6 Of the TIME for keeping CHRISTMAS. pleafe the proprietors to draw it out by London, Nov. 23, 1752. Signed MICHELL. N. B. At the end of the Expofition of the Motives, in our last year's Magazine, p. 605, col. t. 1. 24. read 1. The number of veffels taken, amounting to 18 Pruffian fhips; and 33 neutral ships, in the cargoes of which the Pruffians were concerned. And 131. read 7. In what their fufferings confifted. Obfervations on the Time for keeping CHRISTMAS. WHEREAS a great many people W did work on the 25th of laft De cember, an a fuppofition that it was not Christmas-day, and did keep Old Christmas-day (as they term it) either thro' ignorance or obftinacy, I fhall endeavour to put them right in that matter, as follows: B Jan. (which is the account we in England used to keep) whereas, by the best obfervations that can be made, it is not fo much by above 11 minutes, which in about 131 years makes a whole day: So that as many 131 years as are paft fince Julius Cæfar's time, fo many days have the seasons run back, which is above 13 days; therefore to bring the feafons up to where they were in his time, there should have been 13 days cut off, instead of 11. So that by reafon the year, as fottled by Julius Caefar, does exceed the folar year, (or the year defcribed by the fun) and was the cause of the feafons running back, and thereby making the kalendar again defective, which it was found to be in the year of Chrift 1582; Pope Gregory Xill. (by the advice of his learned men) corrected the kalendar again, and cut off ten days; and about the year 1700 they cut off another; thereby bringing the feafons back no farther than the council of Nice, (which was held in the C year of Chrift 325, by all the learned bishops in Chriftendom, for the fettling of Eafter, and condemning Arianism) at which time the fpring Equinox (that is, the time when the fun is in the Equinoctial line, making the days and nights of equal length) was on the 20th of March; but fince that time, by reafon of the seasons running back, the fpring Equinox was got back to the 9th of March; which now by our cutting off 11 days, has brought it up again to where it was at the council of Nice. So that if we had kept Christmas-day at the fame season of the year as it was kept by the primitive Chriftians, we should have kept it on the 14th of December, and not on the 25th. Therefore we are now much righter than Firft, as to the keeping of Christmas-D day, it was not kept at all until the fecond century, and then (as the learned Dr. Cave obferves) it was kept on the fame day as the Epiphany, until St. Chryfoftom (who lived in the fourth century) and fome others of the primitive fathers of Chriftianity looked into it; and by the best intelligence they could get, it was on E the 25th of December. And Clemens Alexandrius (another of the primitive fathers) fays, it is either on the 25th or 26th of the fame month; and the fame father tells us, in the fame place, that there were fome who more curioufly fearching after Christ's nativity, affixed it to the 16th of May. Hence we may fee how little certainty there is in this mat- F ter, fince fo foon after the event the learned were divided in their opinions concerning it. Secondly, as to Christmas-day's being now kept at the fame feafon of the year as it was by the primitive Chriftians, I fhall prove as follows: Julius Cæfar, (the first Roman empere) about 46 years before the birth of Chuft (by the advice of his learned men) made a reformation in the kalendar, (which was then very defective) and made the year to confift of 365 days and 6 hours, we were before. JOHN BARNETT. P. S. As to the ftory of the bees always fwarming on Christmas-eve,—which to admire moft, the industry of that wonderful infect, or the fimplicity of fome old women, I know not; I knew they were very induftrious, but never knew they were fo wife as to know when Chrift's nativity was before. Some Account of the celebrated Sir HANS IR Hans Sloane, Bart. was born at S'Killelagh, in the county of Down Gin Ireland; but his thirst after knowledge tempted him to remove from thence in his youth, in order to employ his talents in a more extended fcene of life, better adapted to his genius, and more ferviceable to the good of mankind. He tells 1753. MEMOIRS of Sir HANS SLOANE, &c. 7 and doctor of phyfick of the University of Dublin, &c. Such honours had he received at home and abroad. But nothing fo fully dif plays the grandeur of his mind as his immenfe and rare collections. His library, confifting of upwards of 42000 volumes of printed books, is perhaps the fulleft and most curious in the world with regard to the feveral branches of natural history and phyfick; add to which