exceptions, they boldly asserted a right to be exempted from all secular jurisdiction whatever. In England, however, a total exemption of the clergy from secular jurisdiction could never be thoroughly effected and therefore though the benefit of clergy was allowed in some capital cases, yet it was not universally so, and in such cases it was usual for the bishop or ordinary, to demand his clerks to be remitted out of the king's courts as soon as they were indicted. But in the reign of Henry VI, it was settled that the prisoner should first be arraigned, and might either then claim his benefit of clergy by way of declinatory plea, or, after conviction, by way of arresting judgment. In course of time the benefit of clergy was extended to all who could read; but when learning began to be more generally diffused, it was found that as many laymen as clergymen were admitted to this; and therefore, by the 4th Henry VII, a distinction was drawn between mere lay scholars, and clerks who were actually in orders. And though it was deemed reasonable still to mitigate the severity of the law as regarded the former, yet they were not put upon the same footing with actual clergy, being subjected to a slight degree of punishment, and not allowed to claim the clerical privilege more than once. Accordingly, no person, once admitted to the benefit was admitted a second time unless he produced his orders; and to distinguish their persons laymen were burned with a hot iron in the brawn of the left thumb. But in the 19th Geo III, an act was passed, by which, instead of burning in the hand, the court in all clergyable felonies should inforce a fine, or (except in cases of manslaughter) to be whipped privately, not more than thrice. Thus stands the law regarding it at present. In all felonies clergy is allowable, unless taken away by the express words of an act of parliament; and when the clergy is taken away from the principal, it is not of course refused the accessary, unless he also be included in the words of the statute. When the benefit of clergy is taken away from the offence, a principal in the second degree being present, aiding and abetting the crime, is as well excluded from his clergy as he that is principal in the first degree. Lastly, we may observe that by this conviction, the felon forfeits all his chattels to the crown for ever. HS. Customs of Various Countries. RELIGIOUS PAGEANT AT CATANIA. In the month of October, a procession or pageant takes place at Catania, on occasion of a festival held in honour of the Virgin Mary, which the inhabitants take the utmost delight in, it is as follows: As soon as night sets in, the houses are brilliantly illuminated, and every species of fireworks are thrown off, the effect of which gives the town the appearance, of being enveloped in one entire blaze. The streets, and particularly the great square is crowded with the inhabitants, who are joined by numbers from the neighbouring towns and villages. About nine o'clock the procession is set in motion, its chief object of attraction being a representation or full length effigy of the Virgin Mary, with the infant Jesus in her arms, decked and splendidly illuminated with variegated lamps and artificial flowers. This figure is placed on a kind of car, or broad platform of wood, and carried on the shoulders of several men, at a slow pace, preceded by a number of priests, with their heads uncovered, books in their hands, and a vocal choir, followed by the multitude. Whilst the object of their adoration passes, the people fall prostrate on the ground, taking off their hats, making the sign of the cross on their breast, and clasping their hands. On this occasion they testify the gratification they receive from this superstitious exhibition in various ways, some weep, others pray, and many appear as if they were frantic by their continued and tumultuous shoutings. GREEK MARRIAGES. Marriages in Greece are uniformly negociated by proxy. A confidential female friend is deputed by each of the parties, between whom an alliance is contemplated, to arrange preliminaries. They settle the terms of the contract, fix the dowry, and name the wedding day. The couple thus betrothed now send mutual presents; that of the bridegroom being usually a lamb, accompanied sometimes by a silver distaff. If the parties are marriageable, the nuptials are completed immediately after this; if not, time has no effect on the validity or strength of an engagement so contracted. During the marriage ceremony, the bride and bridegroom hold wax tapers in their hands, and wear the nuptial crown, both being intertwined by the immortal amaranth. Weekly Rev Anecdotiana. PETER THE GREAT. THIS great monarch, in order to promote literature in his empire, ordered a number of foreign works to be translated. Among the many important works selected for this purpose, Puffendorff's Introduction to his History of the European States was one; the translating of which Peter confided to a learned monk. The task being finished, the monk presented the MS. to the Tzar, who, in his presence, began to turn over the leaves, reading a few passages to himself. Having stopped at a chapter towards the end of the book, the attending officers observed that his face changed colour, and exhibited strong marks of displeasure." Fool!" said the Tzar, turning to the monk, "what did I bid you to do with the book?" "To translate it, Sire." "Is this then a translation?" replied the Sovereign, pointing at the same time to a paragraph in the original, where the author had spoken harshly of Russia, and of the character of the inhabitants, but which the good-natured monk had in part omitted, and in part softened down in the most flattering manner to the nation. Hence!" added the incensed monarch, and be careful that thou translatest the work faithfully. It is not to flatter my subjects that I bade thee put the book into Russian and print it; but rather to correct them, by placing under their eye the opinion which foreigners entertain of them; in order that they may at length know what they once were, and what they now are through my exertions." Why is a man who ceases importuning for favours, like a monarch who abdicates his throne? Because he gives up as-king. Why am I out of sight, like a tavern in sight? Because we are both innvisible. Why needn't you pay a hackneycoachman if he wont fight with you? Because none but the brave deserve the fare." Lit. Gaz. Diary and Chronology, DATE. DAYS. DIARY. DATE. CORRESPONDING CHRONOLOGY. Oct. 15. This saint was a nun belonging to a nunnery at Wimburn, in Dorsetshire. She afterwards be. came Abbess of Kitzingen, in Germany, near Wurtzberg. Her death happened in the 8th century. 