The Sun.
London, England, 1830-07-27 00:00:00

THE SWEATING SICKNESS.

This curious disease appeared, for the first
time, in the army of the Earl of Richmond, upon
his landing at Milford-haven in 1485, and
spread to London, where it raaaed from the
beginning of August to the end of October.—
So formidable and fatal were its effects, that the
coronation 'of Henry VII., the .victor in the
battle of 'Bosworth-field, was deferred till this

strange pestilence had subsided. It was a
species of malady unknown to any other age or
nation, which occasioned the sudden death of
great multitudes. Caius describes it, as it ap-
peared for the last time among ur. The treat-
ment of it is perhaps the most interesting, at
least affords us the most amusing particulars. It
turns upon the sole idea of promoting the
sweat, and Caius lays down the strictest rules for
avoiding anything that might expose the patient
to the least cold, or check this salutary and cri-
tical evacuation. On this point he is peremp-
tory. "If two be taken in one bed, let them so
continue, although it be to their unquietness ; for
fear whereof, and for the more quietness and
safety, very good it is, during all the sweating
time, that two persons lie not in one bed." To
promote perspiration they are ordered to drink
posset ale, made of sweet milk, turned with vi-
negar, in a quart whereof parsley and sage, of
each half one little handful, bath been sodden,
&c. If under this treatment, loaded with bed-
clothes, and almost stifled with heat, they happen
to feel faint, " cause them," says the doctor, " to
lie on their right side, and bow themselves for-
ward, call them by their names, beat them with
a rosemary branch, or seme other sweet little
thing—do not let them on any account sleep,
but pull them by the ears, nose, or 'hair, suffer-
ing them in no wise to sleep, until such time as
they have no lust to sleep ;" except to a learned
man in physic, the case appears to bear the
contrary. If under this discipline they happily
recover, and find their strength be sore wasted,
let them smell to an old sweet apple, and use
other restoratives of similar efficacy ; for, con
eludes Dr. Caius, "there is nothing more coin.
Portable to the spirits than good and swee
odours."—Family Library, No. XIV.

STATE OF SOCIETY IN THE THIR-

TEENTH CENTURY.

The thirteenth century may probably be con-
sidered as a period of as great, though not so
visible, a stride of the human understanding in
Europe, as many of the brighter and more bril-
liant ages whichissued from it, in which greater
tnultitudes of men reached a more advanced
stage in the path to the greatest improvement of
society and reason. At the head of these may
be placed the reforms of religious instruction,
not only for their owd importance, but as then
the sole means of rousing and invigorating the
human faculties, both intellectual and moral.—
As the Benedictines, the first reformers of the
Catholic clergy, had in their turn become rich
and lazy, the Dominicans and Franciscans now
arose in their stead, and grew with a rapidity
perhaps unparalleled either by the order of the
Jesuits among Catholics, or by the followers of
Wesley and Whitfield among. Protestants. They
renounced not only separate but corporate pro-
perty, and threw themselves, for.the bare means
of subsistence, upon the alms of the pious and
benevolent. Excited by the example of the
Vaudois, who had become popular by a severely
literal adherence to some texts of the Gospel,
these mendicant orders embraced the same
voluntary and absolute poverty, and gained that
general ascendant which is naturally yielded to a
life of self-sacrifice. The scholastic philosophy,
that great sharpener and methodiser of intellect,
of which the cultivation prepared the soil for
all the rich produce of after times, attained the
utmost vigour and splendour. The vernacular
languages began to be cultivated, and a native
literature showed its early blossoms in Sicily, in
Tuscany, in Suabia, in the separate countries of
southern and northern France, in England, first,
as the Anglo-Norman, under Henry IL, after-
wards the English, under Edward 1. The seed was
so far scattered that some poetical flowers began
feebly to bloom in remote, distracted, and bar-
barous Scotland. The more active and diffuse
study of the Roman law contributed to greater
precision in all moral opinions, raised up com-
petitors to the theologians, and was actually de-
nounced, and sometimes suppressed, by the most
sagacious of that powerful body, while it brought
home to all men of moderate education the
wisest system of law then known, which was
adopted into the codes of most nations, and in-
fluenced the legislation of the communities who
rejected its authority.
Religious chivalry, which broke out in the
crusades, probably guarded Christendom from
the fanatical ambition inculcated by the Mussul-
man religion. Festive chivalry—consisting of
jousts, tilts, and tournaments; scenic repre•
sentations of chivalrous. enterprise ; a mimic
warfare fitted to amuse a military acre—may be
considered as the gorgeous vesture oof ornament
and parade in which the feudal chiefs arrayed
themselves, to remind men of their prowess, and
to display at once their skill and their magnifi-
cence. As the manners of this class began to be
softened, they became more naturally the prede-
cessors of the modern gentlemen of Europe.
The union of all Europe to form one army, the
journeys of vast numbers of all men, including
a majority of the higher classes, to renowned
countries unlike their own, and the necessity
which compelled the chiefs to defray the ruinous
cost of a crusade by loans, produced effects on
the minds and circumstances of Europeans of
which the bare mention suggests the nature and
ex tent.—Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Encyclopedia,
Vol. VIII.

