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rade, and politics, then conducted me into the office. where I was formally introduced to the youths in it, and afterwards returned to settle particulars with my father. I sat on a high, uncomfortable stool for an hour or two, smiling (or rather attempting to smile) at the repartee and joke that was passing round, and answering all questions with the bashful monosyllables, "Yes, Sir," "No, Sir," till dinner time: right glad I was when it did come. But time will pass on! yes!! the first week in an office will glide away. I imperceptibly became acquainted with my fellow-apprentices. I even became known in other offices, though at first merely as "B's young man,' I made myself master of the first things required to be known in an office, and could now distinguish between a bill of parcels and a bill of lading. I shall here pass over the disputes concerning precedence, taking weights of goods, and attending ships. I learnt assurance at the custom-house, smut at the warehouse, and could take an oath at the excise with tolerable nonchalance; frequented the pier-head, understood the signals, and betted on the sailing of favourite ships; bought dumbells, boxing gloves; and visited my taylor oftener than my Euclid. The theatre was always with me a favourite resort; and here I must observe, that the critiques of your theatrical correspondents are somewhat jejune and unnatural. I am now one of ten hundred other youths who have tedious hours in spite of billiard-rooms and libraries, and who try to beguile them by flirting with the young lady on the other side of the street (or church on a Sunday) by writing sonnets for the Kaleidoscope, and disturbing a whole neighbourhood by juvenile attempts on the flute or violin. In fact, Sir, most obedient,

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SIR,-When Edward II. was in prison, and the persons who were in of him were dilatory in putting an end to his life, Aaam de Orleton, Bishop of Hereford, writ to them in order to quicken them, couching his precept in the following Poiguous sentence:

Edwardum ocidere nolite, timere bonum est;

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Nunquam in bella peribis.

Thou shalt go, thou shalt return,
Never shalt thou perish in war.

He did perish, however; and when his friends upbraided the oracle on the occasion, the juggler informed hem that they had construed the answer wrong; and that it was intended to convey this meaning: Ibis, redibis nunquam.

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My son, in playing upon a piece of ground near Paul1street (known by the appellation of "The Pump Field") on Wednesday evening last, about six o'clock, picked up a purse, containing a quantity of sovereigns; from innocence he stood admiring them; upon which he was accosted by a lady (one of four) with Now you have picked that up, it is mine, give it me;" and immediately took it from him, walking off with her company, without expressing the smallest gratitude.

If the lady is the actual owner of the purse, I am satisfied that she has got it; but I particularly beg your kindness in inserting this in your paper, in order that should it belong to any other person, they may if possible get further intelligence.-I am, Sir,

LEIGH ELSTON.

Your very humble servant, Rigby-place, Milton-street, Liverpool, July 31,

1823.

Scientific Records.

He

To Correspondents.

Music.-Nothing would be more easy than to adopt the gestion of An Amateur, by the purchase of a small stoel musical type; neither would it be difficult to furnis weekly supply of ORIGINAL MUSIC, such as we have issued by some of our cotemporaries. We are in posse of a foreign work, by the help of which, any person actually manufacture original minuets and trios, by m of a pair of dice. The chance medley strains, thus stran produced, are quite as good as some music, as i called, with which the public have lately been "ham The original music published in cheap periodical w and in the magazines, is generally so execrable, tha should be ashamed to circulate such notes. The reas obvious. The man who has sufficient genius to pr any thing with pretensions to taste or originality, can his talents to better account than writing for works as those to which we have alluded. A single song, w is above mediocrity, would be purchased at the music for a sum greater than the yearly salary which a peri publisher of such a work as ours could afford to pay a poser. We may safely challenge proof that any o song or air, not absolutely contemptible, has ever for way to the public through magazines or cheaper m nies. If therefore we should ever dabble in the m department, we shall confine ourselves to the selee old melodies of acknowledged excellence; and sha insult the public with original trash, which no music would purchase, except by the pound weight, to w his rosin or his Roman strings.

DRAMATIC CRITIQUES.—Our correspondent, The Tr in the Upper Gallery, has been raising a clatter abo ears, because we inserted only a part of his letter, our own commentary accompanying that extract lead our readers to conclude that the part omitted reasonably severe or caustic. Now, as this was fact, we have no objection to state that the whole nication of this correspondent was couched in th gentleman-like terms, apparently dictated by a very and candid spirit. Our only reason for curtailing it objection to extend the theatrical department of leidoscope to a length which some of our country might object to, on the ground that the subject! of local than general interest. Mrs. M'Gibbon, is sometimes unaccountably passed over in silen Liverpool critics; and we, therefore, gladly ava selves of the friendly trunkmaker's coincidence w opinion as to the general merits of this deserving En passant, we do not recognize the trunkmaker's signature, although we recollect his prototype in tator. It will be perceived that the usual comm from our correspondents on the drama is omitted t The lateness of the period at which the manuscrip is the cause of that omission.

