in the Russian anuals, was derived from, the Princess Dashkof these words, "Prothe Tartars. Thus Michael Romanof mar-ceed inmediately to execution, else we are ried Eudocia, the daughter of a poor man undone." The princess, though. Panie, found at plough, when the messengers sent who happened to call at that distant, prowith presents, informed him of the honour posed to wait till next day, formed the conferred on his family. other conspirators, and putting on a man's dress, joined Orlof and his associates at their usual place of rendezvous. It was unanimously resolved to begin instantly; and while Gregory Orlof repaired to the barracks to put the soldiers in readiness, his brother Alexey was dispatened to Peterhorf, a distance of twenty ties, to conduct the empress to the copatal At two o'clock in the morning a soldier roused the empress saying, "Your majesty has not a moment to lose, get ready and follow me.” Catherine, terrified at first, soon recovered getting into a carriage, which on other preher courage, hastily disguised herself, and Many changes and troubles followed, before the scarcely credible adventures of Peter the Great, gave Russia an existence among the powers of Europe. As his extraordinary exertions are better known than some other parts of the Russian history, we direct our attention to what more immediately marks and influences of modern times. Among the most singular events in Russian history, and indeed in any other, is the accession of Catherine II. to the throne, a woman, and a foreigner, the wife certainly of Peter III. but, by that tie only, connected with the Russian nation. Peter was, unfortunately for himself, an admirer of eminent qualities in Frederick II. of Prussia, with whom he contracted a friendship. texts had been detained in the neighbourhood for the purpose, arrived at Petersburgh at seven in the morning, July 9th. The empress proceeded to the quarters of the Ismailofsky guards; though their colonel Razumolsky had not yet arrived, and, a few only of the soldiers, half dressed, appeared, she dissembled her disappoiutment. After a moment's silence, she said that the tzar intended that night to put It was easily foreseen by the Prussian monarch, that the imprudence of Peter would encourage attempts against his go, vernment, and he plainly expre-sed his ap-her to death, as well as her son, she had prehensions to the emperor. But so secure was the tzar, that he intreated Frederic to be perfectly easy as to his safety, assuring him that he was called father by the soldiers; that he walked alone about Petersburgh, which afforded an opportunity to any person who might be disposed to injure him; and that as he was continually doing good, he considered the divine protection a sufficient defence against every evil. As the designs of the conspirators had not escaped the penetration of the emperor's adherents, they entreated him to investigate the matter; but he was so persuaded that the reports were groundless, that their ad. monitious gave him offence. A memorial containing the names of the conspirators being presented to him by one of his servants, "What, always the old story," said he, "take your paper, and trouble me no more with such idle tales." While Peter was thus blinded by a vain confidence, the execution of the conspiracy, which had been fixed for the festivities of St. Peter and St. Paul, the day on which it was believed the emperor designed to arrest Catherine; was hastened by an unexpected accident.. Lieutenant Passick, the most incautious and violent of the conspirators, having been detected by his captain, was arrested at nine o'clock at night; but contrived to write to taken to flight as the only memes of escape, 2000 men to the church of St. Mary of The character of this extraordinary wo Casan. The archbishop of Novgorod, at- man is not so easy to describe as her person tended by his priests, received her at the or habits. Those who approached her in altar, and placing the imperial crown upon private were fascinated with the courteousher head, proclaimed her sovereign of all ness of her behaviour, and the sprightliness the Russias by the name of Catherine II. and gaiety of her conversation, Her ma. and Paul Petrovitch her successor. Ca-jestic air and decorous stateliness in public, therine took the usual eaths, and on her inspired respect; while the solidity, vigour, arrival at the palace of Elizabeth, crowds and compass of her understanding, qualiflocked to take the oath of allegiance. The fied her to govern men. The vast empire, senate acknowledged her as sole empress. which she obtained by courage and sagaAs the conspirators proceeded to fortify the city, she meliorated by her laws, enlarged city they met with no resistance, except by her conquests, and exalted by the from the emperor's uncle prince George, splendour of her court, the diffusion of who was immediately surrounded, and put knowledge, the improvement of commerce, under arrest. A regiment of 1600 men, of agriculture, and the arts, and a magnifiencamped at a short distance from Peters- cent patronage of learning. This combiburgh, was induced by her partizans to nation of brilhant qualities and exploits, march to the standard of the empress. The however, ought not to shelter her vices groundless report, that the emperor in- from severe censure.. It cannot be forgottended that day to put her as well as her ten that she ascended the throne over the son to death, being industriously propa-body of her dead husband, to whose assas gated, tended greatly to increase her fol-sination it is more than suspected she' lowers, and before night 15,000 chosen was privy. It must ever excite abhorrence men were at her command, and the city in to reflect on her capricious and insatiable which strict order prevailed, was prepared 'icentiousness which which cost her subjects to make a formidable defence. 