The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-22 00:00:00

uncharged sovereign by hot water or a hot iron, that
the temperature of both might be the same. Here,
however, no such objection could be raised. The
piece of metal was the same throughout the experiment ;
and, as it was held in the hand throughout the experiment,
temperature could give no information. For her to judge
when it had touched the gold was an absolute impossi-
bility, even if she know anything, which she did not, of
its being touched with gold at all.
The anti-mesmeric power of iron was repeatedly ex-
hibited by the application of a piece of it to gold in the
palm of her hand when this was in a state of contraction
through the gold. The hand instantly relaxed. The
same was the case when the gold had been removed, but
'violent contraction of the empty hand was induced by
friction with anything after mesmerised gold had been
applied and removed. Applied to the outside of any
contracted part it caused instant relaxation. Applied
to her forehead or lips when in stupor, it made her sud-
denly open her eyes, and she was instantly all life again.
The experiments with mesmerised and unmesmerised
water were repeated with the same undeviating results
as on former occasions. These may, without doubt, be ap-
pealed to triumphantly as proofs of the truth of mesmerism.

On Wednesday the 6th, another exhibition took
place, and upwards of 170 ladies and gentleman were
assembled.

Master Salmon was shown in in perfect health. He
had suffered but one epileptic fit since the first of his
mesmeric treatment, and that had lasted but one-fourth
of the usual time, and been unattended by uncon-
ciousness.

Jane, the younger Okey, was introduced in a state of
childish delirium. Alimiekry, waggery, and high spirits,
united with extreme silliness, were as remarkable in her
as in her sister ; and there was a strange perversion of
language. In all these respects there was a perfect
uniformity and consistency, as in Elizabeth. Dr. E.
appealed to all the company whether, in the midst of
such volubility, such incessant excitement, it would be
possible for any one to go on all day, and every day,
without tripping. But he had never once during a year
and a half seen a single flaw or inconsistency in the deli-
rium of either sister ; and yet the language, ways,
and turn of mind, were distinct in the -two. Jane
was today in the highest degree of susceptibility
to movements of other person's hands, and was
fixed and stupified by any one at pleasure, both at
distances and behind her back. Nothing could be more
wonderful than to see her suddenly fixed in the midst
of. a sentence or action,—absolutely converted into a
statue. If the movement with the hand of any person
was made rapidly, the effect, as on her sister, was to
knock her down senseless. If very slowly, it would not
fix her, but stupify her, and cause her to continue re-
peatieg what she was saying cr doing. If she was grin-
ing or singing when this was done, she would become un-
conscieus, and continue making the same face or singing
the surrt!tune over and over again. To see her and her
sister come out of the stupor was astounding. They
had no idea of what had happened, but seemed to think
that all the company had gone away from them aad
come hack. The contact of any body's hand for a
short time stupified her, and rendered her per-
fectly rigid. She leirpened to see a young gentleman
whern she recognised, and instantly ran to him and
childishly threw her arms round his neck, and was thus
instantly fixed, senseless and rigid. If any one got
away from her, when she was thus holding him or her
tight unconsciously, she remained in the same position,
and wee thunderstruck on coming to herself at finding
ceie there. To give an adequate description of
these phenomena is impossible. Dr. E. stated that she
had fallen spontaneously into this delirium a week ago,
and wouki :eeeain in it till Wednesday the 20th ; and
that it would be in vain for him to attempt at present to
restore her, and show her to the company in hernatural

