The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-16 00:00:00

i.ittraturt. CARDINAL DE RETZ, OR THE COURTIER'S PLOT. BY PETER POPJOY, Esq. (For the Liverpool Standard.) CHAPTER X. (continued.) The unexpected appearance of Elizabeth de Montglat appeared to strike the Baron dumb with surprise ; soon, however, recovering himself, he saluted the fair visitor with an air of assumed politeness; Elizabeth hastened to unmask. Her face was pale, and she appeared much agi tated. She advanced rapidly towards Fabien, who with downcast looks stood silently in her presence, without ex hibiting those transports of joy that might have been ex pected from one who professed so much attachment to an object from which he had been so long separated. The Countess, with all a woman's wit and sagacity, guessed at once the reason. "Fabien," said she, taking him tenderly by the hand, " I have arrived too late. Is it not so ? He has told you" " All," replied Fahien, turning away his s. " And do you accuse me—do you reproach me as the cause of your ruin ? Fabien do not condemn me un heard." " Hay' I yet uttered one word of reproach, lady ?" said Fabien : "my life, I have vowed to devote to you, and do with it as you will." The Countess cast a furtive look upon the Baron, who trod up and down the chamber, with unequal steps. The Countess spoke a few word] . to Fabien in a low voice. At this moment the Baron approached, with a signifi • cant gesture. His thin face wore an expression of mali cious pleasure, somewhat blended with surprise. " Well, Mademoiselle," said he, in a tone of lightness, and forced gaiety, which was then the fashion in certain circles at court, " is it the custom of the Queen's maids of honour to seek young gentlemen in open daylight? Faith, this will be a pleasant romance to divert the idlers of the Palais-Royal. Are you aware that you have now placed yourself in my power?" " I know you to be too prudent a statesman, Baron de t2roissi, to take notice of such a trifling matter, especially when I tell you that I have come here at the express order of my royal mistress. "By the Queen's order ?" asked Albert? " What does this mean? some new caprice, without doubt? What fools men are who place their devotedness—their lives, at the service of a woman! The wisest and most resolute want courage when they are called upon to act." " Stop, sir," interrupted the maiden, with an air of au thority ; " here, as every where, the wishes of your sove reign ought to be sacred to you. Unhappily," continued she, in a different tone, " I know it is now too late to exe cute those I bring you." " What would you say ?" " The Queen, from the representation I have made to her, that Fabien feels great repugnance to undertake the contemplated enterprise, has commanded you to reveal no thing to him, and to choose some other person to execute the project in view." Fabien made a sign of surprise. Before he could speak, the Baron quietly remarked— "ls that all ? Well, my charming Countess. You can assure her Majesty, and assure yourself also, that Fabien, although he has expressed some scruples on the subject, but which I easily overcame, has accepted the proposition I was authorised to make to him." " Accepted it? accepted it ?" said Elizabeth, in a tone of surprise. " He will tell you so himself," coldly observed the Baron. " Then you have not told him the truth," exclaimed Elizabeth, with indignant energy ; " you have deceived him by some skilfully concocted lie. I know you—l know you well, De Croissi. I know your ability to clothe under the most smiling appearances the most guilty actions ! " Speak for yourself, Fabien" said the Baron. " I know that I have undertaken to shed perhaps the purest blood in France—that I have, like a traitor, un dertaken to strike in the dark, the hero who has saved the state in twenty glorious battles, and acquired immor tality. But I know also that Elizabeth de Montglat was the first to engage me in the enterprize, and it is upon the faith of her name that I shall complete my contract." " Oh ! Fabien—Fabien ; can you believe"— " What is that you say, Mademoiselle?" cried the Ba ron, fixing his piercing eyes upon her ; " do you so soon forget the engagements that you made in my presence, and are you now about to disavow both actions and 'words ?" The maiden drooped her head with an air of sadness. " Deny it not," continued Albert, " that you consented that I should bring Fabien to Paris; did you not write a letter to him which decided him at once to undertake the journey ?" " I do not deny it." " Is it not true that you have promised your hand to my brother as a reward for the service which he is about to render to the state? " Have pity"— " Reply—reply—to my question," said the Baron, in a threatening voice. "It is true." The maiden wept. " You hear, Fabien—you now must see that I have not deceived you. One of the conditions of your service has been completed : the other will quickly follow." Fabien remained dumb, while Elizabeth sobbed pi teously. The Baron regarded both with an air of triumph. Fabien, believing the Countess de Montglat consented to the deed, still kept coldly aloof. "We must separate. This evening, Fabien, I shall come to conduct you into the presence of those with whom you must become acquainted before you undertake tbe matter in hand. Until then, do not attempt to depart hence ; you cannot quit this house without danger to your self—mark that. As for me, Igo to announce the result of my negotiation. I shall be proud, lady," continued he, with an assumption of gallantry, turning to Elizabeth, " to hand you to your coach." " If this is an order you give me, I refuse to submit to It ; if it is an invitation such as a gentleman ought to give, I decline it, for I will admit that I wish to exchange a few words with M. Fabien de Croissi." " Oh, yes," exclaimed Fabien ; " I must speak with ber." _ This, then, is nothing but an assignation," said the Baron, with a sardonic smile. " I merely suggested, lady, that I should hand you to your carriage, as such would be only in conformity with custom." " There are circumstances more imperious than cus toms," interrupted Elizabeth, proudly. " I will not go." " Well, I leave you," replied Albert. " Bill and coo as you will, my gentle young lovers ; but take heed that you do not forget those promises mutually made, and, above all, be silent. This advice is that of a friend. Adieu." So saying, he departed leisurely from the cham ber, regarding the Countess with a significant smile. Hardly had he left the room, when Mlle. de Montglat, giving vent to her long-pent-up feelings, quickly ap proached Fabien, and said, in a tone of despair, " Fabien, dear Fabien, this cannot be—oh, it cannot be true that you have undertaken to do this horrible deed of blood. Do not delay one instant to assure me that you have not consented. Oh, no ; you are too noble, too loyal, too generous, to take a part in this atrocious plot." " Tell me, then, Elizabeth, in your turn," said Fabien, springing towards her,—" tell me that you do not approve of it, that the avowal you made before the Baron was extorted from you by violence, and that you have never desired me to become an assassin ?" " Never, Fabien, never ! They have employed artifice, violence, and falsehood. You will know some day, Fa bien, what I have suffered. It is only just now that have learnt the truth. If I had known it sooner, at the price of your hate and contempt, at the price of forget fulness of all the sweet recollections of other days, I would never have consented to allow my name to have been used for the sake of entrapping you to engage in this sad affair." " Elizabeth, in heaven's name what fearful secret is this, which thus compels your lips to give the lie to your heart's desires ?" " I cannot tell you," replied the young Countess sadly. " In pity's sake, do not ask me now." " Take pity rather on me. Does this secret contain aught that would make you blush before me ? Have you forgotten those engagements pledged with such fondness amidst the shades of Montglat ?" " No, no, Fabien. If, by thoughtlessness and igno rance, I have committed a fault, it is one of that nature that you may look