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cott's, Sir W.'s, Chronicles of the Canongate, extracts
from, 138, 145.-Editorial remarks on the novels of, 145.
Scott, Sir Walter, verses to, by Pringle, 369.
Scots, Mary, Queen of the, 188.

Scotland, trip in-see Steam Excursion,

Scouring balls for woollen cloths, 207.
Scriptural reading, 5.

Sea serpent caught, 28.

Sea song (Barney Buntline) 148.

Seal of the Liverpool Corporation-see Corporation.

Seduction and panderism, 59, 68.

Selina (poetry) 412.

Sermon by Sambo, 143.

Servants, female, letter respecting, 235, 248, 255, 280.

Sex, fair-see Fair Sex.

Shark, the, a story, 26.

Shelter, the (verses) 217.

Ships, Chinese, singular construction of, 193-How to

construct so that they cannot sink, 193, 210.

Shirley, the poet, specimens of, 216.

Shirt, lines to my, 398.

Shoes, children's, 348.

Shooting match, ancient-see London.

Shopmen's hours, 24.

Short-hand, alleged improvement in, 85.

Sickness, stanzas written in, 380.

Signs, whimsical, 29.

Sismondi, original translation from, 240.
Sinclair, Mr., verses to, 124.

Sister, infant, lines to, 420.

Sketch, by G. (verse) 292.

Sun, lines to the, 293.

Supernatural appearances, 92.

Swaine's metrical essays, specimen of, 208.
Swallow tribe, natural history of the, 361.
Swearing, an epigram, 108.

Sweeps, chimney-see Climbing-boys.
Sweet Fairy Minstrel (verses) 284.

Swimming, extraordinary, 12, 20-see Bedale.

Swimming, Munchausen (a good story) 2-Across the He-
lespont, 21.

Swimming exploits, or gymnasia, 28, 29, 40-Editorial
remarks on, 29.

Swimming postmen, in South America, 40.
Swimming matches, challenges, feats, &c. 376, 424.
Sylvester, Charles (the late) character of, 253.
Sympathy (poetry) 320.

Syphon hydrometer, new, 85.

T.

Tales, entertaining, 26, 37, 38, 42, 47, 53, 57, 61, 66, 66,
70, 73, 78, 83, 85, 90, 92, 98, 101, 118, 122, 129, 130,
135, 137, 138, 144, 151, 158, 165, 182, 185, 205, 210,
226, 229, 234, 254, 257, 262, 273, 282, 286, 290, 301,
309, 317, 326, 333, 345, 349, 350, 351, 361,.378, 393,
402, 403, 418, 426-see Ghost Seer; see also Narratives.
Tales of a Grandfather, selections from, 218, 234, 238,

290.

Tankarde, Syr, ancient lines on, 284.
Tannahill, the poet, memoir of, 77.
Tavern inscription at Pisa, 44.

Taylor, Dr. Robert, posthumous notice of, 219-Epitaph
on, 260.

Slaughter-houses, and carrying carcases through the Teapot, description of an antique, 400.

streets, 91.

Slaves, negroes, character of-see Negro.

Tear of Sympathy, 284.

Teens (Miss in her) query respecting, 376, 376.

Slavery, negro, demoralizing influence of, 289, 301, 342, Telegraph, curious particulars concerning, 152.
343, 367, 369.-Original essay on, 369.
Slavery, a sonnet, 352.

Smith, Egerton, description of a new musical time-beater,
with an engraving, 113-Militia return, in doggerel

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Telegraphic signals by day or night, 161, 178, 251.
Thames Tunnel, 288.

Theatrical critiques, 31, 44, 76, 272, 400, 408, 416.
Theatre, fall of a Roman, 347.
Thermopalæ (verses on) 269.

Thief, juvenile, whimsical apology of a, 173.
Throat, Abernethy on the, 45.

Thunder storm, poetical description of a, 369.
Tides, phenomena of, 372.

Tiger and elephant, fight between, 374.

Time, on the emblematical figure of (poetry) 412.
Time-beater, musical-see Smith, Egerton.

Tom Jones-see Fielding.

Toothach, recipe for the, 225.
Toper and Love (epigram) 100.

Traill, Dr., address of at the annual meeting of the Liver-
pool Royal Institution, 390.

Traveller, letters of a, (original) 237, 251, 259, 290, 309,
325, 349.

Traveller, the, (verses) 233.

Travelling, quick-see Vallance.

Trifling, Literary, 297-see Bagatelles.

Tulip and flower mania, 404, 413.

Tulip show, 405.

Spider, seizing a turkey, 375-Singular facts respecting, Tunnel under Liverpool, 424.

10.

Spit, roasting, an extraordinary, 63.

Spring, address to, 268.

Stand at ease! 263.

Stanzas to Miss H., 80-By Slender, 164-By G. 284.
Stays, tight, ill effects of, 134.

Steam-carriages on common roads, with an engraving,
229, 250, 264.

Steam-carriage of Burstall-see Burstall.

Steam excursion, from Inverness to Glasgow, 281, 315.
Steam, used to extinguish fires, 163.

Sterne's Maria, no fiction, 297.

Stonehenge, verses on, 148.

Stories, old, repeating, 187-see Tales and Narratives.

Strachan, Admiral, memoir of, 278.