Comet of Encke re-discovered. On the 2d of June, 1822, Mr. Rumker re-discovered in Gemini the periodical comet of Encke, which has excited so much notice, and from which it appears, that the revolution of this comet in 1204 days is put beyond a doubt. This comet was observed in 1786, 1795, 1801, 1805, and 1818; and by a comparison of all these observations, he calculated two sets of elements, which represented the observations within two minutes of a degree. In these elements the revolution of 1812 was 1203,452 days, and 1204,452, and half the greater axis, 0,3472191 and 0,3474612. With these data, M. IRISH LITERATURE.-The able dissertation on polite li Encke computed ephemerides of the comet for 1822. announced that he had little hopes of its being seen in Europe in 1822, as before June it would be extremely faint, and always near the horizon, and in the month of June it would se at the same time with the sun. He added, however, "that in south latitude 34 degrees, the comet, in the beginning of June, would be elevated 24 degrees above the horizon at sunset, and would then be as bright as a star of the fouth magnitude."-Our readers cannot fail to remark the singularity of the circumstance, that Mr. Rumker, Wales, should have discovered this comet on the 2d of June, ADVENTURES OF A SOVEREIGN. Are we to unders who accompanied Sir Thomas Brisbane to New South 1822, at Paramatta, in 33 degrees, 48 minutes, 45 seconds, of south latitude.

Feeding of Engine Boilers.-Thomas Hall, engineman to the Glasgow water company, having remarked the waste of fire when a steam-engine stops working, has, instead of letting a constant supply of water into the boiler to compensate for the loss, recommended that at each time its usual level be poured in, by which, when the working the engine is stopt, water to the depth of 18 inches above is resumed, there is a sufficient supply of hot water, the steam is ready the moment it is required, and no increase of fuel, to heat recently introduced fluid, is necessary. He

which has been carried through successive numb Kaleidoscope, is this day brought to a conclusion, w enable us next week to avail ourselves of the a favours of our correspondent Homo and others. STERNE'S PLAGIARISMS.If our correspondent, Trim's second Cousin, will turn to the memoirs of th and Philosophical Society of Manchester, vol. iv. § will find an article entitled, "Comments on John Ferriar, M.D." which will decide the question in a letter already acknowledged.

this communication is original?

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No. 163.-NEW SERIES.

Men and Manners.

TO THE EDITOR.

Kenda-M. & R.Brenthwaite; court, Gen. Post-office; Knutsford-P. Stubbs; and the Booksellers. Lancaster-G. Bentham; Ellesmere--W. Baugh: Lane End-J. Palmer; Glasgow-Robertson & Co.; Leeds-H. Spink; Greenock-W. Scott; Halifax-R. Simpson; Harley-T. Allbut; Huddersfield-T. Smart; Hull-J. Perkins;

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1823.

clear, I ventured out of the corner which had screened me from the jolting of the crowds as they passed. By some unaccountable impulse, originating perhaps in that curiosity which seems natural to man, rather than in inclination, I SIR.-Being subject to a kind of nervous debility or was driven forward in pursuit of the fugitives, until at the mental despondency, it happened on Whit Monday even-extremity of a lane, about half a mile in length, leading mg (May 19, 1823) while labouring under a periodical to the left of the high road, I came to a spacious common, return of my malady, and while reflecting, as usual, on or moor, where it appeared they had all arrived. Still the uncertainty of life and the transientness of worldly I was as much as ever at a loss to discover a reason enjoyments, having reclined my head on my hand, I in- why such a vast multitude should be assembled on such sensibly fell asleep and had the following dream: a barren spot. By the way, and for the sake of being parMethought that having exchanged my reading dress for ticular, I must not forget to mention that upon entering a suit of black, and my fur cap for a broad-brimmed the moor I observed several horses gallopping round it clerical hat, I found myself translated from my study into within an enclosed rail-way: they appeared to be rode a public-road, which was crowded to excess by vehicles (if it be safe to judge from appearances) by a species of of every description, from the nobleman's carriage to the monkey, or ourang-outang, which had a piece of steel fastman's sand-cart, while the foot path was equally fastened to the heel of its shoe, and in its hand a whip, wowded by those, who, from their appearance, seemed which were used alternately, as if to provoke the unof be placed in circumstances that would not admit of any fending animals. Why, said I to myself, there were a sterior show or unnecessary splendour, and were con- greater number of horses than these gallopping along the sequently trudging on foot. From the sudden transition I road, and with regard to cruelty, enough of that may be had experienced, and from observing that every individual seen at home; so I turned away with disgust, and pursued turging the same way, and apparently aiming at the my journey of silent inquiry and observation. Havte point; the first impression made upon my mind ing proceeded to the other extremity of the plain, , that we had all passed the gates of death and were where the press seemed to be greatest, and while I was string to judgment: but the cheerfulness and gaiety completely confounded with the noise that assailed my hat seemed to pervade the whole multitude, added to the ears on every hand, a fellow among the crowd, with lungs aideration that the rich man "carrieth nothing away almost as powerful as those of Stentor, bawled out "Ten ith him when he dieth," and is, therefore, on a level to one on Rhadamanthus." At hearing the name Rhadaith the meanest of his servants in the next world, were manthus, a trepidation seized my whole frame, for, recolte sufficient to convince me that the opinion I had lecting that he is described by Virgil as judge in hell, and bred was premature. Having retired into a recess and as exercising the duties of his office with rigorous hach good fortune had provided in the road side where I impartiality, I was now convinced, almost beyond a posappened to be, various conjectures arose in my mind sibility of doubt, that my first conjecture would soon pecting the crowds that were every moment passing by; prove true. My first care, therefore, was to call to re*could I come to any decisive conclusion in accounting membrance the sins of my past life, and fortify my mind the eagerness and bustle they discovered in their flight. to meet the punishment consequent upon those that were. you must know that all this time I did not ask a unrepented of. The anxiety of my mind now became e question, being of a sedentary studious disposition, so extreme, that I gave vent to my feelings, and inquired d moreover exceedingly bashful. I converse very little in a plaintive tone, from an elderly gentleman who was pany, and before strangers never open my mouth, nearest me, if the judge had yet made his appearance: red to it by extremity) At one time I was ready to which he answered in a manner that seemed to betray nclude that I had been carried through the aërial surprise mingled with vexation, “What judge ?" "Why Cars, and set down in the vicinity of Ætna or Vesuvius, Rhadamanthus," said I. "Aye," he said "keep your that the inhabitants having reason to suspect an im- day-lights open and you'll see him presently." After hate eruption of the mountain were escaping for their having been kept in suspense some time longer, several ", and carrying off their wives and families as objects voices at once were heard to cry out "hats off," hats off:' ca first solicitude. Then it occurred to me that I was I was one of the first to obey the command, not doubting the neighbourhood of some wicked city, which, but that we were about to engage in earnest supplication Stom of old, having by repeated sins and im- in order to avert, if possible, the wrath of the judge, and ace called down the divine vengeance, was finally move him to exercise his authority with more lenity. Ved to destruction; and that in consequence of a re- Accordingly, not having a suitable place for kneeling, Alaving been circulated that it was to be destroyed on I took off my hat, and having placed my left elbow on bowing day by fire and brimstone, the wretched the palm of my right hand, and my hat over my face, thats were using every exertion to avoid so fatal a I was ardently engaged, along with the rest as I supposed, This hypothesis too was completely overthrown in crying for mercy, when a violent blow having fallen etserving several priests escaping among the rest. By this upon the crown of my hat, drove the lower part of it * bustle began to abate, and seeing the road tolerably under my chin, and the upper part over the top of my

