Extracts From The Collected Anecdotes & Sayings
of John Manders, Ireland
(written between 1820 & circa 1850)
© SFH 2000-2001
Scottish Family Heritage does not vouch for the accuracy of any item published here. The choice of subject matter is made solely on the basis that the content is deemed to be of historical interest, and in no way reflects the views, political, religious or otherwise, of any person connected with Scottish Family Heritage.
General Note: All grammar, spelling and punctuation is that of the author. The editors have made only very minor corrections to the original text. Some very long paragraphs have been modified.
Abstinence.
In the year 1702, one Apollonius Schorer, of the neighbourhood of Berne, in Switzerland, at about the age of eighteen years, began to feel so insurmountable a disgust for eating and drinking, that he ceased to take any food whatever, whether solid or liquid, and persevered in this abstinence till the year 1709, when he was twenty-four years of age. His disgust now began to weaken, and he took a little nourishment to which he accustomed himself by degrees: he lived to the age of Seventy years. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1068
(A duel)
London, March 20th.. 1829.
A meeting took place this morning in Battersea fields, between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea. The parties having taken their ground, Lord Winchilsea received the Duke of Wellington's fire - and then fired in the air - after which the parties withdrew. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1099
(A Gander)
On the 20th.. Jany.. 1817, Says the Inverness Journal - Died, at Ardersier, within these few days, a Gander, well known to have been full-grown when the foundation of Fort George was laid, in the year 1748. His helpmate died only two years ago. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1063
Animals.
On the 17th.. June 1772, was read in the public papers of Provence, an account of a living adder, having been found in a block of stone, of thirty feet diameter, the centre of which it occupied. It was twisted nine times round itself, in a spiral line. It could not support the weight of the atmosphere, but died in a few minutes after it was taken from the stone. On examining the stone, not the least crevice could be discovered, through which it might have crept, nor the minutest opening through which it could have received fresh air, or inhale any sort of substance. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1064
(Anthony - a Runaway American)
The following is a genuine, serious advertisement, taken verbatim et literatim from the "Raleigh Star," where it stood placed with the figure of a running away negro prefixed to it. Caleb Quotem, so renowned in farce, scarcely equalled the subject of this advertisement in the variety and whimsical nature of his accomplishments.
"Twenty five Dollars Reward."
Ran away from Raleigh, a month or two ago, a mulatto man named Anthony, well known in
Raleigh, and many parts of the state, as having been for several years the body servant of
General Jones, and mine lately as a pressman and news carrier in the Star office.
Anthony is about 25 or 26 years of age, 5 ft: 8 or 10 inches high, is a mongrel white, has a tolerably large aquiline nose, bushy hair, a scar on one of his cheeks, when in a good humour has a pleasing countenance.
"He works well, and walks fast, is lively and talkative, full of anecdote, which he tells in character with much humour, is an excellent pressman, indifferent at distributing types, a tolerable carpenter and joiner, a plain painter, an excellent manager of horses, drives well and rides elegantly; having been accustomed to race riding, is fond of cock fighting (and of man fighting when drunk,) and is said to heel and pit with much skill; he can bleed and pull teeth, knows something of medicines is a rough barber, a bad but conceited cook, a good sawyer, can lay bricks, has worked in the Corn field; and can scratch a little on the fiddle.
"He can do many other things, and what he can't do, he pretends to have a knowledge of. His trades and qualities are thus detailed because his vanity will undoubtedly lead to a display of them. His master-vice or rather the parent of all his vices, is a fondness for strong drink, though sometimes he will abstain for months. His cloths cannot be described, but he carried away few or none, and 'tis expected will appear shabby. He is an artful fellow, and if taken up will tell a most plausible story, and possibly shew a forged pass. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, pps. 1059-1061
Antipathy to Milk.
Mr. Crawfurd observes that the Cochin Chinese, who are in general indiscriminate, and even gross, in their diet, have a strong antipathy to milk, they insist that the practice of using it as food is little better than that of drinking raw blood. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1132
A singular mode of self-persecution.
In the year 1174, Henry the 2nd. disrobed himself before a chapter of monks at Canterbury, and putting a scourge of discipline into the hands of each, presented his bare back to the lashes which these ecclesiastics successively inflicted on him. About this time the practice was carried to a great extreme, and it is recorded of a monk named Rodolphus, and one of the Dominicans, that they every day repeated an entire psalm, and whipped themselves cruelly the whole time, thinking that by twenty of these performances they would redeem one hundred years penance.
There is an amusing story on record, of a man having followed his wife to confession, and seeing the priest lead her into a private place in order that she might strip and prepare for discipline, exclaimed, my God, my poor wife is two tender, I had rather receive the discipline for her; and having fallen on his knees for this purpose, his wife said, "Beat him hard, Father, for I am a great sinner."
At Madrid in the year 1601, there was a sect of monks, who were clad in white, and who whipped themselves as they walked the streets with cords full of knots, at the end of which were small balls of wax with fragments of glass stuck in them for the purpose of drawing blood from their unfortunate hides. This discipline they generally practised on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1088-1090
(Battle of Waterloo)
In the year 1816, whilst taking a mornings ramble over the hills of Moresby, in the Co.. of Cumberland I found the following beautiful fragment enclosed in a blank cover addressed to Jas.. Malcolm Esqr.. Reader if you can peruse it without shedding a tear to departed worth, your flinty heart must be harder than the Rock on which I found it. As part of it was much eraced by the weather under which I suppose it had lain for some days I am obliged to leave out the first page.
"In a few minutes I had the honour of being enrolled a private in the 79th.. Highlanders; and before my arrival at Cork was fully equipped in the garb of the warlike Celts.
"I need not detain you with an account of my dull and uninteresting life, after our arrival in Belgium, previous to the memorable fight of Waterloo. With the occurrences of that day you are all well acquainted, and my friends here have often enough listened to the narration of my own hair breath escapes. Though the feeling is natural, I have been to fond of pointing out at the only bright spot in the blank of a nameless existance.
The night before the battle I was backwards and forwards, a solitary sentinal, at one of our outposts. There was a weight in the midnight atmosphere that spread an unwonted gloom over my soul; and the thoughts of a widowed, diserted, and heart broken mother assumed the place that high wrought romance was wont to occupy. There was a silence throughout the whole of our army, which formed a striking contrast to the loud shouts of the enemy, as they passed the night in carousing around the watch fires. I should not, perhaps, call it silence, and yet it was something like it, but not the silence of sleep. The stern and sullen sound with which the word and countersign were exchanged - the low but deep tone in which the necessary orders for the following day were given, the sigh of contending feelings in the soul, which almost resembled the groans extorted by bodily pain from the wounded - were still more audible than the distant clang of the armourer, and the snorting and prancing of the steed, and shewed that all around was watchfulness and anxiety.
