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evening, we indulge in the hope that our future use of the steeple will be generally allowed.

"We are, Sir, most gratefully,

"Your humble servants,
"ST. JAMES'S RINGERS."

Ah! much respected "St. James's company," do "indulge the hope" of making St. Mary's bells speak eloquently again. If my pen can avail, you shall soon pull" Old Tom's" tail in that steeple; and all his sons, daughters, and kindred around him, shall lift up their voices in well-tuned chorus, and sing "hallelujahs" of returning joy. "Those evening bells, those evening bells," which used to frighten all the dogs and old women in the parish, and which used to make me wish were suspended round the ringers' necks, shall utter sweet music and respond delightedly to lovers' vows and tales whispered in shady lanes and groves, in the vicinity of your beautiful town. You, worthy old bellmen, who have discoursed so rapidly on the marriages of my father, and uncle, and cousin, and friend, and acquaintance, who would have (for a guinea!) paid the same compliment to myself, (although I was wedded in a distant land, and like a hero of romance and true knight-errant, claimed my fair bride, without consulting "father or mother, sister or brother,") and made yourselves as merry at my expense, as my pleasantest friends or bitterest enemies could have wished, had I hinted such a thing!

Oh! respectable churchwardens-discharge the "young company," who chant unfeelingly and unprofitably. Remember the "old ringers!"

"Pity the sorrows of the poor old men."

Respect talent-consider their virtuespatronise that art which "can only be attained when young”—and which the

young company" cannot attain-(does this mean they are stupid?)-and console the "old ringers, "and let them pull on until they are pulled into their ! Think graves how they have moved the venerable tower of old St. James's with their music*-nay, until the very bricks and stones above, wished to become more intimately acquainted with them! Do not let a stigma

A few years ago it was unsafe to ring the ten bells in St. James's steeple. It has been repaired-1 cannot say its fine Saxon architecture either beauti. fied or improved.

be cast upon them-for, should the good town's-people imagine the "most hideous noise" was caused by the "old ringers," their characters are gone for ever-they dare not even look at you through a sheet of paper! How" many a time and oft" have they fired their feux de joie on the king's birthday-how many thousand changes pealed for the alderman's annual feast-how many" tiddle-lol-tols" played on the celebration of your electionparish dinners, &c. &c. Then think of their fine-half-minute-scientific-eloquent "tolls" for the death of the " young

the brave-and the fair!" Oh!respectable gentlemen in office-" think of these things."

I can aver, the ringers of St. Mary's are only to be equalled in the variety of their tunes, and unaccountable changes, by "the most hideous noise" of our Waterloo-road bellmen. I suppose they are a "young company." I can only say, then, I wish they were old, if there were any chance of their playing in tune and time.

And now, farewell, my good "old ringers" of St. James's. I have done all I can for you, and will say there is as much difference between your ringing and the

66

young company" at St. Mary's, as there is between the fiddling of the late Billy Waters and Signor Spagnoletti, the leader of the large theatre in the Haymarket!

Farewell! May you have possession of St. Mary's steeple by the time you see this in the Every-Day Book; and may the first merry peal be given in honour of your considerate and faithful townsman

S. R.

NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. Mean Temperature . . . 60. 67.

July 5.

CHRONOLOGY.

On the fifth of July, 1685, the duke of Monmouth's enterprise against James II.was ended by the battle of Sedgemoor, near Bridgwater, in Somersetshire. The duke's army consisting of native followers attacked the king's veteran troops, routed them, and would finally have conquered, if error in Monmouth as a leader, and the cowardice of lord Gray, one of his commanders, had not devoted them to defeat.

LETTER OF

Oliver Cromwell

Now first published.

To several letters of distinguished individuals, first brought to light in these sheets, the editor is enabled to add another. If the character of the writer, and the remarkable event he communicates, be

considered in connection with the autho

rity to whom the letter was addressed, it will be regarded as a document of real importance.

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book.

July 1, 1826. Sir,-I had intended to have sent you this communication in time for insertion under the date of the twenty-sixth of June, which, according to the New Style, corresponds with the fourteenth, on which the letter was written, a copy of which I send :-it is from Oliver Cromwell to the Speaker Lenthall, giving an account of the battle of Naseby.-It was presented to me a great many years ago by a friend in Northamptonshire, and is, I think, an historical curiosity.-I make no comment on its style; it speaks for itself.

[COPY.]

I am, &c.

