bed, on which it was to be hung ;--it was to be the first thing on which I should open my eyes in the morning, and the last I should see at night. The face it contained was that by which I was to ascertain the standard of beauty, and the soul beaming in that face was to be the model to which I should constantly refer in judging of intellectual loveliness. Christmas at length arrived, and brought with it my uncle and his guinea. I had an hour to spare before dinner, and with a bounding step, the natural motion of a merry heart, I took my way to the print-shop. The old man to whom it belonged sat behind his counter in a little brown wig, studying demurely with his spectacles, properly adjusted on his nose, the important news of the day. "I am going to buy the picture," said I, laying my guinea triumphantly before him. His eye glanced first at the money, and then at me, "What picture are you going to buy, young gentleman?" said he, pushing his spectacles over his brow, and laying down the newspaper. "Oh! that picture, to be sure," cried I, pointing to the one in question; "there is no other in the window for which I care."-" Well, I believe you are right," said the shopkeeper; "this is indeed a picture. Reubens himself never did any thing finer." How my eyes sparkled, and how impatient I was till the purchase should be completed! "Give it me! give it me!" I exclaimed, "and keep the whole guinea, if you please."-" The whole guinea!" cried the old virtuoso, drawing back, as he spoke, with an air of offended dignity; "why, sir, this is not a picture to be sold for a guinea-no, nor for two guineas either. Look here, sir; here is the very lowest price at which you can have it." So saying, he turned up the back of it, and showed me, written in very legible characters, the awful words, " Four pounds ten!" I was never in my life so shocked, either before or since. Belshazzar looked at the mysterious hieroglyphics on the wall with far less horror than I at the simple but blasting sentence. Four pounds ten! it was a sum which would exhaust the richest mines of Peru. I might live to the age of Methuselah, and never be able to amass so great a hoard. It was beyond the compass of my most extravagant hopes. The days of Crœsus were past, and Pactolus rolled no longer over golden sands. I know not how I found my way home, but I recollect pulling the nail out of my bedroom wall with feelings as much of anger as of sorrow. I was inclined to believe I had been used ill. The guinea had misled me, and I cast it down upon the table with contempt. 66 My disappointment was not long concealed from my uncle. My looks and manner betrayed at once that all was not right, and the history of my sorrow was soon told. To my astonishment, every body seemed more inclined to laugh than to weep. My father was the first to assume an air of gravity. My dear Henry," said he, "this little incident, if properly considered, affords a useful moral lesson. In your future journey through life, when you have gone abroad into the world, and cast your eyes upon the various scenes around you, always recollect that there are two sides to the picture,—one fair and inviting, the other dark and repulsive. Be not too much dazzled by the former, nor too much depressed by the latter. Let not the mere resemblance of virtue lull you into the dangerous security of thoughtless philanthropy; nor the momentary prosperity of vice harden your heart into the callous indifference of the misanthrope. Never forget to examine both sides of the pic ture." When I grew up, I endeavoured to profit by this advice. It has been of use to me, I trust, in preventing, me from judging too hastily, either of apparent good or apparent evil, apparent happiness or apparent grief. When I looked, for example, on the statesman, on him who could "read his history in a nation's eyes," who found himself at the helm of a great and powerful kingdom, directing, according to his will, its fleets, its armies, Rivals and its inexhaustible revenues; and when I saw him the boast and darling of the country, the being to whom all turned in admiration, whose word was law, and whose smile was sunshine—I might have believed him the happiest of his race; but I watched this idol of the people a little longer, and I saw him struggling with difficulties beyond the reach of human power to overcome. thronged around him,-jealousy and dissension rendered his councils abortive,-unforeseen accidents blasted many of his best-concerted