1810.] jy ae 
163 
Extracts from the Portfolio of a Man of Letters, 
EMPIRICS PUNISHED, 
TOW records an exempiary punish- 
ment that was inflicted upon a rash 
pretender.to superior medical skill in the 
reign of Richard L. “ When his presump- 
tuous lyings could no longer be faced 
out,”” he was led on horseback through 
the city, with his face turned to the tail 
of the animal, and with “a collar of 
jordan’s,” to which was afiixed a “ whet- 
stone,” tied roand his neck, while the 
povulace grected him with shouts, aad 
rung jim with basons. 
Edward Vi. also, ene Greig, a poulterer, 
who had acquired the reputation of be- 
ing Snilful ia curing the’ most inveterate 
maladies, was, ou examination, proved to 
bea “4 crafty deceiver,” and was ordered 
to be ser in the pillory in Southwark, 
where he publicly asked pardon of the 
lord mayor and aldermen, who weve pre- 
sent, as well as of all the citizens, for the 
impositions he had practised. If such 
offenders were now so punished, society 
would doubtless be greatly benefited, and 
the populace often regaled with sach i ine 
teresting exhibitions. 
RAIN AND DEW, 
For rain and dew together, Dalton 
makes the mean for England and Wales 
thirty-six-inches ; amounting, in a year, 
to twenty-eight cubic miles of water, 
CIly SPLENDOUR, 
Henry Pritchard, who was lord mayor 
ef London in 1856, 
entertaining at his table at the same 
time, his own sovereign Edward IIL. the 
king of Cyprus, who had lately arrived 
ore on a visit; John, king of France, 
and David, king of Scots, both prisoners 
of war; Exhy ard, prince of W rales and a 
dong train of nobility, &c. Sicha an as- 
semblage of royalty aud baal probably 
never before or since graced the table of 
a British subject. 
ORIGIN OF LIGHTING THE STREDFTS. 
In 1417, in the reign of Henry V. it 
was decreed by a court of common coun- 
cil, that a 
placed i in a lanthorn at every door in the 
city every night taroughout the winter. 
KING ABRTILUR. 
When Henry. f. 
broke, his attention was forcibly arrested 
by the song of a Welsh harper, which 
described the heroic achievements of the 
renowned king Arthur; and concluded 
© with an account of hisdeath, and cf his 
Interment in the church-yard of Glastoie 
1 
In the oe of 
had the honour of. 
lighted candle should be 
was once at Pem-' 
ie 
bury 
between two pyramids of stone, 
Tnstigated by the accuracy of the bards 
description of the place of his sepulture, 
Iienry commanded immediate search to 
be made between the pyramids, which 
were known’to be ostill standing. Ags 
the depth of eleven feet a large stone 
was discovered, to which was affixed a 
lead cross, bearing on its underside this - 
inscription: “ fic jucet sepultus inclytus 
Rev Arturius-insinsulu. AvaloniaHere 
lies the celebrated king Arthar, buried 
in the isle of Avalon.” Some feet bee 
low this the trunk of a tree was found, 
which contained the remains both of 
king Arthur and of his queen. The 
kitig’s bones were of a large size, and hig 
sculi bore the marks of ten wounds whicls 
he had at various times received. The | 
beautiful hair of the queen, finely plaid, 
and of a bright goid colour, remained 
entire, but crumbled to dust seon after 
ifs exposure to the air. Arthur’s death 
is said to have happencd in the year 
542; and his body, was discovered in 
1189, as we are told by Giraldus Cam- 
brensis, who saw these interesting and 
curicus remains. Indeed, the lead eross 
on which was the inscription, was pres 
served at Glastonbury till the dissolution 
of its abbey, where Leland saw it when. 
making his memorable tour. 
MGWAMMEDAN FORBEARANCE, 
With whatever contempt a christian 
may regard the faih of Mohammed, 
certain it. is that the strictness with 
which the observance of religious ceres 
ites is enforced, the alecrity with 
hich the performance of inoral duties. 
is At jstingnisled, and the reverence paid 
to the koran by mast of his Saiiaers, 
might be usefully imitated by the pros 
fessurs of purer ‘doctrines. A singular 
instance of forbearance, arising from ihe 
powerful mifluence of reiicious Brice 
ples, 1s recorded in cg history of the 
Caliphs.—A slave one day during a ree 
past, was so He aed ae is to det fall 4 
dish which he was handing to the Cae 
liph Hassan,who was sev crely: scalded by 
the acetd:nt. The tr embling wretch 
Instantly fell on bis Knecs, and quoting 
koran, exclaimed, “ Paradise is 
promised to those who restrain theip 
anger.” ‘J am not anziy with: thee,’ 
replicd the Caliob, with a meekness as 
exemplary .as it was rarese 4* And for 
those who forgive offences,” continued 
the slave, “<I forgive thee thine,’ ane 
swered 
the 
