quote a few of those which prevailed, and some of which yet prevail, with ourselves, and our neighbours, the Scotch and Irish. In Ireland the child born on Whitmonday is (in the common belief,) a predestined homicide. The superstition extends to animals produced on that day, and many instances have occurred of the destruction of fine foals to prevent the possibility of their realizing the fatal prediction. To meet a person with red-hair or who squints, first in the morning, portends bad luck. The first person at whom a cat looks after washing her face, is sure to die soon. No one should commence a journey on a Saturday. The objection to cutting the hair or nails on certain days, obtains in the three kingdoms. On Sunday cut hair, and Friday cut horn, "Twere better the child had never been born. To propitiate the Fates, business of all kinds should be commenced (as Miss Edgworth relates,) "On Monday morning, please God." If you meet a funeral, you should turn back and walk some steps in the procession to avoid death yourself. Formerly in England, if upon setting out on a journey, a sow with pigs were met, the journey was sure to be successful. To meet two magpies, portended marriage-three, a successful journey— four, unexpected good news, and five, that the person would be soon in the company of the great. To see one magpie and then more is unlucky; to kill a magpie is an irretrievable misfortune. It is also unlucky (in England,) to kill a swallow, or more properly the house-martin-in Ireland, the robin red-breast. If on a journey, you meet a sow, and she crosses the road, (which does not occur to a traveller oftener than nineteen times out of twenty encounters,) the person should ride round about, otherwise his journey will be unlucky. If in dressing, a person puts his stockings on wrong side out it is a sign of good luck, and vice versa. In Ireland, the putting of the stocking on the left leg first, is an infallible preventive of tooth-ach. Nothing could ensure success to a person going on business formerly, in England, like throwing an old shoe after him when he had left the house. In Scotland it is unlucky to stumble at the threshold, or to return for any thing forgot. To find a horse-shoe is lucky; a knife or razor portends disappointment. The horse-shoe should be nailed to the door, to protect the inhabitants from witchcraft. To prevent being overlooked, (bewitched,) the Irish never hear any thing praised-never praise any thing-without spitting on the eulogized object, and saying "God bless it." In Ireland, children are, (to this day,) generally weaned on Good Friday. If you are cross upon the day of "Holy Innocents," (28th December,) which is called the cross-day of the year, you are sure to be cross all the year round. If a black cloud be seen in Scotland on newyear's-eve, it portends some dreadful calamity either to the country or to the person on whose estate or house it appears. Every day of fog in February should be noted, for a corresponding number of rainy days in harvest is sure to happen. The day of the week on which the third of May happens, will certainly be unlucky throughout the year. If a younger sister ever married before her elder ones, in England, the latter always danced barefoot at the wedding, otherwise they could never hope for husbands. In England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, it is esteemed a happy omen if the sun shines on a married couple, or if it rains when a corpse is burying, or on its way to the churchyard. Whence the old distich : Happy is the bride that the sun shines on; Happy is the corpse that the rain raius on. On Friday peat should never be digged; nor should the sheep on a farm be counted. In the Isle of Mull, the first day in every quarter is deemed fortunate, and Tuesday the most lucky day for sowing corn. In the Highlands of Scotland they have few lucky omens; those are generally the same as in other countries: one of an opposite nature is to hunt a horse. Under the persuasion that whatever is done under the rocking (increasing) of the moon, grows, and that whatever is done during her waning decreases and withers, they cut the turf which they intend for fences, (and which, of course, they wish to grow) when the moon is rocking; but the turf intended for fuel they cut when the moon is on the wave, as they wish it to dry hastily. If a house takes fire during the moon's increase it portends prosperity,-if during her wane the contrary. If, when the servant is making the bed, she sneezes, the sleep of the person who is to lie in it will be disturbed, unless a little of the straw (of which the most part of the Highland beds are formed) be thrown into the fire. In Ireland, the greatest