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HINTS of OCCURRENCES , &c.

The infignia of the German empire, kept at Aix la Chapelle, and carried to Frankfurt at each coronation, arethe Gofpel, and the fword of Charles the Great. That emperor is faid to have been of a gigantic fize; and ifhis flippers, which are alfo carried to the coronation, were a&ually worn by him; his figure, which at Aix laChapelle is yearly twice carried in proceflion, is by no means too tall.

This figure is about fifteen feet high ; the head made of wax, and the body of wicker-work; it is drefled in ayellow tunic, with the crown on its head; the cathedral on the left arm, and the fceptre in the right hand. Itis carried on the fhoulders of a man, who is concealed under it fo as to make it appear to walk itfelf.

In the holy week there are two more proceflions; in one of which Chrifi: is reprefented lying in the graveupon a handfome bed, with bolder, pillows, blankets, and counterpane. And in the other, a confiderable numberof penitent barefooted bigots, cloathed in fackcloth, carry heavy wooden erodes on their fhoulders ; by which cere-mony they prefume to expiate the extravagancies committed in Shrove-tide. Their leader is the guardian of theRecolets, who is loaded with an enormous crofs, which however is rumoured to be hollow. Befides this he hasan afiiflant in Nicodemus, who to the Jewifh cuftom generally adds a whim of his own, and wears a halfpennyroll as a button to his hat. The reverend fathers Recolets, who feldom negleCt an opportunity, where moneymay be acquired, charge fixpence for the apparel of each perfon that aflifts at this religious mafquerade.

The principal manufactories of Aix la Chapelle are needles and woollen cloth. They export the former chieflyto Germany and France, and a few to the Archipelago. The fituation of the town is well calculated for the clothmanufactory, on account of the number of fmall rivulets by which it is interfeCted, and whofe waters are fit fordying. They export a very confiderable quantity of this manufactory to Germany, and the North; but thegreatelt part of the coarfe cloth to the Archipelago, by the way of Ancona and Senigaglia.

Though this branch of indultry might be thought to produce great advantages to the town; wealthy manu-facturers are but few in number, and bankruptcies more frequent than in any other place; which may be attri-buted to the redundancy of competitors in the fame line; to a natural propenfity of the inhabitants to idlenefsand extravagance; and more particularly to their fondnefs of gaming, for which they have too frequent oppor-tunities in the watering feafon.

The watering feafon opens the firft of May, and concludes at the end of Auguft. The waters are drank and

applied in the form of baths. Their chief bafis is fulphur, which adheres in large lumps to the walls of the well.

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