Strangers' Friend Society, objects of, 247.
Street conversation, burlesque, 389.

Stye in the eye, a good pun, 424.

Turkey and Russia, Cowper's reflections on, 400.
Turkish nation, accounts of the, 187, 243, 406-Their
cannon, 211-Women, 327.

Turpin, Tim, by Thos. Hood, 189.
"Twine no more," poetry, by G., 404.

Tyrolese minstrels, interesting particulars of the life and
manners of, 169, 253.

U.

Ude, the French cook, anecdotes of, 45.
Ugo Foscoli, 115.

Undertaker and doctor, 261.

"Upon us let his blood," &c. (verses) 180.

V.

Vallance's mode of propelling passengers, &c. by an air
tunnel, 49, 65.

Variety is the charm of life (verses) 232.
Velocity-sce Vallance.

Vernon, Lord-see Evidence, Circumstantial.
Vesuvius, eruption of, 345, 431.

Vice and seduction, 59.

Vienna, deliverance of, by Mr. Macauley, 197.
Virtue (verses) 336.

Vivent les bagatelles-see Bagatelles.

Voyage at sea described, 234, 290, 325, 349, 377-see
Traveller.

Voyages of discovery, 14, 35—see Franklin and Parry.
W.

Wallace, Sir William, and the Red Rover, 422.
Wallasey-see Liverpool and Mersey.
Wallis, Dr., extraordinary memory of, 77.
War, letter on, 256.

Warfare, alleged propensity of man and other animals to,
editorial paper on, 153.

Warrior's death (verses) 12, 188.

"Was it in sad or playful mood?" (verses) 72.
Washington, last hours of, 422.
Waterhouse, the Rev., memoir of, 19.
Watson, Lieut., telegraph of, 161.
Waverley novels, query respecting, 209.
Weather, changes of, indicated by drinking glasses, 376.
Wedding of the poker and tongs, by Hood, 369.
Wens and excrescences, 192.

West Indies, tale of the-see Slavery.
Westerne, Mr., a vocal performer, noticed, 408, 416.
Whiskers-see Hair and Albert.

Whiskers and beards, editorial article on, 425-Original
letter on, 425.

Whist, the laws of, versified, 240.

Widows, burning of, in India, 91, 376.
Wife, choosing of a, in Turkey, 13.
Wife, a comical (a tale) 38.

Williams, John-see Brunswick Theatre.
Windsor castle described, 389.
Winter primrose (verses) 156.
Wish, the, poetry, by G. 336.

Woollaston, Dr., singular essay of, on a phenomenon of

the eyes, with engravings, 225, 227.

Woman's loquacity (epigram) English and French, 108.

Woman, verses by G. 52-Woman's love, by G. 148.

Wood, Mr., interesting lectures of, 416.

Wood-turning, specimens of ingenious, 424.

Woodgate, Miss Ellen, lines to the memory of, 260.
Words, play upon-see Palendrome.

Wrangham-see Barnard.

Y.

Year 1827, verses to the, 196-New, verses to the, by G
216.

Z.

Zella, lines to, on her birthday, 72.

INDEX OF THE ENGRAVINGS IN THIS VOLUME.

Aquatic gymnasia, 29-Magellan clouds, 30-Rotch's
patent fid, 33, 34-The Union air pump, 41-Cork
collar jackets, 48-The Giraffe, 81-New mode of
writing music, 85-Syphon hydrometer, 85-Fac-simile
of Mr. Canning's hand, 92-Diagram illustrative of the
knight's move at chess, 108-Lord Nelson's monument
in Liverpool, 109-Mr. Egerton Smith's musical time-
beater, 113-Profile of Paul Cuffee, 155-The tele-
graph, 162, 178-Apparatus for extinguishing fire with
steam, 163-Map of Navarino, 176-Singular anti-
quities found in Yorkshire, 212-Diagram illustrative
of areas of circles, 212-Puzzles, &c. 220-Singular
phenomenon respecting the direction of the eyes, 225,
227-Problem respecting steam-carriages on common
roads, 229-Living insect in a piece of wood, 237-
Burstall's steam-carriage, 240-Ancient horn at Hootor,
277-Beeston Castle, 316-Liverpool Corporation seal,
363-Chimney sweeping machines, 371-Long's steam-
pump, 372-Phenomena of the tides, 373-Profile
mountain, 391-Map of the River Mersey, 417.

PRINTED BY EGERTON SMITH AND CO. LORD-STREET.

OR,

Literary and Scientific Mirror.

"UTILE DULCI."

This familiar Miscellany, from which all religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending Literature, CRITICISM, MEN aid 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. 367. Vol. VIII.

The Envestigator. [Comprehending Political Economy, Statistics, Jurisprudence, occasional passages from Parliamentary Speeches of a general nature, occasional Parliamentary Documents, and other speculative subjects, excluding Party Politics.]

(ORIGINAL.)

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1827.

from events unimportant in themselves, and originating
in circumstances neither honourable to the sovereign, nor,
at the time, beneficial to the people. In the annals of
England, the means by which its liberties were acquired
occupy no conspicuous place, nor does the notice of these
means tend to give an exalted idea of the benefits they
produced. But enough of introductory matter. I will
now proceed in my inquiry.

"The first accounts we have of the inhabitants of BriAN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL INQUIRY INTO THE tain present some traces of a constitution not unlike that

ORIGIN OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ENGLAND.