E. S. F.

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«Sir, "Being Commanded by you to this Service, I think myself bound to acquaint you with the good hand of God towards you and us: We marched yesterday after the King, who went before us from Daventry to Haversbrowe, and quartered about Six Miles from him-he drew out to meet us-Both armies engag'd.-We, after three hours fight-very doubtful, at last routed his army-kill'd and took about 5000-very many officers-but of what quality, we yet know not.-We took also about 200 Carag. all he had and all his Guns being 12 in number whereof two were Demi Culverins and I think the rest Fasces-we pursued the

Enemy from three miles short of Haversbrowe to nine beyond-Ever to sight of Leicester, whither the King fled.-Sirthis is none other but the hand of God:and to him alone belongs the Glorywherein none are to share with him.—The General served you with all faithfulness and honor-and the best recommendation I can give of him is, that I dare say, he attributes all to God and would rather perish than to assume to himself, which is an honest and thriving way-Yet as much for Bravery must be given him in this Action as to a man.-Honest men served you faithfully in this Action.-Sir, they are trusty-I beseech you, in the Name of God, not to discourage them.— I wish this Action may beget thankfulness and Humility in all that are concern'd in it-He that ventures his Life for the good of his Country-I wish he trusts God for the liberty of his Conscience and you for the Liberty he fights for.-In this, he rests who is your most humble Servant

"O. Cromwell."

"Haversbrowe, June 14, 1645."

The gentleman who possesses Cromwell's original letter is known to the editor, who thus publicly expresses his thanks to him, as he has done privately, for having communicated so valuable an historical document to the public, through the Every-Day Book,

HERIOT'S HOSPITAL, Edinburgh.

foundation in the present volume, it was With the particulars respecting this intended to give the two engravings subjoined. They were ready, and the printer waited for them, and delayed the publication an entire day, while the engraver's without the accompaniment of a recollecmessenger carried them about with him, tion that they were in his pocket, until after the sheet had appeared without them. This is a disclosure of one of the the editor, who begs the reader to bear in many secret sorrows" lately endured by mind that the cuts belong to col. 766.

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ARMS OF GEORGE HERIOT.

This armorial bearing is carved on many parts of the edifice.

Gorge herste

The present fac-simile of his signature, is from one engraved from his subscrip. 'acompt," in his "Memoirs"

tion to an 66 before quoted.

SWAN-HOPPING SEASON.

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. June 24, 1826. Sir,-It was about this season of the year, though am not aware of any precise day being fixed for the excursion, that the chief magistrate of the city, in the stately barge, attended by all the "pride, pomp, and circumstance" of flags, gilding, and music, used, when I was a boy, which is a good thirty years ago, to proceed up the river Thames as far as Staines, and, I believe, pour a glass of wine, or perform some such ceremony, upon a stone which, standing in a meadow a short distance above Staines-bridge, marks the city's watery jurisdiction. The custom may, for aught I know to the contrary, be still continued, though I suspect it has become obsolete, and my conjecture is strengthened by not observing in your Every-Day Book any mention of this civic excursion, or " Swan-hopping," as I believe it was called. My reason for reviving the memory of it now, is to introduce an authentic anecdote. Your invitations to correspondents have been

frequent; and should I be fortunate enough to assist you to a column in a way that will be gratifying to you and your numerous readers, I shall rejoice in the opportunity.

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I am, Sir, &c.

City Swan-hopping.

N. G.

The following curious circumstance occurred, several years ago, at a tavern in the vicinity of Putney-bridge. Several members of one of the city companies having accompanied the chief magistrate on an excursion up the river, quitted his lordship, and landed at the house in question. A boat containing a party of six ladies, elegantly dressed, and rowed by two watermen, in scarlet jackets, put in at the same time.

The happy citizens relieved from the controul of their dames, could not resist this opportunity of showing their gallantry and politeness. They stepped forward and offered their aid to assist the ladies this act of civility was followed by others. in landing; the offer was accepted; and They walked, talked, and laughed together, till dinner was announced. The gentlemen went to the larger room; the ladies sat down to a repast laid out for them by their order in a smaller one.

After some time the ladies again returned to the lawn, where the gentlemen occasionally joined them and continued their civilities till the watermen informed them the tide served for their return to town. The gentlemen then assisted the ladies on board, and wished them a safe voyage. Soon after they called for their bill, which was handed to the chairman in due form; but it is impossible to express the surprise which marked his countenance on reading the following items:-"Dinner, desert, wine, tea, &c. for the ladies, 77. 10s. ;" together with a charge of twelve shillings for servants' refreshments. The landlord was sent for and questioned as to this charge, who said the ladies had desired the bill should be delivered to their spouses, who would settle it. An explanation now took place, when it appeared the parties were strangers to each other; for these sprightly dames, taking advantage of the occasional civilities of the gallant and unsuspecting swan-hoppers, had imposed themselves on honest Boniface, nothing loth perhaps to be imposed on, as the wives of the city company, and, as such, had been served with an elegant

dinner, desert, wine, &c. which they had left their husbands to pay for. The discovery at first disconcerted the gentlemen, but the wine they had drank having opened their hearts and inspired them with liberality, they took the trick put upon them in good part, and paid the bill; and the recollection of the wives of the city company, long afterwards afforded them an ample subject for conversation and laughter.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book.

Sir,-The following beautiful lines were written in the summer of the year 1808, at Sheffield, and have not been published; as they are no mean effusion, perhaps they will not disgrace your interesting little work. Believe me, Sir, &c. July 9, 1826.

C. T.

THE OAK AND THE WILLOW.

