September 28. MADAME GENEVA LYING IN STATE. On the 28th of September, 1736, when the "Gin Act," which was passed to prevent the retailing of spirituous liquors in small quantities was about to be enforced, it was deemed necessary to send a detachment of sixty soldiers from Kensing ton to protect the house of sir Joseph Jekyl, the master of the rolls in Chancerylane, from the violence threatened by the populace against that eminent lawyer for his endeavours in procuring the obnoxious statute. The keepers of the gin-shops testified their feelings by a parade of mock ceremonies for "Madame Geneva lying-instate," which created a mob about their shops, and the justices thought proper to commit some of the chief mourners to prison. On this occasion, the signs of the punch-houses were put in mourning; and lest others should express the bitterness of their hearts by committing violences, the horse and foot-guards and trained bands were ordered to be properly stationed. Many of the distillers, instead of spending their time in empty lamentations, betook themselves to other branches of industry: Some to the brewing trade, which raised the price of barley and hops; some took taverns in the universities, which nobody could do before the "Gin Act," without leave of the vice-chancellor; others set up apothecaries' shops. The only persons who took out fifty pound licenses were one Gordon, Mr. Ashley of the London punchhouse, and one more. Gordon, a punchseller in the Strand, devised a new punch made of strong Madeira wine, and called Sangre.* COUNTY CUSTOMS. It may be hoped that our readers who live in the apple districts will communicate the usages of their neighbourhoods to the Every-Day Book. For the present we must thank “an old correspondent." GRIGGLING. To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Dear Sir,-The more I read of your Every-Day Book, the stronger my recollection returns to my boyhood days. There is not a season wherein I felt greater delight than during the gathering in of the orchards' produce. The cider Gentleman's Magazine. Let every tree in every garden own, that when the earl of Manchester was sheaves are borne to the garner, is perLeasing in the corn-fields after the formed by villagers of all ages, that are justly entitled to glean, like ants, the little orchard is cleared, (and how delightful a store against a rainy day. But after the shower-he shaking the Newton instructing apples down,) the village (not chimneysweepers) climbing boys collect in a posse, and with poles and bags, go into the orchard and commence griggling. These, the farmers leave pretty abunThe small apples are called griggles. dantly on the trees, with an understanding that the urchins will have mercy on the boughs, which, if left entirely bare, would suffer. Suspended like monkeys, the best climbers are the ring-leaders; and less boys pick up and point out where an apple still remains. After the trees are cleared, a loud huzza crowns the exertion; and though a little bickering as to the quality and quantity ensues, they separate with their portion, praising or blaming the he requests it, which is often the case beowner, proportionate to their success. fore they depart, the head boy stands before the house, and uncovered, he recites the well-known fable in the "Universal Spelling Book"-"A rude boy stealing apples." Then the hostess, or daughter, brings a large jug of cider and a slice of bread and cheese, or twopence, to the great pleasure of the laughing recipients of such generous bounty. If her Down to the present month the custom of griggling is continued with variations in the western hamlets, though innovation, which is the abuse of privilege, has scales. "On the top, and pinnacle before the said church," says Favine, " is yet to be seene the image of the arch-angell St. Michael, the tutelaric angell, and guardian of the most christian monarchie of France, ensculptured after the antique forme, holding a ballance in the one hand, and a crosse in the other; on his head, and toppe of his wings, are fixed and cramponned strong pikes of iron to keepe the birds from pearching thereon." Favine proceeds to mention a popular error concerning these "pikes of iron," to defend the statue from the birds. "The ignorant vulgar conceived that this was a crowne of eares of corne, and thought it to be the idole of the goddesse Ceres." He says this is " are much deceived; for Isis and Ceres a matter wherein they being but one and the same, her temple was at S. Ceour and S. Germain des Prez."