BY ERASMUS, GOWER.

The series of essays, of which the following is the first, can hardly fail to prove useful and interesting to our readers; and if we may judge by the present specimen, these dissertations will contain nothing at variance with the spirit of our work, in which we are pledged to abstain from introducing any thing which can be deemed party politics.

CHAPTER I.

In laying before the readers of the Kaleidoscope a brief inquiry into the origin of the English constitution, a few preliminary observations will, perhaps, be requisite. It is not because no other writer has hitherto considered this subject that I now undertake the task, but because, 1st, their researches occupy volumes, which the general reader has neither time nor inclination to peruse; and, 2nd, the facts which writers on the English constitution produce are oftentimes so distorted, and the conclusions they draw from these facts are generally so false and inconclusive, that no certain reliance can be placed upon them. The influence of party prejudice (that bane of historical inquiry) has nowhere been felt with greater force than in the perusal of the essays on the constitution of England; and this renders these essays of comparatively small value. In the present undertaking I purpose to select those facts which bear directly upon the question. But though these may serve as a beacon to guide me through the dim mists of ages, it will require some labour to sift them from the vast mass of rubbish in which they are mingled; and, perhaps, still more labour will be requisite to feconcile the garbled and distorted statement of the facts themselves. For though these facts are too well authenticated to be denied, they are wholly suppressed by some writers, and half suppressed by others. The influence of party feeling has been suffered to overpower the dictates truth and justice, and a total omission or a garbled statement has been the natural result. That these charges do Tat rest upon mere assertion, I shall prove in the course of the present inquiry.

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It is a singular fact, that, unlike the constitutions of Greece and Rome, the constitution of England owes its existence to events unimportant in themselves, and widely different in their causes. To no spirited exertions on the part of virtuous individuals; to no great efforts on the part of an enlightened people; to no generous concessions on the part of a good sovereign-can we attribute the liberties of England. These liberties arose, as before observed,

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we at present possess, says an historian of no mean re-
pute. This is one of the falsities of historians; for the
Ancient Britons had no trace of such a constitution as ours,
and Miller, when he penned the words just quoted, could
only be actuated by a desire to ascribe the constitution of
England to causes widely remote from its true origin.
Let us examine how the case stands.
"The beads of the
British tribes elected a chief, or ruler, who, in times of
foreign invasion, or internal commotion, assumed the su
preme command."+ How this measure, which originated
solely from the principle of unanimity and obedience
during temporary danger, can have a similitude to the
English constitution, will require an abler historian than
Mr. Miller to prove.

Pass we on, therefore, to the Saxon era; and here we
find the Witenagemote, or Great Council. Of the exact
powers and jurisdiction of the Witen we have no satisfac.
tory accounts. One writer supposes it to bear some re-
semblance to what is now termed the King's Privy Coun-
cil, and this is by no means improbable. In wading
through the dark annals of the Saxon times, we find the
Witenagemote mentioned only in cases of a disputed suc-
cession, or a long minority. During the reigns of the
more active Saxon monarchs, Egbert, Alfred, Edward, &c.
the powers of the Witen slumber, and its proceedings are
either stayed or involved in obscurity. It would seem,
therefore, that the Great Council was not used as a check
on the sovereign, but as a governing power during times of
commotion on the part of the people, or minority on the
side of the Sovereign. The constitution, that is, the ma-
terials which composed the Witenagemote, prove that, in
this faint resemblance to a Parliament, there existed no
positive power. It was composed of the King's Thanes
and Coldermen,§ who were assembled to give the monarch
their advice in matters of importance. Yet this advice
was by no means to be the decision upon the question, as
the King reserved to himself the choice of approving or
disapproving of their measures and opinions. Besides, the
power of the Witen, emanating solely from the Sovereign,
made it depend upon his will; and, as its duration lasted
only so long as his pleasure, it could not, of course, be

very beneficial to the nation.

It may not be amiss, however, to examine a little into the origin of the Witenagemote, and also of another power in the state called Bretwalda, as from these two powers some writers have argued the origin of the English Constitution. The Witen seems to have had its origin in the first invasion of England by the Saxons. As the leaders of the different bands who successively invaded England, pos

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sessed no real or permanent control over their followers, of course they were necessitated to undertake nothing of importance without the concurrence of an assembly com posed of the heads of the tribes into which these followers were divided. Thus, when the Conquest had been achieved, these heads of tribes, or Thanes and Coldermen as they were styled, claimed the privilege of advising their leader in peace, as they had heretofore done in war. The leader, now raised to the dignity of Monarch, was too weak to oppose their pretensions, and was, therefore, obliged to acquiesce. From this sprung a Witenagemote in each kingdom of the heptarchy. The dignity of Bretwalda, or head of the seven kingdoms of England, was enjoyed by the most powerful monarch of the heptarchy, and could not be obtained by hereditary right; so that in the course of a few years the dignity was transferred from one monarch to another, as the chances of war, or the revolution of opinion dictated.

