NO. I.

FIRST PART OF HENTY VI.

A FIGHT WITH A WOLF.

round the room. The attendants quickly learn to distinguish the

ANIMAL MAGNETISM. person of a reader, though with strangers, or with readers whose visits are few and far between, there may be occasional delays or mistakes. The daily average number of readers is about 220,

“ Thou may'st bereave him of his wits with wonder." mostly all of the “sterner sex," for the daily average number of ladies attending the rooms is not more than eight.

Much has, of late, been said and written concerning animal The regular “literary man, who wishes to do “a good day's magnetism; and, not long since, a “nine days' wonder” was work," generally starts for the Reading-Room as soon after break- created by a series of magnetic experiments performed at the fast as he can. He thus arrives before the rooms become North London Hospital. No sooner were these experiments begun, crowded, consults the folio volumes of catalogue without being than a great outcry was raised against the pretended science' which jostled, gets his books without much delay, secures a good seat, they were intended to illustrate. Since that period, professional with elbow” space, and falls to work as heartily as he may controversy has raged like a tornado among the metropolitan Towards the middle of the day the rooms become full, especially at

medical practitioners, whilst the thunders of literary criticism have certain seasons, and sometimes, though rarely in the new rooms,

been brought up as heavy artillery to aid in subduing a heresy it is difficult to obtain a seat.

which seems to set at nought the known laws of physical naiure. The general visitors of the Museum are not admitted into the Some critics, we apprehend, have directed their fire into empty Library rooms (with the exception of the noble room which contains the King's Library), on the plea that the mere sight of space, because, for want of knowing anything of the matter in

dispute, they had no object to aim at. Others have applied to a the backs of books could afford neither amusement nor instruction. question involving, whatever be its merits, points of the bighest The true reason is, that a crowd of visiters would completely science, the measure of their own limited philosophy. One of our obstruct the attendants in getting the books required for the contemporaries, distinguished by considerable literary talent as readers. The Reading-room is therefore the medium through well as pretensions, warmly took up the arms of partisanship which the vast library of the British Museum is made available to against animal magnetism, as it had done before against the public. It is one of the chief fountain-heads of that great phrenology, and would do against any recent scientific disriver of literature which rolls through the land. Ilither come the

covery which did not accurately fit into the frame of its own critics, and the encyclopædists, and the artists, and the writers in understanding, or that of the literary coterie which supplies it with periodical works ; here they hunt over the remains of the past critics. old manuseripts and old books, old prints and old maps; and After the experiments at the North London Hospital, which we though doubtless there may be some readers who may make as readily admit to be as absurd as they are unsatisfactory, our coningenious a use of their privilege as “ Boz's.” critic did.- that is, temporary, to create an opportunity for publishing his manifesto to do an article on Chinese metaphysics, read under Chinese, and against animal magnetism, reviewed two works, one depreciatory then under Meiaphysics, and combine the information—there is no

of it, the other in its favour. The author of the first is an English doubt that the Reading-Room of the British Museum is a very surgeon; and the book is bepraised far beyond its deserts; the great public advantage.

other emanates from the pen of a French physician, who professes to be an adept in animal magnetism to the fullest extent of its absurdities. The Englishman has performed his task with a very

mediocre knowledge of the subject; the Frenchman knows a great Mr. Hoffman, in his entertaining “Wild Scenes in the Forest deal more than really exists, and is ignorant of that which does and Prairie,” tells a story of an encounter with a wolf, which he exist. The Englishman's book is nothing better than fighting with thinks worthy of being put alongside of old Putnam's famous the empty air ; the Frenchman's is a weak and puerile production. adventure. John Cheney, a regular “backwoodsman,” rose one Neither throws any new light upon either the absurdity or the winter's morning to examine his traps ; "when, hovering round rationale of animal magnetism ; but both served the reviewer's one of them, he discovered a famished wolf