"About the middle of the night I received a visit from a young man with whom I had formed an intimate acquaintance. he was the only Son of a gentleman of large property in the south of Ireland; but having formed an attachment to a beautiful Girl in humble life, and married her against the will of his father, he had been disinherited, and turned out of doors. The youth had some reason to repent of his rashness, His wife was beautiful, virtuous, and affectionate; but her want of education, and entire unacquaintance with those polished manners and little elegancies of life to which he had been accustomed, soon disolved much of the charm which her beauty and artlesness had at first thrown around him. After strugling for some time with poverty and discontent, he enlisted in a regiment of heavy dragoons; and being ordered to the Continent, left his wife, with an infant daughter, in a wretched lodging in London. Chance brought us together in Belgium, and a similarity of tastes soon produced a friendship.
"Depressed as I was in spirit myself, I was struck with the melancholy tone in which that night, he accosted me. He felt a presentiment, he said, that he should not survive the battle the ensuing day. He wished to bid me farewell, and to entrust to my care his portrait, which, with his farewell blessing, was all he had to bequeath to his wife and child. Absence had renewed, or rather redoubled, all his fondness for her, in all the witching loveliness that had won his boyish affection. He talked of her, while the tears ran down his cheeks; and condured me, if ever I reached England, to find her out, and make known her case to his father. In vain, while I pledged my word to the fulfilment of his wishes, I endeavoured to cheer him with better hopes. He listened in mournfull silence to all I could suggest; flung his arms round my neck, wrung my hand, and we parted.
It was during the hottest part of the next and terrible day - when, with a noise that drowned even the roar of the artillery, Sir Wm.. Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry dashed past our hollow square, bearing before them in that tremendous charge of the flower of Napoleon's cavalry. Far ahead even of his national regiment, I saw the manly figure of my friend. It was but for a moment. The next instant he was fighting in the centre of the enemy's squadron; and the clouds of smoke that closed in masses round friend and foe, hid all from my view.
When the battle was over, and all was hushed but the groans of the wounded, and the triumphant shouts and rolling drums of the victorious Prussians, who continued the pursuit during the entire of the night, I quitted the shattered remains of the gallant regiment in whose ranks I had that day the honour of Standing. The moon was wading through scattered masses of dark and heavy clouds, when I commenced my search for my friend.
"Although I at first felt a certain conviction of his fate, I afterwards began to hope that the object of my search had, contrary to his prediction, survived the terrible encounter. I was about to retire, when the heads of slain, in a ploughed field on which the moon was now shining clearly, attracted my notice. Literally piled on each other were the bodies of five cuirassieurs; and lying beneath his horse was the dead body of my friend. You may form some idea of my astonishment on finding, by a nearer inspection, that his head was supported and his cheek entwined by the arms of a female, from whom also the spirit had taken its departure; but you can form no conception of the honor I felt at beholding, in this scene of carnage & desolation - in the very arms of death, and on the bosom of a corpse, a living infant, sleeping calmly, with the moonbeam resting on its lovely features, and a smile playing on its lips, as if angels were guarding its slumbers, and inspiring its dreams! and who knows but perhaps they were.
The conviction now flashed on my mind, that these were the wife and child of my unfortunate friend; and the letters we afterwards found on the person of the former, proved that I was right in my conjecture. Driven aside by the gales of pleasure or ambition, or by the storms of life, the affections of man may veer; but unchangeable and unchanging is the true heart of woman. "She loves - and loves for ever."
This faithfull wife had followed him through a land of strangers, and over the pathless sea - through the crowded city and bustling camp, till she found him stretched on the battle field. Perhaps she came in time to receive his parting sigh, and her spirit quitting its worn out tenement of clay, winged its way with his to him who gave them being. With the assistance of some of my comrades, I consigned this hapless pair to earth, wrapped in the same military cloak; and enveloping the infant - this dear child of my adoption - in my plaid, I returned to the spot where our regiment lay. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1037-1044
Bon Mot.
The Chevalier Gatti, himself a skilful physician, once said to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, "when a person is sick, it is a dispute between the patient and the disease; a physician is called in; and he comes with a great stick in his hand to decide the quarrel: if it should fall upon the disease, he cures the patient; if upon the patient, it kills him. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1111
Brain.
In the electoral library of Konigsberg, says Thos. Bartholin, in the year 1678, there was shewn a piece of iron, of the length and thickness of a finger, which had remained during fourteen years in the Brain of a Prussian Officer, named Erasmus de Reitzenstein, without occasioning him any considerable inconvenience. At the end of the period, it produced a suppuration, and came out with the pus.
All these circumstances are related in a latin inscription, in verse, adjoined to the iron, and deposited by the Officer in 1642, in the Church of Saint Albert, whence, in 1665, it was transferred to the electoral library - J'en suis surpris Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1081
Burning Glasses.
The most remarkable burning-glasses of the ancients were those of Archimedes and Proclus. With these astonishing instruments the former reduced to ashes the Roman ships besieging Syracuse, and the latter the navy of Vitalian besieging Byzantium.
Among the moderns, was one of four feet diameter, belonging to M: Vallette. It was capable of melting a silver sixpence in seven seconds; a half penny in sixteen seconds, and making it run in thirty four; and of melting tin in three seconds. That of M: Buffon was six feet square. By means of this instrument he set boards of beech wood on fire at the distance of 150 feet in March; at another time he kindled wood 200 feet distant, and melted tin and lead at the distance of 120 ft. and silver at 50.
* Ed. note: - see other sources concerning Archimedes that suggest the above statement may be inaccurate, at least in part. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1090
Catholic Question.
It is now fifty years since the Catholic Question was first agitated in the English House of Commons. It was brought forward by the late Mr.. Fox, on the 18th.. of March, 1779, and was passed, by a large majority, on the 18th.. of March, 1829, being precisely half a century. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1115
Children.
Thos.. Bartholin, says that in the year 1672, the wife of a miller, of the burgh of Berendorff, was at the one time, delivered of a little girl, which appeared to be in good health, with the exception that the belly was preternaturally large. Eight days after birth she was attacked with violent pains in the lower belly, and at length produced a living female child. This embryo was of the length of the middle finger; and, as it was living, with the human form, it was baptised: but, with its mother, it died on the following day. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1055
Content.
