This contains the Why and Because of
the Curiosities of the Calendar; the Customs
and Ceremonies of Special Days;
and a few of the Origins and Antiquities
of Social Life. We quote a page of
articles, perhaps, the longest in the
Number:—
Cock-fighting.
Why was throwing at cocks formerly
customary on Shrove Tuesday?
Because the crowing of a cock once
prevented our Saxon ancestors from
massacreing their conquerors, another
part of our ancestors, the Danes, on the
morning of a Shrove Tuesday, while
asleep in their beds.
This is the account generally received,
although two lines in an epigram
"On a Cock at Rochester," by the witty
Sir Charles Sedley, imply that the cock
suffered this annual barbarity by way of
punishment for St. Peter's crime, in denying
his Lord and Master—
"Mayst thou be punish'd for St. Peter's crime,
And on Shove Tuesday perish in thy prime."
A writer in the Gentleman's Magazine
also says—"The barbarous practice of
throwing at a cock tied to a stake on
Shrovetide, I think I have read, has an
allusion to the indignities offered by the
Jews to the Saviour of the World before
his crucifixion."—Ellis's Notes to Brand.
Why was cock-fighting a popular
sport in Greece?
Because of its origin from the Athenians,
on the following occasion: When
Themistocles was marching his army
against the Persians, he, by the way,
espying two cocks fighting, caused his
army to halt, and addressed them as
follows—"Behold! these do not fight
for their household gods, for the monuments
of their ancestors, nor for glory,
nor for liberty, nor for the safety of
their children, but only because the one
will not give way to the other."—This
so encouraged the Grecians, that they
fought strenuously, and obtained the
victory over the Persians; upon which,
cock-fighting was, by a particular law,
ordered to be annually celebrated by the
Athenians.
Cæsar mentions the English cocks in
his Commentaries; but the earliest
notice of cock-fighting in England, is by
Fitzstephen the monk, who died in 1191.
St. George.
Why is St. George the patron saint of
England?
Because, when Robert, Duke of Normandy,
the son of William the Conqueror,
was fighting against the Turks,
and laying siege to the famous city of
Antioch, which was expected to be relieved
by the Saracens, St. George appeared
with an innumerable army,
coming down from the hills, all clad in
white, with a red cross on his banner,
to reinforce the Christians. This so
terrified the infidels that they fled, and
left the Christians in possession of the
town.—Butler.
Why is St. George usually painted on
horseback, and tilting at a dragon under
his feet?
Because the representation is emblematical
of his faith and fortitude, by
which he conquered the devil, called the
dragon in the Apocalypse.—Butler.
Why was the Order of the Garter instituted?
Because of the victory obtained over
the French at the battle of Cressy, when
Edward ordered his garter to be displayed
as a signal of battle; to commemorate
which, he made a garter the
principal ornament of an order, and a
symbol of the indissoluble union of the
knights. The order is under the patronage
or protection of St. George,
whence he figures in its insignia. Such
is the account of Camden, Fern, and
others. The common story of the order
being instituted in honour of a garter of
the Countess of Salisbury, which she
dropped in dancing, and which was
picked up by King Edward, has been
denounced as fabulous by our best antiquaries.
Cock-crow.
Why was it formerly supposed that
cocks crowed all Christmas-eve?
Because the weather is then usually
cloudy and dark (whence "the dark days
before Christmas,") and cocks, during
such weather, often crow nearly all day
and all night. Shakspeare alludes to
this superstition in Hamlet—
Some say that even 'gainst that hallow'd season,
At which our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The Bird of Dawning croweth all night long.
The nights are wholesome, and no mildew falls;
No planet strikes, nor spirits walk abroad:
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So gracious and so hallowed is the time.
The ancient Christians divided the
night into four watches, called the evening,
midnight, and two morning cock-crowings.
Their connexion with the
belief in walking spirits will be remembered—
The cock crows, and the morn prows on,
When 'tis decreed I must be gone."—Butler.
—The tale
Of horrid apparition, tall and ghastly,
That walks at dead of night, or takes his stand
O'er some new-open'd grave; and, strange to tell,
Evanishes at crowing of the cock—Blair.
Who can ever forget the night-watches
proclaimed by the cock in that scene in
Comus, where the two brothers, in
search of their sister, are benighted in a
forest?—
—Might we but hear
The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes,
Or sound of pastoral reed with oaten stops,
Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock
Count the night-watches to his feathery dames,
'Twould be some solace yet, some little cheering,
In this close dungeon of innumerous boughs.
Dr. Forster observes—"There is this
remarkable circumstance about the crowing
of cocks—they seem to keep night-watches,
or to have general crowing-matches,
at certain periods—as, soon
after twelve, at two, and again at day-break.