It must be confessed, that in the foregoing brief statement we find some striking similitudes to the present constitution of England. Yet these similitudes exist but as shadows; nor to the Witen or Bretwalda can we reasonably ascribe the origin of our liberties. A short exposition will prove this. As both the Witenagemote and the dignity of Bretwalda existed only so long as they could maintain themselves by force, so, as must be the case in all institutions not founded upon opinion, they speedily fell before a superior power :-the increased influence of the king, in the case of the Witenagemote; and the increased stability of the different nations of the heptarchy, in the case of the Bretwalda. When Egbert conquered the whole of the heptarchy, the power of the Bretwalda had long been annihilated, and for a longer space of time had the WitenaEgbert called the Witenagemote once more into existence, gemotes ceased to exercise their functions and privileges. of part of the members of the seven Witens, which were as regarded its jurisdiction. The new Witen was composed now abolished. Yet even this Witenagemote did not long exercise its prerogatives, for after having fulfilled the wishes of Egbert, in acknowledging him King of England, it slumbered through the remainder of the Saxon era, and is not mentioned, save on a few occasions, and then it was they assembled to nominate a guardian during a minority, or to depose the sovereign already deprived of his crown.

But there is yet another objection against the Witenasequently had no interest in common with them. During gemote. It derived no power from the people, and conthe whole of the Saxon era, the people possessed no voice in the state, nor were their interests or opinions considered.† The Witenagemote, allowing it the widest range, was merely an assemblage of nobles, whose power was too great to be despised by the sovereign, and who, consequently, was constrained to be in some measure guided by their wishes and opinions.

I have thus attempted to prove, that to no events from the first accounts of the Britons, to the Saxon era, can we ascribe the liberties of England. But the next step will lead to important inferences and deductions. Leaving those guides who have conducted me through the foregoing remarks, I shall boldly hazard an opinion of my own, as to the origin of our liberties. In support of this * Lingard. † Turner.

opinion I shall bring forward proofs which I think will establish my proposition. This proposition has not been formed without mature consideration: it is the result of a diligent perusal of the histories of England, and of the works of the writers on the English constitution. How far I shall succeed, remains yet to be proved; but if I can awaken attention to this important subject, I shall rest satisfied

that I have not laboured in vain.

[End of Chapter I.]

Fine Arts.

MANCHESTER EXHIBITION.

[From the Manchester Gazette.]

Although we have terminated our remarks upon the pictures in the present exhibition, yet we conceive that this does not preclude us from noticing any thing connected therewith, or the Fine Arts generally, in this place, and which, from time to time, we may be induced to do, as subjects present themselves.

We shall, therefore, without further preface, proceed to make some remarks upon a performance of one of our Manchester artists, which we think is highly creditable to his talents, and marks his rapid improvement; it is also a confirmation of what we have formerly observed upon the short notice which was given to the Manchester artists to prepare for the exhibition; and that it is more than pro. bable, had more time for preparation been allowed, we should have had works of much greater consequence and merit from the Manchester artists than those which are now exhibiting.

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figures, &c. passing along the road are judiciously intro.
duced, and enliven the scene; they are also pretty correctly
safely pronounced the best, as well as the greatest effort of
drawn, and better coloured: in short, this picture may be
this artist's pencil, and is highly creditable to his talents;
it also indicates, with more attention to nature and truth
of colour, greater promise of excellence hereafter, and con-
siderable rank as a landscape painter.-We have also seen
some Marine Views, (in the river at Liverpool,) by Mr.
Ralston, upon a much larger scale than his present ones
in the exhibition, and greatly superior to them in every
respect, in merit; which we understand were intended for
the present exhibition, but could not be finished in time,
and are now therefore destined for the Liverpool Exhibi-
tion; where, we have no doubt, they will meet with that
admiration to which they are so justly entitled.

Antiquities.

DISCOVERY OF FOSSIL HYENAS IN KENT.