SOUTIIWARK.—Yesterday the High Bailiff of
Southwark, attended by the officers and one of the
Marshal+ on horseback, rode through the five parishes
of the Borough, and proclaimed the day of election
in the following terms:--" In pprsuance of a pre-
cept received from' the Sheriff of Surrey, for elects
ing two Burgesses to mule in Parliament fotthe
Town and •BorritighotSouthwatk, I do hereby giee
notice, that I shall proceed to the election accord.
ingly on Friday next, the 30th day of July, 1830,
at the hour of ten in the forenoon, at the Town
Hall, St. Margaret's-hill, within the said borough;"
Mr. C. Calvert and Sir Robert Wilson will be
opposed, it is said, by Sir Edward Codrington and
Mr. Pott. Other candidates are spoken of.
CITY OF LONDON.—The Sheriffs (Messrs.
Richardson and Ward), also made proclamation
yesterday, that in, consequence of hislMajesty's writ
for the election of four good and discreet citizens to
serve for the City • of London, in the ensuing Par-
liament, to be holden at Westminster on the 14th
of September next, the said Sheriffs will proceed to
the election at Guildhall, on Friday next, at twelve
o'clock. Similar notices were given in other
boroughs, the time allowed by law for proceeding
to election being limited to eight days after receiving
the precept. In counties ten days are allowed.
SOUTIIAMPTON.—A new candidate has started
for this borough in the person of Mr. C. F. Williams,
King's Counsel, a practising barrister on the
Western Circuit. The Learned Gentleman opposes
Mr. Dottin, the return of Mr. Hoy being considered
absolutely certain. He 'entertains very sanguine
expectations of success.
STOCKBRIDGE. —This ancient borough is likely to
experience a sort of constitutional " sensation" at
the next election, although it is imagined that any
opposition to the interest of Lord Grosvenor will
probably not be successful. The present tnembere
for the borough are Mr. Wilbrsham and General
Grosvenor. Mr. Wilbraham keeps his seat, bat
the General goes out in favour of Mr. Sloane Stan-
ley, who is, of course, to corns in upon the Gros-
venor interest. There are about 1.52 voters in the
borough. The friends of Mr. Stanley affirm that
about 100 of these will vote for Lord Grosvenor's
two nominees. When the votes come fairly to
market, the regular price in the borough is 60
guineas a head. It is not very well known who
Mr. Stanley's opponent will be.
OLD SARUAL—(From a Correspondent.)—As
the name of this ancient fortress, castle, town, city,
and borough, is much better known to the public
than its actual condition, I have lately canvassed
the whole borough for the purpose of representing
its present state, not in the next Parliament, but in
the next number of the Timer. Mr. Canning once
exclaimed that he Would not surrender one stone of
Old Sarum to the Reformers. There are now but
few stones to be surrendered, as the only remains of
the former buildings are about a dozen cubical feet
of what once composed the 'wall of the Castle.--
The place which was formerly called " Burgum
Ceesaris," has for some time back been " J3urgum
Alexandri," having passed into the possession of
Mr. Alexander, a relation of Lord Caledon. The
right of voting results from the possession of some
land culled burgage tenures, of which there were
formerly eleven lots, in the possession of different
persons. All these lots have gradually come into
the possession of Mr. Alexander alone, who is there-
fore represented in the Imperial Parliament by him-
self and Mr. Stratford Canning. The right oftrn,::
siding at the election, and making the return to the
writ, is in the lessee, as lessee of an adjoining farm,
which belonged to the great Earl of Chatham, and
upon which his Lordship was born. To the south
of the borough is a solitary tree, under which the
election is holden by the lessee aforesaid, who very
gravely proceeds to the spot, reads the writ, receives
the vote, and returns the two members. The pro.
gress in the value of Parliamentary influence, mud in
the increase of Parliamentary corruption, may per-
haps be estimated by the fact, that this estate',
which, with the burgage tenure:, was sold in 1690
by the Cecil family to Mr. Pitt for 1,5001.,
within 100 years after purchased of the Pitt family,
by Lord Culedon, for the enormous and almost in.
credible sum of 6.5,0001. The borough consists at
present of a large circular mound of earth,
mounted in the centre by a smaller mound. Some
bushes grow upon the top, and u flourishing crop of
wheat and barley occupies the situation of the former
rampart, but there is no house nor vestige of u
house, and, al Mr. Burke said on a remarkable
occasion, " not one man, not one woman, not one
child, not one four.footed beast, are to be seen upon
either of the mounds or in the immediate vicinity."
DEVON (County.)—The point is now settled, end
the county is to be contested, or, in other words,
those who cry peace when there is no peace, are tai
be again told, as in 1818, that there are in the comity
of Devon, sufficient advocates of liberty to tell my
Lord Rollo and his parsons, that their candidate
shall no longer be palmed on the better judgment of
the freeholders.—Western Timed.
READING.—The canvass has been pursued through-
out the week with great vigour by all the candi-
dates. We are sorry to observe that some partisans
of Mr. Russell have been attempting to debase the
character of the electors, by giving away beer to the
populace, and suppers at various public-houses ; but
from the description of company which uttended,
they certainly took nothing by the attempt, and are
much lowered in the estimation of
,the respectable
inhabitants.---Reading Mercury.
IluNntscnos (County).—The contest for the
representation of this county will be unusually
severe, and each party is confident of success. One
of the old Members (Lord Mandeville) is certain of
being returned ; the other (Mr. Fellowes) retires.
The struggle is to be between Lord Strathaven, who
is supported by the nlira Tory interest, and Mr.
Rooper, a gentleman of independent fortune, resi-
dent in the county, of liberal principles, and ex-
tremely popular. The better opinion is, that Mr.
Hooper will be elected. He is to be returned en-
tirely free of expense.
Bunauewaree.—This borough is preparing to set
an example of political virtue. She will return her
old Members, and return them free of expense to
themselves.