schemes,-every domestic comfort was resigned, he lived not for himself, but others, his influence began to diminish,-white hairs gathered on his brow, the sun of his glory set, he retired into solitude, and died forgotten. "Alas!" said I to myself, "here are two sides to the picture." Again, when I met with Youth and Beauty glittering in the crowded drawing-room, or fixing the gaze of the enraptured theatre, or moving in the light of her loveliness through the graceful dance, when the festive wreath of health and happiness that bloomed upon her brow seemed to be composed of immortal flowers,-when the perpetual halo of good-humour played round her lips, and when they were opened but to give utterance to the melodious tones of joy; was it not hard to have the discovery forced upon you, that in all this there was something unreal ?—that there were solitary hours of fatigue, and vexation, and pain,—that the lips could relinquish those smiles, for the bitter sneer of contempt and hatred,that the melody of gentleness could be exchanged for the harsh accents of reproach and anger,—that, under the heavenly exterior which bounteous Nature had bestowed, lurked all the evil passions of the human heart,—that vice had yielded to virtue its customary homage of hypocrisy, but that the mask could be only too easily removed, and that then might be seen at once the two sides of the picture! When, turning to different scenes, I contemplated the holy servant of religion, guiding a multitude to heaven by the force of his precepts and instructions, comforting the afflicted, re-assuring the wretched, encoura ging the humble, rebuking the presumptuous, assisting the contrite, and raising, like a ministering angel, the standard of human excellence, how could I help saying within myself, Who could stand a comparison with a man like this? A little farther investigation, however, dissolved the charm. I discovered that religion was too often assumed as the cloak of knavery; that it was easy to talk of heaven and the joys of eternity, when the heart was all the time devoted to the enjoyments of sense, and every hope was connected with the present existence; that it was no difficult task to preach to others, in pompous and indignant terms, of the necessity of subduing the passions and keeping the heart with all diligence, whilst he who thus declaimed, laughed his own doctrine to scorn by the daily practice of his life,-for, in the words of the Italian poet, 1. A Sotto un velo sagrosanto ognora, Frammischiando, si attenta anco ministra It is indeed melancholy, but it is nevertheless true, that even here there are two sides to the picture. Frequently and ardently have I longed for fame, the fame by which the efforts of genius, in unravelling the mysteries of mind, or extending the boundaries of science, or opening the fountains of imagination, are ever sure to be hallowed. I followed with my eye the triumphant career of the poet, I saw him at first contending with difficulties under which spirits of a meaner order would have sunk; but, conscious of his innate strength, he despised the cold world's sneer, or turned its own weapons against it. Proceeding resolutely in the course he had himself chalked out, the effulgence of his mind burst at tion; while the far greater number, repelled by the proslength upon the astonished nations, and shining far off, pect of toil and drudgery, consult their own ease and in its own unclouded beauty, among the highest stars of convenience by catching at the first plausible view of a the galaxy, was worshipped from the distance by thousands subject which presents itself. Add to this, that it is of admiring votaries. Is there nothing enviable in a fate much easier to invent a feasible hypothesis, than to proselike this? Let the undying voice of Byron answer you the cute a difficult enquiry; and that the mind which is naquestion. That voice has sounded over the earth, and turally averse to labour, is, for the same reason, prone to its echo is still heard in the most distant regions. Yet rest satisfied with any thing which wears the appearance who asks if Byron was fortunate? Who knows not his of ingenuity, and at the same time costs little or no unhappy story? Crossed and disappointed in his domes- trouble to understand it. In this way theories spring tie affections,-neglected by those to whom the ties of up, and systems are multiplied, till they become as rife as blood ought to have endeared him, an exiled wanderer blackberries, while