From Punch. into my eye, and the words involuntarily escaped THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MISS ROBIN- my lips- What a lovely shot for a dress!" And SON CRUSOE. CHAPTER II. BEING booked as a married lady about to return to her husband at Hyderabad, I was particularly cautious in my conversation with many of the female passengers, the greater number of whom were really the wedded wives of officers and state civilians; ladies who had really left their little ones in England, and were returning to their Indian firesides. I say I was reserved in my speech, lest I might betray my inexperience. Besides the married ladies, there were a dozen young gentlewomen, consigned to the captain for the same purpose as I proposed to myself; namely, for instant marriage on their arrival. I will confess it, that the number of spinsters a little disconcerted me; as I had picked out from newspapers-what could they do?-flew backward, home. something about the harmony of demand and supply, and therefore knew that if only twelve officers came off in the yam and cocoa-boats for a wife, there must, by every rule of arithmetic, remain one virgin unwedded. I will not attempt to describe my perturbation when I reflected that this one might be myself! However, after I had well surveyed the whole twelve, I took great heart. Three had very red hair; four irregular teeth; two-but no; it is a melancholy, a thankless task to number the imperfections of our fellow-creatures. Let it suffice that, with the ingenuousness of a woman's soul, I knew myself to be the most attractive of the lot. Thus, I would not despair should even a general officer come off in the this is human vanity! Alas! how little did I dream of the terrors of the coming night. The. sun went down like a ball of dull fire, in the midst of smearing clouds of red-currant jam. The winds began to whistle worse than any of the lowest orders of society in a shilling gallery. Every wave was suddenly as big and high as Primrose Hill. The chords of the ship snapped like bad stay-laces. No best Genoa velvet was ever blacker than the firmament; and not even the voices of the ladies calling for the stewardess were heard above the orchestral crashing of the elements. cocoa-boat. 66 For myself, with one hand clutching the side of my berth, lest I should be rolled into the bosom of a whole family lying in disorder before me, and the other grasping a smelling-bottle, my thoughts Then I saw my father, mildly sipping his one glass of toddy ere he departed for bed; my mother making believe to knit; Tib, the cat, upon the hearth; Joss, the pug, upon the stool; and my sampler-yes, so roused was my fancy, I saw my own sampler-with the row of yew-trees, in green silk, framed and glazed above the chimney! And then my father's words, "I'll get you a sober and steady husband," rang in my brain; and-so quick is imagination in moments of peril-I absolutely saw that interesting man, saw him as my wedded lord, and beheld myself in a very sweetly furnished house, surrounded by I know not how many happy children. The thought was too much for me. I wept. that met my view when I rushed upon deck; though the patterns of some of the nightcaps I saw never can go out of my mind. I know not how long I had remained in this sad Much that I saw and heard, naturally enough, condition, when I heard the voice of Captain Bissurprised and disconcerted me. I was a week at cuit shouting down into the cabin-“ Tumble up, least before I could reconcile myself to the fre- ladies! Ship's going down!" I leapt from my quent order to put the ship in stays." At first berth, and with wonderful presence of mind seized I believed it was nothing but Captain Biscuit's a favorite bandbox. Nor, even in that hour of wit; but as nobody laughed, I of course looked as terror, were the curls (spoken of in my last chapgrave as the rest. When, too, the captain de-ter) forgotten. I will not dwell upon the scene clared that he knew we should have a squall before night," I, innocently enough, asked him, "which lady among us he thought most likely to scream?" Silly creature that I was! But I was soon to learn the difference between a feminine scream, and the scream of Boreas. A warning this, I trust, to all roving young ladies who, not content with the chance of steady and sober husbands (as my dear mother, with tears in her eyes, used to call 'em) at home, must even take ship for the Indies to marry officers in regimentals, and so —but I will not anticipate the sorrows that over-conscious, I found myself alone upon the deeptook me. We had sailed for many days with the wind, as they told me, south-west by west; which, as well as I could then make out, was as much as to say the Elephant and Castle by St. James' Church. Thus, after my own fashion, did I make out the theory of the winds. When we had been at sea a week, Captain Biscuit with peculiar emphasis declared that we were at last "in blue water." It was not of course for me to contradict him: but, looking over the ship, the color appeared exactly what I had often bought at the mercer's for a sea-green. But Captain Biscuit was an old man. We had been at sea, I think, twenty-seven days, when we killed a dolphin. The sweet creature died beautifully. As I stood contemplating the brilliant hues of the expiring fish, beholding how the colors burned and intermingled, a tear stole