daughter of the Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, and widow of Frederick William, Prince of Salms Braunfels, born March 2, 1788. They have one son, Prince George Frederick, born May 27, 1819. 11. ST. BARNABAS. A descendant of the tribe of Levi, born at Cyprus, and, after his conversion, a coadjutor with the Apostle Paul for several years. After suffering many torments he was stoned to death by the Jews. St. Barnaby's Day was anciently a great feast in England. The almost nightless day of the solstitial season, already begun, was and is still sung in the following old popular distich : Barnaby bright, Barnaby bright, The longest day and the shortest night. This was literally the longest day according to the old style a century and more ago, and now there is very little difference in the length, being so near the summer solstice. Great bonfires used to be lighted this evening, as well as on that of St. John the Baptist. Garlands of roses, of lavender, of rosemary, and of woodroof, used to be worn, and to decorate the churches on St. Barnabas' Day, as we find by many old entries and church books. 17. ST. ALBAN. The first Christian martyr in England, was born at Verulam in Hertfordshire, since called St. Alban's, in honor of the Saint. He went to Rome and served seven years in the army of Dioclesian. Being converted to Christianity by a monk, he preached the Gospel, and suffered martyrdom in the year 303, during the dreadful persecution of Dioclesian. 18. 1814. BATTLE OF WATERLO0. THE TRUMPET'S VOICE. BY G. R. CARTER. I have sung the hymn of triumph In the earthquake-shock of battle Where plumes and spears are scatter'd, I have sigh'd in gentle music And mine has been the requiem I have stream'd into the valley They have heard my note of death. There are fifty thousand soldiers Arm'd with glaives and lances strong, I have music for the bridal, Like the murmurs of a river, Like the storm-hymns of the sea, I mingle with the pæan, And the shout of victory! 20. TRANSLATION OF EDWARD KING OF THE WEST SAXONS. This day celebrates the translation or removal of the body of Edward the martyr, three years after its interment, from the church of Wareham to the minster at Salisbury. (See page 66). 21. LONGEST DAY. This day, in London, is 16h. 13m. 5s., allowing 9m. 16s. for refraction. STANZAS WRITTEN ON A SUN DIAL IN GAINSFORD CHURCH PORCH. BY W. LAMB. Mortal, while the sunny beam Tells thee here how Time is gliding, For eternity providing. Winters pass, and Springs renew, In the fields of childhood dancing. Manhood sinks to hoary age, And a night that has no morning; O let wisdom now engage, Hear her dictates, and take warning. Wisely still the moments use, Man is every moment dying; O remember Time is flying. 24. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, AND MIDSUMMER DAY. St. John, the son of Zacharias and the forerunner of our Saviour, was born in the year of the world 4004: about six months before Jesus. He chiefly resided in the wilderness, in order to avoid the persecutions of Herod. At the age of thirty-three he was called to the ministry, and after thirteen months labour he preached against Herod's marriage with his brother's wife, which so incensed her, that she caused him to be beheaded. The festivals of the Midsummer Watch, as they took place in London, in the fifteenth century, are thus described in The Last of the Plantagenets: "It is known unto all men, that in the months of June and July, in the wealthy city of London, there were once* wont to be held certain joyful vigils and feasts, whereon many fires were made in the streets after sunset, unto which every man bestowed either wood or labour, the which were called bon fires, both because of the good amity they effected between neighbours, and the contentions which they brought unto an end; and, also for their great virtue in clearing the air of any infection or pestilence, which might be found in that hot season. At this time, too, the richer sort did set tables before their doors by the said fires, spread out with choice banquets, whereof they did invite the neighbours and passengers to sit down and partake; for there were of old no statelier holidays in London than the Vigils and Feasts of St. John the Baptist and St. Peter, at bright and merry Midsummer. At these vigils, every man's door shewed like some rural tabernacle, being shadowed with green birch, long fennel, St. John's wort, orpin, white lilies and such like, garnished upon with garlands of beautiful flowers. There were, also, many lamps of glass, with oil burning in them all night, some being hung upon branches of iron curiously wrought, which held hundreds lighted at once, and made a most goodly show; beside which, there were multitudes of flaming cressets hung up in the streets, and huge lanthorns, or iron grates with fire fixed on The processions and festivals of the City Watch were first prohibited by Henry VIII. in 1539, and remained in disuse until 1548, when Sir John Gresham revived them with great splendour, after which period they were never again renewed. 6 long staves, and carried about on men's shoulders, or held by them standing at the several lanes and passages.' The decorative illuminations described were the least parts of the March of the City Watch, as will be seen by the relation as follows:Firstly, there came a party of watchmen bearing iron cages of fire upon staves, each designated by a painted badge, and followed by a man with a skin wallet, having therein a light, and pitched ropes to serve the cresset. Then came a wondrous pleasant noise of minstrels, and the City Waits, in their coats of tawny frieze, playing most rarely on crowds, rotes, shawms, dulcimers, sackbuts, and the like; the men were followed by morris-dancers, clothed in antic dresses making good pastime, sword players brandishing their weapons, and trumpeters on horseback. Next after them came part of the City Watch, ordered and trained by divers ancient soldiers of skill to be captains and officers over them; and, in truth, they were a right gallant troop, there being of them a great number and diversity, as pikemen in bright corselets or burgonets, billmen in Almaine-rivets and aprons of mail, gunners with harquebushes, halberdiers, and archers in coats of white fustian, signed on the back and breast with the arms of the City, their bows being bent in their hands, and a sheaf of arrows hung at their sides. The constables of London followed these in bright armour, some being over-gilt and cloaks of scarlet with gold chains, each one also being attended by his henchman, his minstrels, and his cresset light.' This procession passed from the upper end of West Cheap down to the Stocks-Market and Cornhill, by the Leadenhall to Aldgate, and through Fenchurch-street and Gracious-street, back unto the Conduit-inCheap. "Another of the stately exhibitions which took place at this festival is thus described by an eye witness in the same work, ⚫ these varlets in the say jackets of black and white, be the footmen, officers, and torch-bearers of the Lord Mayor, the Worshipful Sir Henry Colet, knight. These, ye may see, are his morris-dancers; there his lusty giant, Corinæus, the ancient Trojan, carried by six stout men; and there be his three most goodly pageants of a ship, and an Olifaunte bearing a tower |