beautiful to my boyish eyes were their wooden swords and their bullying gait! then we have a fight, for lo "Here's come I, the Turkish knight, Come from the Soldan's land to fight, And be the foe's blood hot and bold With my sword I'll make it cold."

A vile Saracenic pun in the very minute of deadly strife. But they fight-the cross is victorious, the crescent o'erthrown, and, as a matter of course, even in our pieces of mock valour, duels we have therein the doctor is sent for; and he is addressed, paralleling again our players of "Scotia's wild domain," with "Doctor, doctor, can you tell What will make a sick man well?"

and thereupon he enumerates cures which would have puzzled Galen, and put Hippocrates to a "non-plus;" and he finally agrees, as in the more classical drama of your correspondent, to cure our unbeliever for a certain sum.

The "last scene of all that ends this strange eventful history" consists in the entrance of the most diminutive of these Thespians, bearing, as did Eneas of old, his parent upon his shoulders, and reciting this bit of good truth and joculation (permitting the word) by way of epilogue: "Here comes I, little Johnny Jack, With my wife and family at my back, Yet, though my body is but small, I'm the greatest rogue amongst ye all; This is my scrip-so for Christmas cheer If you've any thing to give throw it in here," This may be but an uninteresting tailpiece to your correspondent's clever communication, but still it is one, and makes the picture he so well began of certain usages more full of point.

Idoat upon old customs, and I love hearty commemorations, and hence those mimics of whom I have written-I mean

the mummers---are my delight, and in the laughter and merriment they create I forget to be a critic, and cannot choose but laugh in the fashion of a Democritus, rather than weep worlds away in the style of a Diogenes.

Little Chelsea, Jan. 4, 1826.

I am, &c. &c.

J. S. Jun.

In the preface to Mr. Davies Gilbert's work on "Ancient Christmas Carols," there is an account of Cornish sports,

with a description of a "metrical play," which seems to be the same with which is the subject of the preceding letter.

Being on the popular drama, and as the topic arose in Mr. Reddock's communication from Scotland, a whimsical dramatic anecdote, with another of like kin from that part of the kingdom, is here subjoined from a Scottish journal of this month in the year 1823.

New Readings of Burns.

We were lately favoured with the perusal of a Perth play-bill, in which Tam O'Shanter, dramatized, is announced for performance as the afterpiece. A ludierous mistake has occurred, however, in the classification of the Dramatis Persona. The sapient playwright, it would appear, in reading the lines

"Tam had got planted unco richt,
Fast by an ingle bleezin' finely,

Wi' reaman' swats that drank divinely," very naturally conceiving ream an' swats, from the delectable style of their carousing, to be a brace of Tam's pot companions, actually introduced them as such, as we find in the bill- that the characters of "Ream" and "Swats" are to be personated by two of the performers!

This reminds us of an anecdote, connected with the same subject, which had its origin nearer home. Some time ago we chanced to be in the shop of an elderly bookseller, when the conversation turned upon the identity of the characters introduced by Burns in his Tam O'Shanter. The bibliopole, who had spent the early part of his life in this neighbourhood, as sured us that, "exceptin' Kerr, he kent every body to leuk at that was mentioned, frae Tam himsel' doun to his mare Maggie." This being the first time we had ever heard Mr. Kerr's cognomen alluded to, in connection with Tam O'Shanter, we expressed considerable surprise. and stated that he undoubtedly must have made a mistake in the name." It may be sae, but its a point easily sattled," said he, raring down a copy of Burns from the shelf. With "spectacles on nose," he turned up the poem in question. “Ay, ay," said he, in an exulting tone, "I thocht I was na that far wrang

"Care mad to see a man sae happy, E'n drowned himself amang the happy." Now, I kent twa or three o' the Kerr's

A Dramatic Printing Apparatus. Itinerant companies of comedians frequently print their play-bills by the following contrivance: The form of letter is placed on a flat support, having ledges at each side, that rise within about a thirteenth of an inch of the inked surface of the letter. The damped paper is laid upon the letter so disposed, and previously insed, and a roller, covered with woollen deth, is passed along the ledges over its surface; the use of the ledges is to prevent the roller from rising in too obtuse an angle against the first letters, or going of 100 abruptly from the last, which would cause the paper to be cut, and the impression to be injured at the beginning and end of the sheet. The roller must be passed across the page, for if it moves in the order of the lines, the paper will bag a little between each, and the impression will be less neat.†

NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. Mean Temperature ... 35-65.

