The New York Herald Newspaper, January 1, 1861, Page 3

nyerage trom Cork harbor, 13 daye (fully 30 boure dif- Serence), - Summer Only. from Li 43 7 Sverege from Gok harbor, exe J NUMBER CF PASSENGERS BY BACH LINE OP STEAMERS. - ‘The table shows at once ibe number of pas- pensrs hronght to and carried from this country by each Yue of steamers, during the past yoar — Cunara Pease ens ‘Tose line. Px Cunard line ( - 1463 «1859 -3,822 Liverpool and New York screw IDCyeeesecscsestesssescsses SOME 18,848 27,089 and Havre (Van- GEFVIlt)...ceeseessesereereees 21d 2,808 4,048 ‘Havre jine (Fulton and ie) 1,642 2,123 3,765 Fayre line (Adriatic snd ° ath emaye +1870 1,198 2,568 SI 100 201 301 tine. - 3,009 8,183 11,192 fine. » 1495 3,948 5,443 Galway jine......ssscesseecees 1821 42db 5,860 Galway line 10’ Boston (ene trip New York)......s.se005 . 1,09) = 1,589 Liverpool and Portland line: 1,146 «(1,986 = 3,082 Cupard’s freight steamers (esti- Great Eastern (one trip). 100 42 142 Total in 1860., +A G44 49,796 14,440 ‘Total in 1859... {24,865 36,145 61/010 Increase in 1860 OVEF 1859.....scseeeerrenee 13,430 Arrivals at this Port for 1860 from Fo- Ports. a the seadimaae ened panecing cio at the Umited States Revenue Barge at Whitehall—Mir, John C. Roach—we are again indebted for the following accurate statement of arrivals from foreign ports for the rear ending December 31, 1860, together with the num- r of passengers, both from California and otherwise:— 1859. 1860. Steamers.......+++++ 268 51d pont steamers. - a i“ ? 7123 3 197 1238 872 978 = 18 wm 1,269 ge 887 4,027 |—| 412) t = we Bee] 1 woshaasramel Seon’ 4} 6)— 6 '132|—j—} 39}113} 2) 453} 46 2 I i l i rete re The number of steamers from domestic ports for the year is as follows:— aCe Tho following table shows the number of railroad ac- @dents which have occurred in the United States during ‘the year just closed, which were attended with loss of Vife and injury to persons, together with the number of killed and wounded, compared with the; number of like accidents in 1859:— —1800,-—, —1850,—, aS 3 Janvary 11] 5] 6s|| 7] | 54 Februar 10] 3 32|| 9} 6) 18 March 1}—| “ell 9] 8] 15 ‘April 5) 4] 17|| 6 8] 16 May 5| 6] 13|| 5] 4| 26 June 4} 4) 38]|10] 47] 96 Saly 5} 5] 14|| 9] 5) 27 August: 6) 5) 29) 16) 32 Reptemi 7} 8| 63l| 6] 4) 55 October. 8{ 6| 24|| 6] 10) 8 Novemb 4{ 7| _5]] 8] 15] 35 December. 8] 5) 16]] 4) 2) 34 Total . | Fa]o7|st5|| 70/290 |4nt The above figures do not include individual accidents, caused by the carelessness of travellers themselves, or deaths or injuries resulting from the reckless conduct of persons in crossing or standing upon railroad tracks where trains are in motion. The following additional table shows the number of ac- cidente, and the number of persons killed and injured by accidents, to railroad trains during the last cight years:— Killed. Wounded. 234 496 186 530 116 639 195 020 130 530 lg 417 129 4) oT 315 Total in eight years....,. 977 1,166 3,926 “ STEAMBOAT ACCIDENTS DURING 1860. ‘The subjoined table shows the number of persons killed and wounded by steamboat acceidents on the inland waters of the United States during the past year, com. pared with the number of killed and wounded by the same causes io 1850:— 1 U Months. 850, z 2 1 dtes | -popenons | seneitte! wo! | rorcw enone | During the past eight years the number of lives lost ‘and persona injured by steamboat accidents, not including those which occurred at sea, is as follows: — Years. Accidents, Killed. Wounded. 1853 vee OL 319 158 11854. 48 687 235 1855 aT 176 107 1886. 2 858 7 1867. 322 86 1868, i 300 107 1889. oe 342 146 1800... ~” 697 1 ‘Total in eight years. .242 3,001 1,090 ‘The Death Resord on the Lakes for 1560. lake navigation on the Sth of March, 1860, and closed on the 14th of December. Le tS Joss of life is fearfully Marge. It bal a than that of any pre vious three seasons. Five hundred and sixt: met their death, hotweon the 251 of March and tho 25th of November, a period of eight months, by water, steam and cold, and the casualties incident to working sail roe, In this calculation the loss of the Lady Figin is put fouls. Seventy eight lives, chiefly if not entirely those of seafaring mer, wore sacrificed to the demon of the waters and to the frost and snow in the terrific gale that swept the lakes on the 23d and 24th days of November. Twenty seamen, ov nearly ag many differeot versele, ‘The table annexed exhibits the number of lives which have been Jost each month during the year just closed im the Unite’ States, in buildings which were destroyed by fire, compared with the number of unfortunates by similar catastrophes during 1859:—~ ————~1860.——, 1869. Fires, Lives Lost. a 10 16 9 2 4 9 ory we 4 7 7 2 4 10 5 7 7 22 1 1 2 3 4 n 1 1 4 8 2 4 6 23 4 a 5 6 4 8 7 10 4 9 6 n 6 KB Total.........78 186 51 122 The above table does not inchude the victimsof the terrible accident at Lawrence, Mass. , which occurred on the 10th of January. During the past seven years the number of lives lost in burning buildings in the United States is exhibited in the following table:— Lives Lost. 17 19 383 158 152 112 Tota) in seven years 1,081 ‘The following is a record of ail the fires, together with the value of the property destroyed by each, which have occurred in the United States during the past year, where the loss has been estimated equal to and upwards of twenty thousand dollars:— JANUARY D YY. Date. Place. Loss. 000 21—Marictta, Ohio... $20,000 Sareea. a 25—Delavans Wie, 20 000 26—Holliston, Mass. 30,000 27—Memphis, Tenn. 70,000 28—New York—ship 200,000 28—New York. 75,000 Forbestown, 30,000 30—Garrison’s, N.Y. 20,000 30—Northa’pt’n Mas 41,000 ‘S1— Burlington. lowa 30,000 FEBRUARY. rl 10—Woodstock, Vi. Jace Guy NC |—Eliz’! ity N.C. 17—Branford, Conn. 17—Tarrytown, N.Y. Seeuee SIS gs 3 1—New York, two.