on with indulgence. It has but raised up against me the most powerful enemies, but I have been true to you. Oh ! how I have been entrapped But I implore you to leave this painful subject. Tell me,! w ithout loss of time, that you reject with horror this in famous proposition of assassination ?" . . " My dear Elizabeth, could you have thought me ca pable of an action so black? Have you not reflected that cruel necessity has also compelled me to disguise my real sentiments ? " " But what is this necessity ? What are the motives that could oblige you to accept this proposition, without a moment's reflection or delay ? " " Reflection was not permitted me, and my determina tion has not been changed ; and that is, to seem to under take this commission. I have wished all along to gain time, and put my brother's prudence to sleep." " But the promise you have made him lie will call upon you to keep ? ' " I have attached to the execution of that promise two conditions that I believe it impossible for him to comply with." " One is"- " That you shall personally confirm the part you intend to take in this enterprise." Alas ! you have seen that I am not in a position to dis claim my opposition to it openly—and the other? " Is that I receive from the lips of the Queen Regent her self the order to strike the first Prince of the Blood—this, or I much mistake me, the Baron notwithstanding his assurance cannot fulfil. " And is it upon the faith of this impossibility that you have undertaken so solemn an engagement ? " cried the maiden in dispair. " Unhappy Fabien—retract that pro mise you have made or you are lost." " Do you then believe that the Regent " " The Regent is too much excited by hate —too much bewildered by bad ccuucils, and her temper is too much soured by the knowledge of 'her own weakness and the strength of her enemy to stop at any thing; th a t W hi ch would seem in ordinary times, impossitle—perfectly mon strous—appears only a natural action at a season of trou ble. The Queen has received certain information that M. le Prince wishes to obtain possession of the King, that he has sent emissaries to Flanders to negotiate with the Spaniards, who, he thinks will help him to the regency and treat her, as of late the Cardinal did Marie de Medi ci!: in fact she is come to this point, that she must ob tain the death of her enemy by some great sacrifice, she she does not want counsellers about her to fan up the flame that devours her, and yourbrother is not one whose advice is least attended to ; indeed, M. de Mazarin, who from the frontier directs the senti.nents of the Court— approves of this plot of a tragedy, in which you are to play so serious a part ; judge now if the Queen will hang back from this form which you require her to go through ? What does it matter to her after the verbal order which she has given you, if you should have to appear before a tri bunal, and you should let the truth escape ?—they will not believe you! Think then what your position now is and what it will be should you be brought before the solemn as semblage of parliament and accuse the Queen and her courtly minions of having urged you on to commit this crime! Out of respect for the royal authority your voice will be stopped at the first word, all those that you denounce will disavow any connection with you, —your brother will be among the first —and were I even to speak to the truth what could I do, weak and friendless as we are, against an authority which has but a superior above ? Do you not recollect besides, that every precaution has been taken to render any indiscretion on your part unnecessary even before you are brought up to judgment. What is to pre vent you becoming an inmate of the deep cells of Chate let, when it would be of so much importance to stop your voice? The Queen knows all this too well Fabien ; be sure she will not refuse to see you, nor to give you the pittiless command ; are you ignorant of what a proud and passion ate woman is capable of,—who is not only a mother but a sovereign also. Fabien remained silent a few minutes. — Elizabeth, said he at length, you have told me that the Queen is mislead by bad councillors, and that alone suffi ces to induce me to persist in my project. I will see her, I will make her hear the truth, and perhaps God will give my feeble voi ce th e g if t to touch her heart and make her see bow such an act as is contemplated, is unworthy the majesty of the throne. Sometimes a free and frank word suffices to calm the most violent and obstinate tempers. Do not attempt to persuade me to abandon my project, from that moment, I will make a sacrifice of my life—l will fulfil that which I consider to be a duty, let what will become of me—you, Elizabeth, at least, if I fall shall not have occasion to despise me. " Oh, adandon this fatal resolution Fabien," said the Countess, in a voice intense with emotion—" it is foolish and fraught with danger—listen, " added she, quickly, " there is yet time t o fly— see k i n Paris some obscure re treat and remain in that obscurity till the storm has passed away." _ _ "Fly," said Fabien with dejection—" do you forget the most rtgourous precautions have been taken to prevent my escape ?" Madlle. de Montglat sprung towards the window and cast over the court yard a rapid glance. The followers of the Baron still paced to and fro, in front of the house. "They are still there,"—murmured she, with despair— " What is to be done ?" I—l em free, added she struck with an idea that flashed across her brain, " my coach is two steps from this, and if we could but gain it" " They would allow you to pass, but they would restrain me by force." " But these people do not know you, and if you could disguise yourself somewhat like the Baron they might not perhaps recognise you, it would not take np a moment to gain the coach and we should soon be beyond the reach of search. Come Fabien—let us try —our assurance will perhaps impose upon them, and perhaps they dare not come to extremities. If they attack us you can defend yourself with your good sword—if we have no means of escaping —we will die together. Elizabeth, I cannot suffer you " " But I can—l can"— Fabien was about to yield to her entreaties and attempt an enterprise which could only succeed by great audacity, when a loud noise in the house arrested the footsteps of both. It approached the chamber, and in the next mo ment the Baron de Croissi, with heightened colour, and vestments in disorder entered precipitately into the cham ber : through the half-opened door the lovers could per ceive several persons of brutal aspect waiting without, who had followed the Baron to execute his commands. The maiden at once concluded that some fearful scene was about to take place, and with a piercing cry thew her self before Fabien, as if to defend him. Fabien instantly drew his sword, and stood on his defence, gently putting the enthusiastic girl aside ; Albert, without noticing these signs of defiance, strode rapidly towards his brother— " Sir," said he in a low Voice—" you must instantly quit this house and follow me. A coach awaits us, and I trust that your good sense will suggest to you the inutilty of resorting to violence." " Whither would you conduct us, sir," said Elizabeth, in terror. "That I will t e ll y ou presently, " said the Baron, dryly. And what would you with us, sir," asked Fabien, if we refuse to accept your invitation. Oh ! Albert, have you not cruelly abused the authority that you assume over me ?" " Do not oblige me to resort to extremities that are in. consistent with my feelings : follow me—listen," con tinued he, drawing Fabien aside, " these fellows will exe cute, without the least compunction, whatever orders I give them,—l have provided in every way to meet you ; I have given out that you are subject to madness—your conduct has not belied the assertion, and all that you do or say will be attributed to the malady you are supposed to labour under." " Oh ! what villany," cried Elizabeth. Fabien grew pale with anger, he ground his teeth with rage, and with the feeling of a tiger he hurled his bro ther aside and was about bearing off Elizabeth, when the Baron's followers impeded his progress at the