92,820,000 rubles,* presented them with a most pernicious example, and exposed them to the insolent tyranny of profligate and humanity must be extinguished in the minds of men, before they can read the Beautiful in her youth, Catherine pre-history of the calamities of Poland and the served a majestic gracefulness to the end Crimea, of the wars which deluged with of her life. Though of a moderate stature, blood the shores of the Danube and the as she was well proportioned and carried Dnieper, and desolated the adjacent counher head high, she seemed tall. Her fore-tries, without execrating the ambition, inhead was open, nose aquiline, mouth agree-justice, and perfidy of Catherine. able, chin rather long, eyes blue, with thick darkish eye brows, and auburn hair. She usually dressed in the Russian manner, and except on festivals never wore rich attire. Her form, gait, and looks, bore marks of superiority and command. The character and person of this sovereign, one of the most extraordinary and extravagant that ever sat on a throne, is thus described by Mr. A. favourites, and all their retainers. Justice The death of Catherine, the absurdities and death of Paul, are in the recol lection of our readers. It will be observed, that Catherine by her will, appointed Alexander sovereign, passing over her own son, Paul, whose weak understanding she had duly appreciated. Her judgement on the superior talents of Alexander, has hitherto been confirmed, and this prince, now reigning, is undoubtedly popular, not in Russia only, but throughout Europe. Whether he will ultimately deserve the titles of Great, must be referred to a new chapter, for which events rising in Europe, will probably furnish abundant materials. The habits of this princess were extremely regular and temperate. She rose usually at six in the morning, and after a light breakfast, transacted business with her secretary till ten, when sitting down to her toilet, she signed papers of various kinds. At eleven she went to chapel, or speut the time with her grand children the princes Alexander and Constantine. Her dinner, always ou the table about one, seldom detained her above an hour. Business then engaged her an hour or two, when she repaired to the theatre or a private concert, and, if there was not a court, spent the evening with a small party at cards, retiring, generally without supping, be- * Catherine bestowed this sum, about tween ten and eleven. This order and £42,000,000, on those persons to the num temperance, with equability and cheerful-ber of twelve, who successively occupied ness of temper, contributed to preserve her the post of her gallant. health, which was rarely affected. The Cambrian Popular Antiquities; or, an Account of some Traditions, Customs, and Superstitions of Wales; with Observations as to their Origin, &c. By Peter Roberts, A.M. 8vo. pp. 260. price 18s. Williams, London, 1815. We are persuaded, that many ancient notions are still floating in the more secluded parts of Wales; and that much might be gleaned, by persons capable of obtaining the confidence of the peasantry, in the bye places. It would take some time, and require some address; but, probably, it would abundantly repay the labour, and furnish no little addition to the pleasures of a summer excursion. Mr. Roberts has rather trusted to do The Welch have enjoyed greater facilities for preserving the history of their antiquities, than most other parts of our island. Their extreme care of their genealogies, furnished a fair me-cuments thau to observations of this nadium for such authorities; not absolutely ture. He quotes Higden, Giraldus, free from error, certainly, yet likely Pennant, &c. good authorities, no doubt; to maintain a passable degree of correct- but his own observations would have ness; and affording several points of greatly enhanced their value to general, intersection, by which the tales re- and especially to English, readers. hearsed might be adjusted. By way of caution to travellers into Wales, against mistakes on the subject of antiquities, we adduce an extract full to the point. OF STONE PILLARS. Of these, the little I have to say is rather to guard against mistakes than to give information. In many instances, they are doubtless, memorials of a rude age; and of acts no longer remembered, But, as it is at this day a custom in the mountainous The great violator of ancient customs is commerce; which by introducing novelties, excludes what is supposed to have had its day; and by establishing a mixture of people, diminishes the influence of the old settlers, by the apathy and indifference of the new comers, whose ignorance is unavoidable. Wales was not the seat of British commerce; and for centuries that country was little troubled by emi-parts of Wales, to set up a tall stone on grants from other parts of the island. Within the last fifty years, the reverse is true; and the consequence is, that many antient traditions are lost, many national customs are no longer practised, while old superstitions are banished or remain in the memory of the aged, and are handed down by tradition only. an eminence to direct the traveller, where the country is wild, and the road would otherwise in snowy