$7 2—Boston essSeese ig vis S8o : gSegees' Rookford, F680" Pout, din 18—BikRiv.F'lis, Wis : 2888882222582222822 i 4—Nr.Charistn,S.C.$25,000 11 4—Louisville. 000 6—Manchester, 000 6—Cincinnati 20,000 18—Whitehall,,N. 14—Weat Troy, N. 14—Yinoennes,, Ind 100, 5—G. Rapkis, Mich. 27—New Orleans... 40,000 000 30—St Josephs, Mich. 30,000 30—New Orleans... 70,000 000 31—Newton, Mass.. 20,000 JUNE. $—Philadelphia. . ..$40,000 13—Storr’s Tashp $25,000 12—Belvidere, Ili. ;: 60,000 25—Leaven 13—New Orleans. 200,000 26—New York.. 1i—Campbagport, 35,000 28—Nr Nashvie,’ oe 25,000 3—Sing 4—Hannibal, Mo... 50,000 6—Po'k N.Y. 30,000 ‘I—New Orleans... 28,000 8—*Dallas, Texas .|300,000 &—Blk JackGrove 30,000 8—Pilot Point, do... 60,000 $—@enton, do....: 80,000 S8—Tadonia, do...; 25,000 24—Phil 8—Milford,’do.....100,000 25—) n—Gd. at ‘ n— q ll—New York 000 20—New York. 81—St. Louis. bo EEE. fires, 1608, $40,000 13--Suc Cal.$90,000 Sucramento Cal! ! ’n, Vt.100,000 14—Philadelphia..... 20 , Md... 95000 16—Near Bust’n, Pa, 30, &—New Orleans... 60.000 18—Houston, Texas. 38,000 bo, 42—Franklin, N. J.. 50,000 [2—G'manto’n Tenn 25,000 13—Philadelphia.... 35, ® The al ition 9—Mobile . 80,000 27—Cincinnati...... 20,000 9—New Orleans... . .500,000 pane 12—Henderson, Tx. -200000 Total $1,273,000 ‘EMBER. 20—New Alb’ny Ind. $23,000 2—Cincinnati.. .. .. $25,000 11—New Orleans.” .160/000 21—New Orleans... .. 150,000 1s—Aibany, N.Y... 60,000 22—New Orleans... 78.000 19—Philadelphia.... 20,000 27—San Francisco... 35,000 20—New Haven, Ct. 40000 ——— 20—Fort Smith, Ark.200,000 Total... 0.0.0... 877,000 OCTOBER. 2—Healdsburg Cal. $20,000 15—New Orleans... $60,000 4—San Franciseo,. 20/000 18—Toledo, Ohio... 26,000 000 19—Philade!phia. 30,000 19—New York 30/000 21—Salem, Mass... 35,000 22—New York 2—New York,,,. 2-St. Joseph, hin... 25 3—Brooklyn. | DECEMBER. was nominated on the second ballot 25—Naugatuck Conn 25—Milwaakee, Wis. 70,000 27—Lane, Ill........ 22) 29—Bridgeport | Tota! RECAPITULATION. The following additional table shows the total of the above during each month, compared with those in the corresponding monthe in 1860:— Toes. of fires. Lane. Soram is SV biolom 2,172}000 13 000 1,202,000 15 ‘1,898,000 1,161,000 19 —_1/610,000 481,000 18 1,267,000 1,008,000 10 410,000 1,273,000 171,502,000 771,000 19 1 ge2'000 $25,000 23 189000 2,517,000 24 = 2'058,000 1,904,000 12 ‘1.192000 $15,597,000 203 $16,058,000 Add to the above the amount of property destroyed by fires in the United States, where in cach instance the loss was eatunated at loss than twenty thousand dollars, and the aggregate would be mereased to probably twenty-two millions in 1859, aud to about the same amount in 1860. 7a the United States for the past seven years: — Luss thousamd = Total lowsby ab deta and "4 wmoards. fires. $20,578,000 500,000 13,049, 17,000,000 21'159'000 27,000,000 16,792,000 20,000,000 11,561,000 16,000,000 16,058 22,000 000 a saree 15,597,000 22,000,000 ‘Total in seven years. $113,794,000 149,000,000 NEW YORK HERALD CALENDAR FOR 1961, SES) & S| s HEURGE glHOOFEE = lS}ele by F [Sele] ie : (Sls , S\<|: |= TIS: = a ~f.4 a) 2 at als 3 eq. {6 7] 8} 9)0fa/12 |] x 10 Be 413)24)15/16/17)18)19 ||) 2 Mw * J20}21/22]23/24}25126 |} 24} 25 '27)/28}29]90)33|..|.. 5} a] 3] 4} 7) 8} 9 || Si yojaaii2}ua}ia}isiae |} & |i7{igii9}20j2ij22ias || ¥ —|2sspzers) ul ehh? 10)11/12)13)14}15)16 & {17|18|19|20)21|22}23 B 24} 26 26)27/ 28 20150 3 ~~}..) 3} 2} 3] 4) 5} 6 4 & | 7] 8] gioliijriis |} # |14/15)16|17/18|19}20 || FB [21/22/23/24/25/26127 || > __fe8]29}so}. fe... we te | 5] 6) 7] 8] ofojin |) a 5) 6) 7) 8) B [12/13/1415] 16/17/18 || S jrolri{r2}is} i415! 16 % }ig/2o}21)22/23/24/25 || 3 {17/18)19/20)21\221 23 __]26]27|28}29/30/31}.. |] ___|24)25/26/27]28)29/90 ‘ if 2°53} 8) 6) 7 s S [8] politi raiasiu 4 & {15 16/17) 18/19/20)21 . /22)23)24125 /26!27] 28, 29|30j3i}..{..)..].. Eclipses for the Year 1861. ‘There will be four eclipees this year, as follows:— 1. An annular eclipse of the sun, January 10—inyisible in America. 2. Anannular eclipse of the sun, July T—inyisible in America. 3. A partial eclipse of the moon, December 17—16th in California—early in the morning. Visible. Sizo only 2.22 digits, or about one-fifth of the moon’s disc. Sve the fol lowing table:-— Names of places. Begins. |Midlc| Ende. 246 337 438 243 B34) 425 i. . . 281 322 4B elphia, Pa. . ‘ * Utica, N. Y. 227 38 40 i 403 Panama, N. Charleston. 8. 6: Cincinnati, Ohio. Chicago, tl Mobile, ‘Ala... New Orleans, St. Louis, Mo’. Austin, Texas.... see Oregon City, Oregon, Dec. 16. San Francisco, Oal......... © December 16. 