light called the Plough-light, was main. a fire-spark in my throat, I, going over to tained by old and young persons who the sign of the Cup and Can for one were husbandmen, before images in some pennyworth of ale, there I found sir John, churches, and on Plough Monday they and thinking no hurt to any man, civilly had a feast, and went about with a plough sat me down to spend my twopence; and dancers to get money to support the but in the end, sir John began to pick a Plough-light. The Reformation put out quarrel with me. Then I started up, these lights; but the practice of going thinking to go away; but sir John had about with the plough begging for movey got me by the top of the head, that I had Terrains, and the “ money for light” in- no power to help myself, and so by his creases the income of the village alehouse. strength and power he threw me down, Let the sons of toil make glad their hearts broke my head, my face, and almost all with “ Barley-wine;" let them also re- my bones, that I was not able to work for member to “be merry and wise.” Their three days; nay, more than this, he picked old acquaintance,“ Sir John Barleycorn," my purse, and left me never a penny, so has had heavy complaints against him. that I had not wherewithal to support my There is “ The Arraigning and Indicting family, and my head ached to such a deof Sir Joax BARLEYCORN, knt. printed gree, that I was not able to work for three for Timothy Tosspot." This whimsical or four days; and this set my wife a little tract describes him as of “noble scolding, so that I not only lost the blood, well beloved in England, a great good opinion my neighbours bad of me, support to the crown, and a maintainer but likewise raised such a storm in my of both rich and poor.” It formally places family, that I was forced to call in the him upon his trial, at the sign of the parson of the parish to quiet the raging Three Loggerheads, before “ Oliver and of my wife's temper. Old Nick his holy father," as judges. The Will, the Weaver.-I am but a poor witnesses for the prosecution were cited man, and have a wife and a charge of under the hands and seals of the said children: yet this knowing sir John judges, sitting " at the sign of the Three will never let me alone; he is always enmerry Companions in Bedlam; that is to ticing me from my work, and will not be say, Poor Robin, Merry Tom, and Jack quiet till he hath got me to the alehouse; Lackwit." At the trial, the prisoner, sir and then he quarrels with me, and abuses John Barleycorn, pleaded not guilty. me most basely; and sometimes he binds Lawyer Voisy.—May it please your me hand and foot, and throws me in the lordship, and gentlemen of the jury, I am ditch, and there stays with me all night, counsel for the king against the prisoner and next morning leaves me but one penny at the bar, who stands indicted of many in my pocket. About a week ago, we had heinous and wicked crimes, in that the not been together above an hour, before said prisoner, with malice propense and he began to give me cross words : at our several wicked ways, has conspired and first meeting, he seemed to have a pleasant brought about the death of several of his countenance, and often smiled in my face, majesty's loving subjects, to the great loss and would make me sing a merry catch os sereral poor families, who by this or two; but in a little time, he grew very means have been brought to ruin and churlish, and kicked up my heels, set my beggary, which, before the wicked designs head where my heels should be, and put and contrivances of the prisoner, lived my shoulder out, so that I have not been in a fourishing and reputable way, but able to use my shuttle ever since, which Dow are reduced to low circumstances has been a great detriment to my family, and great misery, to the great loss of their and great misery to myself. own families and the nation in general. Stitch, the Tailor, deposed to the same We shall call our evidence; and if we effect. make the facts appear, I do not doubt but Mr. Wheatly.-The inconveniencies I you will find him guilty, and your lord- have received from the prisoner are withships will award such punishment as the out number, and the trouble he occasions nature of his crimes deserve. in the neighbourhood is not to be exVulcan, the Blacksmith.-My lords, pressed. I am sure I have been oftensår John has been a great enemy to me, times very highly esteemed both with and many of my friends. Many a tiine, lords, knights, and squires, and none when I have been busy at my work, pot could please them só well as James thinking any harm tó any man, having Wheatly, the baker; but now the case is altered ; sir John Barleycorn is the man pears it is from their own greedy desires that is highly esteemed in every place. all these troubles arise, and not from I am now but poor James Wheatly, and wicked designs of our own. he is sir John Barleycorn at every word; Court.-Truly, we cannot see that you and that word hath undone many an ho are in the fault. Sir John Barleycorn, we nest man in England; for I can prove it will show you so much favour, that if you to be true, that he has caused many an can bring any person of reputation to honest man to waste and consume all that speak to your character, the court is dishe hath. posed to acquit you. Bring in your eviThe prisoner, sir John Barleycorn, dence, and let us hear whai they can say being called on for his defence, urged, in your behalf. that to his accusers he was a friend, until Thomas, the Ploughman.