_Peter-pence_ were an ancient tax of a penny on each house throughout England, paid to the Pope. It was called _Peter-pence_ because collected on the day of _St. Peter ad vincula_. By the Saxons it was called _Rome-feoh_--i.e. the fee of Rome; and also _Rome-scot_, and _Rome-pennying_, because collected and sent to Rome. And lastly, it was called _hearth-money_, because every dwelling-house was liable to it, provided there were thirty pence _vivae pecuniae_ belonging to it--nay, every religious house, the Abbey of St. Alban's alone excepted. It was finally prohibited under Queen Elizabeth. "The money of England (says Chamberlayne) was abused and falsified for a long time; till Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1560, to her great praise, called in all such money; since which time, no base money hath been coined in the Mint of England, but only of pure gold and silver, called _sterling money_; only of latter time, in relation to the necessity of the poor, and exchange of great money, a small piece of copper, called a farthing, or fourth part of a penny, hath been permitted to be coined; and so likewise an halfpenny of two farthings." Penny pieces of copper were first issued in England June 26, 1797. N.B. This is a _penny article_, but it is hoped the reader will not object to pay _twopence_ for it. P.T.W. [2] Derived from _pecunia_. * * * * * ORIGIN OF BAIL. (_For the Mirror_.) "Worry'd with debts, and past all hopes of _bail_, The unpity'd wretch lies rotting in a jail." _Roscommon_. The system of _giving securities_, or _bail_, to answer an accusation, is a custom (says Brewer) which appears to have been coeval with the Saxon nation. This system was, indeed, subsequently carried by the Saxons to a burthensome and degrading height--not being confined to those who were accused of crime, but extending to the whole community, who thus gave surety to answer anticipated criminality. This object was effected by the division of England into counties, hundreds, and tithings, and by the direction that every man should belong to some tithing or hundred; which divisions were pledged to the preservation of the public peace, and were answerable for the conduct of their inhabitants. The system of placing all the people under _borh_, or bail, the origin of which was attributed to Alfred, is first clearly enforced in the laws of Edgar. P.T.W. * * * * * ANCIENT DIVISIONS OF THE DAY. (_For the Mirror_.) "See the minutes how they run: How many makes the hour full compleat, How many hours bring about the day, How many days will finish up the year, How many years a mortal man may live." _Shakspeare_. The Chaldaeans, Syrians, Persians, and Indians began the day at sun-rise, and divided both the day and night into four parts. This division of the day into quarters was in use long before the invention of hours.