During the early ages of Christianity, BAPTISM was administered only at the two great festivals of Easter and Whitsuntide, excepting upon occasions of emergency. Hence, it has been suggested that the names WHIT SUNDAY, WHITE SUNDAY, WHITING SUNDAY, or Dominica Alba, originated in the custom of those admitted to that Sacrament wearing garments of white linen. But, as this would apply equally to Easter Sunday as to Whit Sunday, that conjecture has not been deemed conclusive, and different authors have derived the name of Whit Sunday from various other sources some of them not a little fanciful. Among other derivatives it has been referred to the French word huiet, eight-as being the eighth Sunday from EASTER DAY inclusive. Some authors ascribe it to a very antient custom of the wealthy, bestowing on the poor the milk of all their kine on this day, to qualify themselves for receiving the Holy Ghost, milk being commonly called white meat; hence, say they, the name of Whit Sunday. But on what principle the liberality of the rich was displayed exclusively in the article of milk, has not been explained. It has also been maintained by respectable authorities, that the name of this season was originally WITTENTIDE, or the time of choosing the WITS or WISEMEN, composing the WITTENAGAMOTE of our ancestors. VERSTEGAN asserts WIED Sunday to be the true name of this day, from the old Saxon Wied, or Wihed, signifying sacred; and that it was adopted by the Anglo-Saxons, to indicate the descent of the Holy Ghost.

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Whit-Monday and Tuesday,

(18TH and 19TH MAY 1812,)

Are regarded by the Church as days of much solemnity; and the Collects and other offices appointed for them, are extremely appropriate to the great and important points commemorated at this season. Like the two first days in Easter week, however, the religious ceremonies are now but little regarded, and these days are become holidays in the modern sense of that word, or are so passed that neither business, nor any other concern, are suffered to interfere with the general idleness and profligacy of low associations.

Although the antient superstitious pastimes of Whitsuntide are for the most part discontinued, there is one yet retained, in Lancashire, that merits notice, from the peculiar grossness of conception in which it originated. On the morning of this day, it is a common joke for one person to hold a stick over the head of another, while a third person striking the stick, gives the object of their jocularity a smart blow. It is scarcely credible, were not the fact notorious, that this low species of fun should be intended as a practical memento of the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles!

Queen Charlotte Born,

(19TH MAY.)

Her present Majesty, the Queen of England, was born on the 19th of May, 1744: but the anniversary of this day, being so near to that of the King's Birth, on the 4th of June, it has been thought expedient, from motives of policy, and particularly for the advantage of trade in the metropolis, that it should be celebrated at another season of the year.

HER MAJESTY at an early period of life evinced strong mental powers, which happily being cultivated by a very superior education, she was justly esteemed one of the most accomplished princesses in Europe. It is believed that our gracious monarch's choice of his illustrious consort was decided by a perusal of the following letter, addressed by HER MAJESTY, whilst PRINCESS CHARLOTTE of MECKLENBURGH, to the GREAT FREDERICK OF PRUSSIA, on his army entering the territories of her Cousin the DUKE of MECKLENBURGH SCHWERIN.

"To the KING of Prussia.

"May it please your Majesty,

"I am at a loss whether I shall congratulate or condole with you on your late victory; since the same success that has cover ed you with laurels has overspread my country with desolation. "I know Sire, that it seems unbecoming my sex, in this age of vicious refinement, to feel for one's country - to lament the

horrors of war -or wish for the return of peace. I know you may think it more properly my province to study the art of pleasing, or to turn my thoughts to subjects of a more domestic nature; but however unbecoming it may be in me, I cannot resist, the desire of interceding for this unhappy Country.

"It was but a few years since this territory wore the most pleasing appearance; the country was cultivated, the fields looked cheerful, and the towns abounded with riches and festivity: What an alteration at present from such a charming scene! I am not expert at description, nor can my fancy add any horrors to the pieture but sure even conquerors themselves would weep at the hideous prospect now before me. The whole country, my dear country! lies one frightful waste, presenting only objects to excite terror, pity, and despair. The business of the husbandman and the shepherd are quite discontinued; the husbandman and the shepherd are become soldiers themselves, and help to ravage the soil they formerly occupied. The towns are inhabited only by old men, women, and children; perhaps here and there a warrior, by wounds or loss of limbs rendered unfit for service, is left at his door; his little children hang round him, ask an history of every wound, and grow themselves soldiers before they find strength for the field. But this were nothing, did we not feel the alternate insolence of either army, as it happens to advance or retreat. It is impossible to express the confusion, even those who call themselves our friends, create; even those from whom we might expect redress, oppress us with new calamities.

"From your justice, therefore, it is that we hope for relief: to you, even children and women may complain, whose humanity stoops to the meanest petition, and whose power is capable of repressing the greatest injustice.

. "I am, Sire," &c.

Saint Dunstan,

(19TH MAY,)

Was born in the year 924, and received his education at the Abbey of Glastonbury, in Somersetshire, where he laid the foundation of that knowledge, which finally rendered him one of the most accomplished scholars of his age. In addition to scholastic learning, he was a proficient in painting, sculpture, music, and in the art of working and refining metals. Two

large bells for the Church at ABINGDON, in Berkshire, are said to have been founded under his personal direction. With qualifications so greatly above the genius and comprehension of the age in which he lived, it cannot excite surprise that he should have acquired the reputation of a conjurer-an alchymist - and finally, a saint. By the vulgar he was confidently believed to hold intercourse with the infernal powers. But the monks, with true church policy, ascribed to direct communion with the Deity, those extraordinary acquirements, which by the multitude were attributed to magic. For the character of an alchymist there appears some foundation, a manuscript of St. Dunstan, which treats of the philosopher's stone, being preserved in the British Museum.

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From the court of ATHELSTAN, to whom he was related, he withdrew in disgust, and adopted the monastic life: but EDMUND, the successor of ATHELSTAN, drawing him from his retreat, made him ABBOT OF GLASTONBURY. In the reign of EDRED, who succeeded EDMUND, he became the confessor and prime minister of that prince: but upon his death, St. DUNSTAN was disgraced by EDWI, and sent into exile, where he remained until recalled by EDGAR, who wrested from his brother the territory north of the Thames, and upon the death of EDWI in 959, became sole monarch of England. By this prince St. DUNSTAN was promoted to the BISHOPRICK OF WORCESTER afterwards to that of LONDON · and finally to the SEE of CANTERBURY which he filled 27 years, and died on the 19th of May A. D. 988.