The Sun.
London, England, 1821-12-24 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS DAY.

An Interesting Account of the Origin of this Fes-
tival, the Customs and Sayings it has produced.
Christmas Day is a Festival of the Church
universally observed on the '2sth day of Decem-
ber, in memory of the NATIVITY of our blessed
LORD JESUS : and it has no doubt been denomi-
nated CHRIST'S Mass, from the appellative
CHRIST having been added to the name of JESUS,
to express that he was the Mr.ssian, or the
Anointed, so long and anxiously expected in the
world : in this sense it may be used singly to de-
note a person sent from Goo ; and consequently-
by way of antonomasis, or expressing the dignity
of the person, instead of the name, it became pe-
culiarly appropriate to the birth-day, or incarna-
tion, of that most Holy and Divine Spirit, which
came from Gon, as the minister of His will, and
the messenger of His grace to Man. The name
of MessiAn has been applied to kings, prophets,
and high-priests ; and was designed as emble-
matical not only of mental qualifications, but of
those gifts and graces of the SPIRIT of the AL-
MIGHTY so essentially requisite for properly dis-
charging the duties of those important offices: but
the title of Al essian was principally, and by way
of pre-eminence, given by the Hebrews to their
expected great Deliverer, whom our Saviour ex-
pressly declared himself to have been ; and
thenceforward CHRIST, the equivalent of Mes-
siah, was made an addition to JESUS, the name
designed him from Heaven, by the Angel Ga-
briel, and which signified Saviour, or the impor-
tant mission our Lord had undertaken for rescu-
ing mankind from the dire effects of' sin, by His
atoning Sacrifice.
The illass of CHRIST, as originally used by the
Church, implied solely the festival celebrated,
in which sense it was applied to CHRIST'S Mass,
or Festival, long antecedent to the introduction
of the sacrifice of THE MASS, or in other words,
to its present and long altered appropriation to
the offices or public prayers used by the Church
from Ivhich we separated, or in its more empha-
tient sense, as allusive to the EUCHARIST, with
which Mass is now considered synonimous in
the Church of Rome. The word Mass was first
introduced into ecclesiastical ordinances in the
year 394 ; for an account of which vide Brady's
Clavis Calend. In 680 Mass was introduced
into ENGLAND and, in 1201, a decree passed
requiring prostration at the elevation of the
Mass or Host. At the period of the incarna-
tion or birth of our Loan JESUS CHRIST, the
Roman Calendar, or Register of time, had under-
gone very considerable alterations, and again in
the times of JULIUS and AUGUSTUS CESAR. :
but their regulations were found to be insufficient,
although for ages they were 'the acknowledged
standard : hence, however, arose the inaccuracy
which has been often and pathetically lamented,
in keeping the day of our LORD'S Nativity ;
which it is now settled, past dispute, by argu-
ments incontrovertible, did not take place on the
25th of December, but at the time the Jews kept
their feast of Tabernacles. The precise year,
generally considered to have been four years
prior to the vulgar era, also yet remains undeter-
mined. The FIRST CHRISTIANS, who were all
Li EBREWS, solemnized the NATIVITY on the Ist
of January, conforming thus to the Roman year,
though it is particularly to be noticed, that on
the day of the FEAST OF TABERNACLES, they
ornamented their churches with green boughs,
as a memorial that CHRIST was actually born at
that time, in like manner as the Jews, erected
booths or tents, which they inhabited at this season
to keep up, by an express command from GOD, the
remembrance of their deliverance from Egyptian
bondage, and of their having dwelt in tents or
tabernacles in the wilderness. The custom of
ornamenting the churches and houses of Christians
on the day kept as the Nativity of CHRIST, still
remains in general observance ; and as it is now too
late to remedy any error with regard to the ce-
lebration of the actual natal day of our Lotto, it
becomes the duty of every Christian to hallow
the one which has been appointed for that pur-
pose, with the same fervour and devotional reve-
rence, as though the real day had been accurately
ascertained and generally recognised. The cir-
cumstance of our LORD'S Incarnation is meant to
be celebrated, with all its attendant superlative
advantages, to such as believe and follow his
Gospel ; and that man must be a very caviller.
and unworthy of salvation, through our blessed
Mediator, CHRIST, who can object to solemnize
the day that has been set apart for that holy
purpose, whether it be precisely the same or not
on, which the event took place. Because. the sea-
son which the Church has chosen does not in-
volve the credibility of the fed, nor affect any
Material point, either practical or devotional.
CUs Togs.--The season of Christmas,it is to be re-
gretted, is no longer marked by that fervid hospi-
tality which characterisedjits observance among
our forefathers ; nevertheless many customs and
old sayings are yet attached to its recurrence, of
the origin of which it may be interesting to offer
explanations, as far as the scanty sources from
whence they can be drawn will admit.

