The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-10-16 00:00:00

140 SUPPL amidst these passing scenes of rarest beauty, is ever to be found Man's devoted attendant the robin. How I love the amiable rogue ! As the leaf falls, and the decay of nature gradually draws, on, the vocal energy of our little friend seems to possess a double charm. His strains are more melodious. His song is more continuous. When the winds whistle fitfully in the trees, he sits by—still musical ! A constant attendant is he upon Nature, while she is disrobing ; and even when her last graceful ornament has been laid aside, and her reign for the season has quite terminated, he is there to sing her to sleep ! No stress of weather daunts him. Rain, sleet, wind, snow, frost, to him are all alike. He claims a welcome from us when he wants food ; and, of course, he has it. We open the window, and he hops in—his entrance and departure are matters for himself to determine. He is free of every room in the house, and a hearty welcome attends him at every meal.—Sidd's (W) Treatise on the Robin. Puma FISHERY ON THE INDus.---A large, light, and thin earthen vessel of the strong and unequalled pottery of the Indus clay, so thoroughly baked, forms the fisherman's float : it is full four feet in diameter, and about thirty inches high ; of a very flattened form, and exceedingly buoyant. On this the fisherman balances himself on his stomach, covering the short neck and small aperture at top ; and launching him self forth on the current, paddles with his legs behind to steer his course, drifting with the stream, and holding a pouch-net open to receive the prey, which, when caught, he deposits in his reservoir, the vessel he floats on.---Kennedy's Sind and Caboul. RUSSIAN APPETISER.---By way of digesting our luncheon, a ceremony was performed, which, if we had not undergone the ordeal at a friend's house in the vi cinity of Oranienbaum, with our lamented friend Prince Butera, would have astonished us not a little. A dozen soldiers placed themselves in two files close to each other, and took up each of the party in turn in their arms, and tossed them in the air, catching them again on their arms, and throwing them up again, as quickly as possible., a considerable height. This operation is performed very expertly ; the patient who understands the business keeps his arms close to his sides, and his legs stretched stilly out, and feels no sort of inconvenience. It is ex actly like being tossed in a blanket. This is accom panied with singing some of their many pleasinc , but monotonous national airs, to which the softness of the language gives a harmony they do not intrinsically possess. = Cottrall's Siberia. THE PRESS-GANG IN THE " GOOD OLD TIMES."-- A young man of decent parentage, the son of a sub stantial farmer, was walking on his bridal eve, near the shore of Dartmouth harbour. Doubtless, happy thoughts were lending a new charm to the still even ing, and rendering him somewhat absent, for he never heard the press-gang till they had come close behind him and pinioned his arms. As usual, entreaties and threats were in vain. He was carried on board a man-of-war, which instantly put to sea ; and for years and years afterwards no tidings of him reached his family. His mysterious disappearance caused a sorrow beyond all expression. His father never held up his head again, neglected his farm, and died a poor, broken-hearted old man. The bride-expectant sor rowed for a time, and then became the wife of another. Time drew its cruel veil of oblivion over his fate, and few ever named his name, save the aged mother, who still prayed for him, and would never believe that he was dead. And this loving faith had its fruition. A sailor with a wooden leg at length returned to call her " mother," and explain the past—a weather-beaten, maimed creature, set free because he could be no longer of any use—penniless, and unfit to earn his bread in any other way ; but even thus he was welcome. The old woman woke to new life and energy since her lost was found; she struggled to make his home com fortable, and earned his and her own bread by washing. It was pleasant to see his devotion to her, and the handy way in which he helped her to make everything what he called " ship-shape' about'them ; but often in the midst of her patient and meek content, a cloud would come before her eyes when she thought of the past—of the fair home, the dear husband, the brave handsome youth, the promised bride, and the long, long sorrow.—Chambers' Journal. COMMERCIAL LEAGUE BETWEEN SOLOMON AND PHARAOH.