The National Register.
London, England, 1809-10-29 00:00:00

4,vriQUIIT OF

When we reflect on that loalural
enquiry inherent in the mind
prised, -Midst all the atteeriW
the -term Jubilee, that none of our cotemporariei
thought of:enlightening their readers on the subject of
niieatienieei. We are well aware that in iittremptiog to throw*,
tome light on this subject, we lay ourselves open to t 1 e
"wicks of some of those violent punsters, who not only
grin daily though a whole half column of a MorningPtper,
buit even from tune to time oblige the world with whole
strigs, in thoso cialectible productioas whi,ch tthex 'are face- .
thkusly pleased to denominate farces. aqd w q.,f,they,hv-
pen to hear of a good thing, contrive to bring it in by
liook or by Crook; without any dread, bowever, of their
wittiecisms, we have taken some pains to ascertnin the origin
of this custom, now sto universal.
Herodotint, who wrioid about four hundred and eighty
lleforx Christ, .is the Arat author upon record. oho,
taco notice of it;
.and he informs us in his seesnd book,.
that kt was customary with the.aucient Egyptians to make
illuminations both otitheir regularfestivAs,-and on tar-
ticulw,flays of rejoicing : on their regular kstleitlkt rise
Tire made in honour of their differeet ideritd Wink-
munitions.were pot confined to the town which theidef
was specifically supposed to have taken tip his residence,
but were made on the same night, in the various parts of
that ancient Empire. Subsequent to thia.period, the cus
torn had found its way into -the land of Canaan, as we
toad in the Scriptures-of " fires upon high places," and
Us practice scion after became an object of political
pixiance with the Jews, at least as early as the time of
das MaCcabeus *out one hundred and fifty years be-
ore the coming of the Messiah, for it appears that the.,
*hole Jewish nation was commanded by the civil power to
Celebrate an anrn.M feast of eight days continuance at Je-
rusalem. This feast was called the " Feast of Oedication,"
and in the New Testament our Saviour is noticed as hay-
imp been-present at it ;' a thing by the way which has puz-
ad many wise commentators, and also. many pious chris
bans to account fbr, as they mild find nb mention of such
at feast in. the Mosaic ritual. The fact is. however, that it
was of human institution, and is sapposed to have origi-
,mied-abouttbree hundred years after the.. building of the
tam*. in commemoration of their restoration to their
Wigton and liberty, by-the ViCiarY obtained by their gal-
kat Judos• Maccabees, over their tyrannical invade,

'fib* liave liteticed this the more particularly, because
Oat Jfiseigiast in his description Of,this feast, remarks that
Vita Sews is histime still iibserved it, sad even called. it its
eaminsier &coarse by a name (phyla) which may literally
be *PM slated, "light or illumination;". sad be farther
informs its that one, of the most remarkable ieremonies
60**leet. fp"; it. celabotiess, * fighting of Candles
lempwr
ortarry 44100114 lh& fet*ti r 0011.4 PNeint
pews at,4 heit.sloors, and wsedoi!at pat *eh as tutees of
1414 .bet es emblems sf their., religion sod Abcorresored
*Ahem by that,_impritliat victor!—
. Tbia seems ouiriciqnt to amount los the sosivorsality of
the rosimeijii Vitiff)Pe ;. sod it is not itMpossihk that its
'wattle's in China, and in various parts or the tut, is of
ouch higher antiquity ; in India in perjjeular,
_pert of the rekilpino el Vse weddings of
the rich; indeed, as is; all warm. elimeles. their 'festivals
ore celebrated its the night, whits torch light is neces.
err, -it is not •assrisrising that, frimi the 'assigiiition 'of
M 64., lights shoeit betonse 'the symbols of joy Simi-glad-
tie's. Eitel. or Ettiatres is they are sometimes called may
lie accounted for isi•thle *tie manneras I. the laffername
in . a letter prethed la 9 Le,
explanation is altemyted
CoUreissoira:i*•,Theogesioses egitee (*lo, es. that; in
.nme, party of leiiicelisebim ea. pactiOlar algbts,.. they
41111111,1064 ins is, ils• pebrecidneli and tfilik **(tbs.'s

