The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATITRDAY DECEMBER, 19, is 6.

-- ----
WIN' COURT CIRCULAR. ' LITERATURE.
Ilik'hn'e 's°,ll,. FRIDAY.—Her Majesty and his Royal PARTNERS FOR LIFE. A Christmas Story. By
lira, ss 1 !Ince Albert, aceomanied by the Prince of Camilla 7 bulntin
eessl63, Prince A!tred, t,-!e Princess lioyal, the Prin- This is another Christmas story—another of those
liellsouti.,,il.,tet,ivaond the ii'rincess Helena, arrived at the little volumes' remarkable fur their elegant appnr-
rs,' -, Isle of ‘l7°,:e.lllP,rek this afternoon, from Osborne ante and graceful illustrations, but, above all, fbr the
tue ro i -4, • good moral which it is their high privilege to incul-
(Lad.,l i y„Ex7e- se.ite consisted of the Marchioness of Douro cate, and the kind and Christian sympathies with
411eli;n TY '..-ding), the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, Baron which they are suffused. In these essential
-rhipti;, the Groom in Waiting, the Hon. Colonel
(Equer_kf-querry in Waiting), and Colonel Bouverie qualities, kiss' Toulmin's book is certainly not
deficient. It bears a good recommendation on its
The 'l 1-11 Waiting to the Prince).
Ti,_ escort was composed of the Ist Life Guards. face; the binding is splendid, and the illustra-
-140 Qtteen and Prince Albert were received, on tions, by John Absolon, are many of them. very
14 ta,,ng from their carriage, by the Hon. Miss Kerr , graceful. The most beautiful of these designs—
Witit:"e Hon. Miss Pao•ettheMaids of Honour in ' rendered more beautiful by the idea which it sym-
-11 •ng), the Earl of Listowel (Lord in Waiting), and bolises—represents the Angel of Life chasing the
Nor
Th General Bowles (Master of the Household. ' Shadow of Death from an infant's couch, while
illeiti(rer?).al dinner party at the Castle this evening will I a woman kneels in weeping gratitude by the
14ri, ._ o,l* Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the rescued child. The tale itself is purely domestic,
ron4e4;', Nk siting of her Royal Highness, and the Ba.•
Th., r et. but it is not the less interesting on that
account. Unlike its competitors, this Christmas
darhi" °and of the ScotF, Fusilier Guards will attend
4ttet,4 dinner. II M ' '• -* • bandafterwards story contains nothing supernatural , . _ • its heroes
•Ai ill
the Castle. are only assisted by " the generous intentions and
~, 'their , _ deep sympathies, which, moving in the hearts of their
d`4l6 Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of friends, are busy for them, like the good genii of a
it rid,.
esk, se, and },is Serene Highness Prince Frederic of
tesifir visited 1-er R . l Il• h D hof Glou- •
,ou„,• oy ig ness the uc ess fairy t'ale." The story is, interesting, and is told
in an interesting manner, and it certainly
A eav Thursday, at Gloucester ouse. ''‘aatil ' kindly - \timents. 'et we have

Illore"tbiziet 'ConnCH was held yesterday afternoon at the
11n+aeja-ofsc•a. The Ministers present were, Lord John.
81:r0„„u' the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto,
eh—urge Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, thes
4114811er of the Exchequer, the Earl of Auckland,
the
4111,11,9,,,bhc use, Lord Campbell, Viscount Morpeth,it
The 'l4lendon, and the Right Hon. T. B. Ma,:au aj.
leithe Lord Chancellor subsequently joined his coi-
-17:86
Earl
sat two hours and a half.
"lin 14- 44arl of Mountcashel had an interview with Lord
yesterday at his official residence in Do wn-
-44 eat.nte,../tham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes,
Nerd —"oview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
kr, 4 aiY atofficial residence in Downing•stree
eilltltinai(4ll))* had alio an interview with the Right Hon.
CO 111 YeAterday.
-re , Anson had en interview with Sir George
ells, at the Home-office.

tends to stimulate _inctly sentims s y
some doubts as to its beneficial tendency. Although
Miss Toulmin's object is, apparently, to prove that
" fathers and children, and brothers and sisters, so to
speak, are partners for life—this is nature's deed,
signed and sealed from the begineing ;" and although
the Christmas meeting at the conclusion represents
the happiness of an united family, we hardly think
the general hearing of the whole tale happily
calculated to illustrate her idea. The story turns
upon the different fortunes of two brothers, sons of a
very " great man," whose mental grandeur " was de-
rived from two sources—pride of birth and pride of
wealth. Like two streams meeting and crossing,
they hedged him round on every side, perpetually
threatening to swamp those better sympathies which
still did occasionally stretch beyond this chilly bar-
rier." The eldest son, in opposition to his father's
wishes, marries a governess, and was, in con-
sequence, utterly disowned. This misfortune being,
however, somewhat compensated by the happiness
which he found in his new home, while his brother,
sacrificing his affections in obedience to his father's
commands, sought forgetfulness at the gaming-table.
This is how matters stand at the commencement of
the book. We will not spoil the interest
by further details ; suffice it that all ends
as all Christmas tales are bound to • do.
in social harmony and the triumph of kind and ge-
nerous sympathies. The characters are well drawn,
and their various peculiarities nicely discriminated.
First and foremost, of course, is Mr. Hamilton
Howard Hamilton, the " great man, literally and
figuratively the head partner of the great firm of
Hamilton and Co., and then there is the
" Co." Mr. Jeremiah Morrythorpe, a most
interesting individual, whose " heart " seemed
to pervade his whole being." This Mr. Merrythorpe,
whose character is the very opposite to that of his
partner, is of humble origin. "There was a family
tradition about a grandfather, but beyond him even
the oracle of rumour was silent," a circumstance
which gives some concern to his aristocratic
partner, who feeling great interest in him, tries
to believe that he is, nevertheless, descended from
a good family, because he has none of the bad quali-
ties which seemed to him characteristics of the
plebeian ; " though really I must own," he observes,
" the world is so changed ; education, popular lec-
tures, and cheap literature have worked such marvels,
that a gentleman needs to carry his pedigree about
with him now-a-days, if he wishes to be dis-
tinguished from the herd." Such observations are
hardly required to assure Miss Toulmin's readers
how much she sympathises with the revelling spirit
of the age. It is hardly necessary to particularise the
various portions of such a little volume—one simile
struck us as somewhat pleasing, where, alluding to the
memory of some long-past sorrow, she speaks of
the gentle and kindly effects of time, which "shows
the past by a softened light—even as, touched by the
silvery moonbeams, ruins are beautiful." The scene
in which the gambler confesses his errors to his
father, is very forcibly written ; and the various
emotions of the stern proud father, struggling, not
quite successfully, with the promptings of his better
nature, are all very naturally described. The picture
of the humble home of the exiled son is full of inte-
rest ; and the character of his wife, minutely drawn,
so perfect and yet so natural, is worthy of general
imitation. We are always glad to meet with such
homely sketches, and such pleasing and imitable in-
dividuals; not only do they render a work more
interesting during perusal, but they are calculated to
leave a good impression upon its readers—it is far
easier to teach by example than by precept. These,
and many other good qualities, are possessed by Miss
Toulmin's little book : our only objection to it is,
that, to our thinking, it seems to show how much
happier are those who act in opposition to parental
commands. We are not for a moment disposed to
contradict the universal theory of all romancists'
ancient and modern, in prose and verse, which has,
we believe, been agreed to nemine contradieente
namely, that in forming the indissoluble partner-
ship, love is everything, and parental authority
nothing. Yet however correct the theory, it may be
somewhat modified in practice. It is possible in most
cases, by time and care and a thousand nameless inci-
dents, to effect a compromise:and avoid both unfortu-
nate extremes, neither sacrificing the hearts best
affections nor destroying the tender relations of parent
and child. Consequently we are not, in this respect,
quite pleased with this otherwise pleasing volume.
It is true, there may be such men as Mr. Hamilton,
and some children may be justified in their disobe-
dience, but such cases are rather exceptions to the
general rule, it is, therefore, as illustrating such an
exception that we must be satisfied with their Christ-
mas tale, and we are satisfied with it the more readily,
because it merits such an appellation by showing how
kind and generous feelings ultimately subdue selfish-
ness and pride, and because it closes with the truly
Christmas celebration of a Christmas day—the for-
giveness of wrongs and the union of the long-
estranged.
•