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Wigan-Lyon and Co.;
J. Brown;
Wrexham-J. Painter;
York-W.Alexander.

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head. I now felt the crowd closing in upon me, so that it was impossible to succeed in endeavouring to extricate myself from my unpleasant situation: before I had time, however, to make an attempt, such sticks and thumps fell upon me from all sides, that I began to imagine myself given up to the Furies, and that these infernals, by order of Rhadamanthus, were punishing me for the sins of my past life without havir een allowed the privilege of an impartial hearing. A blow which at this time luckily fell upon the side of my hat brought it off my face, when I immediately exclaimed, with vehemence, "Let me have a fair trial, better be bound to Ixion's wheel or condemned to roll the stone of Sisyphus than endure all this." At these words, a loud laugh burst from all who were near me. Having replaced my hat in its proper situation, I sneaked away to another part of the plain. The greater portion of the crowd now seemed to be divided into two distinct classes; one of which had assumed a sort of seriousness bordering on mortification; while the other indulged, to an immoderate degree, a disposition of laughter and derision. The former invoked the Divine Being to send to eternal destruction the noble and harmless animals mentioned above, as gallopping within the railway, and carried their passion to such excess as to curse the day which gave them birth; while the latter, apparently gathering mirth from their chagrin, were as merry as kings' jesters, thanked their propitious stars, and blessed the lucky day which had brought them to such a delightful and profitable spot. Being naturally disposed to redress the wrongs of the injured and relieve the oppressed, be they men or beasts, having turned towards those who appeared so remarkably cheerful, I humbly suggested, as a means of promoting peace and good order, that the horses should not be allowed to gallop any more until the business, which had called the people together, should have been concluded. This proposal was received at first with evident marks of extreme surprise, which were in a very short time converted into contemptuous sneers, accompanied with a few plain goodnatured oaths. Not receiving any suitable regard from this quarter, I addressed myself to the sons of sullenness and anger, and told them, in a firm tone of voice, that they would have acted more nobly by dragging the monkeys from the backs of the horses and endeavouring to stop them, than by cursing the poor animals that did not appear to have done any harm either designedly or otherwise. On hearing these words, a fellow with a club in his hand, and who seemed almost frantic with rage, roared out in a most frightful manner, at the same time raising his club to strike me, "Blast thy parsonic hat, thou black-looking d-1, what brought thee here? I reckon thou'll be telling thy congregation on Sunday that all that come to th' races will be sure to go to h-ll, and thou art here thyself as scandalous a hypocrite as ever Judas himself was." In order to save myself from injury, I was under the necessity of again skulking away with all possible dexterity. These circumstances led me to conclude, that my supposition of a future judgment would

