Mr. Pope."
A. F. W.
SOUTHEY'S "DOCTOR;" ST. MATTHIAS' DAY IN LEAP-YEAR.
In looking over the 1848 edition of Southey's book, The Doctor, I observe an error which has escaped the care and revision of the editor, the Rev. J. W. Warter, B.D. At p. 199., where Southey is referring to the advantages of almanacs, he writes:
"Who is there that has not sometimes had occasion to consult the almanac? Maximilian I., by neglecting to do this, failed in an enterprise against Bruges. It had been concerted with his adherents in that turbulent city, that he should appear before it at a certain time, and they would be ready to rise in his behalf, and open the gates for him. He forgot that it was leap-year, and came a day too soon; and this error on his part cost many of the most zealous of his friends their lives. It is remarkable that neither the historian who relates this, nor the writers who have followed him, should have looked into the almanac to guard against any inaccuracy in the relation; for they have fixed the appointed day on the eve of St. Matthias, which being the 23rd of February, could not be put out of its course by leap-year."
The words in Italics show Southey's mistake. This historian was quite correct: as, according to the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, although the regular festival of St. Matthias is celebrated upon the 24th of February, yet, "in anno bissextili Februarius est dierum 29, et Festum S. Mathiæ celebratur 25 Februarii." Thus it will be seen, that the year when Maximilian was to have appeared before Bruges being leap-year, and the day appointed being the eve of St. Matthias, he should have come upon the 24th, not the 23rd of February: the leap-year making all the difference.
P. J. Yarrum.
Dublin.