all the abstruse calculations of astronomy, in an age when those
calculations were most complicated, without being able to write.
The whole of Charlemagne's life renders the supposition absurd.
He studied under Alcuin, whose first rule was to teach the most
correct orthography in writing. We know that he subscribed many
deeds, though his signature was abbreviated, to render it as rapid
as possible. Eginhard himself states, that the monarch wrote the
history of the ancient kings in verse: and Lambecius, one of the
highest antiquarian authorities, declares, that the imperial
library still contains a manuscript, corrected by the hand of
Charlemagne himself.

Nor did the monarch remain satisfied with leading the way himself on
the path of knowledge which he desired the whole nation to follow; nor
content himself with bestowing on his children a careful and judicious
education, both mental and corporeal; but by constantly proposing in
writing questions for solution, addressed to the various prelates and
teachers of his realm, he forced them to exercise their talents and
cultivate their minds, under the severe penalty of shame and ridicule.
On the other hand, literary merit was never without its reward,
for though, as far as we can discover, Charlemagne, wise in his
generosity, seldom if ever gave more than one profitable charge at
once to one man, yet those who distinguished themselves by talent
and exertion, were sure to meet with honour, distinction, and
competence.--_James_.

* * * * *

RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS.

* * * * *

THE MONEY OF BETRAYAL, OR "PRICE OF BLOOD."

[Two Illustrations]

The following very curious notice respecting the money (coin
and value) for which Judas Iscariot betrayed our Redeemer, (and
afterwards, with it, purchased "the Potter's Field, to bury strangers
in,") is extracted from _The Sovereign Order of Saint John of
Jerusalem_, by ANDREW FAVINE, 1620, and will no doubt prove acceptable
to the reader:--

"In this citty of Rhodes they did beate and stamp money of silver,
in bignesse somewhat neare to an half teston of France, but yet much
thicker, and the figures thereon more embossed than ours are. These
pieces of silver are like to the halfe sickle of the Jews, or the
diobrachma of the Romaines, but they be more worth. There is a
tradition, that the thirtie pence, for which the Sa