door, and in the next moment Fabien found himself un armed within their grasp. Albert de Crossi recovering himself and adjusting his dress,—in spite of his anger—smiled in derision. Taking Elizabeth by the hand, who nJw would have clung to Fabien for protection, said with an attempt at gallantry.. Permit me Mademoi se ll e to hand you to your carriage," Elizabeth relinquished her grasp of Fabien, and was borne fainting to her carriage. In another moment, the two vehicles were hurried off in different directions. (To be continued.) NOTICES. Birkenhead and its Dock. By Samuel Stansfield. In the pamphlet before us Mr. Stansfield has undoubt edly introduced much very valuable and ably compiled statistical matter, and thus far it is highly creditable to his industry. But we must record our conviction—and we say it with all candour, notwithstanding the little fracas which we had recently with the author, or rather the compiler, for the bulk of the work consists of compi lation, and no trifling portion of it from our own columns —that the public would have been disposed to place much more confidence in the accuracy of his statements and views, had the pamphleteer betrayed a little less anxiety to write up the superhuman wisdom of the commissioners of Birkenhead, and the supremacy of that locality over all the other portions of this favoured land. We are quite ready to admit the existence of great spirit amongst the population of Birkenhead, in the carrying on of their improvements. They are laying, no doubt, the founda tion of a populous and flourishing town. But they should not enact the part of chanticleer over the denizens of this side of the river quite so boisterously. The town of Liverpool, it is true, did not spring quite so phenix-like into greatness as Birkenhead is doing; but the former had not the advantage of vast capital, as Birkenhead has —and that Liverpool capital too—to aid her in her early struggles into being. Besides, Mr. Stansfield might recollect, that 'people, quite as enterprising as the people of Birkenhead, and as wise too, have met with most disastrous cheeks; and that it is quite possible that the sanguine tone and the bright colouring in which he has represented matters in the work before us may lead not a few of his readers into speculations, for the result of which they will have small cause to thank him. The illustrations of the pamphlet, we may remark, are very good,—one of them the very plan of the proposed docks at Wallasey, as designed by the late William Laird, which Mr. Stansfield was so angry at our presenting to our readers. The London Polytechnic Magazine. We have received the first number of this work, which promises to become highly useful, if conducted with its pristine spirit and ability, in the promotion of Science, Literature and the Fine Arts. It is stated, in the intro duction, to be established " for the purpose of communi cating, in as popular form as may be consistent with scientific accuracy, those inventions, improvements, and discoveries which are constantly being made in every de partment of science." It will also embrace " mineralogy and geology—botany and zoology,—the comprehens ive living world," and •' will also devote itself to the higher branches of literature." The present number contains a number of highly-talented articles, including one by our townsman,,Dr. Sutherland, on "The Infiltration Theory of Glacier Motion," and a review of the paper, by Dr. Duncan, also of this town, " On the High Rate of Mor tality in Liverpool." The article on " The Ventilation of Mines to prevent Accidents, by Dr. A. Jamieson, is also well worthy of perusal by thos: interested in subterranean operations. An anonymous paper on " The causes of the Daguerreotype Image," gives the result of some experi ments in the extraordinary art. There is also an account, at the close, of all the Metropolitan literary and scientific societies ; their objects, and meetings for the present session. A few short extracts from the work will be found in another column. SELECTIONS. FOREIGN POLICY OF GOVERNMENT. (From Blackwood's Magazine.) May not the present ministers look with just pride to wards every quarter of the globe, and exclaim, Quae regio in terris nostri non plena laboris ? In truth their success here has been sufficient to set up half a dozen ministers— as is known to no man better than Lord Palmerston. The Duke of Wellington and Lord Aberdeen have restored peace to the whole world, re-establishing it on a footing of dignified security and equality. By the persevering energy, the calm determination, and inexhaustible re sources of Lord Aberdeen, " the winter of our discon tent," has been " made glorious summer," with all the great powers of the world. Look at our glorious but ir ritable neighbour—France : is there any language too strong to express the delight which we feel at the reno vated sympathy and affection which exist between us? We cannot answer for France to the extent which we can for England ; but we know, that through the length and breadth of this land—our beloved Queen's familiar visit to the King of the French, their affectionate greeting, and her Majesty's enthusiastic reception by the people, dif fused a feeling of joy and affection towards France, which will not soon—nay, should it ever ? —subside. But wou ld that visit have taken place, if Lord Palmerston, and not Lord Aberdeen, had presided over the foreign councils of this country ? 'Tis a disagreeable question, and we pass on. Then as to America, th an k s to the mission of Lord Ashburton, peace has been secured between us, on terms equally honourable to both. We are now at peace with the United States—a peace not to be disturbed by the (to whiggish eyes) promising (!!) aspect of the Oregon difficulties—which we tell our aforesaid friends will end in —nothing at all.—[lt is not, by the way, the fault of our government, that this disputed matter was not embraced by the Washington Treaty.]—While Lord Palmerston and his doleful ally, the Morning Chronicle, were daily stigmatizing the treaty of Washingto n , as ighly disho nourable and disadva n t ageous to this country, i t may in terest our readers to see what one of the disaffected Anse rican senators had to say on the subject. Thus spoke, in the senate, Mr. Benton, a well known member of. con gress : "The concessions of Great Britain to the United States are small. The territory granted to the United States, is of such a nature, that it will never be of im portance to hold it ; while the possessions given up by the United States are important and valuable to them, and have the effect of admitting a foreign power within a ter ritory which was granted to the United States, by the treaty of 1783. * * When I see the Government giv ing up more than Great Britain demanded, 1 cannot con ceal my amazement and mortification !" Glancing, however, from the West to the East—what do we see? Wars in India and China, brought gloriously to an adva n t ageous termination.