utati FLANDERS MAIL.
* *
C `ps-ip.,;39 DEC. 15.—The average price of wheat in
Thding Saturday, Dec. 12, was 26f. 71c. ; and
bd m_l4Ye 21f. 56e. per h. hese riesre
rty;gft those of last weekectolitreby 23c.,
both one wheat
—"hint it4ljesties the King and Queen set out this
The or Paris.
leilO,th h
ainber of Representatives unanimously voted,
,%t 0f1,4 debate the roject of law proroguing till the
Ldtteil:-'eceraber,'lB47l, the law of the 18th June, 1842,
"to tZthorises the Government to modify the regula-
-46e -Pecting importations and transit.
epal sitting was terminated by the adoption of se-
NisaPioretiects of law for granting the arts of nate-
-0111,2.
41,7141171.,114te, on its sitting to-day, appointed the commit-
y-I'lre to examit e the budgets and projects of law
Stiv"„„v"ed by the Chamber of Representatives.
oaslfe
days past the rigour of the 'season has been
pt lt
4tsel:3Portiohy the poorer classes, whose wants increase
It is the moment for charity to manifest
IP,PeklatiLl thanks to Providence, it is not deaf to t
grist: we couldonly wish that the exercise of this
e
the v
L rtre irtue by indduals mig t cea .
trihter Part of the ifts for the poor might be dtstri-
,_9lieli ;b"r°tlgh the channel of the Public Boards, by
4°llR:ijieta they would be more equally distributed
ygo needy. -
Ztltbite`"ro that the King has commissioned the elm-whi"oraittee to distribute the extraordinary sm-
ell givns every year to the poor at Brussels.

04 11 DUTCII MAIL.
thitt't "rt.-4" D c 15.—The official journal published
gal, 03Poir'euer,e;ooEf the 10th of this month, for putting
plibt,, after
.tetln the old coins of one florin and half
4, 'Aes ft,'"2sth December. The same journal
on o
i —le conditi of
of the loan of one million, being
lei_ earth
%Ming themes of tke loan. of eight millions for
4a, 'Jake of trexpenses occasioned by the draining of
11,7 of Decezterlem, fixed by the
.royal decree of the
ter toe of thtr, 1846. This loan ims to be contracted
h 1839, with
itiest of 41 2 law of the 22d
114 t ali of ti2litier cent. There remains a series of one
PI-- 3 loan to be negotiated, which will not
b_ ..ce durin
hirrl'Ear, g the year 1847.
431, DEC 14.—1 n consequence of the heavy
tf,'llitt°,/ snow, the Me. s is covered with frozen snow, ,o,
—ert aeslral,steam-bouatesare prevented from leaving the
ip.vr. p;:titti this morning.
'N.. 'TERSBITHCH DgE.C. I.—On the 28th of No-
ild ,risear winter be' n with a very sharp N. E. wind,n
ththlfe(l4,ett;!Y fall ofgsnaow, with 6 degrees of cold.. 0.0
6;4 the k":1g day the Neva brought down much ice, s
• the urtdge
Saud the cold
between the city and the islands had to
Illetea 44- Tot day the snow was deep, an
$ %I to
4; Eltt,,. 9 degrees. .
e: t, is co DEC. 11.--The police were on the alert last
t043-;,,,e,34sequence of the discovery of Communist,
Plitic,:i°, and has arrested several mechanics ap
ill! Ilet-4.8..i_t; 4 public-house. It is added, that many of
o'ateo ' classes, among others, the well-known writers
i!Ete 8, are said to be seriously. implicated, and have,
14411tf4e' been taken from their houses during the
, PitAvarld lodged in safe custody.
klitl tt-i",!(FORT, DEC. 12.—The report of Orion, conspiracy,
ile talc have been discovered ownartnisingnshihave,aphpoewaresvetro,
84% 4:landed. Very
%11 lent by diplomatic froemf Paris to several
ibr,le4trits' announcing
emissariesgcehnat in e
lchannels
. the Propaganda
l
`4Ol. "ell to visit thl Rhenish provinces and
eI4Y.
eatt)ts•lii.tE, DEC. 13.—We learn that ice floated down
%to ktlay from the Marne, and to-day from_dathye Moselle,
as far as
44;4e Rhine. The latter came down to
h.1144,:h• The bridge here is taken !lc,. .
-4., ti,,,,,,, bEe. I.—Our commercial journal pub-
Chants*, undersign official notice:—
and mer-
of el•algud deputies of the city .
ell
their- reBlllll consider
from Berlin,it toie inform
cknow-
the duty,the
Pledubglejeci that
trheetuhrighest public authorities have 'kith th Lae ia.Vortance of the preservation of freea trade,
le B,e territory of the republic of Cracow, secured by
kid th of the 3d of may,
. 1815, in the fullest extentassurance
that thllt the, have received the satisfactory
hun_
tat
maintenance of this free trade will be atteeci"Mal basis of the commercial regulationst teo be
,„.I.lPon with the Austrian authorities."
kriere follow the signature of the merchants.)
ro