4. A total eclipse of the sun, but only partial in the United States, December 31, The gun rises eclipsed, and $e Seceration will be visible in all the States euat of the Mi ‘ippi river, and in those States adjacent to it on the west, except Iowa. It ends at Washington at 8h. 36m. In Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Winois and Wisconsin, the eclipse ends just at sunrise, and east of Maine it begins ateunrise. Size in the Atlantic States about 6 digits. NEW YEAR’S DAY. How it was Celebrated in Olden Time— Carious Customs of Various Countries— New Year's Gifts, &e., &c. ‘Ringing out the old and ringing {in the new year, with “A merry New Year! A happy New Year to you!” on New Year's day, were sounds and greetings that in for mer times moved sceptred pride and humble labor to smiles and kindly feelings, and this cheerful custom of the Old World has lost nove of its pleasantuess in its trang Portation to the city of New York. ‘The birth of anew year,’ writes Charles Lamb, in his charming ‘Essays of Ella,” “ is of an interest too wide to be pretermitted by king or cobbler. No one ever regarded the ist of Janu ary with indifference. It ts that from which all date their time, and count upon what ig left. Jt ts the aativi ty of our common Adam.” “OF all sound of all bells,” he continues, ‘most solemn ‘and touching is ‘the peal which rings out the old year, 1 never hear it without a gathering up of my mind to a con. centration of all the images that have been diffused over the past twelvemonth ; all I have done or suffered, por formed or neglected, in that regretted time,” Who, too, let u# remark, can see a new year open upon him without being better for the prospect—without making sundry wise reflections on the steps he proposer to take in the foture? Every Ist of January that we ar rive at is on imaginary milestone on (he turnpike track of human life~at once a reeting place for thougit and meditation, and a starting point for fresh exertion in the performance of oor journey. ‘The man who does not at least propose to himee!f to be better thie year than he was last, must either be very good or very bud indeed, There is a superstition in some parte of England that if you do not wear some new article of attire on New Year's day, you will not gain much during the year. We fancy that there are many men in the world who would be more likely to derive benefit in the next twelvemonths by, on this day, dovning a new couselence justead of a new coat. ‘The Let of Jannary is marked in the calendars of the Romisb and Episcopelian churches as the Festival of the ent WML ive 105 oo Cireumeiston, which festivel is said to have been insti tuted about the year 487, and first appeared in the re formed Englirh liturgy in 1550, THE WASBAIL BOWL, In former times the wassail bow! was as regul tendant on New Year's eve as the yule log on the Christisag®day. This was a bow! of spiced ale, which was carried about by young women, who went from door to door tn their fllages, ein acarol composed for the occasion, aud presenting the liquor to the inhabitants of the houses where they cated it is unnecessary to observe, with the expectativa of re. ceiving presents from those they thus congratulated. The serni-liquid composition thus offered consinted of ale hutmeg, sugar, toast and roweted apples; the pootical Composition was generally of a less spirited nature ‘The waseall is said 0 lave originated from the words the waasai! song, of Ro the danghter of Hengiat, who, presoating a bow! of wine to Vortigern, the King of the Britons, faid, “waes hael,” or “health to you, my lard, the King.” If this derivation of the} custom be thought doubtful, it certainly has the authority of antiquity’ on its side. Thomas de Ia Moore and old Havillian state that was-haile and drine-heil were the usual ancient phrases of quaffing among the Faglish, ant synonymous with the “come, here’s to you,’ or “your health, sir,’ of the present day, “The waseail bowl,” says Warton, “is Shakspere’s gos sip’s bowl in the ‘Midsummer Night's Dream.’ Ban Jonson personifies it thus:— Eater Wassel, like a neat semster and songster, her page bearing a brown bowl dreat with ribbands and rosemary before her.’ Seldon alludes to the cnstotn in the following comparison: — The Pope, in sending Relicks to Princes, does aa wenches do their Wassails at New Year's tide; they present you with a cup, and you must drink of a slabey stuf; but the meaning is, you must give them money, ten times more than it ie worth.’’ “Lamb's-wool'’ ik another name given to the same compound as waseail. This name i# thus etymologized — “The Ist day of November was dedicated to the angel presiding over fruits, seeds, &o., and wae therefore named La Mas Ubhal—that is, the day of the apple fruit— and being pronounced Inmasool, the Fnglieh have cor rupted the name to lamb’e-wool.’’ Though the custom of ‘wassail’’ ie now obsolete, a fragment of it remains in the usage of the festivals held by the various corporate bodies of the city of London ‘The person presiding stands upat the close of dinner, and drinks from fagon, usually of silver, having a handle ‘the toastmaster anwounces him as drinking ‘the bealthof his brethren out of the loving cup.” The loving cap, which is the ancient wassail Lowl, is then passed to the guest om his left hand, by whom it is passed on, and, as it finds its way round the room, each guest in his turn stands up and drinks (o the president out of the loving om CURIOUS SCOTCH cUSTOMS. As Christmas day is not celebrated es a holiday in Scotland, many of the customs which are observed on that day in England are by its Northern neighbors twaneferred to New Year's cay. Amongst these we may mention mummings and maskings, in which the actors dross themselves so as to resemble various animals, real and imaginary, and vie with each othor as to which can excel in hideousness. The people have at all times carried these performances to such excesses as have been punished by the civil authorities and re- buked by the ecclesiastical courts. Tn a work entitled ‘Popular Superstitions of tho Highlands,” there is somo account of the Candlemass ‘bull on New Year’s eve, as introductory to the now year, The term