On Maundy Thursday another gratifying ceremony takes place, _viz_, the distribution of the Maundy Money to as many poor people as the years of his majesty's age. This money consists of the smaller silver coins, being each in value from 1_d_. to 4_d_.; these are enclosed in a small, white kid bag, which is again enveloped in another of crimson leather. A.P.D. * * * * * RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. * * * * * TOUCHING FOR THE KING'S EVIL. (_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) Having read an interesting paper from your ingenious correspondent _P.T.W._ in your number of the 14th of November, respecting "Touching for the Cure of the King's Evil," it occurred to me that some farther information relative to the original of that "hereditary miracle," as Mr. Collier is pleased to term it, might not be uninteresting to some of your readers: I therefore send you the following:-- Stowe, in his _Annals_, accounts for the origin of touching for the evil, in the following manner:--"A young woman who was afflicted with this disorder in a very alarming manner, and to a most disgusting degree, feeling uneasiness and pain consequent upon it in her sleep, dreamt that she should be cured by the simple operation of having the part washed with the king's hand. Application was consequently made to Edward, by her friends, who very humanely consented to perform the unpleasant request. A basin of water was brought, with which he carefully softened the humours, till they broke, and the contents discharged; the sign of the cross wound up the charm; and the female retired, with the assurance of his protection during the remainder of the cure, which was effected within a week." This is somewhat differently related in _Ailred's History of the Life and Miracles of Edward the Confessor_, an extract from which may be found in a note to the first volume of Rapin's _History of England_. The following curious advertisement was issued by the order of King Charles II. for healing the people, on the 18th of May, 1664. "Notice. "His sacred majesty having declared it to be his royal will and purpose to continue the healing of his people for the evil during the month of May, and then give over till Michaelmas next; I am commanded to give notice thereof, that the people may not come up to the town in the interim, and lose their labour." Thomas Mousewell was tried for high treason in 1684, for having spoken with contempt of King Charles's pretensions to cure the scrofula.