the progress of truth is obstructed, over the earth,—unpossessed of a single spot he could call and knowledge begins to retrograde. The following rehis home, the object, against whom were unsparingly di- | marks of John Pinkerton are equally just in themselves, rected the poisoned arrows of scandal, and malice, and and pertinent to our present purpose. Speaking of that envy; and now that he has died-died in his youth, poorest of all compilers and abridgers, Jornandes, he says, and in a foreign land, and 'in the cause of liberty-his" His account of the origin of the Scythæ was blindly glorious memory is polluted by the scribbling of news- followed by Isidorus, by Beda, who calls Scandinavia paper hirelings; and they who have barely sufficient ta- Scythia, by Paulus Diaconus, by the geographer of Ralents to write an intelligible sentence on the petty poli-venna, and by innumerable others in the dark ages! Nay, ties of the day, presume to offer criticisms on the productions of a mind which they never understood, and to damn, with their faint praise, the efforts of a genius whose sublime powers have shed additional lustre over human nature, and added another argument in favour of the im- | mortality of the human soul! Look, then, to the poet, and, as you look, confess that there are two sides to the picture. such an effect may even a very weak writer (for such Jornandes is) have upon literature, that ONE SENTENCE of Jornandes has overturned the very basis of the history of Europe. This famous sentence is in his fourth chapter: Ex hac igitur Scandia insula, quasi officina gentium, aut certe velut VAGINA NATIONUM, cum rege suo nomine Berig Gothi memorantur egressi. Upon this one sentence have all modern historians, nay, such writers as MontesThe same truth extends to every condition and rank quieu, Gibbon, and others of the first name, built. Now, of life; nor is it confined in its application merely to the it can be clearly shown, that Scandinavia was, down to insulated circumstances of an individual; it will be found a very late period, nay, is at present, almost overrun with to apply, with equal certainty, to the moral and political enormous forests, where there was no room for populastate of nations. Nay, philosophers who have con- tion. Adam of Bremen, who wrote in the eleventh centemplated the universe, and investigated the laws of na- tury, instructs us, that even in Denmark at that time, ture, have sufficiently proved, by the widely different re- the sea-coasts alone were peopled, while the inner parts sults which their discoveries have led, that, even in con- of the country were one vast forest. If such was the sidering the universe, they have seen different sides of the case in Denmark, we may guess that in Scandinavia even picture. Happiest he, whose well regulated mind, or the shores were scarcely peopled. Scandinavia is also a natural cheerfulness of disposition, induces him to look mountainous region; and among a barbaric and uninduswith a lenient eye on the errors, and with a placid com- trious people, the mountains are almost unpeopled.”— posure on the misfortunes, which, as long as he inhabits (Dissertation on the Scythians or Goths.) Mr Pinkerton the earth, will stare him in the face wherever he turns. might have spared his refutation; as there is scarcely any His glance loves to rest on that which is fair and plea-one now who does not laugh at the Officina Gentium aut sing; and whatever he does not find in unison with his own benevolence and good-humour, he softens down into a shade less sombre. To him it is of little consequence what side of the picture presents itself. He can look at either with complacency, and find beauty in both. NUGE LITERARIÆ. By James Browne, LL.D. Hæ Nugæ in seria ducent. " certe Vagina Nationum of the Gothic abridger. Yet the fact he states is an instructive one in the history of opinions; for, on these few absurd metaphorical expressions was a theory reared, which commanded the assent of Montesquieu and of Gibbon, which a respectable author of our own country has written a learned work to support, and which continued to be received with implicit faith, till Mr Malthus unfolded, with demonstrative evidence, the principles which determine the increase or decrease of population in every country, and thus indirectly exposed its utter fallacy and absurdity. Nor is this all. For, as Pinkerton observes, the theory in question was not only adopted by the most distinguished wri THEORIES AND FACTS.