The Duc de Montmorenci, when travelling in Languedoc, perceived four peasants dining in the fields under the shade of a large tree. The Duc approached them, and enquired if they were happy? Three of them replied, that they were satisfied with the condition God had assigned them, and that they did not wish for any thing else. The Fourth frankly avowed that one thing was necessary to his happiness, or at least would contribute much towards it, the means of acquiring a small property which had long been in the family of his ancestors. "And if thou hadst this," said Montmorenci wouldst thou be content?" As happy as I would wish to be," replied the peasant. The duke enquired the sum necessary, and was told two thousand francs which he immediately gave him, rejoicing that he had made one man happy in his life. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1134
Contrast between Spanish & English Doctors.
(see page on Royalty under George II & III)
Curious Advertisement.
Wanted immediately.
To enable me to leave the house which I have for these last five years inhabited, in the same plight and condition in which I found it.
500 Live Rats,
For which I will gladly pay the sum of £5 sterl.. and as I cannot leave the Farm attached thereto in the same order in which I got it, without at least
Five millions of Docks, or Dockins,
I do hereby promise a further sum of £5 sterling for said number of
Dockins.
Signed Andrew Ward. Dated 31st.. Octr.. 1816
N: B: The Rats must be full grown, and no Cripples.
Curious Coincidence.
It is worthy of remark, that at the late York Assizes there were only two prisoners whose cases excited public interest, and that the Christian name of one, and the surname of the other, were alike. viz - "Martin" Slack and Jonathan "Martin." - Many wagers were betted, since the burning of York Minster, that "Martin" would be hung. Query - Leaving out the question the gross impropriety of betting on this; and even on any other subject, "How are those wagers to be decided seeing that Martin was hung?" - April 14th.. 1829. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1136
Deviations from nature.
Vimont, a doctor of physic, and resident in Tap, in Normandy, mentions that in 1778, in a House in that Village, where they were accustomed to have their duck-eggs hatched by hens there were 12 laid by with that intention, but a cat that had conceived a strong attachment for the hen that covered them, wished top share with here the labour, and took three out of the twelve to himself, upon which he sat in imitation of the hen his friend.
When the period of incubation was at and end, the eggs that had been covered by the hen, produced nine ducklings; but the three that had been fostered by the warmth of the cat, produced nothing in the beginning. At the expiration, however, of five or six days, during which the Cat never left them, the persons of the house had the curiosity to break them, when to their great surprise, they found within each egg, a species of monster partaking of the double property of cat and hen * and of which two were living, but the other was dead. Of these cat-hens, the Doctor preserved two for the gratification of the curious. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1080-1081
* Ed. note: -interpret this how you wish.
Diamonds and Paste.
John Palmer, whose father was a bill-sticker, and who had occasionally practised in the same humble occupation himself, being one evening strutting in the green-room in a pair of glittering buckles, a gentleman who was present remarked, that they really resembled diamonds. "Sir," said the actor, with some warmth, "I would have you to know, I never wear any thing except diamonds." "I ask your pardon," replied the gentleman, "Remember the time when you wore nothing but paste." This produced a loud laugh, which was heightened by Bannister jogging him on the elbow, and drily saying, D___n me, Jack, why don't you stick him against the wall." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1079
Distaste to Praying
M: Grossi, an eminent physician of Savoy, invited to dine with Count Picon, Governor of Savoy, arrived too soon, and found his Excellency at prayer. He was asked to join in the devotions, which he consented to after some grimaces, and fell upon his knees. Hardly, however had he recited two aves, when, unable to hold out any longer, he suddenly rose, seized his cane, and went off without saying a word. The Count ran after him crying, "M. Grossi, M. Grossi, stop! - we have below on the spit an excellent red partridge." - "My Lord," replied the anti religious healer of bodies, "if you were to give me a roasted angel, I would not stay." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1121
Eggs.
On the 14t.. Sepr.. in the year 1679, a Batavian Hen, in the Island of Java, laid an Egg of an ordinary size, but which represented on the outside the figure of a Serpent in all its parts. Not only the lineaments of the Serpent could be traced on all its surface, but the three dimensions of its Body were as distinct as if it had been engraven by the most expert sculptor, or printed on wax, or plaister, or any other like substance. Its head, its ears were perfectly distinguishable, and even its tongue was to be seen, cloven in two, as if it came from its mouth. The eyes were brilliant, and represented so perfectly both the internal and external parts of the real eye, and in colour so natural, that they seemed to look, even with astonishment, upon the Spectators. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1053
(Emancipation)
The Vital and long agitated question of Emancipation received the second reading on Saturday night April 4th. 1829, when their appeared a majority of 105 Lords in favour of the measure. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1121
(Emancipation Bill)
Monday, 13th.. April 1829
This day the Royal Assent, was given by commission to the emancipation Bill, the Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Shaftsbury, and Lord Ellenborough. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1133
Extraordinary Donation
When the Empress Catherine founded the Hospital for foundlings at Moscow, a person unknown sent a box containing fifty thousand roubles to the president of this establishment, accompanied with these words: "He who takes the liberty to offer this to M: de Betski, will have completely obtained his desire, if by means of this gift, Russia shall, at some future day, have one reasonable subject, one happy man, one virtuous citizen." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1131
Extraordinary fact.
There is now living at Broughton Aluph, in Kent, in one family, the offspring of five generations, all females of whom the elder (Mrs.. Bartlet) can truly say, "Arise, daughter, go to thy daughter, & tell her to go to her daughter's daughter." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1052
Fecundity.
On the 21st.. March 1755, a letter written from Petersburgh mentioned that a Russian peasant named James Kiriloff & his wife, both of them of the Village of Wendeskea, in the government of Moscow, had just been presented to the empress. This peasant had been married twice, and was then 70 years of age. His first wife lay in twenty one times, and had 57 children all alive, to wit, at four layings in she had four children, which made sixteen, seven times she had three, amounting to twenty one, and ten times she had two, which made twenty.
His second wife who accompanied him, already counted seven layings in, one of three children at a time, & Six of twins each, which amounted together to fifteen children. Thus this Russian Patriarch was then the father of 72 Children. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1054
Fist Love and First Opinion.
The <Lord Chancellor is the keeper of the King's conscience. If he vote for the emancipation Bill, I shall be glad to know what he has done with his own? Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1045
Force of Imagination.
