This splendid passage will not, we think, be found anywhere exceeded in the compositions of Lord Byron and deeply shall we regret to find the writer-whoever he may prove to be-laying aside a lyre that has sounded so nobly.

But we must 'snarl in our vocation,' as critics, before concluding and inquire whether such lines as these can possibly be read in metre :—

"Fulfilment of vows made in childish years."-p. 10. "And by an ambition brought to deadly fault."—p. 23. Or, whether the following,

“As plays a silent lightning in the sky,”-p. 10.

can possibly be correct? Are lightnings ever otherwise than silent? But such as these are atoms of dust on a diamond!

EUROPE IN THE WINTER OF 1833-34. GREAT BRITAIN, a nation of extensive maritime commerce, has been plunged into deep embarrassments by the violent hurricanes and long-continued south-westerly winds, which have prevailed during the past season: great has been the loss of shipping, and melancholy the loss of lives, along her coasts, and far and wide upon the trackless deep. These inscrutable providences of God call loudly upon the nation at large to humble itself beneath His mighty hand, at whose command are the elements, and who hath all power both in heaven and in earth. Much of the political excitement of the last year has subsided, and the manufactories are nearly, if not all, in full work. An evident improvement has taken place, and hope dwells with complacency upon future prosperity.

The abolition of slavery, enacted by the three estates of Britain, has been received in the West India and other colonies with a cordiality beyond expectation, and is progressively coming into operation. We congratulate the world on this death-blow to slavery, which, struck home by the British senate, bids fair ultimately to issue in the tyrant's dissolution.

The Pilgrim's tax, that diabolic participation of Britons for sordid purposes in the horribly obscene idolatry of the East, is by an order of government now no more. Let there be joy on its exit; and may its presence never pollute nor its ghost haunt these regions any more for ever.

Ireland is more tranquil than heretofore, and improvements are in bud: may they bring forth fruit to perfection! Could she be delivered from the pestilential breath of

the agitator, she might yet enjoy, peace and prosperity.

Portugal is yet far from being tranquillized: the two brothers continue their unnatural warfare with various success, but the sword of power remains with Dom Pedro, who steadily progresses in his efforts to subjugate that country. Dom Miguel is still besieged in Santarem, in which city great mortality prevails, and to which one of his sisters has fallen a sacrifice. In the mean time, Dom Pedro has pushed forward a force on the road from Lisbon to Oporto, which has taken Leira and some minor towns, and which bids fair to open the communication by land between these two important cities, and to clear the intermediate coast of the Miguelites. There appears a prospect of assembling the Cortes at Lishon, but no time has yet been fixed for the opening of that assembly.

Spain, in the midst of distractions, is driven to the necessity of changing its measures and convoking the Cortes, and, on the eve of bankruptcy in its finances, seems at a loss to know from what quarter to look for assistance. Fierce battles have taken place in the northern provinces, between detachments of the Queen's troops and bodies of insurgent Carlists, some of which have continued for two and even three days, wherein numbers fell on both sides, yet no decisive results have followed; both, therefore, seem as ready to fight again, as during the first onset. Thus do distractions perpetuate themselves, and the horrors of war, once begun, afflict a whole nation.

Switzerland, situate between France and Italy, has again been made the thoroughfare of those bands of turbulent exiles, who disdain quiet, and range from country to country under the pretence of liberty, in quest of rule, and it is to be feared, like other marauders, in quest of plunder. How, lamentable are the consequences of these lawless irruptions into the abodes of peace! Savoy and Switzerland have suffered severely.

Italy is yet perturbed, and its various armed force, frequently in action with insurgents, barely suffices to put down one insurrection ere another arises. Savoy was recently surprised by bands of Piedmontese, German, and Polish exiles, who invaded it in detachments of fives, until these amounted to many hundreds: when this force was concentrated, it became formidable, and was with difficulty defeated and dispersed.