—" ars," to adopt the language of one of the greatest mercantile authorities living, " which have been deranging our money transac tions, and making our trade a trade of hazard and specu lation, most injurious to the commerce of the empire at large." While, on the ore hand, we are relieved from the ruinous drain upon our resources, occasioned by our pro tracted warlike operations in India and China, on the other, a prospect is opened to us, by the immensely im portant treaty which the Emperor of China has entered with this country, of very great and permanent commer cial advantages, which are already being realized. Let our manufacturers, however, beware of the danger of forfeiting these advantages, by excessive eagerness to avail themselves of these newly acquired markets. Twelve months ago, we earnestly warned them on this score, and we now as earnestly repeat that warning ; " notwith standing," observed an old French journalist, a few weeks ago, upon this subject, " the opening of five ports to Eu ropean commerce, China will for many years preserve her internal laws, her eccentric tastes, her inveterate habits. China is the country of routine and immovability. The treaty with Great Britain cannot modify the nature of China in a few months. If the English are not prudent in their exports, if they overload the newly-opened ports with foreign produce, they will injure themselves more than they were injured by the war just concluded." In every word of this we concur : but alas! what weight will such considerations have with the agitating manufacturers in the north of England ? Their fierce but short-sighted anxiety to make rapid fortunes, will make most of them, in a few years, melancholy evidence of the justness of our observations ! We cannot pass from the East without noticing the sound statemanship which is regulating all Lord Ellenborough's leading movements in India—a mat ter now universally admitted. How unspeakably con temptible and ridiculous has the lapse of a few months rendered the petty clamours against him, with which the ex-ministerial party commenced their last year's cam paign ! Without, however, travelling round the entire circle of our foreign connexions and operations—there are one or two points to which we will briefly refer, as strik ing instances of the vigilant and indefatigable energy, and the powerful diplomatic influence of Lord Aberdeen, es pecially with reference to the securing commercial advan tapes to this country—and which has extorted the follow, ng testimony, during the present month (December,) rrom another French Journal, by no means favourably disposed to this country :—" The English Government is incontestably the best served of all Governments in the means of obtaining new, and extending old markets, and in the rapid and complete knowledge of the course to be adopted to ensure the sale of the immense products of Great Britain in di ff e r en t p ar t s o f the globe.' , Take for instance the case of Russia. We have actually succeeded in wringing from the tenacious and inflexible Cabinet of St. Petersburg an important commercial advantage ! On Lord Aberdeen's accession to office, he found Russia in the act of aiming a fatal blow at a very important branch of our shipping trade, by levying a differential duty on all British vessels conveying to Russian ports any goods which were not the produce of the British dominions. After, however, a very skilful and very arduous nagocia tion, our foreign secretary has succeeded in averting that blow—and we retain the great advantages of which we were about to be deprived. Nor has this signal ad vantage been purchased by any sacrifice on the part of Great Britain, but only by a permission, founded on most equitable principles, for Russian vessels arriving here from Russian ports with the produce of Russian Poland, to possess the same privileges as if they had come direct from Russian ports : Russian Poland being able to communi cate effectually with the sea, only through the Prussian territory. Look again at Brazil—which has also been recently the object of persevering and energetic negotia on the part of Lord Aberdeen. It is true that, at present, his exertions have been attended with no direct success; but we have doubts whether the importance of the pro posed Brazilian treaty has not, after all, been greatly exaggerated. However this may be, Lord Aberdeen is, at this moment, as strenuously at work with the young emperor, as could be desired by the most eager advocate of a commercial treaty with Brazil. But, suppose the emperor's advisers should be disposed to continue their obstinate and unreasonable opposition, observe the gentle pressure upon them, to be felt by and by, which Lord Aberdeen has contrived to effect by the commercial treaty which he has concluded with the contigious republic of Monte Video, and other States on the right bank of the Plata, for the admission (on most favourable terms) of British imports into these States. One of them Is the Uruguay republic. which borders through a great extent of country on Brazil, the Government of which is utterly unable to prevent the transfer of merchandise across the border ; whereby the exclusion of British goods from the Brazilian territory is rendered a matter of phy sical impossibility. It is true, that our efforts to enter into commercial treaties with France and Portugal have not, as yet, been successful ; but, formidable as are the obstacles at present in existen ce, we do not despair. Those least wonder at the present position of affairs who are best acquainted with the artificial and complicated positions of the respec tive countries, and their relations, and consequent policy, towards each other. Whatever can be done by man, is at this moment being done by Lord Aberdeen; and sooner than we have at present a right to expect, his in defatigable exertions may be crowned with success—not only in these, but in other quarters. All foreign Govern ments must be strongly influenced in such matters, by contemplating a steady and strong Government established in this country ; and that object they may see more nearly and distinctly every day. Such (without entering into derails which would be inconsistent with either our space or our present object) is the general result—namely, the rapidly returning tide of prosperous commercial inter course of the foreign policy of a Conservative Govern ment, which has raised Great Britain, within the short space of two years, to even a higher elevation among the nations of the world, than she had occupied before a " Liberal Ministry undertook the government of the country"—" a policy," to adopt the equally strong and just language of an able writer, " replete with auspicious evidences of the efficacy of intellect, combined with firm ness, activity, and integrity, in restoring to wholesome and honourable order a chaotic jumble of anomalies—of hu ... miliations and dangers—of fears, hatred, and confusion thrice trebly confounded." A DOSE. (From Hood': Comic Magazine.) " Ellen, you have been out." " Well, I know I have." To the King's Head." " No, John, no. But no matter. You'll be troubled no more with my drinking." " What do you mean ?" " I mean what I say, John," replied the wife, looking ♦ery serious, and speaking very solemnly and deliberately, with a strong emphasis on every word. " You—will—be —troubled—no—more—with—my—drinking—l H AVE TOOK IT AT LAST." " I knew it !" exclaimed the wretched husband, despe rately tossing his arms aloft, as when all is lost. " I knew it !"—and, leaving one coat flap in the hands of his wife, who vainly attempted to detain him, he rushed from the room—sprang down the stairs, both flights, by two and three stairs at a time—ran along the passage, and without his hat or gloves, or stick, dashed out at the street door, sweeping from the step t w o ragged little girls, a quartern loaf, a bason of treacle, and a baby. But he never stopped to ask if the children were hurt, or even to see whether the infant dripped with gore or molasses. Away he ran, like a rabid dog, straight forward, down the Borough, heedless alike of a porter's load, baker's basket, and butcher's tray. " I say," muttered the errand boy as he staggered from the collision. " Do that agin," growled the placard man, as he reco vered the pole and board which had been knocked from tis shoulder. " Mind where you're goin' " bawled a hawker, as be picked up his scattered wares ; whilst a dandy, suddenly thrust into the kennel, launched after the runner one of those verbal missiles which are said to return, like the boomerang, to those who launch them. But on, - On, on scampered the Teetotaller, heedless of all impediments—on he scoured, like a he Camilla, to the shop, number 240, with the red, blue, and green bottles in the window—the chemist and druggist's, into which he darted, and up to the little bald man at the desk, with barely breath enough left to gasp out " My wife !" " Poison !" and " Pump I" " Vegetable or mineral ?'' inquired the Surgeon-Apo thecary, with professional coolness. Both—all sorts—laudnum — assnick—oxalic acid—cor rosive sublimity"—and the Teatotaller was about to add pine -apple rum, amongst the poisons, when the Doctor stopped him. " is she sick ?" " No." But remembering the symptoms overnight, the Teatotaller ventured to say, on the strength of his dream, that she was turning all manner of colours, like a rainbow, and swelling as big as a house. " Then there is not a moment to lose" said the Escu lapius, and acc or di n g l , y clapping on his hat, and arming himself with the necessary apparatus—a sort of elephan tine syringe with a very long trunk—he set off a trot, guided by the Teatotaller, to un P oison the rash and ill fated bacchanalian, M rs . Burrs e. " And did he sa ve h er ?" - " My dear madam, be content to let that issue remain a little, and accumulate interest, like a sum in the Saving Bank. Now, when the Teatotaller, with the medical man at his heels, arrived at his own house, Mrs. Burrage was still in her bed-room ; which was a great convenience, for before she could account for the intrusion of the Btranger, Standard-office, Three o'clock. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET.—nus DAY. There has been a very spirited demand again for Cotton to-day, both from the trade and speculators, the former taking about 5000 bales, and the latter the same quantity, at the full advance quoted yesterday. We may remark, that the trade are not willing purchasers at the advance, and seem actuated in their purchases rather by fear than ny desire to buy more than usual. LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE, THIS DAY. (From Messrs. B. Makin & Sons' Circular.) Into this port and Runcorn, since the 9th instant, the arrivals of Wheat and other Grain are comparatively very inconsiderable, as well coastwise as from Ireland, but of Flour and Oatmeal we have to note a further good sup ply ; the imports from abroad during the week consisting merely of about 1800 qrs. of Wheat from Egypt, and 787 barrels of States and Canadian Flour. Our market this morning having been tolerably well attended by town and country buyers, and the rise in London yesterday tending to impart rather more general confidence, a fair extent of business was transacted in English and Irish Wheats, at an advance of ld. to 2d. ; most kinds of free Foreign realising Id. per 701bs. over the rates of last week, and ordinary runs of Mediterra nean, in partial instances, exceeding this improvement. p English and Irish Flour met a good inquiry, but holders requiring an advance of ls. per sack, and upon Foreign Is. per barrel, which was not readily paid, sales in conse quence were not extensive. Barley, Malt, Beans, and Pease continued to rule nearly as in our report of Friday. Oats, with very few offering upon the market, were fully Id. per 451 b. dearer than on this day week ; and Oatmeal being in rather brisk demand for holding over, the transactions in this article were considerable, at 21s. per load ; a few parcels of superior quality, in some cases, realizing 21s. 3d. ARRIVALS OF CORN. From the gth to the 15th Jan., 1843, inclusive. i - '''' '''''-`"'"- CANADA R a N. TOTAL. LAND. WISE. Wheat .. Ors, 2162 I 247 : 1810 3219 Barley Qrs.. j 656 686 Malt.. Qrs. I 23 1070 1093 Oats Qrs, 864 479 1343 Rye Qrs, Beans - Qrs. I 142 142 Pease Qrs.' 1 1 ShelledßarleyQrs. Indian Corn. Qrs. Rapeseed Qrs. Oatmeal .. Loads L 0336 111 10447 Flour. ....SaCkSI 5192 110 5302 Ditto Brls. ! 185 602 787 Into Runcorn, Ireland and Coastwise, Wheat, 438 qrs. ; Malt, qrs. ; Oats, 3281 qrs.; Beans, qta ; Oatmeal, 2014 loads ; Flour, 808 sacks. EXPORTS.—Foreign. Malt, qrs. ; Oats; qrs. ; Pease, qrs.; Indian Corn, qrs..; Oatmeal, 0 loads ; Flour, 420 brls.--/reland. Wheat, 425 qrs. ; Beans,. 3 qrs ; Indian Corn, qrs. ; Flour, sacks, 5 brls.—Coastwise. Wheat, 72 qrs. ; Barley, 11 qrs. ; Malt, qrs.; Oats, qrs. ; Beane, 6 qrs. ; Pease, I qrs. ; Indian Corn, qrs.; Oat - meal, 50 loads; Flour, 127 sacks 254 brls. Average prices of Grain, for the week ending Jan. 6, 1443. Wheat 495.10 d. I Barley 325. 7d. Oats• 18s. 3d. I Rye 30s. Sd Beans.. 2gs. sd. Pease.. 30s. 7d. Aggregate average of the six weeks. Wheat 505 5d I Barley 32S id I Oats 1.86 7d. Rye 30s 54 Beans.. 305. Ild. I Pease. -325. Od. Duty on Foreign Grain, &e. this week. Wbeat2os Od I Barley 65 Od I Oats .. . 8s Od I Rye.. Its 6d. Beans lOs 64 I Pease .. lOs 64 Ind. Corn es od Flour 12s 03d Ditto from British Colonies out of Europe. Wheat.. Is. Od. I Barley.. us. 6d. I Oats ..2s. lid. I Rye.. 2s 6ct. Beans Is. 6d I Pease is. Od. I Ind. Coin os. 04. I Flour Os. 746. Liverpool Averages, week ending January 9, 1844. Wheat, 1989 qrs., price 495. Id. Oats, 16 qrs., price 17s gd. How TO WRITE CLEARLY AND. FORCIBLY.—A man fully possessed of his subject, and confident of his cause, may almost always write with vigour and effect, if he can get over the temptation of writing finely, and really confine himself to the strong and clear exposition of the matter he has to bring forward. Half of the affectation and offensive pretension we meet with in authors is from a want of matter, and the other half from a paltry ambition of being eloquent and ingenious out of place.—. Lord Jeffrey. LIBERAL. PRINCIPLES OF THE DUKE OF KENT.—I re member on. one occasion, at a public banquet, at which the Dukes of Kent and Sussex were present, the former returned thanks on the part of the royal family for the ho nour which had been conferred by the health of the junior members having been drunk ; and the noble duke then hastily glanced at his own position. " I am a friend of civil and religious liberty, all the world over,"' said his royal highness. "lam an enemy to all religious tests. I am a supporter of a general system of education. All men are my brethren • and I bold that power is on ly d e l egate d for the benefit o f people. These are the principles of myself and of my beloved brother the Duke of Sussex. They are not popular principles just now ; that is, they do not conduct to place or office. All the members of the royal family do not hold the same principles. For this I do not blame them; but we claim for ourselves the right of thinking and acting as we think best ; and we proclaim ourselves, with our friend Mr. Tierney, members of his majesty's loyal opposition.' "—Fraser 's Magazine. A FRUGAL SOVERLIGN.-it is unnecessary for me to observe, that in his personal expenditure, as well as in that of his family and court, there is not a more frugal sovereign in Europe than Louis of Bavaria. He is frugal, not with a view to hoard up money in foreign funds, as other crowned heads are known to do, but to accumulate in every form, in his capital, and even in the most remote districts of his kingdom, specimens of the fine arts, exe cuted in the highest style of perfection. His pure clas • sical taste, inspired by a warm and brilliant imagination, forbids him to attempt any work undeserving the approval of the most severe critic, and the applause of future ages. His habits at Bruckenau are, as I was informed by some of those best acquainted with them, of the most simple kind, touched with a disposition to romance which he has shown from his youth upwards. He rises early, walks a great deal, always alone, through the woods and moun tains around, preferring the margins of the brooks which flow through those charming scenes in great abundance. He often sits down beneath the shade of a tree, or upon a flowery bank, to listen to their music, forgetting altoge ther, for the time, that he has upon his shoulders the weight of a kingdom. But he has his stated hours for business, to which he regularly attends : he had with him at Bruckenau his celebrated minister, 1%1. Abell, and a member of his council of state, M. Schilcher, together with several secretaries, who were said to be constantly employed. As a husband and the father of a family, Lo u i s is a mod e l f or sovereigns. Ne i ther t h e Q ueen nor any of their child ren were with him upon t hi s occas i on. It is very well kn own t h at h i s ma j esty h as p u bli s h e d several volumes of poetry, chiefly conta i n i ng his meditations upon the sce nes h e had v i s i te d, an d th e o bj ects of art which he a d m i red in Greece and I ta l y. B ut amongst his effusions a re f ound many adm i ra bl e thoughts upon the philosophy of life, which speak a high and gifted tLind, deeply imbued with a sense of religion, and a true feel. ing as to the vanity of all human enjoyments,—Quin's Travels, SECOND EDITION. Standard-ojice, Eleven o'clock, THE STATE