The knowledge of customs and ancient fashions forms a branch of literature which is not without its enthusiasts; this is the favourite study of antiquaries. Among the histories of these usages of our ancestors, that of the beard holds a distinguished rank; and though at present, from its little importance, it is become an object of ridicule, it has been held in high consideration in different ages and among different people. Never was there any thing like that caused so many troubles and so much ill blood: the cowls of the disciples of St. Francis never occasioned so much noise.[1] The beard, which has been worn and highly respected at some periods, and despised at others, is become the sport of every witling. This mark of manhood, which was held sacred among the Hebrews and primitive Christians, highly condemned by some popes, and particularly countenanced by others, has been successively considered by the Roman church, as an odious heterodoxy, or the symbol of wisdom and Christian humility. Like objects of great worth, the beard never excited petty quarrels; both its enemies and partisans were violent: these anecdotes, so strange in this age, will not only amuse the reader, but discover the character of the people, the spirit of the times, and the narrowness of the human understanding. Footnote 1: During the pontificates of Clement VII. and Paul III. there were long and warm disputes between the Capuchins and Observantins about cowls, whether they should be square, round, sharp-pointed, oblong, &c. Boverius, the annalist of the Capuchins, wrote a geometrical work, containing eleven demonstrations, in order to fix the real form of the cowl of St. Francis. Wigs, among the clergy, have likewise caused terrible disputes. The Sulpicians alone have withstood this fashion with a laudable resolution. Mr. de Thiers wrote a history of wigs, which, as well as the history of cowls, evinces the narrowness of the human mind, and justly exposes it to ridicule. _O curas hominum!_ It must appear a strange paradox, perfectly shocking for crazy old beaus, for priests whose beards are always shaved close, in short, for all those that compose the effeminate part of the human species, to hear any one maintain, that a long beard becomes a man’s dignity, and that it is beneficial to health and good morals; his ideas must be very different from those of the present age. This however is what I have presumed to do. But whether the design of this work be serious or ironical, it has at least the appearance of novelty; and that’s a great deal in this age.