—May I be they abused him; and said, if any one is allowed to speak my thoughts freely, since to be blamed, it is my brother Malt. My I shall offer nothing but the truth. brother is now in court, and if your lord- Court.-Yes, thou mayest be bold to ships please, may be examined to all speak the truth, and no more, for that is those facts which are now laid to my the cause we sit here for ; therefore speak charge. boldly, that we may understand thee. Court.-Call Mr. Malt. Ploughman.-Gentlemen, sir John is Malt appears. of an ancient house, and is come of a Court.--Mr. Malt, you have (as you noble race; there is neither lord, knight, have been in court) heard the indictment nor squire, but they love his company, and that is laid against your brother, sir John he theirs; as long as they don't abuse Barleycorn, who says, if any one ought him, he will abuse no man, but doth a to be accused, it should be you; but as great deal of good. In the first place, sir John and you are so nearly related few ploughmen can live without him; for to each other, and have lived so long to- if it were not for him, we should not pay gether, the court is of opinion he cannot our landlords their rent; and then what be acquitted, unless you can likewise would such men as you do for money and prove yourself innocent of the crimes clothes ? Nay, your gay ladies would care which are laid to his charge. but little for you, if you had not your Malt. -My lords, I thank you for the rents coming in to maintain them; and liberty you now indulge me with, and we could never pay, but that sir John think it a great happiness, since I am so Barleycorn feeds us with money; and yet strongly accused, that I have such learned would you seek to take away his life! judges to determine these complaints. As For shame, let your malice cease, and for my part, I will put the matter to the pardon his life, or else we are all undone. bench. First, I pray you consider with Bunch, the Brewer Gentlemen, I beyourselves, all tradesmen would live; and seech you, hear me. My name is Bunch, a although Master Malt does make some brewer; and I believe few of you can live times a cup of good liquor, and many without a cup of good liquor, no more than men come to taste it, yet the fault is nei- I can without the help of sir John Barleyther in me nor my brother John, but in corn. As for my own part, I maintain a such as those who make this complaint great charge, and keep a great many men against us, as I shall make it appear to at work; I pay taxes forty pounds a year you all. to his majesty, God bless him, and all this In the first place, which of you all can is maintained by the help of sir John ; say but Master Malt can make a cup of then how can any man for shame seek to good liquor, with the help of a good take away his life. brewer; and when it is made, it will be Mistress Hostess.—To give evidence sold. I pray which of you all can live in behalf of sir John Barleycorn, gives without it? But when such as these, who me pleasure, since I have an opporcomplain of us, find it to be good, then tunity of doing justice to so honourable a they have such a greedy mind, that they person. Through him the administration think they never have enough, and this receives large supplies; he likewise greatly overcharge brings on the inconveniences supports the labourer, and enlivens the complained of, makes them quarrelsome conversation. What pleasnre could there with one another, and abusive to their be at a sheep-clipping without his comvery friends, so that we are forced to lay pany, or what joy at a feast without his them down to sleep. From hence it ap- assistance? I know him to be an honest man, and he never abused any man, if they the church of England was the saint of abused Dot him. If you put him to death, that name mentioned yesterday. all England is undone, for there is not St. Gudula another in the land can do as he can do, and hatki done; for he can make a cripple to have died about 712. She suffered the Is the patroness of Brussels, and is said go, the coward fight, and a soldier neither misfortune of having her candle blown feel hunger nor cold. I beseech you, gen- out, and possessed the miraculous power tlemen, let him live, or else we are all un- of praying it a-light again, at least , so done; the nation likewise will be distressed, the labourer impoverished, and the says Butler; “ whence,” he affirms, she hasbandman ruined. is usually represented in pictures with a Court.