SIR WALTER SCOTT AND A BABY."Well do I remember seeing the greatest genius of our day, suddenly stopped after dinner, in one of his most splendid descriptions of an interesting magnificently interesting scene, by the petulant cry of a little urchin for some orange-chips in the dessert. His father, who, of course, was master of the house, sharply corrected the child for interrupting; and, consequently, made him cry loader than he had cried before. 'Poor bairn,' said the Immortal, smilingly, it is not his fault.' I never see a dose of dear little damp-nosed darlings ad ministered after dinner, without think ing of this."-Ibid. cause READINESS OF COUNSEL.-Mr. Justice Willis, alarmed at the appearance of twenty-two defended causes on the paper, to be tried in three days, was urgent, on Monday last, that no delay should take place in calling the list, and threatened to strike any out of the paper if the parties did not respond to the first call. Upon the case of "Peck v. Francis" being called, Mr. Windeyer started up, and vociferated in a loud toue, "I am ready." “On which side are you, sir?" in quired the judge "Really, your honour," was the learned counsel's rejoinder, "I do not know which side I am on, but I know I am ready." This aunouncement occasioned some mirth among the members of the bar, in which the learned judge bore a conspicuous part.-Sydney Herald. JOHN REEVE MORALISING.-John Reeve was accosted in the Kensing ton road by an elderly female, with a small bottle of gin in her hand Pray sir, I beg your pardon, is this the way to the work house?" John gave her a look of clerical dignity, and pointing to the bottle, gravely said, "No, ma'm; but that is."-Bentley's Miscellany. "BLUNDERERS:"-" How much is science indebted to blunders! To what else do we owe the telescope, and some of the most effective improvements in that nightiest of inventions, the steam-engine? How much bave blunders contributed to the luxuries and the comforts of private life! To the former, let the widely-spread votaries of Lundy Foot's manufature testify, who are indebted to the careless blunder of a boy, for one of the most graufying compounds that ever 1 irritated nasal organs. The attendant whose duty it was to watch the kiln neglected it, the snuff was burnt irrecoverably, and supposed to be spoiled; but was tried accidentally, pronounced excellent, and christened, Irish blackguard.' For the value of a blunder in contributing to domestic satisfaction, one instance may suffice. A respectable gentleman of Oxford was SO fascinated with "Robinson Crusoe" that be read it through every year, considering every part to be as true as holy writ. Unfortunately a friend at last told him that it was little more than a fiction, the plain story of the sailor's shipwreck having been thus worked up by Daniel Defoc. "Your information,' said the gentleman, may be very correct, but I wish you had withheld it; as in cor recting my blunder you have deprived me of one of the grea est pleasures of my old age.' "We cannot refrain from transcrib. ing the following exquisite blunders of painters: "Tintoret, in a picture which rethe "Israelites gathering presents manna is the desert,' has armed the Hebrews with guns; and a modern Neapolitan artist has represented the Holy Family, during their Journey barge, as richly ornamented as that to Egypt,' as passing he Nile in a of Cleopatra. "Breugheli, a Dutch painter, in a picture of the Eastern Magi,' has drawn the Indian king in a large white surplice, with boots and spurs, and bearing in his hand, as a present to the Holy Child, the model of a Dutch seventy-four. "Lanfranc has thrown churchmen in their robes at the feet of our Sa viour, when an infant; and Paul Veronese introduced several Benedictines among the guests at the feast of Cana "A painter of the Crucifixion represented a confessor holding out a crucifix to the good thief who was crucified with our Saviour. "It is no slight token in favour of blunders that they not unfrequent. ly throw bright, though it may be transient, gleams of hilarity on the dull routine of daily life. What zest do they give to conversation! What life and animation do they impart to circumstances utterly uninteresting in their plain propriety of detail! New Monthly, Amount of Duty collected on above, £6,996. 