TRIALS. The Court opened at ten o'clock yesterday (Monday morning, and was immediately crowded in every part Frecisely at ten Chief Justice Pennefather, Mr. Justice Burton, Mr. Justice Crampton, and Mr. Justice Perrin entered the Court, and took their seats on the bench. Mr. O'Connell came in procession to the court in the Lo rd Mayor's private carriage, followed by carriages containing the other traversers and several of the alder men and town council in their robes. The Lord Mayor, who was also in his robes, was in the same carriage with Mr. O'Connell. They were loudly cheered by the popu. lace on their progress to the Court. Tha Judges having having taken their seats, The traversers were then •called, and on the name of the Rev. Mr. Tyrrel being called, Mr. Cantwell, with much solemnity, said—My lords, the rev. defendant has been called before another judg ment seat, and his soul and body are now alike beyond the power of this court. The traversers were called on, and severally answered to their names. Mr. O'Connell appeared along with the counsel for the defendents, in his wig and gown. The names of the jurors were then called over. On Mr. James Collins Papworth being called, a juror said his names was James Papworth ; another juror said his name was Joseph Hamilton, and not James, as givan in the list. The officer of the court then called on John Holmes, of William-street, merchant, to appear on pain of £5O. Mr. Frederick Stocken, physician, said he appeared on his behalf, and having been sworn, stated that Mr. Holmes was unable to attend, having been confined to his bed by serious illness for the last five days. The next name called was Robert Smith Stubbs, linen draper, Dame-street. Doctor Leech also appeared on his behalf, and handed in an affidavit to the effect that he was affected with asthma and other complaints of the chest, and consequently unable to attend. George Mitchell, 20, Lower Sackville-street, tobacconist, was next called ; and Mr. Carey, barrister, appeared for him, and handed in af fidavits from several medical men, certifying that, owing to asthma and severe cold he was unable to serve. Indeed, he bad been ill very long, and there was scarcely a fort night but he was confined from the causes alluded to. A medical certific a t e an d a ffid av i t was handed in by Mr. Geo. ; 1 Davis, solicitor, on the part of George Fowler, of Angle sea-street, as a ground for having him excused. The Attorney-General then requested that the names of James Collins Popworth and James Hamilton might be called over. If there were such persons in the venire they should be called on fines, and if there was any mis description it might be dealt with afterwards. The names of those gentlemen were then called. Mr. Moore requested that the service of the sum monses on those persons might be proved. Smith Stubbs sGtuebobrgseweFroewelxecru, excused attendance ttJeonhdnanHceooltnn the esr an ground d forth in the affidavits of their respective medical attend ants. M.seßt. Mr. George Mitchell, of Saekville-street, was also ex cused attending as a juror. The deputy Registrar then called over the names of the traversers, and called their attention to the fact that the jnry was about to be sworn. Mr. Moore said that as some of the jurors had not at. tendad, and as the Attorney-General had applied ta have their names called over on fines, he wished that proof would be given of the notice served upon the jurors. David Ireland was then called, and he proved the ser vice of the notice on Mr. Papworth and Mr. Hamilton, who had not attended. In reply to Mr. Moore, he admitted that the service was not a personal one. Sir C. O'Loghlen then rose and said, he challenged the array on the part of Daniel O'Connell. He then pro ceeded to read the challenge, which was to the effect that the jury panel from which the jury had been selected was defective, inasmuch as, when a revision of the jury fist took place before the Recorder, who revised, corrected, and signed them ; but the Recorder did not cause to be made out a general list of the special jurors in order that such might be copied out by the Clerk of the Peace, but, on the contrary, omitted to do so ; and that said list was illegally and fraudulently made out by some person not authorised to do so, and that fifty-nine names that had been adjudged by the Recorder to be placed on the special jury list, were omitted from the general list so made out. The learned gentleman then read the names of the parties omitted from the list, and proceeded to say that the names before mentioned were also omitted from the special jurors' book for 1844, as well as from the general list, an that said omission was injurious to him, said Daniel O'Con nell, who therefore prayed the judgment of the court to set aside the jury panel made out in this case. The learned gentleman, in conclusion, said, that similar challenges were prepared on the part of the other traversers, and were then actually being engrossed. The Attorney-General said, that as it was the first time the counsel for the crown had been made acquainted' with the intention of the counsel for the traversers to challenge the array, he hoped their lordships would give his learned friends and himself a short time to take the document banded in by the learned counsel into consideretion. In the mean time he anga..t.a ch.* *h. should be ready, in order that they should be disposed of with that now before the court. Chief Justice.—Oh, c3rtainly. Let me have the act of parliament that applies to this question. The act was handed up to the bench, and the counsel for the crown then retired at a quarter-prst eleven o'clock, to consult together respecting the nature and forms of the challenge. The counsel for the traversers also retired at the same time. At about two o'clock the counsel for the crown and the traversers returned into court, when the Attorney-General said he wished to have the challenges of all the traversers handed in. This, after some demur on the part of Mr. Moore, was agreed to, and after some little delay the Lord Chief Justice addressed Sir Colman O'Lochlan, complaining that there had been a great deal of unneces sary delay-, and that he should have come into court pre pared with all the challenges. Dublin, Nine o'clock, p.m. After the return of the counsel to court, the Attorney-. General demurred to the challenge,and a lengthened ar gument ensued,. in which Sir Colman O'Loughlin, Mr. Fitzgibbon, and Mr. Moore spoke on behalf of the tra versers, and the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General on behalf of the crown. The Lord Chief Justice was about to deliver judgment, when , a very singular ap plication was made by Mr. Moore. He stated that the traversers were willing to go at once to trial, if the jury lists were sent back to the Recorder for revision, in order that the 59 names alledged to have been omitted from the panel:might be placed thereon.. The Attorney-Genaral resisted the applscation on the ground that such a proceeding was altogether illegal, and and would have the effect of 'Waling all th e j u di c i a l, i proceedings ustituted throughout the present year. The Lord Chief Justice then delivered a very length ened judgment, (in which the- majoriiy of the court concurred,)' to the effect that " the demurrer must be allowed, and, consequently, the ch a ll enge overruled. Mr. Justice Perrin expressed his dissent from th e opi— nions of the other judges on the point. There is n o thi ng , further in the way of a dilatory proceeding to be brought before the court, and therefore It is confidently expected the trial will commence to-morrow. THE USE OF SYMBOLS. IN RELIGIOUS Woustma. a, PROOF' OF THE DECLENSION OF SPIRITUALITY.