MARTILMAS TIDE. 323 



NOV. 18. Dedication of SS. Peter and Paul at 

 Rome. 

 8S. Alphaeus, Zachaeus, Romanus, and Barulas, 



martyrs. 

 St. Odo, abbot of Cluni, confessor, a.d. 942. 

 St. Hilda, abbess, 680. 



Obs, The \ atican Church, dedicated in honour of St. Peter, is the second Patriarchal 

 Church ill Rome, and in it reposes one lialf of the reiiques of .SS. Peter and Paul. The 

 '•eligioiis multitude to this day repair in nunjhers to these sepulchres, to pav adoration 

 to tlieni. The sepulchres of saints, says St. Chrysostoni, thus surpassing the' palaces of 

 king;s, for even liings and emperors so to salute them. Butler, the historiographer of 

 the saints, 'in expatiating- on this habit of pilgrimaires to shrines and reiiques, expressly 

 guards the reader against any false notion that Catholics worship the reiiques them- 

 selves, or even dedicate holy edificts to saints. They arc, says he, in reality dedicated 

 to God, and are so dedicated under the patronage of some saint, whose intercession we 

 may invoke with the Almighty. The Sacred Vault of this church is calle.i the Confet- 

 sion of St. Peter, or the Threshold of the Apostles Limiiia Apo^tolnrmn; and thousand* 

 of pilgrims have Hocked to it ever since the primitive ages ot the Church. 



Pilgrimages, whatever the idle of modern times may say to the contrary, constitute a 

 very interesting tVauire in the Christian religion. Tlieir very appearance is picturesque, 

 and has been lauded by the poets of old ; their habits of life oiniple, and yet, from their 

 practice of constantly movin", much checquered with a diversity of events. The pilgrim 

 has abundant opportunity of seeing the various kind and hospitable, as well as the innos- 

 pitableand rude, manners and feelings of mankind, and he may learn in his pilgrimage 

 many a lesson of human nature. He is useful, as he brings the goods of one country to 

 another, and promotes the commerce of arts and the goodl'ellowship of foreign and dis- 

 tant nations ; and, like the severe orders of religious Vommunitres, he exhibits a proof of 

 the sincerity of his faith, and a lively example of patience and devotion for the attain- 

 ment of the srreatest of all boons, everlasting happiness. Milton likens " Greyhooded 

 Evening" to " A sad votarist in Palmer's weeds." 



Curly Passionflower Passiflora serrata fl. 



The autumnal Fungi begin now to decline very fast, and many of them are quite gone. 

 The winter Fungi, however, are now just beginning to appear. Large Boleti and others 

 on trees are seen still in plenty. The leaves continue to fall from tiie trees, and to be- 

 spread the ground far and wide; and things begin to assume a wintry ap|iearance. 



This was the birthday of Rubens the painter: hence christened Peter Paul. 



This is perhaps the most foggy time of the whole year, a dense stratus frequently con- 

 tinuing tlirough the whole niglit and day. Indeed fogs are the usual concomitants of 

 November in London and its neighbourhood, where one effect of a foggy night is often 

 that of diminisiiing the combu-tion of oil in lamps and other lights, wli'ich shews that 

 inistv and damp air cannot furnish oxygen so readily as that which is clear. We re- 

 member frequently after fi^gy nights seeing the lamps in the streets burning to a late 

 hour next morning. Experiments on the power of the air at different timis to furnish 

 oxygen might be made with lamps, candles, and other lights. 



Having alluded auove to tlie subject of pilgrimages, we may observe in addition that 

 the custom of bearing houghs of Palm from the pilgrimages to the Holy Land caused 

 tliem to be called Palmers, and that the small heaps of stones raised by them on their 

 routes, and surmounted by rude stone crosses, got the name of Jlountjoyes, reminding 

 us of tile following lines : 



Sliaded by Jiidaean Palms, 



Yon sail Pilgrim, slowly wending. 

 Fed on hospitable alms, ^ 



To some votive shrine is bending. 

 Sweeter far his holie life 

 • Than the worldling's life of care ; 



Free from trouble, free from strife. 



Jogging on in open air. 

 Hope in Heaven is liis beacon, 



Faith in God his firm support ; 

 Charity, that nought can weaken, 



Is his first and last resort. 

 And w here angry winds are roaring. 

 Fiercer dangers hovering round, 

 • Still alul't his thoughts are soaring, 



Still at prayer he's always found. 

 And from Jeopard emerging. 



Builds his Mountjoy, votive stone. 

 Tribute to the Blessed Virgin, 

 Mercy's mother, and his own. 