In Greece, the Turkish domination has some time ago ceased; the last garrison, namely, the troops which occupied the

Acropolis of Athens, evacuated that fortress in the spring of last year, and King Otho is now in full possession of that city, which is become the capital of Greece. The country is divided into ten provinces, and committees on religion, on education, on jurisprudence, &c. are tranquillizing and renovating that long-distracted community. Education, both of children and adults, is in progress upon an extended scale, and the happiest results are anticipated.

Turkey is divided- -so divided, that the sword of power hangs upon a single hairthe quantum of assistance each of the now two great powers can obtain from the great powers of Europe against the other, whether in peace or war. The Grand Sultan and Mehemet Ali, independent each of each, as to politics, interests, government, &c., are yet both dependent upon the leading Christian states; and this dependence, well known to themselves, is a galling curb upon the arrogance of the Moslems. The Mahometan no longer dictates to the world. "The Christian dog." is become a lion, yea, a lion in his very streets, majestic and awful, and the rampant trampling of the Koran quails before the Cross. The vic tories of Navarino, of the Balkan, of Adrionople, of Algiers, of Greece, &c. have overwhelmed the assumptions of Mahometan potence. He descends to reason, and dares no longer cry, "Obedience to the Koran, or death." In Constantinople and in Cairo the Bible is now endured; and in many of the provinces, even in the East, education progresses. The sun has thus arisen, and its radiance obscures the crescent; time will complete the rest; the word has gone forth from God, and it will come to pass. "He shall come to his end, and none shall help him."

The principalities having been the subject of discussion among the leading powers. It is rumoured that they are to be relieved from the pressure of the Russian troops, and that, as heretofore, hospodars are to be immediately elected. The ancient cus. tom was for the Porte to choose these governors out of the noble Greek families, principally of the Fanau, among whom these viceroyalties were the highest posts of honour. Who are now to elect, and from what families the hospodars are to be elected, is a subject for conjecture.

In Russia the bible is making progress; it is already printed and distributed therein in ten languages, and we trust it will have free course. Hope dwells upon this interesting movement amidst northern lethargy and darkness. Light is light wherever scattered, and life hangs upon its rays.

"As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed # the sower, and bread to the eater; s shall my word be that goeth forth out my mouth: it shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it, saith the Lord."

Austria, occupied in the affairs of the East, seems to have averted the evils which hung upon her frontier, by restoring the adjoining principalities to somewhat of their ancient state; if, indeed, this is actually to be the case. Ever watching over Italy and Germany, we find this great leading power determined that no innovations shall be made upon the constitution of the German states; but that, under her supremacy, all things shall continue in statu quo. In Italy also, the same watchful superintend ence pervades all the states.

Prussia, ever intent on gain, profits by her custom-house regulations, to the great annoyance and even injury of her neighbours, as well as distant states; whose resources, in the course of transit through her territories, is subjected to exactions and delays which materially affect the merchants concerned therein: and as the territories of Prussia are scattered through a great portion of Germany, it is difficult to avoid falling in with some part of them, in whatever direction you travel.*

Poland has recently received yet another chain, the three great powers who hold it in bondage having decreed, that no fugitive from any one of the partitions shall find an asylum in the other, but that each shall deliver up all delinquents without distinction. How many links in the chain of slavery are necessary to chain effectually freeborn men !

Sweden, Norway, aud Denmark have at length adopted the plans of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and are giving copies of the Sacred Scriptures plentifully to the people. Peace is their policy, and aloof from the agitators of the rest of Europe, they are left at liberty to pursue their object, and improve their several

countries.

Saxony, amidst commercial privations from the regulations of Prussia, maintains her integrity and enjoys peace.

