AUGUST.

The eighth was August, being rich array'd
In garment all of gold downe to the ground:
Yet rode he not, but led a lovely mayd

Forth by the lily hand, the which was crown'd
With eares of corne, and full her hand was found.
That was the righteous Virgin, which of old
Liv'd here on earth, and plenty made abound;

But after wrong was lov'd, and justice solde,

She left th' unrighteous world, and was to heav'n extoll'd.

Spenser.

The virgin mentioned by the poet above alludes to the zodiacal sign of this month, which is Virgo. The name of August was given by the Senate of Rome, in honor of the Emperor Augustus. It was previously called Sextilis, at which period it was the sixth month of the year. The Romans placed this month under the protection of Ceres, the protector of corn and harvests.

Verstegan says the Saxons called August "arnmonat, intending thereby the then filling of their barnes with corne." Arn is the Saxon word for harvest. Peacham thus delineates the month: "August shall bear the form of a young man of a fierce and choleric aspect, in a flame coloured garment; upon his head a garland of wheat and rie; upon his arm a basket of

all manner of ripe fruits, as peares, plums, apples, gooseberries: at his belt a sickle, bearing the sign Virgo."

1. LAMMAS-DAY.

The origin of the term Lammas-Day is enveloped in great doubt. Brand says: "Some derive it from LambMass, because on that day the tenants, who held lands under the cathedral church in York, which is dedicated to St. Peter ad Vincula, were bound by their tenure to bring a live lamb into the church at high mass: others derive it from a supposed offering or tything of lambs at this time." Another, and a more probable derivation, is from the old Saxon custom of Loaf-mass, which was an offering on this day of loaves made of new wheat, as the first fruits of their new corn.

This day commemorates the Transfiguration, or change of our Saviour's appearance, on Mount Tabor, in the presence of the apostles Peter, James, and John. The festival was first instituted in the year 700, and observed by the primitive Christians; but it was not introduced into the church of Rome till 1455, by Pope Calixtus III. 7. NAME OF JESUS.

This day was particularly observed in honor of our Saviour by the early Christians; though it was never introduced into the church of Rome. Its present name was given to it by the Reformers, who first assigned it a place in the English calender.

7. 1829.

JOHN REEVES, M. A. F. R.S. & S. A.

DIED, ÆTAT. 77.

Mr. Reeves was educated at Eton and Oxford, and in 1778 took the degree of B.A. He afterwards determined on follow

ing the profession of the law, and entering the Middle Temple, was called to the Bar in 1780. In the same year he was appointed a Commissioner of Bankrupts; and in 1791 Chief Justice of Newfoundland; from which situation, however, he returned the year following. About this period Republicanism was raging to an alarming extent, and Mr. Reeves formed a society at the Crown and Anchor Tave in London, for the Preservation of the Constitution, upon the plan of which similar associations were formed throughout the kingdom. For this he gained the favour of Mr. Pitt, and was afterwards amply rewarded by being appointed King's Printer, in conjunction with Messrs. Eyre and Strahan, from which sinecure he derived immense profits.

He was the author of various pamphlets, &c.; among which are-A History of the Law of Shipping and Navigation; A History of the Government of Newfoundland; and Considerations on the Coronation Oath.

10. ST. LAWRENCE.

A Spaniard by birth, and treasurer of the church of Rome. On the execution of the pious Pope Sextus St. Lawrence attended and prayed with him in his dying moments, and also assisted the afflicted Christians all in his power, and among the poor ones distributed the church money with which he had been entrusted. For this he was summoned before Valerian, the prefect of Rome, and commanded to surrender the property with which he had been entrusted, in reply to which he said, "The opulence of the Christian church consists in its poor; take them, and afford them shelter; you will find their custody superior to all other riches." He was immediately tortured, and afterwards placed on a gridiron over a slow fire till he was broiled to death, in the year 258.

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Philip II. of Spain, having won a battle on the

10th of August, the festival of St. Lawrence, vowed to consecrate a palace, a church, and a monastery, to his honor. He did erect the Escuriel, which is the largest palace in Europe. This immense quarry consists of several courts and quadrangles, all disposed in the shape of a gridiron."

13. 1792. QUEEN ADELAIDE BORN.

Adelaide Amelia Louisa Teresa Caroline, sister to the reigning Duke of Saxe Meiningen, was married to his present Majesty on the 11th of July, 1818.

14. 1829. ROBERT HAMILTON, L. L. D. died,

ÆTAT. 86.

This scholar was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Professor of Mathematics in the Mareschal College of Aberdeen, in which University he had been the long term of fifty years. His first chair was that of the Oriental languages; from which he was removed to that of Natural Philosophy in 1782, and finally, in 1817, to that of Mathematics. He was the author of An Introduction to Merchandize; A System of Arithmetic and Bookkeeping; An Enquiry into the rise, progress, and redemption of the National Debt, &c.

15. ASSUMPTION OF THe Blessed VIRGIN MARY.

This day is observed in the Romish and Greek churches, in memory of the assumption, or ascension, of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

21. 1765. KING WILLIAM IV. BORN.

HEALTH AND LONG LIFE TO THE KING!

Come, fill up a bumper, and join in the song,
And as for the frown of dull Care,

On those to whom Bacchus and bumpers belong,
say, let him frown if he dare.

I

* Robinson's Ecclesiastical Researches.

Of wealth and of splendour I never could boast,
Yet far away sorrow I fling,

Whene'er, in my cups, I hurrah to the toast
Of" Health and long life to the King!"

Ye may prattle and tell of the monarchs of France,

Of Louis le bel and the rest;

But, brave as they were, and true knights of the lance-
How tarnished was often each crest!

But we have a monarch, his people's just pride,
And proud is the tribute they bring ;
As loudly the toast is encored far and wide,
Of" Health and long life to the King!"

Ye may talk as ye will of the days of Queen Bess,
When Drake claimed the sway of the seas;
But is it, my lads, that we rule them the less,
Beneath the broad banner of peace?

So, leaving old times to take care of themselves,
Of those that are passing we'll sing;

And as for the future, we'll meet them ourselves
With "Health and long life to the King!"

Then fill up a bumper and join in the song,
And as for the frown of dull Care,

On those to whom Bacchus and bumpers belong,
I say, let him frown if he dare.

Of wealth and of splendour I never could boast,
Yet far away sorrow I fling;

Whene'er, in my cups, I hurrah to the toast

Of" Health and long life to the King!"

H. B.-Family Mag.

24. ST. BARTHOLOMEW.

He was one of the twelve apostles, and thought, by some, to be the same with Nathaniel, one of the first disciples who came to Christ. His proper name was Tholomew, or Tolmai. He translated St. Matthew's Gospel into the Indian language, and propagated it in

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