The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-01 00:00:00

GOOD FRIDAY.

This day commemorates the sufferings of CuarsT
on the cross. Holy Friday, or the Friday in.
Holy Week, was its more ancient and general ap-
pellation ; the name Good Friday is peculiar to
the English Church. It was observed as a day,'
of extraordinary devotion. Buns with crosses
upon them are usually eaten in London, and some
other places, on this day at breakfast. Very
curious modern ceremonies at Rome, consisting
of the illuminated Cross of St. Peter's, and other
shows, may be witnessed to-day. The following
superstitious penance, according to a modern tra-
veller, is still performed on Holy Friday, at
Rome, at Barcelona, Madrid, and in other Ca-

tholic places. " The ceremony takes place at
the time of vespers. It is preceded by a short
exhortation, during which a bell rings; and whips,
that is, strings of knotted whip-cord, are dis-
tributed quietly among such of the audience as are
on their knees in the middle of the nave; those
resting on the benches come to edify by example
only. On a second bell, the candles are extin.
guished, and the former sermon having ceased, a
lould voice issues from the altar, which pours
forth an exhortation to think of unconfessed, or
unrepented, or unforgiven crimes. This con-
tinues a sufficient time to allow the kneelers to
strip off their upper garments, the tone of the
preacher is raised more loudly at every word, and
he vehemently exhorts his hearers to recollect,.
that Christ and the Martyrs suffered much more
than whipping.—' Show, then, your penitence---'
show your sense of Christ's sacrifice—show it
with the whip.—The flagelation begins. The
darkness, the tumultuous sound of blows in every
direction—' Blessed Vergin Mary, pray for us!'
bursting out at intervals—the persuasion that you
are surrounded by atrocious culprits and maniacs,
who know of an absolution for every crime—the
whole situation has the effect of witchery, and
so far from exciting a smile, fixes you to the sP°t
in a trance of restless horror, prolonged beyond
expectation of bearing. The scourging continua
ten or fifteen minutes, and when it sounds as tf
dying away, a bell rings, which seems to invigu"
rate the penitents, for the lashes beat about
more thickly than before. Another bell rings/
and the blows subside. At a third signal, the
candles are relighted, and the Minister, wh°
has distributed the disciplines, collects theta
again with the same discretion ; for the per'
formers, to do them justice, appear to be to('
much ashamed of their transgressions to make
show of their penance.; so that it is very difficult
to say whether your next neighbour has giver
himself the lash or not." Hospinian tells us, that
the Kings of England had a custom of hallowing
rings with much ceremony on Good Friday, the
wearers of which will not be afflicted with the
falling sickness. He adds, that the custom roolc,
its rise from a ring which had been long preserv-
ed with great veneration in Westminster Abbey'
and was supposed to have great efficacy against
the cramp and falling sickness, when touched by
those who were afflicted with either of those deg"

orders.
The following is Barnabe Gooze's account °f
Good Friday, in his English version of NO'
geog us
Two priestes, the next day following, upon their shoulders besl4
The image of the Crucifix, about the altar neare,
Being clad in coape of crimozen die, and dolefully they sing ;,,c
At length before the steps, his coate pluckt off, they strafe
him bring,
And upon Turkey carpettes lay him down full tenderly, ~.
With cushions underneathe his heade, and pillows heaped hi`i
Then flat upon the ground they fall, and kisse both hand an
feete,
And worship so this wooden God, with honour farr unrneete,;
Then all the shaven sort faller down, and foloweth them here°
As workmen chiefe of wickednesse, they first of all begin
And after them the simple soules, the common people
And worship him with divers giftes, as golde. ant silver so,
And others corne or egges againe to pounorne persons swee'e'
And eke a long desired price, fur wicked worship meete.

apt
FIRE AT HAmmEusmiTu.—Yesterday,
one o'clock in the morning, a house, the property of Mr. DI;
clumps, (but occupied by a boot and shoemaker), in 113 i
Broadway, Hammersmith, was observed to be on fire by t.O
watchman, who immediately gave the alarm, and the Pa „r;
engines were speedily brought to the spot, which in a 5 be
time were followed by those of the Royal Exchange, (ile'V)
and Guardian Insurance-offices from London. We regretAii
state, the house, stock-in-trade, and other property, were 0;4'3.
consumed ; and had it not been for the powerful and unreo
ting exerting of the firemen, and the timely and plentiful' tle;
ply of water from the West Middlesex Waterworks, thell.9oo
immediately adjoining must have in all probability sufrefc
a similar fate. Mr. DESCHAMPS was insured in the No
Ol
Union.

Test BATTLE or EGYPT.—The anniversary of this r- pA
was celebrated on the 21st, at Galway, by the Officers OA
quartered in that town who were present in the battle•
period of twenty years having elapsed since the attainruri;,
of the glorious victory which defeated the projects of re,o'l,o
tionary France in that quarter, the number of individuals %,
assembled on this occasion in so remote a'corner of the P,170:
pire, were, as may be supposed, few. They assembled,A6
corated with their Egyptian Medals, &c. &c. at ,she
where a sumptuous dinner was provided. The presencede
the Highland Piper, belonging to the first Royallreterah Piga
talion, who at the time of the battle was attached.to the jpg
Highlanders, and performed on his national instrument
a charge made on a column of the enemy by that gallant c 0.50
ve an additional interest to the scene. The second WC' wtto
tade his appearance on this occasion, was the Orderly Serjolll,
the late Sir J. Stuart, and is now serving in the Ist Vet. 131.4tt'rstril
He entered the room at the moment that in solemn silence bier
memory of the ever-to-be-lamented Sir Ralph Abercrolliel•
was about to be drank, and joined in the sentiment at
inks not to be described by words. The company sepriWvibe`
a late hour, after having come to a resolution to celebrate
day in a similar manner in each succeeding year. _oo'

BIRTH.
On Thursday, the 31st ult., the lady of D. Maclean,
of Brunswick-square, of a daughter. •

MARRIED. ,
On Tuesday last, at Horsham, Henry, youngest °
son °f, t°
Liam Padwick, Esq., of Cosham-house, near Pottsgiourtopec,
T
Susan, youngest daughter of . Chasemore, Esq., of the
place.

iliViCtr
QI
Printed icivr
and' Published for the PnorittEro
,
Orrice, No. 112, Strand, by J. B. GAs.“4oll'.