When the sun's dazzling brightness oppresses the day,
How delightful to ramble the forests among!
And thro' the arched boughs hung with woodbine so gay,
To view the rich landscape, to hear the sweet song!

And lo! where the charms of the wild woodland vale,
Expanding in beauty, enrapture the sight;

Here the woods in dark majesty wave in the gale,

There the lawns and the hills are all blazing in light.

From yonder high rocks, down the foaming stream rushes,
Then gleams thro' the valley o'ershadowed with trees,
While the songsters of spring, warbling wild from the bushes,
With exquisite melody charm the faint breeze.

The peasant boy now with his cattle descends,

Winding slow to the brook down the mountain's steep tide;
Where the larch o'er the precipice mournfully bends,
And the mountain-ash waves in luxuriance beside.

And mark yonder oak-'tis the cliff's nodding crest,
That spreads its wide branches and towers sublime;
The morning's first glances alight on its breast,

And evening there spends the last glimpse of her time.

But hark! the storm bursts, and the raging winds sweep-
See the lightning's swift flash strikes its branches all bare!
E'en the leaves, where the sunbeams delighted to sleep,

Are scorched in the blaze, and are whirled thro' the air.

Yet the shrubs in the vale closely sheltered from harm,
Untouch'd by the tempest, scarce whisper a sound;
While the mountains reecho the thunder's alarm,

The winds are restrained by the rock's massy bound.

Thus the rich and the great who engross fortune's smiles,
Feel the rankling of care often torture their rest,
While peace all the toils of the peasant beguiles,
Or hope's higher raptures awake in his breast.

Then mine be the lot of the willow that weeps,
Unseen in the glen o'er the smooth flowing rill,
'Mongst whose pensile branches the flow'ret creeps,

And the strains of the night-bird the ear sweetly thrill

Some nook in the valley of life shall be mine,
Where time imperceptibly swiftly glides by,
True friendship and love round my heart shall entwine,
And sympathy start the warm tear in my eye.

Then haply my wild harp will make such sweet notes,
That the traveller climbing the rock's craggy brow,
May stop and may list, as the music still floats,
And think of the bard in the valley below.

NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. Mean Temperature... 61. 32.

July 6.

OLD MIDSUMMER DAY. This day is still marked in our almanacs, on account of its being adhered to, in a few places, as a "good old day," of the "good old times."

LAYING OUT OF LANDS

In the Parish of Puxton, Somerset. The subjoined letter was duly received according to its date, and is now in due time inserted. The editor has very few omissions of this kind to apologize for: if he has prematurely, and therefore unduly, introduced some communications which arrived too late for their proper days, he may be excused, perhaps, in consideration of the desire expressed by some correspondents, that their papers should appear in a "reasonable" time or not at all. Unhappily he has experienced the mishap of a "reasonable" difference, with one or two of his contributors. From the plan of this work, certain matters-of-fact could only range, with propriety, under certain days; while it has been conceived of, by some, as a magazine wherein any thing could come, at any time. In this dilemma he has done the best in his power, and introduced, in a few instances, papers of that nature out of place. On two or three occasions, indeed, it seemed a courtesy almost demanded by the value of such articles, that they should not await the rotation of the year. The following curiously descriptive account of a remarkable local custom is from a Somersetshire gentleman, who could be relied on for a patient endurance of nine months, till this, its due season arrived.

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Bristol, October 19, 1825. Bir,-Having observed in your Every

Day Book, p. 837, vol i. mention of an ancient custom of dividing lands, which formerly took place on the Saturday before old midsummer-day, in the parish of Puxton, in Somersetshire, (taken from Mr. Collinson's history of that county,) I now send you a more explicit and enlarged account, with the marks as they were cut in each person's allotment.

The

The two large pieces of common land called Dolemoors, which lie in the parishes of Congresbury, Week St. Lawrence and Puxton, were allotted in the following manner. On the Saturday preceding midsummer-day O. S. the several proprie tors (of the estates having any right in those moors) or their tenants, were summoned at a certain hour in the morning, by the ringing of one of the bells at Puxton, to repair to the church, in order to see the chain (kept for the purpose of laying out Dolemoors) measured. proper length of such chain was ascertained by placing one end thereof at the foot of the arch, dividing the chancel from the body of the church, and extending it through the middle aisle, to the foot of the arch of the west door under the tower, at each of which places marks were cut The in the stones for that purpose. chain used for this purpose was only eighteen yards in length, consequently four yards shorter than the regular landmeasuring chain.

After the chain had

been properly measured, the parties repaired to the commons. Twenty-four apples were previously prepared, bearing the following marks, viz. Five marks called "Pole-axes," four ditto "Crosses," two ditto "Dung-forks, or Dung-pikes," one mark called "Four Oxen and a Mare," one ditto "Two Pits," one ditto "Three Pits," one ditto "Four Pits," one ditto "Five Pits," one ditto "Seven Pits," one "Horn," one "Hare's-tail," one "Duck's-nest," one" Oven," one "Shell," one "Evil," and one "Hand-reel."

It is necessary to observe that each of these moors was divided into several

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