Germany, the birth-place of faction, is kept down by the strong hand of power, and, amidst her hordes of agitators, enjoys much more of tranquillity than politicians have prognosticated would fall to her share during this age of revolution. Much good is

ngled with great evils throughout this hetegeneous community, and the good prevails. Holland and Belgium, like two pouting ldren of the same family, each with his ger across his lips, stand looking upon ground, rather than towards each other, otionless, instead of cordially embracing, d casting past injuries to the winds. vo such neighbours, whose lands and hose waters are so interlaced each with ch, that neither can move scarcely a step thout interfering with the other, ought ng ago to have emerged their quarrels in eir mutual interests, and become friends. France is French, even to this dayable to huge perturbations on ordinary ccasions, notwithstanding all her improveents. A recent duel, wherein one of e combatants fell, ended in a public ineral, during which the whole armed force f Paris scarcely sufficed to keep the eace! Marseilles has been distracted by ands of liberalists, who paraded the streets, and burnt in effigy Louis Philippe; upon hese the military fired, and several were killed and wounded. In Lyons more than eighteen thousand workmen have struck, apon somewhat similar principles to the trades' unions in England, and it would require an army to quell their violence. A new tariff of customs has been presented to the chamber of deputies, for their approval; in this the duties on iron are reduced, and the duty on coals remains as heretofore, but the consumption of steamers are to be exempted.

The potent factions of Europe are, under the name of reformation, intent on revolution. There are, however, numbers of master spirits, who, notwithstanding the rush of the daring throng, yet hold fast with a firmness worthy of the cause they advocate, and in the meekness of wisdom, the genuine principles of reformation. While the first strike boldly at the throne, and by political agitation aim at power and dominion for themselves, the latter“ seek the peace of the city wherein they dwell, and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof they have peace." The kingdom of the political agitator is upon earth, and for this he contends; but the kingdom of the true reformer is in heaven and while the one aims, by pulling down others, to raise himself up to dominion and splendour, the other labours to raise up every man to a participation with himself of the grace of God, during his pilgrimage upon earth, and to the fulness of glory at his right hand for ever. These diverse warriors of the latter days have taken the field, and in potent bands are each eagerly contending for his favourite dominion.

Books, newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, and even tracts, are issued from the arsenals of political agitation, fraught equally with learning, eloquence, and daring. Talent of the first quality, and energies of the highest order, call forth and launch these missiles into the field of battle, and unflinching perseverance reiterates assault to assault, unfearingly upon the nations. These agitators write for, declaim to, and excite the masses of mankind. The world is their field, and their aim is to conquer even to the ends of the earth, and in succession imprint their dogmas, in indelible characters, upon the nations, even to the end of time. To these, warriors against thrones, hosts of infidel scorners, ever and anon ally themselves; and while the kings of the earth are their ostensible mark, their real attack is directed against the King of heaven. "Strike, but hide the hand," is their motto; and Jesus, the Redeemer of mankind, who is full of grace and truth, is the Being these detest. Dark, insidious, and vengeful are their movements, and thousands of unsuspecting victims fall beneath their sting.

Books, pamphlets, magazines, and tracts, quite equal in learning to the profane, and last, not least, the volume of revelation, without note or comment, in whole or in parts, are the missiles in the wide-fought field of the missionary armies of the faith. The cross is their ensign; and Jews, Pagans, Papists, Grecians, Mahometans, and unregenerated Protestants, are alike the objects of their attacks, as well as the hordes of infidels who, under all these names, wage war against God, and against his revealed will, without cessation. Slaughter is not the aim of these missionary armies, for to all they offer life, life for evermore.

The impression made upon the present generation by these scientific champions of error and of truth, is highly interesting to the mind of contemplation. Full half a century has passed over my mind, during which a wide and uninterrupted field of observation has shed its beams around me in the richest variety; and the past, amidst all that has passed away of the manners and customs of mankind, like a dream, has vanished, to appear no more; while the present, fraught with portentous realities, is beheld with awe. No man can now be neuter; "Light is come into the world ;" it shines around, and none but the wilfully blind remain in darkness. With the apostle, we would say, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."

WM. COLDWELL.
King Square, Feb. 22d, 1834.

THE POOR OF KILKENNY.

MR. EDITOR, SIR,-The following very important and interesting statement, respecting the present condition of the poor of Kilkenny, was drawn up by a very intelligent gentleman, who is intimately acquainted with the country, and the manners of the people, and has a strong claim to be admitted into your pages. P. B. W.

The pauper population of Kilkenny; its proportion to the other inhabitants; the manner of life, the food, clothing, and lodging of the paupers, &c.