The following case lately occurred under the care of M. Maury, at the Hospital of St.. Louis:- A young man from the country, a labourer, imagined that he had swallowed a young snake in a glass of water. "It is five years," said he, since the accident occurred; since which time the animal has not ceased to grow. It has now attained an enormous size, and produces great inconvenience, constantly in motion, it traverses the belly, mounts into the chest, and sometimes uses up to the left eye, when I have a distinct perception of its size and colour. Sometimes its movements are so violent and painful, that I am obliged to constrain them by seizing and squeesing it through the parietes of the abdomen." -
The patient described a variety of other circumstances connected with his internal enemy, and appealed to the bystanders whether they did not hear it hissing; yet, in all other respects, he was perfectly rational. M: Maury, aware that no reasoning would avail, affected to agree with him. The patient himself expressed his conviction that nothing but an operation could save him. It was performed in the following manner:-
In order to render the illusion more complete, a large plait was made in the integuments of the abdomen, the base of which was traversed with a bitoury, and a live adder introduced into the wound in the form of a seton, so as to be under the skin. One of the wounds being covered with the hand, the patient was requested to assist by seizing the head of the "serpent," and unite his efforts to those of the operator in extracting it.
No idea can be formed of the joy of the patient without having witnessed it. Next day he declared that he was prodigiously shrunk, in consequence of the extraction of the horrid creature, - all the torments which he had suffered for five years were removed; the cure was complete in a few days, and what is more remarkable it has continued permanent.
One circumstance alone for a moment rendered it doubtful: the patient was affraid that the serpent might have left some eggs, but his confidence was completely restored on being assured that it was a male. - Medical Gazette; 28th.. March 1829. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1108-1110
George Frederick Cooke.
Geo: F: Cooke had a singular antipathy to drummers. He was once reading the official account of a battle, in which among the returns of killed was a drummer. When he came to this point, he dropped the paper, clasped his hands, and with the same exultation he would have exhibited in Shylock, exclaimed, "Thank God! thank God! there's one drummer gone at last." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1137
Generous Bequest
When M: Bouvant was given over by the physicians, he sent for his old friend the Abbé Blanchet, to whom he said, "From the character I know you to have, you will always be poor; there is every appearance, my friend, that I cannot live long, and when I am dead, what will become of you?" The Abbé wished to reply, but the sick man taking advantage of his condition, ordered him to be silent, and dictated his last orders. "My will is, that you enjoy the interest of ten thousand crowns which I have earned, for your life. Don't make any difficulties, the principal will return to my family." M: Bouvant recovered. Sometime afterwards, the Abbé related this trait to the Duchesse d'Aumont; who was so delighted, that she urged him to tell it her again. "Why, madam," said the Abbé, "what I have related is nothing to what followed; for when my poor Bouvant recovered, I found him quite sorry that he was well." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1136-7
Giants.
Philostrato says, that by the falling in of one of the sides of the Orantes, a body forty-six feet in length was discovered in the Sepulchre belonging to the Ethiopian Ariadnes. He adds that in a cavern of Mount Sigea, they found the body of a Giant measuring twenty one cubits. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1068
Hair.
A Watchmaker of Neunkirken in Lower Austria, whose hair was very black, all fell off; he remained eight days without any; after which white hair grew on his head, and in some time after this became black; he was but thirty six years old when this observation was published. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1067
Heavy Taxes.
Wewitzer? remarking on the heavy taxes the Minister imposed upon all strong liquors, said, "That his measures had an evident tendency to lower the spirits of the country." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1079
Holy Thursday
Extract, from Mr. Henry Koster's travels in Brazil
On Holy Thursday, accompanied by two of my countrymen, I sallied forth at three O'Clock, to see the churches in Olinda, which are, on this occasion, lighted up, and highly ornamented, and amongst others went to that of St. Amarco, the healer of wounds, at this chapel are sold bits of ribbons, as charms, which many individuals tie round their naked ancles or their wrists, and preserve untill the(y) wear out, and drop off.
The whole town was in motion; the females, too, both high and low, were parading the streets on foot, contrary to their usual custom; dressed in silks of different colours, and covered with gold chains, and other trinkets, the blaze in the churches was prodigious, the middle of the body of these churches is completely open, there are no pews, and the part appropriated to the priests is railed in from the body of the church. The females, as the(y) enter, whether white or of colour, place themselves as near to the rails as the(y) can, the men stand along either side of the body of the church, but every female of whatever rank or colour, is first accomodated.
On the following day, Good Friday, the decorations of the churches, the dress of the women, and even the manner of both sexes was changed; all was dismal. In the morning I went to the church of the Sacramento, to witness a representation of our Saviour's descent from the Cross. An enormous curtain hung from the ceiling, excluding from the sight the whole of the principal chapel. An Italian Friar with a long beard, and dressed in a thick dark brown cloth habit, was in the pulpit, and after an exordian of some length, adapted to the day, he cried out, "Behold him;" the curtain immediately dropped, and discovered an enormous Cross, with a full sized wooden image of our Saviour, exceedingly well carved and painted, & around it a number of angels represented by several young persons, all finely decked out, and each bearing a large pair of wings made of gauze; a man dressed in a bob wig, and a pea green robe, as St. John, and a female kneeling at the foot of the Cross, as the Magdalene; whose character, as I was informed, seemingly that nothing might be wanting, was not the most pure.
The friar continued, with much vehemence, and much action, his narrative of the crucifixion, and after some minutes, again cried out, "Behold, they take him down;" when four men habited in imitation of Roman soldiers, stepped forwards. The countenances of these persons were in part concealed by black crape. Two of them ascended the ladders placed on each side against the Cross, and one took down the board, bearing the letters I.N.R.I. Then was removed the crown of thorns, & a white cloth was put over, and pressed down upon the head; which was soon taken off, and shown to the people, stained with the circular mark of the crown in blood: this done the nails which transfix the hands were by degrees knocked out, and this produced a violent beating of breasts among the female part of the congregation. A long white linen bandage was next passed under each arm-pit of the image; the nail which secured the feet was removed; the figure was let down very gently and was carefully wrapped up in a white sheet.
All this was done by word of command from the preacher. I was quite amazed; I had heard that something of this kind was to be done, but I had no idea of the extent to which the representation would be carried. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, pps. 1128-1131
Humorous Advertisement.
Mr.. Buckletight Mc..Anvil, Blacksmith and Parson, frae Gretna Green, first Cousin, eleven times remov'd, to the prodeegious Dominie Sampson, having just arrived in this Ceety on a visit tull some former kustomers, tak's leave tull untraduce himsel to the Nobeelaty and Jaintry o Dublin haw pin for their custom and pay tranage in his line of beesiness.