copied THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
{role Your journal of yesterday, I find a story,
Rove Itill! a Worcester paper, which is calculated to
It isgnlY-seasoned treat for lay and clerical zealotry.
vol,s_s.romance of the confessional, and told with mar-
trosT. circumstantiality ; but so closely analogous to a
that IP°
denture practised in this town some time ago,
it reasonable to request your readers to sus.
4te,4_ their it
until further inquiry be dispassion-
Isl.:Ude into the nature of the direful tale.
Vt`'•tt
e!okort time previously to the death of the Rev. Jas.
gentleu is late minister of St. Paul's Church in this town,
the man much esteemed for kindness of heart and
hitell'?ssession, in an eminent degree, of clerical attri-
pepo)s he was visited by a lady of good address and
40,sessing appearance, who announced herself as a
litle" Catholic who was anxious to relieve her over-
lie, felled conscience from the perilous stuff which made
*5
ithnlY wretched, and then she sobbingly went on to
livd at she had been seduced in the confessional—had
%ee , With the wicked man, left her husband, and was
Ned' persecuted ! The amiable Mr. Francis commise-
fop-C we apparently penitent one; lodgings were taken
80 r, the " horrible fact " told around the town to
ofr4.„.,People who turned the whites of their eyes to
tek—ued Heaven, and invoked curses on the naughty
140 Pter. Well, the current.
of sympathy went on ;
1 Was raised to support the interesting Magdalen ;
kid . . .
sins in sackcloth and ashes, when, lo ! the murder came
itil; inquiries were made as to the real circumstances,
ale—rie„ lleighbourhood which she mentioned, and it was
party 4,4eertained that the too credulous clergymen and
who ;L:ilewport had been the dupes of a vile impostor,
ate' decamped.
-Lr, therm are such striking similitudes •in the
°roester and Newport romances, that I am induced to
lively'Touble
You with this letter, as The Sun is very circulated in Monmouthshire, and it is well that
°Pie should not judge hastily.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
PHILALETHES.
IClPewport, Monmouthshire, Dec. 17, 1846.

BEEN AND SHADY
MER RAMBLES IN G
PICTURES OF COUNTRY LIFE, AND SUM%
PLACES. By•Thoinas Mill er .
the great
All admirers of the stage must have often felt, that
attraction of any performance lies not so
admire or applaud the fine
ever much we may
much in the merits of the play, as of the actors. flow-
from different
' different is their effect coming
v•ery the most common-place
language or the noble sentiments in any case, yet,
speakers. The dullest drama,
when, instead of
acting his part,
only speaks, but feels what he says ;f,
the time the
dialogue, is invested with interest when the actor not
so it is
individual he is supposed to personify..
all the world over ; a good earnest purpose and real
he really becomes fur
And
reeling are worth more than any fine speaking, or
plausible rhetoric, or hypocritical eloquence (if there
can be such a thing). In few things is this more ap-
p whatr e n. ti
t thanmay inbe l
pi trie;saet.uorre
verse,
half
gay
ye vaille of a book
consists in the style of fts author. It matters not
or grave, politics,
love, learning :
perforce feel what w
ever more enthusiastic on any
con amore. If the author feels what he write, we must
esi:enaifide.s
Nlitotlea,ustohoirt . bes
writtenperhaps
d
with its spirit, or
beauties, than is Thomsubject, more imbue
impressed Thomas
with admiration for its
the country.
only faithful delineations of country His "pietur Miller when he writes about
country life" are not
rural scenes; the
sdto pervade them.er all her varying
forms; full of appreciation for the
very glow of the sunshine
seetnn
Full of reverence for Nature
beautiful;; full of en-
thusiasm and admiration for a thousandn
d rustic trifles,
u glades of merrie
grovesg and
companions of his
he wanders
luring throught is the
on,
deii ;
with book is the
mingled le ‘d 'a;
aeration for the poetry of old customs
way. One very strange feature ins
close union of contending principlesFilledan)ll
strong predilection for new reforms.' is
anger at the thoughts of the Enclosure Bill—filled
with
ill—filled
with sorrow lest any rude hand should melest his
beloved country scenes, he yet can rejoice, and
heartily, over the great improvements of modern
times. For instance—" Look at that hoard—
web
this very woodland is to be let on building lease?!
Heaven only knows where unborn generations will
have to go, in the course of time, to get out of London
into the country ! And yet, strange interposition of
Providence ! what we lose by distance we make up
for by the increased speed of travelling." These op.
posite feelings are, however, most apparent in the
chapter, entitled the " Twenty-ninth of May," which
commences with animated reminiscences of the
author's boyish days, and the exceeding delight ex-
perienced by youthful gatherers of hawthorn and
oak-apples, in honour of the royal festival. After di-
lating on all the pleasures and beauties of the "dear
old custom," he turns from the poetry of romance
to the reality of politics :
" Oh, Memory! 'tis hut little use thou and I journey•
ing back to these gri en, dreamy, secluded haunts; the
light of truth, reflected from the pages of history, falls
upon these dear old customs, and, in spite of all our
love for them, shows that they are truly ridiculous!
Sorry are we, grave old oaks! that ever we rent a leafy
honour from your aged heads to commemorate so silly a
ceremony! Ancient homes of the grim old Druids! we
were innocent invaders of your sanctity,—we knew not
%%Ira we dni!
" What then were we guilty of? Let us look hack
through this night of years. Alas! the image of the
Merry Monarch overshadows; it not, traitors that we
are! his memory is not even there. We but went out to
do ' observance to May;' to bring her home ' with much
green' and a sound of merriment: it was, after all, to
the month of flowers we paid homage. The representa-
tive of majesty we did not kneel down d worship, even
when he sot enthroned in the royal ol.k ; for it had been
the custom of our forefathers ' to pelt and hoot him;'
unmannerly dogs that they were, they valued not his

FRENCH ITALIAN OPERA.
When M. Gardoni made his first appearance at the
e tieade- • Royale two years ago, we recollect we stated
at he bad gone to the wrong side of the Boulevards,
6" that his place was at the Italian Opera. His brilliant
:f at this theatre on Thursday proves the correctness
,tuut Opinion. His fine pure tenor, cramped and dm.
rod by his singing in French, came out iii his native
ten.guage with a fulness and beauty of tone which
atdi/led to take the public here entirely by surprise,
4014, aided by his gallant youthful figure and hand-
e- features, at once established him a favourite—a,
the
which, we must remark, the fairer part of
ttn: auditory assisted in ratifying with unusual zeal and
The opera selected for the occasion
d'Amore, which had the merit also of
par-:)"°eing another novelty, namely, Ronconi, in the
uf Dulcamara, and in which, though succeeding the
mitable Lablache, he was brilliantly successful—keep-
thati.tha Public in continued roars throughout the whole
vFmOllis great predecessor is more spontaneous in his
mr, but it is difficult to imagine a more perfect picture
Italian charlatan than Ronconi in this character. He
414 immensely applauded. Mme. Persiani sang with all
duro usual exuberaiice of ornament, and was encored in the
Ronconi, whose imitations of some of her fiori-
ge; "uvulsed the house with laughter. Tagliafico's
,Reant is by many degrees his best character, but, with
ZLetti in the. theatre, why was such a part confided to
and w 0 waste? The opera went off admirably,
sinu we have to congratulate the director on the posses-
diu of a tenor who relieves us from all apprehensions of
vauPPuintment in futur,.. Gsrdoni's first :IT drew down
kore41)111411se, and in the duo T,glitifico he was even
uecessful, for he was compelled to re .eat the
entlreelPal passage, by an irresistible demand from the
f°r thea"emblage. At the close of the piece the calls
to bo debutant were loud and general, and ho appeared
w his thanks, accompanied by the principal
enters.