comfit:on.
Elizabeth Okey was brought in. She, likewise, was
delirious. Dr. E. said that the experiments with the
metals and water, made at the last meeting, had pro-
duced such an insusceptibility that he had been unable
to send her to sleep and restore her to her senses. He
ettled that this was the invariable result of influencing her
much with metals or water. That, for a time, it was
;mpes;ible to produce any effect by gold or water, ex-
cept, indeed, a violent depression, which was unsafe,
and he wee satisfied might be carried even to a fatal
result. He therefore. always left her alone for some
time after these experiments, and then he readily sent
her to sleep and restored her. The only mode of re-
. ,torine her was to send her into a mesmeric sleep, and
to maintain this for a certain time, while opposite means
were used to awaken her. It she was awakened
soon, she always awoke delirious. It was necessary to
awaken her very slowly, by using the means of awaken-
her and maintaining the sleep at the same time.
The experiments with gold, iron, plain lead and
unrifled lead, and friction after the application of mes-
merised metals, were repeated, with the same satisfactory
results as on former occasions. Dr. E. having mentioned
that the power of gold was so superior to that of
all other metals, except nickel, that the effects on
her were an excellent test of the value of metallic
jewellery, the Marquis of Blandford, who was un-
known to her, put a ring into her hand, when instantly the
most violent contractions took place. His Lordship then
stated that it was of the finest gold. A gentleman next
pet a cor:ceon gold ring into her hand, and the efect
wits much less. The Sardinian Minister asked per-
' mission to put a large buckle in each of her hands.
31 This was done. She was then told to close her hands,
; and then to open them. One hand she instantly
opened, the other she could not. Count Polloni and a
lady then said that the hand which could not be opened
. contained a buckle of real gold, and that which was opened
a merely gilt buckle. The lady had come to Dr. Elliot-
son's a sceptic with the Count ; and, hearing what Dr.
Elliotson said, had informed the Count that she had a
buckle of gold, and her daughter one exactly like it in
appearance, but gilt ; and she thought they would afford
an excellent opportunity of testing the truth of what
Dr. Elliotson had asserted, and therefore requested the
experiment might be made. Some time afterwards the
Count having held one of the buckles, nobody knew
which, some time in his own, put it into the girl's hand.
She instantly dropped senseless, snoring loud. He
then said it was the gold buckle.
The inferior power of silver was shown by a sovereign
and a shilling held in Dr. Elliotson's hand, an equal
length of time, being put one into her right hand, the
other into her left. The hand with the sovereign con-
tracted much more than that with the shilling.
, - The power of traction was last exhibited. The
fingers of both hands of Dr. Elliotson, or other
gentlemen, were pointed towards one of her arms or
legs, or to her head or body, and gradually drawn away.
The part to which they were pointed grew rigid and
followed. She was thus drawn in any direction at
pleasure ; she was stupified, unconscious of what
was doing, in some instances, and in others was distressed
1 at the traction, and opposed it in vain. To show that the
effect could be produced without her knowledge, Dr. E.
stood behind her and extended his arms ; her arms be-
came extended and stiff. He then raised his hands, it being
impossible she could see him, and her hands both rose.
II Tee effects of traction were movement, rigidity, and
stunefaction. He thus opened her mouth, and both
eyelids widely, fixing the latter in an awful stare. But,
whenever the effect in moveable parts was carried far,
coma ocurred, and she dropped senseless. The
sight of her, stupified, and made to rise, in a rigid
state, from her chair, was one of the most wonderful
things we ever saw.
Dr. Elliotson declined making the experiments with
water, as she had been recently bled, and was alwayr
greatly depressed by mesmerised water, though applied
merely to the hands or face. It appeared to absorb the power
so greatly, and again give it out so freely, that it caused
extreme depression ; while experiments, in compelling
the strongest and most rapid movements of the body, con-
tiaued fi,r hours, caused no fatigue. He feared that the
numerous experiments made with gold, especially with
the large gold buckle, would prevent him from being
able to send her into a sleep sufficiently long for him to
awaken her in her senses. However, he said
he would try. He stupified her by waving his hand
before her face once rapidly. He then pressed each
of his palms upon her ears—a method which would
wane her in her senses, if she awol,e only after many
minut,,s. But she presently aysol-..„, and delirious. Lord
-I\loll3ou then continued wa"..ang his hand downwards
before her, in ordrir to 1,-eep her asleep, while Dr. E.
carried on the wakri:4* process by pressing on her ears.
But in vain. Sl'.d awoke soon—delirious. The trial
was made rer,atedly but she could not be kept asleep,
always wal:ang soon, and delirious. Dr. E. said that
the ape
.ation of gold had so lessened her susceptibility,
that nothing would now throw her into a state of pro-
knnd and continued sleep. Several ladies and gentle.
men met with the patients afterwards in the different
rooms, and made successful experiments themselves
with the hand ; and thus became firmly convinced of
the truth of all they had seen.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Stn,—lnferring from the frequency with which you
have adverted to the subject of the following observa-
tius, that you feel some degree of interest in it, I beg
leave to trouble you with this letter. If you deem it
Worthy of insertion in your columns I shall feel obliged
by your giving it a place.
if, in the hearing of one wholly ignorant of magne-
Imp and electricity, we were to describe the various re-
markable phenomena which can be produced by the ac,
ton of certain bodies upon each other, we should very
orprob,ably be told either that we were deceiving ourselves,
tn
auditor we wished to practise upon the credulity of our
ven T.hat ina:zinzate bodies, through a considerable inter-
distance, should be capable of affecting each
to produce motions of various kinds, and in
i:rections, might appear to him to be so corn-
,beyond
.the r age of probability, as to warrant
him only in refusing credence to our account, but to
pistil*/ eve, his dm: -
so doing 'eould havemtHhg to witness the effects, lest his
the possibility .;tahperarance of at least his ad-
mittingroduction. The indivi-
dual thus acting miAit Probablyrp
lbe ignorant, and un-
educat eti—or he might he de read. in the various
matters appertaining to his owe'rli) yavocatton short,
he 'night be, in his own estimation, and even in that of
the world, a most learned man. In either case, at

