putting his hand on the bundle, but without showing it. schatka," where Crustiew, an old gentleman of much sagacity,

* See "Count Benyowsky; or, the Conspiracy of Kamtalks the following nonsense:

Crusticw.with youthful energy and an air of secrecy and confidence] "To fly, to fly, to the isles of Marian-the island of « Tinian—a terrestrial paradise. Free—free—a mild climate

n't mean the bottle of cherry-brandy that you stole out" a new-created sun-wholesome fruits—harmless inhabitants— the vaults in the Abbey cellar.

Fashions for September.

WALKING DRESS.-A dress of canary-yellow gros de Naples, with three very broad distinct bias folds on the border of the skirt. Sleeves, à la Marie, with antique points at the wrists, and an enamelled bracelet of white and gold next the hand. Fichu-pelerine of fine India muslin, with long mantelet ends; the pelerine finished all round by Spanish points, edged with fine braiding, and surmounted by flutings of lace. The ends of this elegant out-door covering are drawn through a belt of tartan ribbon; yellow checquers on a white ground; though some ladies prefer the pattern to be of different colours. The pelerine is fastened at the throat with a bow of ribbon the same as the belt; a small triple French ruff of lace surmounts the fichu part. The hat is of white crape or chip, and is ornamented with bows and long puffs of tartan ribbon; yellow, on white ground. Blue silk stockings, with kid slippers of the same colour, en sandales, complete the dress.

character allowed, excellent. Our old favourite looks as
well and appears in as good spirits as ever.

But the main charm of the evening was the performance
of Mrs. Chatterley. Her character (Bissare) was the only
good one in the piece, and to say she acted excellently is
but feeble praise. A more lovely female never graced the
boards of a theatre, and a better actress for her line of
characters is not now in existence. To notice any part of
her performance would be needless; it was all good, all
perfect: further praise cannot be given. Miss F. H.
Kelly performed Oriana, the young lady who is so despe
rately enamoured with Young Mirabel, and her acting was
chaste and efficient. This said character of Oriana gives
her no scope for the display of her powers, and of course
renders criticism unnecessary. The rest of the performers

were as usual.

Noakes the case is very different, for he not only giv the answer, but tells the manner in which he proceeds find it. The following are a few of the questions whic this prodigy of nature has answered with surprising rap dity and precision:

How many turns will a wheel of 15 feet in circu ference make in going 15654 miles?-Answer, 533,250 What is the value of 19,172 pairs of gloves, at 240– per pair?-Answer, £2276 13s. 6d.

nutes, are there in 12 years, 365 days 6 hours to the year How many portions of time, each consisting of 29 mi

-Answer, 217,638 and 18-29.

In £853 how many crowns, shillings, groats, and penem -Answer, 3412 crowns, 17,060 shillings, 51,180 groat and 204,720 pence.

The planet Mercury revolves round the sun in 88 daym How many revolutions will he perform in 17 years an 219 days?-Answer, 73.

In how many different places can I put 14 persons
Answer, 87,178,291,200.

The following questions were proposed by the Lord Bishop of
Peterborough.

EVENING DRESS.-A gown of a novel description, the lower part being made like a pelisse robe, of pink crape, richly ornamented with satin of the same colour. One broad bias fold of pink satin surrounds the border, cut in points next the knee, to which it nearly ascends: at the part where the robe closes down the front of the skirt, is a broad layer of satin, notched in points on each side: down the centre of this ornament are bows of pink satin ribbon, placed at equal distances. The body is finished in front with fichu robings in points, similar in appearance to the Anglo-Greek stomacher. The sleeves are long, and of white crape, with double rows of antique points of white satin: next the hand, a broad gold bracelet, fastened with a cameo head. A dress hat of white MASTER GEO. NOAKES, THE INFANT ARITHMETICIAN, transparent crape; under the brim a fluting of broad blond; the crown of the hat covered with beautiful white plumage, playing in every direction,

After the comedy, a variety of songs were given with good effect; and Mr. Meadows, with his bundle of conundrums, convulsed the house with laughter. Permit me to notice one, which, whether his own or the production of a rough, the other from Peterborough to London; they star Two men travel on foot, one from London to Peterbo friend, is very ingenious. Why is the Liverpool Cork at the same time, and travel by the same road, the date Collar like a horse-shoe? Because they are both made being 77 miles; the Peterborough man walks 4 miles: by a Smith. There; that is excellent; and no doubt its hour, the other 3 miles an hour; where will they mee ingenuity, coupled with the acknowledged merits of the cork collars, will procure them a more (if possible) extensive notoriety.-I remain, yours,

Correspondence.

THE THEATRE.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-Last night was performed Farquhar's comedy of the Inconstant, for the benefit of Mr. Charles Kemble, It is singular that this comedy should have been selected, as it does not contain one character calculated to display the talents of those performers who last night graced the Liverpool boards. The dialogue is tame, feeble, and common-place; the incidents forced and unnatural; and the characters (as regards the male portion) disgusting and contemptible. A comedy with such characteristics would, on ordinary occasions, have failed to please or interest, yet, supported by talent, it went off not only tolerably, but absolutely well; little thanks, however, to the author for

this.

