_(For the Mirror.)_
The first dissection on record, is one in which Democritus of Obdera,
was engaged, in order to ascertain the sources and course of the
bile.--It was the custom among the Egyptians, to carry about at their
feasts a skeleton, least their guests, in the midst of feasting and
merriment, should forget the frail tenure of life and its enjoyments.
The most ancient eclipse upon record, was observed by the Chaldeans 721
years before the Christian era, and recorded by Ptolemy. The observation
was made at Babylon the 19th of March.--In ancient days, for want of
parchment to draw deeds upon, great estates were frequently conveyed
from one family to another only by the ceremony of a turf and a stone,
delivered before witnesses, and without any written agreement.--It is
singular, that by the Doomsday Book, as quoted by Camden, there appears
to have been in Lincoln, when that survey was taken, no less than 1070
"inns for entertainment."--Henry I., about the year 1125, caused to be
made a standard yard, from the length of his own arm, in order to
prevent frauds in the measurement of cloth. This standard is supposed to
have been deposited, with other measures, &c. in Winchester; he likewise
(it is said) ordered halfpence and farthings to be made round, which
before his time were square.--The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
were first called "studia," or "studies."--Edward the Confessor received
yearly, from the manor of Barton, near Gloucester, 3,000 loaves of bread
for the maintenance of his dogs--In the reign of Edward III., only three
taverns might sell sweet wines in London; one in Cheape, one in
Wallbrook, and the other in Lombard Street.--Lord Lyttleton, in his Life
of Henry II., vol. i. p. 50, says, "Most of our ancient historians give
him the character of a very religious prince, but his religion was,
after the fashion of those times, belief without examination, and
devotion without piety. It was a religion that at the same time allowed
him to pillage kingdoms, that threw him on his knees before a relic or a
cross, but suffered him unrestrained to trample upon the liberties and
rights of mankind;" again, "his government was harsh and despotic,
violating even the principles of that institution which he himself had
established. Yet so far he performed the duty of a sovereign that he
took care to maintain a good police in his realm; which, in the
tumultuous state of his government, was a great and difficult work." How
well he performed it, we may learn even from the testimony of a
contemporary Saxon historian, who says, "during his reign a man might
have travelled in perfect security all over the kingdom, with his bosom
full of gold; nor durst any kill another in revenge of the greatest
offences, nor offer violence to the chastity of a woman. But it was a
poor compensation that the highways were safe, when the courts of
justice were dens of thieves, and when almost every man in authority, or
in office, used his power to oppress and pillage the people."--Towards
the close of the life of Henry IV., he kept the regal diadem always in
his sight by day, and at night it shared his pillow. Once the Prince of
Wales, whom Henry always suspected more than he loved, seeing his father
in a most violent paroxysm of disease, removed the crown from his bed.
The king on his recovery missed it, sent for his son, and taxed him with
his impatience and want of duty, but the prince defended his conduct
with such rational modesty, that Henry, convinced of his innocence,
embraced and blessed him. "Alas!" said Henry to his son, "you know too
well how I gained this crown. How will you defend this ill-gotten
possession?" "With my sword," said the prince, "as my father has done."
Henry V. was, perhaps, the first English monarch who had ships of his
own. Two of these, which sailed against Harfleur, were called "The
King's Chamber," and "The King's Hall." They had purple sails, and were
large and beautiful.
Party rage ran so high in 1403, that an act of parliament was found
necessary to declare, "Pulling out of eyes and cutting out of tongues to
be felony."--Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, in his "Inquiry into the effects
of spirituous liquors on the human body, and their influence on the
happiness of society;" says, "Among the inhabitants of cities, spirits
produce debts, disgrace, and bankruptcy. Among farmers, they produce
idleness with its usual consequence, such as houses without windows,
barns without roofs, gardens without enclosures, fields without fences,
hogs without yokes, sheep without wool, meagre cattle, feeble horses,
and half clad, dirty children, without principles, morals, or manners."