* Theater of Honour, Lond. 1623, fol, 1274 Louis XI. instituted an order in honour of an alleged apparition of the saint on of St. Michael, the arch-angel, on occasion the bridge at Orleans, when that city was besieged by the English in 1428. ST. GEORGE. It has been intimated in vol. i., col. 500, St. George and the dragon are neither that there are grounds to imagine "that more nor less than St. Michael contending with the devil." The reader who desires further light on this head, will derive it from a dissertation by Dr. Pettingall, expressly on the point. It may the usual representation of St. George here, perhaps, be opportune to introduce and the dragon, by an impression from an original wood-block, obligingly presented to this work by Mr. Horace Rodd. St. George and the Dragon. To-morrow morning we shall have you look, So say Beaumont and Fletcher, from whence we learn that the prowess of "St. George for England," was ludicrously travestied. NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. Mean Temperature... 55. 27. Woman's Prize. September 30. THE SEASON It is noted under the present day in the "Perennial Calendar," that at this time the heat of the middle of the days is still sufficient to warm the earth, and cause a large ascent of vapour: that the chilling frosty nights, which are also generally very calm, condense into mists; differing from clouds only in rem ining on the surface of the ground. Now by the cool declining year condensed, The huge dusk gradual swallows up the plain "EXTRAORDINARY NEWS!" To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Sir, The character and manners of a people may be often correctly ascertained by an attentive examination of their familiar customs and sayings. The investigation of these peculiarities, as they tend to enlarge the knowledge of human nature, and illustrate national history, as well as to mark the fluctuation of language, and to explain the usages of antiquity, is, therefore, deserving of high commendation; and, though occasionally, in the course of those inquiries, some whimsical stories are related, and some very homely phrases and authorities cited, they are the occurrences of every day, and no way seem to disqualify the position in which several amusing and popular customs are brought forward to general view. Under this impression, it will not be derogatory to the Every-Day Book, to observe that by such communications, it will become an assemblage of anecdotes, fragments, remarks, and vestiges, collected and recollected : -Various,-that the mind Of desultory man, studious of change, And pleas'd with novelty, may be indulged. Cowper. Should the following extract, from a volume of Miscellaneous Poems, edited by Elijah Fenton, and printed by Bernard Lintot, without date, but anterior to 1720, in octavo, be deemed by you, from the foregoing observations, deserving of notice, it is at your service. Old Bennet was an eccentric person, at the early part of the last century, who appears to have excited much noise in London. On the Death of OLD BENNET, the News Cryer. "One evening, when the sun was just gone down, As I was walking thro' the noisy town, A sudden silence through each street was spread, As if the soul of London had been fled. Till fame, so frightened, that she did not dare "Bloody News!" "Great Victory!" or more frequently "Extraordinary Gazette!" were, till recently, the usual loud bellowings of fellows, with stentorian lungs, accompanied by a loud blast of a long tin-horn, which announced to the delighted populace of London, the martial achievements of the modern Marlborough. These itinerants, for the most part, were the link-men at the entrances to the theatres; and costermongers, or porters, assisting in various menial offices during the day. A copy of the "Gazette," or newspaper they were crying, was generally affixed under the hatband, in front, and their demand for a newspaper generally one shilling. Those newscriers are spoken off in the past sense, as the further use of the horn is prohibited by the magistracy, subject to a penalty of ten shillings for a first offence, and twenty shillings on the conviction of repeating so heinous a crime. "Oh, dear!" as Crockery says, I think in these times of "modern improvement," every thing is changing, and in many instances, much for the worse. I suspect that you, Mr. Editor, possess a fellow-feeling on the subject, and shall And then have brought us home strange sights and sounds From distant lands, of dark and awful deeds; And fair and dreadful spirits; and gay rounds Of mirth and music; and then mourning weeds; And tale of hapless love that sweetly wounds The gentle heart, and its deep fondness feeds; Lapping it up in dreams of sad delight From its own weary thoughts, m visions wild and bright : Oh! never yet to me the power or will To match these mighty sorcerers of the soul Was given; but on the bosom, lone and still, Of nature cast, I early wont to stroll Through wood and wild, o'er forest, rock, and hill, Companionless; without a wish or goal, Save to discover every shape and voice Of living thing that there did fearlessly rejoice. And every day that boyish fancy grew; And every day those lonely scenes became Dearer and dearer, and with objects new, All sweet and peaceful, fed the young Then rose each silent woodland to the view, |