Mr. Charles Kemble performed the part of Young Mirabel, a cowardly, conceited, empty Frenchman, who, most unaccountably, is loved for these, very faults by Oriana (Miss F. H. Kelly) whom he treats in a very scurvy manner. Mr. Kemble's performance of this cha. racter was barely tolerable; in fact, it cannot be expected that a man upwards of fifty, with a failing voice and wrinkled brow, can perform to the life a gay, young, gallant Frenchman. Why does Mr. Kemble still cling so fondly to a line of characters so irreconcileable with his age and appearance? It is but a source of pain to see old age aping the manners of youth in real life; and this pain is turned into disgust at beholding the same scene upon the stage. The illusion created by the drama is destroyed when you behold an aged man, called the young and handsome Mirabel; and you almost sicken to see eyes dim with the use of many years attempting to glance as brightly as they did in their pristine strength. Let Mr.. Charles Kemble no longer support characters for which his appearance renders him unfit; there are enow of other characters more suited for his present condition. Mr. Blanchard performed Old Mirabel, and made the utmost of a very indifferent character. This gentleman is a most excellent actor, and too much praise cannot be awarded him. Mr. Browne performed the Captain, and was, as far as the

Liverpool, Sept. 1, 1827.

J. H.

Much as we have heard of Master George Noakes, who is now on a visit to Liverpool, (his actual per, formances have excited our extreme astonishment, Several of the questions we put to him in multi plying four figures by three, were solved in a very few seconds. In one respect this extraordinary boy differs from Jedediah Buxton, Young Bidder, or Zarah Colburn. These calculators, if they under stood the process by which they arrived at their solutions, could not, or would not, describe it to others. But Young, Noakes, after performing his calculation in his head, repeats the process, aloud; and this is the most singular part of the phenomenon, and one, too, which, if properly investigated, promises to throw some light, upon principles hitherto unknown. From a pamphlet now before us, we select the two following paragraphs, explanatory of this surprising boy's mode of working questions, as stated by himself:

In multiplying 70 by 123, he says, "70 times 100 are 7000; 70 times 20 are 1400; 70 times 3 are 210; equal to 8610,"

In multiplying 46 by 46, he proceeds in the following singular manner :-" 52 times 40 are 2080; 6 times 6 are 36; equal to 2116.”

He is now just turned seven years of age; is ignorant of reading, writing, and what we term arithmetic.-The profits arising from his private or public exhibitions are to be devoted to the laudable purpose of supplying, these deficiences; and those who give their mite, besides receiving in return a high treat, will have the satisfaction of reflecting that they are contributing to impart, the advantages of education to one of the most extraordinary children that ever existed.-Edit. Kal.

MASTER NOAKES, THE CALCULATING CHILD.

Master G. Noakes is but seven years of age, and has stood the test at Cambridge, for three weeks, without being posed, to the great astonishment of the most learned Professors, and from whom he has received the greatest could solve any arithmetical question in a very short time, encouragement. Young Bidder, at twelve years of age, but could not give any elucidation as to the manner in which he had arrived at his conclusions. With George

-Answer 44 and 33 miles.

the first second, 3 x 16 in the second second, 5x 16 t A stone falling from the top of a tower falls 16 fe third, 7 x 16 in the fourth, 9x16 in the fifth, and s the stone is eight seconds in falling; how high s tower?-Answer, 1024 feet.

Barometer
at
BOON.

Aug.

METEOROLOGICAL DIARY. [From the Liverpool Courier:]; Extreme Thermo-Extreme State of during meter 8 heat du- the Wind Night. morning ring Day. at noon.

64 0 N.E. Fair.
66 0 NE. Fair.
64 0
61 0.

22 30 19
23 30 29
24

52 0 55 0
51 0 58 O

30.17

W. Fair

N. Fair

62 0

N.W. Cloudy

65 0 N.W. Fair 64 0 N.N.W

To Correspondents.

SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER. Our readers will recollect that

stand pledged to deliver them another supplemental s We expect to do this in about a fortnight, when well not fail to introduce several communications, which been postponed owing to our arrangements. Amongst th are the Retrospective Address by H. D.-Lines by J. M SPECIMENS OF THE ELDER POETS-In our next we shally

ceed with this interesting series. CHESS-We shall reply to the query of J. B. S. in our nex THE ROVERS OR THE DOUBLE ELOPEMENT.-We have this concluded this whimsical piece, written by the Canning.

THE PACHA OF EGYPT.-We had anticipated the wish
Cotton Broker, as the sketch of Mahommed from the S
was in the hands of our compositors when we received
correspondent's note.

