The rich! let's scan their private hours, and peep
Into their chambers at the midnight hour,
When Disappointment his fell vigils keep,
And pomp has lost its fascinating power,
Then shall we see distinguished foreheads lour,
And the bright flashes of the scornful eye
Expire amidst an agonizing shower
Of burning tears; while a distracted sigh
Escapes for those that in the drear sepulchre lie.
For what distinction is there in the grave?

Do gorged worms banquet with more delight
On those who once were mighty, rich, and brave,
That dressed in scarlet robes and jewels bright,
And either by good fortune, or birthright,
Remained superior to the common crowd

Of meagre wretches that annoy our sight?
Oh no! the dusty earth heeds not the proud,
Nor homage pays to those that wear a costly shroud!
Greatness may welcome in the infant year,
And princely bosoms count of happy days
With sunny cheeks, "unsullied with a tear;"
But Providence the mighty balance sways,
And equally distributes, and displays

His boundless love and attributes to all,

That all may have some cause for prayer and praise; And thus the rich and poor, the great and small,

By turns know joy and grief-by turns they rise and fall.
But come, my friends, let not the mournful past,
Or the uncertain future give us pain;

"Whatever is is right!"+ hold that but fast,

And brighter views may cheer our path again,
And all the dark and intricate explain.

The young year enters! may his aspect tell

Of better times; and though the wind and rain, And creeping torrents rush through wood and dell, Greet him with song, and bid th' expiring year farewell! † Pope.

* Young.

6. EPIPHANY, OR TWELFth Day.

This is also called Handsell Monday in some parts of Scotland, and always falls on the first Monday after New Year's day. It is usually observed with much merry making. Sir John Sinclair mentions that one Hunter, a collier, was cured in 1758 of an inveterate rheumatism or gout, by drinking freely of new ale, full of barm or yeast. "The poor man," says Sir John, "had been confined to his bed for a year and a half, having almost entirely lost the use of his limbs. On the evening of Handsell Monday, as it is called, some of his neighbours came to make merry with him. Though he could not rise, yet he always took his share of the ale, as it passed round the company, and in the end, became much intoxicated. The consequence was, that he had the use of his limbs the next morning, and was able to walk about. He lived more than twenty years after this, and never had the smallest return of his old complaint."

8. ST. LUCIAN, MARTYR, A.D. 312.

8, 1833. REV. RICHARD WATSON DIEd, aged 52. The senior secretary to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and author of various works in divinity, particularly Theological Institutes, and a Biblical and Theological Dictionary. His writings have been collected, and form eleven octavo volumes. His remains are interred at the Wesleyan Chapel, City Road, near the grave of the great and good John Wesley.

10, 1833. JOSHUA BROOKES, F. R. S. F. L. S. &c. DIED, AGED 72.

This eminent anatomical lecturer was born on the 24th

of November, 1761. Having entered the profession at the age of sixteen, he commenced his career as a Professor of Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery, at a very early period of his life. Being determined to obtain pupils he made his admission fee only ten guineas, just half the usual charge; which created much jealous feeling among the profession, but insured him a numerous attendance of pupils. During forty years he continued to lecture at his theatre in Blenheim Street, during which period he educated upwards of seven thousand persons. His style of lecturing was easy and familiar, and the dry details in descriptive anatomy were relieved by occasional anecdotes connected with the subject, and constantly illustrated by reference to preparations of the same part in the various orders of animals; thus in his descriptions of the peculiarities in the structure of the human body, he infused in the minds of his auditors, a fondness for Zoological Anatomy and Natural History. His museum, for the number of its specimens, was almost a rival of the celebrated Hunter's; and it is much to be regretted that it was suffered to be dispersed by the auctioneer's hammer. No zoologist or foreigner of distinction ever came to London without visiting it, to all of whom its doors were ever open. He occasionally contributed to the Linnæan Transactions and other Journals, but never appeared ambitious of ranking as an author. His death was sudden and his remains were interred in the church of St. James, Piccadilly.

12. FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

12, 1833. CHARLES DIBDIN, DIED AGED, 64. This favourite dramatist and song writer was born on

the 27th of October, 1768. His father was the celebrated composer of the same name. Being adopted by an uncle he was articled to a pawn-broker on Snow Hill, London, with whom he remained about fourteen years; but having an attachment to literature he neglected his business, and was abandoned by his uncle, from whom he had great expectations. He now commenced dramatic author and was engaged to write for Astley's theatre in Dublin, where he remained two years. 1803, in conjunction with his brother, he purchased a share in Sadler's Well's Theatre, for which place he continued to write with great success for many years. The number of his dramatic productions are too numerous to detail, among the principal are-The Farmer's Wife; My Spouse and I; and The Lord of the Manor, altered from Burgoyne. His songs amount to nearly two

thousand.

In

Much to the credit of Charles Dibdin he never omitted inculcating lessons of morality wherever he had the power; and in his latter years, his fervent and unaffected piety shone conspicuous. As a proof of his religious feeling, the following epitaph placed over his wife, who died in 1816, may afford sufficient evidence.

Her husband's glory and her children's guide,
The Christian law her practice and her pride;
A faithful wife, fond mother, and true friend,
Lies here!-soon summoned to a peaceful end.
Eight children mourn her; he who pens her praise
Best knows her worth; and honest truth obeys:
His loss, his grief, this tribute well supplies;
But heaven's high will be done—the Christian dies,
As sets the sun, more gloriously to rise!

13. PLOUGH MONDAY.

13. ST. HILARY DIED, A. D. 368.

15, 1776. WILLIAM FREDERICK, DUKE of GlouCESTER, BORN.

17, 1833. JAMES BALLANTYNE DIED.

An eminent printer in Edinburgh, and many years proprietor and editor of the Edinburgh Weekly Journal, which he conducted with a degree of feeling and good taste highly creditable to his character as well as talent. He was not brought up to the profession of a printer, but commenced the business in his native town of Kelso, and afterwards removed to Edinburgh, about the period of Sir Walter Scott commencing his career, the whole of whose works Mr. Ballantyne printed; and to the taste of whom the public are indebted for many emendations in the works of the illustrious minstrel, whose own inattention to not unimportant minutiæ rendered such assistance in the highest degree necessary.

18, 1833. FREDERICK KOnig died.

The inventor of the steam press for printing, which was first introduced into London by him in conjunctiou with his friend and countryman M. Bauer. For the last fourteen years they had a large establishment at Oberzell, near Wurzburgh, for the manufactory of presses and other machinery.

18. ST. PRISCA, MARTYR, A.D. 275. 20. ST. FABIAN, MARTYR, A. D. 250. 21. ST. AGNES, MARTYR, A. d. 304. 22. ST. VINCENT, MARTYR, A. D. 304.