| BEATING THE BOUNDS IN LONDON.—Thursday being Ascension Day, the ancient ceremony of “beating the bounds” was observed in most of the metropolitan parishes. Early in the morning the rector or vicar of the parish, habited in his robes, and accompanied by his church-wardens, overseers, beadles, and other parochial officials, sallied forth, and were followed by the boys of the parish schools, with which they performed the ceremony of beating the boundaries. Formerly, it was custom to bump a boy at certain points so severely that he was never likely to forget it, and that thus the remembrance of parish bounds might be
preserved.¹
This piece of barbarity has long been dispensed with, and it has not been proved that any momentous parochial differences have arisen in consequence. On Ludgate-hill, a curious circumstance was noticeable—namely, that the parishes of St. Martin, Ludgate, and St. Anne's, Blackfriars, divide in the middle of a shop, which the whole of the clerical and parochial parties had to enter in order to the due performance of their duties. |
THE DANISH QUESTION. |
| Several of the papers refer to the debate of last night. The Times says if the Princess [sic] of Germany are encouraged by the language of Lord Russell to use violence to Denmark they may find that he has led them to misunderstanding the feelings of England and Europe. The Herald approves of Lord Derby's view, who thought that any invasion of Denmark by the Germans should be resented by England, and concurs with Lord Ellenboro' that that question will never be settled unless by an European Congress. |
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| MR. AND MRS. WINDHAM.—In a recent impression we recorded the visit of Mrs. W. F. Windham to Norwich, a fortnight since, with a view of effecting a reconciliation with her husband, though apparently without the slightest chance of effecting that object. Despite the indisposition manifested by Mr. Windham to receive her conjugal overtures, it is reported that, after all that has passed, he has “made it up” with his wife. The announcement of a renewed understanding was at first received with incredulity, but those who have the best means of ascertaining the fact profess to believe in its accuracy. The suit which has been instituted in the Divorce Court will, under these circumstances, doubtless be abandoned, or, if prosecuted, would be evaded on the ground of condonation. |
DERBY PROPHESIES. |
| Bell's Life says, Lord Clifton has kept his place in the market under trying circumstances, and is to be the winner. On Wednesday, Era gave the victory to Saccharometar, with Clifden [sic] second and King of the Vale third. Stable Mouse, in some paper, says, the horses will come to post as follows :—King of the Vale, 1st ; Tom Fool, 2nd ; Ranger, 3rd. Beacon, of the Sporting Gazette, is divided between Clifden and Macaroni in the first Flight, the finish consisting of Clifden, King of the Vale, Gillie, and Tom Fool. |
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