•11--enit.4r],,bie (Ja of
•
ult. a; IL kii,pcAr,(l Tit.
t°rrent of K•
witi a— Silower of falling stars, and was
1151ble for about twenty seconds.

royalty a rush. And yet there is a poetry about his
perils, a something to linger and sigh over, even in the
cold, uncharitable pages of history) and while we censure
the man, we seem to have a wish to love him. Poor his•
torians should we make after all; our love of leaning
towards human frailty would often cause us to show jus-
tice a cold shoulder.
" What a doing and undoing does this short sketch
present ! Ten years ago it would have been a pic-
ture overhung with green and garlands, teeming with
flowers and steeped in sunshine- Poetry without re-
flection, sentiment without thought, life such as we see
on the stage, where the actors move, and cross, and
smile, and bow to each other, but have no other share in
the stirring events of the drama; they come and go, and
so ends a pretty scene. Neither Charles nor Cromwell
would have appeared in our part had we written it then.
Whence comes this change ? Is the day at hand when
the name of the Royal Martyr will be blotted out of our
Litany, and that, too, by the consent of good and pious
men ? When Cromwell, instead of being considered
a kingly scourge, will be hailed as the great benefactor
of his country, and looked upon as one of the mightiest
minds that ruled the age in which he lived? That day,we
believe, is not far off, neither is that change very re-
mote. The light which two centuries have clouded is
about to bratk forth, and reveal all the progressions
and improvements which science has made during this
long night of silent labour ; and the old mind, which
during this long period has seemed to sleep, is up and look-
ing out upon the new field which time has prepared for ac-
tion. The fossil bones of freedom have become hard as iron
durirg their long slumber, and now clothed with a new
body and a new life, they bid defiance to the old batter-
ing rams of bigotry, become stronger through the very
blows which are rained down upon them, and shrink
not, as of yore, at the touch of ancient superstition.
What England has been we know; what it will be hath
not yet entered into the heart of man to conceive.' "
This constant antagonism of principles—the linger-
ing love of old prejudices, and the earnest advocacy
of the very reforms calculated to overthrow them,
somewhat reminds us (to compare small things with
great) of Mr. Macaulay's description of Milton's
"inconsistency" where the imagination of the poet
is captivated by illusions against which the statesman
is proof. "It is the very struggle of the noble
Othello. His heart relents, but his hand is firm.
He does nought in hate, but all in honour. He
kisses the beautiful deceiver before he destroys her."
Perhaps the most interesting chapter is the " Summer
Ramble," where our author, taking us by the omnibus
to Camberwell, leads us a delightful ramble through
the beautiful country in the close vicinity of London.
From the wonderful naturalness of the descriptions,
from the careful painting of the minutest objects, the
whole is invested with an air of reality—rather let
us say the whole is real. We do not read the
author's book, we hear him speaking at our side ; we
do not ponder over his descriptions, we see before us
the scenes of which he speaks. "English Villagers"
contains some very natural portraits of country
people. After giving us some mournful details
of the domestic economy of the rustic poor, the
author very justly observes, "one half of the world
do not know how the other starve." The following
is a beautiful comment on the example afforded by
the life of the poor, speaking of a very aged man
grown old in poverty, the author asks :
"For what purpose was he born? what gap has he
filled up in the world, during his long life? Reader!
that old man is set before us as an exemple of patience,
endurance and long-suffering,—one of those set up to
show, that

FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
WHITEHALL, DEC. 17, 1846.
The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be
passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a
Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
unto the fallowing gentlemen, and the respective heirs male
of their bodies lawfully begotten, viz.:—
Henry Robert Ferguson Davie, of Greedy, in the county of
Devon, Esq., Colonel in the Army;
Frederick Currie, Esq., Secretary to the Government of
Bengal ; and
Anthony Rothschild, of Grosvenor-place, in the county of
Middlesex, Eeq., with remainder in default of such issue
male, to his nephews, Nathan Meyerl Rothschild, Charles
Alfred Rothschild, and Leopold Rothschild, Esqs., sons
of Lionel Rothschild, Esq., brother of the said Anthony
Rothschild.
WHITEHALL, DECEMBER 17.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Robert
Lee, D.D., to be one of her Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary
in Scotland.

"! They also serve who wait.'

" All his life-long -has he had to battle with poverty.
What veteran ever endured such continued hardships,
without murmuring ? His very rags are venerable me-
dals, won in a long warfAre with privation and want.
They tell of the hard campaigns he has weathered,
while his placid countenance bespeaks that all is calm
within. Is he forgotten by the rich ? No. There aro
moments when his silver hairs, and his calm, resigned
features, rise up before them, and they feel as if they
ought to touch their hats, and pay respect to him, in-
stead of receiving such an act of undeserved honour
when he passes."
" County statutes," contains a little tale—very me-
lancholy, and rendered doubly so, because it is almost
true, founded on some of the cruel regulations which
cast such disgrace upon the authorities of poor-
houses, but which are now, we believe, somewhat
modified. Mr. Miller is as enthusiastic an admirer
of Shakespeare and of poets, as of the country, and
his volume is adorned with many quotations. The
illustrations by Samuel Williams are beautifully
designed and beautifully executed, infinitely superior
to those generally found in such works. The tale
of "Morton Marsh Manor-house," is not natural, it
may be as the author tells us, founded on fact, but it
would have been as well omitted. We have, how-
ever, said enough of this pleasant volume, we will
conclude, by quoting the author's remarks on the
changes of modern days. In the preface, he observes :
" Surely that man has lived in an age worth recording,
who, from travelling three miles an hour in the old pon-
derous stage-wagon, or snail-paced market-boat, has
been whirle fifty miles in the same space of time by a
railway engine; who has sent a letter three hundred
miles for a penny, and seen her Majesty " black•balled,'
by her own paid postmaster, after she had been kind
enough to countenance the transmission; and when there
are grave men who believe with Wilkes, that hanging a
man is the very worst use you can make of him; and
others who think that it would be no sin to erect a statue
to Oliver Cromwell—that the stern Protector did not
govern England so badly after all, and that had not
King Charles been a knave, he would never have been a
martyr. These are bold thoughts to utter, yet we hear
them every day, and no one now seems to make them a
matter of wonderment."