The population of Kilkenny is calculated at 25,000 souls, and it is no exaggeration to state, that 5,000 of this number are paupers; beings who, when they rise in the morning, cannot say, where they shall pro. cure the day's sustenance. They are, literally speaking, mendicants living on alms: some few of this description reside in the obscure lanes branching from the principal streets, but the great bulk take up their dwellings in the large suburb of strawthatch'd hovels, that disfigure the entrances to the city on every side. As mendicants, they may be divided into two classes ;street-beggars, and those who travel through the country seeking relief. The latter are the greater number. The street-beggars go from door to door, with unwearying, but wearisome pertinacity, craving from every shop-keeper, and from every person seen purchasing in a shop. The most clamorous amongst them are squalid women with droves of ragged children; both parents and offspring disgusting to the eye unaccustomed to the foulness of abject poverty; but very many of them are old decrepit creatures, of both sexes, in a state of wretchedness too visible to be doubted. The other class of beggars travel through the contiguous country, from ten to eighteen miles in the day, craving potatoes at the farmers' houses; and droves of them may be seen, as the evening closes, wending to the town, each carrying from five to eight stone weight. These potato-beggars, as they are technically called, cannot proceed in their quest more than three days in the week; it is too wearisome a journey to be performed daily. On their return home, they lay by as much of their collected stores as will feed the numerous mouths in their hovels; the residue they carry to the market, to be purchased by others as poor as themselves; who, although they may have employment, must buy their only food in small quantities. The result of this sale gives the only means of providing fuel,

candlelight, clothing, and lodging for them selves and their families. It will be under stood at once, that wherever the potato crop happens to fall short, these beggan are reduced to sad straits; they are then literally starving. In the advanced season of the year, too, when the farmer begins doubt whether his stock will hold out until a fresh crop comes in, they are but scantily supplied, and they are reduced to great dif ficulty. They are then obliged to establish a petty traffic,-they take with them into the country the value of a few pence, in tobacco, needles, thread, &c. and, as cash is a rare commodity with the wives and daughters of the peasantry, they succeed in procuring something over the usual supply by barter.

Besides the professed mendicants, there are others whom I may truly class as pau. pers in as great a degree, and who con tinue to exist by methods often curious and characteristic.

There are many who purchase from the servants in the citizens' houses, the coal. ashes raked from the fire as useless; this they diligently sift and work, and retail to their neighbours, the beggars, as fuel; it is well kneaded with clay, and formed into balls, which, with proper management, will ignite, and forms almost the exclusive firing of the poor. Many go forth themselves, and employ their children to gather the scattered straw about the market-place, which they sell for manure.

Many, again, scrape the roads, and with great labour, accumulate dung-heaps near their doors, which shut out the pure air, and substitute a poisonous atmosphere. Others set up hotels of a very miserable character, indeed for a house (a hovel I should say) containing two rooms, each ten feet by six, they pay a weekly rent of two shillings; each corner of each apartment, they re-let at fourpence: which produces a profit rent on Saturday of 8d. on this, on the product of the dung-heap, and on the sale of the pig, (always the most comfortably lodged of the family,) all pro ducing annually six pounds, five or six persons must be fed and clothed. As to the food of the beggars and other paupers, it is invariably potatoes throughout the year; perhaps a little sour milk may be added, or a salt herring as a relish for the whole family; or, again, that which is facetiously styled a blind herring, as salt dissolved in water, to give their roots (potatoes) a flavour. Their clothing is universally a filthy collection of rags, scarcely covering their persons. Their lodging is wretched in the extreme; in a room twelve feet by

