The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 20, No. 577 | Page 8

assure Mr. G---- that he was a dead man if they met, but
professed himself much at his service if he was really bent on quitting
this world, and thought the most appropriate spot for so doing would be
the Champs d'Elysées. Thither next morning the parties repaired. Mr.
G---- found his antagonist already on the ground, and amusing himself
by firing at a mark: viz.--his glove, attached to the branch of a tree,
which he shot at with such precision as to send his bullet, at every
successive trial, through the aperture in the glove made by the first.
Monsieur was, in truth, a splendid and formidable marksman. Mr. G----,
in preparing for the duel, happening to cast his eyes on his adversary,
perceived that he had slily placed his arm in such a position, as must
ensure, on the honourable gentleman's fire, the fulfilment of his vaunt
to make him "a dead man." No time was to be lost; the young

Englishman's life depended upon dispatch; and, instantly firing, he
proved himself as good a marksman as Monsieur ----, by sending his
ball, with the utmost precision, through the wily manoeuvrer's elbow,
from whence it passed into his side; and he dropped down, disabled, if
not dead. Thus did British spirit twice humble, in a remarkable manner,
French insolence and presumption!
* * * * *
A DISTINCTION.
"La-a-dy * *," exclaimed a certain Colonel, in that very original Scotch
brogue which a long acquaintance with the world has not tended in any
degree to diminish, "alloo me to introduce you to my brother, Carnal
M---- ----." "What!" asked the lady, "are you both Colonels?"
"Oo--ay--La-a-dy * *, that are we, in troth; but the daff'rence is this, my
brother, you see, is Carnal" (Lieutenant-colonel he intended to express),
"and I--am fool Carnal!"
M.L.B.
* * * * *

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
PETER PENCE
Were an ancient levy, or tax, of a penny on each house throughout
England, paid to the Pope. It was called Peter-pence because collected
on the day of St. Peter ad vincula. By the Saxons it was called
Rome-feoh--i.e. the fee of Rome; and also Rome-scot, and
Rome-pennying, because collected and sent to Rome;--and lastly, it was
called Hearth-money, because every dwelling-house was liable to it,
provided there were thirty-pence vivæ pecuniæ belonging to it;--nay,
and every religious house, the Abbey of St. Alban's alone excepted.
This Peter-pence was at first given as a pension, or alms, by Ina, king

of the West Saxons, in the year 727, being then in pilgrimage at Rome;
and the like was done by Offa, king of the Mercians, throughout his
dominions, in 794; and afterwards by Ethelwulph, through the whole
kingdom, in the year 855.
It was not intended as a tribute to the Pope, but chiefly for the support
of the English school, or college, at Rome. The popes, however, shared
it with the college, and at length found means, to appropriate it to
themselves.
At first it was only an occasional contribution; but it became at last a
standing tax, being established by the laws of King Canute, Edward the
Confessor, the Conqueror, &c. The bishops, who were charged with the
collecting it, employed the rural deans and archdeacons therein.
Edward III. first forbade the payment; but it soon after returned, and
continued till the time of Henry VIII., when Polydore Virgil resided
here as the Pope's receiver general. It was abolished under that prince,
and restored again under Philip and Mary; but it was finally prohibited
under Queen Elizabeth.
WALTER E.C.
* * * * *
POPISH RELICS.
Ere the bright dawn of the Reformation lighted upon England, the
furniture of churches appears, from ancient records, to have been of a
splendid description; and vast sums are stated to have been lavished
upon the images of saints, &c. Great Saint Mary's Chapel, Cambridge,
is in the possession of an inventory of the goods and chattels possessed
by that ancient edifice in the 19th year of Henry VII., of which the
following is a transcript:--
"Item--A coat of tawney damask, purfled with velvet, appertaining to
our Lady.

"Item--A coat for her son, of the same satin, purfled with black velvet,
and spangled with gold.
"Item--A relic, called a box of silver with the oil of St. Nicholas.
"Item--Another little box of silver, with a bone of St. Lawrence.
"Item--A shoe of silver for the image of our Lady, and a piece of a
penny, weighing in all two ounces in a box.
"Item--An image of our Lady and her Son, of copper and gilt, with a
chrystal stone.
"Item--A collar of gold for to hang about our Lady's neck, of nine links
in the collar.
"Item--A cap of black velvet, with fine pearl, for our Lady's son.