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Extracts from Periodicals.

OPINIONS OF THE "TIMES."-The cobbler declares the times want "mending,”—that his “little awl" is insufficient to support him, although he is the "last" to complain.

The watchmakers say their watches "don't go," and they shall be "wound up" if the "spring"does not produce a "movement." Even the undertakers

complain that their trade is “dead;

and the little ale brewers, that every

thing in their line is flat, stale, and unprofitable." Cabinet-makers are com pelled to return their bills to their drawers;" and chair-manufacturers Vow they have not a "leg to stand,on."

Bed-manufactures say these are not times for "feathering their nest," and that they are obliged to "bolster up" their business by getting "tick" when ever they can.

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The trunk-makers, when others talk of distress, hold up thoir hands and cry, they never saw such a deal," and that they daily see more cases of distress than packing-cases!

The little wine merchant declares, like the "cabin, boy," that he is "wreck ed in sight of port!"

The poulterer, that purchasing stock is really making "ducks and drakes" of his money, for all his customers "on the wing.".

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The philosophers say there is no such thing as colour, yet the times certainly look black, and everybody looks blue.

The want of money is undoubtedly universal, and the smallest change would be acceptable.-Bentley's Miscellany.

TWO WONDERFUL CLOCKS.-Two very since presented by the East India Com. some time extraordinary clocks were, entirely manufactured by English artists. pany to the Emperor of China, being They were in the form of chariots, each ing her right hand on a part of the of which contained a lady seated leanchariot, under which was a clock, littlė larger than a shilling, that struck, re. peated, and went for eight days, without requiring winding up. A bird was on the lady's finger, finely modelled and set with diamonds and rubies, with its

wings expanded as if to fly, and which

was made to Butter for a considerable time on touching a diamond button. The body of this curious bird, in which were the wheels that animated it, was less than the sixteenth part of an inch, In the lady's left hand was a golden tube with a small round box on the top, to which was fixed a circular ornament set in diamonds which went round in three hours. A double umbrella was over the lady's head sup. ported by a small fluted pillar, and under which was a bell that struck the hour, though apparently unconnected with the clock; and at the lady's feet was a golden dog, before which were two birds, set with precious stones, and apparently dying away with the chariot, which from another secret motion is contrived to run in any direction, while a key appears to push it forward. There were also flowers, ornaments, and a flying dragon, all set with precious stones, or formed of them, and the rest was made of gold most curi. ously executed, and presenting a wonderful specimen of ingenuity and talent.

A NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.-" The inventor of this strange work of art is a plain Cumberlane yeoman, from near Keswick, and the rude materials from

which he contrives to extract the most enchanting harmony are nothing more than a collection of slates or stones from the more unfrequented parts of the mighty Skiddaw. These are ar ranged in such a manner as to enable three persons to beat upon them at the same time with small wooden mal. lets; and this is accomplished with so much dexterity and skill as to distil from the rudest possible materials the most rich and delightful melody of sweet sounds that ear ever heard, or imagination can conceive. The effect is perfectly magical, and the listener stands entarnced and wonder struck. Men of undoubted musical science have inspected this novel instrument, and have given a most flattering opinion of the work which the inventor has achieved, and also of its vast capabilities. Whitehaven Herald.

GEOGRAPHICAL ALLITERATION. The Brewers should to Malt-a go; The fools to rocks of Scilly; The Quakers to the Friendly Isles; The Fur-riers, all to Chilli. The little squalling, bawling babes, That nightly break our rest, Should be packed off to Baby lon, To Lap land or to Brest. Cooks from Spithead should go to Greece; And while the Miser waits His passage to the Guinea coast,

Spendthrifts are in the Straits. Spinsters should to the Needles go; Winebibbers to Burgandy; Gourmands may lunch at Sandwich Isles; Ways poke their fun at Fun-dy; Musicians hasten to the Sound, All Mendicants to Rome; And let the race of Hypocrites

At Cant-on find their home. Lovers should to the Cape Good Hope;

To some Cape Horn is pain;
Debtors should go to O. 1. U. (Ohio),
Our sailors to the Main;

Bold Bachelors to the United States,
Maids to the Isle of Man ;
The Gardeners should to Botany go,
And Shoeblacks to Japan.
The Quarrelsome in Ire-land
Will find their proper level;
The Printer, when he sets these lines,
May post off to the "Devil."

-Colonial Magazine.

THE MATHEMATICAL POWER LOOM,— By the introduction of this invention it is expected a powerful stimulus will be given to a staple manufacture, viz., the linen trade, which has for many years been in a drooping state, owing to the low price of labour in Scotland The mathematical loom is equally ap plicable to the manufacture of worsted, cotton, and all other fibrous substances. This is called a mathematical loom, because the quantity of weft or woof is determined by calculation of mea. surements, thus securing at pleasure cloth of any fabric or stoutness, and perfectly equal throughout. The pres sure upon the warp-thread can be varied to suit the strength of the warp, so that the strongest or most delicate yarn can be woven, and a firm or soft fabric produced without any difficulty. The loom performs the whole work of weaving, and will pro duce a piece of cloth of the ordinary length without the alteration of any of its parts. It has woyen two bolts, or thirty yards, of the heaviest sail. cloth in 12 hours; and the inven tor has stated that he would undertake to do that quantity in less time.Journal of Commerce.