16s. 7 d. Amount of Duty col'ected on above, £14,794 1s. 6d. of whic h £13,926 8s. Od. arose from Cinnamon. METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL KEPT ON THE HUNASGIRIA 66 2,100 light N.E. Light showers during day, fine night 65 B. 23 63 68 S. 24 62 72 *M.25 64 67 T. 26 63 68 w.27 62 65 T. 28 62 70 F. 29 64 68 64 Fine A.M, heavy rain PM. and night. -,750 Hvy Variablehowery day and night, strong breeze. -,500 none N.E.by N.Light showers, day and night. N.E. none N.E. 67 light 66 - S. 31 62 70 66 light N.E. Fine and cloudy, day and night, ,050 Hvy N.E.by N Fine & cloudy A.M. Light showers P.. Do. Fine clear day, and night light breeze. N.E. Do. weather. Strong breeze. light N.E.byN.Fine cloudy day, and night strong wind, Do. N.E. Fine clear day, and night strong breeze. light S.S.W. Do. weather, light breeze. Do. Variable Fine clear day & night; strong breeze,P.M. Hvy Do. Do. weather and wind. v.by Do. Hivy Do. Do. Fine sultry day, clear night. Fine cloudy day, strong breeze. North. Fine cloudy day, moderate wind. 1,500 Do. Variable Cloudy and squally with heavy rain. Total 7,900 W .A. AUTO REGISTER OF WEATHER AT HANTENNE. DECEMBER & JANUARY -000 64 72 66 60 78 24 62 72 64 70 A.M. Fine P.M cldy, until 5 o'ck, rain, 25 64 26 72 68 68 76 68 27 28 29: 30 70 66 72 64 Do. Do, Do. 58 76 64 60 70 60 66 70 62 58 78 64 Light rain throu, hant, 4.M. showery P.M. heavy rain. Fine throughout. 70 68 A.M, hvy rn. PM fine until 4oelk rn, A.M. Fine P.M, passing showers Fine throughout. 74 68 58 76 70 39 70 64 60 10 12 60 70 60 Do. Do. A.M. cloudy P.M showery. AM. Fine P.M. cloudy. A.M. Fine P.M. showery. Fine throughout, Weeding has been the principal occupation of the Planter during this month, except on estates in bearing, where of course the crop is the sole object, We have had frequent showers, still the hot sun during the day kills the weeds which are rooted up, A few trees only commenced putting forth blossom, which is as well, seeing that the present strong winds from the N, E. are far from being favorable to their setting. The prudent planter will make the most of this weather as it is essential to get all his felled timber burnt off the land before the end of March at which time partial showers commence and enable him to get forward with bis young plants. It is of great importance to make a beginning early in the season. The Tealth both of this and the adjoining estates continues us usual, perfectly good, t DIARY KEPT IN THE VALE OF DOOM BERA-NEAR KANDY. 1841 From January 18th to 25th.—Fine and fair generally with strong breezes from the N. E. in the beginning of this week but becoming cloudy and showery towards the latter part. From January 25th to 31st.-Cloudy days with light showers in the eren ings during the first three days but becoming fair though cloudy, accompanied with strong winds froin N. E. Mornings and Evenings cool. = Thermometer Average-71 6. A. M. 67 2. P. M. 78 8. P. M. Operations. On the Coffee Estates these have been confined chiefly to clearing the plautations of weeds-pruning the old trees that lave borne the past year's crop and topping and handling the younger trees before the ensuing blossom comes jout, the germ of which is now Deginning to make its appeur. ance on the trees very generally, 8. P. M. From February 1st to 8th.-Bright clear skies every day this week with strong breezes from the N. E. during the day and a bot sun, though the mornings and evenings are cool and pleasant. Thermometer Average.-72 6. a. m. 78≈ 2. p. m. 75° From February 9th to the 15th.-A continuation of the clouded weather as last week with a fair Sun which would make the heat un bearsble were it not tempered by the N. E. monsoon which rises nearly every day with the Sun and continues until the evening, but during the Night the atmosphere is calm, allowing a moderate quantity of dew to fall and replenish exhausted vegetation which begins about this period to feel the effects of the dry season from the appearance of many of the trees and plants which look leafless and shrivelled-The Coffee tree in this instance appears an exception, or it does not as yet feel any bad effects from the dry weather judging from the bright green colour of its leaves and general strong healthy appearance, with an abundant show on its branches, of what will be a very full blossoming. Thermometer average.-As last week, Operations. This dry season with its strong dry wind is the time for clearing and burning the wood off lands intended to be planted--and these would appear to be very considerable in their number, about the country; judging from the numerous large fires seen arising every evening at greater or les distances. This is also a good time for drying Coffee fully previously to putting itinto the "Peeling Mill" Winnowing &c. &c.—and otherwise preparing it for market. Health. The health of all the Coolies and Natives situated on this side of the country appears very good, and the Europeans likewise enjoy the same state of health, there being no particular diseases prevalent. B. D. No. VII. 11-For "weed," read "mud." Page 262 Second Extract-Line 2-For “commenc'd," read “commun'd.” 264, line 13-For “Arrayed in glory on his cup attend,” read “ Arrayed in glory on his cup to attend." 264, note, line 1--For "ontebus," read "montibus." "axes arm'd." 266, line 3-For "as amiss," read “a_camp.", COLOMBO: PRINTED AT THE HERALD PRESS. |