" The sun himself has turned portrait-painier, and our
likenesses are now drawn by the light of Heaven ;
while Titmarsh, having a week's holiday, sets out to
have a peep at the Pyramids, and just makes as much
preparation for leaving Cornhill for Grand Cairo, as our
forefathers did when they journeyed from Cheapside to
Clapham. If these are not changes enough, let us glance
at the days when Dryden was paid sixpence a line for
his poetry, to our own, when five hundred pounds ore
offered for the best play, the finest picture, and the
choicest statue, and neither a first rate author, artist,
nor sculpture, thinks it worth his while to become a
competitor for any of the prizes."

BANK OF ENU-LAND.
(From last Night's Gazette.)
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and kith of Victoria, cap. 32, for
the Week ending on Saturday, the 12th' day of December, 1846.
ISSUE DEPARTMENT.

Yotes i55ued........ 28,4:0,735

Government debt • • 11,015,100
Other securities ... • '2,984,900
Gold coin and bullion 11,935,818
Silver bullion ...... 2,474,9►7

£28,410,735

£ 28,410,735
AIARSTIA.LL, Chief Cashier.
1846.
EPARTMEN T.

Dated the 17th day of Decembe:

Government securl-

ties (including Dead
Weight Annuity) .. 12,807,417
Other securities •• • • 13,879,900
Notes •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ...............8,23,e15
Gold and silver coin.. 742,778

£36,053,970
Af. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier.
!, 1846.

OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, DEC. 18.
Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Major-General James Power to be Colonel Commandant,
vice Dickenson, deceased, Dec. 6.
ADMIRALTY, DEC. 7.
Corps of Royal Marines Lieutenant Colonel Thomas
Peebles to be Colonel and Second Commandant, vice
Swale, deceased ; Captain and Brevet Major James
Whylock to be Lieutenant- Colonel. vice Peebles; First
Lieutenant John Hoskin Wright to be Captain, vice Why-
lock; Second Lieutenant John James Douglas Barclay to be
First Lieutenant, vice Wright.
ADMIRALTY DEC. 9.
Corps of Royal Matines—Firs't Lieutenant Robert John
M‘Killop to be Captain, vice Morrison, retired on full-pap;
Second Lieutenant George Sheddon Dunbar to be First
Lieutenant, vice M‘Killop.
ADMIRALTY, DEC. 16.
The name of Captain the Honourable George Rolle Wal-
pole Trefusis is to be included in the list of Captains of the
Royal Navy, having accepted the retirement of their rank
on the terms proposed in the London Gazetta of Ist September,
1846, on the half-pay of eighteen shillings per diem.
Commission by the Queen.
Dumfriesshire Regiment of Militia—Lieutenant and Ad-
jutant Robertiee
CaptainComptonswNaonaskone,, frreotmired44otnhfßulel-gpimaye:nt, to be
Adjutant, vice
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries.
Dumfriesshire Regiment of Militia—Lieutenant and Ad-
jutant Robert Compton Noake to have the rank of Captain.
WHITEHALL, Dac. 9.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Joseph Brodribb
Sherring, jun., Gent., of the city of Bristol, to be a Master
Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery.
WHITEHALL, DEc. 11.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Frederick Baker, of
Derby, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High
Court of Chancery.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE COURT OF ALDERMEN AND THE
COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Immediately after the Lord Mayor quitted the Court
of Common Council on Thursday, after the Aldermen
had one by one abandoned it, in order to render the pro-
ceedings upon the new Bill of no avail, the Common
Councilmen called Deputy Peacock to the chair. There
were then in the Court 85 members, all of whom were
decidedly opposed to the course taken by the Aldermen
in expressing. their dissent from the Bill and any fur-
ther proceedings thereon, notwithstanding the fact, that
they had sanctioned it in all its former stages. The most
active members of the Corporation were the foremost in
denouncing the conduct of the Aldermen, and a spirit
appeared to exist which was likely to gain strength from
the announcement that the Lord Mayor and Aldermen
were determined to persist in adopting measures to de-
feat the object of the Common Council.
Mr. ASIMBST moved, and it was unanimously agreed
to, that the Town Clerk, the Solicitor, the Remetn-
braneer, the Comptroller, and the Common Sergeant, all
of whom are officers appointed by the Court of Common
Council, be requested to a•tenil the meetings of the com-
mittee thus constituted, upon the departure of the Lord
Mayor from the chair.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.

Worcestershire lids., Tues., Howell ; Thurs.. Bre:ion Hill.
Shrop,hire lids., Mon., Pimhill ; Wed., Pitchford ;
Sat., Shawbury—i to 11.
Atherstene hds., Mon., Cadeby Gate ; Wed., Arbury ;
Thurs., Fisherwick ; Sat., Three Pots-11.
Badsworth Wentbridge ; Thurs., Askern ; Sat.,
Ackwort h Moor Top-14
flufford lids., Mon., Kennels; Tues., Cocking Moor; Thurs.,
Kelham ; Sat., Clown Village-1011.
Cheshire lids.. Mon., Stamford Bridge; Wed., Hoon Green ; '
Thurs., Astle Hall; Sat., Bri,ltield Gorse.
Sir W. W. Wynn's hds., Mon., Greddingtcn ; Wed., Al-
dersey ; Thurs., Chirk ; Sat., Overton Bridge-10i.
Montgomeryshire hds., Tues., Pentrenncck ; Sat., Bryn-
derwen Bridge-10.
North Staffordshire lids.,Tues , Walgherton Lodge ; Thurs., I
Trentham-10b.

Brighton hrrs., Mon, Patcham ; Wed., Racecourse; Fri.,
Dyke—A to 11.
Brookside hrrs., Mon., Newmarket Hill; Thurs., Tels-
comhe-tye-101/2.
Crawley and Horsham Hs., Mon., Crawley Village; Wcd.,
New Inn, Climsford ; Sat., Duo Horse.
Mr. M. Ingram's hds., Mon., Calton ; Thurs., Edmeston
Lodge; Sat., Blythfield—A to 1.
Donnington hds., Mon., Kigworth Station; Wed., Stan-
tonby Dale; Sat., Kigworth Kennel—A to 11.
Devon hds., Mon., Keythorpe Hall ; Tues., Bradgate Park ;
Thurs., Beggrave Hall; Sat., Kettleby—il.
Essex Union hds., Wed., Totham Maypole ; Sat., Kennel.

RACES TO COME.

The following list of the
next seaeos. will be useful
not 4ettirtnined on the time

Covent
Warwid Spring

Newmarket C.
Bath
Cat t erick
Epsom S.

Mr. Anderton and Mr. Benno:.k, at the request of the
committee, took down the names of all the members

present.

