Among other old customs now fast falling into desuetude, there is in Cumberland and some other parts of the north of England a practice known as the Bridewain, which consists of the public celebration of weddings. A short time after courtship is commenced--as soon as the date of the marriage is fixed--the lovers give notice of their intentions, and on the day named all their friends for miles around assemble at the intending bridegroom’s house, and join in various pastimes. A plate or bowl is generally fixed in a convenient place, where each of the company contributes in proportion to his inclination and ability, and according to the degree of respect the couple are held in. By this custom a worthy pair have frequently been benefited with a sum of from fifty to a hundred pounds. The following advertisement for such a meeting is copied from the _Cumberland Pacquet_, 1786:-- INVITATION. Suspend for one day your cares and your labours, And come to this wedding, kind friends and good neighbours. NOTICE is hereby given that the marriage of ISAAC PEARSON with FRANCES ATKINSON will be solemnized in due form in the parish church of Lamplugh, in Cumberland, on Tuesday next, the 30th of May inst.; immediately after which the bride and bridegroom with their attendants will proceed to Lonefoot, in the said parish, where the nuptials will be celebrated by a variety of rural entertainments. Then come one and all At Hymen’s soft call From Whitehaven, Workington, Harrington, Dean, Hail, Ponsonby, Blaing and all places between, From Egremont, Cockermouth, Barton, St Bee’s, } Cint, Kinnyside, Calder and parts such as these; } And the country at large may flock in if they please. } Such sports there will be as have seldom been seen, Such wrestling, and fencing and dancing between, And races for prizes, for frolick and fun, } By horses, and asses, and dogs will be run } That you’ll all go home happy--as sure as a gun. } In a word, such a wedding can ne’er fail please; For the sports of Olympus were trifles to these. Nota Bene.--You’ll please to observe that the day Of this grand bridal pomp is the thirtieth of May, When ’tis hop’d that the sun, to enliven the sight, Like the flambeau of Hymen, will deign to burn bright. These invitations were at this period far from rare, and another, calling folk to a similar festival, appeared in the same paper in 1789:-- BRIDEWAIN. There let Hymen oft appear In saffron robe and taper clear, And pomp and feast and revelry, With mask and antic pageantry; Such sights as youthful poets dream, On summer eves by haunted stream.