, who, unappalled by purpose to work his will upon and denounce the quackers and the presence of the hunter, retired onl a few steps, and then, imposture of a pretended discovery, which he, also, seems to know turning round, stood watching all his movements. ought, by only by name, and is therefore unable to explain to his readers. rights,' quoth John, to have waited for my dogs, who could not We should scarcely have ventured the above remarks, did our have been far off ; but the creeter looked so sarcy, standing there, contemporary, in his just indignation against the quackery he dethat though I had not a bullet to spare, I could'nt help letting into nounces, not lose sight of his philosophy. In great wrath, be him with my rifle.' He missed his aim; the animal giving a deprecates being called upon to "s believe impossibilities.” Now, spring as he was in the act of firing, and then turning instantly what is an impossibility ? The reply is, that, among other asserupon him before he could reload his piece. So effective was the tions equally absurd, the faculty is attributed to persons in a state unexpected attack of the wolk, that his fore-paws were upon of somnambulism, as it is strangely called, of seeing, when asleep Cheney's snow-shoes before he could rally for the fight. The and their eyes shut, objects presented to their abdomen, and forester became entangled in the deep drift, and sank upon his reading the finest writing or print placed upon this part of their back, keeping the wolf only at bay by striking at him with his body, clubbed viile. The stock was broken to pieces in a few moments, The expression of being called upon to “ believe impossibilities,” and it would have fared ill with the stark woodsman, if the wolf, is so far from the tone of true philosophy, that it would create an instead of making at his enemy's throat when he had him thus at animus subversive of philosophy and inimical to research, disdisadvantage, had not, with blind fury, seized the barrel of the gun covery, and improvement in knowledge. The true line of argument in his jaws. Still the fight was unequal, as John, half buried in would have been this :-The Creator has established fixed and imthe snow, could make use of but one of his hands. He shouted to mutable laws for the governance of all physical nature. Many of his dogs; but one of them only, a young untrained hound, made these laws are known to and understood by man; and the inveshis appearance ; emerging from a thicket, he caught sight of his tigations of science have shown that, in her operations, nature master lying apparently at the mercy of the ravenous beast- never employs two means to produce the same end when one will uttered a yell of fear, und fled howling to the woods again. ‘Had suffice. Thus, a complicated piece of mechanism called the eye I but one shot left,' said Cheney, • I would have given it to that constitutes the sole organ of vision, and to it nature has applied dog instead of despatching the wolf with it.' All this passed in a the well-known laws of optics. From the eye, the nerve of vision moment; the wolf was still grinding the iron gun-barrel in his conveys to the brain pictures of the objects which strike upon the teeth; he had even once wrenched it from the hand of the hunter, retina, which is a nervous expansion placed there to receive them. when, dashing like a thunderbolt between the combatants, the other Now, the abdomen has no retina, neither does it contain any nerve hound sprang over his master's body, and seized the wolf by the of vision to convey pictures to the brain, the faculty of doing so throat. • There was no let-go about that dog when once he took | being given by nature to the eye only. It is evident therefore hold. If the barrel had been red hot, the wolf could'nt have that no power of vision from the abdomen can exist, because its dropped it quicker; and it would have done you good, I tell ye, to existence would be in opposition to a law of nature. see that old dog drag the creeter's head down in the snow, while I, It is true that some supporters of animal maguetism have alleged just at my leisure, drove the iron into his skull. One good fair certain of its effects to be supernatural. Such explanation is not blow, with a heavy rifle barrel, on the back of the head, finished only absurd but contradictory; because, if animal magnetism exists him. The fellow gave a kind of quiver, stretched out his hind legs, at all, it must be common to all animals, at least of a particular and then he was done for.'

description, and must therefore be the effect of a natural cause,

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221

and subject to fixed laws. Now the supernatural cannot proceed were removed by the razor to be replaced by a full-bottomed from the natural ; and as nature, though her laws are multifarious, periwig *. Upon the summit of this enormity was perched a never impedes by one the operation of another, as is sometimes small three-cornered hat; whilst a frill and ruffles of lace, a the case with human legislators,* those who pretend to see with jewel-hilted sword, gold or silver embroidery upon a singularly the abdomen and to be the instruments of the other wonders at-grotesque form of coat and waistcoat, diamond knee and shoe tributed to animal magnetism, are impostors.

buckles, and red-heeled shoes, compieted the attire. The dress We have broken a lance with our formidable and really gifted of the ladies was still more monstrously absurd. An immense contemporary to show the spirit with which the discussions on and heavy head-dress, towering to a height of more than a foot, animal magnetism have generally been conducted, “Ex uno disce and made solid by pads, to which the hair was cemented with omnes.

powder and pomatum, placed the face of a short woman apparently The herd of less powerful scribes by whom it has been assailed, near the middle of her person. The expense of the materials, and the have pursued the same unsatisfactory course, without any attempt time necessary to construct upon a lady's head an edifice secundum to elucidate the question, without any examination of facts or artem, made the hair-dresser's visits rather costly. The less causes, without showing any inclination to discover whether or wealthy among the high-born dames of the day avoided this not there exist, commingled with absurdities which have made so expense, by rendering these visits as similar as possible to those much noise and seduced the imaginations of so many clever men of angels, -" few and far between.” The consequence was, that that they are entitled to the test of careful investigation, any real vermin bred undisturbed in their padded, powdered, and greasy materials of science,-and, if so, to separate the corn from the hair ; and the vulgar epithet, “ lousy,” might, with justice, have chaff. Such ought to have been the course pursued by every | been applied to many a fine lady in England as well as in France ; journal willing to hasten the progress of knowledge.