A most interesting discovery has, within these few days, been made in this county, by J. Braddick, Esq. of Boughton Mount, of the fossil remains of an extinct species of hyæna, and some other antediluvian animals, in the extensive quarries of Boughton, about three miles south of Maidstone. These quarries appear to have been worked for many centuries; and there is a tradition that many of the materials of Westminster Abbey, and other ancient buildings in London, were brought from hence; they have lately been extensively wrought by Mr. Braddick, for the purpose of erecting buildings on his estate. The stone is designated most commonly by the name of Kentish Rag: it consists of a succession of beds of limestone and The performance which we are now about to notice is coarse flint, dispersed in irregular thickness through a "View of Manchester," by Mr. C. Calvert, which, though matrix of sand and sandstone; its geological position is not in the exhibition, is under the same roof, placed there, in the lowest region of the green-sand formation immeno doubt, for public inspection; and, therefore, alike open diately above the weald clay. The remains in question to public criticism. The painting is upon a large scale, consist of the jaws, teeth, and broken portions of the skull, commensurate with the magnitude of the town it repre- together with bones of the fore and hind legs of a very sents, and the most favourable point of view has been large hyena, and a few other teeth and bones apparently chosen (just under our race-course) for exhibiting the best of the ox and horse. All these were found nearly together, distant view of the town, and, at the same time, of intro- within the space of a few feet in one of the numerous ducing a beautifully varied and highly picturesque fore- cracks or fissures (locally called vents) that intersect the ground, and intervening scenery, which no other site about strata at this place, and are usually from one to twenty Manchester affords in an equally eminent degree, com feet broad: on the sides of many of these vents are hollow bining, with its broken and steep acclivities, bold and pro- apertures of various sizes, some of which occasionally exjecting masses, finely covered with wood, and thickly in-pand themselves into caves: two such caves have lately terspersed with the country residences of our townsmen; been destroyed in the quarries on the north side of the whilst, in the bottom of this beautiful landscape, the river valley, at Boughton Mount. These fissures, or vents, is here and there seen in its sinuous course, and over the cut through the strata, from the bottom of the quarries to whole, the commanding and extended view of this great the surface, are filled with diluvial loam, interspersed town gives to the tout ensemble a highly interesting and with fragments of the adjacent rocks, and numerous chalkimposing effect. We shall now, therefore, proceed to make flints; these last must have been drifted hither from some a few remarks upon its execution, keeping our motto al distant hills, and have fallen into the fissures at the same ways in view, for we think that indiscriminate praise is time with the loam. This loam at its upper extremity more injurious in its consequences, both to the artist and becomes united to that which covers the surface of the the public, (as far as the public taste is concerned) than quarry and the adjacent fields. The bones were discovered temperate and liberal criticism; and we will candidly al- at about fifteen feet deep in one of these fissures; and low, that, though the present performance has many and from the manner in which they were scattered amongst great beauties, yet these are counterbalanced by some de- the loam and stony fragments, they appear to have been fects, which, in a slight degree, deteriorate, though not drifted to their present place at the same time with the greatly, from its general merit and effect; but they are diluvial matter, amongst which they lay occupying a such as will, with a little more care and attention for the position precisely similar to the bones of hyenas and other future, be easily remedied or prevented. animals that were discovered in the fissures of the breakHis delineation of the wood and road in the foreground water limestone rock, near Plymouth, embedded in simi. is finely managed, and the shadows from the trees, thrown lar diluvial loam and pebbles. It is highly probable that across the road, &c. are little touches of observation and at Boughton, as was the case at Plymouth, the caves nature, which serve greatly to heighten its truth and communicating with these fissures will be found to conbeauty; his trees, also, though not marked with much tain an abundance of similar bones. Mr. Braddick's character, are light and pleasing in their forms, and agree-workmen say they have frequently found them in his ably grouped and contrasted, and mark a very visible im- quarries, but always neglected to preserve them; one fine provement both in his colouring and execution, which is head was thus lost but a few weeks ago: enough, howmore bold, free, and less mannered; but his colouring of ever, has already been done to show that the hyæna was the river and its contiguous banks is much too bright and among the antediluvian inhabitants of Kent, as it has yellow, and the general tone of the distant town and hills been proved to have been among those of Yorkshire and beyond is greatly too vivid and transparent, and the ob- Devon; and it is highly probable that if the proprietors jects too distinctly marked; giving it more the appearance of quarries in this country will reward their workmen for of a beautiful Italian atmosphere and city than that of the preserving whatever teeth, or bones, or fragments of dingy, dense, and smoky appearance which Manchester bones, they may dig up in the course of working their almost always assumes: the sky, however, is well com- stone, many similar discoveries will soon be made. Proposed and handled, but partakes of the same fault which fessor Buckland and some other gentlemen of the Geolowe have just noticed, in its colouring. There is also con- gical Society of London have this week visited Mr. Bradsiderably more attention paid to his keeping, or aerial per- dick's quarries, and entertain the most sanguine expec. spective, but his linear is, in some respects, incorrect, par- tations that his further researches therein will be attended ticularly in the house on the left, seated in the middle of with success. Mr. B. has added materially to the value the acclivity, and both this and some others a little farther of his discovery, by communicating information of it on want toning to a lower key; indeed, if this was gene- immediately to the Geological Society of London, as well rally done, we are convinced that it would greatly im as by presenting the specimens to their museum.-Maidprove both the effect and harmony of the whole. The few stone, June 12, 1827.

Miscellanics.

A SWIMMING MUNCHAUSEN. cess of which we have spoken pretty freely, brings to mind Dr. Bedale's match to swim to Runcorn, about the suc the following good story:

water.