Mr. ASHURST moved, and Mr. W. JONES seconded, the
following resolution:—" That a committee of the mem-
bers of the Corporation of the city of London, being
members either of the Court of Aldermen or of the Court
of Common Council, be now formed to consider the
course to be pursued by them, the rights and privileges
of the citizens of London. their constituents, being in
their opinion in danger."—Carried una?limously.
The same gentleman proposed that a sub-committee,
consisting of twenty-one be formed to consider the sub-
ject and prepare resolutions. The resolution was unani-
mously agreed to, and the following members were ap-
pointed .—Messrs. Peacock, Ashurst, Wire, Anderton,
Lawrence, R. L. Jones, W. Junes Burn, F. H. Hall,
Farrar, R. Taylor, Prior, Bower, Bannock, Finnis,
Selson, King, Blake, Norris, Hartley, and Dr. Lynch.
The Committee then broke up, and
Yesterday the sub-committee assembled for the pur-
pose of preparing the resolutions. Much discussion took
place, and a series of resolutions was prepared for the
consideration of the general committee, before which, a
full explanation of all the circumstances connected with
the matter in dispute, which is said to be the determina-
tion of the Court of Common Council to prevent the
Court of Aldermen from any further extravagant expen-
diture of the City cash, will be made.

Newmarket, S. S.
Shrewsbury

Ascot Heath 1
Hampton
Bibury Club

Newmarket
Lirerpool

Brighton
Horwich
Wolverhampton
*Chelmsford ..
Lewes ll
York

SEPTE:

Warwick
Doncu ter

OCTI

fixtures already made for the
to these stewards who have
of holding their meetings:—
RCII.

Northampton

I Newmarke, S.
Durham i

Chester

Epsom
I Newton
INE.
I Stockbridge
Newcvtle
I Carlisle
LY.
Goodwood 27

___ .
•Egharp 24
Derby :
*Hereford .... ........
*Hunti6gdon 26
*Canterbury

MISER.

*Lincoln
Newmarket, F. O.

Newmarket, S. 0 ll
[The meetings against r
terisk have not been officiall
bability will take place at th

;Newmarket, H 25
vhich No have placed an as-
y announccd, but in all Fro-
time mentioned.]

THE WEATHER.

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNF, TUESDAY NIGHT.—The snow
storm continues here with unabated severity, and with
every appearance of being prolonged still further. Last
night a very heavy fall of snow took place, and lasted
throughout the night, and, with intervals, during the
greater part of to day, of course deranging all the
ordinary means of commuuicatiom Yesterday morn-
ing's papers, which should have been delivered here at
six P.m., did not reach until two this morning ; and the
=Ha have been quite as much beyond their time. Letters
usually delivered early in the forenoon were not in the
postman's hands until about four o'clock, and the delay
has necessarily occasioned much annoyance to business
men. On the North Shields Railway no train run this
morning until eleven o'clock ; and a serious delay again
occurred on the Carlisle line. On the Newcastle and
Darlington no trains have run, except the mail and one
or two expresses, so that we are nearly completely cut
off from neighbouring towns. The frost continues in tense,
aid tells seriously on the navigation. Altogether, we
have not suffered so severely in these respects for many
years.
A sad result of the inclemency of the weather has oc-
curred on board the Londonderry steamer. She left
that place on Thusday morning, but was detained in the
Loch by the strong gale that was blowing for several
hours, and only arrived here, after a very severe pas-
sage, on Saturday morning, between seven and eight
o'clock. She had a great number of steerage passengers
on ,board, all of them in a most wretched condition, and
these suffered very much from hunger and cold. Among
them was a tolerably well-dressed man, apparently about
sixty or seventy years of age, who was discovered to have
died on deck from the severity of the weather. A little
child, two or three years of age, also died on the passage.
The body of the latter was brought ashore here, and the

