of

of St. Afra were recently found at Augsburgh, She had been a priestess of Venus in the ages pagan idolatry, but embraced the Christian religion with her three maids. A festival was instituted at Augsburgh on the discovery of her remains, which lasted eight days, and ended on Sunday, the 29th of October, 1804. During the celebration, the skeleton of the saint was publicly exposed in a glass case for the veneration of the Roman Catholic believers. Some devout ladies of Augsburgh had presented the saint with large rings, golden chains for her neck, and a silver crown of laurel, covered with pearls, in case that patroness of the bishopric of Augsburgh should be at any time secularized. During the feast, there was an immense concourse of people from the neighbourhood, particularly from Bavaria : at least one hundred thousand people came from ten to twenty hours' journey. The great silver offering dish, which was placed before the glass case of the saint, filled so rapidly with the donations of the devotees, that the monks were obliged to empty it several times in a day! A sermon was preached every day, painting in the most glowing colours the heroic martyrdom of that great sinner, the miracles she had hitherto performed, and the great benefits she had conferred, for these 1500 years, upon the city and bishopric of Augsburgh; lamenting, at the same, that the Protestant inhabitants could not enjoy her efficacious intercession with the Almighty. A popish indulgence was affixed to the porch of the church, pro

mising forgiveness of sins out of the treasure of grace of the church for 200 days, to all the faithful, who should confess their sins, take the sacrament, and earnestly pray to God for the eradication of all heresies!

It is true, that these extravagancies are almost unknown in our country; but a recent instance occurred at Cork, in Ireland, which clearly proves that the old leaven of persecution is still treasured up in the church of Rome. The following are the facts of this case, which was tried before the Honourable Mr. Justice Day, and a special jury, at the Cork ássizes :

A baker, of the name of Donovan, brought an action against the Rev. Mr. O'Brian, vicar-general to Dr. Coppinger, titular bishop of Cork, and Roman Catholic parish priest of Clonakilty The damages were laid at £500. It appeared on the trial, that a subscription had been set on foot by the priest, for the purpose of building a Roman Catholic chapel. Donovan was ordered to pay, as his affixed quota, the sum of 16s. 3d., which he accordingly did. He was afterwards called upon. to pay 9s. This sum he likewise paid, but observed, that he was very poor, and that he could not afford it. A third demand was made on him by the priest, of 16s., which Donovan refused to comply with. On Donovan's going to mass the following Sunday, he was asked by the priest whether he would pay the 16s. or not? He answered, that he was not able. The priest rejoined, "I will settle you." Terrified at this observation,

Donovan sent by his wife 16s. to the house of the priest, who refused then to take less than two guineas. On the following Sunday, the priest cursed from the altar all those who had not paid their demands towards building the chapel.Donovan went on the next holiday to mass, and was formally excommunicated, and the people denounced as cursed and contaminated, if they should deal or hold any communication with him. This threat was so effectual, that no one of the country people would sell a sod of turf to Donovan to heat his oven; and he could not even sell, in his own name, such flour or stock as lay on his hands. Reduced almost to despair, the baker went in a white sheet to the chapel, as a voluntary penance, and asked pardon of God and the priest for his disobedience; and was there, by the priest, desired to attend him to his house, where he again demanded from him the two guineas, which Donovan assured him he could not possibly make up. The excommunication was, therefore, continued in full force against him, and he was consequently obliged to shut up his house.-The above facts were incontrovertibly proved by two unwilling witnesses. The Jury, after a very able charge from the learned Judge, found a verdict for the plaintiff of £50 damages.

Man versus Hedgehog.-W. Moore, of Loughborough, bricklayer, a few days ago, laid a wager of three shillings, that he could, with his hands

fixed behind him, worry to death a hedgehog with his face. He commenced his extraordinary undertaking by prostrating himself on the ground, and attacking the exterior of his prickly antagonist with his nose. In a few minutes his face was covered with blood, and he appeared to have little chance of success; however, at length having pressed the little animal till it had protruded its head, he snatched at it, and bit it off, thereby winning the wager, to the great amusement of the brutal spectators.

The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast.

COMPOSED BY MR. ROSCOE.

Come, take up your hats, and away let us haste
To the Butterfly's Ball, and the Grasshopper's Feast;
The trumpeter Gadfly has summoned the crew,
And the revels are now only waiting for you.

On the smooth shaven grass, by the side of a wood,
Beneath a broad oak, which for ages had stood,
See the children of earth, and the tenants of air,
To an evening's amusement together repair.

And there came the Beetle, so blind and so black,
Who carried the Emmet, his friend, on his back;
And there came the Gnat, and the Dragon-fly too,
With all their relations, green, orange, and blue.

And there came the Moth, with her plumage of down, And the Hornet, with jacket of yellow and brown,

Who with him the Wasp, his companion did bring,
But they promis'd, that evening, to lay by their sting.

Then the sly little Dormouse peep'd out of his hole,
And led to the feast his blind cousin, the Mole;
And the Snail, with her horns peeping out of her shell,
Came fatigued with the distance, the length of an ell.

A mushroom the table, and on it was spread

A water-dock leaf, which their table-cloth made.
The viands were various, to each of their taste,
And the Bee brought the honey to sweeten the feast.

With steps most majestic the Snail did advance,
And he promis'd the gazers a minuet to dance;
But they all laugh'd so loud, that he drew in his head,
And went, in his own little chamber, to bed.

Then, as evening gave way to the shadows of night,
Their watchman, the Glow-worm, came out with his

light;

So home let us hasten, while yet we can see,

For no watchman is waiting for you, or for me!

To my Arm Chair.

Thou lov'd companion of my lonely hours,

When Fortune frown'd, and friends were far away,
Oft have I blest thee for thy soothing powers,
And fondly courted thy narcotic sway.

Lull'd in thine arms, I taste a pleasing calm,
With eyelids clos'd, but thoughts that ever wake,
O'er my wrapt senses steals an opiate balm,
And my rack'd head almost forgets to ache.