-It was the late Dr Cullen, we believe, who remarked, that "there are more false facts than false theories current in the world." The observa-ters of the last century, but entered so deeply into all their tion appears to us an exceedingly silly one; for, independ- speculations respecting the origin of the modern nations ently of the contradiction involved in the expression of Europe, their laws, government, institutions, manners, “false facts,” the number of "theories" can no more be and even physical characteristics, that it may be said to compared with the number of" facts," than the number have corrupted both the history and philosophy of the last of houses can be compared with the number of stones. age, and thus detracted greatly from the merits of works, But be this as it may, one thing is certain, that "false which, in other respects, entitle their authors to the gratheories" abound in almost every department of science titude and admiration of mankind. Further, we have, and literature, and most particularly in those branches in this case, a striking exemplification of the pernicious where it is especially incumbent on the enquirer to in-effects of "false theories," which, like counterfeit coin, vestigate "facts" with the utmost patience and perse-pass from hand to hand for a time unchallenged, because verance. This is easily accounted for. The inductive unexamined, but which are certain ultimately to be deprocess of investigation is necessarily a slow one: it re-tected and exposed in all their natural worthlessness, to quires unremitting labour and research; it demands the loss and damage of those in whose custody they are firmness of resolution and steadfastness of purpose it at last found. is a work of time, patience, attention, and discrimination. But some have neither capacity nor inclination for engaging in pursuits requiring so much sustained mental exertion ; others have the capacity, but want the inclina THE DIGAMMA.-This famous letter, which at one period performed so important a function in Greek orthography, and which still appears in a great number of Latin words derived, or rather transferred, from the Greek, a Greek, dov or dıyov; Latin, divum: Sanscrit, awin; Greek, ay or oy; Latin, ovem: Sanscrit; navam; Greek, av, or vay; Latin, navem; Sanscrit, nawam; Greek, **, or vyv; Latin, novum: Sanscrit, wacham; Greek, *-σα, or Torray; Latin, vacem: all which instances strikingly has been a subject of much discussion among scholars, who are by no means agreed as to the precise effect to be given to it. "It was originally," says Thiersch, full and strong consonant, and its smybols, г, F, called Digamma, (double gamma,) or Æolic Digamma in Greek, and Ef in Latin, occupied the sixth place in either alpha-illustrate and confirm the principles of the interchangebet. ableness of the cognate sounds of F, V, and W, as above stated. (Kennedy, Researches, &c., pp. 134, 135.) It would seem, however, that when the digamma fell into disuse, it was not only omitted, or simply left out, which is the common case, but that, in a number of instances, its place was supplied by some other letter: as Sanscrit, seweta; Greek, ßra: Sanscrit, wagmi; Greek, Bayua: Sanscrit, wahate; Greek, extra; Latin, vehit. So much, then, for the Digamma, a name, we may add, invented by the grammarians, the proper designation of this famous letter being Bau. ORIGINAL POETRY. DREAMS. The pronunciation retained in Latin evinces with what power it was originally endowed in Greek, in régyov, rétos, rávač, &c." Others, again, have contended, that although its form is identical with that of the Latin F, its power is equivalent to the softer sound of the letter V; while a third party maintain, that it has generally, if not universally, the effect of W. Bishop Marsh, in his Hora Pelasgica, coincides in opinion with Thiersch; the author of a learned article on the subject, which appeared several years ago in the Quarterly Review, and which has generally been ascribed to the late Signor Ugo Foscolo, seems inclined to adopt the intermediate or softer sound of V; while Mr Payne Knight, Colonel Kennedy, and some others, consider it equivalent to the W. All these opinions, however, are capable of being reconciled upon the simplest principle imaginable; namely, that in all languages, those sounds which are articulated by means of the same general conLo! from a sweet and a lovely dream formation of the organs, and between which there subsists of a fairy