circumspection is used to prevent the admission of the feathers, of wild-fowl into the composition of pillows or bolsters, as no one could rest on those composed of such. If a lover presents a knife, or any thing sharp, to his mistress, (in England,) it is a sure sign that their loves will be cut asunder: not so in Ireland, as far as regards the knife, for there A knife cuts strife, but a scissors cuts love. To step over a gun, a fishing rod, or boys' marbles, (especially if done by a female,) spoils sport. The omens respecting the table are still observed to be well-founded in England and elsewhere. If salt be spilled, a part should be thrown into the fire to avert the consequent misfortune. To lay the knife and fork across is very ominous. If thirteen be the number at table, one will die before the end of the year. If a candle be snuffed out, the party will not be married that year: the same luck happens to those, who, in rising from their seat, throw it down. So much for the present. The Manksman's Budget. No. I. EPISTLE INTRODUCTORY TO PEREGRINE SOUTH, ESQ., FROM QUYLLYAM M'QUYLLYAM, ESQ., A. B., F. C. P. S., DEAR PERE, I herewith send by the Robert Bruce, steam-packet, to the care of Qualthrough Mac'Whannel, Esq., at Liverpool, my agent, the first Number of a series of papers, under the title of the "Manksman's Budget." That you may however understand how I came possessed of it, "give ear awhile" till I unfold the mystery. You must know then, that having received an appointment in this island, I have been a resident here since the time of my quitting the university, which, you remember, I always thought of doing, having paternal estates at my disposal. Our old friend (the Jesuit*, as we were pleased to call him in former times), has been on a visit to me, and I believe, is so smitten with the beauty of this sea-girt isle, that he verily intends settling here; he having just concluded a bargain that will put him in possession of an estate adjoining mine, called, Coilshen-e-Croglough,' which, for picturesque scenery, and romantic views, may well vie with any spot in the sister kingdoms. You may conceive what pleasure it gives me, to be near so old and valued a connexion; and I assure you, our intimacy is of such an established kind, that I look forward to many years of happiness in this secluded spot. We are not wholly strangers to what is passing on the opposite shores, and by the arrivals of visiters, (who flock here as if to a land of milk and honey), and occasional correspondence, we have knowledge, though perhaps not immediate, of the affairs of those around us. It was only the other day we heard, that you, old boy, had lately started a bang-up periodical, the Brighton Magazine;' a work, which report says, is likely to immortalize you, and prove of great benefit to the world. We have not yet seen it; but have directed, Jefferson, of Duke-street, Douglas, (the Murray of our little capital), to procure for us the past numbers, and to take care we receive all the succeeding ones: and, I hope, we shall be able to increase the sale amongst the English residents, and such of the natives as are literary;-but, generally speaking, the Manks are no book-worms. Well, then, the Jesuit and myself, hearing this, and having remembrance of our old amusements, when at college together, have taken it into our heads to become correspondents and communicants to your work, not doubting but that you will receive favourably our literary attempts, out of regard to the writers. We intend to send you scraps of all sorts; whether epistolary, discoursive, sentimental or comic; * To those of our readers who are not acquainted with the Cambridge vulgar tongue, it may be as well to mention, that the members of Jesus College are called Jesuits; of Christ's, Christians, &c., &C. VOL. I. 2 C and shall comprise them under the general head above-mentioned; and we hope the plan will be acceptable. I suppose you will get this parcel before the next Number is published. Oh! how I shall count of seeing it? Mind to notice the arrival of our despatches in the notices to correspondents; as, being a long way distant, it will save two or three shillings in postage, which is a consideration in these sad times. I imagine all Cambridge is up in arms about you. I should like to peep in at Deighton's, or old Map's next publishing day! Big-wig' and "Varment-man" all crowding and squeezing into the shops together, to have the satisfaction of saying, they have seen the new Brighton Magazine!' All, did I say?—Yes, all; for as to the Radicals of the Union; the admirers of His Royal Highness of the Six Soirs,' and the companions of his jackall 'G. A. B.,' the sinner, their acquaintance can be no acquisition to a true-blue church and king man, as I know you are. Oh ! that I could just hop over the channel and balloon it to Granta!