5, 1605. PoWDER PLOT.

This day commemorates the discovering the conspiracy to blow up the Parliament House. Mr. Hardiman, in his Irish Minstrelsy, says :-"That this was a Protestant, and not a Popish plot, few well informed persons of the present day entertain the slightest doubt. From a careful inspection of all the original documents connected with this dark transaction, preserved in the State Paper Office, London, and without reference to any other source, or circumstance whatever, I do declare it to be my solemn conviction, that the entire was planned and conducted, from beginning to end by Cecil, Secretary of State to James I. I do not intend here to enter into the particulars which led me to this conclusion, nor, indeed, is this the place for so doing. One only document, therefore, I shall notice, and that is the official report drawn up by Levinus Moncke, and throughout corrected by his master the Secretary, in his own hand-writing.* When perusing this elaborate statement, it appeared to me, that certain passages could not have been expunged, or particular interlined amendments made by Cecil, if he had not been well acquainted with the plot, before the delivery of the letter to Lord Monteagle."

6. ST. LEONARD.

A French nobleman, of the Court of Clovis I., who

"* Another paper, in the hand-writing of the King, (directing certain queries to be put to John Johnson, alias Guy Fawkes) deserves attention, as a curious record of the cruelty and pedantry of that weak and worthless monarch. It thus concludes; "If he will not otherwise confess, the gentler tortures are to be first applied unto him, et sic, per gradus, ad ima tenditur. And so God speed your good work!" From the Orig. MS.

was converted to Christianity by St. afterwards became bishop of Limosin. the year 559.

Remigius, and

He died about

8, 1768. PRINCESS AUGUSTA SOPHIA BORN. The eldest sister of his present Majesty.

8, 1674. JOHN MILTON DIED, ETAT. 66.

The above is a correct view of Elwood the Quaker's house at Chalfont, in Buckinghamshire, to which the immortal poet retired during the plague in London. "It was on a visit to this place," says Elwood, "that after some common discourses had passed between us, Milton called for a MS. of his, which, being brought, he delivered to me, bidding me take it home with me, and read it at my leisure and when I had so done, return it to him with my judgment thereupon. When I came home, and set myself to read it, I found that it was that excellent poem, which is entitled Paradise Lost." Thus it appears that Paradise Lost was completed in 1665.

10. ST. MARTIN'S EVE.

The Abbée de Berlot, in his History of the Knights of Malta, says,-that the King of Hungary, before he

left Palestine, bathed himself and all his troops in the river Jordan on St. Martin's Eve; a religious ceremony used out of devotion by pilgrims when they were not hindered by the Turks and Saracens.

11. ST. MARTIN,

A native of Hungary who was bred to the army, but afterwards became bishop of Tours. He was distinguished for his piety and meekness, and died in 397. Davila, in his celebrated History of the Civil Wars of France, mentions that St. Martin was considered by the French as one of the saintly protectors of the crown of France.

13. ST. BRITIUS,

Or Brice, the successor of St. Martin in the see of Tours, died in the year 444.

14, 1830. HENRY BEll died.

He was the practical introducer of steam navigation into Europe, having, on the 2nd of August, 1812, launched the first steam-vessel, called the Comet, on the Clyde. The number of steam-vessels now plying on the river exceed sixty. Mr. Bell, who had been for some time reduced to dependence upon charity, died at Helensburgh, near Greenock, after a long and severe illness.

17. ST. HUGH, BISHOP OF LINCOLN.

He was born in Burgundy in the year 1140, and in 1186 succeeded to the bishopric of Lincoln. Such was his zeal, humility, and activity, that it is said he carried many of the stones and mortar to the workmen employed in building his splendid cathedral. He died in the year 1200.

20. EDMUND, KING AND MARTYR, The last titular king of East Anglia, who being taken prisoner by the Danes was by them basely

murdered, in the year 870, because he would not renounce his religion.

22. ST. CECILIA,

A Roman lady, who converted her husband and brother to Christianity, for which they all suffered martyrdom in the year 230; Cecilia by being thrown into boiling water. St. Cecilia is always considered the patroness of music.

23. ST. CLement,

A Roman, converted to Christianity by St. Peter, and afterwards the successor of St. Cletus in the apostolical chair of Rome. He died about the year 100. 25. ST. CATHERINE,

A lady of Alexandria, who suffered martyrdom, for not abjuring her religion, in the year 305. She is said to have been tortured on wheels turning rapidly, having nails, knives, &c. on their rims.

29, 1830. JAMES HUMPHRIES DIED.

He was born in Montgomeryshire, and brought up to the profession of the law. At an early age he was entered at Lincoln's Inn, and became a pupil of Mr. Butler, author of Reminiscences, &c. He afterwards practiced as a conveyancer on his own account; and was a man of unquestionable talent. His Observations on the Law of Real Property is a work which will ever remain a proud memorial of his extensive knowledge and original and liberal views.

30. ST. ANDREW,

The Apostle, was a fisherman at Bethsaida, the son of James, and younger brother of Simon Peter. Whilst propogating the Gospel he endeavoured to convert the pro-consul Egeus, at Patræ, which so incensed the governor, that he ordered him to be scourged and then crucified.

DECEMBER.

Welcome December's cheerful night,
When the taper-lights appear;
When the piled hearth blazes bright,

And those we love are circled there.
Mrs. Radcliffe.

The last month derived its name from Decem, ten, and Imber; it being the tenth month of the Romulean calendar.

2. ADVENT SUNDAY.

This always falls on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and commemorates the Advent, or Hithercoming of our Lord.

6. ST. NICOLAS,

The tutelar saint of school-boys and fishermen, was born at Patara, in Lycia. He became bishop of Myra, in Lycia, and after an exemplary life of piety, died about the year 343.

8. CONCEPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY.

A festival instituted by Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of the miraculous conception of the Virgin; on this day William the Conqueror's fleet came safe to shore after encountering a severe storm.