for upon these French models were our English fashions formed, The only observations really to the purpose appeared in that very though the English fine gentleman, in his endeavours to ape the clever medical journal "The Lancet;' and the talent, pertinence, manners as well as the dress of the Frenchman, betrayed the and acumen, displayed by Mr. Wakley in his test of the value of instinct of the bear, rather than that of the monkey; and the the experiments at the North London Hospital, are deserving of English lady could never fit on with her dress what was termed the highest praise. Unfortunately, “ The Lancet," being a strictly the ease and grace of the Frenchwoman. Hoops of prodigious professional paper, does not often fall in the way of unprofessional amplitude, stays that deformed the waist to a most unnatural readers.

degree of smallness, and shoes with narrow heels, four inches high, After the first surprise occasioned by the novelty of the con- concurred, with the head-gear already described, in concealing, troversy, by the wonders announced as resulting from Dr. Elliotson's disguising, or distorting, the most lovely forms given by nature to experiments, and by the angry sarcasms which this learned experi- woman. menter upon the effects of magnetic somnambulism elicited from This monstrously grotesque attire of both sexes was, however, its opponents-for more generally sarcasm has held the place of in strict keeping with the tone, habits, and feelings, of what was argument—the reading multitude, who collectively constitute the termed “polished society ;” polished, indeed, to such a degree,

common sense” of the country, began to ask this simple that no traces remained of the natural gem. Everything was the question, “ What is animal magnetism ?”

result of calculated affectation. An impudent strut was called an It is known to every reading person that animal magnetism owes air of dignity; and the king was said to have an air of uncommon its discovery to a German physician named Mesmer, whence it dignity by displaying that which, if shown by a peasant, would also bears the name of Mesmerism. About the middle of the have been termed “awkwardness," and "rustic insolence.'' The last century, Mesmer brought his discovery to France, where it manners of the men, with an excessive exaggeration of politeness, excited a prodigious sensation. No period of French society was and an assumption of wit and vivacity, were founded on the most more favourable to its reception, no country in the civilised world consummate coxcombry and impudent self-conceit ; those of the better calculated for its success, or that of any other species of women, who exercised an apparently despotic sway over the empiricism. At this time the political destinies of the French other sex, were a mixture of the affectation of mawkish sensination were placed under the despotic rule of the fifteenth Louis, bility, and of the practice of shameless licentiousness, enhanced one of the most profligate and least intellectually endowed of the by unrivalled powers of light and easy conversation, possessed by line of monarchs said to descend from Charlemagne. The French both sexes, and to which the French language is peculiarly people were then divided into two distinct orders, between which adapted. Religion was but a mockery: if its outward forms there existed a barrier of demarcation strong and ponderous as were observed, its reality was scoffed at even by high-born prelates; iron, towering to an immense height, and apparently seated upon because vice had become the creature of fashion, from the exsecure foundations. The gates of this formidable structure were ample of a line of protligate rulers, who were said to be “the seldom opened, even for the admission of wealth or genius. "On Lord's anointed.” the inside were the patricians or nobles, a race claiming, as the The mannerism of their affectation extended to the literature privileges of high lineage, exemption from all the burthens of the of the French, and to their fine arts, including their music. state, whilst they exercised over the other part of the nation the Nothing was submitted to the test of the feelings, all was meapowers arrogated by feudality. With the nobles were the clergy, sured by an artificial standard of convention, which elicited a with their immense wealth, their tithes, and other prescriptive false and unfelt enthusiasm, in which the voice spake, but the exactions, the burthen of which fell upon the people. On the heart was mute. The keenness of sensual pleasures had worn outer side of the barrier were the plebeians or people, who off by extreme indulgence and misuse ; and the nobles of France, possessed the whole mass of learning, talent, industry, and virtue, young and old, were no longer excited by any of the ordinary existing throughout the land ; but, like the Pariahs of Hindostan, pursuits and amusements then known. Extremely ignorantthey appeared a despised and degraded race. They were treated for it was the fashion of the times to be so—they had no with contempt and oppression by the aristocracy, who compelled intellectual resources to combat and destroy a phantom called them not only to wear the chains of feudal power, but to support, ennui, which eternally haunted those whose senses had been unaided, the whole burthen of taxation, the whole weight of the blunted by excess of premature enjoyment. The whole object fiscal measures considered necessary to carry on one of the most of the highest French society of this period was therefore to arbitrary governments that ever existed, and to meet the pecuniary seek sensations by discovering novelties, to obtain excitement exigences of their profligate king and his no. less profligate from new and extraordinary causes. Cheats and quacks found

numerous patrons, and many young nobles betook themselves At this period, the upper ranks of French society were in so to mysterious pursuits, practising those chemical and physical entirely artificial a state, that even the organs and faculties given mystifications which surprised the ignorant, and were coupled by by nature for the purposes of physical existence, were distorted the superstitious with magic and witchcraft. and misused. In his dress, the French gentleman resembled a It was at such a time, and in such a state of society, that mountebank. The luxuriant curls that adorned a youthful head, Mesmer appeared to practise animal magnetism, and exert its

minions.

