MR. SOUTHEY. ~St. David’s Day.~ _Wearing the Leek._ Mr. Brady, in the “Clavis Calendaria,” affirms that the custom of wearing the leek on St. David’s day is derived from St. David; who, according to him, caused the Britons under king Cadwallader to distinguish themselves from their enemies during a great battle, wherein they conquered the Saxons by virtue of his prayers and that regulation. Unfortunately he lays no ground for this positive statement, and the same misfortune attends almost every representation in his book, which would really be useful if he had pointed to his sources of information. A work professing to state facts without referring to authorities has no claim to confidence, whoever may be its author. For any thing in the shape of ancient and authentic statement to the contrary, the institution of wearing the leek on St. David’s day by the saint himself, may rest on a Jeffrey of Monmouth authority, or on legends of no higher estimation with the historian, than “The famous History of the Seven Champions of Christendom,” by Richard Johnson. * * * * * Shakspeare, whose genius appropriated every thing that his extraordinary faculty of observation marked for its own, introduces this custom of the Welch wearing leeks upon St. David’s day into his play of King Henry V. _Enter Pistol to King Henry._ _Pistol._ _Qui va là?_ _K. Henry._ A friend. _P._ What’s thy name? _K. H._ Harry _le Roy_. _P._ Le Roy! a Cornish name: art thou of Cornish crew? _K. H._ No, I am a Welchman. _P._ Knowest thou Fluellen? _K. H._ Yes. _P._ Tell him, I’ll knock his _leek_ about his pate Upon _St. David’s day_. _K. H._ Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest he knock _that_ about yours. It is again referred to in a dialogue between Henry V. and Fluellen. _Fluellen._ Your grandfather of famous memory, an’t please your majesty, and your great-uncle, Edward, the black prince, as I have read in the chronicles, fought a most prave pattle here in France. _K. Henry._ They did, Fluellen. _F._ Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is remembered of it, the Welchmen did goot service in a garden where _leeks_ did grow, wearing _leeks_ in their Monmouth caps; which, your majesty knows, is an honourable padge of the service: and, I do believe, your majesty takes no scorn to wear the _leek_ upon _Saint Tavy’s day_. _K. H._ _I wear it_ for a memorable honour: _for I am a Welch_, you know, good countryman.