HINTS of OCCURRENCES, &c.

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In this cathedral are likewife preferved feveral relics, for which the Roman Catholics fhew much veneration.They confifl of a fhift of the Virgin Mary; the fwaddling-band of Our Saviour ; the falh, which he had wraptround his waifl, when he was crucified ; and a piece of linen, which St. John had tied over his eyes, when hewas beheaded. Thefe relics are, during a whole fortnight, publicly exhibited to the faithful from one of thetowers of the cathedral; and if they have not operated wonderful miracles, have contributed to the circulationof fpecie, by the concourfe of bigoted multitudes. After the time of fhewing them, they are locked up in acheft, to which a new key is made during each exhibition, and which being cut in two, the wards are given tothe magiflrate, and the other part kept by the chapter.

Not many years fince, an ancient fuperflition flill prevailed, that no corn would grow during feven years inHungaria, if a deputation of fome of the natives of that country did not aflift at this famous exhibition. Butthe late emperor put a flop to this pilgrimage of vagabonds, at the rifk of flarving the reft of the orthodox inha-bitants of that plentiful part of his dominions. This laudable prohibition faved the magiftrate of Aix la Chapellethe trouble and expence of regaling the wandering gentry upon dry peafe and bacon, which the reigning burger-meifler ufed to ferve them up, in the drefs of a cook, at an hofpital, appropriated for that ceremony, as infig-nificant in itfelf as it was degrading to the dignity of a magiflrate.

The canons of the chapter enjoy a revenue of about one thoufand rix-dollars, and among their number, countthe emperor of Germany and the king of PrufTia, who have fubflitutes to perform their fun&ions, and they re-ceive half pay, no more being allowed them by the chapter.

Besides the cathedral, there are four parifhes at Aix la Chapelle, viz . St. Folian, St. Peter, St. James, andSt. Adelbert. The cure or re6lor of St. Folian has the title of arch-priefl, and his feat in the chapter of the cathe-dral. He is the prefident of the fynode, who decide in all fpiritual matters and matrimonial caufes, under thefan<5lion of the bifhop of Liege.

The parifh of St. Adelbert ought to be diflinguilhed from the collegiate church of the fame name. Thecanons of St. Adelbert in former times enjoyed a greater revenue than thofe of the Munfler. But their poffeflions,chiefly fituated in the province of Zealand, having been fwallowed up by the fea, they are now reduced to thetrifling fum of three hundred rix-dollars per annum. Their collegiate church is remarkable for being built overthe parifh church, to which you defcend by a flair-cafe, under the choir of the collegial.

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