—Indeed, I am anxious, and do not like to be behind in any thing which may regard the honour of good old Alma Mater.' • The Jesuit' wishes me to say, the following account was written some time since; but that it has been revised and adapted for your pages. He wishes, moreover, to assure you of his unaltered esteem, and to add his regards to those of, Dear South, yours ad Autipodes.' QUYLLYAM M'QUYLLYAM. Balla- Shleaugen-ard-vriew KK Bradden, P. S.-Don't you think our Mankish names are very poetical? Sir Walter has nothing at all like the name of my house in all his novels or poems; and as to Colman's Sir Tooleywhag, 'tis nonsense to some jockies we have amongst us, whose names beggar all in Ireland, Germany, or ancient Scandinavia! "Twould do your heart good to come amongst us. Try and get over, next summer; we promise you some real whiskey:-none of your government stuff; and as to other liquors 'peart,' and so forth: we get the former at a pound British per dozen, and brandies seven shillings per gallon! No wonder we are such jolly dogs. But, as it gets dark, I say "Evoi," which, being interpreted, means good-night.—Ta, ta. The Long Vacation. BEING A TRUE AND FAITHFUL ACCOUNT OF THE PILGRIMAGE OF A JESUIT' TO THE BANKS OF CAM, IN THE DOG-DAYS. MANY days and months have passed away into the mists of time, since you and I, dear South, enjoyed together the luxuries and the seclusion of a college life; since we rambled, arm in arm, in the sacred walks of Trinity; lingered in rapture beneath the air-hung dome of King's; or coasted the stagnant waters of that noted stream which guards the groves of Jesus, in our passage to the sluices; since we hurried forth, from the distractions of the schools or the lecture-room, to look after country prospects and country damsels, upon the narrow pathway that leads to Granchester; since we made our pilgrimage to the ennobled, though humble church of Madingley, where Gray is said to have composed that most exquisite of English elegies, the "Elegy in a Country Church-yard"; since we trimmed our little sail upon the Cam; since we studied the angles and cannons of mine host of the three tuns at Chesterton, in preference to the angles of Dominus Euclid or the canons of Porson; since we wooed the invigorating breezes upon the hills of Gog and Magog till we had forgotten the balmy airs of Helicon; since we deemed, all that was respectable or learned was hid beneath a curtain' of prince's stuff, or a tassel of black silk; since, in short, the name of 'gownsman' was our delight, and the name of 'snob' our curse. Our examinations are now all over; our fees all paid; our terms all completed; our studies finished; and our success determined; and we may now go forth from the land of gowns to the land of petticoats, and prove, if we please, that there may be a paradox in nature as well as in ecclesiastical lore, by exhibiting ourselves as married bachelors. We can now look upon the inconveniences of an universitylife with a smile, and on its gratifications with a sense of past delight: the name of lecturer, or tutor, or dean, or master, or proctor, or vice-chancellor, pass away unheeded; and we have long ceased to shudder at the sight of a moderator's man. Yet, methinks, you have not altogether so bent your mind upon the affairs of this busy world, as to be indifferent to the good or evil report, the increasing or decreasing fame of that place which your youthful labours rendered dear, youthful frolics rendered memorable;-of those scenes, which beheld, and protected, and encouraged, and rewarded, the exertions of your literary hours'. 6 As to myself, I do confess, I have still a yearning after old sports and pastimes, old studies and pursuits; and, though 'in rural retirement', and 'learned leisure', surrounded by all the charms of a beautiful country and a happy fire-side, I never hear the sound of college or hall, but my heart leaps up again, and I am, in imagination, transported once more into the magic land of signs and symbols, and enshrined in the venerable buildings and classic aisles of our good old Alma Mater'. Perhaps, however, your fate hath never been to visit Granta, when the suns and the silence of autumn have proclaimed universal and university holidays; when the bustle of a short term hath yielded to the inactivity of a long Vacation'; when the wisdom and wiggerism of Golgotha have disappeared, and the organ of St. Mary's hath pealed its choral strains' to an almost empty pit, and still emptier galleries; when cloisters and courts are alike silent in their desolation, and the combination |