candlemas, applied to this season, 1s ‘Supposed to Lave originated in some old religious cere- monies performod by candielight. The bull is a passing cloud, which Highland imagination perverts into the form of that animal. Ag it rises or falls, or takes pecu- Var directions, of great significancy to the seors, so dos it prognosticate good or bad weather. The moro north- ern nations anciontly assigned portentous qualities to the winds of New Year’s eve. One of thoir old legends is thus vereified:— If New Year's ove es ed wind blow south, It betokeneth warmth and growth; If west, much intlk and fish in the sea; Yf north, much cold and storms there will be; Tfeast, the trees will bear much fruit; If northeast, flee it man and brute. As soon as night scts in it is tho signal with tho Strathdown Highlander for the suspension of his usual employment, and he directs his attention to more agres- ablecallings. The men form into bands, with tethors and axes, and, shaping their course to the juniper ‘Dushes, they return home laden with mighty loads, which are arranged round the fire till morning. A dis: ereet person is then despatched to the dead and living ford to draw a pitcher of water in profound silence, without the vessel touching the ground, lest its virtue should be destroyed; and on his return all retire to rest. Farly on New Yenr’s morning the usgue-cashrichd, or wa ter from the dead and living ford, is drank, as a potent charm, until next New Year's day, against tho spells of witcheraft, the malignity of evil eyes, and the activity of all infernal agency. The qualified Highlander then takes a large bruzh, with whicb he profusely sprinklos the occupants of all beds, from whom it is not unusual for him to receive ungrateful remonstrances against ab- lation. This ended, and the doors and windows being tho- roughly closed and ail crevices stopped, he kindles piles of the collected juniper in the different apartments, till the vapor from the burning branches condenses into opaque clouds, and coughing, sneezing, wheezing, gasping and other demonstrations of suffocation ensue, The operator, aware that'the more intense the smuchdan the more propitious the solemnity, disregards these indications and continues, with streaming eyes and averted head, to increase the fumigation, until in his own defence he ad. mits the air to recover himself and the rest of the ex- hausted household. He then treats the horses, cattle and. other bestial stock with the same smothering to keep thom from harm throughout the year. When the gude wife geis up, and, having ceaaed from coughing, has gained sufficient strength to reach the bot- tle dhu, she administers its comfort to the relief of the sufferers; laughter takes place of complaint, and all the family get up, wash their faces and receivo the visits of their neighbors, who arrive full of gratula- tions peculiar to the day. Mu mdse choi orst—‘my Candiemas bond upon you"—is the customary salutation, and means, in plain words, “You owe mea New Year's gift.”” A point of great emulation is, who shull salnte the other frst; because the one who does so is entitled toa gift from the person saluted. Breakfast, consisting of all procurabie luxuries, is then served; the neighbors not engaged are invited to partake, and the day ends in festivity. In one of the Orkney Isles there is a large stone, ten feet high and four feet broad, set upright in a plain, about which no tradition is preserved as to the cause of its eree- tion, whether in memory of any signal event, or for the purpose of administering justice, or for religious worship; but the parish priest states that, on the first day of the year, he has seen fifty of the inhabitants assemble there and dance by moonlight, with no other music but their own , Dy. Johnson, in his “Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland,’ says a gentioman informed him that, at New Year's eve, in the hall or cas- tle of the laird, where at festivals there Js always a very numerous company, one man dresser himself in a cow’s hide, on which other men beat with sticks; they then run with all this noise around the house, which the company quits in a counterfeited fright; the doog is then shut, and no readmission obtained after this pretended terror, except by the recitation of a verre of poetry, which those acquainted with the custom are pro- vided with. It is considered of much importance that the first person who enters the bouse on New Year's day should be a worthy and esteemed friend; this interest prevails ‘woth in Engiaud and Scotland. In the latter country wa find that the first vieier tas emu peculiar privileges, which no doubt induces (he females to use some litile contrivance to secure the eutrance of a favorite for thas it is sung:—~ ‘The first foot's entering step ‘That sudden on the tloor ix weloome heard; Ere blushing maids have braided up their hair— ‘The laugh—the hearty kiss—the ‘good New Year,’* Pronounced with honest warmth.’ UURIOUS OLD ENGLISH CUSTOMS. ‘There is a curious old custom called Hagman Heigh observed in some parts of Yorkshire on New Year's eve. ‘The keeper of the pinfold, attended by a rabble at his heels, goes round the town knocking at the various doors and einging a barbarous ditty, which concludes with wishing “a merry Christmas and a tappy New Year.” When wood wus chiefly nsed as fuel in heating ovens, thie was the most appropriate season for the hagman, or woodculter, to remind his customers of his eervices and to policit alms. The word hag is still used in Yorkshire to signify a wood. The “hagg’’ opposite the Abbey of Faetby weed to supply the monks with fuel, and the word hagman may have been thus derived; but some con- sider that it comes from a Greek word siguifying the holy month, when the festivals of the church for our Sayiour’s birth are colebrated. Formerly on the jast day of the year the monks and friars used to make a plentiful harvest by begging from door to door, and ree\ting « kind of carol, at the end of every stave of which they intreduced the words ayia mene—alluding to the dirth of Christ. A very different interpretation, however, was givea by one Johu Dixon, a Scotch{Presbyterian minister, when holdiag forth against this custom in one of his sermons at Kelso:—‘Sire, do you know what the hagman signifies? It is the devil to be in the house; that is the meaning of its Hebrew original.’ There is a whimsical custom by which a right of shoepwulk ie held, at Hutton Conyers, in Yorkshire. Near this town isa large rabbit warren, belonging to the lord of the manor, vpon which the inhabitants of six townships have a right to estray their sheep, eubject to Paying fealty upou the first day of the year. This con sists Of the shepherd of each township (excapt one) bringing to the manor house a large apple pie, a two Petny weet cake aud & wooden spoon. Each pie, whieh mist not be less than sixteen inches in diameter, and each cake, is divided into two parte. One part is then subdivided into three, for three officers of the Jord of the manor, and the other part is divided between the six shepherds alluded to, Tho baili pro vides furmenty, mustard, cheese and bread; and one of the shepherds, the exception mentioned, pays sixteen pence for ale for the company. The furmonty ts placed ina dish, and buried in the ground, the top of the dish being level with the surface thereof. Every shepherd is competiod to eat of it, and if he bas neglected to bring a woolen spoon with hit he has to lay himself down upon hit stomach and sup the furmenty, with his free to the dish, at which time it is usual, by way of aport, for some of the bystanders to dip his face in the furmenty. Sometimes @ ehepherd, for the sake of diversion, will purposely leave his apoon at home. “Riding stang”’ is a eustom which st}!] prevails in some of the northern counties of England. The “‘stang” isn cow!) staff—the cowl being a water vesael borne by two persons ou the cowl.staff, the latter being a stout pole whereon the vessel hangs. ‘Where's the cowl-staify”’ cries Ford's wife, when she purposes to get Falstaff into a large buck basket, with two handles; the cowl.staf?, or “stang,”” is Produced, and being passed threngh the handler, the fat knight is borne off by two of Ford’s mon. A writer in the Gentleman's Magasine, 1791, saya that in Westmore land and Cumberland, on the Ist of January, multitudes assemble early in the morning, with baskets and stangs, tad whoever docs not joiv them, whether inhabitant or on each side, by which he holds it with both bands, and | stranger, ‘8 immediately mounted across the stang cad carried, shoulder bigh, to the next public house, where the payment of sixpence liberates the prisoner. Women are seized in this way, and carried in baskete—the sex being privileged from riding the etang, in com- pliment, perhaps, to tho use of side saddles. In the same part o: the country no one is allowed to workon New Year's day, however industrious. {t appears that it was a New Year’s custom iu ancient Rome for tradesmen to work a little only om that day for luck’s sake, so that they might have constant business al! the year after. ‘At Cambridge it is the custom to have hot buns, which ‘they call ‘New Year's Cakes,” for breakfast on tho morning of the New Year. These are cried and sold in the streets in the manner of the “hot cross buns,”’ which, to the present day, are in vogue inal parte of England on Good Friday, the only difference being that the New Year's cakes are not marked with a cross. In some parts of England the shopkeepers refuse to give credit on this day, \st they should have to do so all the year; and in Cornwall jt is esteemed unlucky to pay money on New Year’ day, from a belie? that he who does 80 will have the pleasure of making disbursements all the rest of the year, ‘The following description of a New Year's celebration, which occurred exactly thirty years ago in the country mansion of an English gentleman, who had not barred his door upon good old customs, is interesting. It is given in the letter of an eye-witness, to the late Leigh Hunt:— As the clock (struck nine in the morning of New Year's day, the doors of the drawing room were thrown open, and the family and friends entered, followed by the household, A most pleasing surprise seized upon all; at the farther end of the apartment appeared a group of allegorical personages—Janus, on a pedestal, with an altar before him, smoking with incense; Aurora on his left, with the bright Morning Star, day’s harbinger; and on his right, winged and beaming, a rural crown, stood, smiling in youthful beauty, the Angel of Peace. Now entered a train of villagers, gayly and tastefully deco- rated, preceded by a banner, inscribed, “We wish yous Happy New Year.” The baskets of the villagers were filled with gifts, which, elevating, as they approached the altar, they offered to Janus, and addressed him in an ap- propriate hymn, accompanied by music. At the conclu- sion, Janus, after having been crowned, descended, hand in hand with the rosy Aurora, and, led forward by the Angel