—From the history of Samson it is evident that the cultivation of flax and the arts of spinning and weaving were practised by the Philistines. But lEMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. the Hebrews were essentially an agricultural and pas toral people, equally averse to commerce and manufac turing industry. Solomon exerted himself to reform the national habits ; he established an emporium at Eziongeber to open trading communications with the eastern seas, while his connection with the Tyrians enabled him to participate in the commerce of the Mediterranean. It appears that he wished to make textile fabrics one part of his exports, by his entering into a league with the reigning Pharoah to receive linen yarn at a stipulated price, or, as the words may be rendered, at a fixed duty. This early example of a commercial treaty for regulating a tariff of intercourse is curiously illustrated by the recent discoveries in Egyptian antiquities ; we find from them, that the Pharaohs had very large spinning establishments, such as we should in the present day call factories, so that there was not only enough of yarn left for home con sumption in the valley of the Nile, but also for ex portation. Had Solomon resembled some modern statesmen, he would have protected the spinning in dustry of Judaea by laying a prohibitory duty on the import of foreign yarns ; but Solomon was aware that the protection to Hebrew flax growers and spinners would so enhance the price of yarn to Hebrew weavers, that they could not bring their goods into a foreign market. He did not establish a monopoly, for he saw very clearly that every monopoly is a great injury to the many for the small benefit of the few, and instead of telling his weavers to look exclusively to the home market, he endeavoured to open for them as many foreign markets as possible. A VOYAGE ON THE THAMES LAST CENTURY.—Then a voyage up or down the Thames was an event well to be considered beforehand, and also to be held in memory for long after it took place ; and so important were some of their voyages considered, that the daring travellers have, on certain occasions, by the advice of numerous friends; gone to the expense of printing and paper to place the particulars before the public. In 1738, one Weddell, as we learn by a published account, accompanied by four or five friends, determined upon a voyage from London to Windsor. A large store of provisions, wine, brandy, &c. was laid in, and, after grave discussion, it was determined that they should start from London at seven o'clock in the evening, in order that they might watch the break of day in the pleasant country. Their vessel was a barge partly covered at the stem, in the same manner as those - of the Lord Mayor and City companies. After running aground, and experiencing some other alarms, the travellers put into port at Chelsea for refreshment, when some of them are desirous to spend the night ashore : this, however, is overruled. In the neighbour hood of Fulham they again land about midnight, and an account is given of this hostelry on the Thames' bank, thronged with persons of all descriptions, who are here halting on their journeys of business and pleasure up and down the river. Here the travellers sup, and at the earnest entreaties of the sailors, are prevailed upon once more to embark, in order that they may catch the remainder of the tide. The day light discovers them near Richmond ; and in course of time, and after calling at many ports, they arrive, nothing loath, at Eton, where they rest three days, the vessel in the meantime lying up in the harbour awaiting their pleasure. Weddell employs the greatest portion of his time in writing the book of the voyage, and is anxious to proceed again to London by water, but is overruled by a majority of his companions, and they proceed to town by chaise conveyance, preferring the dangers of the heaths and highways rather than trusting to those of Father Thames.—The Builder. ADVANTAGES OF A BAD TEMPER.—SureIy a fine furious temper (observes Thackery) if accompanied with a certain magnanimity and bravery which often go together with it, is one of the most precious and for tunate gifts with which a lady or gentleman can be endowed. A person always ready to fight is certain of the greatest consideration amongst his or her family circles. The lazy grow tired of contending with him ; the timid coax and flatter him ; and as almost every one is timid or lazy, a bad-tempered man is sure to have his own way. It is he who commands, and all the others obey. If he is a gourmand, he has what he likes for dinner ; and the taste of all the rest are sub servient to him. She—We playfully transfer the gender, as a bad temper is of both