FROM

female ass,

of his pretended discovery, the mode of its application, and the

UNCLE ABEL AND LITTLE EDWARD. mystery of its action, soon brought it into such vogue as to cause a frenzy of excitement. Its fame, and even its practice, extended

THE GIFT" OF 1839. to England, and the follies of animal magnetism were justly and

WERE any of you born in New England, in the good old successfully held up to public ridicule by Foote, and some of the other dramatists of the day. In England, however, it made catechising, school-going, orderly times ? If you were, you must

remember my Uncle Abel; the most perpendicular, rectangular, no impression ; and not one of our medical practitioners was induced to put its powers to the test. It therefore left our

upright, doronright good man that ever laboured six days and

rested on the Sabbath. shores in disgrace, not to return until its late visit to the North

You remember his hard, weather-beaten countenance,—where London Hospital. resunie the subject of animal magnetism, to our account of which if it were not best to be in a hurry about seeing ; the circumspect Here we must close the present article. Next week we shall every line seemed to be drawn with a pen of iron and the point of

a diamond; his considerate grey eyes, that moved over objects as the preceding observations must serve as an introduction.

opening and shutting of his mouth ;-his down-sitting and up

rising ; all of which appeared to be performed with conviction THE ASS WOURALIA.

afore-thought-in short, the whole ordering of his life and conEvery one who has read Waterton's Wanderings in South versation, which was, according to the tenor of the military order America, must remember the Wourali poison. This poison is _" to the right-about face-forward-march!" compounded by the Indians, with many forms and great solemnity, this good man had nothing kindly within, you were much mis,

Now, if you supposed, from all this triangularism of exterior, that of numerous ingredients, and they use it for killing game; for, taken. You often find the greenest grass under a snow-drift, and strange to say, though it produces almost instant death, the flesh though my uncle's mind was not exactly of the flower-garden kind, of animals killed by it may be eaten with perfect safety. The still there was an abundance of wholesome and kindly vegetation antidote to this poison is inflating the lungs of the injured animal there. with air ; and if this be done immediately, and continued for a It is true, he seldom laughed, and never joked-himself ; but no sufficient length of time, it is almost always successful.

man had a more weighty and serious conviction of what a good joke When Mr. Waterton was in the wilds of Guiana, he procured was in another, and when some exceeding witticism was dispensed some of the Wourali poison ; and when he returned to England, in his presence, you might see Uncle Abel's face slowly relax into in 1814, he brought it with him to London, where experiments author with a certain quiet wonder, as if it was astonishing how

an expression of solemn satisfaction, and he would look at the were tried with it on various animals. Among others was a

such a thing could ever come into a man's head. which had been purchased of a London sweep, and Uncle Abel also had some relish for the fine arts, in proof which was then about three years old. On this ass the experiment whereof I might adduce the pleasure with which he gazed at the was tried, by striking a spike dipped in the poison into the fleshy plates in his family Bible, the likeness whereof I presume you never part of her shoulder. For a minute or two the ass stood quite any of you saw—and he was also such an eminent musician, that still, as if stupified ; then she attempted to move, but was unable he could go through the singing-book at a sitting, without the

least fatigue, beating time like a windmill all the way. to walk, and after staggering a few paces she fell. Her legs now

He had, too, a liberal hand—though bis liberality was all by the became convulsed, her eyes dinn, and in a few more minutes she rule-of-three and practice. He did to his neighbours exactly as was apparently dead.

he would be done by--he loved some things in this world sincerely As this animal was young, and remarkably healthy, she was - he loved his God much, but honoured and feared him more; he judged a proper object for trying the effect of the antidote ; and as was exact with others, he was more exact with himself-and ex, soon as she appeared quite dead, an incision was made in her wind- pected his God to be more exact still. pipe, to which, under the superintendence of Mr. Sewell (then of

Everything in Uncle Abel's house was in the same time, place,

manner, and form, from year's end to year's end. the London Veterinary College), a pair of common bellows was