above 3000 volumes of manufcripts, relating chiefly to enquiries of the fame nature. His mufeum is ftored with fuch vaft rarities, both natural and artificial (amounting, as it is faid, in the year 1733, to 69,352 particulars, including his MSS.) that we may venture to proclaim it the most valuable private collection (perhaps publick one) that ever yet has appeared upon earth. Thofe treasures, tho' collected at his private expence, have not been appropriated to his own pleasure alone. Mankind has enjoyed the beCnefits of them, and his noble mind never fells us himself, that from his youth, he was much delighted with the ftudy of plants, and other parts of nature, and had seen moft of thofe kind of curiofities that were to be found either in the fields, or in the gardens or cabinets of the curious in and about London, where he practifed phyfick. The duke of Albe- A marle having obtained the fupreme command of Jamaica, &c. employed Dr. Barwick his phyfician, to look out for one to take care of him and his family in cafe of fickness. Upon application to Dr. Sloane, the opportunity feemed fuch as he wanted, in order to view the places and things he defigned, and at the fame time to profecute his profeffion. B He embraced the offer, and having conditions fettled to his fatisfaction, he began his voyage on Sept. 12, 1687, vifited moft of the Caribbee iflands, and at length arrived at Jamaica. As his principal motive to this dangerous voyage was a zeal for the advancement of natural knowledge, he there employed all the hours he could fpare from the duties of his profeffion in fearching after the productions of nature, which he carefully defcribed in a Journal. In order to make his inquiries ufeful to the publick, he dried fair famples of all fuch plants as would bear it, and fuch as could not be dried or kept, he caufed figures of them to be drawn in crayons, as alfo of fishes birds, infects, &c. at no fmall expence. He continued but about a year and 8 months abroad, including his paffage to and from thence. For the duke of Albemarle dying at Jamaica, he began his voyage back on March 16, 1638, and landed in England, May 29, following. He brought with him 800 E famples of plants, and communicated them to all lovers of fuch curiofities; which encouraged Sir Arthur Roydon to fend over a gardener to bring the plants alive to him from Jamaica for his garden at Moyra in the county of Down, where they grew to great perfection. fuffered him to refufe their ufe to whoever at home or abroad was defirous of fatisfaction or improvement from them. A Defcription of WESTMORELAND. ESTMORELAND is an inland DW county, fo named, probably, from the many moors or meers that were formerly in it, moft of which have been drained and ploughed, and from its lying weft of that ridge of nills, called the English Appenines by antient writers. It is bounded on the Eaft by Yorkshire and Durham, on the South by Lancashire, on the Weft and North by Cumberland. It is about 35 miles long from north to fouth, 24 broad from east to west, and 120 in circumference. It is reckoned to contain about 6500 houfes, and 510,000 acres; has 26 parishes and 8 markettowns, and fends 4 members to parliament, two for the county, who at prefent are John Dalton and Edward Wilfor, Efqrs, and two for the town of Appleby, F who in the prefent parliament are Sir John Ramfden, Bart. and Randle Wibraham, Efq; It is partly in the dietefo of Carlife, and partly in that of Chefter; and is divided into two parts, viz. the baronies of Kendal and Weftmoreland; and thefe again are fubdivided into conftablewicks and wards, but not into hundreds, having antiently paid no fubfidies, as they were fufficiently charged with border-fervice against the Scots. The air of this county is generally sharp; and the barony of Kendal, fo After his return he purfued the bufinefs of his profeffion with great fuccefs, grew into high repute for his learning, candour and publick fpirit; was made prefident of the Royal Society, and College of phyficians, London, first phyfician to his majefty K. George I. (who created him a baronet) and to his prefent majefty king George II. But England was not alone fenfible of his merit; G he was courted by foreigners, and created member of the Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh, of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, Madrid and Berlin, fellow of the College of Phyficians at Edinburgh, I called 8 A Defcription of WESTMORELAND. called from the river Can or Ken, is mountainous and barren, but has fome fruitful valleys That of Weftmoreland, fo called because it lies weft of the hills that divide it from Yorkshire, and for its low fituation, is a