sexes—has the place which she likes best in the drawing-room ; nor do her parents, nor her brothers and sisters venture t o take her fa vourite chair. If she wants to go to a party, mamma will dress herself, in spite of her Ix who hates those dreadful soirees wi dinner and put on his poor old whit he has been toiling in the chamb h el be there early in the morning— we say, and stay for the cotillon: taking their tour in the summer, whither they shall go, and where he comes home late, the dinner is k one dares to say a word, though he is in good humour, how every is happy ! How the servants jum to wait upon him ! How they how eagerly they rush out to fete , Whereas for you and me, who angels, and never were found to be nobody cares whether we are pl wives go to the milliners and sent pay it ; our John finishes reading.it he answers our bell, and brings fill 4,, in the arm-chair we should like ; their young men, and smoke in the Tole tailor fits us badly ; our butchers give u ore tb mutton ; our tradesmen dun us much Ill at o people, because they know we are g i g:, sod our servants go out whenever the have their friends to supper iother late,r : t o b HOMER.—Greece has no orti_ l n' b ut pared with our Shakspere and our 3 1 il w r the? who possesses some advantages arewes Shakspere, buoyant and full of life 04' felt evidently the waves of hisimp ) times from about him, and leave Ills ble and bare on the shores of the irameasTo6, Melancholy creeps over him, like a bln t e/ cealing the Titas4an head wont to tow er , gion of the clouds. Even over 31ilto.n in its fiery brightness as it usuallY.,,, ls :,b l ; 4ij cover something which at times obse'' :a* Cr himself and human nature, and producere' the fancy. But in Homer this ner er d s 3P e 'c i „ th frill fully and joyously he pursues his beg Mitts sunshine on his brow, and a ore "",,, as true, as if the life of all the woo' s ,e e- i; There is no end of his vitality in e " see s ' could never grow old. His stre& wilr fo s st 9 if Equal to whatever may happens i' e ",o ° lle s be hurried by his subject, or COn% nerve to accomplish what he desir i e :to elf j appears happy as a god, and 011 : ,sof P 4 - human suffering from the boundlesstle"ovji He comes forth as the sun in tb e l ,4 C:„ 1 brightness, showing all the tears t7;il ouane e a art lsky h bl , iovimn an ehu d . il : d d E : fr l tv - a i be n mur g yeu.g th fbun e Hi m ucet t ire o oenn o ai , loi b yot u fys t wli te it el sg u X ovee !' sy 9: 7 ! within the circle of his expertence. bioqll with rapture the freshness of dawa",ooo,o in the blaze of noon—welcomes the s' . 41er," ing—the solemn grandeur of night', l ,4 for him inexpressible charms, and on 'P e a J , taste among its bowers he has beW w ful, every endearing epithet. spiritual, and careers m a course T ie 0 d,,0 4 , 1 ' Shakspere, in his metaphysical subtle to pierce beyond the grave, suggests Pit.to, and calls up a world of wilder fanci es ', cl e if4 as if admitted behind the veil, Pell - ore ~01 moment. Habitually, too, his thougreitis% of man as he is, of the virtue of the o f til e "; the His w e if y e e . soldier, of the husband, of the fa ther, o ti l c H au e ld lov d e e d te t e h t e b w e o a r u l t d y , and all t oe or/ w here sceptic beholds nothing but deformity' ' 390 tbe Customs of Ancient Greece. A WEDDING AT NEWFOTINDLADW,,n,s 100 ing, I went to a wedding at a fisherar s ool 3 Q company consisting of young men an' " ti t s'Y with a few of the seniors, assembled orb ° , 5 1 and sat round the table drinking g r P r eel s Presently a piper struck up a tune, an „. 0 0 / ,be' began. There was much bustling at to i,v i out of a back room ; and about hail 4 4 1 o ! A - f was said to be ready. The Wale Ce 9Se t: brought forward, the priest put on P A s a d V A the bride and bridegroom came forvaIrT)001:, fore the table. The priest o pened W r oad usual questions in English, rapidly 0 0'W ber of Latin prayers, and the cerenioathe Y°' Instantly there was a struggle among 'CTOBER 16) 15'' UCTI her he,ad-ache ; alai' i:,(1h11(1 f reeS will go up-staill , ~ her 1, d white neckcloth.; , ',",her ambers all day tall'at(: g*---he will go out 0 1 ,ite ; t tillon. If the fa' tabl e c'l user, A is she who i for: hE vhere they shall it, fore ard er is kept forhiro,F thenithe Aigh ever so huuf i note a$ ;very one fsisks olill: l'atlsi al .; jump a t his bell s°,., and et they s it .tip patioo A a sal , to fetch cabs hi io4e.' who have the t Priestur d to be angry or :, aekr,,, 1 are pleased orb 9 Nile' Ld send us the ilic that ti iding the newspaPeAl all h.: nos it to us ; our", ‘\'hil: ~ 4 4,p lig' gtat.' ar. ,111 p. t t ) 1 , °1)al