TI-IE ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE.
(From the Roman Advertiser.)
The amphitheatres originally built in Rome were of
wood; the first erected of stone was that named after its
architect, Statilius Taurus, and raised by order of Au-
gustus, who was passionately devoted to the games called
Venationes, or chasing of wild beasts. The Flavian was
commenced by Vespasian, and completed by Titus in the
year 80 of our era; it is said to have been finished in
two years only, at an expense answering to 50 millions
of Roman scudi, without calculating the labours of 15,000
Hebrew slaves employed in the works; and to have been
capable of containing 300,000 persons. It received the
n'me of Colosseum either from the colossal bronze statue
of Nero opposite to it, or from its own vast proportions,
on account of which the poet Martial celebrates it as
the greatest wonder of the world:—" Mephis may be
silent as to the barbarian miracles of ber pyramids, nor
let Babylonia boast any more of her assiduous labours;
nor let the luxurious honours paid to the temple of
Diana be extolled; and let the altar abounding in horns
conceal the god. No more let the Carians laud to the
skies with immoderate praise the Mausolea pendant in
the void air; every labour may cede to the Amphitheatre
of Caesar; and instead of all others, Fame may now
publi,:h only one achievement." Spectac. Epig,
IV.) It was covered by an awning, for protection
against sun and rain, of the finest linen ; afterwards,
when Roman luxury rose higher, this was made of silk,
and Nero ordered one to be prepared of purple, with
his own figure, driving a chariot, in the centre, and
golden stars scattered round. The rank of seats nearest
the arena, in the part called the Podium, was appro.
priated to the senators, ambassadors, and other high
functionaries ; also to the vestal virgins. Whilst Rome
was free, all ranks, and both sexes, sat together promis-
cuously ; but under Augustus this was entirely abo-
lished. The knights and tribunes sat above the
senators ; the common people above these, who were
again subdivided by a law of the emperor, the soldiers,
the married and the unmarried men having their sepa-
rate compartments ; and the women, out of motives of
delicacy, in the rows of seats farthest from the arena.
For security, a net work, which at one time is said to
have been of geld, was stretched round the podium, and
stakes of ivory were fixed in its front, so contrived
as to give way, turned by wheels, if any wild beast
should leap against them, and thus repel it. A
canal was also carried round the arena, called
the Earipus. The splendour of its general ornaments
may be divined from the works of the poet Calpurnius :
—" Behold the baltheus" (a terrace carried round the
amphitheatre), " set with gems, and the porico with
gold." Tubes were conducted through the cunee (01
benches). to sprinkle perfumes, especially that formed of
the crocus pounded with wine, which were made to des-
cend from above, and rise from below, pouring their fra-
grant shower over all the spectators. Thus Ovid :
"Nor were yet the seats red with liquid crocus." These
perfumes were also made to flow from statues, which
appeared to perspire. It was first dedicated to the Scy-
thian Diana. who was supposed to delight in human
,apritice ; afterwards to the Stygian Jupiter, as we are
informed by the Christian poet Pradentius :—" These
;ire the delights of the infernal Jove ; in these he re-
poses satisfied, arbiter of dark Avernus." An altar was
erected to Dis, and the combats of wild beasts were
placed under the special protection of Saturn. Hence, it
was observed by Tertuli an, that the amphitheatre was
consecrate to the sternest deities; that it was " the
temple of all demons."
The spectacles were exhibited down to the time of the
invasion of the Goths in the beginning of the fifth cen-
tury, for though forbidden by a law of Constantine, as
irreconcileable with the Christian religion, they were
never efficiently suppressed till the reign of Honorius.
Every invention of art, every resource that wealth and
power could command, was expended to add to the fas-
cinations of these sanguinary shows, not, as a more re-
fined taste would have required, to idealise, and thus
soften the ferocity of their chaaacter ; but to invest
them with all the vividness of terrific reality. One
writer (Vopiscus) describes how, on throwing open the
portals communicating with the cages of the beasts,
issued forth 1,000 ostriches, 1,000 stags, and 1,000 boars.
Neho exhibited, on one occasion, a succession of dif.
ferent sports ; first the Yenationes ; then (the arena
being filled suddenly with water) a sea fight ; then
a combat of gladiators, and lastly succeeded a banquet.
The ship Nero had formed to be the instrument of his
mother's death, was taken from the model of one of
those introduced in the amphitheatre. Of this Dio says,
that it was contrived so as suddenly to fall to pieces,
when 700 animals of different kinds leapt forth from
its womb ; and then to re-unite, assuming its original
form. Aquatic and amphibious animals were introduced,
the former when the whole arena was overflown, the
latter, it appears, at other times, as Calpurnius speaks of
having seen the hippopotamus and sea-calf fighting with
the bear. But the most perfect illusion was produced by
the representation of forests, when the whole arena was
planted with living trees, shrubs, and flowers ; and we
reed that the earth was contrived to open, and send forth
the wild beasts from its yawning clefts, which were in •
stantly re-covered with shrubs and bushes. Apulcius
peaks of a spectacle in one of the provincial amphi-
theatres, where Mount Ida, as sung by Homer, was re-
presented, planted with trees, and with a fountain spring-
ing from its summit. Martial describes one of these
scenes very graphically :—" Whatever is said to have
been seen in the Orphean Rho :lope, Caesar has exhibited
to thee on the arena of the theatre : the rocks extended,
and the marvellous forest spread itself, such as one be-
lieves to have been the grove of the Hesperides."
Gladiatorial combats possessed much more attraction
for the Romans than the most splendid exhibitions in
which bestial blood alone was shed. Gladiatorial com-
bats had their origin in the belief that the souls of the
dead delighted in human blood. Thus Homer makes
Achilles slay twelve noble Trojan prisoners on the fune-
ral pyre of Patroclus ; and Virgil makes Aneas send
slaves to Evauder, to be sacrificed in the funeral of Pal-
las. This idea was received by the Romans from the
Etruscans ; hence the practice of immolating servants
an I slaves when their masters died, and, as an improve-
ment upon this, the first combat of gladiators was given
at the funeral of Brutus, in the year of the city 535, by
order of his two sons. It was once proposed to intro-
duce these combats among the Athenians, out of a
feeling of jealousy against the luxuries of the Corin-
thians Tho philosopher Demonates rose in tho midst
of the assembly, and exclaimed—" Before ye do this,
first cast to earth the altar which, more than a thou-
sand years ago, our fathers erected to mercy 1"
These sanguinary honours to the departed were often
ordered in the testaments of Roman nobles, and
even the funerals of women were celebrated by the
same. It was a severe reproof against the barbarism
of these spectacles, that Spartacus, the general
of the Gauls, gave to Rame, when on the death of his
brother, during the war, he compelled 300 pairs of her
citizens, his prisoners, to fight together as gladiators.
The combats were generally given on the spot where the
funerals were celebrated, but more frequently in the
forum, the camps, or the circus; it was not till the
avidity of the populace for such sights so increasing as
to demand them distinct from the rites of burial, as
separate entertainments, that amphitheatres were built.
The combats were then given by pretors, consuls,
questors, pontiffs, Sze. to celebrate the day of their en-
trance into office; by emperors on their birthdays, o
every fifth and every tenth anniversary of their acces-
sion; also on occasion of festivals, victories, and triumphs.
Those who filled high places had often their o en pur-
poses to serve, in averting the attention of the people
from themselves. Thus Julius Coeur, whilst i'dile, gave
gladiatorial shows in which 320 pairs contended and
would have employed a larger number, but that the
senate decreed that this should be the maximum.
One may imagine the frantic excess to which the taste
had been carried in Rome from the preventive laws
made by Augustus, that gladiators should no more com-
bat without permission of the senate ; that the pretors
should not give these spectacles more than twice a year;
that more than sixty couples should not engage at the
same time ; and that knights and senators should never
contend in the arena. Still more may one do so, from
the fact that some years after he was obliged to repeal
this last, because totally useless and contemned ! It
need not surprise us to find a Nero, a Commodus, a
Caracalla, delighting and participating in these contests ;
but . it awakens sorrowful astonishment to see Titus
sacrificing the lives of several thousands at the inaugural
games of the Colosseum ; Adrian giving, in one month,
spectacles in which 3,000, and Trajan continuiig for 123

former was carried on to Glasgow. A circumstance of
this kind is very rare, and not more rare than strange is
it that such a fearful affair should happen on board a large
roomy vessel, where means might have been taken to
prevent it. The authorities will, of course, inquire into
the matter, to see that all proper means were adopted to
to prevent the fatal result. The passage across was
tremendously severe, and very likely all the crew were
required to look after the vessel.—Greenock Advertiser.

The frost continues with unabated rigour, our ther-
mometer having indicated for the last few nights a point
varying from 12 to 16 degrees below freezing point.
The canal being frog n over, and large masses of ice on
the Severn, render the navigation very dangerous. The
condition of the abject poor must now indeed be wretched,
while that of many artisans, who are. obliged to suspend
their work in consequence of the cold, is scarcely any
better. The relief committee, it will be seen, have come
to a resolution for the distribution of soup at a penny
per quart in the first wcek of January, and also for the
sale of rice and coal at greatly reduced prices. These
measures will prove most beneficial, and the subscription
List will undoubtedly be soon crowded with liberal sums;
but we think it is a pity that these humane operations
had not commenced with the present week, when hun-
dreds of the poor are shivering under all the horrors of
fireless grates, empty cupboards, and uncovered b_ds.—
Worcester Chronicle.

DELAY OF NEWS.—The frosty weather continues to
cause all the railway trains to be late. On Tuesday the
morning mail train from London was about an hour late,
from the slippery state of the rails; and, owing to the
same cause, the train which leaves London at a quarter-
past six A.m. freighted, amongst other things, with the
morning papers, was an hour beyond its time in reaching
Birmingham; consequently the train, usually leaving that
town for Manchester about twenty minutes after its ar-
rival, proceeded without waiting for it, and the news-
papers were brought on by the mail-train, which reached
Manchester just one hour and three minutes atter its due
time.—Manchester Guardian.

