The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-07 00:00:00

And here, for the present, we must bid adieu to
Handley Cross, trusting next month to be intro,
duced to Mr. Jorrocks, who, if his character belie
not his portrait, must prove a very jolly sort of
fellow.

The Journal of Agriculture, and the Transactions
of the
_Highland and Agricultural Society of
Scotland.
This Quarterly contains a areat deal of informa-
tion for those whom it concerns to study agricul-
ture, and the general transactions of the Societies,
arc. The contnts of this number present us with
"the Agricultural Geology of England and Wales,"
the Salmon, its preservation and increase," " the
Farmer's Note book," "Agricultural Architecture
and Engineering;" " Tables of the Revenue." The
following account of the method adopted by Roman
farmer& is very interesting
The Romans systematically cut their corn before
it was rip; and they did this partly to avoid loss by
shaking, &c., and partly from a notion that they seem
to have had, that by thus acting they increased the crop.
Various modes of reaping were in use--sometimes the
straw was cut close to the ground, and the corn laid on
the ground in handfuls—a person going after them cut
off each ear, and carried it away to the thrashing floor,
and the straw .was afterwards stacked. Another plan
differed still more from our usage, by means of an
plement called a tatillum ; a bunch of ears were seized,
and cut off at a stroke, the whole of the straw being
left standing, to be cut afterwards. The destruction of
the straw in this manner by the feet of the reapers must
have been very great. A third plan was to cut the straw
in the middle. It is a very carious fact that reaping
machines were unquestionably employed in the Roman
Empire. More than one kind is mentioned by Roman
writers. The following is Palladius's description of one :
—'ln the plains of Gaul they use this rapid mode of
reaping, and without human labour, with the aid of an
ox, reap a large field. To effect this, a machine borne
on two wheels is made ; the square surface of this has
boards at the sides, which project outwards, and make a
large surface above. The board at the front is lower than
the others, and upon it are a great many small teeth, set
wide in a row, and corresponding to the height of the
corn, and turned upwards at the ends. Two stout
shafts, similar to the poles of a litter, are fixed to the
back part of the machine, and to these the ox is yoked,
with his head turned towards the machine, the position
of the yoke and traces being also altered. The ox re-
quires to be well trained, and not to go faster than he is
driven. When this machine is pushed through the
standing corn, all the ears enclosed by the teeth are
gathered up in the hollow part of it, and cut off from
the straw which is left behind. The driver requires to
set the machine higher or lower as he may find it neces-
sary ; and in this manner, by a few courses backwards
and forwards, in a short sime the whole field may be
reaped. This machine is very useful in champaign and
level countries, and on farms where the straw is not re•
quired.' "

The Art Journal.—The three engravings of this
number represent " The Sister Anglers," from a
group by Sig. Monti, " The Stepping Stones," and
" London Bridge, 1745." The two last are from
pictures in the Vernon Gallery. " The Stepping
Stones". represent a woodland scene, and a peasant
woman leading a little child across a stream. The
figures are very natural, and in the surrounding
scenery the mixture of light and shade has a beau-
tiful effect. " London Bridge" is a companion to
" Westminster Bridge," which was published last
month. It is a very effective picture, and it is
curious to remark the contrast between the old-
fashioned houses beside the river, and the wharves
and warehouses of the present day. The twentieth
number of " The Great Masters of Art" gives us
an account of John Baptiste Monnoyer, a French
flower painter of the seventeenth century. The
four engravings given of some of his groups of
flowers are very graceful. "Dress as a Fine A 4,"
by Mrs. Merrifield, is continued, and contains
several illustrations.

Netvton's London Journal contains its usual de-
scriptions of recent patents of every description.
Among the most important are those of A. V.
Newton, for propelling vessels, and Blakey and.
Skaife's, in mills, for grinding. The usual scien-
tific notices are given, and the list of grants
and patents. A table of Celestial Phenomena is
added.—Sharpe's London Magazine contijus "The
History of Helen Lyndsey," by Mrs. S. C. ;
and the interesting " Immeritus by
the talented author of " Mary Powell." Several
other pleasing tales may be found in this magazine.
Theengravings represent "The Poet's Dream" (the
well-known episode in Milton's life), and " St.
Michael's Mount."—The Eclectic Review, among
' other /itentry notices, contains criticisms on.
" Alison's History of Modern Europe," and Cur-
rey Bell's " Villette." A variety of articles on
similar subjects of interest are given.

