ment, the spectacles must be made more gorgeous, although with tinsel-the music more attractive-the tricks and antics of the jugglers better suited to the tastes of the people. Thus from the mere noise upon some discordant instruments, you can see how these exhibitions would grow into importance, until they reached the utmost point to which those who originated and fostered them were able to carry them. This cannot, at best, have been very far, for the lower, and even the middle and upper classes, were sunk in the greatest ignorance, nearly all the learning then existing (and that was small enough), resting with the clergy. At the booths there was no scrupulous care to keep within the bounds of decorum. The tastes of the people were not very refined, nor their minds raised by intellectual culture -little sufficed for amusement, but the coarser that little was the better. To counteract these influences, churches were opened for the performance of religious plays, at first illustrative of the leading events in the life of some saint; and as the object of these was that, they might serve as examples of holy living, it was natural that the priests should not stop here but seek from other sources, higher models and holier patterns. Accordingly we find that the Bible history was drawn upon to supply material, in selecting from which advantage was taken of what taste then existed with due care to pander largely to that of the people. There can therefore be no wonder that even these plays contained a large mixture of coarseness; the very subjects were in many cases highly objectionable for exhibition. The reader may see nothing but what is right and proper in the description of the state of Adam and Eve before the Fall as related in the Bible; but, the manner in which they were represented on the stage, would be highly reprehensible now, and could not have been beneficial then. Many of the most sacred doctrines of the church were travestied and treated with a levity bordering on blasphemy. The stage on which these "mysteries" (as such plays were termed) were enacted, was divided into three parts. On the upper, were represented the Creator (sometimes the Holy Spirit), and the holy angels; on the middle, the saints and glorified men, while on the lower, were those beings at present existing. On one side of the lowest stage, was exhibited the mouth of a cavern, intended to convey the idea of Hell, and from it issued sprites, whose antics and grimaces tended to heighten the absurdness and profanity of the whole, and perhaps made some few covet a resting place in the abode of so much frolic. In thus describing the stage of the "mysteries" I do not mean to say that a regular one existed so early as the time of which I am now speaking (about the 13th century), for no such thing was erected until 1571, when the first licence was granted by Queen Elizabeth, to James Burbage (probably the father of the celebrated tragedian), and four others, servants to the Earl of Leicester, "to exhibit all kinds of stage plays, during pleasure, in any part of England; as well for the recreation of her loving subjects, as for her own solace when she should think good to see them." When a mystery was to be exhibited, a temporary stage was set up, and taken away when the play was over. The clergy and monks did not long remain sole guardians of the embryo drama, for on the increase of learning, the public schools, universities, and even the inns of court did not think them unworthy their attention. In France, the schools of Angiers, and in England, those of Eton, and Saint Paul's, were famous for the acting of the boys; and to the practice in universities, Hamlet refers, when he asks Polonius, "You played once in the university, you say ?" Of course the learning at the places would give a tone to their productions, and while they used the languages of Greece and Rome, they produced plays in English, purer in morality and construction, than had been formerly done. In the "mystery" plays there was at first little attempt at invention, but as they grew in importance, impersonated graces were introduced until in time the whole dramatis persona (if I may anticipate) consisted of Mrs. Hope, Mrs. Charity, &c. Hence arose "moralities" which were the connecting link between the low buffoonery of ancient times and the legitimate English Drama as begun by John Heywood, and carried to the pitch of perfection by Shakespeare and his successors. Heywood is said to have been the first writer of comedies. He was patronized by Henry VIII, and Sir T. More, and was an accomplished musician and jester. Among other works, he produced in 1533, an interlude entitled, 66 a merry play between a Pardoner and a Friar", in