saw ye my hero George?

I've been over all the plain

In quest of my men;

But no tidings can I hear of my George.

I've not seen your hero,

I've not seen your hero,

I've not seen your hero George;

Your hero's in the van,

Where the battle first began;

I must away and take charge of my men." This old Ledger records many interesting facts relating to early times in Philadelphia. It contains over six hundred names of persons then residents of the city. Taylor evidently transacted a very large business for that day, even if he had been the only brewer in this city; which is doubtful, as" Peter Cooper's East View of Philadelphia" represents the brew-house of Anthony Morris, on Water street.

The consumption of ale, beer, and rum was much greater in those "good old times" than the present. Although there were but 1195 taxable inhabitants, he sold within a period of five or six years, 709221⁄2 barrels of beer and ale, the largest portion in quantities of from half a gallon to half a barrel, for which he received the sum of £5486 135. 6d. Of this quantity" widows" purchased 478 barrels, for which they paid £433 16s. 9d., showing that public opinion did not exercise a very severe discipline upon females following

that occupation, who were deprived of other means of pport. The grandmother of a gentleman who was one of the most distinguished bishops in the country during the earr part of the present century, bought of Taylor from September 8th, 1715, to April 9th, 1716, 63%1⁄2 barrels of ale, beer, etc. for which she paid £60 25. 3d.

The prices charged for various kinds of malt liquors were as follows: Darby Ale, £1 15s. od.; Best Ale, £1 1: 66 ; Scurvey Grass Ale, 18s.; Middling Ale, 95.; Ale, 18.; Beer, £1 5s. od.; Small Beer, 4s. 6d.

The Count de Tilly.-A QUERY.-In the "Memoirs of Count Miot de Melitot," recently published in Paris, is a noce, thus translated:-" When the situation of the Junta, after the battle of Ocana, had become very critical, most of its members made haste to convert their property into w ney, which they sent into England or America. Among others, a Count de Tilly embarked at Cadiz and arrived at Philadelphia with a fortune of several millions of piasters." What is known of this person in this country?

D.

The Trangram.-QUERY.-In the year 1811, a periodical called "The Trangram, or Fashionable Trifler, by Chns topher Crag, his Grandmother and Uncle," a work in the style of the Salmagundi, was published in Philadelphia. There were three authors, Alexander S. Coxe, a son of Tencà Coxe, afterwards a member of the Philadelphia bar, Morde cai Manasses Noah, then a maker of picture-frames and a major of militia, whence a military title winch he bore through life, afterwards a very distinguished editor in the city of New York, and at one time its Sheriff, and a third person, whose name has not been handed down.

Who was that third writer?

How many numbers of it were published? I have 1, 2, and 3. WILLIAM DUANE.

Thomas Jefferson on Retiring from Office.—We are indebted to our good friend, R. A. Brock, Corresponding Secretary of the Virginia Historical Society, for the following interesting letter, which is specially appropriate in connection with a paper in the earlier pages of this number (pages 17 et seq.) The letter was written, as will be seen, but twenty days after the expiration of his second term in the Presidency : "MONTICELLO Mar. 24. 09.

DEAR MADAM

I received with great thankfulness your kind congratulations on my liberation from the duties & anxieties of my late situation. five & twenty years of affectionate acquaintance (perhaps it is uncivil to recall such a period to a single lady) leave me without a doubt of their sincerity. of the ground of congratulation nobody can be a more feeling judge than myself. my present freedom of pursuit is a perfect contrast to the burthen under which I have been oppressed. I intend to see you at Mr Divers', as soon as my garden & other new concerns will admit. I come to him as a pauper, begging for the garden. Jefferson has received nothing for you; nor has anything come to me from Wm Brown. in a letter to my daughter some time ago, I answered your enquiries relative to the Campeachy hamocks & Peccans, to wit that the vessel had never been heard of since she left N. Orleans & consequently that she must have perished with her cargo and crew. since writing so far Jefferson tells me he brought a bundle for you which he now takes on to you.-we embrace with eagerness the hope you hold out to us of seeing you soon at Monticello, and for all the time you can give us; and I salute you with constant & affectionate respect MRS. TRIST"

TH: Jefferson

The "Jefferson" alluded to, was his grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, who was subsequently the editor of Jefferson's works, and died at his seat, Edgehill, near Charlottesville, on the 7th of October, 1875, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. Mrs. Trist, to whom the letter is addressed, was the mother of Hon. Browse Trist (who was appointed by Jefferson the first Collector of the Port of New Orleans, and who died of yellow fever at the age of twentyeight), whose son, Nicholas P. Trist, married a granddaughter of Mr. Jefferson.

