Notes from Pome. ITERARY NOVELTIES.—Popular Traditions of England. By John Roby Esq. The late J. Smith's Comic Mis. cellanies, Letters and Memoirs. By his brother, Horace Smith. Elphinstone, a Novel The Three Peers, a Novel. By Lady Stepney. Longbeard, Lord of London. By C. Mockay Esq. Poems. By Puskin, Poet Laureate to the Emperor of Russia. A Comedy in three acts, bearing the striking title of "MONEY" from the pen of Sir E. Bulwer, was to have been produced at the Haymarket Thea tre in November, but postponed through the indisposition of one of the principal actors. If report is to be credited the novelty will prove highly successful. The following is from the State Gazette of Prussia :-"Of the 476,386 inhabitants of St. Petersburgh there are 200,000 more meu than women. There are in the capital 1,123 ecclesiastics, 1,232 general officers, 12,474 foreigners, and 238 actors and actresses. The number of houses is 8,665 of which 5,405 are built of wood. There are 41 chymists, 4 foundling hospitals, 5 charitable institutions, 33 Government and 37 private printing offices, 2,572 shops, and of these 181 are milliners and dress-makers, 38 confectioners, 92 taverns, and 191 bakers. There are 4,511 street lamps, of which 144 are lighted by gas; 304 polics stations, about 8,000 carriages, 11,000 hackneycoaches, and 36,000 horses." THE MAMMOTH IRON STEAMER AT BRISTOL. A gentleman who has re cently seen the immense iron steamer building by the Great Western SteamShip Company at Bristol, informs us that she will register about 3,000 tons, but that her actual tonuage will exceed 3,600 tons, or about 600 tons more than any ship ever built. An immense saving in stowage will be gained in consequence of the adoption of iron for her hull, whilst her draught of water will be comparatively small, owing to the great buoyancy possessed by iron vessels. She will consequently be able to carry coals suffici eut both for her outward and homeward passages-a most important point tainable in America, aud the when the inferior quality of couls ob conse quent diminution in speed, is considered. Her engines, we hear, are to be of 1,000 horse power, and it is confidently expected that the average voyage across the Atlantic will be reduced to ten days. She will carry a vast spread of canvas, so that in all probability the engines will frequently be at rest. In consequence of the adoption of Smith's screw propeller, this stupendous ship, the great. est experiment in ever made, will, we believe, be able to pass the present locks at umberland Basin and discharge her cargo in Brists harbour. We congratulate our Bristol, neighbours upon the en are displaying. terprise which they ing at Bristol, by Messrs. Acraman, Two magnificent steamers are now buildfor the Royal Mail Company; and, altogether, the ancient port seems to be "going a-head." steam naviation At the last eftting of the Academy af Sciences, M. Arago stated that he had that morning been making some thermometrical experiments at the Artesian well at Grenelle, in order to ascertain the temperature at the depth which had already been attained, viz., 483 metres, or 1,584 feet. When the workmen had reached 460 metres, the chalk was of a green colour, indicat ing the proximity of water. Since then the chalk had become mixed with elay, and of a dark colour, a still stronger indication that the sheet of water which it is intended to reach is near. M. Aragó used the thermometer of M. Walferdan, and after hav. ing taken all the necessary precautions in order that the pressure, which at such a depth is equal to 50 atmoŽÁ pheres, might not injure the bulb, six thermometers of the same kind were successively let down to a depth of 481 metres, care having been taken not to lower them until 36 hours had elapsed after the boring, in order that the heat which this work might bave communicated should have subsided. The thermometers were left in the well for 36 hours. The heat at this depth was 27 de rees of Reaumur, or 924 of Fabrenheit, being as bout 23 metres for each degree of temperature. M. Arago expressed a hope that no water might be found for 100 metres more, as in that case there would be a permanent hot spring at the very gates of Paris, The Gatherer. QUIRT.-We hear those complain most that they can get no quiet, whose want of it arises from the irruptions of their own passions, peace is no local circumstance. It does not depend on the local situation of the house, but of the heart. True quiet is only to be found in the extripation of evil tempers, in the victory over unruly appetites; it is found, not merely in the absence of temptation, but in the dominion of religion. It arises from the cultivation of that principle which alone can effectually smooth down the swellings of pride, still the restlessness of envy and calm the turbulence of impure desires. It depends on the submission of the will, on that peace of God which passeth all understanding, in the grace of Christ, on the consolations of the spirit. With these blessings, which are promised to all who seek them, we may find tranquility in cheapside; without them, we may live a life of tumult on the Eddystorie.- Hannah More. HEALTH.