"The Marquis of Buckingham, distinguished for his munificence towards the Clergy, has likewise caused to be printed at his expence, 2000 copies at the same press, and for the same use. The University of Oxford has sent its copies to the venerable Bishop of St. Pol de Leon, for distribution, accompanied by a letter, analogous to the generous sentiments which dictate this honourable mark of esteem for the French Clergy, who are fully sensible of the value of the gift."--(_Times, Oct. 25, 1796._) * * * * * "Christmas Eve, 1796, will be recorded hereafter, as the Frost was more rapid, and more rigorous, it is supposed, than in 1739-40, or any degree of cold ever experienced in England: the quicksilver in a thermometer in Somerset-place sunk from 28 to 4 degrees above 0 in 12 hours, 3 degrees below the depression of the Mercury in 1794 and 28 degrees below the freezing point, while it must necessarily have been still lower in the country."--(_Times, Dec. 28, 1796._) Bartholomew fair was first held A.D. 1133, and it was then the principal mart for the vendors, and buyers, of cloth: in fact the name of a street, contiguous to Smithfield, where the fair was held, and which has come down to us,--"Cloth fair," proves it, were there any need. Of late years it got a nuisance, and public opinion demanded its dissolution. The shows were discontinued in 1850, and the fair was proclaimed, for the last time, in 1855. We see by the following paragraph, from the _Times_, what was thought of it by decent-minded people, as far back as 1796. "BARTHOLOMEW FAIR. "The various troops of itinerant Comedians, Showmen, Ropedancers, Jugglers, Conjurors, Fortune Tellers, Giants, Dwarfs, wild Beasts, learned Beasts, and every _lusus naturæ_ that can be collected throughout the Kingdom, with all the appendages of immorality, and vice, were on Saturday put in legal possession of Smithfield, as the theatre of their achievements. When we add to these, the numerous tribe of pickpockets, ring-droppers, and sharpers of every description, we cannot but sincerely regret, that a scene, productive of so much idleness, and debauchery, should be sanctioned by the _letter_ of the law, while the _spirit_ of it shudders at the toleration of such excesses.