LINES ACCOMPANYING A ROSE.-A Correspondent, whe
favoured us with a copy of some beautiful verses of
subject, has omitted stating explicitly whether they
original or selected. The circumstance is immater
respects the merits of the piece, but it is always our ea
wish to avoid giving an air of originality to a piece
has previously appeared in another journal. When in
are appended to any communication, they imply that
transcriber, although we very frequently meet with
are the initials of the author, not those of the
"white lie" in cotemporary journals. A note from
Slender will satisfy us..
MUSIC.-The piece to A is prepared in the type, and
positively appear in our next; and the other pieces wh
we have in store shall be introduced in regular successigi
LE CHIEN DU VIEUX SOLDAT.We have received an orga
translation of this interesting story, which appeared in i
original French in some late numbers of the Kaleider
We shall in our next insert either the whole or a part, !
serving the remainder for our succeeding number.

Printed, published, and sold, every Tuesday, by E. SMIT
and Co., Clarendon-buildings, Marshall-street.

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OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

"UTILE DULCI."

This famillar Miscellany, from which all religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending LITERATURE, CRITICISM, MEN and MANNERS, AMUSEMENT, elegant EXTRACTS, POETRY, ANECDOTES, Biography, METEOROLOGY, the DRAMA, ARTS and SCIENCES, WIT and Satire, Fashions, Natural HISTORY, &c. forming a handsome ANNUAL VOLUME, with an INDEX and TITLE-PAGE. Persons in any part of the Kingdom may obtain this Work from London through their respective Booksellers.

No. 376.-Vol. VIII.

The Kaleidoscope.

(ORIGINAL.)

INSTANCES OF EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS OF
MEMORY.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1827.

PRICE 3 d

Biographical Notices.

BARD, ROBERT TANNAHILL.

ceding night he must certainly have forgotten the wager,
he reminded him of the circumstance, at the same time
rallying him for bragging in such a ridiculous manner A MEMOIR OF THE UNFORTUNATE RENFREWSHIRE
about his memory. Lyon, however, pulled out the paper,
desired him to look at it, and to judge for himself if he
did not win the wager. Notwithstanding the discordance
and want of connexion between the paragraphs, the variety
of advertisements, and confused mass of heterogeneous
matter which compose a newspaper, he repeated it, from
beginning to end, without hesitation or mistake.
"Such an instance of strength of memory cannot pro-

"Poor lost Alonza! fate's neglected child!
Mild be the doom of Heav'n, as thou wert mild!
For, oh! thy heart in holy mould was cast,
And all thy deeds were blameless, but the last!"
CAMPBELL.

The surprising and almost incredible talent of the calculating boy, Master Noakes, of which we published some instances in the last Kaleidoscope, brings to our recollection some remarkable instances of the retentive power of the human memory. Seneca relates of himself, that he could, without artifi-bably be paralleled by any age or nation: and there is litcial aid, repeat two thousand words after once read- tle doubt of its authenticity, as Baker, who records it in ing them; and we are told by Pliny that Cyrus knew his Biographia Dramatica, was either a witness of the every soldier in his army by name; and that L. fact, or had good authority for the introduction of it into been universally admired; but it is probable that many

Scipio could name all the people in Rome.
Pliny, it is true, is not in all cases the most un-
exceptionable authority, as he appears to have had
a great predilection for the marvellous. We have,
however, on record some modern instances of the
power of memory too well authenticated to admit of
a doubt. We extract the following passage from
Mr. Seward's "Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons,"
rol. 5, page 55:

his work."-Wilson's Eccentric Mirror, vol. iii.

It has been, we believe, very justly remarked, that those who possess this talent in the most eminent degree are seldom distinguished for any other species of talent of high order. Nor is this at all surprising, as that almost superhuman faculty, by which long and complicate questions are solved without the aid of written symbols, must, in its attainment, have monopolized the energies of the mind to such a degree as to preclude the possibility of its making any material advancement in other branches of know ledge. It seems to have been Pope's opinion, that

Few lyrics have been more deservedly popular than those of Tannahill, and few songsters have been more neglected. The "Flower o' Dumblane," "Braes o' Gleniffer," and "The Wandering Bard," &c. &c. have long

who admire the songs are unacquainted with the history of their ill-fated author.

The father of Robert Tannahill was an operative weaver in the town of Paisley, where the poet was born on the 3d of June, 1774. His education, which was very limited, he received at an English school in his native town; at which he did not distinguish himself above his schoolfellows. He was bound an apprentice to a weaver, at an early age, and he followed that humble occupation till his untimely death. While a boy, he showed symptoms of the future poet: his youthful companions used to gather round him, when the labours of the day were over, and

The originals of the following letters, written by this great mathematician (Dr. John Wallis) prove the vast power of abstraction which his strong and energetic mind possessed: **December 22, 1669.-In the dark night, in bed, memory and genius of a high order are never united He improved as he grew up, and his friends and admirers

without pen, ink, or paper, or any thing equivalent, I did, by memory, extract the square root of 3,0000,00000,00000, #0000,00000,00000, 00000,00000, which I found to be 177205,08075,68077,29353 fenè, and did the next day com. mit it to writing."

in the same individual.

listen with admiration to the recital of his boyish effusions.

increased, till he became known as a poet throughout his native town. His modesty, in some measure, protracted his popularity; for it was long before he could be persuaded to give any of his productions to the world. At length he ventured to send a piece to the Scots Magazine, which was speedily inserted, accompanied by a very flattering note from the editor, soliciting his correspondence; and he afterwards became a constant contributor to that periodical.