again prove to be nothing more than a delusion. While racking my thoughts to ascertain the real cause of the vast assemblage, my ears were very agreeably saluted with the sounds of several musical instruments; and, as I listened more attentively, a whole band began to play a military air, which was admirably executed. I now thought that I had most undoubtedly discovered the real motive why so many people had come together; accordingly I made the best of my way to the place whence the sounds proceeded. Having arrived within a few yards. I stopped short, and found myself in a most enchanting situation. The instruments were in unison, and the harmony, of course, perfect. I was now amply repaid for all the previous toils and disappointments of the day; my mind, which had been greatly agitated, recovered its usual serenity, and my ruffled spirits sunk into a delightful calm. Having shut my eyes, I remained fixed as a statue, and inhaled the celestial sounds, which thrilled through my whole frame with a rapture that cannot be appreciated by those whose adamantine hearts are not softened and made better by music. During a short interval of the band, I discovered upon a building, elevated so as to overlook the crowds below, a company of those lovely beings, the ra diency of whose smiles is often found to dispel the clouds of impatience or grief that gather round the sullen brow of discontented man. There was one, however, who attracted my particular notice. Her form seemed to have been cast in the mould which capricious Nature makes use of occasionally, as if to put to silence the murmurs of peevish mortals, who are unceasingly arraigning the beauty and perfection of her works, and extolling those of her too-often successful rival, Art. As Prometheus is said to have stolen fire from heaven to animate the human figures he had formed from clay, so the expression of her countenance seemed to have been stolen from the same happy region, in order to embellish a perfect earthly form. The delicate lily and blushing rose were luxuriantly blended on her dimpled cheek; her fair forehead, half concealed by encircling ringlets, produced an effect on my heart similar to that which we may conceive to be produced on the lively imagination of an enraptured poet on beholding a harvest moon through an intervening grove of honeysuckles; while the lustre which darted from her dark eye totally eclipsed every other luminary that chanced to wander within its radiant sphere. Although I had previously been disposed to look upon beauty with a degree of Stoical indifference, by reason of having found it, when analyzed, to consist of mere, uninteresting particles; yet on this occasion it was in vain to call in the aid of cold blooded philosophy; in spite of all my efforts to the contrary, my eyes turned to the self-same point with as much certainty as iron to the magnet. "Ah!" I thought, "did not cruel fate forbid, I would take thee to my own cottage; thou shouldest eat of my own bread, drink of my own cup, and lie in my bosom." The music now ceased, and shortly after my guardian angel disappeared, being driven over the plain in a carriage drawn by four milk-white steeds. With some difficulty I summoned up "the man within me," and resumed my former business of inquiry and observation. Judging from the very small number that had paid any regard to the band, I was convinced that the generality had not come for the sake of a musical treat; and observing the people beginning to leave the plain, I inquired with impatience from a sour-looking gentleman, what they had come together for? great fool," he said; "it's All Saints' day, and the governor of Bedlam has given his inmates a holiday." This impertinent answer so provoked me, that I awoke from my dream, and felt myself not a little chagrined at having lost as much tine as would have sufficed to read Plato's treatise on the immortality of the soul. As my dream appeared to have been somewhat singular, I determined to sacrifice a little more time in writing it down and sending it to you, Mr. Editor, on the presumption that it may possibly afford amusement to your numerous readers, should you think it worthy of a place in your interesting miscellany. Though some

"Why, you

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Mules and throstles have long been employed in the process of spinning, but they are only pieces of machinery so called, bearing no resemblance whatever to the original: it was reserved for the present speculative age to convert real mice into manufacturers; and if the strange experiment really succeed to any extent, the discovery, in eclat, if not in magnitude, will rival the wonders effected by steam and gas. We recollect a poor black man who used to say, "Every ting work in England; man, he work; horse, he work; dog, he work;—pig be de only gentleman ;-pig well fed, no work at all; pig happy fellow." It is amusing to see how man, the lord of the universe, presses into his service the elements and animal creation. We have long had gigantic manufactories, covering an acre of ground, driven by steam; and now we have them of Lilliputian proportion, worked by mice! We have, from time immemorial, domesticated the huge elephant, and trained him in our service; and now we have pressed into the cause the diminutive mouse. By the bye, this reminds us that we have had infinitely smaller creatures at work, if not for the use, at least for the emolument of man. Mr. Baker, in his interesting History of the Microscope, says, "Dr. Power saw a golden chain at Trendescant's, of 300 links, not more than one inch long, yoked to and drawn away by a flea." (page 295.) Mr. Baker, himself, saw and examined with his microscope, "a chaise (made by Mr. Boverick, a watch-maker) with four wheels and all proper harness, turning readily on the axles, and a man in the coach,-all of ivory, and drawn easily by a flea. The coach, harness, man, and flea weighed less than one grain." (page 295.)-But it is time to introduce to our readers the singular paragraph which gave rise to the preceding hasty and desultory observations.-Edit. Kal.

way. At this rate, a mouse earns 9d. every five weeks, which is just one farthing per day, or 7s. 6d. per annum. Take 6d. off for board, and allow 1s. for machinery, there last time I was in company with the mouse employer, be will arise 6s. of clear profit from every mouse yearly. The told me he was going to make application to the heritors for a lease of an old empty house here, the dimensions of which are 100 feet by 50, and 50 in height, which, at a moderate calculation, will hold ten thousand mouse-mills. sufficient room being left for keepers, and some hundreds and £500 for the interest of £10,000 to erect machinery of spectators. Allowing £200 for rent and task-masters. there will be a balance of £2,300 per annum. This, Sir surely be preferable to the old South Sea speculation. you will say, is projecting with a vengeance, but it would