As I was about to rush by the gangway, I was seized-I know not by whom-and literally flung into the barge below. This violence struck the bandbox from my hand; and I saw it borne away forever by the remorseless deep. Ere, however, I could express my feelings upon this bitter loss, I heard a shout—the voice, I think, of Captain Biscuit-the barge gave a lurch, and when I was next miraculously supported by my garments-and in this manner passed along from wave to wave. This, however-I knew it could not last. Gathering my senses about me, I therefore began to swim. And here let me bless my prudence that had turned a month's visit to Margate to profit, teaching me to swim. I might, with the thoughtless and vain, have raffled at libraries-I might have sat whole hours upon the beach pretending to read the last new lovely tale-but no, I knew—I feltthat life was made for better things; and therefore, once a day, launched out into the deep, and-in flowing garments, learned to swim. The curious world might be gathered on the beach; I cared not, but struck out. And now, at the most eventful moment of my life, I found the value of my skill. Therefore is it, that I hope my example will turn some of my sex from dancing in all its | What, then, were my feelings when I thought of variety of vanity to a more worthy and enduring wild beasts?-beasts that revenged the wrongs of accomplishment. True, dancing may obtain a the beasts in cages, by eating the unprotected husband; but swimming saves a life. Happy, travellers on their shores? I had read horrid tales then, the woman who quits the ball-room for the of bears and apes; and when I remembered I had deep-who turns from cork-soles for a cork-jacket. nothing but a pair of scissors (with one point blunt To return to my story. too) to protect me, how I wept-how I repented of my folly, that had brought me in search of a military husband, coming in a boat with cocoanuts and yams, to perish at last, perhaps, in the After much swimming, a mighty wave threw me ashore; but Neptune, doubtless for some unknown purpose, sent a bigger wave to fetch me back again; fortunately, however, my flounces-claws of some wild and foreign animal. they were worn then very full-catching among the rocks, held me fast ashore. Taking advantage of this circumstance, I rose and ran away from the next billow. I looked about me. It was plain I was upon some island. Yet, although my father had been regularly charged for my learning the use of the globes at the Blackheath school, the fault was either in the teachers or myself, that I could not possibly guess upon what part of the world I was landed. Not wearing pockets, I had secured nothing about me, except a pair of scissors, a smellingbottle, and a box of peppermint drops. CHAPTER III. I continued to walk about on the shore, much wondering at the fortune that had saved me, and grateful to my own discernment, that at Margate had prompted me to shun the meaner pleasures of the place, to learn to swim. And then I suffered alternations of happiness and despair. I thought of my female comrades; and believing them to be in the deep, all thoughts of rivalry charitably died within me. I thought of ardent hair and irregularity of teeth with a pity-a sympathy that surprised me. So true it is that no trouble, however great, has not, in the core of its very greatness, some drop of comfort-(for the human heart, like a bee, will gather honey from poisonous blossoms) -that from my very solitude I snatched a triumph. Should I meet an Indian prince-and, for what I knew, I might be in the empire of the Mogulthere was no lady to contest with me his royal affections. And again, this feeling was saddened by the thought that no other woman could witness my conquest. For all my acquaintance were gone; I never saw them, or any sign of them afterwards, except a jaconet muslin nightcap (the horrid pattern!) and a wave-tossed rougepot. And still my feelings of satisfaction began to abate, for looking about me, I saw no habitation; and though I listened-my sense of hearing sharpened by my peril-I heard not the sound of a muffin-bell. I therefore concluded that I was in a land to which the blessings of civilization were utterly unknown. And besides this, I began to feel that my feet were very wet; and—though I struggled long-I at length burst into tears when I thought of my evening blue buried in the bosom of the deep. And then I began to have confused feelings of hunger. A sea-bird screamed in the distance, and I thought of the liver wing of a chicken. This threw me into terrible disorder. Only that I knew nobody was there to catch me, or what could I have done but faint? As a child, I always screamed at a spider. As a woman-I throw myself upon the sympathy of my sex-though fond of milk, I always ran into the first shop or door-way, or grasped the first arm of the first gentleman on meeting even a cow. I Daylight, as if in mockery of my terrors, waned fast away. Where was I to sleep? That I, who at the least dusk had never walked from number nine to the Thompson's at number six, without the man or the maid-that I should sleep out all night, I knew not where, shocked me past words to paint! Respectability seemed sinking with the sun! Suddenly, I heard a sound-whether the voice of a tiger or a frog I knew knot; but equally alarmed, I ran to a tree. Instinctively looking about to see that