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MARINE POPULATION.-The teem with life-the class of polyps alone are conjectured by Lamarck to be as individual insects. Every tropical reef is described as bristling with corals, budding with sponges, and swarming with crustacea echimi, and testacea; while almost every tidewashed rock is carpeted with fuel and studded coral. lines, actinia, and mollusca. There are innumerable forms in the seas of the warmer zones which have scarcely begun to attract the attention of the naturalists; and there are parasitic animals. without number, three or four of which are Sometimes appropriated to one genus, as to the Balena, for example. Even though we concede, therefore, that the geographical range of marine species is more extensive in general than that of the terrestrial (the temperature of the sea being more uniform, and the land impeding less the emigrations of the oceanic than the ocean those of the terrestrial), yet we think it most probable that the aquatic species far exceed in number the inhabitants of the land.-Lyell's Geology.

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METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL KEPT ON THE HUNASGIRIA
RANGE OF MOUNTAINS, AT AN ELEVATION OF

NEARLY 3,000 FEET.

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METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL KEPT ON THE HUNASGIRIA RANGE OF MOUNTAINS, AT AN ELEVATION OF NEARLY 3,000 FEET.

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Do. Fine dry and cloudy day.
Variable Cloudy with heavy showers P. M.
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Cloudy and heavy with light showers.
Fine and cloudy A.M. Showery P.M.
Variable Heavy rain and squally.

166 70 68 2,500 ivy Variable Heavy rain and squally.

S. 4 65 75

M. 565 76 71

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North Fine cloudy weather.
N.N.E. Do, weather light breeze.

North Fine cloudy weather.

N.E.

Fine dry cloudy weather.

Variable Fine dry and cloudy day and nigh

North Fine dry day and night.

Variable Fine cloudy day and night.

Do. Do, weather, strong breeze.
Variable Fine A.M. Heavy shower P.M.

North Fine & cloudy A.M. Heavy rain P.M.
Variable Fine A.M. Showers P.M.

North. Fine A. M. Light shower P. M.

Do. Variable Fine dry and clear day.

-,250 Do. N.N.E. Fine A.M. Light shower P.M.
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W. A.

DIARY KEPT IN THE VALE OF DOOMBERA-NEAR KANDY.

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1841, 15th March to the 22d.-The dry hot weather of last week has been continued with moderate breeze from the N. E. But the atmosphere, instead of being bright and clear during the day as usual, has had a very heavy appearance of a bluish colour, especially upon looking towards the hills. Thermometer Average.-73° 6 A. M.- 82 2 P. M.-77 8 P. M. Dew nearly every night more or less.

This week has been the first time the Coffee trees as well as all vegetable matter has drooped from the effect, of the dry season-the dew that falls at night however is sufficient to keep up the health of the trees, but all pro cess, of germination and growth is stopped for a time.

From 22nd March to 29th -On the afternoon of the two first days in this week without any previous warning of rain coming, heavy showers fell about 4 P. M., on each day accompanied with much thunder and lightning, since which the days have been, if any thing, better than before, without a cloud in the heavens, with a prevailing dry wind from the N. E. quarter which is very parching in its effects.

The morning moisty-a good quantity of dew every night.

Thermometer nearly the same as last week, always above 80 in the middle of the day.

The appearance of the Coffee trees has much improved from the two showers of rain which fell in the beginning of the week and a general blos Bom is beginning to shew itself.

**

From 29th March to April 5th.-Cloudy, hot, élose weather every day with wind variable, sometimes from S W.: slight rain twice in the week, which has been sufficient to bring out a very strong blossom on the Coffee trees. Thermometer Average.—73° 6 a. m,-82≈ 2 p. M.-78° 8 p. M.

From April 5th to 12th. The cloudy weather of the preceding week con. tinued in morning and evening; during the day hot sun and a most dead calms; in afternoon breezes springing ap gently from the S. W. Hot and blose at night.

Thermometer nearly as last week with the exception of one or two days, when it rose at noon to 85°. No rain all this time. The blossem on the estates on this side, nearly general and lasting two or three days.

From April 12th to 19th.-The mornings during this week very foggy until about 8 A. M. in consequence of the showers which have fallen every evening accompanied by heavy thunder storms and strong winds from the S. W. The atmosphere close and oppressive all day.

Thermometer nearly as last week.

These rains have been very beneficial in setting the fruit coming opportunely after the general blossoming of last week, and otherwise invigorating the trees to meet the demands of the coming crop.

Operations. In the early and dry part of this month weeding, pruning and handling before the blossom appeared. Erecting buildings, &c. During the last week the new estates have been opening holes, working the ground, &c., ready for the removal of young plants for the coming rainy season.

The Health of all these estates continue very good on the whole: the natives appearing to suffer less from diseases during the dry season than at the commencement of the rains,

B. D.

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