During the progress of upwards of eighteen
centuries, the peculiar modes of keeping up the
interchange of civilities between man and man,
have altered with the usages and customs of the
times : still, however, something of reciprocal at-
tention and benevolence marked this festive sea-
son ; and it is most ardently to he hoped that
refinementootwithstanding the prodigious strides
it has already taken, may never be able wholly
to overthrow that sacred hospitality and cordi-
ality, which originated with the Apostles, when
all Christians were regarded as brethren, and all
shared alike the same tables at this season of re-
joicing, as they alike bore the same toils and the
same dangers. The Grecians, at the commence-
ment of every year, had festive meetings to ce-
lebrate the completion of the Sun's annual
course, and to rejoice that he had again com-
menced his wonted vivifying progress ; from that
people the Romans adopted the custom until its
downfall ; and from the Romans our ancestors
received it. The ancient Roman festivities,
fraught with superstition, were carried on in riot
and debauchery ; while our Christian forefathers,
blessed with the light of truth, rejected, until
Papal Rome gained the ascendancy, the super-

stition and excesses of the heathens, merely re-
taining those interchanges of good wishes, and of
presents, which had accompanied the Pagan cele-
brations. But, it is to be observed, that however
erroneous the Romans were in their sentiments
of religion, they began their celebration of this
season with such sacrifices as to their unenlighten-
ed minds appeared appropriate, and never closed
the day without visiting and congratulating each
other, and offering up vows to their Deities for
their mutual preservation. The presents given by
the Romans at the origin of these solemnities
were called Serena?, which are thought to have
taken their uame from the following circum-
stances : 'I'ATIUS, king of the t".,:Abines, .who, to
terminate the war between that people and the
Romans after the Sabine rape, was appointed
joint sovereign with Romulus, considered as a good
omen a present he had received on the 6th day
of the new year, of some branches of vervain,
gathered from the wood consecrated to STRENtet,
the goddess of strength ; at first gifts among the
Romans and Sabines were confined to these
Strenute ; but they soon extended to honey, five
dates, &c. and in proCess of time to others of
greater value. In the earliest time Clients used
to carry small presents to the senators under
whose protection they were severally placed ;
these presents afterwards increased to gold and
silver medals, and other valuable aricles. Under
AUGUSTUS C.ESAR the Senate joined with the peo-
ple in presenting gifts of such kind to him; after
a svhile it was discontinued by his successors,
but kept alive by the people. The Romans
were so particular in the observation of tfris day,
that the most inveterate enemies refrained-froee
passing the slightest reflection upon the character.
or conduct of each other. The Romans -who
settled in Britain soon spread this custom
amongst our forefathers. The nation continued.
the custom from age to age through all ranks in
social life ; while it is also to be remarked, that
TOKENS, considered as a more respectable term
than gifts, were continued to be received and be-
stowed by our Monarchs and Nobles, until tire
reign of JAMES the Second. Bishop leseisleet
sent to HENRY the Eighth a New Testament,
richly illuminated, with this inscription on its
cover, " Fornicatores et adulteros judicavit
Do-
minus :" of the intended application of Witidt
HENRY was but too conspicuous. Sir W. 7 PA
GET, afterwards Lors't PAGET, in the same
reign presented the Duke of SOMF,RSET with
a New Year's token. Glove-money, an expres-
sion used in old records, may be thus ac-
counted for. When Mrs. CROAKER, had obtain-
ed a decree in Chancery against Lord Anuen
she availed herself of the first new-year's day after
her success, to present to Sir Tuom AS MORE, then
Lord Chancellor, a pair of gloves, containing
forty pounds, in angels, as a token of her
gratitude : but Sir T. M. politely returned the
money, and detained the gloves only. Amour
other presents formerly common at this time of
the year, may be noticed Pins, -which when first
introduced, about the beginning of the 18th cen-
tury, were found so uncommonly neat, in comp,
rison to the wooden skewers before in use, as to
make them truly acceptable. From these done--
tions Pin-money became a familiar expression for
small presents in general, and the term isJ now
sometimes used in settlements made on females,
either through a necessary caution on the part-of
patents or guardians, or the justice of theifeeene
sorts. To
.the same origin may be assigned the
nearly forgotten practice of bestowing Christmas
Boxes : though in the middle and more supersti-
tious ages, the then profligate-Ministers of Religion
took advantage of this spirit of liberality to fill
their own coffers. Masses or Prayers were then
appropriated to every purpose that could best
answer the ends of religious avarice ; and it be-
came, among other practices of the Monks, cus-
tomary to offer masses for the safety of all ships
that undertook long voyages : to quicken the
pious gratitude, therefore, of those w ho embark-
ed in such ships, or were connected wilt their
safety, a Box was regularly appropriated to each
ship, and kept in the careful custody of the
priest, into which money or other valuable con-
siderations might be put, to secure efficacy to
the prayers of the Church !—These Boxes were
opened at Christmas, in each year, arid thence
got their names Curtmstes Boxes, which rca-
(lily, came to be understood as the title also of
the presents themselves.
Westhaven. F. 1.).