isle in a bright blue stream, only a difference of degree or impetus, are mutually inter- Where grottoes, that dazzled my wilder'd eyes, changeable. Now this is manifestly the case with F and Were blazing with gems beneath cloudless skies; V, the latter being merely the attenuated sound of the Where spirits of bliss, 'mong the starry flowers, former, just as P is the attenuated sound of B, G of K, Made music and mirth through the sunny hours; and T of D; while, on the other hand, the sound of W And no brow was e'er dimm'd with the shadow of painis variable, being more frequently, perhaps, represented I have waked to this world of truth again! by an equivalent to the sound of the Vau than to the Uh, I have waked to find that once more with me which is its ordinary effect in English. Accordingly, Darkness and silence companions be, Dionysius of Halicarnassus expressly states that the Save where the moon, with a fitful ray, Digamma was the syllable ou written with a single letter Bursts from the clouds that surround her way, (thus ), Thy ou ouλλαbny Évì σroix six yeapoμévny. (Antiqq. And wildly breaks on the curtain'd gloom Rom. Lib. i. p. 52, ed. Reiske.) In his time, therefore, With sickly light through my lonely room. it answered to the Latin V, which is expressed by ou, (as I have waked-but Fancy, on lightning wings, Ousala, Velia, Ovaλigios, Valerius,) which expression is Her spell of power o'er my spirit flings; nearly equivalent to the English W. Anciently, however, I feel the touch of her golden chain, Velia was written Felia, and Valerius, Falerius, even in And, lo! I have waked-but to dream again! Latin; which shows how easily the F may pass into the It is not alone beneath starry skies, V, and the V into W, or vice versa. This is further conWhen slumber has seal'd our mortal eyes, firmed by a passage in Quintilian, which appears to have escaped the attention of scholars : And the things of sense have taken their flight, "Eolicæ quoque liAnd the world has closed on our charmed sight, teræ," says he, “qua servum cervumque dicimus, etiamsi That the loveliest scenes to the soul appear, forma a nobis repudiata est, vis tamen nos ipsa persequi- And the softest music enchants the ear! tur." Inst. Orat. lib. xii. c. 10, p. 504, ed Rollin. What There are visions that rise to the waking view, this "vis" really was, we learn from another passage of the same author: "Desuntque aliquæ nobis necessaria literæ; That grow as we gaze, till they seem to be When life is young, and the world is new,' non cum Græca scribimus (tum enim ab iisdem duas Not shadows, but living reality; mutamur), sed proprie in Latinis, ut in his, servus et And of them we dream through the lapse of years, vulgus, Æolicum digamma desideratur;" from which it Till startled at length into pain and tears! appears, that the digamma was pronounced as the Eng-And though dark be the wakening, oh! where the soul lish W, not as B, F, or V, which letters existed in the That would spurn, dear Fancy! thy sweet control? Latin alphabet, and that a Roman of the age of Quinti- Still, still let me feel thy blessed power, lian would have said serwus, wulgus, exactly as a trueWhether at starlight or noontide hour;' bred Cockney of the present day would sound the v in And when slumber loosens her silken chain, these words. Hence, Mr Payne Knight remarks, that Oh! still let me wake but to dream again! "it is generally supposed among the learned at present, that the digamma was pronounced like our W, for it corresponded with the Latin V, the sound of which was certainly the same." (Analysis of the Greek Alphabet, p. 11.) But the difference of opinion on this subject is easily re THE MUSIC OF NIGHT. GERTRUDE. conciled upon the principle above stated, namely, that By John Malcolm, Author of " Tales of Flood and Field." the sounds of homo-organic letters were interchangeable, or, in other words, that the sounds of the digamma and the Latin V were variable, not fixed; which Quintilian expressly informs us was the case with respect to the latter character. And this conclusion is confirmed by what we observe in the identical words which still exist in Greek, Latin, and Sanscrit: as, for example, Sanscrit, widanti; Greek, udova, or with the digamma, rudovrai ; Latin, vident: Sanscrit, wamati; Greek, ustas, or with the digamma, repla; Latin, vomit: Sanscrit, diwan; Dash on dash on! I love those waves,- New life runs tingling through my veins; I scorn the glance of that bright eye, On! my