ever, the refusal to receive evidence of the truth of the
alleged effects, proceeds from a similar perversion of the
mind,—in the one instance from the bigotry of ignorance
—in the other from the inexcusable bigotry of learning.

I have been induced to offer a few observations on
the subject of this paper, owing to the treatment which
Dr. Elliotson has met with, in consequence of his endea-
vours to inquire into the truth of the alleged effects ca-
pable of being produced by mesmerism. I acknowledge
myself to be almost wholly ignorant of the subject, prac-
tically ; I admit that I rather incline to the side of un-
belief than otherwise ; but I avow myself to be one of
those, whose sole object is the search after, and, if pos-
sible, the attainment of the truth. And, surely, that
object can never be attained so long as abuse and ridicule
are substituted for argument and careful experimental in-
vestigation ; nay, in the case of Dr. Elliotson, even
persecution has been resorted to.
But to proceed more immediately to the subject : for
the reason I have already adduced, it is not my intention
to inquire whether mesmerism is, or is not based upon
facts, but merely to attempt to trace how far it may be
considered to be founded in reason. This I prefer
doing by a comparison of analogies, which, if care-
fully and dispassionately considered, will, I think,
so far simplify the effects said to be produced, as to
enable us to '.few them in the same light as other
phenomena equally curious, but which appear to us
natural and devoid of mystery, because they are fami-
liar. 1. What, for instance, can he more familiar to
medical men than the invariable effect of excitement in
one organ, or part of the system, producing a correspon-
dent depression in another ? Can any one of Dr.
Elliotson's opponents deny this, or, although obliged to
admit the fact, can they offer any reasonable explana-
tion of it, or, further, can they give any explanation
whatever ?
2. What can be more true than that one individual
can produce effects upon another without contact or
communication,—as in the case of yawning, hysterics,
and in other instances which it is needless to particula-
rise. Will Dr. Elliotson's opponents pretend to deny
the production of such effects, or will they attempt to
explain them ? If they do, we shall be treated with a
great deal of unintelligible jargon about sympathy, and
the nervous system, for the effects to which we have
alluded, and all similar influences,have been ascribed to
something which is termed sympathy.
Why, what is sympathy, but mesmerism, or, to to use
a more startling term, animal magnetism ? The simple
question, then, appears to be, not whether there is such
a power as animal magnetism, but to what extent such a
.1 power is capable of being applied ? This question is to
be answered, not by those who, in an unphilosophical
spirit of self-sufficiency, condemn the practice without
examination, nor yet by those who, in an equally unphi-
losophical spirit, set about a partial examination,
with minds predetermined to condemn ; but by those
only, who, with minds unbiassed and free from prejudice,
institute a careful experimental investigation of the phe-
nomena said to be produced by mesmerism.
I shall, at a future opportunity, return to the subject ;
but shall be exceedingly obliged to any gentleman who
feels disposed to condemn without the trouble of in-
quiry, if he will attempt to give satisfactory answers to
the following very simple qustions.
1. What is the reason that if, in the company of a
number of individuals, one happen to yawn, a similar
ceremony is gone' through by others of the company ?
2. If it may not be considered that this is one of th e
first steps towards mesmerism ; inasmuch as that yawn-
ing is generally considered to be one of the symptoms
of fatigue, and of an inclination to fall into the arms of
Morpheus? And if so, whether we cannot proceed a
step further, and produce actual sleep, instead of merely
inducing the symptoms?
Before I conclude, I beg leave to apologise to Dr.
Elliotson, (with whom I have not the pleasure of being
acquainted) for having taken up my pen apparently in
his defence. I disclaim any intention of doing so ; for
that gentleman is fully capable of defending himself, and
any cause which he may advocate. My sole desire is to
elicit the truth.