(To be concluded to-morrow.)

- ------------
BE L N 11.

We have seen a letter from a person who re-
sides near Virginia, in the county of Cavan, in
which the writer gives an account of a melan-
choly event that occurred on the glebe-land of
Lurgan, on last Tuesday. It appears that
Messrs. White and "Macartney,fßevenup-officeffs
had brought a party of the Staff of the Meath
Militia to Correagh, and made a seizure of some.
malt, which was concealed in the houe of a mitn
named Michael Lynch, a carpenter.- When -the
party were retiring ,from the place, Lynch's son
suddenly took a loaded gun, and discharged its
contents at the Serjeant commanding the party,
who instantly fell dead. One of the privates
immediately fired at Lynch, and killed
(Dublin Correspondent, Dec. 21)
SPECIAL COMMISSION.
LIMERICK, DEC. IS.--This morning Baron
M'CLELLAND and Justice MOORE having taken
their seats on the Bench,
Michael Moran, Michael Halloran, and Mi.!
chael Fitzgerald were arraigned for the murder
of Thomas Manning, on the 16th of August,
The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty. On the
panne' being called over, they challenged twenty'.
Ayre Massey, examined by the Solicitor-Gene-
ral.--Witness belongs to the Police Establish-
ment ; was on duty at Incherourke, between 11
and one o'clock at night, on the Ist of August ;
it was dark ; heard two shots fired ; heard some
persons talking in the wood, and afterwards sat(
a number of persons dressed in white shirts ; wit-
ness's party challenged them ; they called out,
" who goes there ?" the other party then challeng-
ed them; witness's party said they were the Po-
lice, and told them to surrender in the King's
name ; they on the instant fired 5 or 6 shots et
witness's party ; the Police returned the lire, ott

which their opponents immediately fled; one
the police, Thomas Manning, fell—he fell be-
fore witness's party fired ; two men came up
then; they made prisoners-of them ; witness.took
Fitzgerald.—(Here the witness identified the
prisoner, Michael Fitzgerald, as being the man,
by laying the Sheriff's rod on his head.)—Fitz-.1
gerald was then dressed in a white shirt, which
he wore over his other Clothes;. he (witness)
took hold of the bridle of his horse; Mr. Hobart
then came up, and two more men were taken.
(Here the witness identified Halloran and Mo-
ran, as being the two other men who were then
taken.)—Halloran had a white shirt on, and was
mounted also; the third man was on foot ; a gun,
a pistol, two pieces of scythes with handles, and
'a spit, were found.at the place.
Cross-examined.—There were a..great many
present ; can't say who took Halloran and
Moran.
Thomas, Doolan is chief constable of: Police ;
was out with his party On the night of the 13th
of August ; there were a great number of persons
there, principally mounted ; witness saw them.;
thinks there were about two hundred in all ;
there could not be less than sixty or seventy
mounted ; the cavalry and infantry Mixed toge-
ther ; a great many of them had white shirts
Over their other dress ; witness's party called
Out to them to surrender in the King's name,
Saying, that they were the police, and that any
man that should stir would be shot ; they then
fired at witness's party, who returned their fire ;
three were taken prisoners.

