THE bay-tree (Laurus nobilis), or, as the French call it, Apollo's Laurel, which our wood-cut appropriately represents amidst the ruins of that country with the ancient literature and fables of which it is so closely connected, is a species of the rather extensive tribe of plants which botanists distinguish by the name of Laurus (the ancient Latin name of the bay-tree), and which, besides the present, includes several interesting species, such as the cinnamon, camphor, benzoin, &c., which we are not at present required to notice particularly. The geography of the laurel tribe is thus given by Dr. Lindley :- "These trees inhabit the tropics of either hemisphere; in a very few instances only straggling to the northward in North America and Europe. No genus is known to exist in any part of the continent of Africa, except the paradoxical Cassytha. This is the more remarkable as several species of Laurus have been found both in Teneriffe and Madeira, and some other genera exist in Madagascar and in the isles of France and Bourbon." Of all the species, our bay-tree seems the best qualified to struggle with a colder climate than the tribe can in general bear, and is, in fact, the only one that is indigenous in Europe. It is very common in the East, in the isles of Greece, and upon the coast of Barbary, Entire forests of bay-trees exist in the Canaries. It has been perfectly naturalized in Italy and in the .south of France; and it even bears our own climate very well, forming one of the most desirable evergreens we have, although its growth is slow. In its southern habitat the height of the bay-tree sometimes exceeds thirty feet. The leaves are of a rich deep green, highly and pleasantly aromatic; the flowers are of a pale-yellow colour, and are afforded by old trees only; the fruit is of a nearly black-red colour, and about the size of a small cherry-never, we believe, perfected in this country, but plentiful in Italy. This is one of the trees which have been most celebrated by the ancient poets. Ovid relates, with great beauty, the fable of the change of Daphne into a laurel by Jupiter, to save her from the pursuit of Apollo, who thenceforth adopted the tree as his own : "Because thou canst not be My mistress, I espouse thee for my tree: In consequence of this dedication to the god of poetry and music, the leaves of the plant were considered a suitable crown for the heads of poets, and came also to be bestowed on triumphant warriors, and on the victors in the Olympic games. Poets, warriors, and kings continue still to receive the laurel crown in poetry, on statues, and on coins; and the court-poet still retains the title of laureate as a memento of the laurel crown he formerly wore. In the middle ages, it was customary to place on the heads of young doctors a crown of laurel; such persons, as well as the poets who were sometimes solemnly crowned, as in the case of Petrarch at Rome in 1341, seem to have been called baccalaurei, from which word some etymologists derive the word 'bachelor,' when used as a literary title of honour. The bay-tree is useful in medicine. The leaves when bruised between the fingers exhale a pleasant odour, and afford when burnt a grateful incense. This aromatic property occasions the employment of the leaves for culinary purposes, and hence they are an article of export from the countries which afford the tree, being a branch of commerce even with the United States. The husks of the berries contain a great quantity of volatile oil, which is very aromatic; and the kernels also furnish by expression a fat oil, which is | much employed for embrocations. It is greenish in colour, and the smell is a faint exhibition of that of bay-leaves. CULTIVATION OF GOOSEBERRIES IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. THE gooseberry is commonly thought to be one of the native fruits of the island; and, whether so or not, there is certainly no country in which it arrives at greater perfection. It is always found to prefer the temperate climates, with an inclination rather towards the cold than the warm. It is not known in Africa, in the South Sea Islands, or between the tropics of either hemisphere; but is found in the temperate parts of In the southern and Europe, America, and Asia. central parts of Asia the plant is perfectly unknown, except in some situations where, among the high mountains, the temperature is lowered to the point it requires. Persons who have resided many years in India, and in all that time had never seen a currant or gooseberry, speak with delight of the European character which these plants give to the scenery of the mountains in the north of that country. became an object of cultivation in this country; but it It is not clearly known when the gooseberry first had become a garden fruit in the reign of Henry VIII., for the old writer Tusser, who lived in