Born:
Alexander
Wedderburn, Earl of Rosslyn, 1733, Chesterhall; David
Allan, Scottish painter, 1744, Allen; Charles Maurice
de Talleyraud-Perigord, diplomatist, 1754.
Died: Catherine Howard,
beheaded, 1543, Tower; Benvenuto Cellini, Florentine
sculptor, 1576; Elizabeth (of Bohemia), 1662,
Leicester House; Dr. Cotton Mather, 1728, Boston, N.
A.; Dr. Samuel Croxall, fabulist, 1752; Charles Count
de Vergennes, French diplomatist, 1787, Verrsailles;
the Duke de Berri, assassinated, 1820, Paris; Henry
Hunt, political character, 1835; Sharon Turner,
historian, 1847.
Feast Day: St.
Polycuctus, martyr at Melitine, 250. St. Martinianus,
hermit, of Athens, circ. 4th century. St. Medomnoc (or
Dominic), bishop of Ossory, 6th century. St. Stephen,
abbot in Italy, 6th century. St. Licinius, bishop of
Augers, 618. St. Gregory II (Pope), 631. Roger, abbot
of Elan in Champagne, cite. 1175. St. Catherine de
Ricci, virgin, 1559.
ST. VALENTINE'S EVE
At Norwich, St. Valentine's
eve appears To be still kept as a time for a general
giving and receiving of gifts. It is a lively and
stirring scene. The streets swarm with carriers, and
baskets laden with treasures; bang, bang, bang go the
knockers, and away rushes the banger, depositing first
upon the door-step some packages from the basket of
stores�again and again at intervals, at every door to
which a missive is addressed, is the same repeated,
till the baskets are empty. Anonymously, St. Valentine
presents his gifts, labelled only with "St Valentine's
love," and "Good morrow, Valentine." Then within the
houses of destination, the screams, the shouts, the
rushings to catch the bang-bangs,�the flushed faces,
sparkling eyes, rushing feet to pick up the
fairy-gifts�inscriptions to be interpreted, mysteries
to be unravelled, hoaxes to be found out �great
hampers, heavy and ticketed "With care, this side
upwards," to be unpacked, out of which jump live little
boys with St. Valentine's love to the little ladies
fair,�the sham bang-bangs, that bring nothing but
noise and fun�the mock parcels that vanish from the
door-step by invisible strings when the door
opens�monster parcels that dwindle to thread papers
denuded of their multiplied envelopes, with fitting
mottoes, all tending to the final consummation of good
counsel, "Happy is he who expects nothing, and he will
not be disappointed." It is a glorious night marvel
not that we would perpetuate so joyous a festivity.'�Madders's
Rambles in an Old City (Norwich).
February 14th