ght, I have reckoned not less than ten eds. These are formed of damp litter, id spread out on the damp, mud floor; e rags worn during the day, forming the ed-clothes; there was scarcely a pathay between their beds. At uprise each retched creature crawled forth, the moist raw was coiled up into bundles around e wall, and the floor left vacant for the urposes of the day. There may be, in ach cabin so inhabited, three men, peraps more, with wives and children,-the vives the beggars of potatoes,-these men all themselves labourers. At harvest time hey will get, perhaps, three weeks' employ -in the potato-digging season, as much nore, in the potato-planting time, as much nore; nine weeks of employment throughout the year. At other times they are gene. ally lounging about, idle, dejected, deponding; not idle from choice, but of necessity. I have had occasion from time to time to have somewhat to do, requiring the employment of labourers; and on such occasions the petitions for work, the beseechings, the entreaties to be employed, were incessant. Deputations of weeping wives and children were sent to me; persons who might have influence were engaged in their behalf; the favour to be permitted to earn a few shillings, was as ardently sought after, as if some prospect of treasure was before them. I have hitherto spoken only of paupers living on chance. The greater proportion of the suburban population are scarcely, I might say, in no respect better; the food, the clothing, the lodging, not a whit superior; the only difference is this, they are not obliged to crave alms; the uncertainty of employment, and smallness of the wages, not enabling them to enjoy any comfort.-There may be one or two important conclusions drawn from the foregoing statements. It cannot be denied that where such a mass of misery exists, there must also be the greatest incen. tive to crime; yet, at the period when the cholera prevailed to a frightful extent, at the quarter sessions of the peace, there was but one boy of fourteen to be tried for petty larceny. I have spoken of the great number begging potatoes around the country contiguous to Kilkenny; there cannot be less than one hundred so employed daily. If I say that each collects five stone, I do not over-rate the quantity; this gives the daily produce, five hundred stone; annually, one thousand one hundred and fifty tons; value, two thousand two hundred and eighty-two pounds,-this is a moderate calculation, and under the mark.

The great number of paupers at Kilkenny are

supported-by whom? The street-beggars do not rap at the closed hall-doors of the private houses-wherein the people of best circumstances dwell; they are not seen crowding around the dwellings of the wealthy; they are supported by the struggling shopkeepers, by every one who, from his pursuits in life, must keep his door open; many of those just raised above their own debasing wretchedness. Who are they that support the clan called potatobeggars? are they the men of fortune? are they the persons enjoying the luxuries of life? No, the closed gate, and the watchful porter in the gate-lodge, deny access to the filthy mendicant; the beggars are never seen strolling up a country gentleman's avenue. They go from one farmer's house to another; and so long as the potatoes are abundant, they are never sent away emptyhanded. A beggar is never refused assistance by a farmer's wife; and it is to be noted, that under the roof of a great many of these tillers of the land, a dish of animal food is not dressed twice in the year; the potato is the only sustenance. I have stated the value of the potatoes given in this way at £2,282, at the least, paid by the tillers of the soil of a circumscribed circuit around the town, to the poor of Kilkenny, by people often as wretched as those they feed. The Divine law says the poor must be maintained; the Divine law says, too, that each man must contribute for this purpose according to his means.This is not done,-the burden rests on those who can least afford it; and the legislature should interpose to deduct from the abundance of the wealthy, when they will not obey the great mandate, —"to feed their brethren."

GLEANINGS

Rara Avis.-It is said, that in observing the late solar eclipse with powerful glasses, Sir James South, and Mr. Gwilt, at the distance of three miles apart, observed in the field of their respective instruments the apparition of a large bird, and nearly at the same instant of time. This curious circumstance is endeavoured to be explained by the flight of an eagle at an immense height in our terrestrial atmosphere; but the story reminds us of the the elephant in the moon, which turned out to be a mouse in the telescope.Lit. Gaz.

Numerical Figures.-The numerical figures we now employ began to be made use of in Europe, for the first time in 1240, in the Alphonsean tables, made by order of Alphonso, son of Ferdinand, king of Castile, who employed for this purpose Isaac Hazan, a Jew singer, of the synagogue of Toledo, and Aben Ragel, an Arabian. The Arabs took them from the Indians in 900. The other eastern nations received them through the means of the Spaniards, in a short time after their invasions. The first Greek who made use of them was Pienudes, in a work dedicated to Michael Paleologus, in 1270; so that the Greeks had them not from the Arabs, but the Latins. These ciphers were first used in Paris in 1257, and became generally adopted in England about the year 1450.