of Engiand, and spent part of his life in civil and military occupations. His invention is as unparalleled in the history of poetry, as the talent which enabled him to compose regular and well constructed verse with as much ease as prose. Cervantes, on this account, styled him a prodigy of nature. His verses flowed freely, and such was his confidence in his countrymen, that as they applauded his writings, which were unrestrained by critical notes, he refused conformity to any restrictions. "The public," he said, paid for the drama, and the taste of those who paid should be suited." 66 He required only four-and-twenty hours to write a versified drama of three acts, abounding in intrigues, prodigies, or interesting situations, and interspersed with sonnets and other versified accompaniments. In general the theatrical manager carried away what De Vega wrote before he had time to revise it, and a fresh applicant often arrived to prevail on him to commence a new piece immediately. In some instances he composed a play in the short space of three or four hours. This astonishing facility enabled him to supply the Spanish theatre with upwards of two thousand original dramas. According to his own testimony he wrote on an average five sheets every day, and at this rate he must have produced upwards of twenty millions of verses. He was enriched by his talents, and 'heir fame procured him distinguished honours. He is supposed at one time to have possessed upwards of a hundred thousand ducats, but he was a bad economist, for the poor of Madrid shared his purse. He was elected president of the spiritual college in that capital; and pope Urban VIII. sent him the degree of doctor in divinity with a flattering letter, and bestowed on him the cross of Malta; he was also appointed fiscal of the apostolic chamber, and a familiar of the inquisition, an office regarded singularly honourable at that period. Whenever he appeared in the streets, boys ran shouting after him; he was surrounded by crowds of people, all eager to gain a sight of the prodigy of nature;" and those who could not keep pace with the rest, stood and gazed on him with wonder as he passed. Lope de Vega's inexhaustible fancy and fascinating ease of composition, communicated that character to Spanish comedy; and all subsequent Spanish writers trod A DATE IN PANYER-ALLEY. The editor has received a present from Mr. John Smith of a wood block, engraved by himself, as a specimen of his talents in that department of art, and in acknowledgment of a friendly civility he is pleased to recollect at so long a distance from the time when it was offered, that it only dwelt in his own memory. The impression from this engraving, and the accompanying information, will acquaint the reader with an old London effigy" which many may remember to have seen. It is the only cut in the present sheet; for an article on a popular amusement, which will require a considerable number of engravings, is in preparation, and the artists are busily engaged on them. Concerning this stone we must resort to old Stow. According to this "honest chronicler," he peregrinated to where this stone now stands, and where in his time stood "the church of St. Michael ad Bladudum, or at the corne ( corruptly,' he says, at the querne,') so called, because in place thereof, was sometime a cornemarket. At the west end of this parish church is a small passage for people on foot thorow the same church;" and he proceeds to throw the only light that seems to appear on this stone, " and west from the said church, some distance, is another passage out of Paternoster-row, and is called (of such a signe) Panyeralley, which commeth out into the north, over against Saint Martin's-lane." It is plain from Stow's account, that Panyer-alley derived its name from "a signe," but what that "signe" was we are ignorant of. It may have been a tavern-sign, and this stone may have been the ancient sign in the wall of the tavern. It represents a boy seated on a panyer, pressing a bunch of grapes between his hand and his foot. By some people it is called "the Pick-my-toe." The inscription mentions the date when it was either Bouterwek. The Effigy in Panper-alley, Paternoster-row. Wnile we are at this place, it is amusing to remark what Stow observes of Ivylane, which runs parrallel with Panyeralley westward. He says, that "Ivielane" was "so called of ivie growing on the walls of the prebend's houses," which were situated in that lane; " but now," speaking of his own days, "the lane is replenished on both sides with faire houses, and divers offices have been there kept, by registers, namely, for the prerogative court of the archbishop of Canturbury, the probate of wils, which is now removed into Warwicke-lane, and also for the lord treasurer's remembrance of the exchequer, &c." Hence we see that in Ivy-lane, now a place of mean dwelling, was one of the great offices at present in Doctors' Commons, and another of equal importance belonging to the crown; but the derivation of its name from the ivy on the walls of the prebends' houses, an adjunctive ornament that can scarcely be imagined by the residents of the closely confined neighbourhood, is the pleasantest part of the narration. And Stow also tells us of "Mountgoddard-street," which "goeth up to the north end of Ivie-lane," of its having been so called "of the tippling there, and the goddards mounting from the tappe to the table, from the table to the mouth, and some times over the head." Goddards. These were cups or goblets made with a cover or otherwise. In "Tancred and Gismunda," an old play, we are told, "Lucrece entered, attended by a maiden of honour with a covered goddard of gold, and, drawing the curtains, she offered unto Gismunda to taste thereof." So also Gayton, in his "Festivous Notes on Don might have been usual at a christening or solemn merry-making; and from thence godward drinking might have come to the godward cup, and so the goddard. THE CUCKOO. To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Sir,-If the following " Address to the Cuckoo," from my work on birds, should suit the pages of the Every-Day Book, it is quite at your service. Of the cuckoo, I would just observe, that I do not think, notwithstanding all that Dr. Jenner has written concerning it, its natural history is by any means fully developed. I have had some opportunities of observing the habits of this very singular bird, and in me there is room for believing that, even when at maturity, it is sometimes, if not frequently, fed by other birds. It is very often attended by one, two, or even more, small birds, during its flight, for what purpose is not, I believe, at present known. The "wryneck," junx torquilla, called in some provinces the "cuckoo's maiden," is said to be one of these. Perhaps it may be “A goddard, or an anniversary spice bowl, novel information to your readers to be Drank off by th' gossips." Goddard, according to Camden, means "godly the cup," and appears to Mr. Archdeacon Nares, who cites these authorities to have been a christening cup. That gentleman can find no certain account of the origin of the name. Perhaps goddard was derived from "godward:" we had looking godward, and thinking godward, and perhaps drinking godward, for a benediction told, that there is a bird in the United States of America, called " Cowpen," emberiza pecoris, by Wilson, which lays her eggs in other bird's nests, in a similar way to the cuckoo in this country: the cowpen" is, however, a much smaller bird than the cuckoo. 