Apríl 10.

that you do not insert my name, which, Sure, since I looked at early morn,
nevertheless, for your satisfaction, I sub Those honeysuckle buds
scribe, with my abode. ·

Have swelled to double growth; that thorn
Believe me, Sir, &c.

Hath put forth larger studs ;
ЕТА.

That lilac's cleaving cones have burst,

The milk white flowers revealing ;
The editor is gratified by the con-

Even now, upon my senses first fidence reposed in him by the gentleman The very earth, the steamy air,

Methinks their sweets are stealing. who wrote the preceding letter. He takes

Is all with fragrance rife; this opportunity of acknowledging similar And grace and beauty every where marks of confidence, and reiterates the

Are Aushing into life. assurance, that such wishes will be always Down, down they come—those fruitful scrupulously observed.

stores! It is respectfully observed to possessors Those earth-rejoicing drops ! of curiosities of any kind, whether ancient A momentary deluge pours, or modern, that if correct drawings of

Then thins, decreases, stops; them be sent they shall be faithfully en

And ere the dimples on the stream graven and inserted, with the descriptive Lo? from the west, a parting gleam

Have circled out of sight, accounts. The gradual disappearance of many But yet behold—abrupt and loud,

Breaks forth of amber light. singular traces of our ancestors, renders it

Comes down the glittering rain; necessary to call attention to the subject. The farewell of a passing cloud, “ Apostle Spoons," of which there is an

The fringes of her train. engraving in vol. i. p. 178, have been dropping for the last thirty years into the

NATURALISTS' CALENDAB. refiner's melting-pot, till sets of them are Mean Temperature. . . 47 • 17. not to be purchased, or even seen, except in cabinets. Any thing of interest respecting domestic manners, habits, or

THE SEASON. customs, of old times, is coveted by the editor for the purpose of recording and Art, as well as nature, is busily occuhanding them down to posterity. pied in providing for real wants or natu

ral desires. To gratify the ears and eyes NATURALISTS' CALENDAR.

of the young, we have more street organs Mean Temperature .

and shows in spring than in the autumn,and

the adventures of that merry fellow “Punch April 9.

in the Puppet-show," are represented to

successive crowds in every street, whence AN APRIL Day.

his exhibitors conceive they can extract Some verses in the “ Widow's Tale,” funds for the increase of their treasury: are beautifully descriptive of the season.

A kind band communicates an article All day the lowhung clouds have dropt

of curious import, peculiarly seasonable. Their garnered fulness down;

PUNCH IN THE PUPPET Show. All day that soft grey mist hath wrapt

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Hill, valley, grove, and town.

Sir, -I do not know, whether in the ab There bas not been a sound to-day

sence of more interesting matter, a few re. To break the calm of nature;

marks on an old favourite may be allowed. Nor motion, I might almost say,

The character I am about to mention, Of life or living creature;

has I am sure at one time or another des Of waving bough, or warbling bird, lighted most of your readers, and I conOr cattle faintly lowing ;

fess to be still amused with his vagariesI could bave half believed I heard

I mean “ that celebrated wooden RosThe leaves and blossoms growing. I stood to hear-I love it well,

cius, Mister Punch." It is very difficult The rain's continuous sound,

to trace accurately the origin and variaSmall drops, but thick and fast, they fell,

tion of any character of this description; Down straight into the ground.

and I shall, therefore, only offer some For leafy thickness is not yet

unconnected notices. Earth's naked breast to screen,

In some of the old mysteries, wherein Though every dripping branch is set you are so well read, " the devil" was With shoots of tender green.

the buffoon of the piece, and used to in

... 46 · 72.