which there is no attempt at moral personifications. Such is a brief and very imperfect outline of the rise of the drama. I shall not however, regret having said so little, if by doing so, I induce others to acquire elsewhere for themselves, information on a subject so interesting. I have purposely avoided stating any detail, deferring the mention of particular points till some future period. R. WOODSTONE. This is a small village and parish in the hundred of Norman Cross, union and county court district of Peterborough, rural deanery of Yaxley, archdeaconry of Huntingdon, and diocese of Ely; 81 miles north-east from London, on the Oundle and Peterborough road, distant 12 miles east from the former, one mile south-west from the latter, and 18 miles north from Huntingdon; situated on the borders of Northamptonshire, and bounded by the river Nene, near the Peterborough branch of the London and North Western Railway. The living is a Rectory, annual value £342, with residence, in the patronage of Mrs. Margaret Thompson, who is lady of the manor; the present rector is the Rev. Matthew Carrier Thompson, and the Rev. James Watts Ellaby, B.A., of Queen's College, Cambridge, is the curate; the latter resides in the Rectory House. There are charities to a very considerable amount distributed annually amongst the poor of this parish. The population in 1861 was 347; the acreage is 1027. THE CHURCH. The greater part of this interesting little church which is dedicated to St. Augustine, was rebuilt in 1844, though we believe the original design, or nearly so, was preserved. Standing a little retired from the road, with a well kept and a well-planted churchyard in front, it affords a pleasing example of a village church cared for beyond the ordinary degree of attention now paid to these matters; for though its churchyard has been much curtailed on all sides, especially on the east and the west, still what remains is more like a garden than a field. Anciently, without doubt, the south side was much more used for burials than the north, as indeed the greater accumulation of the soil serves to show. The plan of this church is unusual; a western tower, nave with aisles, north and south transept, north and south porch, and chancel. The tower retains, at the west end, remains of early Saxon masonry. A very small and rude window, in a rubble wall, has judiciously been preserved under an arch thrown over it in the recent rebuilding of the tower. The rest of the tower is Norman, a low and not large square structure, with semicircular windows, divided by a shaft, and surmounted by a pannelled Perpendicular parapet. The windows of the aisles and transepts are lancets; at the end of the south transept the original one remains, being a triplet with separate dripstones. In this paper we are much indebted to Mr. Paley's clever pamphlet, entitled "Notes on Churches," and Kelly's "Directory of Huntingdonshire." The nave has four semicircular arches on the north side, resting on circular pillars with foliage of Transition-Norman character, and very well cut, though perhaps owing their merit to the restorer's hand. The south aisle has four pointed arches on octagonal pillars, with tolerably good Early English mouldings. The font is octagonal, on four octagonal columes and a central stem; and is a good specimen of Early English or Geometric workmanship. The chancel windows are square headed at the sides, that on the south-west being placed lower, to serve as a confessional window. All these are of early Geometric or Early English date. The east window is Perpendicular, of three lights, trefoiled under a four-centered arch. The gables retain some of the old crosses, others being placed in the churchyard, and all being of good character, and well preserved. Inside there are no ancient features of interest; if there were any, they have vanished in the process of restoring the fabric. Under the west end of the tower lies a stone coffin-lid with a floriated cross; and another forms the coping of the wall close to the stile. Built into the west wall of the south transept is this inscription: Within the church are marble tablets to the families of Vokes, Bringhurst, Walsham, Dickenson, and Wright. One inscription in the chancel runs as follows; "Near this place lies interred the body of John Dickenson late of Peterborough Gent., who by his last will and testament gave and bequeathed to the Vicar of St. John Baptist's church in that city and his successors for ever a most commodious dwelling house with gardens and other buildings adjoining, situate there in a street called Westgate, to be a comfortable habitation for them. He likewise gave two handsome brass branches to the said church, and several considerable legacys to his Servants. He departed this life on the second day of January 1730, aged 40 years, In memory of whom Mary his Sorrowful mother erected this monument." On a stone in the chancel floor is this inscription, now somewhat defaced :"Samuel Foster nuper hic fidus pastor migravit hinc ad agnum Octobr. 