Wxus.—One of the late representatives of this
city having retired, two gentlemen have appeared as'
candidates for the vacant seat. Mr. Edwards's re-
election is deemed to be safe; and the strife will be
between Richard Blokemore, Esq., the present
Sheriff of Herefordshire, and John Lee Lee, Esq.
DEVONslilltr.—The result of the applica-
tion to Lord Ebringtori; Made by tile direction
of the friends of independence, who met at the
• Globe Hotel; in this city (Exeter) is truly grati-,
lying. His Lordship has consented to be put in
nomination. The reports from every district are

SCOTLAND.
LANARKSIIIRE.—The Duke of Hamilton arrived
at his Palace on Wednesday. In reference to the
electioneering movement for this county, a respec:-
able correspondent in Hamilton says :--To show
that the contest for the county, is keen, and that
Sir John Alaxwell is hard pressed, it is only ne-
cessary to State, that our Chief Bailie hus been de-
spatched to the Continent to bring a freeholder
home to vote for Sir John. He adds, that the
Hamilton party would likely not put themselves to
the expence, were they confident of a majority. They
are exerting themselves strenuously ; but if the eke-
tion do not come on before the 21 Tuesdsy of Oc•
tober, it is predicted by u number of the Hamil-
tonians,. thatlite Hon. Charles Douglas will be vic-
torious. Indeed, not a few think that he is at pre•
sent four votes a-head of Sir John.—Glasgow
Courier.
'I7ItLING.---4We understand that in this district
of burghs, the canvass has been kept up with great
spirit during the lust eight days, and that Mr. John-
stones friends are now confident of his ultimate sue'
celm—Stirling Journal.
PeRTIL—The 'Hon. T. Leslie Melville has se-
cured. the votes of Cupar and Sr. Andrew's. Perth
and Forfar have refused their support, and even de-
clined accepting his proffered hospitalities. A new
candidate has appeared in the Hon. Donald Ogilvie,
the brother of the Earl of Airlie. The managers of
our borough assembled and passed resolutions ex-
pressing their opinion that the lion. S. Wortley was
a very fit person to be chosen as their representative.
The Town Council of Perth also made a voluntary
tender of their vote to the Hon. S. Wortley, who,
in compliance with this frank offer, has become a
tanditiete.---Dandee Courier. •
ItioNTßost.--The Town Council, on Monday,