"Thus in the soul, while memory prevails, The solid power of understanding fails; Where beams of warm imagination play, The memory's soft figures melt away." This, however, is mere poetical assertion, and it **February 18, 1670, style Anglia.-Johannes Georgius would have been more in accordance with the philoPelshower (Regiomonstanus Borussus) giving me a visit, sophical character of the "Essay on Man," had the and desiring an example of the like, when I had for a long author endeavoured to solve the anomaly which he time been afflicted with quartan ague, I did, that night, merely assumes. It does not appear to us at all expropose to myself, in bed, by dark, without help to my traordinary that an almost exclusive cultivation of memory, a number, in 53 places, 2,4681,3579,1012, 1411,1315,1618,2017,1921,2224,2628,3023,2527,2931, of any one faculty should necessarily exalt that fawhich I extracted the square root of 27 places, viz.-157, culty at the expense of others which have been com- quainted with her, who afterwards became the subject of 6:30,1687,1482,8058,1715,2171, proximè, which numbers, paratively neglected ;-nothing is more common than

as well as the others, I did not commit to paper till he gave
me another visit, in March following, when I did, from
my memory, dictate them to him, who then wrote them
from my mouth, and took them with him to examine.
"Yours,
"JOHN WALLIS.

"Oxford, Feb. 16, 1680.
"For Mr. T.Smith, B. D. Fellow of Magdalen College."
The following more extraordinary instance of the
strength of memory is taken from "Wilson's Eccen-

ric Mirror:"

WILLIAM LYON.

to find men who have made any particular pursuit
the prominent study of their lives, grossly ignorant
of almost every other thing; and more especially of
that most useful of all knowledge which is requisite
for the due discharge of the ordinary every-day bu-
siness of life.

It may be the opinion of some of our readers that
the talent of Master Noakes ought not to be regarded
as an effort of memory, but of some other faculty, or
combination of faculties of the mind. We think,

Hitherto he had sung of loves which he had never felt; had feigned. At a convivial party he saw and became ac

and it was now his lot to feel that flame which he formerly

so many of his songs. As she was of the same rant in life with himself, he had no difficulty in disclosing his passion, which was returned, and mutually cherished for some time. But worldly circumstances prevented the union of the lovers, and the fair one began to be weary of delay; her love became cold ;-perhaps she was afraid that her youthful bloom would decay before she had attained a settlement in life, or, that the poet's usual attendant, poverty, might also become an inmate in her dwelling, and she soon listened to the addresses of another suitor. Alas! love! Had Burns been united to his Highland Mary, what miseries arise to many from disappointment in early

Brother performers, he proposed a wager of a crown bowl red to the memory than to any other of the mental they would not, perhaps, have run the "mad career" of "One evening, while taking his glass with some of his however, that the phenomenon must rather be refer-and Byron obtained the heart and hand of Miss Chaworth, powers; because, however this surprising boy per-dissipation: and had poor Tannahill's Mary been faithful, forms his calculations, he must recollect the whole as she was false, his unhappy end might have been averted. process, and his performance is, therefore, an effort She was his first love, and she was his last. His feelings of memory, similar to that which enabled Philidor on this unhappy occasion are, perhaps, displayed in the to play two games at chess at the same time, without "Harper of Mull," which he produced afterwards: his seeing the board. bosom was wounded; his peace was gone; his pride was

of panch, that next morning, at rehearsal, he would repeat Daily Advertiser, from beginning to end. The players considering this as a mere boast paid no great attention to it; but, as Lyon persisted in his offer, one of them at length accepted the wager. Next morning, at the rehearsal, conceiving that as Lyon was intoxicated the pre

roused; and after struggling with contending passions, he sent her an eternal farewell, in the following stanzas, which are replete with beauty and simplicity:

"Accuse me not, inconstant fair,

Of being false to thee;

For I was true-would still been so-
Hadst thou been true to me.
But when I knew thy plighted lips
Once to a rival's press'd,
Love-smother'd independence rose,

And spurn'd thee from my breast. "The fairest flower in nature's field

Conceals the rankling thorn;

So thou, sweet flower! as false as fair,
This once kind heart hath torn.
'Twas mine to prove the fellest pangs
That slighted love can feel:
'Tis thine to weep that one rash act,

Which bids this long fareweel."

ful communion of sentiment; a short respite from care and
sorrow. Next day Mr. Hogg departed for his native
mountains, and was accompanied by Tannahill half the
way to Glasgow. Their parting was mournful. "Fare-
well!" said Tannahill; "We shall never meet again!"
The words were too prophetic; for the poor bard had
made that determination which was certain to bring about
their fulfilment. On the 17th of May, 1810, he was found
drowned in a tunnel of the Paisley and Ardrossan canal:
he had reached the thirty-sixth year of his age. His re-
mains were buried in his native town; and, some time
ago, his admirers proposed to erect a monument to his
memory: whether it is erected or not, the writer of this
has not been able to learn. Alas! it is of no consequence
to the hapless songster! A little patronage, when living,
I might have saved him; but that was withheld. Is this
the poet's fate!-to sing the summer of his life; to pine
in indigence, and perish by depondency; to ask bread,

and receive a stone!