To the Editor of the Montreal Herald. SIR,-The story of the man of his Majesty's 71st re giment falling overboard from the Chambley steam-boar between Long Point and Montreal, and so miraculous appearing on the beach before his comrades had disca barked, reminded me of a circumstance that occurred during my servitude on board the Dolphin man-of-war, bound to the West Indies. We were going at the rate of about three knots and a half, when Tom Starboard, be longing to the foretop, (who, by the bye, was a bit of a wag) sleeping in the fee fore chains, by a sudden lurch of the ship was thrown overboard. "A man overboard!" was the general cry fore and aft-and every one ran to offer or give assistance to the drowning man. Tom, who nothing extraordinary, woke, on finding himself in deep was a tolerably good swimmer, as every body thought, but water, and began to use his paddles, the ship passing a-head, as I was saying before, at the rate of three knots and a half. Tom was soon lost sight of under the counter, (for although our ship was not on Sir Robert Sepping's plan, yet she was pretty full abaft) when Tom was lucky enough to get hold of the rudder chains. The hands all boat down to pick him up; but no Tom was to be seen. ran off expecting to see Tom astern, and to lower the jolly ceased. Our ship was very deep, bound out to the West "He is gone," said they," to Davy's locker," and efforts Indies, consequently our gun-room ports were low in th thought he would wait till they had beat to quarters, and This Tom saw, and as it was getting dark, be piped the hammocks down, before he got on board, which the gunner keeps his wads and spare monkeys' tails) and he did, and then popped down into the lady's hold (where there remained till the middle of the first watch, when he sallied forth and made free with our bread bags, taking enough to serve him for three days. At the end of this time we were jogging along at an easy rate, with scarcely any wind, about a knot an hour, when Master Tom, unobserved, began to hail the ship, The Dolphin a-hoy!" "Hal. slips out of the port he came in at, and dropping astern. loo," says the quarter-master, who was about getting a pull on the main brace. Says Tom, "If you don't back the man-topsail and heave to, I shall sink, for no man can swim to the West Indies without provisions!" Every body ran aft in amazement, for it had been blowing fresh during the time we supposed he had been overboard; but there was no time to be lost, so the boat was lowered, and poor Tom picked up, to the great gratification and astonishment of everybody on board. On our arrival, as the Captain was on shore dining with the Governor, the talk turned upon swimming. The Governor was extolling the powers of a black man he had, and our Captain swore ne man could swim with Tom Starboard, of the Dolphin's foretep; however, to make a long story short, the Captain and the Governor made a heavy bet-the time was appointed-Tom asked one week to get ready. The car penters were ordered to make what chests and conveniences Tom required. The purser was instructed, at his request, to supply a fortnight's provisions. The day came, and Tom went on shore at the wharf appointed, when he began to stow his grub. The black fellow looked at him with astonishment, .. What you do dere, Massa?" says he."What am I doing here?" says Tom, "why, I am taking in my provisions to be sure, and I advise you to do the same, for d-n the bit of this do you get on the road." Why, Massa," says the negro, "me no swim more nine "Nine or ten miles!" says Tom, as if in or ten miles." amazement at the short distance, "Why, man, I'm going to Tobago, which I believe is over 200 miles, and shan't be back for a fortnight." The spectators were astounded. and it was not until we were homeward bound that Tom The black refused to swim. The Governor lost his wager, told the secret.

BOB TRANSOM.

A Dab at Rhymes.-A punster, and a great dab at crambo, one day observed that any thing might be turned into rhyme, or doggerel, upon which a friend, pointing to a board in Bold-street, upon which was painted the words "This House to be Sold," exclaimed, "Come, then, turn that into rhyme !" upon which the other, with infinite promptitude, (as Mathews says) redeemed his pledge, by writing, with chalk, on the board,

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A dangerous Adventure.-Not long since, a reverend clergyman in Vermont, being apprehensive that the accumulated weight of snow upon the roof of his barn might do some damage, was resolved to prevent it by seasonably shovelling it off. He therefore ascended it, having first, for fear the snow might all slide off at once, and himself with it, fastened to his waist one end of a rope, and given the other to his wife. He went to work, but fearing still for his safety. "My dear," said he, "tie the rope round your waist." No sooner had she done this, than off went the snow, poor minister and all, and up went his wife. Thus on one side of the barn the astounded and

steam-engine to crack it) to any individual curious in the
examination of the giant productions of nature. And the
same gentleman, we observed, has made a considerable
collection of beautiful shells, spars, ores, &c.

Face Painting.-Lady Coventry, the celebrated beauty,
killed herself with painting. She bedaubed herself with
white, so as to stop perspiration. Lady Mary Wortley
Montague was more prudent; she went often into the hot
bath to scrape off the paint, which was almost as thick as
the plaster on a wall.

confounded clergyman hung, but on the other side hung houses in Garden-street was completely successful; they
House Launching.-The launching of the two brick
his wife, high and dry, in majesty sublime, dingling and were moved nearly ten feet, occupied at the time by their
dangling at the end of the rope. At that moment, how-tenants, without having sustained any injury; the pre-
ever, a gentleman, luckily passing by, delivered them from parations were the work of some time; the two buildings
this perilous situation.-Vermont Pat.
having been put upon ways, or into a cradle, were easily
Lord Norbury's Latest.-As his Lordship was return- screwed on a new foundation. The inventor of this
ing, the other day, from a ride, he met Surgeon C-m-1 simple and cheap mode of moving tenanted brick build-
on the military-road, going to Stephen's Hospital. The ings is entitled to the thanks of the public. In the course
surgeon having told him where he was going," Dirty of time it is likely that houses will be put up upon ways
work," said his Lordship, "cutting up those dead bodies; at brick or stone quarries, and sold as ships are, to be
how very disagreeable you must find it." "Oh, no,"
delivered in any part of the city.-American paper.
said the surgeon, we always have them washed before If the American mechanic, who can perform these won-
they are brought to us." "Ay, ay," rejoined the peer, ders, had been in Liverpool, he might have pushed the
you take care to mangle them yourselves after-Lord-street shops back, without disturbing the stock or
wards."-Freeman's Journal-If Lord Norbury has fixtures.-Edit. Kal.
really had the hardihood to sport this vile pun, we would
advise his Lordship to quit the profession of punning to-
Napoleon.-Sir Walter Scott has made one most notable
gether with that of the law; for although a punster need discovery, namely, that the great Napoleon could not
not be a first-rate genius, he ought to have some rem-write or speak the French language correctly.-We cannot
nants of memory, to enable him to avoid plagiarism; and carry our respect for Sir Walter Scott so far as to put any
if he will retail old jokes, he ought not to spoil them. credit in so very improbable a tale.
The original of this pun, which is to be found somewhere
amongst the facetize of Mr. Miller, as Mr. Brougham
calls him, was better than his Lordship's version. It was
somewhat after this fashion :-A was bantering B, whose
face and linen were not as white as the driven snow. Oh !"
says B, you are only ironing me." He should not
iron you," says C, "before you are washed;" to which
B rejoined, "I care not what he does, so that he don't
mangle me."-Edit. Kal.