COMPULSORY VACCINA.TION.—There is a bill in the
House of Lords, by which it is proposed that vaccination
- of children shall be compulsory.
POPULATION OF THE ELECTORAL DIVISIONS.—A re-
, turn to the House of Commons, which has been printed,
contains tables of the population, inhabited houses, and
number of the electors in the electoral divisions, coun-
, ties, and boroughs in England and Wales. The popula-
dratohwgaonhtir hymn
1"e
popula-
tion in the counties is, according to the census of 1851,
stated to be 10,488,930, the inhabited houses 2,052,637,
and the number of electors on the register 507,754.
Only a very small number of these polled at the last
election-116,153, or rather more than one-fifth. The
counties and the parliamentary divisions of counties re-
turn 159 members. The population of the represented
cities and boroughs is 7,438,679, the inhabited houses
1,225,402, of which number 343,828 qualified to elect.
The value of the property assessed to the poor rate in
1851 was 23,181,5801. The number of electors on the
register at the last election was 410,929, and of these no
more than 225,677, or rather more than one-half, exer-
cised their privilege. The number of representatives re-
turned by the cities and boroughs is 339.
A FORTUNE TELLER IN TROUBLE.—A middle-aged
female, respectably dressed, named Sarah Owen, was
placed in the dock, at the Leeds court-house, one day
last week, charged with vagrancy, by telling fortunes.
It seems that for time past the prisoner has been carry-
ing on a pretty profitable business, which was kept up
by the circulation, amongst young maidens, of address
cards, which ran as follows :—" Sarah Owen, Professor
of Astrology, 3, Back Cannon-street, Shakspeare-row,
Dewsbury-road, Leeds, respectfully announces to the
public that she nay be consulted daily on all lawful
questions relating to life, death, courtship, marriage,
sickness, travelling by land or sea, absent friends, enter-
ing into business, &c." The circulation of the. above
the chief constable to find out the "fortune-teller," and
cards coming to the knowledge of the mayor, he directed
officers Pollard, Bramley, and Marsden to take the steps
bring her to justice. Mr. Read instructed detective
they considered necessary, and the result was the appre-
hension of the prisoner and the seizure of her books and
apparatus, including address cards ; a " glass of fate,"
through which young ladies were to see their future hus-
bands ; "The Prognostic Astronomer, or Horery Astro-
loger, containing an improved method of solving one
eckop.griskaanoacynkesreli,risdeoes-fr,eomupereb.,onxpead,oia.
thousand inquiries relative to futurity, by Dr. W. J.
'Simmonite ,_. ' the "Book of Fate ;" the "Dreamer's
Hymn
nthtotkeihw:
beOrgaienlndin"ga,P,Lraeyteervßeryooko,nae
all for that purpose
had made arrange.
au
ni n ae
toldrri,'and nall
t
hssfaaevini,agilaynslnitedotahrektrehdien;dnaeastcsurrinallrbeaobfleult
Pol-
lard, detective officer, proved that he
pmriesnotsneweisthtoMrhasv.e3lheegsr
fortune
gave her two shillings and sixpence
Ale on next proceeded to Pence,
marked.
the " Magician's Castle," in Dew be what occurred in
rior of which looked like a small hesburY-road, the exte-
ment, whilst the public were i f ' erdashery establish-
that Sarah Owen cWaned furs n. ornaed by a show card
Mrs. Megson seici_yestercia .m a very superior style.
house, as directed by the Y I went to the prisoner's
by a brass plate on the d cards. I made out the house
oor, with "
I rapped at the door S. Owen" engraved.
asked if Mrs. Owen , and the Prisoner opened it." I
Mrs. Owen. , Was at home ? She replied she was
I then • said I wanted to speak with her.
She opened a door
and showed me
into a room. sheou the left hand side,
o_
her.
She
then inquired the day my age, antriti.ld
She made
y and hour I w
some queer-look' was as I gave my
mg figures upon t ic
answers, and afterwards referred to the Prognostic. ei
Astronomer," and then began very busily to
of
wmaxe
hich'l
number of other figures upon the slate,
do yon
wish
to
Mind understand. She said,
"Whattt my husband is
know ? I replied—" I have heard
know whether he is or
dead at Liverpool, and I wish to
an, and my husband is
not." I am a married
woman,
Astrologer," and
away. After referring to the
pon the slate, she said she
making
some
more figures unsulting her book again, and
s not e
could not tell ; but after
Lte, she replied—" He doe
fol.
again marking leer s
Some more figuring on the slate .
dead with you.said that my husband was lying i.n
d then she • five to one against hie
lowed, an
staff,
and it was
resided t I
a dangerous
st
a She then asked where I res
• better. " She then told me that
getting
be Central Market.
said, "In t
the /7th February (that is to-day) was a fatal day, and
my husband would either
die or recover. She added
that I should not be married again for three years ; but
at the end of that time I should be to a baconifactor.
Again re" Astrologer," she read
me a description of referring to her Horory
my future husband, whom she des-
cribed as a person with hazle eyes, dark hair, and in
describing his dress she put him in such clothes as are
usually worn by bacon and butter factors. In fact, as
soon as I said I came from the Central Market, she be-
gan talking about bacon, butter, and' cheese. I asked
what was her charge ? She replied, " Sixpence, but.re-
spectable persons gave her a shilling. I said I would
do as others did, and gave her a m •
•
ark marked shilling Which
I had received from Pollard for
that purpose, The
justices considered the charge
fully proved, and Beni
tenced the prisoner to a mouth's in:Trimed

gantly-dressed young ladies entering with flat candl
sticks in their hands and taking their places before the
fire, with perhaps a satin-slippered foot on the fender,
waiting with palpitating hearts for their flys, anxious
for the arrival of the appointed time, dreading to be too
early yet afraid to be too late. Wheels had been heard,
but they had only been ' taking up,' none as yet having
started for the ball. At length the clatter of iron steps,
the banging of doors, and the superfluous cry of 'Rooms,'
resounded through the town, and the streets became
redolent with animated life."