Patrick Hobart ,was out with the police ; saw
a great number of persons assembled at inche-
rourke ; thinks there could not have been less
than about one hundred ; some wore white shirts
over their other clothes; witness took Morgan ;
Massey took a man in a white shirt.
Here the case closed for the prosecution.

Michael Ives examined for the defence. Wit-
ness lives at A skeaton ; remembers the night his
brother's house was attacked ; overheard them
passing by : one of them said," by -, if you let
the rascal go, I'll blow your brains out ;" " who'"
said somebody else, and the other answered,
" Mick Moran."

Patrick Sheehan remembers the attack made
an Ives' house ; knows Moran ; he was in wit-
ness's house part of that night; he left it about
ten o'clock ; he said he was going home ; he was
perfectly sober then:
Michael Dandell remembers the night of the at-
tack ; met Moran on his way home ; after wit-
ness parted with Moran, he saw some persons take
hold of him ; they took Moran with them for-
cibly ; he was not willing to go ; they did not
see witness, because he " disguised" himself be-
hind a stone wall!

John Bateman knows Moran for twenty years ;
'le held land from vltness ; he is remarkably
sober, honest, and industrious, and not addicted
to going out at night.
Edmond Hunt, Esq. is a Magistrate ; has
known Moran for the last seventeen or eighteen
rears ; there is no better man.
The Rev. Michael M‘Donnel knows Halloran
fifteen years; never heard any thing against him
before this.

.Mr. Edmond Hunt re-examined—Fitzgerald
is a very good, honest man ; considers the three
men as loyal men as any in the country.
The case having closed here—Judge Moo at:
recapitulated the evidence and charged the Jury,
who retired for about forty minutes, and returned
with a verdict, finding the prisoner, Moran, Not
Guilty; and the prisoners,Halloran and Fitzgerald
Guilty of the felony charged against them..
Judge MOORE then proceeded to pass sentence
.crf death on the prisoners, Halloran and Fitzgerald.
(Halloran said, " The Lord have mercy on
Its."—Fitzgerald remained silent. Previous' to
their being led out from the dock, Halloran
shook hands mournfully with Moran, who was
acquitted.)
Thomas Kiely and Michael Kelly were then
arraigned, for that they, on the night of the 16th
of July, in the second year of the reign of his
present Majesty, at a plate Itooska, in the
,county of Limerick, did feloniously take two
suns, the property of Christopher Spading.
The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty.

Previous to the calling of the first witness, the
Solicitor-General addressed the following obser-
vations to the Jury :
" Gentlemen of the Jury,—The prisoners at
the bar are not charged with murder, but they
are capitally indicted. The crime they are charg-
ed with is taking of arms ; and you see, Gentle-
men, by the last two trials, the use that is made
of arms when taken. I shall make no further
observations, Gentlemen ; I think it totally un-
necessary."

Anne Sparling, is the widow of the late Clwjs-
topher Sparling ; remembers the day that the
arms were taken from the house her husband
'was from home, he was at the bog ; two men called
for arms ; witness went to get them ; one of the
pen snapped a pistol at witness ; he said he would
fc-kve her life if she would not give up the arms.;
"witness ut her face to the wall ; the other man
had the servant maid on her knees; witness heard
a great clashing of arms ; witness told the men
where arms were ; cue man then went up stairs,
and came down with two pm ; they then went
away.
Mary Anne Grouse examined. Had been Mr.
Sparling'S
_servant in July ; remembers the. fel-
lows corning to the house fer the arms ; one of
them exclaimed, 66 Shoot her !" Kelly clapped
a pistol to her breast, and swore he. would shoot
her ; he threw her on her knees, placed her head
dovin, and put the pistol in her ear; whether it
missed fire, or was cocked, cannot tell; then
Kelly stepped over witness, and twice snapped
a pistol at her mistress ; when the pistol missed
fire the second time, her mistress exclaimed,
44 Don't kill me, and you shall get the arms;"
Kelly went up and brought down two muskets ;
witness then, from the window, saw Keily giv-
ing the two guns to two men that were outside ;
there were Right men in all, inside and out; the
witness had known both Kelly and Kelly before;
knew one of them by sight, and swore positively
as to, the identity of the two men, the prisoners
at the bar.
Mrs. Spading .recalled—Said, th4t.ne4ber her

Our Foreign arrivals since Saturday have been
.very numerous, consisting of Madrid Papers to
the 11th inst., the Paris Journals to Thursday
inclusive, Dutch, Flemish, and German Papers.
—We have given extracts from some of them
under the head of Foreign Intelligence.
Letters by the Hamburgh Mail mention a re-
port prevalent in that City, which deserves notice
less for its probability, than its singularity. It
was said that Great Britain, Austria, and France,
had resolved not to interfere at present between
Itosia and Turkey, but had formed a treaty of
ce, by
which they had undertaken to co-
operate ia hecking any dangerous designs of
Russia, shirald that Power be successful in its
contest with the 7.eurks.