nobody observed me-and, for the moment, (silly creature that I was.) thinking only of the country stiles of happy England-I put one foot upon the lowest bough, and with an agility that surprised even myself, continued to climb. At length I threw myself into the umbrageous arms of a young hawthorn, and prepared myself for rest. I put one peppermint drop in my mouth, and soon sank to sleep. Even at this lapse of time I wonder at myself; but I never even thought-vain as the thought would have been-of paper for curling my hair. I awoke, as usual, about eleven o'clock. It was a love of a day. The sun shone beautifully hot, and the sea was like a looking-glass. For the first few minutes-ere fully awake-I thought I was at Margate; and, so were images mixed and confused, that as the small shingle was moved and shaken by the advancing and receding wave, I thought I heard the rattling of the library dice. Moving, a sharp thorn-the tree was full of them brought me, as adversity lowers pride, instantly to myself. With a heavy heart I descended the tree, feeling it vain to wait for the breakfast bell. Again and again I looked around me-I was such a figure! It was foolish, weak; but nevertheless, it showed the beauty of the female character. Í dreaded least even some savage should see me in my horrible déshabillé. And then-though my noble reason told me it could not be so-I shrank at every motion of the sea and air, lest the Indian prince, or general officer, should suddenly rise before me, and then-in such a dress what would he think of me? In such a state, it seemed to me a blessing when I could really think that I was upon a desert island, all alone! Solitude was bad, but to be caught with my hair in such a fright-with all my flounces limp, (much starch was then worn,) and my gown as though waxed about me-I felt it, I should have died upon the beach. After a time my pride abated as my hunger rose. I could not have believed it, but I thought less of my hair and more of my breakfast. A lesson to human arrogance-for did I ever believe that the human soul could so have hungered for a twopenny twist? I walked upon the beach it was strewed with oysters. Nevertheless, though there were thousands about me, it was June, and I knew that oysters were not in. "At least," I thought, " and whatever fate in its bitterness may have in store for me, as I have lived in the fashion in the fashion I'll expire." And this determina- | believed, the statesman likely to carry the abolition-mere men cannot conceive its deliciousness tion: now, that measure is accomplished, facilitat-comforted me exceedingly. Nevertheless-for ing the whig return, and removing from their path I write down here every then emotion of my soul many old sources of embarrassment. There is no -though I abhorred the thought of oysters in necessity to revive past reproaches on that score; June as food, I could not forget them as the pro- but it is not salutary quite to forget so cardinal a bable depositaries of precious pearls. Famished point in the new position. Another favorable cirand destitute, I thought, being in the Indian seas cumstance lies in the utter disruption of parties -as I believed I was-I might be destined to be and the confounding of party tactics. The antagoone of those lucky people of the world, who have nism which, in other circumstances, the whigs pearls washed ashore at their feet, and never run would have encountered from various quarters, is the risk of diving for them. Though I was as thus for the time destroyed; besides which, even hungry as the sea, the thought like a sunbeam if there were in any one party the strength to opplayed about me, that I might be destined to wear pose, all are baffled to strike out, on the spur of my own head-dress of pearls, obtained from the the moment, a policy at once effective and safe. living fish by my own hands, at some future draw- Spite, too, against the departed minister, instigates ing-room! And whilst I thought this, my hunger a sort of transient kindness for his quondam antagwas in abeyance! Cleopatra dissolved her pearl, onists; and the protectionists are patronizing the as ill-nature dissolves the treasures of life, in vine-whigs, in such a temper as that of a splenetic wogar; but I enriched my pearls by honeyed thoughts. man, who, after scolding the husband that will not (What would I give had either of the Misses be her slave, falls to hugging the children with unWhalebone, principals of the Blackheath Semi- wonted caresses, before his face, by way of renary, lived to read this—this from their pupil!) proachful contrast. So we see even the Post and Standard patting Lord John Russell on the back. There may, however, be some sly hope of conciliating his remains of aristocratic predilection, and enticing him to do as little as possible. But a parting blow was given to faction by Sir Robert Peel's farewell speech; which aroused more gen One of its fruits is the remarkable address to the constituents at Pontefract, in which Mr. Monckton Milnes signifies that, for the present, and for as long a time as possible, he shall give a cordial support to Lord John Russell's government. From the Spectator. LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S MINISTRY. LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S ministry is completed. Its character, no doubt, is determined by the principals-Lord John