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A Kentuckian belonging to a surveying party under an officer of the United States' engineers, swimming in St. John's River, was seized by a large alligator, and taken under the water. In a short time the Kentuckian and the alligator rose to the surface, the latter having the right leg of the former in his mouth, and the former having his thumbs in the eyes of his antagonist. The officer immediately gave orders to his party, who were in a boat a few yards from the combatants, to go to the relief of their comrade; but the Kentuckian peremptorily forbade any interference, saying, "Give the fellow fair play." It is needless to add, that the gouger obtained a complete victory. Having taken out one of the eyes of his adversary, the latter, in order to save his other eye, relinquished his hold upon the Kentuckian's leg, who returned to the shore in triumph.

An enormous Nut.-There is now in the possession of Mr. F. Arstell (of the office for the adjustment of weights and measures, near the New Market) a nut of an enormous size, the product of a species of palm tree, and brought to this port from an uncultivated island in the South Seas. The shell is something of the form of two kidney-beans, united or stuck together sidewise, being, as it were, double. It has evidently been covered by a husk, and is of the colour and grain of a cocoa-nut; the shell is more than a quarter of an inch thick. The extreme girth of this nut is two feet 114 inches, or within a quarter of an inch of a yard. Round the middle it measures 3 feet 74 inches; and its capacity may be estimated by the fact, that from the kernel, which was hollow within, there were taken two gallons, one quart, and one half pint. The rind, which is textured like that of the cocoa-nut, was, however, found to be oily, discoloured, and with scarcely any flavour; but, when fresh, it is, proably, agreeable to the palate. Mr. Arstell, who resides Duncan-street East, would, we doubt not, willingly show this montrous nut (which would almost require a

To W. J. H. Hood, of Arundel-street, Strand, Lieut. R.N. for improvements on pumps, chiefly applicable to to enrol specification. ships.-Dated the 26th of May, 1827.-6 months allowed

in the construction of wheeled-carriages.-26th of May.To G. Burgess, of Bagnigge Wells, for improvements 6 months.

To T. Clarke, of Market-Harborough, for improvements in manufacturing carpets.-26th May.-4 months. To Malcom Muir, of Glasgow, for machinery for preparing boards for flooring and other purposes.-1st of

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Spirit of harmony, all, all thine own!

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Harp of the winds, the silence gently breaking,
While all unseen the hand thy sweetness waking;
Spirit of sympathy! oh, let me keep

With thee lone vigils where the moonbeams sleep,
Lovely and tranquil on some isle remote,
Where Echo starts but at thy witching note,
And all-enamoured of the seraph strain,
Seeks to repeat it yet, and yet again!
Spirit of love, and sorrow, while to thee
Offers the heart its tribute, silently;
Thrice blessed inmates of a brighter sphere,
Shades of the Jost, the beautiful appear!
For thine to wake the sympathies of soul
Time cannot weaken, nor can fate control;
The whisperings thine, the glorious visions blest,
Shining serenest on the mourning breast!

Harp of the winds, through the blue ether stealing,
And Paradise to earthly gaze revealing;
Harp of the winds, with soul-subduing note,
Still, heaven-inspired, on wings of zephyr float,
And the tranced heart a captive, willing, take,
And bid it from its galling fetters break;
With thee to traverse where no eye may trace,
Far o'er the chasm rude of Time's abyss;
The spicy vales of Araby explore,
And sicken at decay, and change no more.
Harp of the winds! roused by thy varied song,
Lo! what a motley crowd tumultuous throng
Of grave and gay; the present and the past,
And ah! the passions too, nor least, nor last,
Obedient to thy call, a numerous band,
Confess the wavings of thy wizard wand.
Mighty magician of the inmost soul!
Still undisputed be thy loved control;
Still thine the tones to memory most dear,
Th'impassioned sigh be thine, and thine the tear;
Thine the deep mysteries of the spirit, fraught
With more than mortal melody e'er taught;
A spell surpassing all to minstrel known,
A charm omnipotent, and thine alone!
Spirit of harmony, confest of heaven,
Still be to me thy witching echoes given,

Thy solemn sadness, mixed with visions holy,
Fancy's gay dreams, and dearer inelancholy,
Till on the stream of Time no longer tost,
In strains yet purer, thine, loved harp, are lost!
Liverpool.

MORNING.

Morn is abroad! O'tis a pleasant thing
To hear the brisk song of the early lark ;-
To see the swallow hawking on the wing

For the quick fly; or, unobserved, to mark The callow brood, whose warbling shall make The future joy of forest or of brake.

And it is beautiful to see the sun

Look down delighted on the dancing wave, While the trim ships come gliding one by one O'er the blue deep, each bearer of some brave

G.