that reign, says, in his Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie,'"The barbery, respis*, and gooseberry too, Look now to be planted as other things do." Soon after this period descriptions were afforded of ten or a dozen varieties; and, among the rest, the blue,a colour not at present found among three or four hundred sorts that might be enumerated. The fruit was apparently very small when the plant was first brought under cultivation, resembling the small tasteless and neglected fruit which we find in the south of Europe; and, in size at least, it does not appear to have much increased down to more than a century after Tusser's time, as may be inferred from the surprise expressed by Pepys at seeing gooseberries "as big as nutmegs." "At every subsequent period," says an interesting and useful little tract †, from which much of the information in this article is taken," the gooseberry has claimed a share of the attention of writers on horticulture, as it has found a place alike in the gardens of the nobleman and of the cottager; and has rewarded, by its abundant and profitable produce, the skill of the professional gardener, and, by its great size, the care of the amateur grower: indeed the success which has attended its culture under the holiday attention of the artizan seems to entitle it to the distinctive appellation of the poor man's favourite." It has been ascertained that, under favourable circumstances, the gooseberry-plant will attain a considerable age, and grow to a great size. At Duffield, near Derby, there was, in 1821, a bush known to have been planted at least forty-six years, and the branches of which extended twelve yards in circumference; and the garden of the late Sir Joseph Banks, at Overton Hall, near Chesterfield, contained at the same time two remarkable gooseberry-plants, trained against a wall, of their branches. measuring each upwards of fifty feet in the full extent The plant, in this country, exhibits a marked preference to cold situations. parts of England is not comparable to that of the north; The gooseberry in the southern and the flavour of the Scotch berry is much superior to that of those produced in any part of England; while, in Scotland itself, the gooseberries of Dundee, Aber* Raspberry. Printed at Sheffield, Memoir on the History and Cultivation of the Gooseberry.— 1834.] THE PENNY MAGAZINE. Under such circumstances, we imagine It is not our object to enter into details concerning the deen, and Inverness, much exceed in flavour any which | to that object. the Edinburgh market-gardeners can raise. In size and appearance, however, the gooseberries of Lancashire are, perhaps, unequalled by any in the world; and there, and in the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire, the striking improvement which has taken place in the cultivation of this cheap and agree-interests of the country depend, do not recollect that able fruit is to be attributed less to the market-gardeners, or even to the scientific horticulturists, than to the mechanics, who very generally spend much of their leisure time in the pleasing occupation of gardening, particularly in the cultivation of the gooseberry, and have their ambition very much turned towards the Some idea production of large specimens of that fruit. of the attention which has been paid to this object may be formed from the fact, that of the two hundred kinds of gooseberries which are enumerated in the fruit catalogue of the Horticultural Society, not fewer than a hundred and fifty are the large Lancashire goose-pound." Berries were, however, soon after produced berries. "The custom has doubtless a tendency to that weighed twice as much; and little would now be improve the health and morals of the people. Any thought of a show fruit that should not weigh five pursuit which makes men acquainted with the pecu-" pounds," or sovereigns. The largest gooseberry ever liarities of vegetable economy, in however small a grown was a handsome yellow fruit called "Teazer," degree, has a beneficial effect upon the heart and which was shown at Stockport in July, 1830, and weighed understanding; and it is certainly better for nailers 32 dwts. 13 grs. The heaviest red berry on record was Roaring Lion," exhibited at Nantwich in 1825, and weavers to vie with each other in raising the the " largest gooseberries, than in those games of chance and weighing 31 dwts. 16 grs. The heaviest white was or cruel sports to which the leisure hours of the the "Ostrich,"-24 dwts. 20 grs.