Manufacture of Pins.-We observe it stated in the Mechanics' Gazette, that Mr. Whittemore, of this city has so improved the machine for making pins (originally invented by an American) as to make from the simpl wire thirty per minute, completely headed and pointed entirely by the machine, with only one hand to turn the crank. Great as this ingenious improvement is, we learn from the Minerva, that a native American, who is now for making pins, about three feet square, which may be a resident of Philadelphia, has lately invented a machine worked by a boy of twelve years old, who, without any previous instruction, can make sixty pins in a minute, being double the number manufactured in the same space in the new machine is to introduce the end of a coil of by Mr. Whittemore's invention. All that it is necessary wire, and, by turning a crank, the wire is gradually drawn into the machine: it is there cut to the proper length fe the shank of the pin; a spiral head is simultaneously formed, and placed on it; afterwards both are attached firmly together; and, by means of a grindstone, the point after having been submitted to the process of whitening is formed, and the pin falls out of the machine, and, is, in every respect, like those now imported from Grea Britain. The principle on which the two machines ar formed appears to be the same, though it is evident tha the one invented at Philadelphia possesses a great ad of pins. This is certainly a remarkable age for inventions vantage over the other in producing double the quantity and that spirit for discovery which formerly belonged in peculiar degree to the French nation, and was so readi improved on by the English, seems to have been large fail, ere lorg, to silence the calumnies of those wher transferred to our own countrymen, whose efforts caur only denied us all literary talent, but pronounced us terly incapable of any ingenious or useful invention-No York paper.

sists of certain pools, or plashes, whose indolent wat Marble Ponds of Persia.-This natural curiosity by a slow and regular process, stagnate, concrete, petrify, producing that beautiful transparent stone monly called Tabriz marble, much used in the bu places of Persia, and in their best edifices. These pr their position is distinguished by heaps of stone, are contained within the circumference of half a mile have accumulated as the excavations have increased. petrifactive process may be traced from its commencer to its termination: in one part the water is cleari second, it appears thicker and stagnant; in a third, Where the operation is complete, a stone thrown of black; and in its last stage it is white like a host surface makes no impression, and a man may walk it without wetting his shoes. Such is the constant dency of this water to become stone, that when it es from the ground in bubbles the petrifaction assum magic, had been arrested in their play, and metamorph globular shape, as if the bubbles of a spring, by a stro into stone. The substance thus produced is brittle, t parent, and sometimes richly streaked with green, and coppered-coloured veins. It admits of being cut very large slabs, and takes a good polish. So much i stone looked on as an article of luxury, that none be King, his sons, and persons privileged by special fire are permitted to take it.

[From the Edinburgh Star.] gentleman in Kirkaldy had trained two mice, and invented Having seen a paragraph in your paper, stating, that a machinery for enabling them to spin cotton yarn, making 5d. per day profit, I take the liberty of informing you, that a Mr. Hatton, of this town, has had two mice constantly employed in making of sewing thread for upwards tained with a fair statement of facts, I hope you will give of twelve months; and that the curious may be entera place to the following description, which is by no means exaggerated; as, having often seen his mouse thread-mills, I thoroughly understand the amusing operation:-The mouse thread-mill is so constructed, that the common house mouse is enabled to make atonement to society for past offences, by twisting, twining, and reeling, from 100 to 120 threads per day (Sunday not excepted) of the same length and, equally with the inclosed hank, which I send as a specimen of their work, for the inspection of the Extraordinary Watches.-M. Leroy, watchmaki curious. To complete their task, the little pedestrian has the King of France, carrying on business in the F every day. An ordinary mouse weighs only half an ounce. twenty years, or even perpetually, without he ne to run 10 miles. This journey it performs with ease Royal, has invented a pendulum which may go for t A half-penny's worth of oat-meat, at 15d. per peck, serves winding up. M. Leroy does not pretend to have one of these tread-wheel culprits for the long period of vered the perpetual motion, but he feels certain of ha five weeks. In that time it makes (110 threads per day discovered a pleasing and commodious article of us being the average) 3850 threads, of 25 inches, which is price of which does not exceed that of the ordinary pe very near nine lengths of the standard recl. A penny is lums. The model is to be seen at his country-bou paid here to women for every cut made in the ordinary Choisy-le-Roi.-Paris paper.

them were, Sir W. Pepys, Pottrell House, Walham-
green; Hammond, Esq. of Potter's-bar; and J.
O. Bricknell, Esq. of Colney, St. Alban's. Mr. Green's
companion, who is deaf and dumb, showed the greatest
intrepidity.

TO THE EDITOR.

The lamentations of the latter are loudest when the people at large are happiest; just as usurers thrive least during times of general plenty.

It is very natural that a man who fancies he has laid down a good plan for the regeneration of mankind, should be anxious to bring it forward, and feel vexed at the indolence of his neighhours, when they do not enter into his views as quickly as he could wish: but it is also very pardonable in the said neighbours when they are not quite as sanguine as he is himself; because their daily experience teaches them that the tenth new project, which succeeds, does not always indemnify for the nine others, which are found wanting. They have too often seen that it is much easier to make things worse than to amend them, and that, by too great an anxiety for improvement, a man may finish, like the Italian, who killed himself with specifics, and whose epitaph says, "Per star meglio, sto qui”—I am here, because I wanted to be better than I was.