Russell, Viscount Palmerston,erous sentiments in the well-disposed of all parties. and Earl Grey; but even those chiefs appear under greatly altered circumstances. Lord John Russell seems to act under the influence of new views; so does Lord Palmerston. Lord Grey is in a position to give his views better effect. Although the range of Lord John's search for assistance may be We have now attained the third stage in the said to have extended from conservatives to radi- great national movement which began with the recals, it was not found easy to "infuse new blood" form bill. The first stage was the struggle to deinto the administration. Nevertheless, some ex-velop the germ of a real representation of the peocellent names have been added in the subordinate ple; which, however imperfect in its extent, was posts; and it must be allowed that the premier sets actually established and put in operation. The out with a considerably greater amount of talent in next stage was the struggle to abolish the ascendthe working departments than Sir Robert Peel ancy of class interests, which were assailed in the could command. When "the tories" returned to "monster monopoly" of the corn-laws. Sir Roboffice, great expectations were formed of their ad-ert Peel gave the crowning stroke to that struggle, ministrative ability, based on traditions of their and smoothed the way for the third stage-the sopractice; but in fact the practised men had died cial ameliorations promised by Lord John Russell. off, or had, like Sir Robert Peel himself, been pro- This stage has just begun. moted; and the expectations were disappointed. It is to be hoped that the expectations now based on greater personal talent will be justified. has been appointed secretary of state; Cardinal Amati, friend to M. Rossi, the French Ambassador, has also taken office. Divers measures for the improvement of the state are said to be under consideration, and among them are projects for railroads. ROME.-Like our premier, the Roman pontiff Many of the new ministers have gone through has completed his government, and constructed it the form of reëlection; for in most instances it has well. Cardinal Gizzi, who was too liberal to comproved to be little more than a form. The Morn-mand a majority of suffrages in the sacred college, ing Chronicle exultingly imputes that political phenomenon to popular "confidence in the men ;" but our able contemporary draws somewhat too largely on obliviousness of facts not yet ancient. It was notorious in December last, that an election for a whig government, even with free trade, would have been hazardous in the extreme: it was even stated by an intended member of that evanescent ministry, that the whigs at their outgoing in 1841 had not a rag of popularity left. Now the men who come before the constituencies are identically the same; and the striking difference in their public reception must be found in the altered circumstances, and in the popular confidence that those circumstances will work out desired ends. In December, even the liberals deprecated the whig accession to office; because the chief anxiety was, that the protective corn-law should be abolished, and Sir Robert Peel alone was believed, and justly Meanwhile, a movement has been going on about the country beginning at Bologna. Petitions, numerously signed, pray that effect may be given to the memorandum which certain foreign ambassadors laid before the high pontiff in 1831, giving to the people such representation as enables them, not to legislate, but to declare their wishes, and admitting laymen to official employ. These petitions have been signed by several influential persons, and among them by the pope's elder brother. There are, therefore, signs of a healthy activity among the people, and of an unprecedented disposition to advancement in the ruling body.-Spectator. THE MORMON CAMP. tion of the people-all to be put on a footing with THE Hancock Eagle of the 10th July notices ment of a subsidy paid to the repeal agitation. England. That is Peel's offer the first instalthe arrival there of Mr. S. Chamberlain, who left And, by and by, when the whigs have fretted their the most distant camp of the Mormons at Council little hour upon the stage, Peel will do all this. Bluffs on the 26th ultimo, and on his route passed For he has tasted the blood of monopoly, and he the whole line of Mormon emigrants. He says will hound it to the death. A few places secured, that the advance company of the Mormons, with whom were the Twelve, had a train of one thou-general election tried and lost, and the whigs will a few titles bestowed, a few jobs perpetrated, a sand wagons, and were encamped on the east bank stagger out of office, to make room for the destroyer. of the Missouri river, in the neighborhood of the England is calling for him already by the non-offiCouncil Bluffs. They were employed in the con- cial voice of meetings, and newspapers, and Lonstruction of boats for the purpose of crossing the don crowds; she will call for him by and by in a river. puted; and the doom of monopoly will be accomless equivocal manner-in a manner not to be displished. The second company had encamped temporarily at station No. 2, which has been christened Mount Pisgah. They mustered about three thousand strong, and were recruiting their cattle preparatory to a fresh start. A third company had halted for a similar purpose at Garden Grove, on the head waters of Grand River, where they have put in about two thousand acres of corn for the benefit of the people in general. Between Garden Grove and the Mississippi river Mr. Chamberlain counted over one thousand wagons en route to join the main bodies in advance. 