Antiquities.

THE HISTORY OF THE ANTIQUITIES OF LONDON,
WESTMINSTER, SOUTHWARK, AND PARTS ALJI.
CENT. By Thomas Allen. Vol. I. 8vo. London, 197
Cowie and Strange.

[From the London Weekly Review.]

This is a very good compilation. The author seems have most industriously examined all the ancient reope of London, and to have condensed into his volume every thing that needs be known of the history of this seas Babylon, up to the time in which the volume concics Another volume will suffice, we imagine, to carry the b tory down to our own times. We could have wished the the author had not copied his authorities in their c words, for this gives a patchwork sort of appears the style, which, at all events, should belong to the or. Of course, the condensation of such materials would have required more time and labour; but the work wo been the better for it. However, the materials, are, possess great interest, and the volume upon the whi is both valuable and entertaining.

The author quotes from Sir Christopher Wren Le

In order to banish this unhappy attachment from his remembrance, and, perhaps, with the desire of seeing a little more of the world, he quitted his paternal roof, and With regard to his writings, he has been thought unewent into England. The times were then but ill calcu- qual. In his poems he has followed Burns too closely; lated to cheer him in his disappointment; it was the cala- and it is only as a writer of song that he has obtained mitous year 1800, when the iron hand of famine held the celebrity. Allan Cunningham thinks that his songs are kingdom in its grasp. He could not find employment in too descriptive, that his characters are burdened and shaded the manufacturing towns of Lancashire: his finances, with its drapery. But the truth is, that Tannahill was which, at setting out, were probably but scanty, were now an ardent admirer of nature in her "wildest grandeur;"lowing account of an ancient cemetery, discovered almost exhausted, and he was a stranger amongst stran-haunts of the poet, and in copying her he has never been of Saint Paul's, on the north and north-east sides many of his songs are beautiful descriptions of the favourite ging the foundations of St. Paul's Cathedral: "In digging the foundations for the present cat gers, nothing appeared in prospect but starvation; and, far astray. Certainly, a far greater number of his effusions Christopher Wren discovered the remains of an as a last resource, he and a companion resolved to go to Liverpool, for the purpose of enlisting into his Majesty's might have found a place in "The Songs of Scotland," cemetery, which he describes as follows:- Urd navy. On their way to that seaport, they accidentally without injuring the character of that work; for the songs graves of the latter ages, in a row below them, wa met with a countryman, to whom, though unacquainted. of Tannahill" are likely to last as long as the language appeared, were accustomed to line their graves w s in which they are written."

they made known their wants and intentions: he treated them kindly, and undertook to find them employment. This cheered their desponding spirits; and they spent the evening happily with the kind stranger, who next day found them that employment which they had lost even

the hope of obtaining.

In 1802 he returned to the place of his nativity to wit. ness the death of his father, and after discharging the last duties to his affectionate parent, he turned his attention to his mother. On this occasion he produced the beautiful lines entitled "The Filial Vow,” a vow which he held sacred till his last hour. He daily became more popular, and his songs were favourites throughout the kingdom. He composed them upon his loom, having a board attached to one of its sides, which served the purpose of a writing-desk, so that when he had arranged a stanza in his mind, he instantly wrote it down, and resumed his labour.

In 1806 he published, by subscription, a volume of poems and songs, which were favourably received by the public, but he never obtained any farther patronage. This was the happiest period of the poet's life: wherever he roamed, he heard his own songs sung, and many persons of respectability courted his acquaintance. His happiness, however, was often interrupted, and in the meridian of his fame the midnight gloom of melancholy was spread over his mind. There are always some who take pleasure in detracting from merit; who condemn every production that is beyond their power to equal; these vipers assailed the poet, and his soul was too sensitive to bear their censures; his feelings too tender for this rude world. The blight of neglect, the blasting breath of malice, or the contemptuous sneer of ignorance, stung him to the heart, rendered his temper irritable, and brought on that melancholy which ended his days. In one of those moody fits, occasioned by brooding over insult and neglect, he committed about a hundred of his best songs to the flames, and, it is probable, that he then made that dreadful resolve, which was soon afterwards effected.