-Gentlemen of the jury, you raele she performed. Surius however re lantern." He particularizes no other mihave now heard what has been offered lates, that as she was praying in a church against sir John Barleycorn, and the evidence that has been produced in his de without shoes, the priest compassionately fence. If you are of opinion he is guilty threw them away, and they miraculously put his gloves under her feet; but she of those wicked crimes laid to his charge, hung in the air for the space of an hour, and has with malice propense conspired whether in compliment to the saint or the and brought about the death of several of his majesty's loving subjects, you are then priest does not appear. to find him guilty; but if, on the contrary, CHRONOLOGY, you are of opinion that he had no real 1821. A newspaper of January 8, mens intention of wickedness, and was not the tions an extraordinary feat by Mr. Huddy, immediate, but only the accidental, cause the postmaster of Lismore, in the 97th of these evils laid to his charge, then, ac- year of bis age. He travelled, for a wager, cording to the statute law of this kingdom, from that town to Fermoy in a Dungarvon you ought to acquit him. oyster-tub, drawn by a pig, a badger, two Verdict, NOT GUILTY. cats, a goose, and a hedgehog; with a From this facetious little narrative may driver's whip in one hand, and in the other large red nightcap on his head, a pigbe learned the folly of excess, and the injustice of charging a cheering beverage, a common cow's-horn, which he blew to with the evil consequences of a man tak encourage his team, and give notice of this new mode of posting. ing a cup more of it than will do him good. Let us turn away for a moment from the credulity and eccentricity of man's feebleness and folly, to the contemplation January 8. of “ the firstling of the year” from the St. Lucian–Holiday at the Exchequer. bosom of our common mother. The Snow-drop is described in the “ Flora St. Appollineris. St. Severinus. St. Domestica” “ as the earliest flower of all Pega. St. Pulsin. St. Gudula. St. Na our wild flowers, and will even show lier thalan. head above the snow, as if to prove her St. Lucian. rivalry in whiteness;" as if The St. Lucian of the Romish church - Flora's breath, by some transforming power, on this day was from Rome, and preached Had chang’d an icicle into a flower. in Gaul, where he suffered death about Mrs. Barbauld. 290, according to Butler, who affirms that One of its greatest charms is its “coming be is the St. Lucian in the English Pro- in a wintry season, when few others visit testant calendar. There is reason to us : we look upon it as a friend in adversuppose, however, that the St. Lucian of sity; sure to come when most needed." Like pendeat flakes of vegetating srow, The early herald of the infant year, Beneath the o.chard-boughs, thy buds appear. And scarce the hazel in the leafless copse, The grass is spangled with thy silver drops. Charlotte Sruth. January 9. WINTER. St. Peter of Sebaste. St. Julian and From “ Poetic Vigils," by Bernard Bantex Basilissa. St. Marciana. St. Brithwald. The flowret's bloom is faded, St. Felan. St. Adrian. St. Vaneng. Its glossy leaf grown sere; The landscape round is shaded Of the seven Romish saints of this day By Winter's frown austere. scarcely an anecdote is worth mentioning. The dew, once sparkling lightly On grass of freshest green, In heavier drops unsightly 1766. On the 9th of January died Dr. On matted weeds is seen. Thomas Birch, a valuable contributor to history and biography. He was born on the No songs of joy, to gladden, From leafy woods emerge ; 23d of November, 1705, of Quaker parents. But winds, in tones that sadden, His father was a coffee-mill maker, and Breathe Nature's mournful dirge. designed Thomas for the same trade; but the son“ took to reading," and being put All sights and sounds appealing, Through merely outward sense, to school, obtained successive usherships : To joyful thought and feeling, removing each time into a better school, Seem now departed hence. that he might improve his studies; and But not with such is banished stealing hours from sleep to increase his The bliss that life can lend; knowledge. He succeeded in qualifying Nor with such things hath vanished himself for the church of England, with Its truest, noblest end. out going to the university ; obtained or The toys that charm, and leave us, ders from bishop Hoadley in 1731, and Are fancy's fleeting elves; several preferments from the lord chan- All that should glad, or grieve us, cellor Hardwicke and earl Hardwicke; Exists within ourselves. became a member of the Royal Society Enjoyment's gentle essence before he was thirty years of age, and of Is virtue's godlike dower ; the Antiquarian Society about the same Its most triumphant presence time; was created a doctor of divinity, Illumes the darkest hour. and made a trustee of the British Museum; and at his death, left his books and MSS. to the national library there. Enu January 10. meration of his many useful labours would occupy several of these pages. His indus- St. William. St. Agatho, Pope. Sl. try was amazing. His correspondence Marcian. was extensive; his communications to St. IV'illiam. the Royal Society were various and This saint, who died in 1207, was numerous, and his personal application archbishop of Bourges, always wore a may be inferred from there being among hair shirt, never ate fesh meat, when he his MSS. no less than twenty-four quarto found himself dying caused his body to volumes of Anthony Bacon's papers tran- be laid on ashes in his hair shirt, worked scribed by his own hand. He edited Thur- miracles after his death, and had his relics loes' State Papers in 7 vols. folio; wrote venerated till 1562, when the Hugonots the Lives of Illustrious Persons of Great burnt them without their manifesting maBritain, and a History of the Royal So- racles at that important crisis. A bone ciety; published miscellaneous pieces of of his arm is still at Chaalis, and one lord