English Opium-Messrs. Cowley and Staines, of WinsL, Bucks, have cultivated poppies for opium, with such succes as to induce the belief that this branch of agriculture is of national importance and worthy of support. In 1821 they produced 60 pounds of solid opium, equal to the best Turkey, from rather less that four acres and a half. The gel was sown in February, came up in March, and the gathering commenced in the latter end of July, when the popies had lost their petals and were covered with a bluish Sir,-In your interesting Kaleidoscope of Tuesday last, e bloom. By horizontal incisions, opium was procured from them daily, until the produce would no longer under the head "Scientific Records," I notice some rebear the expense: 97 pounds 1 ounce were obtained for marks on sea-bathing, by an individual who appears to Els d which, when properly evaporated, yielded consider himself perfectly competent to decide even "when 6 pounds of dried opium. The poppies stood till they doctors disagree." Although I have not the honour to be became yellow, about the middle of August; they were thes pulled and laid in rows on the land, and, when dry, ranked among that most respectable and useful class of seeds were got from them amounting to 13 cwt which was men, I will venture to affirm, from my long acquaintance expected to yield 714 gallons of oil. The oil-cake was with them, that there are few (if any, having received a used with great advantage in feeding cattle. From the liberal education) who treat their patients on the selfish capsule from which the seed is obtained, an extract may and unscientific principle with which he accuses them. Is be got by cold water, eight grains of which are equal to one of opium, an acre producing 80 pounds of it, and the the gentleman acquainted with the real "coarse" compopeppy straw, when laid in the yard in a compact heap, sition of sea-water? And is he ignorant that the internal makes excellent manure. The quantity of opium con- use of it frequently proves strengthening to the system? sumed in this country is about 50,000 pounds, which Such it has lately been to myself, and I can positively ould be easily raised in many parts where there is dry land and a superfluous population. On the moderate cal-assure him that my recovery can neither be ascribed to the calation of 10 pounds per acre, 5000 acres would be suffi-"novelty of the scene, change of amusements, nor agree-landers and many other tribes so happy. They lead the ciest, which would employ about 50,000 people, such as able company," for each of these was excluded.-I beg to are not calculated for common agricultural labour, and at be believed, Sir, Yours, &c. a time when there is scarcely other labour for them, viz. MEDIOCRIS. Liverpool, July 31, 1823. between hay time and harvest.

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CONSIDERED AS THE ART OF LIVING, AND AS A
CURE FOR THE DISEASES OF THE MIND.

The short and the long of the art is, in fact, no art at all; the celebrated exclamation of the old sage, Quam multis non egco! what a number of things I do not want! is the very identical and native philosopy, which makes Laplife of an oyster; or, at the utmost they live in perpetual childhood. Granted: but they are happy; nature has rendered them so in the shortest manner; whilst we learned and enlightened people know of so many ways to the same point, that we are for ever wandering, and do but seldom arrive in time.

Theophrast, the follower of Aristotle, died at the age of ninety; and he is said to have declared at his death, that it was a great pity a man should be taken from the world just at the moment when he was beginning to understand

M. C. H. Tholard, Professor of Physics, &c., in the
College of Tarbes, Upper Pyrenees, has published a small
treatise, entitled, "A Preservative against Thunder and
Hail, &c Herein it is maintained, that cords of flax in [Original Translation by our correspondent Homo, from the Ger- something about life. Has a Red Indian ever made such

man of Wieland.]

The straw, placed at a certain elevation above the vineyards,
Je grounds, &c. attract the electricity from the stormy
os, and prevent the formation of hail. This very
imple process, in 1822, had the most satisfactory re-
Men had been living for ages before any one of them
Out of 18 communes that are annually struck took it into his head that living was a science; and pro-
with bail, and that were provided with the above paragre- bably many an other had been invented before it, from
three only were slightly touched, and it was in the the art of Tubal Cain down to that of catching flies; which,
a bordering on those that had not made use of the pre-according to the experienced Arabian chief Batam, is not
ative (in Franch paille lin) whilst twenty of the ad-
t communes lost the greater part of their crops.- quite as easy as some people might fancy; but, at last,
the ingenuous Greeks discovered also philosophy, or the
art of living, reduced it into a proper system, and brought
it to a high degree of refinement.

Cimate of America.-A writer in the Charleston City of the date of May 24, says, that while snow was Malling on Cape Cod, Indian corn was six feet high at estos, and that some days previously, he had seen gown ears of corn in the market.

Large Oak-Great numbers of persons are daily view. the large oak tree, which has lately been felled in ley Park, Leicestershire. This surprising oak is ten Sound the but, of solid timber, and is valued at two hundred guineas. The bark is estimated at tens; and the tree and branches, now fallen, cover an acre of land. It is supposed to have been growing al Lundred years. Many of the branches are from to four yards round.

By far the greater part of mankind had not even dreamt of such an art; they had lived without knowing exactly how; just as Monsieur Jardin had been speaking prose during all his lifetime; or just as we breathe, digest, grow, and move in various manners, without our having any knowledge of the mechanism by which these things are accomplished, or by what connexion of causes the effects are produced.