1484-On this day a dreadful flood immersed Bristol, drowning upwards of two hundred of the inhabitants, and spoiling nearly all the merchan. dize. Several vessels were lost in Kingroad, the moon being eclipsed between two and three hours. This is the "sudden flood and fall of water " mentioned by Shakspeare, that interrupted the progress of the Duke of Buckingham at Glouces ter, in his way to join Hugh Courtney and his brother Peter, Bishop of Exeter, arrayed against Richard III in Devonshire and Cornwall-cooling the courage of his Welsh forces, and leaving him to the mercy of the crook-backed Richard. 16 St. Lullus was by birth an Englishman, and educated in the Abbey at Malmsbury; he afterwards became Archbishop of Mentz; he seceded from his dignities, and died in seclusion, A. D. 787. 1813. On this day the combined armies of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, signally defeated Buonaparte and his army in the neighbourhood of Leipsic, the town being taken, with the King of Saxony, and all his court. Buonaparte narrowly escaped being made prisoner, as be fied from the town at nine o'clock and the allied army entered at eleven. The forces brought into contact on this occasion ex. ceed any numbers recorded in authentic history, Buonaparte's army consisting of 170,000 effective men; whilst the allied powers had above 250,000. 17 This saint was beat to death by order of Constan. tine Copronymon, without the walls of Con stantinople. 1678.-On this day was discovered, in a ditch at 18 St. Luke was a native of Antioch, in Syria, a place 20 1485, Anniversary of the coronation of Henry VII. The following Poetry in our next :-Lines to a Captive Lark, by R. J.-Lines written on a Leaf of the Literary Souvenir, by E, F.-Love and Friendship, by K.-and the Hunter's Invitacyon, by J. Y. A. "Now," said the portly Gerrit van Wyck, as he buttoned up his money in the pockets of his capacious breeches, Now I'll home to Voorbooch, and to-morrow I'll buy neighbour Jan Hagen's two cows, which are the best in Holland." He crossed the market-place of Delft, as he spoke, with an elated and swaggering air, and turned down one of the streets which led out of the city, when a goodly tavern met his eye. Thinking a dram would be found useful in counteracting the effects of a fog which was just beginning to rise, he entered, and called for a glass of Schedam. This was brought, and drank by Gerrit, who liked the flavour so much, that he resolved to try the liquor diluted. Accordingly, a glass of a capacious size was set before him. After a few sips of the pleasing spirit, our farmer took a view of the apartment in which he was sitting, and, for the first VOL. II. Q time, perceived that the only person in the room, besides himself, was a young man of melancholy aspect, who sat near the fire-place, apparently half asleep. Now Gerrit was of a loquacious turn, and nothing rendered a room more disagreeable to him than the absence of company. He, therefore, took the first opportunity of engaging the stranger in conversation. "A dull evening, Mynheer," said the farmer. "Yaw," replied the stranger, stretching himself, and yawning loudly, very foggy, I take it,"-and he rose and looked into the street. Gerrit perceived that his companion wore a dress of dark brown, of the cut of tlie last century. A thick row of brass buttons ornamented his doublet; so thickly, indeed, were they placed, that they appeared one stripe of metal. His shoes were high-heeled and square-toed, like those worn by a company of maskers, represented in a picture which hung in Gerrit's parlour at Voorbooch. The stranger was of a spare figure, and his countenance was, as we before stated, pale; 43 but there was a wild brightness in his eye, which inspired the farmer with a feeling of awe. After taking a few turns up and down the apartment, the stranger drew a chair near to Gerrit, and sat down. "Are you a citizen of Delft ?" he inquired. "No," was the reply; "I am a small farmer, and live in the village of Voorbooch." "Umph!" said the stranger, you have a dull road to travel-See, your glass is out. How like ye mine host's Schedam ?" " "Tis right excellent." "You say truly," rejoined the stranger, with a smile, which the farmer thought greatly improved his countenance; "but here is a liquor which no Burgomaster in Holland can get. 'Tis fit for a prince." He drew forth a phial from the breast of his doublet, and mixing a small quantity of the red liquid it contained with some water that stood on the table, he poured it into Gerrit's empty glass. farmer tasted it, and found it to excel every liquid he had ever drank. Its effect was soon visible: he pressed the hand The of the stranger with great warmth, and swore he would not leave Delft that night. "You are perfectly right," said his companion, "these fogs are unusually heavy; they are trying, even to the constitution of a Hollander. As for me, I am nearly choked with them. How different is the sunny clime of Spain, which I have just left." "You have travelled, then ?" said Gerrit, inquiringly. "Travelled! ay, Mynheer, to the remotest corner of the Indies, amongst Turks, Jews and Tartars." 66 Eh, but does it please ye to travel always in that garb, Mynheer? "Even so," replied the stranger, "it has descended from father to son through more than three generations; see you this hole on the left breast of my doublet?" The farmer stretched out his neck, and by the dim light perceived a small perforation on the breast of the stranger's doublet, who continued→ 66 Ah, the bullet that passed through it lodged in the heart of my great grandsire at the sack of Zutphen." "I have heard of the bloody doings at |