26th June

Born: Dr. Philip Doddridge, eminent English Nonconformist divine, 1702, London; George Morland, artist, 1763, Haymarket.

Died: Julian, emperor, slain near Samara, upon the Tigris, 363; Innocent V, pope, 1276; Francisco Pizarro, assassinated at Lima, 1541; Archbishop Robert Leighton, 1684, Warwick Lane, London; Ralph Cudworth, English 'latitudinarian' divine, author of the True Intellectual System of the Universe, 1688, Cambridge; John Flavel, eminent Nonconformist divine, miscellaneous writer, 1691, Exeter; Alexis Czarowitz of Russia, died under sentence, 1718, Petersburg; Cardinal Julius Alberoni, Spanish minister, 1752, Placentia; Rev. Gilbert White, naturalist, 1793, Selborne; Samuel Crompton, inventor of 'The Mule' (spinning machine), 1827; George IV of England, 1830, Windsor; William Smyth (historical writings, poetry, &c.), 1849, Norwich.

Feast Day: Saints John and Paul, martyrs in Rome, about 362; St. Vigilins, Bishop of Trent, 400 or 405; St. Maxentius, Abbot in Poitou, about 515; St. Babolen, Abbot in France, 7th century; The Venerable Raingarda of Auvergne, widow, 1135; St. Anthelm, Bishop of Bellay, confessor, 1178.

ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON

The ordinary biographies of Archbishop Leighton fail to make us acquainted with a strange escapade of his youth-namely, his being temporarily expelled from the University of Edinburgh. The provost of that day, Provost Aikenhead-who ex-officio was rector of the University-having in some way provoked the wrath of the students, one of them, Mr. Robert Leighton, the future archbishop, formed an epigram upon him, turning upon the name Aikenhead (q.d., head of oak), and the pimpled visage borne by the unfortunate official:

For this the young man was called before the faculty of masters, and solemnly expelled. His guardian, Sir James Steuart, was absent at the time, but on his return was influential enough to get him reponded.

Another semi-comic anecdote of the amiable prelate is quite as little known. It chanced to him that he never was married. While he held the see of Dumblane, he was of course a subject of considerable interest to the celibate ladies living in his neighbourhood. One day he received a visit from one who had come to a mature period of life. Her manner was solemn, yet somewhat embarrassed: it was evident from the first that there was something very particular upon her mind. The good bishop spoke with his usual kindness, encouraged her to be communicative, and by and by drew from her that she had had a very strange dream, or rather, as she thought, a revelation from heaven. On further questioning, she confessed that it had been intimated to her that she was to be united in marriage to the bishop. One may imagine what a start this would give to a quiet scholar who had long ago married his books, and never thought of any other bride. He recovered, however, and very gently addressing her, said that 'doubtless these intimations were not to be despised. As yet, however, the designs of heaven were but imperfectly explained, as they had been revealed to only one of the parties. He would wait to see if any similar communication should be made to himself, and whenever it happened he would be sure to let her know.' Nothing could be more admirable than this humour but the benevolence shown in so bringing an estimable woman off from a false position.