I have myself experienced with what sweeping and
unfounded assertions an individual sometimes is met who
ventures to promuigate any new theory, or even a fact
which is not sufficiently understood, because it is not
inquired into, or, perhaps, because the intellect of the
condemning party was too obtuse to permit of his un-
derstanding it. It would be well if some of our very
learned men would bear in mind the words of Shak-
speare, that there are more things in heaven and earth
than are dreamt of in our philosophy. They would
then hesitate before they condemned ; they would in-
quire ere they formed even an opinion ; nay, they would
be induced to exercise the iery commendable virtue of
charity towards those, who, compared with themselves,
are, doubtless, immured in the grossest darkness of ig-
norance, but who, in a rash moment, presume to speak
of things, which those learned men never even dreamt of.
I have appended my name to this communication,
because I do not approve of the system of anonymous
writing, too much the fashion of the present day, and
do not feel disposed to practise myself that which I con-
demn in others. I am, Sir, yours, &c.
London, March 16, 1839. WM. LEITHE AD.

NATIONAL CONVENTION.
(YESTERDAY.)

Mr. KNOX, Delegate from Durham, in the chair.
REV. MR. STEPHENS.

Letters were read from numerous bodies expressive
of confidence in the Convention, among which were the
Carpenters' Association, the Working Men's Associa-
tion, and also from Carlisle to the same effect. This
letter also said that they had remitted twenty-two pounds
to the " Stephens Defence Fund ;" the Carlisle Bank re-
fused to make the money-order payable to that gen-
tleman.

Mr. WHITTLE handed in a roll of 472 signatures to
the National Petition from the agricultural labourers of
Rye, in Sussex, and that vicinity; also from Kelvin,
in Ayrshire, lauding the Convention for their conduct,
and offering their support, even at the expense of their
lives.

MORNING CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER AND THE WHIG
RECOMMENDATION TO ARM.
_ _

Dr. M‘DowALL brought forward his-motion, " That
certain extracts from the Morning, Chronicle newspaper,
recommending to the people to arm in defence of the
Constitution, while the agitation for the Reform Bill was
going on, be read." Dr. M'Dnwall said, Radicals of true
principles were found to be unchangeable, no matter how
much the times changed. They never could be altered by,
circumstances until the objects of their desires were ob-
tained. But it seemed to be different with the Morning
Chronicle,who, at the time to which his motion alluded to,
was indefatigable in the recommendation to the people to
arm. But now that the employers had attained their
object, they reprobated in set terms the right of the
people to arm themselves.—(Hear, bear.) He would
read them from a work which had been recommended
by the Morning Chronicle as one of the best for their
study which had been published for a long time. It
was a treatise published by Count Maceroni, Aid-de-
Camp to Murat, King of Naples.
The extracts were as follows—during their recitation
Dr. M'Dowall was loudly applauded:—
" The People, the Labourers, the Artizans—the un-
washed Artizans, the Journeyman Printers, the Jour-
neyman Tailors, and other artizans, formed the mass
which took the cannon, defeated the Artillery, beat
down the Lancers, routed the Royal Guards (22,000
strong) and raised the siege of Paris."—Morning
Chronicle, Aug. 6, 1830. (This was the motto attached
to the book.)
From the Preface of the book recommended by the
Morning Chronicle, he would read what Mr. Mace-
roni says— _

