to render the milk of the cows more abundant, and of a finer quality; furnishing employment for the dairy.

Slow rolls the churn, its load of clogging cream
At once foregoes its quality and name;
From knotty particles first floating wide,
Congealing butter's dashed from side to side;
Streams of new milk through flowing coolers stray,
And snow-white curd abounds and wholesome whey.

This is the season in which cheese is made; the counties most celebrated for this article are Cheshire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.

The corn is benefited by a cold and windy May, as it is too apt to run into stalk, if the progress of vegetation be much accelerated by warm weather at this season. In late years, some sowing remains to be done; and in forward ones, the weeds should be well kept under.

We cannot better conclude the natural history of the pleasant month of May' than with the beautiful Elegy of the GOLDFINCHES,' by the author of the charming poem of the Swallows,' given at the end of last month's Diary.

To you, whose groves protect the feathered choirs,
Who lend their artless notes a willing ear,
To you, whom pity moves and taste inspires,

The doric strain belongs, O Shenstone! hear,

'Twas gentle Spring, when all the plumy race,

By Nature taught in nuptial leagues combine,
A Goldfinch joyed to meet the warm embrace,

And with her mate in Love's delights to join,
All in a garden, on a currant-bush,

With wondrous art they built their airy seat;
In the next orchard lived a friendly Thrush,

Nor distant far a Woodlark's soft retreat.

Here blessed with ease, and in each other blessed,

With early songs they waked the neighbouring groves, Till time matured their joys, and crowned their nest

With infant pledges of their faithful loves.

And now what transport glowed in either's eye!
What equal fondness dealt th' allotted food!
What joy each other's likeness to descry,

And future sonnets in the chirping brood!

But, ah! what earthly happiness can last?

How does the fairest purpose often fail? A truant school-boy's wantonness could blast Their flattering hopes, and leave them both to wail.

The most ungentle of his tribe was he,
No generous precept ever touched his heart;
With concord false and hideous prosody

He scrawled his task, and blundered o'er his part. On mischief bent, he marked, with ravenous eyes, Where wrapt in down the callow songsters lay, Then rushing, rudely seized the glittering prize, And bore it in his impious hands away!

But how shall I describe, in numbers rude,

The pangs for poor Chrysomitris decreed, When from her secret stand aghast she viewed The cruel spoiler perpetrate the deed?

"O grief of griefs! (with shrieking voice she cried) What sight is this, that I have lived to see? O! that I had in Youth's fair season died,

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From Love's false joys and bitter sorrows free. 'Was it for this, alas! with weary bill,

Was it for this, I poised th' unwieldy straw? For this I bore the moss from yonder hill,

Nor shunned the pond'rous stick along to draw?

Was it for this I picked the wool with care, Intent with nicer skill our work to crown? For this, with pain, I bent the stubborn hair,

And lined our cradle with the thistle's down?

'Was it for this my freedom I resigned,

And ceased to rove at large from plain to plain? For this I sate at home whole days confined,

To bear the scorching heat and pealing rain? "Was it for this my watchful eyes grow dim? For this the roses on my cheek turn pale? Pale is my golden plumage, once so trim;

And all my wonted mirth and spirits fail.

'O Plunderer vile! O more than adders fell!
More murderous than the cat, with prudish face;
Fiercer than kites in whom the furies dwell,

And thievish as the cuckoo's pilfering race.

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May juicy plums for thee forbear to grow,
For thee no flower unveil its charming dies;
May birch-trees thrive to work thee sharper woe,
And listening starlings mock thy frantic cries!
Thus sang the mournful bird her piteous tale,

The piteous tale her mournful mate returned;
Then side by side they sought the distant vale,
And there in secret sadness inly mourned.

JAGO.

JUNE.

THE Saxons called June weyd-monat, because their beasts did then weyd or feed in the meadows.

Remarkable Days.

1.—TRINITY SUNDAY.

STEPHEN, Bishop of Liege, first drew up an office in commemoration of the Holy Trinity, about the year 920; but the festival was not formally admitted into the Romish church till the fourteenth century, under the pontificate of John XXII.

1.-NICOMEde.

Nicomede was beaten to death with leaden plummets, on account of his religion, in the reign of Domitian.

*2. 1780.-RIOTS IN LONDON BEGAN.

4. 1738.-KING GEORGE III BORN.

5.-SAINT BONIFACE.

Boniface was created Bishop of Mentz in the year

145: He was one of the first priests of his day, and was also a great friend and admirer of the Venerable Bede. He was murdered in a barbarous manner by the populace near Utrecht, while preaching the Christian religion.

5.-CORPUS CHRISTI.

This festival, the body of Christ,' was appointed in honour of the Eucharist, and always falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. This day, termed the Fête Dieu, is one of the greatest festivals of the Romish church, beginning on Trinity Sunday, and ending on the Sunday following. See T. T. for 1815, pp. 172, 173, for an account of some most strange and ridiculous ceremonies, formerly observed, on this and St. John's-day.

11.-SAINT BARNABAS.

Our saint's proper name was Joses; he was descended of the tribe of Levi, and born at Cyprus. Being shut up all night in the synagogue by some Jews, at Salamis, he was, the next morning, cruelly tortured, and afterwards stoned to death. Epistle which he wrote is considered genuine, though not admitted into the canon of the church..

The

*14. 1800.-BATTLE OF MARENGO.

About two miles from Alessandria (observes a recent traveller') is the village of Marengo, surrounded by that plain rendered so celebrated all over the world, for the bloody battle fought there by Bonaparte in person, on this day, between the French and Austrians. This victory decided the fate of Piedmont and Lombardy; but it cost the life of the intrepid Dessaix, of many other excellent officers, and of full 15,000 men, killed, wounded, and prisoners on both sides. A column is placed near the spot where Dessaix fell, with an inscription in Italian,

Mr. Coxe, in his Picture of Italy, p. 75.

Latin, and French: a few sculls collected in digging the foundation, and ranged in order round the pedestal, form a savage, but appropriate, ornament to this monument. The plain of Marengo, entirely destitute of wood, and indeed of vegetation, presents one naked, barren extent of land;-a fit place for the demon of war to practise his horrid rites, and immolate his victims.

17.-SAINT ALBAN.

St. Alban, the first Christian martyr in this island, suffered in the year 303.

*18. 1815.-BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

How sleep the BRAVE, who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest!
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
She there shall dress a sweeter sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.

By fairy hands their knell is rung,
By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
Their HONOUR comes, a pilgrim grey,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay,
And FREEDOM shall awhile repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there!

*18. 1765.-OTAHEITE DISCOVERED.

20.-TRANSLATION OF EDWARD, King of the West Saxons.

Edward, being barbarously murdered by his mother-in-law, was first buried at Warham, without any solemnity; but, after three years, was carried by Duke Alferus to the minster of Shrewsbury, and there interred with great pomp.

21.-LONGEST DAY.

This day is, in London, 16 h. 34 m. 5 s., allowing 9 m. 16 s. for refraction.

*22. 1483.-RICHARD III BEGAN TO REIGN. Those historians who favour Richard, for even

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