These are the Alectrephones
mentioned by St. John. To us, these
cock-crowings do not appear quite so
regular in their times of occurrence,
though they actually observe certain
periods, when not interrupted by the
changes of the weather, which generally
produce a great deal of crowing. Indeed,
the song of all birds is much influenced
by the state of the air." Dr. F. also
mentions, "that cocks began to crow
during the darkness of the eclipse of the
sun, Sept. 4, 1820; and it seems that
crepusculum (or twilight) is the sort of
light in which they crow most."
Goes of Liquor.
Why did tavern-keepers originally call
portions of liquor "goes?"
Because of the following incident,
which, though unimportant in itself,
convinces us how much custom is influenced
by the most trifling occurrences:—The
tavern called the Queen's
Head, in Duke's-court, Bow-street, was
once kept by a facetious individual of
the name of Jupp. Two celebrated
characters, Annesley Spay and Bob
Todrington, a sporting man, meeting
one evening at the above place, went to
the bar, and each asked for half a quartern
of spirits, with a little cold water.
In the course of time, they drank four-and-twenty,
when Spay said to the other,
"Now we'll go."—"O no," replied he,
"we'll have another, and then go."—This
did not satisfy the gay fellows, and
they continued drinking on till three in
the morning, when both agreed to GO;
so that under the idea of going, they
made a long stay. Such was the origin
of drinking, or calling for, goes.
Why was the celebrated cabinet council
of Charles II. called the Cabal?
Because the initials of the names of
the five councillors formed that word,
thus—
Clifford,
Arlington,
Buckingham
Ashley,
Lauderdale.
The volume for the present year appears
to bring into play all the advantages
of the Society for the Diffusion of
Useful Knowledge. The majority of
the papers are of permanent value,—as
the Division of the Day—a Table of the
difference between London and Country
Time—the continuation of the "Natural
History of the Weather," commenced
in last year's Companion—Chronological
Table of Political Treaties,
from 1326—a Literary Chronology
of Contemporaneous Authors from the
earliest times, on the plan of last year's
Regal Table—Tables for calculating the
Heights of Mountains by the Barometer—and
illustrative papers on Life Assurance,
the Irish Poor, and East India
Trade.
The condensations of the official documents
of the year follow; and from
these we select two or three examples:
Bankruptcy Analysis, from November 1,
1829, to November 1, 1830.
Agricultural Implement Maker, 1;
Anchorsmiths, 3; Apothecaries, 7;
Auctioneers, 10; Bakers, 15; Bankers,
3; Barge-master, 1; Basket-maker, 1;
Blacksmiths, 2; Bleacher, 1; Boarding-house
Keepers, 9; Boarding-school
Keeper, 1; Boat-builder, 1; Bombasin
Manufacturer, 1; Bone Merchant, 1;
Bookbinders, 3; Booksellers, 20; Boot
and Shoemakers, 14; Brassfounders, 4;
Brewers, 17; Bricklayers, 5; Brickmakers,
4; Brokers, 10; Brush Manufacturer,
1; Builders, 38; Butchers, 8;
Cabinet Makers, 9; Calico Printers,
3; Canvass Manufacturer, 1; Cap
Manufacturer, 1; Carpenters, 12;
Carpet Manufacturer, 1; Carriers,
4; Carvers and Gilders, 2; Cattle
Dealers, 13; Cement Maker, 1; Cheesemongers,
12; China Dealers, 2; Chemists
and Druggists, 16; Clothes' Salesman
1; Clothiers, 9; Cloth Merchants,
8; Coach Builders, 10; Coach Proprietors,
9; Coal Merchants, 28; Coffeehouse
Keeper, 1; Colour Maker, 1;
Commission Agents, 7; Confectioners,
3; Cook, 1; Cork Merchants, 2; Corn
Merchants, 36; Cotton Manufacturers,
16; Curriers, 8; Cutlers, 3; Dairyman,
1; Dealers, 20; Drapers, 35;
Drysalter, 1; Dyers, 12; Earthenware
Manufacturers, 4; Edge-tool Maker, 1;
Engineers, 5; Factors, 4; Farmers,
15; Farrier, 1; Feather Merchants, 3;
Fellmongers, 2; Fishmongers, 2: Flannel
Manufacturers, 2; Flax-dressers,