" The clear and superabundant demonstration of the
right of all Englishmen to arms, and to use them for their
protection against political, clerical, or any other rob-
bers, and the manly exhortation addressed by the Edi-
tors of the Times and Morning Chronicle to the suffering
people, are documents of interest at the present moment,
as they set the question on which they treat satisfacto-
rily at rest. I have, therefore (says M. Maceroni),
thought it well to begin this little work by the transcrip-
tion of those articles for the benefit of such of my readers
who have nit seen them in the original. My two let-
ters, extracted from the Morninrg chronicle, will suffi-
ciently develop my intentions. The exposition of my
new armament, called " Foot Lances," will, I trust, be
useful. The instructions on " Rifle-shooting," buck-shot,
and common cartridge will prove available to the
people if they are attended to. With regard to field
fortification 1 by no means give it as sufficient.
" N. 13.—1 can furnish any number of lances at 10s.
each."

From the iWorning Chronicle, Nov. 12, 1831 :
" Without the consent and authority of Government it
it is not lawful for citzens to form themselves into
armed associations. It was our opinion that Govern-
ment might derive material assistance from armed as-
sociations of citizens at this conjucture, but if Govern-
ment does not share in this opinion, the people must
abstain from all attempts at arming in bodies. But an
inquiry into the means of the most efficient mode ofarming
violates no law ; as the subject is of much interest
we are induced to lay before our readers a plan by
Colonel Maceroni, Aid-de-camp to the King of Naples,
(Murat) prefaced by a letter from Colonel Evans. We
& add to it a letter from Sir H. Torrens, in the name of
the Commander-in-Chief, in which he states that his
Lordship has been struck by the ingenuity and simpli-
city of many of the inventions brought to his notice.
The expense may be material when an army is supplied
with everything, but the cheapness of the plan, only ten
shillings per man, is its great recommendation."
Morning Chronicle, November 14, 1831 :—" Our
declaration, that it would be madness to arm
without the authority of Government was meant
only in respect to ermine' in bands. It is well
known that every Englishman is entitled to have
arms. And our public writers do nut he-
sitate to state that the object of the aws
which recognise this right, is to enable the people
to avail themselves of their natural right of resistance,
when the laws are insufficient te secure them against
i
oppression. It is well known, for nitance, that the late
meetings were making preparations fof keeping down the
people by forcible means—indeed the evidence of their

