the idea of a removal was abandoned, as displeasing to St. Swithin, though it would appear that that saint afterwards relented, and permitted his bones to be taken from the cemetery, and lodged among the remains of the other bishops, in 1093. The vulgar adage, that we shall have forty days -continuance of wet weather, whenever rain falls on St. Swithin's festival, no doubt arose from Monkish superstition; but without disputing the fact, there is no occasion to have recourse to a miracle to account for such a phenomenon. Experience has amply shown, that whenever a wet season sets in about the end of June to the middle of July, when the heat of the sun is usually most intense, it generally continues to nearly the end of the summer, when the action of that orb has considerably abated; the rain affording matter for exhalation, always naturally the strongest at the hottest period of the year, and those exhalations yielding in return matter for rain.

Epigrams from the Italian.—By Zappi.

Says Phillis to Damon, I never could find
The reason why Cupid (sweet urchin) is blind;
The cause, return'd Damon, few words will express,
Know, you have those eyes which he used to possess.

Epitaph on a Drunkard.-By Noncalli.

Of tippling Mary sleep the sad remains
Within this sculptur'd urn, by goblets grac'd;
But ah! her spirit feels unnumber'd pains,
Beside her that an empty glass is plac'd.

Manners and Customs of the Swedes.

(FROM PRIVATE LETTERS WRITTEN BY A person of diSTINCTION NOW RESIDING AT GOTTENBURGH.)

Swedish Etiquette.-They consider it most polite to allow strangers to select their own society; and it is, therefore, the rule for every new comer to leave cards at the doors of those families they choose to visit. This appeared to us so strange and obtrusive, that it was long before we could bring ourselves to adopt it. But we received so many messages on the subject from some of the principal families, and the necessity was SO strongly urged by every one, that we were at last obliged to comply. Some of the gentlemen even came themselves, all urging that it would be impossible for them to depart from their custom, inasmuch as it would be establishing a precedent. Thus finding by every one it was really expected, we at last made out a list of about twenty families whom we chose to visit, and rode through the town one morning, leaving our cards at their doors.

The Women.-Though there are some pretty and rather agreeable women, their manners and customs are so different from our own, and they speak such indifferent English, that we cannot have much mental communication, and I can feel nothing like friendship for any one of them. You will be surprised to hear there is but one English woman in Gottenburgh, though, from the names of the principal men here, you would suppose

them all English families. The fact is, they are all Scotchmen, who came over very young, embarked in large commercial concerns, and married Swedish women; and the female taste, of course, directing all domestic concerns, the customs, establishments, and entertainments are all entirely Swedish.

Eating and drinking.—The style of the dinners, suppers, and living, is quite unlike our own: the universal hour of dining is two o'clock; and the cookery, the carving, the order of serving the dishes, the appearance of the table, the waiting, and every part of the whole concern, is wholly different from the English. In the first place, none have houses to themselves. Two or three families occupy one, each having an extensive floor, consisting of a splendid suite of apartments, all lying one through another, all of them heated, and every room, even the bed rooms, laid open; the great object seeming to be, to have as large a range for the company as possible. In one of these rooms a table is laid out with savoury fish, Parmesan cheese, and liqueurs, of which even the most delicate lady partakes a few minutes before she is led into the dinner room. When arrived there, the first course served is meat, the second fish ; this is succeeded by game or poultry, over-roasted and spoiled, and served up with sweet gravies, that do not suit an Englishman's palate; and the dinner terminates with a profusion of the most curious and delicious confectionery, but pastry they have none; and you cannot think how they

eat our's in preference to any thing else. The order of the table is, that no one is to help himself to what is next him, or to send his plate, as in England, for what he likes best, but is to wait until it is the turn for the dish to be handed; the contents of every dish, after it has been cut in pieces (by the bye often very disgustingly) being taken off the table, and carried round to every person by the servants. Clean knives and forks are out of the question, even at the highest tables. A large one, with a silver fork, for meats and fish, and a small one for sweets, are all you have any where, and indeed people here eat of such innumerable dishes, (never twice of the same,) that it would be impossible to find changes for every thing. One servant goes round with a napkin at his button-hole, and wipes them all; a second collects all the plates; and a third follows with a pile awkwardly put on his arm, and replaces them all: and then round goes another dish, which is followed by the same process. This mode of helping the dishes relieves the host and hostess of all trouble of inviting the guests to eat; but it induces a habit of gluttony, from the facility and temptation it offers to the guests to taste of every thing; and it also prolongs the time of dinner to a great length, generally two or three hours. But as the quantum of wine is taken at dinner, and the desert forms part of the dinner, there is no sitting afterwards at any house except at the British Consul's; for as soon as the last dish has been handed, the whole company

the

rise together, and retire to the other rooms to take coffee. Some order their carriages, and go out for an hour to pay visits till tea-time, (morning visits not being the custom here) and those who remain lounge about, and even nap upon sofas after their hearty dinners. When all reasonable, cards and conversation groupes are the order of the evening till nine or ten o'clock, when an immense supper is served in the same order as the dinner; for suppers are here indispensable, and considered the principal meal, and the ladies are famous for eating to a degree absolutely disgusting; they seem wholly absorbed in examining every dish, leaving upon their plates, and yet tasting again with an avidity that astonishes every stranger. The last dish handed, they again jump up with an abruptness really surprising; they then walk up to the hostess, and thank her for her entertainment, departing immediately; and, heavy as has been their supper, I am told they are all in bed within ten minutes afterwards. So much for a Swedish entertainment.

Music and Dancing.-The Swedish ladies and gentlemen are very musical, and dance most beautifully. I never saw any thing equal to the dancing of most of the Swedish officers; and as to the Governor's nephew, the young Count Rosen, he might certainly exhibit at the Opera House. Their dances are chiefly quadrilles, and the favourite waltzes, which no stranger would have the temerity to attempt to dance with them. They have very agreeable concerts here once a week,