January 17.
Snow, &c.

In the

faction, from an acre of snow: the effects of the load thus given to the air were soon perceptible. On the 17th, a small brilliant meteor descended on the S. E. On the 18th, horizon about 6 p. m. the horns of the crescent were obtuse. though the moon was still conspicuous, On the 19th appeared the Cirrus cloud, followed by the Cirrostratus. afternoon a freezing shower from the eastward glazed the windows, encrusted the walls, and encased the trees, the garments of passengers, and the very plumage of the birds with ice. Birds thus disabled were seen lying on the ground in great numbers in different parts of the country. Nineteen rooks were taken up alive by one person at Castle Eaton Meadow, Wilts. The composition of this frozen shower, examined on a sheet of paper, was no less curious than these effects. It consisted of hollow spherules of ice, filled with water; of transparent globules of hail; and of drops of water at the point of freezing, which became solid on touching the bodies they fell on. The thermometer exposed from the window indicated 30,5o. This was at Plaistow. The shower was followed by a moderate fall of snow. From this time to the 24th, there were variable winds and frequent falls of snow, which came down on the 22d in flakes as large as dollars, with sleet at intervals. On the 24th a steady rain from W. decided for a thaw. This and the following night proved stormy: the melted snow and rain, making about two inches depth of water on the level, descended suddenly by the rivers, and the country was inundated to a greater extent than in the year 1795. The River Lea continued rising the whole of the 26th, remained stationary during the 27th, and returned into its bed in the course of the two following days. The various channels by which it intersects this part of the country were united in one current, above a mile in width, which flowed with great impetuosity, and did much damage. From breaches in the banks and mounds, the different levels, as they are termed, of embanked pasture land, were filled to the depth of eight or nine feet. The cattle, by great exertions, were preserved, being mostly in the stall; and the inhabitants, driven to their upper rooms, were relieved by boats plying under the windows. The Thames was so full during this time, that no tide was perceptible; happily, however, its bank suffered no injury; and the

On the 16th and 17th of January, 1809, Mr. Howard observed, that the snow exhibited the beautiful blue and pink shades at sunset which are sometimes observable, and that there was a strong evaporation from its surface. A circular area, of five inches diameter, lost 150 grains troy, from sunset on the 15th to sunrise next morning, and about 50 grains more by the following sunset; the gauge being exposed to a smart breeze on the house top. The curious reader may hence compute for himself, the enormous quantity raised in those 24 hours, without any visible lique

Ayr Courier. † Dr. Aikin's Athenæum.

recession of the water from the levels proceeded with little interruption till the 23d of February, when it nearly all subsided. No lives were lost in these parts; but several circumstances concurred to render this inundation less mischievous than it might have been, from the great depth of snow on the country. It was the time of neap tide; the, wind blew strongly from the westward, urging the water down the Thames; while moonlight nights, and a temperate atmosphere, were favourable to the poor, whose habitations were filled with water. On the 28th appeared a lunar halo of the largest diameter. On the 29th, after a fine morning, the wind began to blow hard from the south, and during the whole night of the 30th it raged with excessive violence from the west, doing considerable damage. The barometer rose, during this hurricane, onetenth of an inch per hour. The remainder of the noon was stormy and wet, and it

closed with squally weather; which, with the frequent appearance of the rainbow, indicated the approach of a drier atmosphere, a change on few occasions within Mr. Howard's recollection more desirable. Numerous inundations, consequent on the thaw of the 24th, appear to have prevailed in low and level districts all along the east side of the island: but in no part with more serious destruction of property, public works, and the hopes of the husbandman, than in the fens of Cambridgeshire: where, by some accounts, 60,000, by others above 150,000 acres of land, were laid under deep water, through an extent of 15 miles. It is a fact worth preserving, that about 500 sacks filled with earth, and laid on the banks of the Old Bedford river, at various places, where the waters were then flowing over, proved effectual in saving that part of the country from a general deluge.