He practises farriory, and performs matrimony, in aw their several branches, and deals extensively in irony in general; forges fetters for rambling nags, and run-away gentle-folk; links, chains, and rivits for mon and beast; couples for dogs and dandies; padlocks and wedlocks baith well handled; cures love and the lampers, farcy and philandering' glanders and gallivanting; hangs bells, and puts beaux in away of hanging themselves; docks hairs frae long tail'd naggies, and helps to provide heirs for entailed estates; fastens tight bits to bridles, and tit bits to fortune hunters; gentlefolk accommodated with pincers; is unrivall'd in the punch line, and muckle mair too numerous to menshin.
Terms unco cheap, twa bawbees wi a mull o guide snishin, and a bottle of Brandy, for by e a kiss o the bride. For further parteekleers spier at the Horse Shoe and Kail-stock, Thistle Court, Stoney Batter, not far frae Smithfield; and gin ye dinna find me at hame, spier at the whuskey hoose over the way.
N:B: Asses shod and old maids married at half price. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, pps. 1069-1070
Ed. note: - written to show that 'Mr McAnvil' came from Scotland.
Ice.
In Russia in the year 1740, the Ice became uncommonly thick. In order to amuse the court, they took advantage of the strength which it had acquired, and constructed at Petersburgh a Palace of Ice, 52½ feet long, sixteen and (a) half feet broad, and 20 feet high.
This edifice was raised by laying enormous blocks of Ice one over the other, yet the weight of the superior parts and of the top, which were all of the same temporary materials, did no injury to the fabric; the walls of it were from two to three feet in thickness.
The blocks of Ice for this purpose were carefully cut; they were enriched with ornaments and placed upon each other agreeably to the rules of the most elegant architecture.
Before the Structure were six cannons of turned ice, mounted upon carriages and wheels of the same materials, with two mortars for bombs, proportioned to the french calibre. The cannons were made to carry a Six pound ball each, and were first fired off with a quarter of a pound of powder, after which they ventured to discharge balls of tow, of iron, or cast metal. This experiment was made in the presence of the whole Court, which was surprised to see a ball shot from a cannon made of Ice, penetrate a board two inches thick, and at the distance of Sixty paces. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, pps. 1062-1063
Imagination.
A man of the highest Rank in Copenhagen, says Olaus Borrichius, in the acts of Copenhagen, for the year 1678, whom I had cured of a fever, and purged after the distemper, begged of me likewise to prescribe a gentle purge for his wife.
This lady being somewhat delicate made a difficulty of swallowing five pills which I ordered her, in the presence of her husband. The latter, who could swallow liquid medicines with ease, had a mortal aversion for pills. These before him so forcibly struck his imagination, that he begged his wife to swallow them instantly, otherwise he found himself on the point of vomiting. The initiation, however, was accomplished, and was sufficient. He was purged by it much sooner than his wife, and in a greater degree, for he vomited twice, and had three abundant stools as well as herself. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, pps. 1058
James Whitby.
James Whitby, some fifty years ago, was a noted and eccentric theatrical manager, and also a very penurious one, of which he once gave tolerable proof. Representing the crook-backed tyrant he exclaimed, "Hence babbling dreams, you threaten here in vain, concience avaunt," - that man in the brown wig there has got into the Pit without paying - "Richard's himself again." The same person, while on his death-bed actually made a contract with an undertaker for his funeral, stipulating that he should take half the amount in tickets, for his widows' benefit. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1138
Koscuisko.
The hero of Poland once wished to send some bottles of good wine to a clergy man at Solothurn; and as he hesitated to trust them by his servant, lest he should smuggle a part, he gave the commission to a young man of the name of Zeltner, and desired him to take the horse which he himself usually rode. On his return, young Zeltner said that he never would ride his horse again, unless he gave him his purse at the same time. Koscuisko enquiring what he meant, he answered, "As soon as a poor man on the road takes off his hat and asks charity, the horse immediately stands still, and will not stir till something is given to the petitioner; and as I had no money about me, I was obliged to feign giving something, in order to satisfy the horse." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1126-1127
(Lord Exmouth)
To Lord Exmouth, after storming Algiers.
When Oxford attached D: C: L: to your name,
'Twas an honour Pellew, that you justly might claim;
Your skill all the world will esteem at a high rate,
Who have, taught Civil Law in two days to a pirate.
Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1065
Lord Gormanston
In the month of October, 1815, the Mary, * of Glasgow, was stranded near Balbriggan. On the Vessel filling, the unfortunate seaman lashed themselves in the shrouds, Lord Gormanston hearing of the shipwreck, offered two hundred guineas to six gallant fellows, if they would venture to rescue the poor fellows from their perilous situation. They immediately pushed off in a stout boat; and at the great hazard of their own lives, brought the whole crew on shore, though almost in a lifeless state. Mr. Filgate, of Lowther Lodge, added twenty guineas to the handsome reward of his lordship. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1132
* Ed. note:- in the original manuscript, the name has been written "Marry" with the second r apparently scored out.
Lord Norbury's Last.
His Lordship on being informed, yesterday, that it was intended by the friends of civil and religious liberty to erect a statue in Dublin to the Duke of Wellington, said, "All fair - the Duke will get a statute for a statute. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1138
Magnanimous Bandit.
The leader of a gang of banditti in Corsica, who had long been famous for his exploits, was at length taken and committed to the care of a soldier, from whom he contrived to escape. The soldier was condemned to death. At the place of execution, a man coming up to the commanding officer, said, "sir, I am a stranger to you, but you shall soon know who I am. I have heard that one of your soldiers is to die for having suffered a prisoner to escape. he was not at all to blame; besides, the prisoner shall be restored to you. behold him here! I am the man. I cannot bear that an innocent man should be punished for me, & have come to die myself; lead me to execution." No!" exclaimed the French officer, who felt the sublimity of the action as he ought; "thou shall not die; and the soldier shall be set at liberty. Endeavour to reap the fruits of thy generosity. Thou deservest to be henceforth an honest man." No. 7. Thursday, 23rd. April 1829.
Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1140
Mathew Prior
Prior was one night at the opera, and in the box where he sat, was a french gentleman, who seemed much more pleased in hearing himself sing than the actor, and who sung in so high a key, as to make it very difficult to hear the performances. Prior hissed; the volunteer performer, supposing that the actor was the object of the disapprobation, interposed, observing that he was the very best singer on the stage. prior replied, yes, but he makes such a noise, that I cannot hear you. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1096
Men extraordinary.
