APRIL. Changeful April, thou dost bring The fourth month derived its name from Aprilis, of apezio, I open; because the earth, in this season, begins to open her bosom for the production of vegetables. 1. MID-LENT SUNDAY. The fourth Sunday in Lent, and mid-way between Quadragesima and Easter Sundays. It was formerly sometimes called Mothering Sunday, from an ancient usage of visiting the Mother, or Cathedral, churches of the dioceses; when voluntary offerings were made by the parishioners, which, by degrees, were settled into an annual composition, and gave rise to what is now termed Easter offerings. 1. ALL FOOL'S DAY. A very ancient custom still prevails of making "fools" on this day; which chiefly consists in sending persons on needless or silly errands; or to look for what is not to be found or seen. The origin of this custom is buried in complete obscurity. It has been conjectured that it has an allusion to the mocking of Jesus Christ by the Jews. A learned Rabbi has supposed it to have originated in the mistake of Noah, in sending the dove out of the ark before the waters of the deluge had abated on the first day of the month, among the Hebrews, which answers to the present first of April. These, however, are mere suppositions, and we think very far removed from the real origin. 3. RICHARD, BISHOP OF CHICHESTER, Surnamed De Wiche from the place of his birth in Worcestershire. He was consecrated bishop in 1245, and died in 1253. His name was canonized by Pope Urban IV. in the year 1262. 4. ST. AMBROsf, One of the most eminent fathers of the church in the fourth century. He was a citizen of Rome, born at Arles, in France, about the year 334, ordained bishop of Milan in 374, and died in 397. On many accounts his character stands deservedly high. With unvarying steadiness he delivered his religious sentiments on all occasions; with unwearied assiduity he discharged the duties of his office; with unabated zeal and boldness he defended the orthodox cause, in opposition to the Arians; with a liberal hand he fed the numerous poor who flocked to his dwelling; with uncommon generosity he manifested kindness to his adversaries; and with Christian affection he sought the happiness of all men. His general habits were amiable and virtuous, and his powers of mind were uncommonly vigorous and persevering. E 4, 1831. JOHN QUICK DIED, ÆTAT. 83. This celebrated comedian was born in Whitechapel in 1748; and at the age of fourteen joined a strolling company at Fulham, where he first appeared as Altamont in the Fair Penitent, with so much applause that the manager desired his wife to set him down a full share, which, at the end of the evening's performance, amounted to three shillings. He afterwards performed leading tragic and comic characters in various parts of the country. In 1769 he was engaged by Mr. Foote at the Haymarket Theatre, where he became a universal favourite. He was the original Tony Lumpkin, Acres, and Isaac Mendoza. In 1798 he quitted the stage, having amassed £10,000, and never after appeared, excepting a few nights at the Lyceum, after the destruction of Covent Garden Theatre. He may be considered as the last of the Garrick school. 12, 1831. THE REV. BASIL WOODD, M.A. DIED, ÆTAT. 70. This zealous and indefatigable minister was born at Richmond, in Surrey, on the 5th of August, 1760; and at the age of seventeen became a student at Trinity College, Oxford, where he obtained the degree of Master of Arts in 1785. In 1783 he was ordained Deacon, at the Temple Church, and the year following a priest, at Westminster Abbey. Shortly after he was chosen lecturer of St. Peter's, Cornhill; in 1785 morning preacher at Bentinck chapel, Mary-le-bone; and in 1808 was presented with the rectory of Drayton Beauchamp, in Buckinghamshire. Mr. Woodd was a strenuous supporter of all missionary, bible, and school societies; and was author of numerous tracts and discourses, some of which have become extremely popular, particularly The Church Catechism with explanations, and The Faith and Duty of a Christian. 15. PALM SUNDAY. This is the sixth Sunday in Lent. The week preceding it is called Passion week, and the week which follows it Holy week. It is called Palm Sunday from an ancient custom of bearing palm in procession on this day, in commemoration of our Saviour's entry into Jerusalem riding on an ass, when palm boughs were strewed on the roads. Formerly, in some places, a wooden ass was drawn through the streets in memory of that on which Christ rode. 18, 1831. JOHN ABERNETHY, F. R. S. DIED, ÆTAT. 66. This eminent surgeon was born about the year 1763-4, but whether in Scotland or in Ireland is uncertain. At an early age his parents removed to London, and young Abernethy was sent to a day-school in Lothbury, where he received his education. In due time he was bound apprentice to Mr., afterwards Sir Charles, Blick, Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where he pursued his studies with great advantage. In 1773 the celebrated John Hunter commenced his admirable lectures, and Abernethy became one of his pupils; from which arose a lasting friendship between these eminent men. In 1780, through Mr. Hunter, he was appointed assistant surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital; and shortly afterwards lecturer on anatomy and surgery. The new and bold view which he took of his subjects made a deep impression on his auditors and gained him considerable notoriety. In 1793 he published Surgical and Physical Essays; which extended the reputation he had already acquired. These Essays were followed, at various periods, by Surgical Observations, the fame of which soon carried his name over the Continent of Europe. Among his other works are, On the Origin and Treatment of Local Diseases; Physiological Lectures; On Injuries of the Head, &c. All of which are consulted by the faculty, as the best authority on all subjects which they embrace. There was a bluntness approaching to rudeness in Mr. Abernethy, which greatly annoyed many of his visitors: and which caused some wit to anagram his name into Johnny the Bear. His strong point in prescribing was generally addressed to the relief of the bowels, and to the lowering and regulation of diet and regimen. He was consequently much sought in dispeptic disorders; and often merely referred his patients to one of his books, where he had described the symptoms and given a recipe for their cure. On one occasion, a lady, unsatisfied with this information, persisted in extracting from Mr. A. what she might eat, and after suffering from her volubility some time he exclaimed, to the repeated “May I eat oysters, Doctor? May I eat suppers?" "I'll tell you what, Ma'am, you may eat any thing but the poker and bellows, for the one is too hard of digestion, and the other is full of wind." Another characteristic anecdote is told of the celebrated Curran, who, it seems being personally unknown to him, had visited Mr. Abernethy several times, without having had an opportunity of fully explaining (as he thought) the nature of his malady; at last, determined to have a hearing, when interrupted in his story, he fixed his dark bright eye on the doctor and said, "Mr. Abernethy, I have been here on eight different days, and have paid you eight different guineas; but you have never yet listened to the symptoms of my complaint. I am, resolved, Sir, not to leave this room till you satisfy me by doing so." Struck by his manner, Mr. Abernethy threw himself back in his chair, and assuming the posture of a most indefatigable listener, exclaimed, in a tone of half surprise, half humour,-"Oh, very well, Sir, I am ready to hear you out. Go on, give me the whole-your birth, parentage, and education, I wait your pleasure; go on." Upon which Curran, not a whit disconcerted, gravely begun "My name is John Philpot Curran. My parents were poor, but I believe honest people, of the province of Munster, where also I was born, being a native of Newmarket, county of Cork, in the year 1750. My father being employed to collect the rents of a Protestant gentleman of small fortune, in that neighbourhood, obtained my entrance into one of the Protestant Free-schools, where I obtained the first rudiments of my education. I was next enabled to enter Trinity College, Dublin, in the humble sphere of a sizer ;" --and so he continued for several minutes, giving his astonished hearer a true, but irresistably laughable account of his "birth, parentage, and education," as desired, till he came to his ill |