And now, my good son, for a word or two of advice. Keep from all houses of ill repute, and every place of public resort for bad company. Beware of false friends, for they will turn to be your foes, and inveigle you into houses where you may lose your money and get no redress, Keep from thieves of every denomination. And now, my good son, I wish you a safe journey through Highgate and this life. I charge you, my good son, that if you know any in this company who have not taken this oath, you must cause them to

take it, or make each of them forfeit a

bottle of wine, for if you fail to do so you will forfeit a bottle of wine yourself. So now, my son, God bless you! Kiss the horns or a pretty girl if you see one here, which you like best, and so be free of Highgate !"

If a female be in the room she is usually saluted, if not, the horns must be kissed: the option was not allowed formerly. As

you

soon as the salutation is over the swearerin commands "silence !" and then addressing himself to his new-made "son," he says, "I have now to acquaint you with your privilege as a freeman of this place. If at any time you are going through Highgate and want to rest your self, and you see a pig lying in a ditch have liberty to kick her out and take her place; but if you see three lying together you must only kick out the middle one and lie between the other two! God save the king!" This important privilege of the freemen of Highgate was first discovered by one Joyce a blacksmith, who a few years ago kept the Coach and Horses, and subjoined the agreeable in formation to those whom he swore in."

When the situation of things and persons seems to require it, the " bottle of wine" is sometimes compounded for by a modus of sundry glasses of "grog," and in many cases a pot of porter.

There is one circumstance essential for a freeman of Highgate to remember, and "that is the first word of his oath,-mind that!" If he fail to recollect that, he is subject to be resworn from time to time, and so often, until he remember that. He is therefore never to forget the injunction before he swears, to take notice what is said, "for that is the first word of your oath-mind that!" Failure of memory is deemed want of comprehension, which plea in the high court of Highgate

"mind that!" That is, that that "that,” is "that."

ministration or taking of this oath, than There is no other formality in the adwhat is already described; and the only other requisite for "a stranger in Highgate" to be told, is, that now in the year 1826, there are nineteen licensed houses in this village, and that at each of these houses the "horns" are kept, and the oath administered by the landlord or his deputy.

their signs are here enumerated, with the To note the capabilities of each house, quality of horns possessed by each.

1. THE GATE-HOUSE is taken first in

order, as being best entitled to priority, because it has the most respectable acusual conveniences of stabling and beds, commodation in Highgate. Besides the it has a coffee-room, and private rooms for parties, and a good assembly-room. The horns there are Stag's.

2. Mitre, has Stag's horns. 3. Green Dragon, Stag's horns. 4. Red Lion and Sun, Bullock's horns. The late husband of Mrs. Southo, the still lives in the recollection of many present intelligent landlady of this house, inhabitants, as having been a most face

tious swearer in.

5. Bell, Stag's horns. This house now only known as the sign of the "Bell," was formerly called the "Bell and Horns." About fifty years ago, it was kept by one Anderson, who had his "horns" over his door, to denote that persons were sworn there as well as at the Gate-house. Wright, the then landlord of the "Red outrivalled, and hung out a pair of bulLion and Sun," determined not to be lock's horns so enormous in size, and otherwise so conspicuous, as to eclipse the "Bell and Horns;" at last, all the public houses in the village got "horns," and swore in. It is within recollection that every house in Highgate had “the horns" at the door as a permanent sign. 6. Coach and Horses, 7. Castle, 8. Red Lion, 9. Wrestler's, 10. Bull,

11. Lord Nelson,

Ram's horns. Ram's horns. Ram's horns.

Stag's horns.

Stag's horns.

Stag's horns.

12. Duke of Wellington, . Stag's horns.

This house is at the bottom of Highgate Hill, towards Finchley, in the angle formed by the intersection of the old road