-Who ever heard of a bilious post boy, or dyspeptic ploughman? It is not amongst carpenters, and bricklayers, and sawyers, add agricultural labourers, that you will meet with the dyspeptic; but in the halls and saloons of the great, the dusky counting-houses and gas-illumined shopg of the trader, and in the ghost-like, and dwarfish ranks of the pale and spectral silk water. Indeed, of tho many hundreds of those who have come under my observation during the last thirteen years, I never remember to have seen a single silk weaver who was not more or less dyspeptic. and inefficient circulation is, the manAnother important cause of languiď ner in which we surround ourselves with what are called comforts. We clothe ourselves in flannel; and enveand when at home, we close the doors, lope ourselves in great-coats abroad; let down the window curtains, draw a wool of the hearth-rug, and make our chair to the fire, bury our feet in the servants wear slippers that they may not disturb us. directly oposite influence on the sys. Now, these sare comforts have ¿. tem, an influence directly lulling and somniferous. I surely shall not be called upon to prove this. Who has not himself experienced that almosť irresistible disposition to sleep, which an easy chair, a warm room, a good fire, and silence, induce. And who will wo sleep more soundly in a darkened room, ou a down bed, surrounded by curtain drapery, and woli covered with blankets, than on a straw mattrass, scantily covered, uncurtained in a garret. Those, therefore, who surround themselves with these seductive "comforts" place themselves precisely in the situ. ation of opium eaters, they submit their bodies to the same influence, and suffer the same erils, although the cause he different. "Comforts" are, opiates, à nodynes, narcotics; as certainly so as opium itself, although not in so powerful a degree. The lover of "comforts," therefore, must neither consure nor ridicule the eater. of opium, he is himself guilty of the same fault, and will certainly reap the same harvest.-Letters to Brother John. THE GRAVES OF A HOUSEHOLD. They fill'd one home with glee ; By a dark stream is laid, The sea, the blue lone sea hath one, of fishes have been ascertained, their pear admirably adopted to "their "eleexternal and internal conformation ap it cannot escape the most careless Ob ment and mode of life. Their shape, native deeps with the least possible serrer, is finely fitted to leave their resistance. The use of their fins and tail, too, is obvious; and the bellyfins cannot appear unnecessary, when it is recollected that their centre of gravity lies near the back, and that' without some kind of feet they would" float with their backs downward. But some of their parts display conritance which cannot be understood without closer examinations. The gills. place on each side of the neck, are the organs by which they breathe. In this operation they fill their mouth with water, which they throw backward with so much force as to lift open the great flap, and force the water out behind. And in the passage of this water; all, or at least the greatest part of the air contained in it, is left behind, and carried into the body to perform its part in the animal' economy. The air-bladder, which lies in the abdomen, along the course of the back: bone, is an admirable contrivance for enabling them, to increase or diminish their specific gravity, and thus sink or rise in the water. If they want to sink, they compress this bladder by means of their abdominal muscles, so that the bulk of their body is diminished. If they want to rise, they relax the pressure of the muscles, the air-bladder again acquires its natural One sleeps where southern vines are drest size, the body is rendered more bulky, Above the noble slain : He wrapt his colours round his breast, The last of that bright band. Beneath the same green tree; Mrs. Hemans. THE ANIMAL ECONOMY OF FISHES. So far as the structure and functions and they ascend towards the surface. Fish which are destitute of the airbladders have little facility of raising themselves in the water. The greater number of them consequently remain at the bottom, unless the form of their body enables them to strike the water downward with great force. This the skate, the thornback, and other species of rays, do with their large pectoral fins, which act upon the water in the same manner as the wings of birds do upon air.-Arnot, CEYLON SCENERY.-The views we saw' in descending from the plains were magnificent, particularly at one spot, two ranges of projecting mountains; to 1. from which the eye is directed between rest on the lower hills of Saffragam,: 02 at the Château de Brizây, wah.. Dr. D--, an old triend of the Couns tess de parr. The Doctor was a rez warkable kind-hearted and charitablê man, and the gravity of his manners formed an amusing contrast to the gaiety. of Madame Malibran.' the dreary forest-flats of the Magamers ECCENTRICITIES OF MADAME MALIBRAN." She would rise at six in the morning, and go out, sometimes taking a fowling-piece to enjoy the sport of shooting. At other times she would go out on horseback, always selecting the most spirited horse she could find. After galloping over hill and dale, at the risk of breaking her neck, fording rivers, and exposing herself to every danger, she would return and quell the apprehensions of her friends, who were often painfully alarmed for her safety. During the remainder of the day she would amuse herself with all sorts of