The Era of Small Salaries.-The following is copied from the original manuscript, which is entirely in the handwriting of Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Bache was his son-in-law. The seal is of red wax and bears a hand holding a pair of scales, over which is the motto, "Suum cuique tribuito" (Give every one his own).

"BY AUTHORITY OF THE CONGRESS. [SEAL] BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, ESQUIRE Appointed Post Master General of all the United Colonies

on the Continent of North America

To all to whom these Presents shall come, sends Greeting. Know ye, that I, the said Benjamin Franklin, having received good Testimony of the Fidelity and Publick Spirits of Richard Bache Esq., of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania and reposing great Trust and Confidence in the Knowledge, Care and Ability of the said Richard Bache to execute the Office and Duty required of a Secretary, Comptroller and Receiver General of the General Post office

have constituted, authorised and appointed, and by these Presents do constitute authorize and appoint the said Richard Bache to execute the said offices of Secretary, Comptroller & Receiver General, to have, hold, use, exercise and enjoy the said offices, with all and every the Rights, Privileges and Emoluments thereunto belonging, from the 29th day of September last past, for the Term of Three Years, or until he shall receive a hew Commission, or until the present be superceded, under such Conditions, Covenants, Provisoes, Payments, Orders and Instructions, to be faithfully observed, performed and done, by the said Richard Bache and his Servants as he or they shall, from time to time, receive from me or by my order.

And I do hereby strictly require all officers and others employed in or about the Posts already settled or to be settled in any part of the said United Colonies, or in relation to the Revenue arising by the Post of Letters there, from time to time to give an Account of their Doings and Transactions therein to the said Richard Bache, and to observe and obey the Directions they receive thro' him, corresponding with him as Secretary, rendering their Accounts of Letters sent and received to him regularly as Comptroller and paying their respective Ballances to him as Receiver General.

And the said Richard Bache, for his faithful and diligent Execution of the said offices shall receive the Sum of Three Hundred and Forty Dollars p annum, being the Allowance appointed by the honourable Congress for the same, which Sum or Salary he is to receive or be allowed in his Accounts out of the Revenue arising to the Publick by the Post of Letters within the said United Colonies.

In Witness whereof I, the said Benjamin Franklin have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of my said office to be affixed. Dated the Second Day of October 1775. B. FRANKLIN."

Few public servants of the present day would accept a sinecure at the salary allowed as above for a most laborious position. WILLIAM DUANE.

Washington's Death, and its Cause.-Probably there are comparatively few Americans to-day who are familiar with the circumstances immediately connected with the death of George Washington. The document which we append is a verbatim copy of the certificate of death issued by his medical attendants, cognizant of the decease of the great man. It is a fact worthy of remark that Washington died in the last hour of the last month of the last year of the eighteenth century. PHYSICIANS' CERTIFICATE OF THE CAUSES OF WASHINGTON'S DEATH.

"ALEXANDRIA, VA., DEC. 21st, 1799. Some time in the night of Friday, the 10th instant, having been exposed to a rain on the preceding day, General Washington was attacked with an inflammatory affection of the upper part of the wind-pipe, called in technical language Cynache Trachalis. The disease combined with a violent ague, accompanied with some pain in the upper and forepart of the throat, a sense of stricture in the same part, a cough, and a difficult, rather than a painful deglutition, which were soon succeeded by fever and a quick and laborious respiration. The necessity of blood-letting suggesting itself to the

General, he procured a bleeder in the neighborhood, who took from his arm in the night twelve or fourteen ounces of blood. He could not by any means be prevailed on by the family to send for the attending physician till the following morning, who arrived at Mt. Vernon at about II o'clock on Saturday. Discovering the case to be highly alarming, and possessing the fatal tendency of the disease, two consulting physicians were immediately sent for, who arrived one at half after three, and the other at 4 P.M.; in the meantime were employed two copious bleedings, a blister was applied to the part affected, two moderate doses of calomel were given, and an injection was administered, which operated on the lower intestines, but all without any perceptible advantage, the respiration becoming still more difficult and distressing. Upon the arrival of the first of the consulting physicians, it was agreed, as there were yet no signs of accumulation in the bronchial vessels of the lungs, to try the result of another bleeding; when about thirty-two ounces of blood were drawn, without the smallest apparent alleviation of the distress. Vapors of vinegar and water were frequently inhaled, ten grains of calomel were given, succeeded by repeated doses of emetic tartar, amounting in all to five or six grains, with no effect other than a copious discharge of of the bowels. The powers of life seemed now manifestly yielding to the force of the disorder; blisters were applied to the extremities, together with a cataplasm of bran and vinegar to the throat. Speaking, which was painful from the beginning, now became almost impracticable; respiration grew more and more contracted and imperfect, till after eleven o'clock on Saturday night, retaining the full possession of his intellect, when he expired without a struggle.