name

was

dulge himself most freely in the gross minent character, though not by that indecencies tolerated in the earlier ages. name, which was a subsequent imWhen those mysteries began to be re- portation, originally Policinello, or Punfined into moralities, the vice gradually chinello; and when this superseded the former clown, if he may introduced from the continent, some be so designated ; and at the commence modifications were made also in the chament of such change, frequently shared racter to whom the name was attached. the comic part of the performance with The civil wars, and subsequent triumph him. The vice was armed with a dagger of puritanism, depressed theatrical proof lath, with which he was to belabour ceedings, and Punch with other perthe devil, who, sometimes, however, at formers was obliged to hide himself, or the conclusion of the piece, carried off the act by stealth ; but in the jovial reign of vice with him. Here we have something Charles II., he, and his brother actors, like the club wielded by Punch, and the broke out with renewed splendour, and wand of harlequin, at the present time, until the time of George I. he maintained and a similar finish of the devil and his rank manfully, being mentioned with Punch, may be seen daily in our streets. considerable respect even by the “Specta

About the beginning of the sixteenth tor.” About this time, however, harlecentury the drama began to assume a quinades were introduced, and have been more regular form, and the vice, in his so successfully continued, that poor Punch turn, had to make way for the clown or is contented to walk the streets like a fool, who served to fill up the space be. snail, with his house on his back, though tween the acts, by supposed extempo- still possessing as much fun as ever. raneous witticisms; holding, occasionally, Pantomime, in its more extended trials of wit with any of the spectators sense, was known to the Greek and who were bold enough to venture with Roman stages, being introduced on the him. The last play, perhaps, in which latter by Pylades and Bathyllus, in the the regular fool was introduced, was time of Augustus Cæsar. From that “ The Woman Captain” of Shad- time to the present, different modificawell, in the year 1680. Tarleton, tions of this representation have taken in the time of Shakspeare, was a cele- place on the continent, and the lofty brated performer of this description. scenes of ancient pantomime, are degeThe fool was frequently dressed in a nerated to the bizarre adventures of har. motley or party-coloured coat, and each lequin, pantaloon, zany, pierrot, scaraleg clad in different coloured hose. A mouch, &c. sort of hood covered his head, resem. The first pantomine performed by grobling a monk's cowl: this was afterwards tesque characters in this country, was at changed for a cap, each being usually Drury-lane theatre, in the year 1702. It surmounted with the neck and head of a was composed by Mr. Weaver, and called cock, or sometimes only the crest, or “ The Tavern Bilkers.” The next was comb; hence the term cockscomb. In performed at Drury-lane in 1716, and it his hand he carried the bauble, a short was also composed by Mr. Weaver, in stick, having at one end a fool's head, imitation of the ancient pantomime, and and at the other, frequently a bladder called “ The Loves of Mars and Venus.” with peas or sand, to punish those who In 1717, the first harlequinade, comoffended him. His dress was often posed by Mr. Rich, was performed at the adorned with morris-bells, or large knobs. theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, called, We may observe much similarity to this “ Harlequin Executed.” This performer, dress, in the present costume of Punch. who acted under the name of Lun, was He degenerated into a wooden performer, so celebrated for his taste in composing about the time that the regular tragedy these entertainments, and for his skill, as and comedy were introduced, i. e. in the a harlequin, that they soon became estabeginning of the sixteenth century. Strol- blished in the public favour. He flourishling players were prohibited a few years ed until the year 1761, and all his proafterwards, and some of those performers ductions succeeded. who had not skill or interest enough to The harlequin on the French stage get a situation in any established com- differed from ours, for he had considerable pany, went about the country with pup- license of speech, somewhat similar to the pet shows, or “ motions," as they were theatric fools of the sixteenth century. then called, wherein Punch was a pro- Many of the witticisms of Dominique, a

celebrated harlequin in the time of Louis &c., exhibited a new entertainment
XIV. are still on record; it is said, in- between a scaramouch, a harlequin, and
deed, that before his time, harlequin was a punchinello, in imitation of bilking a
but a grotesque ignorant character, but reckoning,—and a new dance by four
that he being a man of wit, infused it into scaramouches, after the Italian manner,"
his representation, and invented the cha- &c.
racter of Pierrot as a foolish servant, to The famous comedian Edwin, (the
fill up the piece. The old character of Liston of his day) acted the part of Punch,
zany was similar to our modern clown, in a piece called “ The Mirror," at Covent-
who now is generally the possessor of all garden theatre: in this he introduced a
the wit in the performance. The name of burlesque song by C. Dibdin, which ob-
pantaloon is said to have been derived tained some celebrity ; evidently through
from the watch-word of the Venetians, the merit of the actor, rather than the
pianta leone ; if so, (which is doubtful) song, as it has nothing particular to re-
it must have been applied in derision of commend it.
their fallen state, as compared with their
former splendour.

