Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-06-22
NO. XVIII.
A Chapter of First Thines.

The first savings bank was instituted in 1916.
The first auction in England took place In the
year 1900. ~
Violins were invented in 1477, and introduced
into England by Charles II. -alsiusqm,
Gas was first introduced for lighting the pub.
lie streets about the year 1916. Itwas first used
| In Birmingham.
The first English Parliament convened on the
10Th November, 1918. ss1Fs
The first attempts to establish fire insurance
were made in the reign of Charles II.
The first life boat was invented by N. BerDi-
ears, director of the bridges and cause-ways in
France, in TIT. 2
The coach is a French invention. The first
coach seen in Epgland was about 1868. In 1925
the vehicle was first piled for hire.
| The first bonnet worn In England was brought
from Italy, in the resign of Queen Elizabeth, and
| its form was q compromise between the present
round Italian peasant hat and the French hood.
Hats appear to have been first used about the
year 1400.
The earliest mention of forks occurs in book
of travels published in 1911.
The first composer who set an opera to music
was Francisco Barbarini, an Italian artist; and
the piece to which he gave the garb of harmony
was The Conversion of st. Paul. 1t was brought
out in Rome in 1850.
The first steamboat used in Great Britain was
the Comet-a small vessel of forty feet keel and
ten feet and half beam, with an engine of three
horse power, which carried passengers on the
river Clyde, in Scotland, in 1911.
Steel needles came first into England from
Spain and Germany. They were first manufac-.
tured in London by German, in 1860. EnS-
lish needles are now accounted the best that are
made. M
The first horse ever seen In Canada was
brought to that country from France in ship
which arrived at Tadoussac, on the goth OF June,
1647.
Gov. Joseph Dudley, who was born at Rox-
bury in Massachusetts, Sept. %, Ie47, was the.
first native of America that held seat in the
British House of Commons.
The first use of the oath upon the Gospels 10
dated 52S. Oaths were used by the Saxons IN
judicial proceedings in 600. The oath OF su-
premacy was ratified by Parliament In l6S6.--
Till 1850 the common oath ended with the words
so help me God and all Saints
The first medical degrees conferred in Amerl-
ca were by Kings College, New York, In 1859.
The first medical work published in America
was "A Brief Guide on SMALLPOX and Measles
by Thomas Thatcher, of Massachusetts,, publish
ed in 1867.
The first book of principles of political econo,
nv was the treatise of North in 1891, entitled
.Discourses on Trade Nothing of Importance
appeared in England from that time till the pub
lication of Stewards principles of Political Econ
omy,' which was superseded by Smiths s'weaisn
of Nations gsT
The first book stereotyped in America was
THE Larger Westminster Catechism, revised py
A. Mcleod, D. D., New York, stereotyPed ano
printed by J. Watts & Co., for Whiting q WAL
son, June, 1918, II mo. Two copies OF tnn
work are in the New York State Library.
The gathering of autographs originated IN
Germany about the year 1860, when persons OF
quality took about with them elegant blank
books for the signatures of eminent persons or
valued friends. = -g.. ,.-, -.
The first Kings Speech ever delivered was
by Henry l., in 11e7. Exactly century later,
King John first assumed the royal 'We;' it had
pever before been employed in England. Inc
same monarch has the credit of being tho frst
English King who claimed for England the SOY,
ereignty of the seas. Grace and MY Llege'
were the ordinary titles by which Henry V; was
addressed. Excellent Grace was given to Hem
ry vi, who was not the one, nor yet had the
other. Edward w. was Most High and Nigh
ty Prince Henry VII. was the first English
'Highness.' Henry VIII. was the irst compf-
mented BY the title of Majesty, James !; pre-
fixed to the last title Sacred and Most Excel
lent.'-Boston Transcript. 81 ssis s.s