There was old Master Bose, a dog after my uncle's own heart, applied. The process of intiation had been carried on about two

who always walked as if he were learning the multiplication table. hours, when the ass partially raised her head, and looked round; There was the old clock, for ever ticking in the kitchen-corner, but the working of the bellows being discontinued, she closed her with a picture on its face of the sun, for ever setting behind a pereyes again, and seemed to relapse into a state of stupor. The pro- pendicular row of poplars. There was the never-failing supply of cess of inflation was then resumed, and, in about two hours more, red peppers and onions hanging over the chimney. There were the the ass was sufficiently recovered to rise from the ground.

yearly hollyhocks and morning-glories, blooming around the win

dows. There was the “best room" with its sanded floor, and The present Duke of Northumberland, then Earl Percy, was

ever-green asparagus bushes—its cupboard with a glass-door in one present at this experiment, and he felt so much interested in the corner-and ihe stand with the great Bible and almanac on it, in fate of the ass, that he begged she might be called Wouralia; and the other. There was Aunt Betsey, who never looked any older, he sent her down to Walton Hall, with a request to Mr. Waterton because she always looked as old as she could—who always dried that she might be well taken care of. Every one who knows the her catnip and wormwood the last of September, and began to kindness and benevolence of Mr. Waterton, and his ardent love for clean house the first of May. In short, this was the land of conscience, will readily believe that this request would be attended to.

tinuance. Old Time never seemed to take into his head to prac

tise either addition, subtraction, or multiplication, on its sum total. Wouralia, indeed, without any recommendation, must have pos

This aunt Betsey aforenamed, was the neatest and most efficient sessed a strong interest in his eyes. Mr. Waterton had gone piece of human machinery that ever operated in forty places at through hardships in search of the Wourali poison, which no one She was always everywhere, predominating over, and seebut himself could have sustained-for, perhaps, no other human ing to, everything, and though my uncle had been twice married, being possesses so much activity of mind and body, united with aunt Betsey's rule and authority had never been broken. She such extraordinary perseverance-and, of course, he must have felt reigned over his wives when living, and reigned after them when a deep interest in an animal on which the only known remedy for dead, and so, seemed likely to reign to the end of the chapter. this deadly poison had been tried.

But my uncle's latest wife left aunt Betsey a much less tractable

subject than had ever before fallen to her lot. Little Edward Poor Wouralia did not immediately recover from the effects of was the child of my uncle's old age, and a brighter, merrier little the poison ; but, in about a year, she became strong and healthy blossom never grew up on the verge of an avalanche. He had At Walton Hall she experienced every happiness that her nature been committed to the nursing of his grandmama, until he had was capable of enjoying. She fed in the finest pastures during arrived at the years of indiscretion, and then my old uncle's heart summer, and was well sheltered from the cold of winter; and she yearned toward him, and he was sent for home. His introducwas never suffered to do any work. For five-and-twenty years there such a contemner of dignities—such a violator of all high

tion into the family excited a terrible sensation.

Never was Wouralia enjoyed this earthly paradise, tili, on the 15th of Pe places and sanctities, as this very Master Edward. It was all bruary last, she died, without any disease, save apparently the in vain to try to teach him decorum. He was the most outragenatural exhaustion of old age.

ously merry little elf that ever shook a head of curls, and it was

once.

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The energy of

He

all the same to him whether it was • Sabba-day or any other I remember him at family prayers bending over the great Bible, day. He laughed and frolicked with everybody and everything and beginning the psalm, “ Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place that came in his way, not even excepting his solemn old father ; in all generations." Apparently he was touched by the melancholy and when you saw him with his arms round the old man's neck, splendour of the poetry; for after reading a few verses he stopped. and his bright blue eyes and blooming cheek pressing out by the There was a dead silence, interrupted only by the ticking of the bleak face of uncle Abel, you almost fancied that you saw spring clock. He cleared his voice repeatedly and tried to go on, but in caressing winter. Uncle Abel's metaphysics were sorely puzzled vain. He closed the book and knelt to prayer. to bring this sparkling, dancing compound of spirit and matter sorrow broke through his usual formal reverence, and his language into any reasonable shape, for he did mischief with an energy and flowed forth with a deep and sorrowful pathos, which I have never perseverance that was truly astonishing.

forgotten. The God so much reverenced, so much feared, seemed Once, he scoured the floor with aunt Betsey's very Scotch to draw near to him as a friend and comforter, to be his refuge and snuff, and once he washed up the hearth with uncle Abel's most strength, “ a very present help in time of trouble." immaculate clothes-brush, and once he spent half an hour in My uncle arose, and I saw him walk toward the room of the trying to make Bose wear his father's spectacles. In short there departed one. I followed, and stood with him over the dead. He was no use, but the right one, to which he did not put everything uncovered the face. It was set with the seal of death, but oh! that came in his way.

how surpassingly lovely was the impression! The brilliancy of But uncle Abel was most of all puzzled to know what to do life was gone, but the face was touched with the mysterious triwith him on the Sabbath, for on that day Master Edward seemed umphant brightness which seems like the dawning of heaven. to exert himself particularly to be entertaining.