He was fully impressed at the beginning of his complaint, as well as through every succeeding stage of it, that its conclusion would be mortal; submitting to the several exertions made for his recovery rather as a duty, than from any expectation of their efficacy. He considered the operations of death upon his system as coeval with the disease; and several hours before his death, after repeated efforts to be understood, succeeded in expressing a desire that he might be permitted to die without further interruption.

During the short period of his illness he economized his time in the arrangement of such few concerns as required his attention, with the utmost serenity; and anticipating his approaching dissolution with every demonstration of that equanimity for which his whole life had been so uniformly and singularly conspicuous. (Signed)

JAMES CRAICK, Attending Physician. ELISHA C. DICK, Consulting Physician."

George Ticknor thus describes the way in which the news of Washington's death was received:-" There never was a more striking or spontaneous tribute paid to a man here in Boston, when the news came of Washington's death (1799). It was a little before noon, and I often heard persons say at the time that one could know how far the news had spread by the closing of the shops. Each man, when he heard that Washington was dead, shut his store, as a matter of course, without consultation, and in two hours all business was stopped. My father came home and could not speak, he was so overcome, my mother was alarmed to see him in

such a state, till he recovered enough to tell her the news. For some time every one, even children, wore crape on the arm; no boy could go into the street without it 1 wore it, though only eight years old." H. K. W. WILCOX.

Mistakes of the Infallible.-The AMERICAN MONTHIT for June notices "The Official Guide-Book to Philadel; tu," published by Porter & Coates, in terms of strong praise, and fails to notice any mistakes therein. The author of it is doubt a high authority in matters pertaining to the history Philadelphia, though this book shows that he is not so izral lible as he thinks himself and as many others appear to on sider him; he has no patience with the mistakes of others, and is at times more curt than courteous in criticising dem, and for that reason I take this method of calling attention t his errata.

On page 209 of "The Official Guide-Book to Philadel phia," at the top of the page, we are told of the Peanas vania Hospital: "This is the oldest hospital in the city, as the first one established in any of the American colonies." Here are two errors in one-the Philadelphia Hospital arredates it by twenty years. Then, on the same page, in the article on the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, he author states that "efforts were made for the establishment of a separate hospital for the cure and treatment of persons deprived of their reason. Contributions to a very large

amount of money were received." Now, the fact is that the means for the founding of the Insane Branch of the Fernsylvania Hospital were not derived from “contributions” tu any appreciable extent, if at all. When the Board deter mined upon the wise and noble project of providing needed accommodations for the insane, they found it necessary sell a large proportion of property which they had acquired contiguous to their main hospital grounds. They had e

de

cured a square on the east, one on the west, one south, and the corner portion of the square to the southwest of the square on which their hospital buildings stood, ther object being to hold these grounds open to insure an am; supply of fresh country air for the objects of their care; a they were compelled to sell the ground on the east, west, and southwest, to procure means to carry out their noble des gry in the establishment of an extensive hospital for the insure

Doubtless these are not the only mistakes in "The OffGa Guide-Book ;" but I am not an authority, and claim only ta know somewhat of the history of the Pennsylvania. H--pital and its offspring over the river.

IATKOS

REMARKS." The Official Guide-Book to Philadelphia" is a creditable and reliable book, and its author is an accepted authority in matters of Philadelphia history, notwithstanding the mistakes noticed by our correspondent and possibly one or two elsewhere within its pages. That the first of the mistakes noticed is simply an unaccountable lapsus penna, will be seen by turning to the article in the same book on the Philadelphia Almshouse, in which Mr. Westcott correctly states that "The Philadelphia Hospital, connected with the establishment, is the oldest in the United States, dating bask to the year 1732." The second mistake we cannot explan or account for. The Editor of the MONTHLY gave a com plete and accurate, though brief, history of the Pennsylvania Hospital in the June issue, pages 466 et seq.

An Apposite Article on Finance, Written One Hundred and Eight Years Ago.-The following extract is from Parker's New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, issued February 15th, 1768:

"I need make no apology for delivering my sentiments on paper-currency, a subject which has for some time past engrossed the attention of the publick.