Two or three days previous to his melancholy end, he received a visit from the celebrated bard of Ettrick, Mr. Hogg, who was then, like himself, the child of poverty a. song. They spent together an evening in the delight

burial places of the Saxon times. The Saxons. # stones; though some, more eminent, were entubes In his interlude, entitled "The Soldier's Return," coffins of whole stones. Below these were British some have accused him of imitating The Gentle Shep. where were found ivory and wooden pins of a hard wa herd." This is certainly a false charge, for the two pro-It seems the bodies were only wrapped up, and pizd seemingly box, in abundance, of about six inches ductions are not similar; and although the interlude is woollen shrouds; which, being consumed, the pits th inferior to the beautiful pastoral of Ramsay, it is still a mained entire. In the same row, and deeper, man urns intermixed. This was eighteen et des production of considerable merit. more, and belonged to the colony when the R Britons lived and died together. The more real Roman urns, lamps, lacrymatories, fragments of s vessels, &c. were found deep in the ground, towards north-east corner, near Cheapside: these were g well wrought, and embossed with various figures devices. Among those preserved were a fragment vessel in the shape of a basin, whereon Charon is sented with his oar in his hand, receiving a nake a patera sacrificalis, with the inscription PATER a remarkable small urn, of a fine hard earth, and colour, containing about half a pint; many pieces C with the names of the potters embossed on the boy a sepulchral earthen lamp, figured with two brasca palms, supposed Christian; and two lachrymator glass."" p. 21-2.

The following verses, though faulty, are, perhaps, illustrative of the unfortunate bard's last moments. They were written to the air of one of his finest songs:

THE DEATH OF TANNAHILL.

AIR" The Wandering Burd."

Tho' simmer a' the woods be greenin',
An' mildly fa's the dewy e'enin',
To yon lone Bard the fairest scene in
Nature-nae delight can gie:
The Muse, sae lately a' his treasure
Nae langer can afford him pleasure;
"Nae mair," he sighs, "the lay I'll measure-
My harp has now nae charm for me!
"Fareweel, Gleniffer's braes, sae bonny!
How happy hae I roam'd upon ye!
An' fareweel spot mair dear than ony-
Thou bonny wood o' Craigie-lee!'
To thy lone shades I did repair, aye,
To woo my fair, but faithless Mary:
Ah! blissful hours-how soon ye vary!

Lov'd scenes, ye've lost your charm to me!
"Yon lark, sae high in air that's wingin,'
Delights nae me-tho' sweetly singin';
The crawflower an' the daisy springin',

Unnotic'd deck the dewy lee;

O' Nature's charms, I'm sick-I'm weary!
What cheer'd me ance-nae mair can cheer me!
An' simmer's smile seems winter dreary;

Ah! simmer has nae charms to me;
"The Muse, nae mair can sooth my sorrow,
Nor Hope, the rainbow's colours borrow:--
A gloomy night-without a morrow-
Is all-is all remains for me!
Ah! what can ease my brain's wild fever?
Unfeeling world-fareweel, for ever!"
He wept then plung'd into the river:-
Now-hapless bard, we mourn for thee!
Hope-street, Liverpool, 1827.

P. M.

The following description of the amusements Cockneys in Henry the Second's time is curious: Fitz-Stephen gives a curious account of the and pastimes of the period. London,' he says, i sion to the exhibitions and sports of ancient Rome stead of theatrical interludes, and comic shows, hath on more sacred subjects, as the miracles wroughty confessors, or the glorious constancy displayed by ing martyrs. Besides these diversions, to begin, sports of youth, seeing that we were all once childr boys of every school do yearly, at Shrovetide, bring cocks to their masters, and all the forenoon is s school in seeing these cocks fight together. After all the youths of the city go into the fields to play t The scholars of every school have their balls; teachers also, that train up others to feats and exec have each of them their ball. The aged and w citizens ride forth on horseback to see the sports th youngsters, and feel the ardour of their own youth re in beholding their agility and mirth.

"Every Friday afternoon in Lent, a compa young men ride out on horses fit for war and racing trained to the course. Then the citizens' sons flock throu the gates in troops, armed with lances and shields. practise feats of arms; but the lances of the more youthf are not headed with iron. When the King ethn many courtiers and young striplings from the fami the great, who have not yet attained the warlike gird

rt to these exercises. The hope of victory inflames yone; even the neighing and fierce horses shake their chew their bridles, and cannot endure to stand

At length, they begin their race: afterwards the ng men divide their troops and contend for mastery. In the Easter holidays they counterfeit a fight on ewater; a pole is set up in the midst of the river, with target strongly fastened to it, and a young man standing the fore part of a boat, which is prepared to be carried by the flowing of the tide, endeavours to strike the Target in his passage: in this, if he succeeds so as to break lance, and yet preserve his footing, his aim is accombed; but if he fail, he tumbleth into the water, and boat passeth away with the stream; on each side of target, however, ride two vessels, with many young ready to snatch him from the water, as soon as he tain appeareth above the surface. On the bridge and convenient places about the river, d numerous spectators to behold the diversions, well ared for laughter. ni On all summer holidays, the youths are exercised eaping, shooting with the bow, wrestling, casting and darting the javelin, which is fitted with loops The purpose; they also use bucklers like fighting men; maidens dance with timbrels, and trip it as long as can well see. In winter, on almost every holiday, more dinner, the boars fight for their heads, or else some ball, or huge bear, is baited with dogs.