Brussels Papers have arrived to the 18th inst.
—An article from Le Thorn repeats the rumour
of Bagdad having falltn into the hands of the
Persians, the Prince of PEnsti having, it is
said, entered the place at the head of ten
thousand cavalry. The latest advices from
Constantinople are to the 10th ultimo. They
state that the Divan was in daily consultation as
to the answer to be given to the Russian Ulti-
nzatuin. 'On the 9th ult. between three and four
P.M. Captain FARMAK I, the comrade of JORDAKI,
who was brought prisoner to Constantinople with
Moldavians, was dragged to the quarter of
the Franks in Pera, and there executed in the
most cruel manner, amidst an innumerable mul-
titude of fanatic Turks, as it were, under the
eyes of the Foreign Ambassadors, on the cross-
road between Pera and Galata. It was ob.
served that the Porte had never before terri-
fied the Franks by such a cruel spectacle, and
it was asserted to be by the express command
of the SULTAN. It was reported that CHOW?,
SCIIIIi PACIIA had been dismissed. The Su-
liotes were in possession of Arta, and, assisted
by the Albanians, blockaded Vonitza and Pre-
veza, the surrender of which was daily looked
for. Candia is said to be in a state of general
insurrection; the Turks remained in possession,

of only two fortresses. It asserted in ad vices
from the Russian capital, that the Emperor
ALEXANDER was about to send an'agent to the
Persian Court on a special mission.
A Mail has arrived from Holland with papers
to the 19th inst. They state, that a loan had
been opened by the Royal Chamber of Hanover,
the subscribers to which are to have 4 per cent.
for their money, payable half-yearly. The
amount of the loan is not mentioned.

There have been frequent communications
during the past week between the Secretaries of
State's Offices, the Treasury, and the Marquis of
WELLESLEY, at Richmond, previous to his Excel-
lency's departure for Ireland, to take upon him
the government of that country, as declared by
the KING in Council, at the Court held at
Brighton, on the 10th inst., Dispatches were
sent from the Secretaries of State's Offices to the
Noble Marquis on Friday evening, which were
supposed to be the last, previous to his departure.
His Excellency was about to leave Richmond on
Saturday for Dropmore, on a visit to Lord GREN-
VILLE ; from thence to proceed to Bath, on a
visit to the Earl of LIVERPOOL; and after mak-
ing tome final official arrangements with the
Noble Earl, he will proceed from Bath across
the country by' Worcester and Shrewsbury, on
his way to Ireland.- The Earl of LIVERPOOL is
expected to leave Bath tire• latter end of this week.

It is now said to be his MAJESTY'S intention to
visit his Scottish dominions early in May next. It
is rumoured that a change is about to take place
in a confidential situation veal! I%IS MAJESTY.—
(Morning Chronicle.) - '

Letters from Rome of the sth inst. state, that

Lord Ilynos-:hati set out from thence for lta-
irenna, with Signora GutccioLl and the Count

A letter from Corfu, dated Nov. 17, says, that
Lord and Lady PossONBY arrived there on the
13th, from Otranto,. on board his Majesty's ship
Courier.

The 111 AI-oft of CORK has complied with a
requisition for an application to Parliament to
repeal the Window Tax.
A Prussian Apothecary has addressed to a

Russian Journal a Memorial, on a new and easy
means of spreading terror among the Turks. He
proposes to cover with phosphorus the (tresses of
Devils, and to send several squadrons of Cossacs,
clothed in this infernal costume, amongst the
Mussulmans. The Apothecary requires no other
reward for the communication of this project than
to have the privilege of exclusivelli furnishing the
phosphorus. -
DUBLIN, DEC. 20.-The Right. Hon. HENRY
GOULBURNE arrived in the packet which reached
Howth this evening.
CORK, DEc. 17.—The 33d regiment embarked
at, Cove this morning for Jamaica.