ertain, as the motions
of the planets are imagined to be." The second--"_It never rains but it
pours:_" which appears to be the case at present. In the year 553 it
rained violently in Scotland for five months; in 918 there was a
continual rain in that country for five months; a violent one in London
1222; again 1233, so violent that the harvest did not begin till
Michaelmas; 1338, from Midsummer to Christmas, so that there was not one
day or night dry together; in Wales, which destroyed 10,000 sheep,
September 19th 1752; in Languedoc, which destroyed the village of Bar le
Due, April 26th, 1776; and in the Island of Cuba, on the 21st of June,
1791, 3,000 persons and 11,700 cattle of various kinds perished by the
torrents occasioned by the rains.

P. T. W.

* * * * *

CURIOUS SCRAPS.

_(For the Mirror.)_

The first dissection on record, is one in which Democritus of Obdera,
was engaged, in order to ascertain the sources and course of the
bile.--It was the custom among the Egyptians, to carry about at their
feasts a skeleton, least their guests, in the midst of feasting and
merriment, should forget the frail tenure of life and its enjoyments.

The most ancient eclipse upon record, was observed by the Chaldeans 721
years before the Christian era, and recorded by Ptolemy. The observation
was made at Babylon the 19th of March.--In ancient days, for want of
parchment to draw deeds upon, great estates were frequently conveyed
from one family to another only by the ceremony of a turf and a stone,
delivered before witnesses, and without any written agreement.--It is
singular, that by the Doomsday Book, as quoted by Camden, there appears
to have been in Lincoln, when that survey was taken, no less than 1070
"inns for entertainment."--Henry I., about the year 1125, caused to be
made a standard yard, from the length of his own arm, in order to
prevent frauds in the measurement of cloth. This standard is supposed to
have been deposited, with other measures, &c. in Winchester; he likewise
(it is said) ordered halfpence and farthings to be made round, which
before his time were square.--The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
were first called "studia," or "studies."--Edward the Confessor received
yearly, from the manor of Barton, near Gloucester, 3,000 loaves of bread
for the maintenance of his dogs--In the reign of Edward III., only three
taverns might sell sweet wines in London; one in Cheape,