Can't you see by my hunch, sir,
A more doubtful

Faddeldy daddeldy cino, origin has been given of the name of

I am master Punch, sir, harlequin; a young Italian actor of emi

Riberi biberi bino, nence in this style of character, came to Fiddeldy, diddeldy, faddeldy, daddeldy, Paris in the time of Henry III. of France, Robbery, bobbery, ribery, bibery, and having been received into the house Faddeldy, daddeldy, dino, of the president, Achilles de Harlai, his Ribery, bibery, bino. brother actors, are said to have called him

That merry fellow harlequino, from the name of his master.

Punchinello, There was a knight called Harlequin, an

Dancing here, you see, sir,

Whose inirth not hell extravagant dissipated man, who spent

Itself can quell his substance in the wars of Charles Mar

He's ever in such glee, sir, tel, against the Saracens, and afterwards

Niddlety, noddlety, niddlety, noddlety, lived by pillage. Tradition says he was niddlety, noddlety, nino. saved from perdition in consequence of

Then let me pass, old Grecian, his services against the infidels, but con

Faddeldy, daddeldy, dino. demned for a certain time to appear

To the fields Elysian, nightly upon earth, with those of his

Bibery, bibery, bino. lineage.

Fiddledy, diddledy, faddledy, daddledy, But, as to derivations, some have de Robbery, bobbery, ribery, bibery, rived the term merry-andrew, from the

Faddledy, daddledy, dino, time of the Druids, an Drieu, i. e. Arch

Ribery, bibery, bino. Druid,-others, from the celebrated An

My ranting, roaring Pluto,

Faddledy, daddledy, dino, drew Borde, the writer and empiric. The

Just to a hair will suit oh, merry-andrew used at fairs to wear a

Bibery, bibery, bino. patched coat like the modern harlequin,

Faddledy, daddledy, &c. and sometimes a hunch on his back. It

Each jovial fellow, has been remarked that the common

At Punchinello, people are apt to give to some well-known

Will, laughing o'er his cup roar, facetious personage, the name of a fa

I'll rant and revel, vourite dish; hence, the jack-pudding of

And play the devil, the English; the jean-potage of the

And set all hell in an uproar, French; the macaroni of the Italians, &c.

Niddlety, noddlety, nino.

Then let me pass, &ć. A word or two more about Punch, and I have done. There are some hand-bills I therewith conclude this hasty comin the British Museum, of the time of munication, begging you to shorten it if queen Ann, from whence I made a few

you extracts some time ago. They principally

&c. relate to the shows at Bartlemy fair, and I

W. S observe at “ Heatly's booth," that “ the performances will be compleated with the merry humors of sir John Spendall and Edwin's song in the character of Punch Punchinello;" and James Miles, at “ the is far less offensive than many of the Gun-Musick booth," among other dances songs ‘and scenes in “Don Juan,” which

think proper.

I am,

is still represented. This drama which is is somewhat heightened by Edwin's song of Italian origin, the editor of the Every- as the Punch of Covent-garden. Day Book, in his volume on “ Ancient Mysteries,” has ventured to conjecture, may have been derived from the adven

NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. tures of the street Punch. The supposition Mean Temperature ... 48 • 32.