speech,
~eat. do
airy connection between a heart f 4 of joy, a belly full os
Aurae, anda head full, or as ip-Aaore.elegangy expressed
ia skits/nil of wine ; yet the anefystort, or at least the Pre.
,pstvore ei.oor loyal corposstissivere Of a very different
ppinion. Stowe who wrote hii Vistory of London in the
reign of Elizabeth, says, that fires were COllllllOll in • his
tioe; 66 these were called hone Ares, as well of good amity
" amongst neighbours, (islifew) that being before at con.
i 46 troversy, were then by the labour of others reconciled,
:46 and made of bitter enemies, loving friends; as also fot
" the virtue that a !great tire both to purge the infection ~
66 of the air;" un these occasions. they were not content
with light
.alawe, but had tables set out in the streets,
.4tosawnwith 46 sweet bread, and good 'drink," a custom
'which our philosophical politicians wean now to considet
as i• more honoured in the breach, than in the observance,"
we were well pleased, however, to obierve that some E
tlyl cunt deei#ild speechifiFes, against illumillations, hiiil
either the loyalty or the prudence .%i to Urn. 'a • -,Can..
dies ;" and there can be no doubt that on the - ;opt
occasion, notwithstanding. theirl dislike to Co' . ratio
gpttliiig, they indulketthine Oiiii corporeal:a Wit ally the
1
cotiforrti of a good-dititiei • ' '.. • ' '
, 474 k
-" .

S

•
'
.11114.11,117 C JUBILEES.
frYCEITM TIIEATIRE•
The important Celebration of Jubilees has engaged se
much of public attention during the past week, that ti.e
Theatres became objects of minor consideration ; the (ntly
novelty. thorefure, at this place of Exhibition, was the
production of a 44 musical dramatic Entertainment," de-
signated as ‘• Britain's Jubilee." When Poets bestride
their Pegasus, they: find. him sometimes but au ill traini...4l
animal; one that may perhaps be, persuaded to jog oa
quietly, but which, if whipped and spurred, will generally
ding his ridets into the dirt, On the present occasion, our •
Poet's time witsiinelted, and though in hii hurry he at first
set off iii a canter, yet bis •pro!..tress tip the Parnassian hill
I, was but short indeed; until in his. tumble he so kickt.d arsd
splashed about him, as to bespatter all the bye-stariders
with his loyalty and patriotic chip-traps.
Upon such an event as this, the good nature and
loyalty of John Bull, are. wonderftit assistants to' a ha'ril
murheti Poet s' the one will Wake bite to alike many allow,
*es for ttie:dpficieneies orgenitti, and the other will •pre-
vent thits4eg a loml'Aece ^n seloodii aubjeCt.—:
to *analyse 'Such 'a hasty pioductink, therefore,' Or even to'
attempt to sketch its outline,' would he Painting Ott a 'cob.
web.
,IVe had,. it if true; tiro.or Oirteyorhig Larifeein 'love,
and two or three lovers all atireitf, big who had The polite-
ness to Bowe borne iery'Oppkirttinely nn this tictaiionl'*ild
*patriotic rame), for dt*pilicioas to illumituite the town
of Barspitaple "Ad bee candles, al well is the siodiente
with his The isitirtalltsi We abovttiold 14 this
character, was a pretty close inifletinn-of Dortiets'lliide)wth
407. in his anxiety to meet 'with' easterners; al- to.. any
other merit'it poiliessW, it o*ed. it entirely to Mathews,
tho Ugh even his, ettylii
'futile
extract Wit and hirntollr' from.
his part, were as as the eZtrictitio ler Etiithetims
from cucumbers.' The audience, however; -were.iti high
gone#fiumoor; and were not ea an xious as Mr, Dowinkhl
about leaving'" 4utlie Cursed cold phwe"..until all Was- over,
In sort, with the exception of 'broad staring allusions to
the day,. there. Was - nothing to- :engage: the attentie4
but the ,meeting in the chandler'. .slap, where Studio.
detailed fir rather rotalled the epeee,lsee of their invOrite
ty o,: T. .lhett tdo sonwelog",!orioisiti,au4.alite.g4t,

. .

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. OCT. 149.
•-
ILL kIA 4 TIONS. nt bones °faxen, sheep, &Ci s custom, which iniibmmou
sim•••• with many ethers derived from our sioss;ors, and now
of almost unintelligible, is siipposeil to bst tupas a memo.
earicksith that spirit
a of estinOre are talker Sur-
vest of the ancient custom of hunting tha
its •
Much wit has been displayed, and long speeches
t9"04111!"-*1 .110"7011'96 of i
nip tmamnisnranes have.. hive been manufactured, to prove that there was do neces.