CHAP. 10. I. ANTIQUITIES, &c. 301 



But some of the superstitious on this day 

 have a meteorological reference, as the ancient 

 idea of Thunder happening on the 29th Sep- 

 tember, by way of firing a sort of feu dejoie, 

 by a discharge of celestial artillery, in honour 

 of the vanquisher of Lucifer and his host, of 

 which we are reminded by the note on this day 

 in the observations on the ancient Romish 

 Calendar, Arx tonat in gratiam tutelaris 

 numinis. 



The ancient genii natales, the patron deities 

 of the pagan cities, and the patron saints of 

 Christians, must be regarded as having a com- 

 mon origin in a certain propensity connate 

 in human nature, to rely on supernatural 

 assistance and support for an additional encou- 

 ragement to action : similar feelings pervade all 

 religions and all countries ; and I have some- 

 times been inclined to the opinion of those who 

 think that the eating Michaelmas Geese, which 

 by the bye used to receive a previous benedic- 

 tion, originated in a regard to the whole flock 

 of Guardian Angels celebrated on this day, and 

 that these birds were selected from others of 

 the feathered race, on account of the alarm 

 which they gave of the danger to the Roman 