In the literary journal of Florence we are informed that a Priest, named Poul Moccia, of the age of Fifty, and known by some latin epistles and a Greek prosody of which he was the author, precipitated himself into the Sea, where he was no sooner at the bottom, than he returned in a perpendicular direction to the surface, where he kept himself, sunk to the breast, without his being perceived to make the smallest motion. In this attitude he remained with his his arms across, and moved upright in the water with the same assurance as if he had been walking upon firm ground.
The divers, it is said, often pulled him to the bottom, but scarcely did he get from them, when he rose again and floated perpendicularly like a cork. Some times he slept upon the water, which he did always in a horizontal direction, as he would have done in his bed, turning and tossing himself about without ever sinking.
He himself declared, that under his feet in the water, he felt as strong a resistance as upon the high way, and, as well as others, expressed his surprise at this singular property in his own body. Some naturalists who had remarked this phenomenom, after weighing him, and measuring his bulk, found that he was thirty pounds lighter than a like volume of water. It was by chance that he discovered in himself this extraordinary property, which he afterwards improved wonderfully, both by habit and exercise. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1066-1067
Mr. Meadows.
When this gentleman came out, Rogers, surveying his melancholy phiz, said, "That man, Meadows? impossible!" "Indeed he is" was the reply. "It can't be, man, said the poet; "hear what the song says, - "The meadows look cheerful." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1086
Mr. and Mrs. Web
This worthy couple weighed at least 16 stone each, and they once waited on Colman, to complain of the smallness of their salaries. "Why, really, my poor fat people," says Colman, "I have often wondered how you make both ends meet."
(Mrs. Coleman)
The first woman who appeared on an English stage, was a Mrs.. Coleman, who represented Ianthe, in D'Avenati's Siege of Rhodes, in 1656. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1085
(Mushrooms)
Sir Alexr. Dick speaks of the wholesomeness of mushrooms, and maintains that nothing agrees so well with him as a small dish of these every morning before tea; toasted before the fire, basted with fresh butter, and dashed with pepper and salt. The nerves of man will feel the benefit of this dish, if taken fasting immediately before tea, and will prevent the shakings and palpitations which many people find from using that admirable liquid." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1093-1094
(Paris Garden)
In an obscure part of the garden Les Diquieres, in Paris, a tomb is erected by an old maid to preserve the memory of a cat. Upon a square black marble pedestal is carved a black cat, couchant on a white marble cushion, fringed with gold, on one side of the pedestal was the following Epitaph in letters of Gold.
Here lies Menine, of all cats, the most
lovely and most beloved.
"A charming cat here buried lies,
Lov'd by its mistress, ah to well!
That mistress who did all things prize -
But words are weak her love to tell.
Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1098
Parker's Journal.
Extract from the log-book of Thomas Parker, who died in America, and who was an active naval officer during the American war.
First part of the voyage - (alluding to the early part of his life) - pleasant, with fine breezes, and free winds - all sail set - spoke many vessels, our supplies had enabled to refit - made signals of distress - they up helm, and bore away - (Those whom he had formerly befriended, now in his distress refused him assistance)
Latter part - Boisterous with contrary winds - current of adversity setting hard to leeward - towards the end of the passage it cleared up - with the quadrant of honesty had an observation - corrected and made up my reckoning, and after a passage of fifty years came to in mortality road, with the calm unruffled surface of the ocean of eternity in view. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1118-1119
Persian Dinner.
Moritz Von Kotzebue, who was attached to the Russian Embassy, appointed to visit the court of Persia, gives the following account of a dinner given at Erivan, by the sardar, to the Russian Embassador, Lieutenant-General Jermoloff and suite.
First a pancake, which not only covered the whole table, but hung over it on all sides nearly half a yard deep. It is called Tshurck, and it serves the Persians both for bread and napkin; then the half of a sheep, the leg of an ox, two dishes filled with various roasted meats, five dishes of ragouts sprinkled with saffron, two dishes of boiled rice, two of boiled fowls, two of roasted fowls, two roast geese, two dishes of fish, two bowls of sour milk, a large quantity of sherbet, and four jars of wine; but with all these, there was neither knife, fork, nor spoon. One dish was piled upon another with such rapidity, that Dr.. Müller and myself suddenly found ourselves stationed behind a meat intrenchment which concealed all view of the court, and only allowed us a peep at our friends opposite, through the interstices of the multiplied dishes.
Through one of these openings I endeavoured to observe what the sardar was doing. With his left hand resting on his dagger, for the Persians never eat with the left hand, he gravely stretched out his right into a dish of greasy rice, of which he kneaded a small portion with three fingers, and conveyed it, with great address, into his mouth, seldom soiling either his beard or his moustaches. After repeating this operation several times, he broke a piece off the enormous pancake, and having wiped his fingers with it, swallowed it with an air of placid satisfaction. He, in the same manner, poked into a variety of dishes which he fancied; and, at last, seized a goblet of sherbet, and drinking it off, smiled around upon his wondering guests. Scarcely one of the party had tasted any of the dishes, from the impossibility of getting at them; for not one of them could have been removed from the middle, without demolishing the structure of the whole.
The signal for clearing the tables was at last given, and the attendants, as well as the gentlemen who were standing outside, and enviously looking on, must have considered us all to be persons of very great distinction; as it is the custom in Persia, on state occasions, that persons should abstain from indulging in the pleasures of the table, in proportion to the superiority of their rank. The removing of the dishes occasioned some curious scenes: the dish of ragouts could not be separated from the plate of sour cream, upon which it is so conveniently reposed; the butter had entered into close alliance with the pancake; and the fish would not disolve partnership with the roasted fowls. Force however succeeded, at last, in effecting the desired separation, and the eatables were delivered up to the persons waiting outside. It is the custom in Persia, to give the remains of a feast to the attendants, or such persons as may happen to be in the way; often, also, to the gaping populace.
Our intrenchments having been thus happily destroyed, we could once more breath freely. The attendants presented water to us to wash our hands, but without napkins: the Persians allow their hands to dry; and we were obliged to wipe ours with our handkerchiefs. This operation had scarcely been completed, when, to our dismay, immense dishes were again brought in; but this time we came off more easily, for they consisted of fruits and confectionary; and to our relief, only one was placed before each of us, otherwise, indeed, we should not have been able to see the dancers, who had just entered the all, and ranged themselves on all sides, till the musicians commenced. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1122-1125
(Pope Leo 12th)
Office of Arms.