1661. Anno aetat. 41." To the Editor of the "News Magazine." SIR, It appears to me quite certain from the remarks you made upon my last letter, that you are beginning to entertain a better opinion of me than you had when you were "half inclined to think the Governor had one Card left at home, which he would not be sorry to part with!" I can now see according to my promise of the 10th of June, that I am booked for a monthly contribution to your Magazine. You oblige me, also, to observe, that you have made my connexion with you conditional. If I display "sufficient native talent" my ambition "to have the honour of accompanying you," is to be gratified. Well! I flatter myself if I do my best, I shall not disgrace your Periodical; and if I were allowed to write to you in confidence, I believe I could suggest a few improvements. My position is an awkward one; I am really writing a letter which may be printed, or it may not, at the same time that I am sending you an anecdote. I am, Sir, Yours very truly, Fletton, August 10th, 1864. FAST COACH. PROFESSOR JUNKER, OF THE HALLE UNIVERSITY. (From a Foreign Journal.) Dr. Junker, professor of Anatomy, once procured, for dissection, the bodies of two criminals who had been hanged. The key of the dissecting-room not being immediately at hand when they were carried home to him, he ordered them to be laid down in a closet which opened into his own apartment. The evening came, and Dr. Junker, according to custom, proceeded to resume his literary labours before he retired to rest. It was now near midnight, and all his family were fast asleep, when he heard a rumbling sound in his closet. Thinking that by some mistake the cat had been shut up with the dead bodies, he rose, and taking the candle, went to see what had happened. But what must have been his astonishment, or rather his panic, on perceiving that the sack which contained the two bodies was rent through the middle! He approached, and found that one of them was gone! The doors and windows were well secured, and he thought it impossible the body I could have been stolen. He tremblingly looked round the closet, and observed the dead man seated in the corner. The Doctor stood for a moment motionless; the dead man seemed to look towards him he moved both to the right and left, but the dead man still kept his eyes upon him. The professor then retired, step by step, with his eye still fixed upon the object of his alarm, holding the candle in his hand, until he reached the door. The dead man instantly started up, and followed him. A figure of so hideous an appearance, naked, and in motion-the lateness of the hour-the deep silence which prevailedeverything concurred to overwhelm him with confusion. He let fall the only candle which he had burning, and all was darkness. He made his escape to his bed chamber, and threw himself on the bed; thither, however, he was pursued; and he soon felt the dead man embracing his legs, and loudly sobbing. Repeated cries of "Leave me! leave me!" released Junker from the grasp of the dead man, who now exclaimed, "Ah! good executioner! good executioner! have mercy upon me!" The Doctor soon perceived the cause of what had happened, and he regained his fortitude. He informed the re-animated sufferer who he really was, and made a motion in order to call up some of the family. "You wish then to destroy me!" exclaimed the criminal. "If you call any one my adventure will become public, and I shall be taken and executed a second time; in the name of humanity, I implore you to save my life." The physician struck a light, decorated his guest with an old night-gown, and, having made him take a cordial, requested to know what had brought him to the gibbet. "It would have been a truly singular exhibition," observed Junker to a friend, "to have seen me, at that late hour, engaged in a téte-à-téte with a dead man, decked out in a night-gown." The poor wretch informed him that he had enlisted as a soldier; but that, having no great attachment to the profession of arms, he had determined to desert, that he was betrayed by a fellow who had promised to befriend him, and given into the hands of the officers of Police. Dr. Junker was extremely perplexed how to save the poor man. It was impossible to retain him in his own house, and keep the affair a secret; and to turn him out of doors was to expose him to certain destruction. He resolved to