-shown at Ormskirk working classes are too often devoted. The one is a in 1832, in which year the maximum of reds was only rational and innocent emulation; the other a degrading 27 dwts. 13 grs. In the same season, a seedling green excitement or a brutal indulgence *." The humble was exhibited at Nantwich of the uncommon weight of origin of the different sorts of Lancashire goose- 30 dwts. 18 grs. To this statement of the weight to berries is often indicated by their names, which are which the fruit has sometimes been brought, it may be generally fanciful, often local and personal, sometimes interesting to add that a seedling plant of reputation sufficiently absurd, but frequently characteristic of the has been known to produce, when sold in lots, upwards manners of the country in which they are produced. of 321. This was a rare case, indeed; but it is said ""Cheshire to be not at all unusual for twenty guineas to be "" Richmond Lads," "Lancashire Witches,' Jolly Painter," "Top brought in by the distribution of a single bush in Lasses," "Jolly Miner,' rooted parcels. Sawyer," "Crown Bob," are sufficient specimens. It is not to be expected that so much attention would be given to the culture of the gooseberry in the counties we have mentioned without the operation of some external stimulus. Accordingly, we find "Gooseberry Shows," as they are called, established in different parts of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. The time and conditions of these meetings are determined by certain rules, which are points of familiar knowledge; and the minor details of each show are settled in the spring, from which time, nutil the day of exhibition, each competitor entered on the list subscribes a small weekly sum towards the purchasing of prizes. These generally consist either of a pair of sugar-tongs, a copper tea-kettle, a cream jug, or a corner cupboard, which, as well as sweepstakes, and specified sums of money, are adjudged to the growers of the heaviest fruits of each colour, seedlings, &c. The exhibition of the berries, and the adjudication of prizes, generally takes place in July and August, and the weight of the different sorts of fruit shown is frequently published in the newspapers of the town where the show is held; while the result of the shows in various parts of the kingdom have, for several years, been printed at Manchester, and circulated, chiefly among the growers, in what is called 'The Gooseberry Book.' Thus far we have only had to make statements of a Thievish Disposition of the Gambier Islanders. Many of the natives had come off in the morning, and appeared quite at home with us. They danced and sung, nor did they conceal those pilfering propensities for which all these islanders are famed. It was ridiculous to see them carrying were they at all willing to part with their new acquisitions, several articles to the gangway to put on their rafts; nor upon intimation that they could not be so readily spared. A little terrier was brought on deck, and barked of course at the visiters: but they were so far from being afraid of his biting them, that one of their number took him up in his arms, and was about to carry him over the side. Unfortunately Rio made no use of his teeth, or no further argument would have been required to induce the savage we thought, a vigilant look-out was kept upon them; notto let him go. They were not allowed to go below, and, as withstanding which they contrived to make away with several things, such as a spy-glass, a book, and some other articles; one was detected with the tureen, which he had conveyed through the port-hole. It is the more astonishing that they succeeded in any attempt, from the impossibility of concealing their prey, as they were quite destitute of clothing.-Manuscript Journal of a Voyage of Discovery. Effect of Moonbeams at Sea.-A Correspondent, in mentioning the non-existence at sea of certain rocks which are laid down in the Admiralty Charts, remarks:-“I have frequently observed that the moonbeams striking from between the clouds upon the surface of the sea at some distance, when the waves are broken by a fresh breeze, cause an appearance so much like that of breakers as to be taken for such by most persons on board. It is probable that many of the rocks in the ocean, which are marked down in the Charts, have had this origin; but none of them ought They have, meanwhile, the good effect of to be expunged until their non-existence has been decidedly exciting vigilance at sea.' 2S2 established. AMSTERDAM is the largest, wealthiest, and most populous city of Holland, although it is not the seat of government, and only ranks as the capital of the province of North Holland. It is situated on the south bank of the Ij or Y, a gulf of the Zuider Zee, in 52° 23' N latitude, and 4° 54′ E longitude. The name of the town was originally Amstelredamme, which signifies the dam or dyke of the Amstel, a river which in part runs through the city, distributed into several branches, all of which terminate in the Y, which is so called from its figure. and ponderous dykes; and only an immense dam of The origin of Amsterdam is not of remote antiquity. In the early part of the thirteenth century