childish games and exercise. Among the visit "She one day took it into her head herself as to disguise a peasant giriệ Her costume was perfect; the pointed cap with long barbes, the gold cross, the shoe buckles, nothing was wanting She coloured her skin so as to give the semblance of a swarthy suubarut complexion, and staffed out her cheeks with cotton, to impart an appearance of plumpness to her face. Thus disto the doctor, and, addressing him ių guised, she one. day presented. herself the patois of the province, which she could mimic in perfection, told him piteous tale of misfortune. Her mother. was ill, and had broken her arm, &c. clever doctor, and I hope you will give I have heard, sir, that you are a very me something to cure my poor mother, I assure you we are in miserable po verty Dr. D. prescribed some remedies gave her a little money, and Madame Malibran took her leave. In the even in when the doctor related to the company the visit he had received with great interest to his story, and expressed regret that she had not seen the peasant girl. The hoax was seve.. ral times repeated, and at length the pretended peasant girl gave the old smitten with him. The doctor and the doctor to understand that she was deeply other visiters at the chateau were high ly amused at this strange infatuation constantly expressed regret that she of the peasant girl. Madame Malibran could not get sight of the fair inamorata: always accounting for her absence by a headache, or a visit to some poor family in the village. One day, the pretended peasant, emboldened by the success of her hoax, took the doctor's arm, and walked round the garden in conversation with him. The poor doo.. tor did not attempt to withdraw his arm, He quietly resigned himself to his fate; but, turning to the persons who accom panied him, he said, What a flattering conquest I have made! No sooner had he uttered these words, than a smart soufflet convinced him of the pm. priety of being gallant, even to a pea sant girl. And when did you ever Madame Malibran affected to listen FACE PAINTING.-After he had sat for half an hour, I observed that he became very uneasy, and frequently yawned in my face; at last up be jumped, and asked me if I wanted to be always looking at him; at the same time telling me that, when his face was taken by a man in the country, he was allowed to look out of the window, or do just as he liked. assured him I could not so mapage, and at length, with great perseverance, compelled him to sit quietly each time he came. When the work was completed, he took a mini ature from his pocket, and triumphant ly asked me whether nine was like thot. In truth it was not, and [ confessed as much, when he flatly told me mine was not like him... I assured him to the contrary; but he said. he knew he was right, for the man who painted him before, offered to bet him a dozen of wine that every one at the Green Dragon' would know it. This argument was conclusive, so I was obliged to make my own pic ture as much like the miniature as I · could, and, therefore, as proportionately unlike the booby, original. When complete he was satisfieds willingly paid me my price, but offered to stand half-a-guinea more' if I would put a few more crinkles in the neckcloth. I willingly obliged him, and thus ended the adventure of my first sitter. ANAVAL PORTRAIT.One of my most agreeable visitors was a rough, honest-hearted naval captain. All that I did vastly pleased him, until, when nearly finishing, the picture, I had begun to throw an incidental shadow across the lower part of the figure. The gallant gentleman saw in a glass that stood opposite what I was about to do, and rushing from his seat, ever saw an seized my hand, crying out, Avast there, young gentleman, what are you about? Who the devil officer on the quarter-deck with hig breeches in that mess? No, no, that won't do.' 1 submitted to my fate, and sent home the portrait with a pair of unpronounceables of unexceptionable whiteness.--Polytechnic Journal, A SNUG LITTLE HOME.. "To describe the villa-place it could not be called of this agreeable couple would be quite superfluous they who know the world can as perfectly appraise the country house of an agreeable smail family, of some four or five thousand a year, as Mr. George Robins can value a real property, in doing, which lie appears to be so eminently successful. Chintz, cotton, comfort, snug rooms full of furniture; books, harps, pianofortes, bagatelle-tables, backgam mon-boards, chess-boards, guitars, ka leidoscopes, sofas, squabs, cushions, ottomans, corners, recesses, little oriel windows, flowers, Eau de Cologne bottles, scattered books (not books taken from the library, but books from the circulating library) albums, draw, ings, H.. B.'s sketches (no matter what visitor suffers) little absurd work boxes, which nobody uses, portfeuilles, pincushions, fire boxes, suuff boxes, bonbonnieres, miniatures of distant relations, in cases, lying on the tables, varieties of inkstands, perrages, direc. tories, low chairs, long chairs, footstools, folding screens, a bright blazing fire, a snow-white poodle on the shaggy hearthrug, and a long-eared Charley', in the lady's lap. That sounds suug, and is something like the way in which they carried on the war, or rather enjoyed domestic peace, at Mr. Amersham's"-New Monthly. |