good Arab, swift as light, Sweep, with the winds, across the moor, The gloom and gathering clouds of night Are bugbears only for the boor;— Hark! how the thunder rattling plays Along that lurid sky above,Ay! this is better than the blaze Of banquets, and the tale of love! Away! away! She smiled on him; Let me drink deep, for I am free! I SAW a beggar knock at Mary's door, As old a man as ever I had seen; I daresay he was eighty-five or more, H. G. B. And pale, and weak, and very, very lean; And, as he walk'd, his poor old limbs seem'd sore, And through his tatter'd clothes the wild wind blew; His pantaloons were made of many a score Of different patches, every shape and hue; The fragment of a coat was on his back, And on his head the remnant of a hat; His hair was grey, though it had once been black; IL-SEA-BATHING. Poor little innocent! I grieve to see Thy mother plunge thee in the deep, deep ocean, Whose waves, although they hardly reach her knee, Sweep o'er thy shoulders in severe commotion, Indeed it is a fearful thing to me To view thee sprawl, and scratch, and tear, and kick, And hear thee, in thy depth of misery, Vent all thy soul in one unbroken shriek. I'd snatch thee from those billows, salt and wild, - LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. SIR WALTER SCOTT is engaged upon a Romance, the name of which is to be Robert of Paris. Captain Basil Hall is bringing out a work for young persons, entitled Fragments of Voyages and Travels in various parts of the World. The Rev. J. Topham is about to publish a Manual of Prayers in every language, for every day of the week. Mr W. Danby has a volume of poems ready for the press, which is expected to appear in the course of the autumn. Valpy has just published:-Hermann on the Greek Metres, abridged and translated into English, for the use of schools and colleges, by the Rev. J. Seager; Divines of the Church of England, No. 4, being a continuation of the works of Bishop Sherlock, with a Summary to each Discourse, Notes, &c., by the Rev. T. S. Hughes; Valpy's Greek Grammar, 12th edition; and Elements of Latin Grammar, by the Rev. Dr Valpy, 19th edition. ANNUAL.-Friendship's Offering is nearly ready. It has been the object of the Editor to give to the successive volumes of this publication such a continuity of purpose as shall render them parts of one unvarying design. For the elegant but fragile binding of the other annuals, has been substituted a more durable, but equally tasteful, cover. The following are the Illustrations of this year : Subjects. Painters. Engravers. Adelaide... C. R. Leslie, R.A. W. Humphrys. The Presentation Plate............. H. Corbould........ J. W. Cook. The Last Look ........................ J. Porter............. T. A. Dean. The Maid of Rajasthan............ Col. James Tod... Edw. Finden The Rejected... F. P. Stephanoff... J. Goodyear." The Accepted..... M. W. Sharp....... Charles Rolls. The Mountain Torrent............. W. Purser........... E. Goodall. St Mark's Place, Venice............ S. Prout............................. E./J. Roberts." Ascanius in the Lap of Venus.... J. Wood.............. S. Davenport. Mary, Queen of Scots, going J. Stephanoff. R. Baker. forth to Execution............. Halt of the Caravan................. W. Purser... ... R. Brandard. Auld Robin Grey........................ J. Wood............... Henry Rolls. Poesie.......... Carlo Dolci......... Wm. Finden. With regard to the literary department of the work, the editor boasts that he has not allowed himself, in any instance, to be in fluenced by the magic of a name?” and that the only cause of the appearance, in his pages of so many names illustrious for worth and talent, lies in the intrinsic literary merit of the pieces to which they are attached. NEWLY INVENTED PRINTING PRESS.-Professor Hagen, of #? Königsberg, in Prussia, has invented an efficient printing press, of a very simple construction, that may be wrought by steam, or any power producing a rotatory motion. It moves smoothly, and with little noise; supplies the types with ink, and prints two sheets at a time as fast as one person can remove, and another place them. It occupies a space of from 8 to 10 feet in length, 3 to 4 in breadth, and 5 to 6 in height goes seldom out of order, and can be easily repaired. It is said to be quite different from, and much superior to, Mr Koenig's patent presses, one of which, of the smallest size, costs 4000 dollars (£600 sterling), while this can be made for 200 