it is known to have consisted merely of a few huts inhabited by fishermen. Its name first occurs in a letter of Count Floris, in the year 1275, in which he exempts the town of Amstelredamme from the payment of certain tolls or taxes. Until 1482 it appears only to have been surrounded by a weak palisade; but then a wall of brick was built to protect it from the incursions of the inhabitants of Utrecht, who were continually at variance with the -Hollanders, and looked with an evil eye on the rising city. The history of Amsterdam would, indeed, for many years, strikingly illustrate the truth, that next to strife at home, strife between near neighbours is the most frightful and disgusting. We willingly pass over the details of wrong and outrage with which this period is replete, and proceed to state that, after the states of Zeeland and Holland united, in 1578, with Brabant and Flanders, in the pacification of Ghent, the advantages which Amsterdam offered for commercial enterprise attracted crowds of strangers to the town, not only from the other provinces, but from all parts of Europe; in consequence of which it began to assume that commercial superiority which had previously belonged to Antwerp, and gradually attained that wealth and splendour which it so long afterwards maintained. The prosperity of this great city declined during the wars and troubles of the fifty years preceding 1814; it appears since to have revived, but it has not regained, and cannot, perhaps, be expected to regain, its former relative importance. These latter facts may be illustrated by the statement, that the population of Amster-tops of trees. dam was 230,000 in 1785; 180,000 in 1814; and 202,000 in 1830. The impulse given to the prosperity of Amsterdam at the period we have mentioned rendered it necessary greatly to enlarge the city. Accordingly we find that, in the year 1675, it had increased by one-half more than its former size, and was then brought to its present extent. The little alteration it has received during the lapse of the long subsequent period is very remarkable, and is indicated by the fact, that the stranger finds the plans which were made 100 or 150 years since quite as accurate guides as they ever were through the streets and to all the remarkable objects which the town offers. It at present covers a surface of about 18,790 geometrical feet, and is said to be larger than Haerlem, Leyden, Delft, Rotterdam, and Dordrecht together, although these are all considerable towns. It is nine miles and a half in circumference, and is surrounded by a ditch eighty feet wide, full of running water, and with a rampart faced with brick, having twenty bastions, on each of which a windmill has been placed. Towards the land the town has eight magnificent gates of stone, and one towards the shore. The fortifications are now much neglected, and have been partly converted into public walks. The town of Amsterdam itself, in the simple circumstances of its existence, is one of the most striking monuments of human industry and power which the world affords. The adjacent country, along the banks of the Y, is four or five feet below the level of the river, from the irruption of which it is preserved by massy The streets of Amsterdam are in general very narrow. Many that contain the houses of the most opulent merchants are not more than seventeen feet wide. There are, however, some very fine streets :-Kiezer's Gragt, or Emperor's Street; Heeren Gragt, or Lord's Street; and Prissen's Gragt, or Princes Street, are upwards of 140 feet wide, and are lined with houses the splendour of which would do honour to any town in Europe. All the streets are paved with brick, and a few of them have raised foot-paths for passengers; but as wheel-carriages are neither numerous nor are allowed to be driven with speed, the ways are nearly as safe as the flag-stone pavements of London. Most of the private houses are built of brick, painted and ornamented with different colours. Their exterior is usually plain; the interior of the houses, however, is sufficiently splendid, decorated very much in the French style, and the sides of the rooms are generally painted with landscapes in oil-colours. Having said thus much of the city in general, we shall devote the remainder of our space to its public buildings and institutions. The largest and most stately edifice, not only in Amsterdam but in the kingdom of Holland, is the Stadthouse, or town-hall, which appears so conspicuously in the centre of our wood-cut. It was begun in 1648, and was finally completed in 1655, at a cost of 300,000l. an enormous sum for that time, but which ceases to surprise when it is considered, first, that it rests upon 13,695 massive trees, or piles; and, then, that the building-which is 282 feet in length, 255 feet in depth, and 116 feet high,-is constructed of a material which |