intentions are in existence. When any set of men sets
at defiance the opinions and feelings of a whole nation,
and attempt to govern by force, then, to use the words
of Mr. Fox, " Resistance becomes a duty." Ministers
are of course well aware of the injustice of the principle
which refused to towns what it granted to Squires—
the yeomanry—but their hands are tied. Howe-
ver, let us do what we can, though we cannot do
all that we wish. We are all by law entitled to
arm ourselves, and we ought to avail ourselves of the
privilege. We can unite, though we cannot arm ; and
if a time should come when it is necessary to unite and
to arm, we shall nut be caught unprovided."
Morning Chronicle, Nov. 18, 1831.—" We publish a
full report of the Birmingham meeting of the Political
Council of that town, held on Tuesday last—the great
parent stem of all the other Political Associations. We
regret that a mis-statement which appeared of their
former meeting last week, erroneously stated our intentions
of converting the Union into an armed Association. No
such proposition was contemplated. This great political
combination for the accomplishment of reform, and
the final overthrow of the boroughmongers is too dis-
creet to travel outside the circle of constitutional law.
The Council, in the projects of unions and combina-
tion, are well aware that no Government could allow
armed associations not commissioned or empannelled by
the Crown. They distinctly confine their project to
organization. Subdivision of labour and sectional ar-
rangements are the vital spirit of all societies and com-
binations, whether public or private, in their views and
objects. There may be, or might be, laws to
prevent such political unions from arming
their members—there are none and can be none—
(yea, not even manufactured by the Boroughmongers or
the craft of a Sir Robert Halfway)—which can prevent
Britons as private individuals from purchasing, possess-
ing, and independently enjoying the custody and use of
arms ; all our great charters of liberties—all our ancient
usages and customs, invest Englishmen with the right
of arms. Columns of ancient lore might be quoted to
prove this great constitutional axiom and principle ; from
the most ancient law writers, to the period of
Blackstone. It was among other tyrannies the
particular invasion of this national privilege, which
drove the Stewarts from the throne of their ancestors.
The Bill of Rights, according to its 7th article,
guarantees to the nation, among its ancient rights, as
follows :—That the subjects who are Protestants may
have arms for their defence suitable to their condition,
and as allowed by law. By the 20th Edward the First
all who possessed forty libratus terra.' bear military
arms, but the whole law and spirit of our Constitu-
tion is founded on the natural principle that whoever
has property ought to be in a condition to de-
fend it." Now he (Dr. M'I)owall) would observe
that the labouring man has no property but his labour,
therefore why not have a right to defend that property
as well as the aristocracy ? " Harrington considers
that in every free country there ought to be no army, but
a cavalry of nobility and gentry, and an infantry of the
commons. But in England, as our boroughmongers
have managed it, the arms are in one set of hands under
their pay and influence, and the property in another.
There is but one safety—we must connect once more
the civil and military power. Every Reformer able to
bear and obtain arms ought to po'ssess himself of those
necessary articles. 'We must sleep on our arms, and
wake to the sound of the trumpet and drum—or the
enemy will break up our camp. Sir William Jones,
in his admirable essay on the legal means of suppres-
sing riots, proves that the Constitution does not forbid,
but enjoins the use of arms. Votes without arms—
the right of resistance without the power—are as
useless as artillery without ammunition." The article
concludes with these emphatic words—" The gates
of the temple of Janus will be shut only when
,the
base boroughmongers cease to make war on the liber-
ties and properties of their countrymen. UNION—ARMS
—REFORM."

Dr. 11I'DowALL said that the right of arming was
allowed by the base scribe of the Chronicle, when his
purpose was to augment the faction for whom he was an
advocate. But now, when the people were seeking to
attain their recovery of their lost liberties, they were
denounced by this venal print for adopting what would
the best means of success. A resolution was then passed,
appointing a Committee to prepare these and other ex-
tracts of a similar tendency. _ _

(The book which had been the subject of the Morning
Chronicle's recommendation, was handed about the
Convention. To front the title-page is a large frontis-
piece, which represents in high colour a great many
figures in military exercise, showing the vast superiority
of the pike and lance as weapons of defence or attack.)
In the course of the discussion which this resolution
gave rise to, it was stated by Mr. Carpenter that the
reason of the artillery being sent down to Manchester
this morning was from the tone which the Corn-law
Delegates took with regard to ulterior measures, Mr.
Plint, one of that body, giving expression to sentiments
which were of a much more dcterminatory nature to
resort to ulterior measures than any thing, which had
occurred among the Chartists.

Mr. RICIIAIZDSON, of Manchester, said that nothing
could be more peaceable than the conduct of the people
of Manchester; there was not the slightest idea
of disturbing that peace among the Radicals ;
therefore it was not to keep them down that
that the flying artillery had been expressed down there
this morning—but, to prevent any out-break in conse-
quence of the proceedings of the Corn-law manufac-
turers, who, to gain their objects by any method, were
going to discharge vast numbers of their hands, and to
reduce the wages of the remainder in order that it
might serve as an argument of the ill effects of those
laws.—(Hear, hear)
After this resolution had been disposed of, the meet-
ing proceeded to discuss the propriety of allowing cer-
tain of the Missionaries to remain out some time longer.
It was finally resolved that they should return next
week, acccording to the resolution passed when they
were sent out.

After auditing the Treasurer's accounts For the week,
the Meeting voted thanks to the Chairman, and dis-
solved.

LONDON and BIRMINGHAM RAIL-
WAY—WARWICK, NORTH.--(YESTERDAY.)