In this thick cloud of ignorance live, even in our own times, innumerable nations on all parts of the globe; and we may moreover take it for granted, that, in the most enlightened part of Europe itself, many people know quite as little of this art, and care quite as little about it, as the natives of Otaheite or of New Zealand. They live on merrily, as if they were complete masters in what they are doing; and the most wonderful part of the thing is, that they even outdo the regular professors in all the essential and practical parts of the business.

a complaint? Does he not live from the beginning to the end? It ought, nevertheless, to be observed, at the same time, that Theophrast did perhaps not say any such thing, but that the people who surrounded his couch had not rightly understood him, and that some pedant or other put afterwards the above-mentioned foolish construction on his words. It is much more likely that the philosopher meant to say, he regretted his having been foolish enough to bestow, during sixty or seventy years, a painful and tedious study upon what he might have learnt much

sooner and better from nature.

Savages seldom know much about physic, because they are not very liable to diseases; slight wounds or ailments are cured by time, and of mortal ones they die, just as we do. They have no idea of a soul, as distinct from the body; and, with them, a man consists only of one piece; consequently they know of no cure for mental complaints.

In highly civilized countries, the case is otherwise : soul and body are treated as having different interests, and separate establishments are granted to both, as if they were an ill-paired couple. Man is no longer the same creature: he is composed of two contending powers the passions of the mind and the wants of the body claim mutually the pre-eminence, and tear asunder what ought to be united.

It is then that cures for the heart are likewise thought of; and that philosophers pretend to work on the mind, purgando, saignando, et olysterizando, just as physicians do upon the body; and the result is nearly similar in both cases. Woe unto the people who meddle with both faculties at the same time! Palliatives may be of service in accidental ailments, but nature must still do the principal part, and, where the constitution is once fairly exhausted, no medicine will avail.

Green's Balloon.-On Friday se'nnight, a few dan before five o'clock, Mr. Green, the celebrated geronaut (accompanied by Mr. Henry Symonds, Hang) made his ninth ascent, from that town, amidst He crowd of spectators. The weather was pretty rable, the wind brisk, south-west by west. In one ate the balloon ascended to an immense height, and steady course over Wargrave; in about fifteen tates it was obscured in a white cloud, but soon reped, and was visible, in the whole, half an hour. rapid flight over large fields of clouds, the effected a safe descent in a grass field belonging Franklin, at North Mims, Herts, at a quarter , having travelled a space on the map of about The descent was remarkably gradual. In g the balloon and car, every assistance was received persons near the spot, and particularly from a an who had assisted Mr. Green in descending, in parish, after his first ascent at his Majesty's Yet the same nature conceals from us what is too far tion. The gas being discharged, and the balloon eup, a messenger was despatched to Hartfield for a from our grasp; she teaches us to be satisfied with what In the interim several gentlemen arrived, we have within our reach; and she gives to us that happy dered every kind office to the voyagers: among indifference about which so many schemers complain. I ought to be extremely unwell.

te

Cicero says, somewhere, that nature is the best guide, and it is probably by her direction that we learn to eat and to drink, use our limbs, and even our memory and understanding. What we cannot accomplish the first time we may do after the tenth or the twentieth attempt; and what two hands cannot effect, four or eight may. Every fresh trial adds something to our knowledge: we learn by our very faults; and, finally we become perfect without perceiving how.

Physicians have been long unwilling to allow, even to healthy people, that they did not require their occasional assistance; on the same principle philosophers are ever enforcing their nostrums upon the world, but few persons of sense will attend to either, and, like Voltaire's Zadig, the wisest read none of the books, in which it is learnedly demonstrated and set forth that, secundum artem, they

Poetry.

THE FRIENDSHIP OF WOMAN.

Was man alone for godlike Friendship born?
Can man alone the sacred passion own?
And the best feelings of the heart and soul,
Say, were they subject but to man's control?
Forbid it justice, and forbid it Heaven!
Alike to woman, tender woman, given
To own, in all its force, the powerful tie
That knows to suffer, nor would fear to die;
Which scorning interest, to no sex confined,
Lives, moves, and has its being in the mind:
That weeps in sadness, joys in hour of bliss,
And makes a Heaven e'en of this wilderness.
Yes, generous Friendship, attribute divine!
Weak woman bends before thy hallowed shrine,
And worships with a heart devout as e'er-

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With grateful rapture glowed, or wept in prayer;
Binds round thy saintly brow the living rose,
And woos thee midst a multitude of woes!
Dear in the hour of joy, but dearer far
When the winds threaten, and when roars the war;
When storms arise and shake the farthest pole,
And passions jar, and terror chills the soul :
Then, heaven-born Friendship! as on wings of light
Thou comest to cheer the horrors of the night
And, like a sunbeam, glittering through the storm,
Brightens the landscape tempest-struck and lorn;
Gives back the sparkle to the weeping eye,
And steals the anguish of the heart-drawn sigh!
Yes! Friendship, generous Friendship! thine to bless
E'en in extremest hour of wretchedness!

When fortune flies us, and when love, unkind,
Mocks at our tears, nor casts one look behind;
Then, then thou takes us to thy angel breast,
Soothes all our sorrows, charms our cares to rest;
Points to a brighter and a happier state,
And gently bears us o'er the gulf of fate!
And can an attribute divine as this,

A foretaste sweet of everlasting bliss,
To man, inconstant man, alone be given,
And woman be debarred this lower Heaven?

