numerous; as, by such means, a number of the more minute vegetables might be detected, and the economy and uses of those which have been already discovered might be better known. This work is very handsomely printed on fine paper, and does honour to the provincial press: but we are not surprised at this-Stratford-upon-Avon was the birth-place of our immortal Shakspeare. In the Preface to the Midland Flora, the author has made some very sensible observations on the Study of Botany,' with which we shall conclude our account of his useful and elegant volumes.

"The Study of Botany,' says Mr. Purton, 'has been for some years on the decline among my fair countrywomen. One cause of this may have been the terms and expressions used in systems of botany; to which there is certainly a much stronger objection, than the harshness of their sounds to a lady's ear. It has been the author's peculiar care in the following work to remove this impediment, by studiously avoiding whatever might offend that delicacy, which is so justly the ornament of the female mind. Catching a little of the spirit of the times, he presumes to offer to the public "a reform in the study of botany;" and hopes again to see this fascinating and very useful branch of Natural History resume a place in female education. It is now become essentially necessary, by Act of Parliament, that every student in medicine should possess a competent knowledge of botany. The interest which a

common walk in the fields receives from "the pursuits of botany" will be considerably increased, when a lady discovers that she can assist a friend or a relative in his studies, by discovering for him the habitat of a plant, or its natural residence in its wild state.

"To work a reform in the tastes and amusements of the rising generation, they must be conducted into a better channel; in the place of the frivolous and the

vain, they must be supplied with useful and interesting pursuits. Where can there be a more rational employment, more conducive to health, or more innocent, than the study of botany? If the Midland Flora should add to the innocent pleasures of the rising generation, or should aid the progress of the medical student in the science of botany, it will be a sufficient reward to the author.

'In order to acquire a thorough knowledge of any science, it is absolutely necessary that we enter into the practical part. We must acquaint ourselves with the very minutiae of the principles upon which it is founded, or our labour will avail but little. This particularly holds good in the study of botany. Unless the most minute attention be paid to the generic as well as specific differences of plants, those nice distinctions on which the Linnæan mode of classification is grounded, the student will soon be lost in a maze of difficulties, and may be tempted to relinquish a pursuit which appears so intricate and perplexing. However, let him not be discouraged. The more the science of botany is cultivated, the more useful will it be to mankind. While it widens the range of human knowledge, it increases our enjoyments; and, what is of no small moment, the study of these His "lowliest works" will teach us to look up with gratitude and admiration to HIM whose care is over all his works, "from the cedar that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall." Thus may botany be a means of exciting in us ideas which may lead to moral and religious consequences; and pave the way to those higher advances in piety, which are the very threshold and vestibule of the happiness of heaven"."

An Appendix to the Midland Flora, chiefly relating to British Fungi, has been lately published in two volumes, of which some notice will be given in our Diary for November.

JULY.

THIS word is derived from the Latin Julius, the surname of C. Cæsar, the dictator, who was born in it. Mark Anthony first gave to this month the name of July, which was before called Quintilis, as being the fifth month in the year, in the old Roman calender established by Romulus.

Remarkable Days

In JULY 1823.

2.-VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. THIS festival was first instituted by Pope Urban VI, in commemoration of that remarkable journey which the Mother of our Lord took into the mountains of Judæa, in order to visit the mother of St. John the Baptist.

The VIRGIN.

Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost
With the least shade of thought to sin allied
Woman! above all women glorified,
Our tainted nature's solitary boast;
Purer than foam on central ocean tost!
Brighter than eastern skies at daybreak strewn
With fancied roses, than the unblemished noon
Before her wane begins on Heaven's blue coast;
Thy Image falls to earth. Yet some, I ween,
Not unforgiven the suppliant knee might bend,
As to a visible Power, in which did blend
All that was mixed and reconciled in Thee
Of mother's love with maiden purity,
Of high with low, celestial with terrene!

WORDSWORTH.

*2. 1822.-DR. JOHN Reid died,

Well known as a popular Lecturer on the Theory and Practice of Medicine, and as the author of the Medical Reports in the Monthly Magazine, for some years past. He also wrote an Account of the Savage Youth of Avignon, 12mo, 1801;' 'a Treatise

6

on Consumption, 8vo, 1806;' and some elegantly penned and interesting Essays on Hypochondriasis, and other Affections, 8vo, 1822.'

3.-DOG-DAYS BEGIN.

These are a certain number of days before and after the heliacal rising of Canicula, or the dog-star, in the morning. The dog-days in our modern Almanacks occupy the time from July 3d to August 11th; the name being applied now, as it was formerly, to the hottest time of the year.

4.-TRANSLATION OF SAINT MARTIN.

This day was appointed to commemorate the removal or translation of St. Martin's body from one tomb to another much more noble and magnificent; an honour conferred upon the deceased saint by Perpetuus, one of his successors in the see of Tours.

7.-THOMAS A BECKET.

This haughty prelate was born in London, in the year 1119, and was the son of Gilbert, a merchant, and Matilda, a Saracen lady, who is said to have fallen in love with him when he was a prisoner to her father in Jerusalem. Thomas received the first part of his education at Merton Abbey in Surrey, whence he went to Oxford, and afterwards studied at Paris. In 1159, he made a campaign with King Henry to Toulouse, having in his own pay 1200 horse, besides a retinue of 700 knights or gentlemen. -For further particulars respecting Becket we refer to T. T. for Ï814, pp. 166-172; for 1815, p. 220; and for 1822, p. 198.

15.-SAINT SWITHIN.

Swithin was promoted to holy orders by Helmstan, Bishop of Winchester, at whose death, in 852, King Ethelwolf granted him the see. In this he continued eleven years, and died in 868. For some remarks on the popular saying respecting St. Swithin, see our former volumes.

CORNISH CARNIVAL.-See T. T. for 1822, p. 193.

*19. 1821.-KING GEORGE IV CROWNED. Some interesting particulars of this august ceremony will be found in our last volume, pp. 194-206. This description our friends may peruse, either before or after they have visited Mr. Aston Barker's splendid and accurate Panorama of the Procession.'

20.-SAINT MARGARET.

She was born at Antioch, and was the daughter of a Pagan priest. Olybius, president of the East, under the Romans, wished to marry her; but finding that Margaret was a Christian, he postponed his intended nuptials until he could prevail on her to renounce her religion. Our saint, however, was inflexible, and was first tortured, and then beheaded, in the year 278.

A beautiful dramatic poem on the subject of this martyrdom has lately appeared from the pen of Mr. MILMAN, which we strongly recommend to the notice of our readers. As a fair specimen of this interesting piece, we shall select the Christian Hymn, sung by the people of Antioch, immediately after the execution of Margaret, when they bore away her body in triumph.

CHRISTIAN HYMN.

Sing to the Lord! let harp, and lute, and voice
Up to the expanding gates of Heaven rejoice,

While the bright Martyrs to their rest are borne;
Sing to the Lord! their blood-stained course is run,
And every head its diadem hath won,

Rich as the purple of the summer morn;

Sing the triumphant champions of their God,

While burn their mounting feet along their sky-ward road.

Sing to the Lord! for her in Beauty's prime
Snatched from this wint'ry earth's ungenial clime,
In the eternal spring of Paradise to bloom';
For her the world displayed its brightest treasure,
And the airs panted with the songs of pleasure.

Before earth's throne she chose the lowly tomb,