When the great moorish lake on the north side of ity wall is frozen over, great companies of young men sport upon the ice. Some taking a run, and setting feet at a distance from each other, and their body ways, slide a long way; others make seats as great as stones of the ice, and one sitting down, is drawn g by his fellows, who hold each other's hands; and going so fast, they sometimes all fall down together. ase who are more expert fasten bones to their shoes, the tibia of some animals), and impelling themselves Ward by striking the ice with staves shod with iron, do de along as swiftly as a bird through the air, or as a t from a warlike engine. Sometimes two persons, startfrom a distance, run against each other with these es, as if they were at tilt, whereby one or both of them thrown down, not without bodily hurt; and, after fall, are, by the violent motion, carried onward, and ed by the ice; and if one fall upon his leg or arm, usually broken: yet our youth, who are greedy of bar, and emulous of victory, do thus exercise them. e in counterfeit battles, that they may sustain the at more strongly when they come to it in good earnest. Many citizens take delight in birds, as sparrow. s, goshawks, &c. and in dogs to sport in the woody ts; for they are privileged to hunt in Middlesex, in tfordshire, in all the Chilterns, and in Kent, as low as water. We are also told by Fitz-Stephen, but evily through mistake or exaggeration, that in the wars ing Stephen, there went out to a muster,' from this of men fit for war, 20,000 armed horsemen, and 000 foot. The more probable fact is, that the muster general one, and that London was only the place of derous" p. 59-61.

the next extract the reader will see how money has reased in value since the times of John, and what sort 1ours and cheer our ancestors kept in those days:

Then follows an example of the refinement and huma- | To several messengers nity of these good old times:

Llewellin, the last prince of the Britons that reigned in "This year will ever be memorable for the death of fled to Bluith Castle for safety; but was betrayed by the Wales; who, having lost the victory in the field of battle, men of that place into the hands of Roger le Strange, who, taking him off his guard, ran upon him and cut off his head with his broadsword, while he was reviling the English. The head was sent to King Edward, who ordered it to be carried to London. The citizens in cavalcade met the messenger that brought it, and conducted him to the city in triumph, with the sound of trumpets and horns, and carried the same through Cheapside upon a lance, crowned with a silver chaplet or circle; by which (according to some authors, with an ill-natured sneer) foretold him that his head should ride down Cheapside was fulfilled the prediction of a Welsh fortuneteller, who with a silver crown. But what was most blameable, they and melancholy spectacle, the head of this great, though were not content only to glut their eyes with this moving unfortunate prince, but ignominiously set it upon the pillory in Cheapside for the remaining part of the day, and then fixed it upon the Tower of London, crowned with an ivory diadem." p. 93.

........

To sundry things in the earl's bedchamber.....

To two thousand three hundred and nineteen
To several old debts paid this year..............
To the countess's disbursements at Pickering

pounds of tallow candles, and eighteen hundred
and seventy pounds of lights, called Paris can-
dles, or white wax candles.

.....

34 19 8 500 88 16 01 440 O 5

31 14 3

Sum total.... £7309 12 61

observed, that silver was then at one shilling and eight"In the above account, Mr. Maitland says, it is to be pence per ounce; so that twelve ounces went to a pound sterling;-by which it does appear that the sum total expended in that year amounts, in our money, to two and twenty thousand and seventy-eight pounds seventeen shilmust have had a prodigious estate, especially considering lings and eight-pence; whereby is shown, that the earl the vast disparity between the prices of provisions then and estate, at present, would bring in at least two hundred now. Therefore, we may justly conclude, that such an thousand pounds per annum.'

pp. 99-101.

(To be continued.)

NEW PATENTS.

To George Anthony Sharp, of Putney, for an improved table urn.-18th of July.-6 months.

From the ensuing curious passage we learn the style in To William Church, of Birmingham, for improvements which the great nobles lived in Edward the Second's time: in apparatus for spinning.-Dated the 13th of July, 1827. "Before we close the history of the present year, it may-6 months allowed to enrol specification. be matter of entertainment to our readers to add the following account; in which is shown the ancient and costly manner of housekeeping of the English nobility, being the To Robert More, of Underwood, Stirlingshire, Scotland, debit side of the account of H. Leicester, cofferer to distiller, for improvements, communicated from abroad, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, containing the amount of all in the process of preparing and cooling worts or wash from the disbursements of that noble family, relating to domes-vegetable substances, for the production of spirits.—18th tic expenses in the present year: of July.-6 months.

"The Account of H. Leicester, Cofferer to
Thomas, Earl of Lancaster.

To the amount of the charge of the pantry, but

tery, and kitchen .........

To three hundred and sixty-nine pipes of red
wine, and two pipes of white
To all sorts of grocery wares
To six barrels of sturgeon
To six thousand dried fishes of all sorts........
To seventeen hundred and fourteen pounds of

.. ................

wax, vermilion, and turpentine

To the charge of the earl's great horses, and ser-
vants' wages ....