Abhorred the thought!" speak, ye who best can tell,"

If woman prove not Friendship's powerful spell,

If woman love not truly-deeply-well,
As e'er creation's boasted lord, proud man.
Or ever did, perchance, or will, or can?

Ah, yes! immaculate, blest power divine!
No age, no sex, celestial Friendship, thine;
Pure emanation of immortal mind,
From all of grovelling sense, spotless, refined:
Essence divine! thy throne the sensate breast
On which, as adamant, thou firm may'st rest;
Reckless of time or distance, love or hate,
Immovable amid the shocks of fate!
Thine, generous Friendship! thine through good or ill,
Alike to shine a ministering angel still!
Liverpool.

TRANSLATION

FROM THE MEDEA OF EURIPIDES, LINE 193.

That is no false, fallacious creed, Which deems unwise our sires, Who first attuned the vocal reed To move soft Music's fires.

G.

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Though blest with strong health, enjoying great wealth,
All pleasures by stealth from your hearts will repair;
Friends round you falling, how bitter and galling,
How dark and appalling is bachelor's fare?
If sickness your curse is, or dotage, which worse is,
Then doctors, and nurses, and a negligent heir
Will study to grieve you, and try to deceive you,
And carelessly leave you to bachelor's fare.

Then in spring-time remember the dreary December
Of life, when each ember of comfort is care;
When anguish shall rack you, suspicion distract you,
Say what can attract you in bachelor's fare?
Though food you are loathing, a daughter's soft soothing,
Or sons kindly smoothing the pillow of care,
Oh, such pleasures will last-when all others are past:
Now this picture contrast with the bachelor's fare.

S, F.

FAREWELL TO SALOPIA.

"Farewell" to thee, Salop! but oh! not for ever,
Sweet place of my birth! can I bid thee adieu;
Through the world far away I may wander, but never
Can I behold any so lovely as you.

Thy quarry how charming, thy Severn and fountains,
How blooming thy green-mantled hillocks appear,
And when from afar I behold yon blue mountains,
How lovely the spot and the prospect how dear!
Along with my comrades, how oft have I angled,
How oft have we gambol'd thy waters beside;
And when by mishap have our lines been entangled,
How oft on thy banks hath my valour been tried.
But no more shall I sport, hoary winter prevailing;
The football no more shall I kick o'er the green,
When Luna on high thro' the blue ether sailing,
Shall shed her soft rays to enliven the scene
And thou, lovely spot ! * can I think of forsaking
Thee, sweetest of places, for ever my theme;
How painful the thought each fond feeling awaking,
How swells my fond bosom at Millington's name.
There first dawn'd my childhood; and, oh! may it flourish
Till Sol shall no longer diffuse his blest rays;
Erring youth to instruct and the aged to cherish,
Till nature herself shail dissolve in the blaze.
Farewell, lovely Sue, ever blithsome and merry;
Yet know, dearest girl, that wherever I be,
Ever constant I'll prove, and the heart of thy Jerry
With fondness shall turn to Salopia and thee.
"Farewell" then, Salopia; but, oh! not for ever,'
Sweet place of my birth and, fond Susan, adieu!
Through the world far away I may wander, but never
Can I behold any so lovely as you.
LAverpool.

* Millington's Hospital.

Fashions for August.

JERRY

EVENING DRESS.-Dress of pink crape, oran with silk spots; the corsage is made plain, and c and trimmed round the bust with triple leaves of air gros de Naples; short full sleeve of corded bands, woven with similar leaves. The corsage and skirt an in a corded band, and fasten behind. The skirt is t med with two rows of watered gros de Naples, sepal into regular divisions at top and bottom, edged with and drawn with a little fulness in the centre; a ro of watered gros de Naples at the bottom of the Ballasteros hat of tulle; the front is turned up, and with white satin and narrow blond, and ornamented two satin rouleaus, about half an inch apart: on th side the front is cut open and trimmed, which gives a and pretty effect. The crown has a waved circula with three satin rouleaus waving round it: on the les is a full plume of blue and white ostrich feathers, w Necklace, ear-rings small plume of marabouts. bracelets of pink topaz. White kid gloves, and satin shoes sandelled.

BALL DRESs.-Dress of blue tulle: the corger and moderately high; full in the back and front, are fined round the bosom with a band of satin folds and beneath is a wreath composed of floss silk, satta blond. Short full sleeve of tulle, set in a corded and ornamented with floss silk leaves of the mou ash, and triangular trimmings of satin, edged with blond; satin band with corded edges round the waist bow behind formed of small pointed leaves, corus edged with blond. A wadded satin hem at the bott the skirt, which is made long, and indicates an inch of resuming the train, which gives grace and clea the figure, and is particularly appropriate to full except for the ball room. Above the bem is an ornat wave of floss silk, satin, and twile, from which a or scroll rises, supporting three circular fancy f Brussels lace scarf. The hair is dressed à la Grecgy ornamented with Milanese pins of gold, with he initative turquoise; on each side is a ball of the and a second pending from the left. Necklace an rings of turquoise, set in embossed gold, and faster cameo snaps. White kid gloves, trimmed and tied elbow. Ivory fan, and white satin shoes.

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