St. Mary Jslington Old Church

“Merry Islington." ISLINGTON PARISH DINNER. see this ticket—"printed from a copper In March, an anonymous correspond- plate,” ten inches high, by seven inches ent obligingly enclosed, and begged my wide-as large as a lord mayor's ticket, acceptance of a ticket, for a parish dinner and looking much better, because enat Islington, on the 11th of April, graved by Toms, a fine firm artist of “the 1738., It would have been rudeness. to good old school,” which taught truth as decline the civility, and as the editor was an essential, and prohibited refinements, not prepared to join the guests at the not existing in nature or sensible objects, great dinner, “not where they eat, but as detraction of character. where they are eaten,” he appropriates It would do the reader's heart good, I the ticket to the use for which it was in- say, to see the dinner ticket I am now tended by the donor, T. H. of St. John- looking at. First, above the invitationstreet,

which is all that the love: of a dinner first It would do the reader's heart good to sees—and therefcre, because nothing

precedes it, “above all,"—is a capital more suitable to Islington, grown, or view of the old parish church, and the grown up to, as it is, until it is a part of churchyard, wherein “lie the remains" London; but who would not wish it still of most of the company who attended a village, with the old edifice for its the parish dinner-it being as certain that parish church. That Islington is now the remains of the rest of the company, more opulent and more respectable, may occupy other tenements, of “the house be very true; but opulence monopolizes, appointed for all living,” as that they all and respectability is often a vain show in lived, and ate and drank, and were the stead of happiness, and a mere flaunt merry.

on the ruins of comfort. The remark is, This is not a melancholy, but a natural of course, general, and not of Islington view. It may be said, there is “a time in particular, all of whose opulent for all things, but if there be any time, or respectable residents, may really be wherein we fear to entertain death, we so, for aught I know to the contrary. Be are not fully prepared to receive him as it known to them, however, on the auwe ought. It is true, that with “the cup thority of the old dinner ticket, that their of kindness” at our lips, we do not ex- predecessors, who succeeded the inhabpect his friendly “shake," before we itants from whose doings the village finish the draught, yet the liquor will not was called “merry Islington," appear to be the worse for our remembering that have dined at a reasonable hour, enjoyed his is a previous engagement; and, as a cheerful glass, and lived in good we do not know the hour of appointment, fellowship: we ought to be ready at all hours. The Immediately beneath the view of the business of life is to die.

old church on the ticket, follows the I am not a member of a parish club, stewards' invitation to the dinner, here but I have sometimes thought, if I could copied and subjoined verbatim. “do as others do,” and “go to club,” I should elect to belong to an old one, which preserved the minutes of its pro St. Mary, Islington. ceedings, and its muniments, from the

SIR, commencement. My first, and perhaps last, serious motion, would be," "That You

ou are desir'd to meet many others, each anniversary dinner ticket of the Natives of this place, on TUESDAY, club, from the first ticket to the last ye 11th Day of April, 1738, at Mrs. issued, should be framed and glazed, and Eliz. Grimstead’s, ye ANGEL & Crown, hung on the walls of the club room, in in ye upper Street, about ye Hour of chronological order." Such a series One; Then, & there wth. Full DISHES, would be a never-failing source of in- Good WINE, & Good Humour, to imterest and amusement. If the parish prove & make lasting that HARMONY, club of Islington exists, a collection of and FRIENDSHIP which have so long its tickets so disposed, might be regarded reigned among us. as annals of peculiar worth, especially if

Walter Sebbon many of its predecessors in the annual

John Booth office of “ stewards for the dinner,"

Bourchier Durell maintained the consequence of the club

James Sebbon in the eyes of the parish, by respectability

STEWARDS. of execution and magnitude in the anni. N.B.—The DINNER will be on the versary ticket, commensurate with that of Table peremptorily at Two. the year 1738, with Toms's view of the

Pray Pay the Bearer Five Shillings. old parish church and churchyard. I regret that these cannot be here given in “ Merry Islington !"-We may almost the same size as on the ticket; the best fancy we see the “jolly companions, every that can be effected, is a reduced fac- one,” in their best wigs, ample coats, and simile of the original, which is accom- embroidered waistcoats, at their dinner; plished in the accompanying engrav- that we hear the bells ringing out from ing. Let any one who knows the new the square tower of the old church, and church of Islington, compare it with the the people and boys outside the door of present view of the old church, and say the “ Angel and Crown, in ve Upper which church he prefers. At this time, Street," húzzaing and rejoicing, that their however, the present church may be betters were dining “for the good of the