My uncle looked long and steadily. He felt the beauty of what Edward, Edward, must not play on Sunday," his father he gazed on ; his heart was softened, but he had no words for his would say, and then Edward would shake his curls over his eyes, feelings. He left the room unconsciously, and stood in the front and walk out of the room as grave as the catechism, but the next door. moment you might see pussy scampering in all dismay through The bells were ringing for church, the morning was bright, the the " best room,” with Edward at her heels, to the manifest dis- birds were singing merrily, and the little pet squirrel of little composure of aunt Betsey, and all others in authority.

Edward was frolicking about the door. My uncle watched him as At last my uncle came to the conclusion, that "it wasn't in he ran, first up one tree and then another, and then over the fence, natur to teach him any better," and that “he would no more whisking his brush and chattering just as if nothing was the matter. keep Sunday than the brook down the lot.” My poor uncle ! he With a deep sigh, uncle Abel broke forthdid not know what was the matter with his heart, but certain it “ How happy that cretur is ! Well, the Lord's will be was, that he lost all faculty of scolding when little Edward was in done." the case, though he would stand rubbing his spectacles a quarter That day the dust was committed to dust, amid the lamentations of an hour longer than common, when aunt Betsey was detailing of all who had known little Edward. Years have passed since his witticisms and clever doings. But in process of time our then, and my uncle has long been gathered to his fathers, but his hero com passed his third year, and arrived at the dignity of going just and upright spirit has entered the liberty of the sons of God. to school.

Yes, the good man may have opinions which the philosophical He went illustriously through the spelling-book, and then scorn, weaknesses at which the thoughtless smile, but death shall attacked the Catechism ; went from “ Man's Chief End” to “ the change him into all that is enlightened, wise, and refined. Commandments” in a fortnight, and at last came home inordi. shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for nately merry, to tell his father he had got to “Amen.''

ever and ever." After this, he made a regular business of saying over the whole every Sunday evening, standing with his hands folded in front, and his checked apron smoothed down, occasionally giving a

VERSES, glance over his shoulder, to see whether pussy was attending. SENT BY A YOUNG LADY TO HER NEWLY-MARRIED FRIEND.* Being of a very benevolent turn of mind, he made several very commendable efforts to teach Bose the catechism, in which he

LOVE, Hymen, Interest, and Foily, succeeded as well as could be expected. In short, without farther

Once Puss-in-the-corner played ; detail, Master Edward bade fair to be a literary wonder. But,

Friendship-foe to melancholyalas, for poor little Edward ! his merry dance was soon over.

To be of the party prayed,

A day came when he sickened. Aunt Betsey tried her whole herba

When the mind's to pleasure given, rium, but in vain ; he grew rapidly worse and worse. His father

Wisdom soon will cease to warn her sickened in heart, but said nothing, he only staged by his bed.

Friendship, now by Folly driven, side day and night, trying all means to save him, with affecting

Finds it hard to keep her corner, pertinacity.

Love--the sly, malicious boy, Can't you think of anything more, doctor?” said he to the

Whose delight is to betray,physician, when everything had been tried in-vain.

Next his wiles 'gan to employ, "Nothing," answered the physician.

To drive Friendship far away. A slight convulsion passed over my uncle's face. " Then the

To jealous Love, the adoring heart Lord's will be done !" said he.

All must yield, or else he'll scorn her ; Just at that moment a ray of the setting sun pierced the checked

Now, poor Friendship! play your part, curtains, and gleamed like an angel's smile across the face of the

Or Love will slip into your corner, little suferer. He awoke from disturbed sleep. "Oh dear! oh, I am so sick !" he gasped feebly. His father

Hymen comes ! all on him wait; raised him in his arms; he breathed easier, and looked up with a

His mantle Friendship must prepare ; grateful smile.

Hymen, marching forth in state, Just then his old playmate, the cat, crossed the floor.

Leaves her in company of Care; "There goes pussy,” said he, “Oh dear, I shall never play with

At home, the god puts on wise airs,

Declares that Friendship’s a mere fawner, pussy any more. At that moment a deadly change passed over his face, he looked

And, beckoning Interest up-stairs, up to his father with an imploring expression, and put out bis

Instals him quickly in her corner, hands. There was one moment of agony, and then the sweet

Far from thy gentle breast, my dear, features all settled with a smile of peace, and “mortality was

Folly and Interest must fly! swallowed up of life.”