—The truth. of God asks only for men as its exponents ; hut it is not difficult, in the exercise of a pious fancy, to attach meanings innumerable, of spiritual import, to the use of any material and inanimate thing. Again, as regards lights by the side of the altar, flowers upon the altar, in cense, &c., it should be remembered that their use was of the growth of time ; that they are each symbol's of realities, and, as such, could have no true place where the reality existed ; and that they gradually came to be part of the ceremonial of the worship of the church, as the realities which, they symbolised ceased to be mani fested ; the people, in like manner, becoming gradually accustomed to their use, as the higher things of life and power died out, and were reconciled to the loss of the reality itself by some gorgeous and external resemblance of its existence. To take one example : when the church forgot, and ceased to stand in her true character as the intercessor for all men on earth, the reality was substi tuted and preserved in remembrance by the visible as cending of material incense. Lighted candles, incense, &c., are, therefore, so many testimonies which the church unconsciously holds forth to men of her own unfaithful ness, and not the proper expression of mysteries and re alities which she cannot otherwise show; for then would she fall into the position of the Jewish Church before the coming of our Lord.—Church of England Quarterly Review. FITZ-BOODLE'S HINT TO THE LAMM—Whilst ladies persist in maintaining the strictly defensive condition, men must naturally, as it were, take the opposite line, that of attack ; otherwise, if both parties held aloof, there would be no more marriages ; and the two hosts would die in their respective inaction, without ever coming to a battle. Thus it is evident that as the ladies will not, the men must take the offensive. I, for my part, have made, in the course of my life, at least a score of chivalrous at tacks upon several strongly fortified hearts. Sometimes I began my works too late in the season, and winter sud denly came and rendered further labours impossible; sometimes I have attacked the breach madly, sword in hand, and have been plunged violently from the scaling ladder into the ditch ; sometimes I have made a decent lodgment in the place, when—bang ! blows up a mine, and I am scattered to the deuce ! and sometimes when I have been in the very heart of the citadel—ah, that I should say it !—a sudden panic has struck me, and I have run like the British out of Carthagena ! One grows tired after a while of such perpetual activity. Is it not time that the ladies should take an innings? Let us widowers and bachelors form an association to declare, that for the next hundred years we will make love no longer. Let the young women come and make love to us ; let them write us verses; let them ask us to dance, get us ices and cups of tea, and help us on with our cloaks at the hall door; and if they are eligible, we may perhaps be induced to yield and say, " La. Miss Hopkins—l really never—l am so agitatccl—ask papa !"—Fraser's Mapa;ine, Jan. 18, IM4. EDINII URGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY' Sir Andrew Agnew has addressed a letter to the she.' holders in this undertaking, from which we extract the following passages. After alluding to the fact, whichlle states has been established beyond doubt, that the Work • ing of this railway on Sunday is a loss to the comps* Sir Andrew says, " It is expected that this loss will cease, and that 11, and by there will be gain. Th e c h arac t er o f S co tian° is pledged to the contrary ! In the year 1842 remav strances against the unholy traffic were presented to _ n th° Proprietary (and bearing the na mes o f more t h an 200,0 „ persons), all of whom declared th a t th ey wou ld w ithho ld their countenance from the railway if it continued t° violate the law of God, and most of whom pledged theta'. selves to resort to every other mode of travel rather then the railway, while it continued in this unhallowed couree• To this hour, great numbers of these individuals, en"' mating to every inconvenience and loss, both of time and money, refuse absolutely to enter your railway cat' riages on any consideration, and never have entered Os of them : while of those who have betaken themselveSi under extremities, to th e ra il wa y , scarce l y any f e e' themselves at ease in so doing, and all are ever ou the look-out for other means of transit. It is also certain, that besides these, numberless other persons who did not join in the remonstrances, have declared that they wo uld, to the utmost of their power, avoid your railway. And it is quite incalculable how many betake themselves to it only occasionally, and under the pressure of necessity, who would be glad with their families to use it frequently, whether for convenience or for recreation, were it not placing itself in opposition to the righteous principles of the nation. "It is said, to be sure, that the Postmaster-General has now become a party to the Sabbath traffic, by using the trains for the conveyance of the mails ; and certain minds may waver in their opposition on this account. The Postoffice proceedings ought, on the contrary, to strengthen their opposition. The transaction with the Postoffice was entirely the voluntary act of the directors. They may, by act of parliament, be compelled to trans mit the mails, it is said. But then special trains would be necessary for the purpose ' • the Posto ffi ce would need to pay the wh o l e expense of such trains ; and it is per fectly understood that that expense would be so great as to prevent the exercising of the parliamentary powers of compulsion. Therefore, if you refuse passengers/ and railway traffic on the Sabbath, you stop the desecration at once. By sanctioning them, you commit the desecra tion. And let me add, in regard to the whole matter, that by means of a railway post between Edinburgh and Glasgow late on Saturday night and early on Monday morning, every practical good said to attend the Sabbath , post would be attained. There is no conceivable inter- - est, therefore, in the public which could justify the ex- , pence of separate Postoffiee trains being incurred by the Postmaster-General. Your voting for Sabbath traffic is the cause of the desecration, and the solemn responsi bility still rests upon you and your company. " Why, then, should this voluntary act of the directors in contracting with the Postmaster-General, embarrass the Sabbath question at all ? You are losing character and money by your Sabbath traffic, and putting your company into needless and injurious opposition to a general national feeling, for no real or avowable object whatever. Were you to act like the proprietors of the Dundee Railway, and apply to the Postmaster-General to relieve you from this unjustifiable Sabbath-profaning • contract, you would be a gainer every way,—in charac ter, money, and all. If he complied, your abondonment of your Sabbath traffic would instantly restore the railway to that popularity which it has lost, and to the consequent patronage which it has failed hitherto to obtain. And if he did not comply you would act just as the Dundee company did. You would complete the period of the contracts as far as the mails only were concerned, though that would be a loss. For were loss even to be incurred, why not sustain it rather than continue iu sin ? For it must be remembered by you, and by every other indi vidual shareholder, that the sin is yours personally, as long as you either countenance or do not oppose the commission of it by your company. You break the Sab bath, and lead others to break the Sabbath ; and I would apply to you—l must in faithfulness do so—the emphatic words which, used at the Dundee company's meeting, led many of the shareholders to abandon the Sabbath traffic then : It is impossible but that offences will come ; but woe unto him through whom they come ! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea.' " The friends of the Sabbath cause do not at all desire power in any secular matter. We heartily leave that in the hands of the gentlemen above referred to ; and the accompanying proxy is so framed as to save every exist ing proxy as to all that. But we do ask you, as yew value interests infinitely higher than worldly gain— illusive hitherto, in the present case, as that has been— we do ask you to join in putting an end to this great abuse and profanation which is now, by your means, being. weekly committed on every returning Sabbath-day." THE SILK MANUFACTORY OF M. STOFELLA AT RO'VEREDO. FROM THE GERMAN. BY HERR TESCHAIT. This establishment has gained a high reputation, not only for the quality of the silks manufactured, but for the philanthropic system• upon which it is conducted. Four hundred females are constantly employed, who are nos only provided with their living, but even• care is taken. of their education. A young girl from eleven to fourteen years of age, in poverty,. who can produce a certificate of good moral conduct and health, is apprenticed from four years and a halt' to six years and a half under an indenture, stipulating that she shall during her appren ticeship be provided with board, lodging, clothing, and instruction in religion; as well as reading, writing, arith metic, needle-work, and. all the branches of the manufac ture of silk. After the first six months, every appren tice receives an annual salary of fifteen florins, which sum is placed in the savings' bank of Roveredo. Those parents who are in very needy circumstances, are per mitted, after their daughter has been two years appren ticed, to draw an annual allowance. The proprietor himself deposits 500 florins in the bank every year for the purpose of being distributed in different awards to those whose industry and skill are found the most de serving at a public examination. In case of death the parents have a right to claim whatever funds the child may have in the bank. Upon the termination of the apprenticeship the girl' is at liberty to return home, or stipulate for employment by the year, (that being the shortest period for which any of them can be engaged,) and receives an increase of payment according to her abilities. Those who, during their apprenticeship, have behaved well, and distinguished themselves, are provided at the end of their term with tools and furniture to com mence business. Their occupatio❑ consists in the manu facture of all sorts of silks, and every week twenty-five of the number are alternately instructed in domestic affairs. Certain leisure hours are allowed for meals, lessons, and recreation, End when they walk out some of the teachers are appointed to accompany them. The whole establishment is conducted by Mr. Stofella, and consists of twenty superintendents, viz., one doctor, one vice -director, six teachers, and twelve overseers.—Lon don Polytechnic Mitgazine. THE VENTILATION OF MINES. Deep mines are thought to be more infested with the fire-damp than more superficial ones. There are two causes to be assigned for this : First, in those mines which lie near the surface, more of the gas exhales or finds its way into• the atmosphere than from deep ones.;; secondly, the pressure of the superincumbent atmosphere, and the consequent condensation of the gas, will evidently be greater in proportion to the depth of the mine. When, therefore, in a deep mine, the gas becomes confined and pressed up under an arch or vault, remaining long there in, it forms an explosive mixture, and on being ignited, detonates with great violence. Again, it appears that a considerable time is required for the gas to mingle with air, so as to form an explosive mixture ; as-evinced by the more explosive state of the damp in old wastes, or old excavations ; and also, by the practice of consuming the gas in the mine, before it ae cumulates in great quantity, or becomes explosive by , mixing with atmospheric air. This is done by m e ans of a candle fixed to a pole, which the workman. r aises r to the vault or roof, an d so fi res t h e carbure tted.h3.drogen. These facts considered, why not, I would ask, take advantage of the inherent property of carburetted hydro gen to ascend, by allowing, from the moment of its , emissionsescape.fojouta o o f f otohre wo ks T a h i f s re r e equ a i n r d es unobstructed ventila tion ,forcin g or rents of air through the m i ne , b ut simply a removal of all obstacles to its natural course ; which is to be done by cutting away all depressions in the roof so as to form a gas-way shaft drift or c annelch overh ea d , ascending out towards the ,or to perforation (one or more) made by boring down from the surface, or by an additional small shaft, either or both being used according as local cir cumstances may require, the grand object being to permit the fire-damp to pass off in'o the atmosphere as fast as it is generated or evolved in the works. As to the usual system of stopping off the damp, forming other pass-ways, and driving it about from one part of the mine to another, often through long circuitous passages, at vast trouble and expense, and the frequent destruction of human life; ga all s this its own we twayk hin . might be avo id e d b y simply giving the By the method now propo , 4ed, the mines might we presume, he r en d ered not only safe, but comparatively healthy and more comfortable to the miners, enabling them to work with open lamps or candles, free of all danger from explosion (at least wherever earburetted hydrogen forms the explosive gas), and thus avoiding the enormous expense of a numerous retinue of attendants, with Davy-lamps, the ventilating, brushing, stopping, and trap-door system, together with the services of over men, viewers, under-viewers, and trappers, by which system the safety of the mine, if safety it can be called, is committed to the fearful contingencies of unremitting care and vigilance in such attendants.—London Poly technic Magazine. Captr _aptai❑ Taylor, celebrated as a fly-fisher, caught a trout, on Christnaas.tiav, near Barnard Castle ' , Weighing Ant 3 es, on' of c nON des buy fron not 7th yea! wan as b .11 PM LON] zi ban UernJ litair; THE LIVERPOOL STAND ARD. nay even without exactly knowing how it was done, she suddenly found herself seated —more zealously than ten derly or ceremoniously—in the easy chair; and when she attempted to expostulate, she felt herself choking with a tube of something, which was certainly neither maccaroni, nor stick-licorice, nor yet pipe -peppermint. To account for this precipitancy, the exaggerated repre sentations of her husband must be borne in mind ; and if his wife did not exhibit all the dying dolphin-like colours that he had described,—if she was not yet quite so blue, green, yellow, or black, as he had painted her, the apothe cary made sure that she soon would be, and consequently went to work without delay, where delays were so dan gerous. Mrs. Burrage, however, was not a woman to submit quietly to a disagreeable operation, against her own con sent ; so with a vigourous kick and a push, at the same time, she contrived to rid herself at once of the doctor and his instrument, and indignantly demanded to know the meaning of the assault upon her. " It's to save your life—your precious life, Ellen," said the Teatotaller, very solemnly. " It's to empty the stomach ma'am," said the doctor. " Empty a fiddle," retorted Mrs. 8., who would have added "stick," but the doctor, watching his opportunity; had dexterously popped the tube again into her open mouth : not without a fresh scuffle from the patient. " For the Lord's sake, Ellen," entreated the Teetotal ler, confining her hand, " do, do, pray do sit quiet." " Pob—wob—wobble," said Ellen. " flub—hub—hub —bubble," attempting to speak with another pipe in her throat besides the windpipe. " Have the goodness, ma'am, to be composed," im plored the doctor. "I won't," shouted Mrs. Burrage, having again relea sed herself from the instrument by a desperate struggle. " What am Ito be pumped out for ? " " Oh, Ellen, Ellen," said the Teetotaller, " you know what you have taken." " Corrosive salts and narcotics," put in the doctor. " Assnic and corrosive sublimity," said the Teetotaller. " Oxalicacid and tincture of opium," added the doctor. " Fly water and laurel water," said Mr. Burrage. " Vitriol, prussic acid, and aqua fortis," continued the druggist. "Tve took no such thing," said the refractory patient. "Oh Ellen, you know what you said." " Well, what." " Why, that your drinking should never trouble me any more." " And no more it shall!" screamed the wilful woman, falling, as she spoke, into convulsive paroxysms of the wildest laughter. "No more it shall, for I've took—" " What ma'am, pray what ? " "In the name of Heaven ! What ? " " Why then—l've took the PLEDGE ! " THIRD EDITION.