dollars, or £30 sterling. We understand that Dr Hagen is desirous to dispose of his invention to any of the trade in this country who may be inclined to take out a patent for it; and our agent in Glasgow tells us that a gentleman there is furnished with a more particular description of the press, and is empowered to treat as to terms. CHIT-CHAT FROM LONDON,-We are sorely at a loss for something to talk about. An affair of honour, amused us for half a day. A noble lord and a gallant major sailed in a steam-boat for Ostend, with two seconds a-piece, and came back without doing any thing. Scandal says one of the parties had forgot his pistols. Shortly after this affair had ceased to be spoken of, we were interrupted in the midst of a yawn by the astounding intelligence that Sir George Smart had given occasion to a bon mot. Bartley mentioned in the green-room of the Adelphi, that Sir George had been much alarmed by a flash of lightning. "No wonder," rejoined Peake, he knows he is a conductor."-Another dreamy interval succeeded, from which we were awakened by the information that Lord William Lennox, having lost his estate for attempting to cut the Wood, had been reduced to accept of an ensigncy in the Sussex militia.-Some of your readers may wish to know the emoluments of the painter in ordinary to his Majesty. He receives only sixty guineas for a whole-length when officially employed.-An attempt is making to establish a Naval Library at Portsmouth, for the convenience of officers studying at the College. It is proposed to attach a Reading-room to the establishment, where professional pamphlets will be laid on the table, but newspapers excluded.-The Worcester Musical Festival begins on the 14th September. This is a respectable meeting of old standing, which alternates between the above-named city, Gloucester, and Hereford. The Norwich Festival takes place on the 21st September, and the following days. That of Liverpool is fixed for the 5th, 6th, and 7th of October. Sir George Smart conducts at Liverpool and Norwich Mr Clarke, organist of the Cathedral, at Worcester. Malibran, Mrs Knyvett, Braham, and De Begnis, are to sing at all these Festivals. The arrangements are on a scale of high, respectability, and promise a rich treat to the musical amateur. To abuse, and be abused, seems the lot of the critic. Jerdan is thundering away at Lady Morgan, and the Examiner is thundering away at Jerdan. The gentleman who writes epigrams against J. in that Journal does not seem to have much wit; but he will make his pers secution a good joke, by sheer pertinacity, ale CHIT-CHAT FROM ABERDEEN.-Two cases have occurred at this Circuit of peculiar interest. A Mrs Humphry was tried for murder ing her husband, a butcher and tavern-keeper, by pouring a quantity and sentenced to seven years' transportation.-[NOTE BY ED.-A Mr R. Brown of Aberdeen writes us in great distress, to beg that we will state that be is not the Mr Brown "rom another source, we learn succeeded to the editorship of the Aberdeen Independent. that the real cause of difference between the late editor and the proprietors was, his insisting upon writing all the articles himself. We suspect few editors offend in this way who can help it.] CHIT-CHAT FROM GLASGOW.-The only topics, so far as we can gather from the communications of our various correspondents, that at present engross the talking population of and the squabbles cult, the Exhibition of the Dilettanti Society, any, are the Cirabout Mr Hume's dinner. The first is merely interesting as one of the occurrences which mark the flight of time, by exciting a periodical commotion in the neighbourhood of the county buildings. The Exhibition seems, from all accounts, to be steadily rising in character. A clever pamphlet (the proof-sheets of which are now upon our table) is printing at the office of the Scots Times. It is entitled, "A Glance at the Dilettanti Society's Exhibitions." Along with a history of the rise and progress of the Society, it contains acute, and frequently just, remarks upon the pietures in the Exhibitions of this and the former year. The only thing about the disputes of the Committee for arranging the dinner to Mr Hume, likely to be inte resting beyond the limits of Glasgow, is an attempt, on the part of one of its members, to get Sir Walter Scott's name struck out of the list of toasts. This gentleman has published a manifesto; but, after a careful perusal, we are uncertain whether he objects to Sir Walter on political or literary grounds. One of his literary coadjutors demonstrated some years ago, that Sir Walter could not possibly be the author of the Waverley Novels, assigning that honour to Mrs Grant of Laggan. Can it be possible that these arguments have operated a conviction on the mind of his friend, not to be shaken either by Sir Walter's public confession, or Mrs Grant's repeated disclaimers? ་་ Theatricas Gossip.