&c., 2; Fruit Salesman 1; Furriers, 3;
Gardener, 1; Gingham Manufacturers,
2; Glass Cutters, 2; Glass Dealers, 3;
Glove Manufacturers, 2; Goldsmiths,
2; Grazier, 1; Grocers, 98; Gunmakers,
4; Haberdashers, 4; Hardwareman,
1; Hat Manufacturers, 9;
Hop Merchants, 2; Horse Dealers, 10;
Hosiers, 9; Innkeepers, 40; Ironfounders,
5; Iron Masters, 4; Iron
Merchants, 4; Ironmongers, 19; Jewellers,
7; Joiners, 7; Lace Dealer, 1;
Lace Manufacturers, 3; Lapidary 1;
Leather Cutters, 2; Leather Dressers,
2; Lime Burners, 5; Linendrapers, 62;
Linen Manufacturers, 2; Livery Stable
Keepers, 9; Looking Glass Manufacturer,
1; Machine Makers, 2; Maltsters,
9; Manchester Warehousemen,
2; Manufacturers, 10; Manufacturing
Chemist, 1; Master Mariners, 10;
Mast Maker, 1; Mattress Maker, 1;
Mealman, 1; Mercers, 16; Merchants,
71; Millers, 22; Milliners, 7; Miner,
1; Money Scriveners, 21; MusicSellers,
5; Nurserymen, 4; Oil and Colourman,
8; Painters, 6; Paper Hanger, 1;
Paper Manufacturers, 8; Pawnbrokers,
2; Perfumers, 4; Picture Dealers, 3;
Pill Box Maker, 1; Plasterer, 1;
Plumbers, 12; Porter Dealers, 2; Potter,
1; Poulterer, 1; Printers, 4; Provision
Brokers, 2; Ribbon Manufacturers,
6; Rope Manufacturer, 1; Sack
Maker, 1; Saddlers, 6; Sail Cloth
Makers, 2; Sail Makers, 4; Salesmen,
3; Scavenger, 1; Schoolmasters, 6;
Seedsmen, 2; Ship Chandlers, 3; Ship
Owners, 5; Shipwrights, 8; Shopkeepers,
11; Silk Manufacturers, 6;
Silk Throwsters, 2; Silversmiths, 2;
Slate Merchants, 2; Smiths, 2; Soap
Maker, 1; Stationers, 7; Statuaries,
2; Steam Boiler Manufacturers, 2;
Stock Brokers, 2; Stocking Manufacturer,
1; Stonemasons, 8; Stuff Merchants,
7; Sugar Refiner, 1; Surgeons,
13; Surveyor, 1; Tailors, 25; Tallow
Chandler, 1; Tanners, 7; Tavern
Keepers, 3; Timber Merchants, 18;
Tinmen, 3; Tobacconists, 4; Toymen,
3; Turners, 2; Umbrella Manufacturer,
1; Underwriter, 1; Upholsterers,
16; Veneer Cutter, 1; Victuallers, 88;
Warehousemen, 15; Watch and Clock
Makers, 6; Wax Chandler 1; Wheelwright,
1; White Lead Manufacturer,
1; Whitesmith, 1; Whitster, 1; Wine
and Spirit Merchants, 50; Woollen
Drapers, 18; Woolstaplers, 5; Worsted
Manufacturers, 6.—Total, 1467.
This is but a gloomy page in the
commercial annals.
Duties on Soap and Candles.
The amount of the duty on Candles
has been, for the year ending 5th of
Jan. 1826, 491,236l.; 1827, 471,994l.;
1828, 492,622l.; 1829, 503,779l.; 1830,
495,138l.
The rate of duty on the above articles
is—On hard soap, 3d. per lb.; soft soap,
1¾d.; candles, tallow, 1d. per lb.; wax
and spermaceti, 3½d. These duties are
payable by law one week after the accounts
are made up; but as the accounts
for the country include the operations
of six or seven weeks alternately,
the period allowed for payment depends
upon the locality of the traders, as those
resident where the collector attends
latest upon the round have a proportionally
longer credit; the time allowed
for payment may be stated generally at
from fourteen to twenty-eight days.
Within the limits of the chief office the
duties on candles are paid weekly; but
those on soap have, by custom, been extended
to fourteen days after the account
has been made up.
Duties on Newspapers.
Amount of Stamp Duties on Newspapers
and Advertisements in England
and Scotland, during the five
years ending January 5, 1830:
| Year | NEWSPAPERS. | ADVERTISEMENTS. |
| ending | England | Scotland | England. | Scotland. |
| Jan. 5. | £. | £. | £. | £. |
| 1826 | 425,154 | 24,419 | 144,751 | 18,708 |
| 1827 | 429,662 | 22,013 | 135,687 | 17,779 |
| 1828 | 428,629 | 29,929 | 133,978 | 18,400 |
| 1829 | 439,798 | 33,556 | 136,368 | 18,939 |
| 1830 | 438,667 | 42,301 | 136,052 | 17,592 |
In Ireland the total number of Newspaper
Stamps issued has been, in the
years ending 5th Jan. 1827, 3,473,014;
1828, 3,545,846; 1829, 3,790,272; and
1830, 3,953,550.