Wayfaring messengers, who come to tell

The tales of other lands-then take a quick farewell.
And who that wanders out but loves the flowers
That fill the earth with gladness and perfume,-
Making an Eden of our loneliest bowers,

And bringing back with their delicious bloom
The days of childhood, when our pleasures lay
Thick as the summer flowers, and oh! as fleet as they?
Then let us out-for morning has the leaven

Of beauty, youth, and freshness, till it seems Back to our spirits early life was given,

With all its hopes, and joys, and fairy dreams. Oh! would that morning's breathing, light, and dew, Could in our hearts their innocence renew. Roscommon-street, May, 1827.

IN IMITATION OF HOOD'S "SALLY BROWN."

Young Bill, the woodman, well 'tis known

Was long betroth'd to Sue;

But she writ word she would not wed,
Ah! 'twas a Billy-do.

Then he spoke out his mind afresh,
And of his hopes did tell her;
Said she, "Your head is like the trees
That you do fell, you fellor !"
Bill ax'd no more-but vow'd, alas!
No longer boughs he'd lop;
So stole away at dinner time,
Nor took another chop.
He paid his bill at public-house,
As oft he'd done before,

But twenty shillings they did want,
And said it was his score!
Then for a soldier he did go,
And left his granny-dears;
Inlisted, how his tears did flow,
For they were volun-teers!
Among the awkward squad was Bill,
With many younkers more,
Where he did find much to his cost
That drilling was a bore.
For tho' the seasons change, 'tis said
To Bill it seem'd quite clear,
In summer-winter-just the same-
'Twas March throughout the year.
The bullets flew in battle's heat

Around his martial brow,
Cried Bill" They have forgotten sure
I'm not a wood-mun now.'

A ball struck Bill upon the cheek,
Which made him faintly falter-
"Oh! how they've altered my queer jib
At the siege of Gib'raltar.
"Had I but listed in the Guards,
I had not met these woes;
Now having lost one-half my face,
I cannot face my foes.

"And as for rallying all my strength,
To make the wretches rue it,
The thing is quite impossible-
I've not the face to do it."
With hands fast tied, and led along
A prisoner by the foe-man;

But Bill got free, and laughing cried,
"The tide will stay for no man."
Now safely stored at Chelsea Reach,
Poor Bill does stoutly sing-
With a whole heart, but half a head,
"Long live-God save the King."

HART'S WELL,

A.

NEAR FARNSFIELD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, WITHIN THE ANCIENT BOUNDARY OF SHERWOOD FOREST.

(From William and Mary Howitt's Desolation of Eyam, and other Poems.)

Fount of this lonely nook!
Hardly may heaven look

Through the green covert of thy leafy trees:
Yet, in thy lucent wave,
Green ferns and mosses lave,
Dimpling thy stream as sways the passing breeze.

Beneath a classic sky Tny hidden purity

To nymph or goddess had been consecrate ;
King, warrior, bard, divine,
Had mingled at thy shrine,
Bearing rich gifts, thee to propitiate.

Then, from thy twilight dim,
Pæan and votive hymn,

In the still moonlight had come pealing out;
Then odours sweet been shed,
From flower gifts garlanded,
And here been sacred rite, and festive shout.
And marvel 'tis thy spring,
So purely bubbling,

Never was sainted, ne'er had cross nor sign;
Strange, that beside thy well
No holy hermit's cell,

Blessing thy waters, made this nook a shrine.
Fount of the forest! no;
Thy water's crystal flow

Ne'er had a legend, traveller never came,
Childhood nor crippled age,
On wearying pilgrimage,

From a far region guided by thy name.
And now, 'mong mosses green,
Dim in thy leafy screen,

Ages ago thy silvan fount was flowing;
The squirrel on the tree,
The bird's blithe melody,

And drooping ferns around thy margin growing.
Even then thy cool retreat

Lured the tired peasant's feet;

Here gentle creatures shunned the noontide beam;
And, from the hunter's dart,
Here fled the chased hart,

And bathed his antler'd forehead in the stream.
Pure fount! there need not be
Proud rites' solemnity,

Priest, altar, hymn, nor legend, to recall

The soul to holy thought,
'Tis by thy silence brought,

Thy dimness, and thy water's tinkling fall.
There is a spell of grace
Around this quiet place,

That lures the spirit to a better mood;

Whence ?-but that man's weak arm
Hath not dissolv'd the charm
Which Nature forms in her calm solitude.

THE CORK COLLAR JACKET.

The writer of the following doggerels informs us, (which was superfluous, by the bye,) that he is no poet. It seems he has learned to swim by means of the cork collar jacket, and these verses are intended to evince his gratitude. As we last week said, we hope that he swims better than he versifies.

Days.

Let puppies at this jacket rail,

Or envious scribes attack it,
In ship or boat I'll never sail
Without a collar jacket.

When ships are stranded, boats upset,
For thousands I will back it,
He's the best chance on shore to get
Who has the collar jacket.

If cash or notes you chance to have,
Make all snug in a packet;
And you your cash and life may save
By means of this said jacket.
This jacket let them slight who choose,
For one I ne'er will lack it;
Others their cash and life may lose,
I'll save mine by a jacket.
Then let each one who takes a tour
On board a steamer-packet,
Before all other things be sure
To get the collar jacket.

Tide Table.

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11 5th Sunday after Trinity. 1,

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