-It is understood that in future the two national theatres allow no actor more than thirty pounds a-week, with the exception of two at each theatre. Miss Stephens, Vestris, Young, and Braham, are understood to have made a strike. Jones is not yet engaged at either theatre, although he is not said to insist upon a large salary. Bishop is engaged as composer and director of the orchestra, for the ensuing season, at Drury Lane. He will preside nightly. The Colonnade is to be placed on the Russel-Street front of that theatre, and it is expected that by October the works will be so far advanced, as to offer no impediment to the public at the opening of the theatre.-Marie Mignét, a historical drama, from the French, was produced at the Haymarket on Monday. Miss Chester was to have personated the principal female character, but the new lessees of Drury, who have secured her services for that establishment, refused their consent. Miss F. H. Kelly supplied her place.-Arnold expects to open his new English Opera House by the 1st of July next. Meanwhile, he carries on the war vigorously at the Adelphi. A new piece, entitled The Irish Girl, has succeeded, chiefly on account of Miss Kelly's performance of the heroine. Arnold has likewise brought out a new female singer of the name of Evans, who has been favourably received.--At the Surrey, T. P. Cook has brought out The Humours of Portsmouth, a poor enough concern.—At Astley's, Ducrow has been reviving the Battle of Waterloo.—Malibran has performed Susanna, in the Marriage of Figaro, in English, at Manchester--the crities of that city are in ecstasies-Liston has been making a trip through the west of England. The stock nights were in general failures, but his benefits were bumpers.—Alexander has opened at Carlisle with Miss Graddon and Barton.The Dublin Theatre has been following the example of Paris and Brussels— holding thus, as it ought to do, the mirror up to nature. nuitant took possession of the building during the absence of Mr Bunn, the lessee. On Tuesday last, Mr Bunn, accompanied by a large assemblage of persons, retook its Application was made to the police for assistance against the besiegers; but says our infor mant." Alderman Fleming, who repaired to the spot with a considerable force, finding that the contest was one for the establishment of a civil right, and that no immediate breach of the peace was likely to ensue, declined interfering." We should like to hear an Irish magistrate define " a breach of the peace." studn communication has been received, " The an D. M'ASKILL'S communication is under consideration ; his offer will be thankfully received. The Sonpet by ff G." is creditable to a young writer, but would scarcely stand we have not yet had time to d publication.-John Nevay's of sulphuric acid down his throat while he lay asleep. The man lingered for two days in great agony, and then died. The commis read it attentively. The Ballad entitled, Signs of the Times," is sion of the crime was established by a chain of circumstantial, evi-spirited and amusing, but requires twice thinking.We are redence, and the murderess was left for execution. The other case quested to state, that the W. D." in our last Nouice to Corresponwas one of forgery. A young man of the name of Scott persuaded a girl to elope with him. The imprudent pair soon fell into straite, with not our friend Danby." A Rejected Contributor" tells an air of (triumph, that his communications were copied ened circumstances; and, in order to relieve themselves, forged a from Blackwood, the London, and New Monthly ;-did it never bill in the name of the girl's father for L.5. They also appended and occur to him that this might be the very cause why they were reimitation of his signature to a document bearing to be an obligation jected?We beg to assure Mr Mackay, that what is postponed is not to lend them .12. The girl was cited as a witness against her lover, necessarily forgotten.-We shall be happy to hear from "R. J." at but was not examined. He was found guilty of uttering the forgery, his leisure, is |