of Light, he approached the master of the map- sion, and, addressing him in verse, presented to hima vase of fragrant and emblematical herbs and flower ‘The latter then received baskets of New Year’s gifts, each accompanied with a billet containing the name of the person for whom it was intended and the party pro- renting it, together with some wish or compliment po- etically expressed, These gifts were afterwards dis- tributed according to the directions given. New Year's day in London ig not otherwise observed than by a holiday at the public offices, little social dining parties among friends, and the ringing of merry pealsfrom the belfries of the numerous steeples Inte on the eve of the New Year, and until after the chimes of the clock Dave sounded its last hour. LE JOUR D’AN IN PARIS. Of all places in the world, in no other is New Year's day ‘0 much thought of ag in Paris, where it is called, par excel- lence, “the day of the year.” For several woeks pre- ceding it various classes of ingenious artists employ all their talents and skill to shine with uncommon lustre on the auspicious opening of the new year, and tho stores on this day display a degree of taste and magnificence totally unknown in any other city, Du- ring the month of December somo three or four thou- sands of wooden booths or boxes are erected on the boulevards, close to the curbstone and facing inwards, on the counters of which are exhibited for sale every sort of articlo that cam be conceived suitable for a present, and the sales effected at these temporary establishments are, if the weather is favorable, some- what enormons. This is the day of universal greeting, of renewing ac- quaintanceship, ef counting how many links have beem broken by the past year in the circles of friendship, and what new ones have replaced them. ll persons, what- ever be their rank, degree or profession, form a list of the names of persons whose friendship they wish to retain, and upon each of theso a cal ia made, or a card is despatched to their residences by a porter or through the post. Millions of cards are distributed, and nothing is seen in the streets but well dressed persons going to visit their friends and relatives, and renew in an affectionate mauner all the endearing charms of friendship. As early in the morning a8 people can dress themselves they set out on a round of visits; first to those nearest in affinity, then those that are further removed, and lastly to acquaintances and friends. It is a contest of politeness who shall start first, and anticipate the call of a relation or friend; and this conflict to anticipate each other’s calls occasions the most agreeable and whimsical scenes among those proficient in polite attentions. Carriages may be seen rolling through the streets with cargoes of bon-bons, souvenirs,tand the various et ceteras with which both littl children and grown up children are bribed into good humor. No one able to give must on this day pay a visit empty handed. Everbody accepts, and every man gives according to the means which he possesses. A pretty woman, respectably connected, may reckon her New Year's presents at somo- thing considerable. Dresses, jewelry, gloves and arti- ficial flowers fill her parlor; for in Paris it is a Custom to display all the gifts, in order to excite emula- tion, and to obtain as much as possible. Ladies alone are excepted from the eharge of giving. It is indispen- sable that sweetmeats, in some form or other, ahould bs presented, the most prevailing form being that of a cornucopia filled with bontons. A writer on this sub- Ject, as long ago as 1825, calculated the amount then ex. pended in Paris for presents on New Year's day for con. fectionery alone at a sum exceeding oue hundred thou- sand dollare. At that period the day was a complete jour de fete in the palace of the Tuileries, then occupied by Charlo the Tenth. Every member of the royal family was ex. pected to make handsome presents to the King. For the half year preceding the female branches were busily occupied in preparing presents of their own manufacture, which would fill at least ¢wo wagons. The Duches de Berri painted an entire room of — japaanod pannele, to be set up in the palace; and the Duchess of Orleans prepared an elegant scroen. An English gentleman who was admitted suddenly into the presence of the Duchess de Berri, during this time of preparation, found her and three of her mais of hanor lying on the carpet, painting the legs of a eet of obairs which were intended for the King. NEW YEAR'S DAY IN GERMANY. ‘The day is spent in Germany very much after the fashion which prevails in New York, in making calls and presents; but neither Germany nor Gotham enters into the spirit of the day as it is observed in the French capital, Goethe, in his memoirs of himself, thus speaks of a New Year's day of his boyhood:—‘It was the beginning of the New Year—a day on which the general bustle, oecasioned by the visits of QOugratulntion, set the whole city ia mo. tion. To us children this day always aflorded a pleasure long amd eagerly wished for at our gramifather’s house, where we used to assemble by break of day, to hear a concert performed by all the musicians betonging to the town, the military bands, and all who had any pretensions to handie flute, clarionet and haut- boy. We were entrusted to distribute New Yoar's gifts to the people of the ground story. The number of ro- ceivers and the crowd of visiters hourly increased. Relations and confidential persons came first, functiona. ries