Corn-Exchange, Feby.. 23rd.. 1829.
It is commanded by the Executive of Ireland, that all persons who appear either at his Catholic Majesty's Castle of Dublin, or at any of the Churches within the kingdom of Ireland, do put on mourning for his Holiness the Viceregent of Christ our Lord the Pope - Leo 12th.. of blessed memory.
The Ladies to wear green bombazines, plain muslin, or long lawn linen, white hoods, tabinet shoes, worsted gloves, and paper fans. Undress - Green Balbriggan stuff.
The Gentleman to wear Ennis freize cloth, without buttons on the sleeves or pockets, (with the exception of the deputies from Cork, who have permission to wear their's behind,) plain calico green cravats, with the head of O'Connell stamped in the centre, and weepers, leather boots and gloves, green hatbands, cavalry swords, and horse pistols. Undress, Dark grey freize great coats.
And upon the said melancholy occasion it is expected and commanded, that all persons, and particularly the Heretics still remaining in Ireland, do put themselves into deep black mourning, the said mourning to begin on wednesday next, the 25th.. Instant.
By Command of the Executive,
John Rock, (Captain,)
Munster King of Arms.
Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1051-1052
(Pope Pius VIII) The New Pope.
The election for a new Pope took place on the 31st.. of March 1829, when Cardinal Francis Xavier Castiglione, was duly elected to fill the Pontifical Chair, he is now 68 years of age, having been born at Cingoli on the 20th.. March 1761, and has assumed the name of Pope Pius VIII. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1127
(Prince of Issenberg)
In the year 1813, the French papers mentioned, that the Prince of Issenberg, rather than renounce his allegiance to Buonaparte, has retired into Switzerland. This Prince is an Officer in the French army, & out of the whole contingent of 120,000 men furnished by the Confederation, his domain supplies 29!!! Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1064
(Robert Peele)
Lost, somewhere between shuffling and meanness, the good opinion of the people of England. Whoever will return the same to Robt.. Peele Esqr.. shall be handsomely rewarded for his trouble. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1070
Russian Garden.
The Garden belonging to the winter palace of the Emporer of Russia is on a level with the grand apartments, and is six fathoms above the ground. In this are gravel walks, grass plots, parterres of flowers, rows of orange trees, birch, pines, lime trees and shrubs, of various kinds, exactly as in other pleasure gardens, with bowers and arbours all round it. The whole is heated in Winter by means of flues conveyed along the vaults beneath. Over the garden is a wire net, so fine as to be scarcely perceptible. here are all kinds of singing birds, foreign as well as native, flying about from three to tree, as in the woods from whence they were brought, picking up the proper food distributed for them, making their nests, or warbling among the branches. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1097
St. Genevieve
The Church erected in honour of her, in Paris, is in a most beautiful building. In the upper part of the choir, four pillars of Jasper, with four golden images of angels at the tops, support the shrine of this saint, in which lie all that remains of her body. Several wax tapers burn before it day and night, and the most devout, kiss the pillars that sustain the admirable relics.
They believe that linen, or anything else belonging to the body, that has touched the shrine, and been blessed, has the power to chase away maladies, to preserve dangers, and to make prosperous in all things, those who wear it. In consequence of this belief, innumerable vestments are brought to the priests, who are appointed for this office; they are fastened in the cleft of a long pole, and then raised to the shrine, which is nearly as high as the roof of the church, and having touched the shrine with them, they pronounce a benediction in the name of the Saint, and then they are restored to the party.
On one occasion, when rain had long continued to fall, doing incredible injury, it was decreed that the body of St.. Genevieve should be taken down, and carried in solemn procession to Notre-Dame. The procession consisted of all the religious orders in the city, of women as well as men, the parliament, the chamber of accounts, the court of aids, the court of moneys, and the whole body of citizens. And no sooner was the shrine in the open air, than the rain ceased, the sky became serene and clear, and son continued! Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1094-1095
Scotch Nobility
Quin being once asked if he had ever been in Scotland, and how he liked the people? "If you mean," replied he, the lower order of them, I shall be at a loss to answer you; for I had no further acquaintance with them than by the smell. As for the nobility, they are numerous, and for the most part, proud and beggarly.
I remember when I crossed from the north of Ireland into their d____d country, I came to a little wretched village consisting of a dozen huts, in the stile of the Hotentots, the principal of which was an inn, and kept by an earl. I was mounted on a shrivelled quadruped, for there was no certainty of calling it horse, mare or gelding, much like a North Wales goat, but larger, and without horns.
The whole village was up in an instant to salute me, supposing, from the elegance of my appearance, that I must be some person of a large fortune and great family. The earl ran, and took hold of my stirrup, while I dismounted; then returning to his eldest son, who stood by us without breeches, said, 'My lord, do you take the gentleman's horse to the stable, and desire your sister, Lady Betty, to draw him a pint of two penny; for, I suppose, so great a mon will ha' the best liquor in the whol hous,' I was obliged, "continued Quin, "to stay here the whole night, and to make a supper of rotten potatoes and stinking eggs. The old nobleman was indeed very compliant, and made me accept of his own bed. I cannot say that the dormitory was the best in the world; for there was nothing but an old box to sit upon in the room, and there were neither sheets nor curtains to the bed. Lady Betty was kind enough to apologise for the apartment, assuring me, 'mony persons of great degnaty had frequently slept in it; and that though the blonkets luked sae block, it was not quite four years sin they had been washed by the countess her mother, and lady Matilda Caroline Amelia Eleonora Sophia, one of her youngest sisters.' She then wished me a good night, and said, that the viscount her brother, would take particular car to grease my Boots." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1083-1085
Singular Circumstance.
In a family of which there were three sisters (two of whom are now married ladies in the parish of Arbuthnot,)* the whole three were born in Candlemas morning. There were five years between each of their births, and the same time almost to a day between each of their marriages. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1055
* Ed. note: - assumed to refer to Arbuthnot in Kincardineshire, Scotland : Candlemas = February 2, a term day.
Sir Charles Wetherell.
After Sir Charles Wetherell's thorough exposure of the apostacy of Mr.. Peel, he said with flashing eye and energetic action, looking firmly in the face of the home Secretary.