The Committee on this Bill met at Twelve o'Clock,
Mr. DUGDALE in the Chair. After hearing the argu-
ments of counsel the room was cleared ; and, on the
re-admission of the public,
The CrtatamAN declared the Committee to be of
opinion that the preamble of the Bill was proved.
The Committee then adjourned until To-morrow.

The Members of the Sheffield Literary and
Philosophical Society have refused to elect Ebenezer
Elliott, the poet, a Member of their body, by a majority
of five.

THE FRENCH, As FlDDLERS.—Brilliancy of
style, neatness and finish of execution, are their distin-
guishing traits. They are a gay and a polished nation—
they are gay and polished fiddlers. They animate you in
the vivace, they dazzle you in the allegro brillante—but
they commonly fail to reach your heart through the adagio
appasionato. Their violinists have all the skill that is in-
dependent of deep feeling. In expression they fall short
of what is required; they catch its lesser graces, but they
seem rarely to attain its higher powers. The violin, con-
sidered more particularly as the fiddle, is an instrument too
congenial to the temperament of the French to have es-
caped their especial notice and close cultivation. To all
that is mercurial in their
tendencies,
as well as to much
that is artificial in their habits, it lends itself with the ut-
most readiness : it is the best instrument to dance to ; it
is the best instrument to protect from ennui your sitters at
a theatre. It sharpens the pungency of an air de vaude-
ville, it sets off the ceremonial of a ballet. In this sense
the French have " marked it for their own," and achieved
wonders with it. Out of this sphere—this lower empire—
their power seems to have been less considerable. —Du-
bourg on the Violin.

A TTEMTED SUlClDE.—Yesterday morning, be-
tween seven and eight o'clock, James Cutler, aged 33,
under-butler in the family of Edward Fletcher, Esq.,
M. P., of Park-street, Grosvenor-square, was discovered
by one of the female domestics lying extended on the
floor of his pantry, surrounded with blood, and writhing in
the agonies of death. One of his razors was lying beside
him covered with blood. Surgical aid was instantly pro-
cured, but from the desperate nature of the wound it was
found necessary immediately to remove him to St. George's
Hospital. He was not, however, expected to survive until
he reached there. Mr. Fletcher and family were expected
in town yesterday from their country seat. The cause of
the unfortunate man committing the rash act is unknown.
PETWORTII.—The body of young Hersee, who
was unfortunately drowned at Stopham-bridge, during the
storm of Thursday, November 29, 1838, was discovered
on Saturday last, lying in an osier bed between Mr. King's,
of Bignor, and Fittleworth-mill. It was recognised by
the shoes and the key of the deceased's box, which was
found in his pocket. At the time the accident happened
Hersee had on a new smock-frock, but when the body was
discovered there were found upon it only a neck-herchief,
trousers, shoes, and stockings. Both hands were gone,
as also all the hair from the bead. Search for his com-
panion in the fatal accident has been re-commenced, but as
yet without avail.—Brighton Guardian.
ACCIDENT BY FlRE.—Between nine and ten
o'clock on Tuesday morning Henry Piren, aged twelve
years, the son of Mr. James Piren, of No. 15, Vincent-
street, Shoreditch Church, wheelwright, w.is reaching a
pin from the mantel-piece, when his pinafore caught fire,
and before the flames could be extinguished he was burnt
so dreadfully about the head and neck that it is feared that
the sight of both his eyes is for ever destroyed, and at
present he is considered to be in imminent danger.
TREASURE TROVE EXTRAORDINARY ! 1—
On Monday last, a man named Benjamin Clare, found a
large ban. of money buried in a bank near the place where
the cattle fair is held, containing 12 half crowns, 17 shil-
lings, 107 sixpences, and 6 fourpenny pieces. He was
about to calculate in what way he should dispose of this
unexpected fortune, but thinking " honesty the best policy,"
waited upon Mr. G. Russell, the Superintendent of the
Police, and acquainted him with the discovery, at the
sane time requesting his assistance to find out, if possible,
the rightful owner—when lo ! upon a further examination,
the whole of the coins proved to be counterfeit. These
coins arc supposed to have been buried, about a month
since, by the wife (1 a man who is now undergoing punish-
ment for having circulated bad money.--Cheltenham
Chronicle.