That we may consider its utility or mischiefs, with the greater perspicuity, let us try how far it is conformable to those principles which invariably promote the interests of states. The first that I shall adduce is, that the riches of every commercial nation, is proportioned; to the quantity of manufactures (exclusive of their home consumption) which they remit to foreign markets, and to the difference between their price at home and abroad.

A nation may be said to be poor when its imports are greater than its exports, or the price of its produce at foreign markets is not sufficient to pay the expense of raising and exporting. Now to apply my principle, money has no intrinsick, but a relative value, and in proportion to its plenty or scarcity rises or falls like every other commodity; that is £100 will purchase fewer commodities when money is plenty than when scarce; hence it must follow, that plenty of money will raise the price of every commodity, and vice versa; consequently, a laborer, from the reduced price of the necessaries of life, will be able to support himself for less wages at one than another, and the trade will be enlarged without inconvenience to particulars; for, if the farmer does not get so much as formerly for his produce, neither does he pay so much for the necessaries he purchases; if the manufacturer receives less for his labor, the cheapness of the farmer's produce, enables him to live at a smaller expense.

The effect this will have on trade, is evident; for instance, when money is plenty, commodities may be purchased for £100 which will sell at a foreign market for £120; when money is scarce, the same commodities may be bought at home for £60, consequently the £40 is clear gain to the state, besides, that the reduced price of labour would enable us to raise other commodities, that will afford a new source for remittances, such as iron, hemp, flax, etc. From these principles it will appear, that even money itself will not make a people rich, because by raising the price of their manufactures, it prevents their making any returns for their imports but in specie, a source which must, in a little time, be exhausted. But if any would see the the mischief of too much money in its most extensive view, let them consider it as that spring by which the stream of luxury is fed, as the source from which the huge waves of extravagance, debauchery, effeminacy, and vice, are rolled over a deluged land, sweeping away in its rapid progress every monument of industry, religion and virtue; but if real money is attended with so many disadvantages, how much greater must be the mischiefs of our imaginary wealth? for money itself may be considered as a commodity, and may be exported, but has paper currency that convenience; does it not produce all the bad effects of real wealth? yet is it more than paper abroad? It is called a necessary medium; but nothing is more ridiculous; is it not a drain to that which alone should be the me

dium of trade, I mean gold and silver? and does it not, by raising the price of labor, prevent our remitting commodities, which can alone be advantageous to us, and obliges us to make all our returns in specie? It is said to be necessary in cases of immergency, rather than burthen the people with taxes; but must it not be paid at last? are not the people better able to pay it at those times of immergency, which are generally during a war, when money most abounds in this country, than in times of peace, when by the means of that very currency, all our specie is already exported? A." The author's views of finance explaining the basis upon which financial prosperity depends are logical in argument, forcibly expressed, and in every way applicable to-day as showing how the universal financial distress now existing throughout our country originated, and the means by which it can be overcome. SEGO.

Washington and the Alexandria Masonic Lodge.In NOTES AND QUERIES in the June MONTHLY "C." asks for dates as to when Washington was Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge at Alexandria, Virginia. The following extract from a letter written by the venerable Dr. John Dove, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, to Edward V. Valentine, Sculptor, concerning a plaster copy of Washington's statue by Houdon, may give him some light on the subject: "History, tradition, and the records of the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons, of Virginia, establish the fact that the man who was to become First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen' was an active Master Mason; that he cherished and cultivated the principles and objects of Free and Accepted Masonry, and gave to the diffusion of them the sanction of his great name. He presided in Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22, of which he was the founder in 1788, and as a member participated in laying the corner-stone of the United States Capitol building at Washington, in 1793, where the seat of government was then established.

In this venerable Lodge now hangs the only portrait of him in the full costume of Worshipful Master ever painted, and it was executed by Williams, pursuant to the order of the Lodge, in 1794."

On the completion of the Masonic bust, Grand Secretary Dove writes:

"The Masonic character given to it, at my suggestion, by the costume of Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22, of which he was clothed when assisting in laying the cornerstone of the Capitol at Washington in 1793, gives to it a priceless value as an enduring monument of that peerless man and exemplary Mason, who showed his high appreciation of our time-honored institution when he said, and affixed his name to the words, "Whose liberal principles are founded in the immutable laws of truth and justice," in reply to the committee of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, in their dedication of their Constitution to him in 1798.

If "C." is desirous of obtaining "more light" upon this matter, he can obtain the records and dates of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

O. B. CORSETT.