conduct him out of the city, in order that he might get into a foreign jurisdiction; but it was necessary to pass the gates of the city, which were always strictly guarded. To accomplish this point, he dressed the man in some of his old clothes, covered him with a cloak, and at an early hour, set out for the country with his protegé behind him. On arriving at the city gate, where he was well known, he said in a hurried tone, that he had been sent for to visit a sick person who was dying in the suburbs. He was at once permitted to pass. Having both got into the open fields, the deserter threw himself at the feet of his deliverer, to whom he vowed eternal gratitude; and after receiving some pecuniary assistance departed, offering up prayers for his happiness. Twelve years afterwards, Dr. Junker, having occasion to go to Amsterdam, was accosted on the Exchange by a man welldressed and of the best appearance, who, he had been informed was one of the most respectable merchants in that city. The merchant, very politely inquired whether he was not addressing Professor Junker, of Halle; and on being answered in the affirmative, he requested, in an earnest manner, his company to dinner. The Professor gave his consent. Having reached the merchant's house, he was shown into an elegant apartment, where he found a beautiful woman, and two fine healthy children; but he could scarcely suppress his astonishment at meeting with such a kind reception from a family with whom, he thought, he was entirely unacquainted. After dinner, the merchant took him into his office, and said, "you do not recollect me, Doctor?" "Not at all." "But I well recollect you, and never shall your features be effaced from my remembrance. You are my benefactor. I am the person who came to life again in your closet, and to whom you paid so much attention. On parting from you I took the road to Holland. I wrote a good hand, and was tolerably quick at accounts; and, I suppose my figure was somewhat interesting. I soon obtained employment as a merchant's clerk. My conduct, and zeal for the interests of my patron, procured me his confidence, and his daughter's love. On his retiring from business I succeeded him, and became his son-in-law. But for you, I should not have lived to experience all these enjoyments. Henceforth look upon my house, my fortune, and myself, as at your disposal." Those who possess the smallest portion of sensibility can easily represent to themselves the feelings of Professor Junker. ANECDOTES. A young spark, having more money than good sense, bought a fine-looking horse, and asked a knowing friend his opinion of the purchase, and what he thought his best point. His best point, replied the wag, after examination, why his best point is his voice; he is likely to be the best singing horse in England. My horse sing! returned the other, in amazement. I never saw a horse more likely, said his friend; for he has got a thrush in each foot! A son of Galen, who was very angry when any joke was passed on physicians, once defended himself from raillery by saying, I defy any person whom I ever attended, to accuse me of ignorance or neglect. That you may do safely, replied the wag, for you know, doctor, dead men tell no tales. A gentleman having frequently reproved his servant, an Irish girl, for boiling eggs too hard, requested her in future to boil them only three minutes by the clock. Sure, Sir, replied the girl, how shall I do that? for your honour knows the clock is always a quarter of an hour too fast. The Count de Grance being wounded in the knee with a musket-ball, the surgeons made many incisions. Losing patience at last, he asked them why they cut and carved him about so cruelly. We seek for the ball, said they. Why did you not speak before? said the count, I have it in my pocket. A seedsman being held to bail for having used inflammatory language respecting the reform bill, a wag observed, It was probably in the line of his profession-to promote business, he wished to sow sedition. Among the prisoners discharged at one of the Quarter Sessions, under the late Insolvent Act, was a chimney-sweeper; he said he came there to be white-washed. QUERIES. 1. Why is a pair of skates like an apple? 2. Why is a whirlpool like a donkey? 3. What part of speech is kissing? 