To linen for the earl, his chaplains, and table..........
To one hundred and twenty-nine dozen of skins
To two scarlet cloths for the earl's use, one of

of parchment, and ink .....

russet for the Bishop of Angew, seventy of blue
for the knights, twenty-eight for the squires,
fifteen for the clerks, fifteen for the officers,
nineteen for the grooms, five for the archers,
four for the minstrels and carpenters, with the
sharing and carriage for the earl's liveries at
Christmas...................

.................

To seven furs of powdered ermine, seven hoods

To

To

3405
104 176

180 17

0

19 0 0 41 6 7 314 7 4

436 4 3

43 17 0

To Robert More, of Underwood, Stirlingshire, Scotland, distiller, for processes, communicated from abroad, for rendering distillery refuse productive of spirits.-18th of July.-6 months.

To Edward Dodd, of No. 62, Berwick-street, for improvements on piano fortes.-25th of July.-6 months. To Thomas Peek, of St. John-street, Clarkenwell, for a revolving steam-engine.-1st of August.—6 months. To William Parkinson, of Barton-upon-Humber, and Samuel Crosley, of Cottage-lane, City-road, Middlesex, gas-apparatus manufacturer, for an improved method of constructing and working an engine, or producing power and motion.-1st of August.-6 months.

To Joseph Maudslay, of Lambeth, for an improvement on steam-engines.-1st of August.-4 months.

To Lionel Lukin, Esq. of Lewisham, Kent, for improvements, partly communicated from abroad, in collars 4 8 3 and saddles for draught and carriage horses.-1st of August. -6 months.

460 15 0

of purple, three hundred and ninety-five furs of
budge for the liveries of barons, knights, and
clerks, and one hundred and twenty-three furs
of lamb, bought at Christmas, for the esquires 147 17 8

one hundred and sixty-eight yards of russet

cloth, and twenty-four coats for poor men, with
money given to the poor on Maunday Thursday

sixty-five saffron-coloured cloths for the ba

rons and knights in summer, twelve red cloths
for the clerks, twenty-six cloths for the squires,
one for the officers, and four ray cloths for car-
pets in the hall .....

It is curious to observe, that an income of £10 per am, at the time we are describing, would have gone far in housekeeping as £150 of our present currency. jeat was 3s. per quarter, or about 9s. of our time; chelle wine 20s. per tun, Anjou wine 24s. and the best ach wine, at about 26s. 8d. or about 80s. at present. The manner of living during this period was grossly travagant. Of the luxury of those times it will be suf ent to produce a single instance. Fitz-Stephen tells us, at an archbishop of Canterbury paid for a single dish of To one hundred pieces of green silk for the knights, five pounds, amounting, according to the most modete computation, to fourscore pounds of our money, but, reality, to almost double that sum. But the extravaance of the entertainments was compensated by the soberof the hours. The time of dining, even at court, and a the families of the proudest Barons, was nine in the Gorning, and of supping, five in the afternoon. These Ours were considered not only as favourable to business, sat as conducive to health. The proverbial gingle of the my gives us a picture of the division of time in the twelfth nd thirteenth centuries:

8 16 7

345 13 8

72 19 0

To Eugene du Mesnil, Esq. of Soho-square, for an im. provement in stringed musical instruments.-1st of Aug. --6 months.

To Anthony Scott, of Southwark Pottery, Durham, for an apparatus for preventing the boilers of steam-engines, &c. becoming foul, and for cleaning the same.-4th of August.-2 months.

To Peter Burt, of Waterloo place, Limehouse, mathematical-instrument-maker, for an improved steam-engine. Communicated from abroad.-4th of August.-6 months.

To John Underhill, of Parkfield Iron-works, Wolverhampton, iron-master, for improvements in machinery for passing boats, &c. from a higher to a lower, or a lower to a higher level, with little or no loss of water; also appli cable to the raising or lowering of weights on land.-13th of August.-6 months.

To William Dickinson, of Bridge-street, Southwark, for an improved buoyant bed or mattress.-13th of Aug. 6 months.

To Thomas Breidenbank, of Birmingham, for improvements on bedsteads, and in making articles to be used in various ways with bedsteads from a material hitherto unused for such purposes.-13th of August.-6 months. To W. Alexis Jarrin, of Bond-street, confectioner, for 51 68 improvements in apparatus for cooling liquids.-13th of 200 August.-2 months. To William Chapman, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for 241 14 1 improvements in waggons for railways.-14th of August. 8 68-2 months.

To fees paid to earls, barons, knights, and squires 623 15 5

To gifts to French knights, Countess of Warren,
Queen's nurses, squires, minstrels, messengers,
and riders.....

To twenty-four silver dishes, twenty four saucers,
twenty-four cups, one pair of Paternosters, and
one silver coffin, all bought this year, when sil-
ver was at 1s. 8d. per ounce ....

To Henry Pinkins, of Philadelphia, North America, and of the Quadrant Hotel, Regent-street, for an improved apparatus for generating gas to be applied to lights and 92 14 0 other purposes.-15th of August.-6 months.

To William Spong, of Aylesford, Kent, for an invention for diminishing friction in wheel-carriages, waterwheels, and other rotary parts of machinery.-15th of 103 56 August.-6 months.