Bacon, before unprinted, and pro- of his ribs at Paris; so says Butler, duced a large number of other works. who does not state that either of these The first undertaking wherein he engag- remains worked miracles since the French ed, with other learned men, was the revolution. “General Dictionary, Historical and Critical,”—a most useful labour, containing the whole of Bayle's Dictionary, newly some particulars of a gentleman remark 1820. The journals of January relate translated, and several thousand additional lives. He was enabled to complete his to an extraordinary extent. He drew from able for the cultivation of an useful quality great undertakings by being a very early actual memory, in twenty-two hours, at two riser, and by usually executing the business of the morning before most persons gentlemen, a correct plan of the parish sittings, in the presence of two well-known had coinmenced it. of S!. James, Westitinster, with parts of the 3 parishes of St. Mary-le-bone, St. Ann, and recollecting what he hears. The dialogue St. Martin; which plan contained every of a comedy heard once, or even twice, square, street, lane, court, alley, market, would, after an interval of a few days, be church, chapel, and all public buildings, entirely new to him. with all stable and other yards, also every public-house in the parish, and the January 11. corners of all streets, with every minutiæ, as pumps, posts, trees, houses that pro St. Theodosius. St. Hyginus. St. ject and inject, bow-windows, Carlton- Egwin. St. Salvius. house, St. James's palace, and the interior St. Theodosius of the markets, without scale or reference This saint visited St. Simeon Stylitei to any plan, book, or paper whatever. on his pillar and had his fortune told, He did the same with respect to the parish He ate coarse pulse and wild herbs, nevei of St. Andrew, Holborn, in the presence of tasted bread for thirty years, founded a four gentlemen, from eight to twelve, one monastery for an unlimited number of 'evening at a tavern ; and he also under- monks, dug one grave large enough to took to draw the plan of St. Giles-in-the- hold the whole community, when he fields, St. Paul's, Covent-garden, St. received strangers, and had not food Mary-le-strand, St. Clement's, and three enough, he prayed for its miraculous infourths of Mary-le-bone, or St. George's. crease and had it multiplied accordingly, The plans before alluded to were drawn in prophesied while he was dying, died in the presence of John Willock, Esq. Golden- 529, and had his hair shirt begged by a square; Mr. Robinson, of Surrey-road; count, who won a victory with it. He William Montague, Esq. of Guildhall was buried according to Butler, who Mr. Allen, vestry clerk of St. Ann's; relates these particulars, in the cave John Dawson, Esq. of Burlington-street; wherein the three kings of Cologne were N. Walker, Holborn; and two other gen- said to have lodged on their way to temen. He can tell the corner of any Bethlehem. great and leading thoroughfare-street from Hyde Park-corner, or Oxford-street, to St. Paul's; or from the New-road to In hard frosts holes must be broken in Westminster abbey; and the trade or profession carried on at such corner house. fish will die. It is pleasing to watch the the ice that forms upon fish ponds, or the He can tell every public shop of business in Piccadilly, which consists of two hun- finny tenants rising half torpid beneath a dred and forty-one houses, allowing him new-formed hole for the benefit of the only twenty-four mistakes; he accom- during the frost: one hole to a pond is air. Ice holes should be kept open plished this in the presence of four gentle sufficient, men, after five o'clock, and proved it before seven in the same evening. A house being named in any public street, he will At Logan or Port Nessock in Wiga name the trade of the shop, either on the townshire, North Britain, a large saltright or left hand of the same, and whe- water pond was formed for Cod in 1800. ther the door of such house so named is It is a basin of 30 feet in depth, and in the centre, or on the right or left. He 160 feet in circumference, hewn out can take an inventory, from memory only, from the solid rock, and communicating of a gentleman's house, from the attic to with the sea by one of those fissures the ground floor, and afterwards write it which are common to bold and preout. He did this at lord Nelson's, at cipitous coasts. Attached to it is a neat Merton, and likewise at the duke of Gothic cottage for the accommodation of Kent's, in the presence of two noblemen. the fisherman, and the rock is surmounted He is known by the appellation of “ Me- all round by a substantial stone wall at mory-corner Thompson.” The plan of least 300 feet in circumference. In his house, called Priory Frognall, Hamp- every state of the wind or tide, winter stead, he designed, and built it externally and summer, when not a single boat and internally, without any working- dare venture to sea, Colonel M.Dowal drawing, but carried it up by the eye can command a supply of the finest fish, only. Yet, though his memory is so ac- and study at his leisure the instincts and curate in the retention of objects sub- habits of the “finny nations,” with at mitted to the eye, he has litțle power of least all the accuracy of those sage natu FISH IN WINTER |