"Let the attack come from whence it may, I am ready to meet it, I dare them to attack me. I have no speech to eat up. I have no apostacy disgracfully to explain. I have no paltry subterfuge to resort to. I have not to say a thing was black one day and white another. I am not in one year a protestant Master of the Rolls, and in the next a Popish Lord Chancellor. I would rather remain as I am, the humble member for Plymton, than be guilty of such apostacy - such contradiction - such unexplainable conversion - such miserable contemptible apostacy." Wednesday, 18th.. March 1829. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1105
(State of Matrimony in England)
A French Journal gave the following account of the state of matrimony in England in the year 1816.
Husbands runaway. - - - - - - - 2,348.
Wives eloped. - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,132
Legally divorced. - - - - - - - - - 4,175
Living in open hostility. - -- 17,345
Secretly discontented. - - - - 13,279
Mutually indifferent. - - - - - - 55,240
Passing for happy. - - - - - - - - - - 3,175
Hardly happy. - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 127
Truly happy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13½
Total - - 96,834½
Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1165
Stone.
In the month of June 1690, a monk named Frere Jaques, extracted a stone, as large as a child's head from the body of a monk, weighing three pounds three ounces, which is preserved in the convent of La Charité, in Paris. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1100
Swift.
Swift, more than a century ago, said "If books and laws continue to increase as they have done for the last fifty years. I am in some concern for future ages, how any man will be learned or any man a lawyer." Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1110
The March of Intellect.
Col. Despreaux, remarks that their seem to be different periods for different crimes. Had always observed the summer months to be comparatively months of low riot. November began the burglaries, January and February the stealing of pocket-handkerchiefs and snuff-boxes, probably from the conflux to the theatres at that time. But that swindling transactions, and all other frauds that require peculiar dexterity, were sure to be prevalent about the month of March. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1046
The Miser.
Thos.. Pett the miser, who died in Clifford's Passage, London, on the 2nd.. of June 1803, left to distant relations, not one of whom he had ever seen or corresponded with, £2475, in three per cents.
The following list of his wearing apparel, &c. was taken after his death by a wag in the neighbourhood:-
An old bald wig. A hat as limber as a pancake. Two shirts that might pass for fishing nets. A pair of Stockings embroidered with threads of different colours. A pair of Shoes, or rather sandals. A Bedstead instead of a bed. A toothless comb. An almanac out of date. A gouty chair and a leafless table. A looking Glass that had outlived reflection. A leathern bag, with a captive guinea, &c. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1107
Vaillant and the Medals.
Vaillant, coming from the Levant, where he had been collecting various coins, and being pursued by a corsair of Sallee, swallowed twenty gold medals. And afterwards got safe to land with the medals in his belly. On his way to Avignon, he met two physicians, of whom he demanded assistance. One advised purgations, and the other emetics.
In this uncertainty he took neither, but pursued his way to Lyons, where he found his friend, the famous physician and antiquary, Dufour, to whom he related his adventure. Dufour first asked him, whether the medals were of the higher empire? He assured him they were. Dufour was ravished with the hope of possessing so rare a treasure; he bargained with him on the spot for the most curious of them, and was to recover them at his own expence. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1091-1092
Visit to the Catacombs in Paris.
"Armed with tapers, we descended a flight of steps to the depth of about a hundred feet below the surface, and entered one of the low passages leading to the catacombs. These vaults are the work of ages, having been formed by excavating for the stone with which Paris was built. They are of prodigious extent, and there are melancholy instances to prove how fatally a stranger may lose himself in the labyrinth of passages into which they are divided. To prevent a recurrence of such accidents, the proper route is indicated by a black line marked upon the roof.
After some time we arrived at a small blank door, this is the entrance into the caravan of death, where the contents of various cemeteries of Paris have been deposited; and as the door is locked behind you, it is difficult to prevent an involuntary shudder at the thought of being shut up with two millions of skulls. Upon the whole it is a painful sight. You feel as if you were guilty of profanation, by intruding upon the privacy which ought to be sacred - for the dead should not be made a spectacle to the living." - *
* Ed. note: - if this is a quote the original source is not given : Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 102-1093
Water Works.
In the Region of Louis 13th.. the water-works in the garden of St.. Germain, surpassed in mechanism, the more numerous ones at Versailles, and the more powerful ones at Marli. Instruments of music were set at work by the force of the water which produced harmony little inferior to the finest concert; and what added extremely to the pleasure, was the representation of musicians playing on them, and keeping exact time with their fingers on the keys of the organs, and the strings of the viols and lutes, as if they were living performers. All manner of mechanical trades were exercised by statues, which done everything with proper action, and were eager at their employments as long as the water gave them motion; when it ceased, they all returned to their primitive inactivity. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1099-1100
Will of Sir Gilbert East.
In the will of Sir Gilbert East, Bart. late of Fifield, Berks. proved in Doctor's Commons under £300,000, are the following curious bequests:- "I leave to Eleanor Mary East every dog belonging to me at my decease, be it where it may, which shall be kept in every respect as well as during my life, fed with milk, barley or oatmeal, or sea biscuit and tripe, &c. and I leave to be paid to the person possessing the property set down in No.. 1, seven shillings a week for each dog.
I do not allow of any one dog to be killed because old or infirm under a false notion of charity; and further any horse or mare belonging to me at my decease shall have each a run for life with every possible care and attention paid to them, but most particularly in winter, when I will that chaff, bran, and hay, be daily given to them, and a warm shed or sheds for them to shelter themselves in be provided; and I order that Eleanor Mary East do amply provide for the horses, &c. aforesaid, and at her decease I leave and bequeath eight shillings per week to be defrayed by the person being in actual possession of my property set forth in No.. 1, for the maintenance of each horse mare or gelding -
Further, any parrot that may to me belong at my decease, shall at the decease of Eleanor Mary East, be made over to Martha Hack, who I trust will in every respect take the greatest care of it, on the same plan of keeping as practised whilst I was living. -
My remains shall be put into a cedar coffin, lined top, bottom, and sides with Russian leather, and shall be placed in a coffin made of best wrought iron, and painted three times inside and outside with black paint and then embellished with armorial and funeral devices richly. Camphor and spices shall be put into the cedar coffin as much as possible. The body to be carried and placed in the family vault, Witham, Essex, and there buried. - I shall give no very particular directions as to the procession, &c. but it ought to be performed in a dignified and solemn manner, with banners, &c". Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1116-1118
(Writing)
Strabo says, that in the beginning of the world, men wrote in ashes, next on the barks of trees, then on leaves of laurels, afterwards on sheets of lead, and at last they came to write on paper. Book No. 7, 1820-1829, p. 1044
This page was last updated on 22 January 2001