nd the moon, which was styled Urania, Juno, Jana, Diana, Venus, &c.
Should it be conceded that the American _Mongolidae_ brought with them
this curse of Scythia, the date of their emigration will be
approximated, since it must have taken place subsequently to the affair
of Ascalon, or between 400 or 500 years B.C.

The adoption of female attire by the priesthood, however, was not
confined to the worshippers of Venus Urania; it was widely spread
throughout Heathendom; so widely that, as we learn from Tacitus, the
priests of the Naharvali (in modern Denmark) officiated in the dress of
women. Like many other heathenish customs and costumes, traces of this
have descended to our own times; such, for example, may have been the
exchange of dresses on New Year's Eve, &c.: see Drake's _Shakspeare and
his Times_, vol. i. p. 124., ed. 4to. And what else is the effeminate
costume of the clergy in many parts of Europe, the girded waist, and the
petticoat-like cassock, but a relique {103} of the ancient priestly
predilection for female attire?

A. C. M.

* * * * *

Minor Notes.

_Russia and Turkey._--The following paragraph from an old newspaper
reads with a strange significance at the present time:

"The last advices from Leghorn describe the genius of discord
still prevailing in the unfortunate city of Constantinople, the
people clamouring against their rulers, and the janissaries ripe
for insurrection, in consequence of the backwardness of the
Porte to commence hostilities with Russia."--_English Chronicle,
or Universal Evening Post_, February 6th to 8th, 1783.

J. LOCKE.

_Social Effects of the severe Weather, Jan. 3 and 4, 1854._--The daily
and local newspapers have detailed many public incidents of the severe
weather of the commencement of 1854: such as snow ten yards deep; roads
blocked up; mails delayed; the streets of the metropolis, for a time,
impassible; omnibuses with four horses; Hansom cabs driven tandem, &c.
The effects of the storms of snow, socially, were not the least curious.
In the neighbourhood of Manchester seventy persons were expected at an
evening party, one only arrived. At another house one hundred guests
were expected, nine only arrived. Many other readers of your valuable
paper have, no doubt, made similar notes, and will probably forward
them.

ROBERT RAWLINSON.

_Star of Bethlehem._--Lord Nugent, in his _Lands, Classical and Sa