life, annually visited his favourite spot; and, in mèmory of its origin, never failed, on the day of the fair, to provide several sacks of beans, with a proportionate quantity of bacon, which he distributed, from the trunk of the tree, to the persons there assembled. For several years before the death of the benevolent, although humorous, founder of this public bean-feast, the pump and block-makers of Wapping, to the number of thirty or forty, went annually to the fair in a boat made, like that of Robinson Crusoe or an Indian canoe, of one entire piece of fir. This amphibious vehicle was covered with an awning, mounted on a coach-carriage, and drawn by six posthorses; the whole adorned with ribands, flags, and streamers. It was furnished with a band of musicians, and attended, as may be supposed, By whifflers and staffiers on foot; or, as another poet expresses it, on the return, *20. 1818.-ANNE PLUMPTRE DIED, ET. 58. She was the second daughter of the late Dr. Robert Plumptre, Master of Queen's College in the University of Cambridge. She is well known in the literary world for her numerous original works, as well as for her translations from the French and German, her knowledge of those languages being so perfect, that she could translate with nearly the same facility with which she could transcribe. The Sexagenarian has represented her as a disciple of Helen Maria Williams; but we speak it on good authority, that she not only was not acquainted with that lady, but declined being introduced to her. She was an admirer, too warm an admirer, of the French Re volution, and especially of the late Emperor of the French, whom she has celebrated in her account of her Three Years Residence in France.' It is, however, notwithstanding, a very interesting and amusing work. Mrs. A. P. had nothing in her manner which is usually denominated masculine; and, yet, one of the principal characteristics of her mind was a manly vigour: this is evidenced in her writings, and especially in her travels, in her journey from Marseilles to London by herself, and in her tours in Ireland in the summers of 1814 and 1815. She died of a long and lingering illness, borne with great fortitude and patience. We have often enriched our pages by extracts from her works. *23. 1667.-ROYAL EXCHANGE FOUNDED; 'The great emporium of commerce;' where 'more languages are spoken than at the tower of Babel after the confusion; nor are the schemes here agitated, in many instances, less chimerical than that of those celebrated builders; though very few of these people ever think of building heaven-ward.' *24. 1709.-REV. W. BURKITT Died, Vicar of Dedham, and author of a popular and practical Exposition of the New Testament. 25.-ACCESSION OF KING GEORGE III. Upon the death of George II, his present majesty came to the throne, on the 22d of September, 1760. Another year-a year of solitude, Of darkness, yet of peace, has past—and he, Oh thou! our Father-thou! our Prince and Friend, The Rose of England withered in its bud, Fell by long sickness, and a lingering death, Shall be this day. Sacred by lengthened years, Is wiped from every eye1! J. S. 25.-SAINT CRISPIN. Crispinus and Crispianus, two brothers, were born at Rome; whence they travelled to Soissons in France, about the year 303, to propagate the Christian religion. Being desirous, however, of rendering themselves independent, they gained a subsistence by shoemaking. It having been discovered that they privately embraced the Christian faith, and endeavoured to make proselytes of the inhabitants, the governor of the town immediately ordered them to be beheaded, about the year 308. From this time, the shoemakers chose them for their tutelar saints. There is a curious anecdote relative to this day in T.T. for 1816, p. 291. *25. 1757. AUGUSTIN CALMET DIED, ÆT. 85, A learned and voluminous French writer. He wrote a Critical Comment on the Scriptures, 23 vol. 4to; a Universal History, 15 vol. 4to; a History of the Bible, 4 vol. 4to; and a Dictionary of the Bible, historical and critical, which has been translated into English, and is now re-publishing, with great improvements, by Mr. Taylor. * See also our last volume, p. 252, for a beautiful ode on this subject. 26.-PROCLAMATION OF KING GEORGE III. His present Majesty was proclaimed King on the 26th of October, 1760, the day after his accession to the throne. *27. 1802.-DR. HENRY HUNTER DIED; The translator of Lavater and Saurin, and many years minister of the Scots Church, London Wall: an eloquent preacher, an able writer, and an amiable man. 28.-SAINT SIMON AND SAINT JUDE, Apostles. Simon is called the Canaanite, from the Hebrew word Cana, to be zealous; hence his name of Simon Zelotes, or the Zealot, Luke vi, 15. After enduring various troubles and afflictions, he, with great cheerfulness, suffered death on the cross. Jude is called both by the name of Thaddeus and Libbæus: Matt. x, 3, and Mark iii, 18. Jude, the brother of James: Jude, verse 1. And Judas, not Iscariot: John xiv, 22. He was of our Lord's kindred;' Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James and Joses, and Simon and Judas?' Matt. xiii, 55. After great success in his apostolic ministry, he was, at last, for a free and open reproof of the superstitious rites of the Magi, cruelly put to death. He has left one epistle of universal concern to Christians. *31. 1620.-JOHN EVELYN BORN. The Memoirs of this learned and good man, (a second edition of which has been lately published), afford a rich fund of intelligence and entertainment. Evelyn was intimate with all that can interest us in the rank and literature of the times to which he belonged. He pourtrays to us the juvenile years, the entrance into life, of men afterwards distinguished in the political annals of their country, in the history of the age, in the republic of letters. His own familiar epistles are replete with such matter, and not inferior to the private correspondence of his sovereign, Charles I, during the civil war, which is also con 1 tained in these volumes, edited, like the rest, from the original MSS. by William Bray, Esq. F.A.S., whose name would be a passport for their value and authenticity, were both not amply evidenced by the perusal of his work.-For a character of the author, see pp. 52-54, and the MEMOIRS, passim. In addition to the account of Grinlin Gibbons, by Mr. Evelyn, at pp. 18-20, we subjoin the testimony of SIR RICHARD BLACKMORE: What beauteous figures by th' unrivalled art CREATION. Astronomical Occurrences In OCTOBER 1820, THE Sun will enter Scorpio at 58 m. after 11 in the forenoon of the 23d, and he will rise and set during this month as specified in the following table: Of the Sun's Rising and Setting every fifth Day. October 1st, Sun rises 12 m. past 6. Sets 48 m. after 5 The numbers in the following table being subtracted from the time as shown by a good sun-dial, will give the time that should be shown by a good clock at the same moment. |