66 JAMES JENNINGS. I am, &c. TO THE CUCKOO. Thou monotonous bird! whom we ne'er wish away, Thy advent reminds us of all that is sweet, Which nature, benignant, now lays at our feet; Sweet flowers-sweet meadows-sweet birds and their loves; Sweet sunshiny mornings, and sweet shady groves; Sweet smiles of the maiden-sweet looks of the youth, Sweet promise of plenty throughout the rich vale; Oh, who then, dear bird! could e'er wish thee away, The pig happened to lay all night among the corn where the men were pulling thistles, and about day-break set forward on its journey for the Brow. One Gabriel Gunion, mounted on a longtailed grey colt, with a load of white fish in a pair of creels swung over the beast, encountered the pig, which went nigh among the horse's feet and gave a snork The colt, being as much frightened as Gabriel, wheeled about' and scampered off sneering, with his tail on his "riggin," at full gallop. Gabriel cut the slings and dropt the creels, the colt soon dismounted his rider, and going like the wind, with his tail up, never stopped till he came to Barnkirk point, where he took the Solway Frith and landed at Bownes, on the Cumberland side. Gabriel, by the time he got up, saw the pig within sight, took to his heels, as the colt was quite gone, and reached Cumlongon wood in time to hide himself, where he staid all that day and night, and next morning got home almost exhausted. He told a dreadful story! The fright caused him to imagine the pig as big as a calf, having long horns, eyes like trenchers, and a back like a hedgehog. He lost his fish; the colt was got back, but never did more good; and Gabriel fell into a consumption, and died about a year afterwards. About the same time a vessel came to Glencaple quay, a little below Dumfries, that had some swine on board; one of them having got out of the vessel in the night, was seen on the farm of Newmains next morning. The alarm was spread, and a number of people collected. The animal got many different names, and at last it was concluded to be a "brock" said it was the first swin Henderson on the Breeding of NATURALISTS' CALENDARMean Temperature... 61.80. August 25. ISLINGTON CATTLE MARKET. August 25, 1746, a distemper which arose among the horned cattle, broke out afresh in the parts adjacent to London, and "the fair for the sale of Welsh cattle near Islington was kept at Barnet." IMPORTANT TO HOUSEKEEPERS. The following letter from a lady claims the attention of every good housewife at this particular season. BLACKBERRY JAM. Boil the blackberries with half their ceive their first taste for Shakspeare while weight of coarse moist sugar for three being fed, like their great prototype in the quarters of an hour, keeping the mass "Midsummer Night's Dream," with stirred constantly. It is a mistake to sup- blackberries! "Dewberries," which Tipose that a stewpan is a necessary vehicle tania ordered for the refreshment of her on the occasion; the commonest tin favourite, are so nearly allied to their saucepan will answer the purpose equally glossy neighbours, that when the season well. The more luxurious preserves is far advanced the two are not easily disbeing made with white sugar, and that tinguished. Shakspeare, who knew every of equal weight with the fruit, are neces- thing, was of course aware that the dewsarily unwholesome; but the cheapness berry ripens earlier than the blackberry; of this homely delicacy, besides its sana- namely, in the season for "apricots." It tive properties renders it peculiarly desir- must be confessed that nothing but the able for scantily furnished tables. It has associations that are connected with the been a "staple commodity" in my family elegant and romantic name "dewberry." for some years past, and with the excep- fit only for the mouth of a fairy to protion of treacle, I find it the most useful nounce, could induce me to give a prealiment in "regulating the bowels" of my ference to the latter; they are not so DSchildren;-you as a family man," sir, merous, nor consequently so useft I will excuse, nay, appreciate the observa- own I am sanguine respecting the ge tion, and all your readers who have introduction of blackberries into the Lm"their quivers full of them," will not dis- don street cries. What an innovation ther dain the gratis prescription that shall would cause! what a rural sight, a supersede the guinea fee! Indeed, to sound, and taste, and smell, would der the sparing use of butter, and a liberal introduce into that wilderness of indulgence in treacle and blackberry jam, What a conjuring up of happy fing I mainly attribute the extraordinary almost as romantic as those tha health of my young family. The prodigal spired by "bilberries, ho!" Wel use, or rather the abuse, of butter that resided in London, I recollect de wil pervades all classes, has often surprised and exquisite, and undefes me: the very cottage children, whose that were excited by de patie tattered apparel bespeaks abject poverty, un-city-like cry of the I continually meet munching their used to look out at the "hunks" of bread, smeared with butter; who sold them, with their how much should I rejoice to see, because faces; capacious I know its superiority in every respect, my hinted of Cal; favourite jam substituted! But cottage knew no touch of fi children are far from being objects of my able laced compassion, for they live in the " coun- astonishment, try," which comprehensive word delicious ideas of sun, fresh air, exercise, sho conveys flowers, shady trees, and this wholesome fruit clustering about them, and in Eg don r to the opular consis in prebusily en |