PREFACE. A PREFACE may with some show of likelihood be compared to the confessional, wherein the public listens and absolves, while the author plays the part of penitent, although it often chances that the culprit is rather bent upon proving how little than how much he has been in fault. Sorry am I to say-but the truth must be told-that the latter is my case, notwithstanding the rebukes of some of my critics, who have been more violent than I can bring myself to believe is either just or generous, so that I feel in the happy plight of one more sinned against than sinning, a conviction, which, as perhaps many of my readers may have experienced, raises a man considerably in his own estimation. If little argument has been wasted upon me, there has been no want of hard words, which, however, for the present at least, I have no intention of retorting, though I really do not see why authors should not now and then imitate the old Roman tactics, when too closely pressed by the critic - foe, and carry war home to the gates of Carthage. It would in many instances be the means of saving their own capitals. But to do this requires a certain degree of bile, and for myself, having had the good fortune to please a tolerably numerous class of readers, it would scarcely be becoming in me to acknowledge such a complaint; or to vary my metaphor and drop a subject already too much dwelt upon, the favour of the public having been as steam to my little bark and carried it safely into harbour on its first voyage against wind and tide, there is no use in thinking any longer of the foul weather. One of the objects of this work has been to supply information upon a variety of topics that may be said to belong to every-day life, yet of which an account can seldom be got in a continuous shape, but must be gleaned with much time and labour from a multitude of sources. Another, and it can scarcely be deemed a secondary purpose, was to bring together a quantity of various matter belonging to the past, not only as regarded popular superstitions, customs, and pastimes, but many other subjects that will not admit of a classification. Long habits of desultory reading had rendered me familiar with much that lies out of the beaten track, till at last it became a question with me whether some portion of so multifarious a cargo might not be made available for the general amusement and information. The work once commenced seemed to grow upon my hands; one discussion led to another, and even after the conclusion of the two volumes now presented to the reader, the crop remaining to be reaped was to all appearance no less abundant than at first. But lighter and more attraetive tasks called me away, and the work was brought to an end yet more abruptly than the story in Hudi bras of the "Bear and Fiddle," for that, as the poet tells us, was "broke off in the middle," whereas mine never reached a fourth of its way. Perhaps, however, it is as well so; for him who does not happen to like the book, it is better he should have two volumes to complain of than three, while those, who think more favourably of it, will have all the benefit that belongs to rising from table ere the appetite has suffered from repletion. DECEMBER, 1848. CONTENTS. Anne (St.) Eve, Divinations on, ÆTNA, a vomitory of hell, ii. 241. Apparition of St. Michael, i. 270. Agistments, ii. 137. Agnes, Saint, i. 38. AGUE, how to cure, ii. 198. ALBEMARLE (Duke of), his mar- Alchemists, knew the gaseous na- Whitsun, i. 278. ALL SAINT'S Day, ii. 235. ASTRUM, i. 147. Atalanta Fugiens, ii. 62, 95. Atlantis, (New), ii. 49. removed to November, i. 285. AURICULAR CONFESSION, its origin, ALL SOULS, ii. 238. Amicus and Amelius, i. 76. Amphitomantia, i. 42. Andrea, John Valentine, ii. 43. his work, called Fama, &c. id. | Auxerre, Council of, i. 10. Andrew's (Saint) Day, ii. 263. ii. 334. Autumn, Astronomical and Popu- lar, ii. 282. Azoтн, i. 155. |