weather be difficult to find; and as others of a lesser size, are sometimes set up for the cattle to rub themselves, it may be a prudent precaution to examine whether any pillar-like stone may have been set up for either of the purposes, before it be referred to any other. The true antiquary will be thankful That modern manners which have for this warning; although it principally thus expelled the antient, may be far concerns the uninstructed. Nor should preferable, shall be allowed, without less care be taken to distinguish bedispute; but, it does not follow, that tween what may be remains of (even) a total forgetfulness of those ob- Druidical customs, and what must be served in former ages should take place. referred to Christian principles; while Such as were blameable, should cer- these, again, must be so far distin tainly be suppressed; such as were in-guished, as is requisite to avoid ascribing different, may be left to their fate; such to later Christianity, or Popery, what as are good, or are founded on prin- might be derived from earlier, or purer ciples susceptible of being directed to sources. good purposes, should be countenanced or supported, or revised, or improved, as the case may be. Experience is the best guide on the necessary distinctions; and prudence is the best directress, as events and incidents occur. Mr. R. mentions wearing black clothes during Lent, as a custom observed by a few elderly persons, formerly: we know it has lately been the high fashion in London. He observes the understood necessity for putting on some new por solemn, that were it not an established fact, and in practice as prevalent as ever, it might justify unbelief, This, then, is one of those "blameable" customs, which it gives us pleasure to report is tion of dress at Easter, to omit which was unlucky-this is the remains of the custom of baptizing at Easter; to which the new dress, or rather the white garment, was a customary appendage. He says, Easter day is marked by some-sinking fast into oblivion, and, says Mr. what of better cheer, as a festival; of which lamb is considered as a proper, constituent part. This allusion to the Christian doctrine cannot be mistaken. And yet it appears, clearly, that among Christian ideas more ancient practices were intermingled: as for instance On Christmas-eve, a bunch of misseltoe is suspended from the ceiling, and each man bringing a woman under the misseltoe, salutes her, and wishes her a merry Christ mas and happy new year. "In France also, the younger country fellows about new-year's-tide, in every village, give the wish of good fortune at the inhabitants doors, with this exclamation, Au qui! l'an neuj; that is, To the misseltoe! the New Year;" meaning, probably, hail, or come, to the misseltoe; it is the new year; the beginning of which, as it has been observed, is very nearly marked by the falling of the berries of that plant. Both of these customs belong evidently to the Druidical system. R. “ very properly." It does not follow, that the subsequent acts of benevolence, should share the same fate. "Previous to a funeral," says Mr. Pennant, it was customary, when the corpse was brought out of the house and laid upon the bier, for the next of kin, be it widow, mother, sister, or daughter, (for it must be a female), to give, over a coffin, a quantity of white loves, in a great dish, and sometimes a cheese, with a piece of money stuck in it, to certain poor persons. After that, they presented, in the same manner, drink a little of it immediately. a cup of drink, and required the person to When that was done, they kneeled down; aud the minister, if present, said the Lord's Prayer; after which, they proceeded with the corpse, and, at every cross-way between the house and the church, they laid down the bier, knelt, and again repeated the Lord's prayer; and did the same when they first entered the church-yard. It is also customary, in many places, to sing psalms on the way; by which the stillness of rural life is often broken into in a manBoth Bourne and Brand have made large excursions into etymology, in order to dis-To this hour the bier is carried by the next ner finely productive of religious reflections. cover the origin of the term jule, or yule, of kin, a custom considered as the highest in gule-block; and, not seeking at where it wrs to be found, have had but little suc- respect that filial piety can pay to the de ceased. Among the Welch it was reckoned cess. The word yule, is originally the Welch word guy, that is. festival, the fortunate, if it should rain while they were carrying him to church, that his bier might initial g in gwyl, being changed into y, as be wet with the dew of heaven." in yate, from gate. Hence the yule-block signifies the festival-block; as Christmas is in Welch called gwylian, that is, the festival (by pre-eminence); so the block is at present called blocom gaylian, or the festwal-block. It is thought essential, that this block should be large enough (begin. ning at one end) to burn during the twelve. days; or at least so managed, by suffering part only to burn every day, as that it may last so long. This is much more rational, than the fancy of some-an allusion to Julius Cesar. Mr. R. occasionally traces other appellations: but not in every instance with equal success., That funerals should be scenes of riot and intemperance, either before or after, the interment, seems to be so contrary to human feelings on occasions so into the church, and the lesson has been After that the corpse has been brought