'For Ireland all this augurs excellently wellbetter than the wisest could have altogether foreseen, or the hottest anticipated. Whatever the whigs accomplish, more or less-all Peel can, and assuredly will do, to sweep away the monopoly of the church, of the bench, of the jury system, of the executive, clears our path to repeal. Monopoly is the rampart which keeps the Irish race asunderwhich constitutes two nations on one soil. That one interest, and hence one purpose, in all Irethere will remain but one nation, one hope, gone, land." The whole number of teams attached to the Mormon expedition is about three thousand seven hundred, and it is estimated that each team will After reviewing in a similarly exalted style the average at least three persons, and perhaps four. political changes which have occurred in Ireland The whole number of souls now on the road may during the last twenty years, and the present posi be set down in round numbers at twelve thousand. tion of parties in both countries, the Nation infers From two to three thousand have disappeared from that all things are working together for repeal. Nauvoo in various directions. Many have left for This is Ireland's only hope-"Whatever Russell Council Bluffs by the way of the Mississippi and or Peel may accomplish neither can give us our Missouri rivers; others have dispersed to parts five millions of taxes, and other five millions of abunknown; and about eight hundred or less still sentee rent, or the strength, and glory, and securemain in Illinois. This comprises the entire Mor-rity of a nation, which will come only with remon population that once flourished in Hancock peal."-Spectator. county. In their palmy days they probably numbered between fifteen and sixteen thousand souls, most of whom are now scattered upon the prairies, bound for the Pacific slope of the American con tinent. purpose Mr. Chamberlain reports that previously to his leaving, four United States military officers had arrived at the Mount Pisgah camp, for the of enlisting five hundred Mormons for the Santa Fe campaign. They were referred to head-quarters at Council Bluffs, for which place they immediately set out. It was supposed that the force would be enrolled without delay. If so, it will furnish Col. Kearney with a regiment of well-disciplined soldiers, who are already prepared to march. INDIAN CORN.-The Irish are so fond of this give up potatoes. At Limerick, ten days since, a new article of food, that they are in a fair way to riot was created by a false rumor that the millers intended to stop the issue of meal. In Cork the government sells ten thousand pounds (say nearly fifty thousand dollars worth) each week at one penny per pound; and private dealers sell a great deal besides at a lower price, about four fifths of a penny. A LETTER from Vienna mentions that the States of Lower Austria held their first sitting on the 23d ultimo. Amongst other objects to be submitted to their consideration are the means of putting an end to the obligatory service of the peasants; the establishment of a rural police; and the Mr. Chamberlain represents the health of the travelling Mormons as good, considering the expo-creation of provincial banks. sure to which they have been subjected. They are carrying on a small trade in provisions with the settlers in the country, with whom they mingle on the most friendly terms. VARIETY. IRELAND. The Nation, the organ of the "Young Ireland" party, indulges in a hopeful prophecy of Sir Robert Peel THE Minister of the Interior has addressed another circular to the Prefects of the departments, on the subject of the emigration of persons of the working-classes to Algeria. He states that a gratuitous passage will be afforded only to workmen in the useful arts, such as masons, carpenters, smiths, painters, &c., and to no females except seamstresses, cooks, dairy maids, silk-winders, and other useful persons. "Peel, the future premier, bids for Ireland. Ali has formally authorized the foreign consuls WE understand (says the Presse) that Mehemet His price is the highest liberal or radical, whig or residing at Alexandria to inform their sovereigns precursor, ever ventured to demand. He offers of his intention to proceed to Constantinople. full identification in all respects with England. Every one at Alexandria thinks that, on quitting The Irish franchises, representation, and munici-Constantinople, Mehemet Ali will make an excurpal powers, the national religion, and the educa- sion to Western Europe. A LETTER from Madrid states that a very extensive Joint Stock Company has been formed there, for renting from the State, for twenty-five years, the Philippine Islands, Annobon and Fernando Po -paying for the first a rent equal to double their present returns to the government, and engaging to form manufacturing and commercial establishments in the others. matter. THE founder of Chemistry, Lavosier, was, as our readers know, snatched away, by a violent and premature death, ere he had found time to collect and arrange his works. In 1843, the minister of public