and people in subordinate situations came next; and even the members of the Senate would not.fail to pay their respects to their pretor. A solect party used to sup in the evening in the dining room, which was scarcely ever opened again during the remainder of the year. We were particularly delighted, as will easily be bolioved, with the tarts, biscuits, macaroons and sweet wines dis- tribvted on the occasion. In short, on thidunniversary We enjoyed, on a small scale, everything that is agual op the celebration of more pompous festivals." NEW YEAR'S GIFTS IN OLDEN TIMES. Undoubtedly, New Year's gifts originated jn heathon ob- pervances, and were growly abused in after agos; yot lat terly they became a rational and pleasant mode of convey- ing our kindly remembrances to those we esteem. Bourne says:— If Trend a New Year's gift to my friend, it aball be a token of my friendship, if to my benefactor, a token of my gratitude; if to the poor, which at thir season must never be forgot, it shall be to make their hearts sing for joy, and give praise and adoration to the Giver of all good gifte.”” Anciently, on New Year's day, the Romans were ac- customed to carry emall presents, as New Year's gifts, to the Senators under whove protection they were seve rally placed, In the reigns of the Emperors they flocked in euch numbers with valuable ones, that various creee were made to abolish the custem, though it alwaye continued among them. The Romaos who gettlod in Britain introduced tho prnetice. of presenting New Year's gifts among the people, who got into the habit of mekiny New Year's presente, even to the magistrates, Some of the fathers of the against the practice, as being fraught with tha greatest abuses, and the magistrates: ties. Fosbroke, in his “Dictionary of Antiquities,’ mentions an amphora (a jar), which still exists, with an inscription, denoting that it was a New Year’s present from the potters to their patroness. He also instances other pieces of Roman pottery and medallions, either bearing the inscription “‘A happy New Year” or deco- rated with the laurel, fig and date. The Druids were accustomed on certain days to cut tha facred misletoe with a golden knife, in a forest dedicated to the gods, and to distribute its branches among the people with much ceremony as New Year’s gifts. Bishop Stillingfleet informs us that among the Saxons of the North the festival of the New Year was observed with more than ordinary jollity and feasting, and by sending New Year's gifts to one another. Mr. Fosbroke notices the continuation of the Roman practice during the Middle Ages, and that the English kings and nobility especially interchanged pre- sents. Old Matthew Paris states that Henry the Third extorted New Year’s gifts. A MS. of the public revenue of the fifth year of the reign of Edward the Sixth contains anentry of “Rewarda given on New Yeur’s day to the King’s officers and servants in ordinary, £155 66.; and to their servants that present the King’s majestic with New Year's gifts.” An orange stuck with cloyes seems, by reference to Mr. Fosbroke and the early authors, to have been & popular New Year’s offering. It is suggested that the use of this present may be ascertained from @ remark by old Lupton, that the flavor of wine is im- proved, and the wine itwelf preserved from mouldiness, by an orange or lemon stuck with cloves being hung within the veasel 80 ag not to touch the liquor. Eggs of various colors, especially those died red, were also anciently sent as presents. The latter custom incidentally proves the common origin of men; for in Persia a similar custom prevails at the commencement of the solar year; and not only is a feast celebrated, but the people of that country present each other with colored eggs as tokens of friend- ship. From the household book of Henry Algernon Percy, the fifth Earl of Northumberland, in 1511, we find that when the Farl was at home on New Year's day he used to give various presents in money. To the servants who brought him New Year’s presents from the King, the Queen and his various relatives, he presented sums vary- ing from twenty-four cents to twenty-five dollars, the servant of his son and heir receiving the lesser amount, and that of the King the larger—an increase being made in the latter case if the King’s servant was “a special friend” of his lordship’s, in which case he re- ceived a sum equal to $33. To his own household he also gave presents, for himself, and, in somo instances, for his lay also, “if she is at my lord’s finding and not at her own;” these instances being to the minstrels of the household and the six trumpeters for “playing at my lord’s chamber door on New Year's day in the morning.’ Amanuscript of services and ceremonies at Court, in the time of Henry the Seventh, entitled a “Royalle Book,’”’ supposed to have been written by an esquire or gentleman usher of that sovereign, contains the order of regal ceremony on New Year’s day, and not only gives the proper attire of and attendance on the King as hesits in state to receive his presente— the first of which comes from the Queen—but it states the proper gratuity to be given to each bearer of a present. It also regulates the rules to be observed by the Queen ina like ceremony, whose ‘‘re- wards to them that bring her gifts shall not be s0 good as the King’s.’’ Honest old Latimer, instead of presenting Henry the Fighth with a purse of gold, as was customary for a New Year's gift, put into the King’s hand a New Testament, with a leaf conspicuously doubled down at Hebrews, xili., 4, which on reference will be found to have been werthy of all acceptation, though not perhaps well accepted. In the days of ‘Good Queen Bess,” the maiden mo- narch, who bad the soul of a mantuamaker as well ag of @ sovereign, received whole wardrobes of gowns and caps, as well as caskets of jewelry, and it is said that these departments were principally supported by the annual contributions on New Year's day. From the origi- nal rotis published in her ‘‘Progresacs,”’ it appears that the greatest part, if not all the peers and peeresses of the realm, all the bishops, the chief officers of State and several of the Queen’s household servants, even down to her apothecaries, master cook, sergeant of the pastry, &c., gave New Yoar’s gifts to her Majesty, consisting, in general, either of a sum of money or jewels, trinkets, wearing apparel, &c. The largest sum given by any of the temporal lords was one hundred dollars, but the Archbishop of Cantérbury gave two hundred dollars, the Archbishop of York ono hundred and fifty dollars, and the other spiritual lords one hundred dollars and fifty dollars. Many of the temporal lords and great officers, and most of the peeresses, gave rich gowns, petticoats, shifts, silk stockings, garters, aweet bags, doublets, man- tles embrotaered with precious stones, looking glasees, fans, bracelete, caskets wtudded with jewelry, and other costly trinkets. From ber household and’ tradesmen she recteved most elaborately ornamented Bibles, pic- tures, gloves, boxes of lozenges, sweatmeats, cherries, apricots and other confectionery, pots of green ginger and preserves, drinking glasses, &c.; her cutler presented her with “a meat knife, having a fuir haft of bone, with a conceit in it; and her dustman with “two bolts of cam- brick.” Dr. Drake says that though Elizabeth made re- turns to the New Year’s gifts, in plate and other articles, yetshe took sufficient care that the balance should al- ways be in her own favor. Sir John Harrington, of Bath, sent to James I., then James VI. of Scotland, at Christmas, 1602, as a New Year's gift, a curious dark lantern, richly ornamented, and containing, among other devices, representations of the sun, moon and planets, ‘as it is found graved by a king of Scotland (David IL), that was prisoner in Not- tingham.”” Sir John caused to be insoribed thereon, in Latin, a passage, the translation of which reads, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into the kingdom.” is affirmed that this present “was evidently fabri ‘at amoment when the lamp of life grew dim in the frame of Queen Elizabeth; it is curious a8 a relic of court-craft, displaying a ‘darkness visible’ in the character of the politic knight." In the year 1604, upon New Year's day, Prince Henry, then in his tenth year, sent to bis father, James I.,a short poem in hexameter Latin verses, being his first offering of that kind. In the foNlowing year, New Year's day passed without any solemnity, and the exorbitant gifts that were wont to be presented on that day were fo far discontinued that ‘the accustomed present of the purse of gold was hard to be had without asking.” Among the various New Year's gifts that were wont to be presented was that of capons from tenants to their Jandiords, which custom is versifled by Cowley and by Bishop Hall. Poetasters used to “make verses” and present them to their lady loves or their superiors; the boys of Eton school used to make and prosent them to the provost and masters and to each other. Pins wore acceptable New Year's gifts to the jadies, in- stead of the wooden ekewers which they used till the end of the fifteenth century. Sometimes they received a compensation in {money; and hence allowance for a wife's separate use is still termed “pin money.’ Gloves were also customary New Year's gifts. They were more expensive than at the present time, and occasionally , «8 in the latter case, a money present was tendered instead ; this was called “glove money.” Sir Thomas More, as Lord Chancellor, decreed in favor of a Mrs. Croaker against Lord Arundel, Oa the following New Year's day the lady, in token of her gratitude, presented Str Thomas with a pair of gloves, in which were contained forty an- gole—the angel was a gold coin of the period having the Impress of an angel, and was In value about $2 50. ‘Tho Chancellor replied that it “Would be against good manners to forsake a gentiewoman’s New Year's gift, and I accept the gloves; their Iming you will be pleased otherwise to bestow rormerly the custom in Scotland to send New Year's gifts on New Year's eve, and on New Year's day to wieh each other a happy new year and ask for them. ‘he uw mode of aking for this annual present by the rustic popniation in king! in the form of a rudé cou- It “ cy ee Christmas and» ‘Your pocket full An’ plese following or ‘ stitution of «Christmas the last line, ‘We have no Inck of New Year's presents in our day. Articles of use OF ornament are oy prepared abundance, and of these pohly bound and lay! trated books form no ie item. The 8 gg 4 easily present a gift worthy of thoir extensive 4 in the pleasure of presenting even humble can share, for (he peasant can even present & nosegay. New Year'#offertogs are now made, what they ought to be, pure expressions of and will; @ purse, a tug, a fan, or any othor trifling 5 obtains a real value whon presented ws @ token of 2 friendship or esteem, Tt is not the value of an article, bu the intention witht which it ts given, that bestows opm it its real worth. ’ FLT