read, it is the custom, in some parts of North Wales, that a psalm is sung, and the clergyman being at the altar, while the Psalm is singing, those who attend the funeral asfriends of the deceased, approach the altar in succession, and lay on a small bracket (which is provided for the purpose) an offering of mouey, according to the wealth of the offerer, and the respect for the deceased. This offering has been considered, as originally intended to pay for masses for the soul of the deceased; but, I believe, it was originally an offering for the support of the clergyman, as the custom is not, that I have been able to learn, known in England; and the clergy of the ancient British church were supported chiefly by voluntary offerings on the public occasions. In other respects, the funeral is conducted generally as in England; but when the service is over, the friends who have attended it, do iu many places, kneel down at the grave, and say the Lord's prayer before they depart from it, and for several succeeding Sundays they repair to the grave, and do the same. In many parts, especially in South Wales, the friends of the deceased take much and laudable pains to deck the grave with flowers. A bordering of slates or stones, is nicely run around it, and the top bound in by stones, laid with taste, in a tesselated manner, which has an ornamental effect, whilst it remains a monument of a pious affection, gratified in paying its last tribute to a beloved or revered object. This, with other instances of voluntary offerings from the people to the church, should be combined and argued, by those who oppose the remuneration due to the clergy, in the form of tythes. It would be to their purpose, to shew-that the Greek church, which may very plausibly be supposed to have retained many apostolic maxims, knows nothing of thes;-that other Eastern churches collect no tythes; and that, as in this instance, the clergy of the ancient British church was supported chiefly by voluntary offerings ;"-to which, we conclude, however, glebe lands must be added. somewhat on this subject, as no one else, that I know of, has considered these wells of Canaan in the same light; I now come to those of Wales of the same kind. There are in North Wales, several wells which have been celebrated for the superstitious rites pttached to them, and as affording remarkable instances of the effects of imagination on the physical state of the human frame; St. Thecla's at Llandegla, St. Elian's at Llanelian, St Dwynwen's in Anglesey, and St. Wenefrede's at Holywell in Flintshire. The well of St. Thecla must have once enjoyed a high degree of celebrity for cures of epilepsy, as the disorder itself is known still by the name of Clauf Tegla, that is Thecla's, or Tegla's disorder, as supposed to be cured by her influence. This well is at Llandegia in Denbighshire; nearly half way between Wrexham and Ruthin. The ceremony used there was as follows: "Patients in epilepsy washed in the well, and having made an offering of a few pence, walked thrice around the well; and. thrice repeated the Lord's prayer. The ceremony never began till after sunset. If the patient was a male, he offered also a cock; if female, she offered a hen. This fowl was carried in a basket, first round the well, and then into the churchyard. where the ceremony was repeated (probably of going around, it thrice, saying the Lord's prayer each time.) "The patient then entered into the church, and got under the communion-table, where, putting a Bible under his head, and being covered with a carpet or cloth, he rested till break of day; and then, having made an offering of sixpence, and leaving the fowl in the church, he departed. If the fowl died, the disorder was supposed to be transferred to it, and the cure to be effected.” Mr. Roberts being a clergyman, finds among the superstitions of Wales, sundry resemblances to those hinted at in Holy Writ. He might have extended this much further; and as we have lately seen that Ireland maintains its regard for wells, we shall enable our readers to compare them with the notions curThis account was given of the ceremony rent in Wales, on the same subject: pre-about a hundred years ago; and is, as I mising, that Mr. R. finds in the Endor have lately been informed, not yet wholly of Scripture, where the sorceress dwelt, abolished. That its origin is more aucicu a place of similar superstition. His rea- than the commencement of Christianity, sens for being thus particular deserve the offering of a cock, or hen, strongly innotice. dicated, as these birds were held sacred, and accordingly offered in sacrifice. In an old Wesh account of saint's-days, I find of Cynddilig, a Welsh saint. the following notice annexed to the name "This sainf's The only trace of it, I believe, remain now in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, the Western parts of Europe; and however, their existence, as inconsistent with pure religion, may be lamented, as evidence of the truth of the Mosaic history they are valuable, and not less so as evidences of the traditional reference of these nations to their Oriental origin. I have enlarged * Compare Vol. I. New Series LITERARY PANORAMA, pp. 675. 677. day is kept in the parish of Rhystud, where, from mid-day to mid-night on the eve of the winter kalends (first of November), the offering of a cock, as a preservative against kind of offering seems to have been made the hooping-cough is permitted," This in various cases of disease; and some years ago in digging up the under part of the |