instruction consulted the Academy of Sciences as to what works of that philosopher should be included in a national publication; and a committee was appointed to examine, and report, on the THE last returns of the manufacture of beet-root and recommends that the chamber of deputies be This committee has now made its report; sugar in France show a great improvement over asked for a sum of from 40,000 to 60,000 francs the preceding returns. At the end of May there for the purposes of the publication according to its had been manufactured forty millions of kilogrammes of sugar, or nearly four millions more national character to this edition of Lavoisier, as suggestions. It is only with the view of giving a than in 1845. Out of this quantity, upwards of the committee observe, that they apply to the thirty-two millions and a half had been delivered State for its cost; for a member of the illustrious to public consumption, which exceeds the propor-chemist's own family would gladly take upon himtion of last year by more than three millions. In self the entire expense, and renounces his right to this quantity, nine millions sent to the depot of do so only because of the greater glory redounding Paris have not been reckoned. Up to May 31 the to Lavoisier from the sponsorship of the governhome-made sugar had produced to the treasury eight millions of francs, or two and a half millions more than the preceding year at the same period. There were then 306 establishments at work. There is this year an augmentation of 30 manufac tories at work. MEXICAN PUNISHMENT OF THEFT.-From what we had heard and knew of the thieving propensities of the Mexicans, we were under the impression that theft was considered inherent with them, and was therefore allowed to pass unpunished; but we were undeceived as to this the other day, by witnessing the infliction of a severer punishment for this crime than is meted out to it by the laws of any other country we are acquainted with. The culprit, with his hands tied behind him, and a chain with a heavy iron ball attached to it, fastened round his leg, was paraded through the streets, and after a sufficient exhibition, was led to the ferry at the crossing of the river, placed in the ferry-boat, and when it had attained the middle of the stream, with his hands thus tied and the heavy weight suspended to his leg, he was made to plunge into the rushing torrent The poor devil managed, even in this situation, to keep his head above water for several moments, and shorten the distance considerably between himself and the shore, but the ball at length touching the muddy bottom, he could swim no further, and was dragged under and passed into eternity.-Matamoros Flag. AMUSING SCENE IN MATAMOROS.-The high price of cotton goods in Matamoros, in consequence of the Mexican tariff, is well known. Several enterprising "Yankees," since General Taylor has taken possession of the city, have "moved in," opened stores and are selling goods on cheap principles-about one third of the usual Mexican prices, but double the usual American prices. It is an amusing scene to witness the crowd around these stores, composed of the mixed people of the city. Finely dressed women, rancheros, naked Indians and negroes, all eager to purchase goods, and jabbering good, bad and indifferent Spanish, with a rapidity truly appalling to a phlegmatic Anglo-American. This species of warfare is rapidly converting the people over to American notions, and they have only to fully learn that they can have cheap goods, and the enjoyment of life and liberty, to abandon their government as rapidly as they have their high-priced stores. SIR ROBERT PEEL, before quitting office, conferred a pension of 1007. a year on the Quakerpoet, Bernard Barton. ment. THE Voice of Jacob, an Anglo-Jewish periodical, announces a loss which the cause of Hebrew literature has sustained, at Hamburgh, in the sudden death of Heyman Joseph Michael, a celebrated collector of works relating thereto. Dr. Isler, of that city, says the paper in question, "afraid lest his magnificent library should be lost to Germany, even as that of the celebrated Oppenheim (now in Oxford) was lost, has issued an appeal to his Jewish townsmen, calling upon them to preserve this treasure to their city.' PARIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.-July 6.-A paper was read by M. Payen, on the chemical analysis and general properties of coffee.-M. Séguier gave a description of a machine for the cleaning of seed corn, so as to remove the inert and useless portions.-MM. Piobert and Morin presented another paper on turbines, giving an account of the various ameliorations of which they are susceptible.-The next paper read was a report by M. Duviver, in the name of a committee, earnestly recommending the minister of public instruction to bring into the chamber of deputies a bill for the publication of a national edition of the works of Lavoisier.-M. Cauchy informed the Academy that the obstacles which had occurred to prevent the realization of a plan, by the charitable society of St. Regis, for the civil and religious marriage of persons of the poorer classes living together without the bonds of marriage, have been removed, and that arrangements have been made for such persons to have the marriage rites performed without cost to themselves. from China by the Commission who have just re- |