Love and Hymen yet I fear, My uncle laid him down and looked one moment at his beautiful

Lest they pass poor Friendship by. face; it was too much for his principles, too much for his pride,

Ah! whilst you welcome to your heart add " he lifted up his voice and wept."

The brother gods who so adorn her, The next morning was the Sabbath,—the funeral day, and it rose

One little nook preserve apart, " with breath all incense and with chcek all bloom." Uncle Abel

And let Friendship keep her corner. was as calm and collected as ever, but in his face there was a sorrow-stricken expression that could not be mistaken.

PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.

THREE GREAT FAULTS. The best likeness of this great man, known to all travellers from the “I remember his saying one day at the dinner-table at Rochetts, speaking oddness of the material on which it is preservel, is to be seen here, (Mount of the year 1782, " That was a memorable year for me. I committed three Vernon,) sanctioned thus by the testimony of the family. The best likeness great faults about that time; I got knighted, I got married, and I got inta of Washington bappens to be on a common pitcher. As soon as this was parliament.'"-Life and Correspondence of Earl St. Vincent. discovered, the whole edition of the pitchers was bought up.

Once or twice

EGYPTIAN SCHOOL. I saw the entire vessel, locked up in a cabinet, or in some such way secured from accident: but most of its possessors have, like the family, cut out the At Boulac saw the Polytechnic School, formerly Ismael Pasha's Palace, a portrait, and had it framed.- Retrospect of Western Travel.

splendid establishment. The boys are neatly enough dressed, and, except the

tarboosh and slippers, might pass for Europeans. They appeared, some of MARCH OF REFINEMENT.

them that we saw, very quick and intelligent, and I am told that their exA cobbler living in Swan-strect, Minories, thus pompously announced his mination surpasses most such in England in outward show, but it is all head. calling :-“Surgery performed here upon old boots and shoes, by adding of knowledge. They apply to algebra and abstruse mathematics Their the feet, inaking good the legs, binding the broken, healing the wounded, benches, slates, &c. were quite European. The printing-press we also saw, mending the constitution, and supporting the body with new soles. Advice and were much pleased. They print a paper every week, and we saw several gratis by B. Marks."— Newspaper Paragraph,

books in hand; the Arabian Nights is just finished; the impressions are,

some of them, beautiful. One venerable old sarant, with spectacle op nose, THE AFRICAN RHINOCEROS.

appeared to be inspecting, and deeply immersed in, some old chronicle; stica The black Rhinoceros, whose domains we seemed now to have invaded, an individual is much more striking and characteristic-looking in the hand. resembles in general appearance an immense bog; twelve feet and a half some old Turkish dress he wore, with a reverend beard, than any dapper old long, six feet and a half high, girth eight feet and a half, and of the weight European, in a spuffy brown coat out at the elbows, and glorying in of balf a dozen bullocks; its body is smooth, and there is no hair seen excep

unbrushed classic dust.-Lord Lindsay's Lellers on Egypt. at the tips of the ears, and the extremity of the tail. The horns of concreted

EPITAPHS. hair, the foremost curved like a sabre, and the second resembling a flattened cone, stand on the nose and above the eye; in the young animals the fore- Much may be learned from the monumental inscriptions of all nations, most horn is the longest, whilst in the old ones they are of equal length,

* * One common rule, drawn from a universal sentiment, has presided at namely, a foot and a half or more: though the older the rhinoceros the the framing of all epitaphs for some thousands of years. " De mortuis nil shorter aro its horns, as they wear them by sharpening them against the

nisi bonum" is the universal agreement of mourners. It follows that epitaphs trees, and by rooting up the ground with them when in a passion. When must everywhere indicate what is there considered good. the rhinoceros is quietly pursuing his way through his favourite glades of

CHINESE DUCK-BOATS. mimosa bushes, (which his hooked upper lip enables him readily to seize, and his powerful grinders to masticate,) his horns, fixed loosely on his skin,

The duck-boats are certainly to be ranked among the curious singularities make a clapping noise by striking one against the other; but on the approach

of the Chinese. They are large and roomy, with a broad walk extending of danger, if his quick ear or keen scent make him aware of the vicinity of

round the covered parts a little above the surface of the water. If ibe a hunter, the head is quickly raised, and the horns stand stiff and ready for

Irishman may be said to give the best side of the fire to his pig because be combat on his terrible front. The rhinoceros is often accompanied by a sen

pays the rent, surely the Chinaman may with equal propriety give the best tinel to give him warning, a beautiful green-backed and blue-winged bird,

part of his house to the accommodation of the ducks. They have the large about the size of a jay, which sits on one of his hords.-Alexander's

apartments at the after-part of the boat, while the man with bis family Expedition.

exist in a miserable hovel at the head. With which society to associate, it

would require some little hesitation to decide ; but perhaps the ducks wouli CHARACTERISTICS.