4. What town in Asia would that person name, who peremptorily commanded a son to put his father into a sack? 5. Why is a congreve-box, out of which you have taken a match, better than any other box? 6. What is that which dies of consumption and yet makes light of the matter? THE CHRONICLE-1864. JUNE 28th. At the recent examination of St. John's College, Cambridge, Mr. Robert Jamblin, formerly pupil of King's School, Peterborough, came out first on the list of Foundation Sizars, is Hare Exhibitioner, and also obtained the first prize for reading lessons in chapel. Ketton Grange, consisting of a spacious residence, and 42 acres of land, late the property of Captain Grantham, was sold by auction at the George Hotel, Stamford, to Mr. George Hunt, of Stamford, for the sum of 80501, The Bishop of Peterborough, was present at a dinner party given by the Prince and Princess of Wales. 30th. At the Peterborough Liberty Quarter Sessions, Sarah Ann Dring, 18, and Elizabeth Knighton, 21, formerly servants at the Wentworth Hotel, Peterborough, were tried for stealing 3151. in bank notes, a promissory note for 100l., the property of Mr. John Rippon, farmer, Chatteris. The father of Knighton, who lives at Sawtry, and the brother of Dring, who is a horsekeeper at Warboys, were accused of receiving the money with a guilty knowledge. All the parties were found guilty. Knighton, the father, was sentenced to 6 months hard labor; Dring, the brother, to 3 months hard labor; Ann Dring, 8 months hard labor; Elizabeth Knighton, to 6 months hard labor, consideration being taken, for the imprisonment she had already undergone. JULY 1st. In a field on the Postlandroad, Crowland, Mr. Chamberlain, the owner, has been raising a considerable quantity of stone, which lay under a large mound, supposed to be the foundation of the chapel built for Pega, the sister of St. Guthlac. The stone is Barnack rag, the same as the ancient Abbey is built with. The place just on this side the "Half Acres" is, according to Dr. Stukeley, the spot where St. Guthlac's original hermitage was, and where he lived with his sister Pega. Here also, it is said, he was buried, and hence his body was removed to the Abbey. A small chapel was afterwards erected here, of which Dr. Stukeley saw the remains in 1708. An employé of Marshall & Co., Iron Works, Gainsborough, has been deprived of the sight of one of his eyes, by a splinter of steel flying in the organ. The eyeball was cut in two, and the piece of steel penetrated close to the brain. 2nd. Thomas Morton, of Offord, was fined 8s. and 12s. costs, by the magistrates of Huntingdon, for allowing his steam engine to be propelled through that town, on the 28th ult., by steam, without consuming its own smoke. 6th, Huntingdon Wool Fair was held on the Mill Common. The quantity of wool pitched was 19,761 fleeces, or 5,005 tods 9 lbs, which was considerably under what it has been for some years past. The prices ranged from about 60s. to 70s. per tod. 7th. The installation and enthroning of the Bishop of Peterborough, took place in the Cathedral this morning. There was a numerous attendance of the Clergy of the Diocese. At the close of the ceremony, the Clergy and Ladies sat down to luncheon in the grounds of the Chapter Clerk, H. P. Gates, esq. 9th. Lieutenant General Cartwright, H. M. Inspector of Constabulary, inspected the Liberty of Peterborough police force, and after seeing the men on parade, and examining their books, guard and sleeping rooms, expressed himself to the magistrates present quite satisfied with the discipline and appearance of the men. In the case of Suttaby v. the Midland Counties Fire Insurance Company, the arbitrator, Sir Archer Denman Croft, made his award, by which he certified that the plaintiff was entitled to be paid the sum of 211. over and above the sum of 1001. paid into court, and all costs. It will be remembered that a fire occurred on the plaintiff's premises, who is a saddler at Thorney, on the 11th of February last, during the absence of himself and family. His stockin-trade and household furniture was insured in the defendants' office, against fire, for the sum of 9001. Mr. Suttaby, after the fire, sent in his claim for 1381. 53. The valuer of the company, Mr. Sandall, estimated plaintiff's loss at 201., but the company in a liberal spirit offered 401. This sum the plaintiff declined, and then consulted his attorney. The result we have recorded above. 14th. Yesterday and to-day, the annual show of the Northamptonshire Agricultural Society, was held on the Northampton race course. Above 800l. was offered in prizes. The prize ox was exhibited by Sir W. de Capel Brooke; the best bull, the celebrated Mac Turk, was shown by Mr. Betts, of Holbeck Hall, Horncastle; the best 2 year old bull came from Rugby; the best yearling from Upper Winchendon. 15th. A trotting match in harness took place lately between the celebrated black cob, Lancewood by Hickory, and the noted roan pony, Young England; the course being from the Duke's Head Inn, Thorney, to the centre gates at the cemetery, Peterborough, being a distance of 7 miles. The pace was terrific throughout, and the black |