having founded several monasteries, and been the spiritual father of many saints, both British and Irish, he died about the year 544, at a very advanced age. The leek worn on this day by Welshmen is said to be in memory of a great victory obtained by them over the Saxons; they, during the battle, having leeks in their hats, to distinguish themselves, by order of St. David. Another account adds, that they were fighting under their King Cadwallo, near a field that was filled with that vegetable. 2.-SAINT CHAD. St. Ceadda or Chad was educated in the monastery of Lindisfarne, under St. Aidan; was afterwards Bishop of Lichfield, and died in the great pestilence of 673. Bede assures us that he zealously devoted himself to all the laborious functions of his charge, visiting his diocess on foot, preaching the gospel, and seeking out the poorest and most abandoned persons to instruct and comfort, in the meanest cottages and in the fields. See further particulars of this Bishop in T.T. for 1815, p. 76. 3.-EMBER WEEK. There are four Ember Weeks in the year, namely, after the first Sunday in Lent, after the feast of Pentecost, after the 14th of September, and after the 13th of December. It is enjoined by a canon of the church, that Deacons and Ministers be ordained, or made, but only on the Sundays immediately following these Ember feasts. (Nelson.) 6 *6. 1818.-JOHN GIFFORD DIED, A literary character of considerable eminence and great attainments. He was the author of a Life of PITT, as well as of many other works of celebrity, and was for many years editor of the Anti-Jacobin Review. 7.—PERPETUA. Perpetua, a noble lady of Carthage, only 22 years of age, suffered martyrdom in 203, by order of Minutius Firmianus, under the persecution of the Emperor Severus. In the amphitheatre, Perpetua was exposed to the attacks of a wild cow, and, after being much gored by this animal, she languished for some time under the wounds given her by a young and unskilful gladiator. *10. 1774.-SIR W. BROWNE Died, Æt. 82, A physician of the last century, and a man of a most singular and whimsical cast of mind. His will is not the least remarkable of his multifarious compositions, and may be said to be written in Greek, Latin, and English. 12. SAINT GREGORY. Saint Gregory, surnamed the Great, was born about the year 540. Gadianus, his father, enjoyed the dignity of a senator, and was very wealthy. Our saint, in his youth, applied himself to the study of grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy; and afterwards to the civil law, and the canons of the church, in which he was well skilled. He was consecrated Pope about the year 590, and died in 604. Before his advancement to the see, Gregory projected the conversion of the English nation, but did not accomplish his wishes until he had assumed the papal chair. 17.-SAINT PATRICK. The tutelar saint of Ireland was born in the year 371, in a village called Bonaven Taberniæ, probably Kilpatrick, in Scotland, between Dunbriton and Glasgow. He died at the good old age of 123, and was buried at Down, in Ulster. -See T. T. for 1815, p. 80, our last volume, p. 55, and Jocelyn's Life and Miracles of St. Patrick. Shoots up, with dew-drops streaming, As emeralds seen Through purest crystal gleaming! Oh the Shamrock, the green, immortal Shamrock! Of Bard and Chief, Old Erin's native Shamrock! Says Valour, See, They spring for me, But Wit perceives Three godlike friends, Love, Valour, Wit, for ever!' Oh, the Shamrock, the green, immortal Shamrock ! Chosen leaf Of Bard and Chief, Old Erin's native Shamrock! Irish Melodies. *17. 1815.-JOHN HEY, D.D. DIED, For some years Norrisian Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge. His Theo logical Lectures,' in 4 yolumes, 8vo, are a most valuable body of divinity. He published also some single sermons, and a volume of Discourses on the Malevolent Sentiments.' At the age of eighty, when he found himself unable any longer to discharge his pastoral duties, he resigned his preferment-a rare example of conscientious disinterestedness. 18.-EDWARD, KING OF THE WEST SAXONS. He was stabbed in the back by order of his mother-in-law, Elfrida, at Corfe-castle, in Dorsetshire. The youth and innocence of this prince (says Hume), with his tragical death, begat such compassion among the people, that they believed miracles to be wrought at his tomb; and they gave him the appellation of Martyr, though his murder had no connexion with any religious principle or opinion. Elfrida built monasteries, and performed many penances, in order to atone for her guilt; but could never, by all her hypocrisy or remorse, recover the good opinion of the public, though so easily deluded in those ignorant ages. 21.-MIDLENT SUNDAY. The middle or fourth Sunday in Lent was formerly called the Sunday of the Five Loaves, the Sunday of Bread, and the Sunday of Refreshment, in allusion to the gospel appointed for this day. It was also named Rose Sunday, from the Pope's carrying a golden rose in his hand, which he exhibited to the people in the streets as he went to celebrate the eucharist, and at his return. Mothering Sunday is another name attached to this day, from the practice, in Roman Catholic times, of people visiting their mother church on Midlent Sunday. Hence, perhaps, the custom now existing in some parts of England, of children visiting their parents, and presenting them with money, trinkets, or some other trifle. Furmety is commonly a rural repast on this day. It is made of whole grains of wheat first parboiled, and then put into and boiled in milk, sweetened and seasoned with spices. 21.-SAINT BENEDICT. Benedict, or Bennet, was born at Norcia in Italy, about the year 480, and of an honourable family. Being sent by his parents to Rome to complete his studies, he became disgusted with the licentiousness of the Roman youth, and retired to the mountain of Subiaco, about forty miles from the city. Bennet was now only fifteen, and lived for three years in a cave, Romanus, a monk, giving him provisions; these were let down by a rope, with a bell affixed, to give notice to the holy recluse. Bennet founded the monastery of Cassino in 529: it was built on the brow of a very high mountain, on the top of which there was an old temple of Apollo, surrounded with a grove. The Benedictine order of monks, first instituted by our saint, was, in the ninth century, at its height of glory. 25.-ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, or Lady Day. This day celebrates the angel's message to the Virgin Mary, respecting our Blessed Lord. She was, probably, an only child, and but fifteen years of age when espoused to Joseph. She died A.D. 48, being about sixty years old. *26. 1726.-SIR JOHN VANBRUGH DIED, Well known as an architect and as a dramatic writer. In the former art, the princely palace of the Marlborough family at Blenheim, a national monument of great military services and of public gratitude, has immortalized his name. In the latter, he is a noted instance of wit united with profligacy. His Provoked Husband,' however, written with an intention to atone for the loose tendency of his previous works, but left unfinished, and completed by Cibber, is one of the most interesting, amusing, and instructive comedies on the English stage. *27. 1699.-DR. STILLINGFLEET DIED, ÆT. 64, Author of Origines Sacræ, and other learned works, in 6 vols. folio. He was a man of profound learning, an able writer, and a sound divine. 28.-FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. Dominica in Passione, or Passion Sunday, was |