have the preference. In the morning, the doors are opened, and the birds We were talking of the levity and gaiety of heart of the French, even under wander round the house at their ploasure. When the sun is high, large the severest misfortunes. This drew forth an anecdote, which haid been inclined planes are let down at the sides of the boat; one towards the land, related to him by Mr. Pitt. Shortly after the tragical death of Marie and the other towards the water. tp and down these steps the feathered Antoinette, M. Perigord, an emigrant of some consequence, who had made bipeds travel at their pleasure, and take a cruise on land or water, but are Mr. Pitt's acquaintance at Versailles, took refuge in England, and on coming prevented from proceeding too far by their anxious overseers. When it is to London went to pay his respects in Downing-street. The conversation time to retire the man gives a whistle, and at the sound every bird returns, naturally turned upon the bloody scenes of the French Revolution; on their and waddles back again into his warm, comfortable berth. When they are fatal consequences to social order; and in particular on the barbarity with all on board, the stairs are hoisted to the horizontal position by means of a which the unfortunate Queen had been treated. The Frenchnian's feelings long bamboo lever, and everything is then pade secure for the night. The were quite overcome, and he exclaimed, amidst violent sobbing, “Ah proprietor of one of these boats is able to gain a livelihood by the care of Monsieur Pitt, la pauvre Reine! la pauvre Reine !" These words had these birds, which he watches with somewhat of the same kind of parental scarcely been uttered, when he jumped up as if a new idea suddenly possessed | fondness as a hen over a brood of young ducklings just emerged from the him, and looking towards a little dog which came with him, he exclaimed, shell.- The Fanqui in China. “ Cependant, Monsieur Pitt, il faut vous faire voir mon petit chien danser”

CONTROVERSIES. Then pulling a small kit out of his pocket, he began dancing about the room to the sound of his little instrument, and calling to the dog, “ Fanchon, Controversy is the safety-valve of theological zeal. The spirit of party is Fanchon, dansez, dansez ;" the little animal instantly obeyed, and they cut

opposed to it, being too intolerant for discussion. Truth has always such capers together that the minister's gravity was quite overcome, and he

triumplied by means of controversy : she has grown powerless only włkto burst into a loud laugh, hardly knowing whether he was most amused or the sleep of lethargy has stolen upon the church. What is Christianity astonished.-Life of Wilberforce.

itself but a standing controversy with the infidel, the sensualist, and the

formalist, -the men of this world ?- Eclectic Revier. AN INDIAN LOVER.

EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. When Shaumonekusse visited the city of Washington, in 1821, tho “ Eagle of Delight" was the companion of his journey. Young, and remarkably

There are few points which seem less generally understood or more clearly handsome, with an interesting appearance of innocence and artlessness, she

proved than the fact, that exposure to the sun, without exercise sufficient attracted the attention of the citizens, who loaded her with presents.

to create free perspiration, will produce illness, and that the same, expeAmong other things, she received many trinkets; and it is said, that her

sure to the sun with sufficient exercise, will not produce illness. Let any lord and master, who probably paid her the flattering compliment of

man sleep in the sun, he will awake perspiring, and very ill; perhaps he thinking her, when unadorned, adorned the most, very deliberately appro

will die. Let the same man dig in the sun for the same lenath of time, and priated them to bis own use, and suspended them from his own nose, cars,

he will perspire ten times as much, and be quite well. The fact is, that and neck. If she was as good-natured as her portrait bespeaks her, she was,

not only the direct rays of the sun, but the heat of the atmosphere, produces no doubt, better pleased in administering to her husband's vanity, than she

abundance of bile, and powerful exercise alone will carry off that bile.would have been in gratifying her own. Shortly after her return home, she

Colonel Napier's Cefalonia. died, and the bercaved husband was so sensibly affected by her decease, that

EDUCATION. be resolved to end his own life by starvation. With this view he threw him- Children should always be heard, and fairly and kindly answered, when self on her grave, and for several days remained there in an agony of grief, they ask after anything they would know, and desired to be informed refusing food, and repelling consolation. His friends, respecting his feelings, about. Curiosity should be as carefully cherished in children as other suffered him for a time to indulge his sorrow, but at last forced him away, appetites suppressed.-Locke. and his immoderate grief became gradually assuaged.-Nistory of the Indian

CHARITY. Tribes of North America.

“I fear,” said a country curate to his flock—" when I explained to you in THE BOOK OF PROVIDENCE.

my last charity sermon, that Philanthropy was the love of our species, you Does not erery architect complain of the injustice of criticising a building must have understood me to say specie, which may account for the smallbefore it is half finished? Yet, who can tell what volume of the creation we