MATTHIAS* TIDE. 55 



FEB. 24. St. Matthias, apostle. 



SS. Montanus, Lucius, Flavian, Julian, Victorius, 



Primolus, Rhenus, and Donatian, martyrs at 



Carthage. 

 St. Lethard, bishop of Senlis, confessor. 

 B. Robert, of Avbrissel, priest. 

 St. Pretextatus or Prix, abp. of Rouen, martyr. 

 St. Ethelbert, c. first English Christian king. 



Obs. St. Clement of Alexandria assures us from tradition that 

 St. Matthias was one of the seventy two disciples, which is con- 

 firmed by St. Eusebius and St. Jerom. He was a constant attendant 

 on our Lord from the time of his baptism by St. John to his ascen- 

 sion. After which, St. Peter declaring the necessity of choosing a 

 twelfth apostle, St. Matthias was pitched upon as most worthy of 

 the dignity. He received the Holy Ghost with the rest soon after 

 his election. The tradition of the Greeks in their JMenologies tells 

 us that St. Matthias, after planting the faith about Capadocia and 

 on the coasts of the Caspian Sea, received the crown of martyrdom 

 in Colchis, which they call /Ethiopia. The Latins keep his festival 

 on the 24th of February. 



Great F'ern Osmanda regalis fructifies. 



I find this Great Fern, called Osman Roy, recorded as in fructifi- 

 ration today, and it probably is so long before. 

 Auld Botany Ben was wont to jog 

 Thro" rotten slough and quagmire bog, 

 Or brimfull dykes and marshes dank. 

 Where Jack a Lanterns play and prank, 

 To seek a cryptogamious store 

 Of moss, of carix, and fungus hoare, 

 Of ferns and brakes, and such like sights, 

 As tempt out scientific wights 

 On winter's day ; but most his joy 

 Was finding what's called Osman Roy. 



Botan, Travestied, 