champain country 20 miles long and 14 broad, has much arable land, and even their moors and commons, call- A ed fells, are capable of being cultivated. The chief rivers in this county are the Eden, Lone, Ken, and Eimot; and Winander-meer is by fome reckoned to it, tho' by others to Lancashire. It gives title of earl to the family of Fane. The market-towns are, 1. Appleby, 217 computed, and 279 measured miles N. W. of London, antiently a ftrong and B populous city, and thought to be the Roman Aballaba. Henry I. gave this town equal privileges with York, and Henry II. confirmed them. In Henry IIId's time, it had a court of Exchequer. In Edward it's time, they had a mayor and two provoits, who seem to have been fheriffs: But the town was ruined by the frequent inroads of the Scots, who burnt it down, and it never recovered its antient fplendor; fo that it is now only a small market-town of little note, tho' pleasantly fituated on the river Eden, having the affizes held here in the town-hall, and being the only town in the county that fends members to parliament. 'Tis C Jan. deep cross cut on each fide, thought to have been a boundary between England and Scotland. 5. Amblefide, 16 miles S. W. of Orton, has a clothing trade, and a market on Wednesdays. 6. Kendal, 13 miles S. E. of Amblefide, has an harbour for boats on the river Ken, over which are two ftone bridges, befides one of timber. It is a large, fair, trading town, particularly for the manufactures of cottons, cloths, druggets, hats, ftockings, &c. K. Jan es I. changed their old charter for a new one, by which he placed the government of the town in a mayor, 12 aldermen, and 24 burgeffes, or common council men, &c. It is pleafantly fituated in a good air, and confifts of two great streets croffing one another, where is a great market on Saturdays for provisions, and also a great beaft market once a fortnight. In this town are feven trading companies viz. mercers, fheermen, cordwainers, tant ers, glovers, taylors, and pewterers; each of which have an hall to meet in. It has a large and beautiful church, with five 'ows of pillars in it; and 12 chapels of eafe, with a good free-fchool, well endowed, with exhibitions for the fcholas in Queen's-college, Oxford. It has given reat title of baron and earl to several familics, and that of duke to the hird governed by a mayor, recorder, 12 alder-D fon of James duke of York, who died men, a common-council, and ferjeants at mace. It has ftill the fame privileges as York, and they have a tradition, that this town had a mayor, while London had only a bailiff. The market is on Saturday, esteemed one of the beft in all the north for corn. 2. Brough, Brough under Stanmore, er Market Brough, 8 miles E. of Appleby, a small town, but divided into two parts, viz. the Upper or Church-Brough, on account of the church's ftanding there, where alfo is a fine caftle; and the Lower, called alfo Market Brough, from its having the market in it, which is held on Thursday, and is pretty confiderable. 3. Kirby-Steven, or Kirkby-Steven, on the river Eden, 4 miles S. of Brough, is a noted town for stocking weavers, and has a good market on Fridays. A little fouth from hence lies Wharton-Hall, with a park and barony, that gave title to the late unfortunate duke of Wharton's ancestors ever fince the 35th of Henry VIII. E F young Since which prince George of Denmark had the title of earl of Ker dal; and in 1719, K. George I. creater Melufina Erengard Schulenberg dutchefs of Kendal. The clothing trade was first fettled here by K. Edward II who brought over divers Dutchmen to infruct the English, and placed them in feveral counties for that purpose. 7. Burton, 10 miles S. of Kendal, fituate on the utmoft fouthern point of this county, bordering on Lanc..fhire, and having a market on Thursdays. 8. Lenfdale, or Kirby-Lonidale, on the river Lone, to miles N. E of Burton, a pretty large town, with a woollen manufacture, and a market on Tuesdays. Several Roman antiquities have been difcovered, and there are feveral koman monuments in this county. Milthorp, at the mouth of the river Ken, is the only fea-port in this thire, commodities being imported hither from Lancaire in fmall veffels. At Levens, a mile north, And farther caft lies Hartley-caftle, the G there is a fair ftone bridge over the Ken, feat of the Mufgraves, a very ancient and honourable family in this county. 4. Orton, 10 miles W. of Kirby-Steven, has a weekly market; and 4 miles fouth of it is Brandretty ftone, with a and a fpring, called the Dropping well, that petrifies mofs, wood, leaves, &c. And at Rounthwait, in this county, there is a fpring which cafts up fmall pieces refembling filver fpangles. JOUR |