An otter, of unusual size and weight, was shot in
the river Thames on Thursday morning. near Clown., by
Mr. George Chapman, of Windior. The animal wa
making for the bank with a large jack, alive, in its jaws,
when Mr. Chapman fired, and killed it, close to tilt.
shore. It measured from its nose to the tip of its tail
between four and five feet, and weighed nearly thirty

pounds.
BRONZED IRON CANNON.—It will be remembered
that some months ago ieveral iron cannon were bronzed
oy the galvanic process at Berlin, by order of the Prus-
sian government. They were tried on the 7th inst., in
presence of Prince Adalbert and several artillery officers,
and were found to answer admirably. Although one-
third less in thickness than the ordinary iron cannon
they bore a larger charge of powder.
A " STRIKE " AMONG TILE MAGISTRATES.—It is
rumoured that our metropolitan magistrates have
been putting their heade together* and come to the
determination of making a combined call upon the
Joverement for an increase of salary. We wonder
if the gentleman who lately committed the ship carpen-
ters fur refusing to work with an inctividual they did not
like. is one of the members of the magisterial " strike ?"
—Dublin Pilot.

Mr. Hudson, it is said, has given orders for all the
persons engaged on the Eastern Counties to be regaled
with a good dinner, and to receive 55., during the
Christmas holidays.—Leeds Mercury.
HOW TO MARE A QUARTER?i. LOAF OUT OF A
DEAL BOARD!—To make wood flour according to Pro•
fessor Autenrieth, the wood, after being stripped of the
bark, is to be sawed transversely into disks of an inch
in diameter. The saw-dust to be, preserved, and the
disks reduced in a pounding mill. The whole ahould
now be boiled, or subjected for a length of time to the
action of cold water, which will free it from anything
harsh or bitter. It is afterwards to be dried and ground
in a flour. The ground wood is next baked into small
flat cakes, with water rendered slightly mucilaginous by
the addition of some marshmallow roots, linseed or
lime-tree bark ; an ounce of mallow-root is suffi-
cient for eighteen quarts of water. The cakes are
baked until they are brown on the surface ;
they should be again broken, re-ground, and re-baked.
The Professor found fifteen pounds of birch flour, with
three pounds of sour wheaten leaven, and two pounds of
wheaten flour mixed up with eight measures of new
milk, yielded thirty-six pounds of very good bread. The
Learned Professor tried the nutritious properties of
wood flour in the first instance on a young dog ; after-
wards he fed two pigs on it ; and from the success of the
experiment he attacked it himself. His family, he says,
ate it in the form of gruel or soup, dumplings, and pan-
cakes, and found them palatable and quite wholesome.—
Abridged from Quarterly Review.
SINGULAR APPLICATION TO TILE GUARDIANS OF THE
LEER UNION.—Some few weeks ago a highly respect
able tradesman, from Lancashire, obtained permission
to inspect the above establishment, merely for the pur-
pose of amusement and information. When introduced
into the school, he was struck with amazement at the
cleanliness and proper demeanour of the scholars. lie
also expressed his astonishment at the progress they had
made in education at so early an age, and in such a
place, observing that he had a son about the same age
in a respectable school, who had by no means acquired
so much knowledge as those poor boys. Qn Wednesday
last, Dec. 9, the said gentleman made a formal applica-
tion to the board of guardians for his son's admission
into the house for the purpose of education, at the same
time proposing a handsome remuneration and submission
to the rules of the house, as to clothing, diet, and all
other restraints put upon the pauper children. The
board, which was numerously attended, unanimously
passed a re,olu.iou for :pc of the b'y, sujac,
to the approval of the Poor-law Commissionere.—Cor-
respondent of the MaccleVield Chronicle.

1, days those in a hick 10,000 pairs were the victims. Even
the amphitheatre of Flavius did not suffice ' • and luxury
introducing mttlic and dancing at the banquet, in-
troduced also the gladiatorial combats before the
very table of the guests, which was often sprinkled.
as they feasted, with the blood of two, three, and
sometimes many couples of these hirelings, whose pro-
fession had become of the first importance, whose
numbers and seditions at times perilled the safety of the
city ; and who, in their vanity, adopted a sanguinary
modishness, classifying their performances according to
the people whose manner of fighting they imitated.
There were the Gallic, the Dacian, the Thracian, and
Samnite games ; the Retarii gladiators, who used nets to
entangle their adversaries, defending themselves with
sword and shield ; and the Essedari, who fought on
chariots drawn by two horses, and armed with spears
like tridents. At times was erected in the midst of the
arena a machine called the Pegna, resembling a tower,
whose different stories were garrisoned, its apex crowned
with weapons and armour, the prize of victory. These
were besieged, and taken, unless successfully defended,
to represent the assault of a fortress. The Pegna were
made with such skill of mechanism, as to open and
close, to increase and diminish their altitude, as if
spontaneously. They were sometimes painted, at
oJiera plated over with gold and silrer ; their re-
cesses were often filled with persons condemned to
death, when thel'egna was made to fall to pieces, precipi-
tating these among the wild beasts. Under Diocletian,
the exhibition of these towers in a blaze of fire, which
3et did not hurt the material, was carried to great mag-
nificience. Gladiators were originally none but slaves,
servants, or prisoners of war • but the armies who con-
tended in later ages were divided into compulsory—that
is, slaves, prisoners of war, and condemned criminals--
and volutktary gladiators, which latter want through a
laborious education of gymnastics,, were supported and
well fed by the Lunista, or master of arms of each troop,
and are said to have been remarkably temperate. To
the eternal disgrace of the morals of these ages, it is re-
corded that women sometimes made themselves gladia-
tors, and fought with no other covering than the armour
used by the men. The passion of the populace for these
amusements was excessive. The seats used to be filled
long before daylight, as the performance was generally
kept up from morning till evening; and we read in Sue-
tonius, that Caligula, once disturbed by noises in the
amphitheatre of the people taking their seats at mid-
night, ordered them all to be driven out with clubs.

AN AMERICAN CURIOSITY SHOP.
A new curiosity shop has been established in Broad-
way. Among the rare articles it contains we notice the
following:—
A chip from the log which they are everlastingly roll-
ing in all our Legislatures.
One cake of the soap with which politicians try to
wash their hands clean.
A piece of the bond of union, manufactured of South
Carolina cotton by Yankee rope-makers.
The identical first glass which has created all the
drunkards.
The tongue of the very bell which Dr. Young heard
strike one. Pity it is not in that of St. John's, which
never strikes less than twelve.
Some of the iron which entered into the soul of Ugo-
lino, and every prisoner and slave since that day.
A pint of that exceedingly het water into which
people are perpetually plunging. Also the same frying-
pan that multitudes have been always jumping out of
into the fire.
The lock on the door through which silly youths have
in all ages rushed to destruction.
Picture of an infant manufacture, with Polk and Dallas
in the act of nursing it with the cold water douche.
The bag that contained the specie which Secretary
Walker did not get in Wall-street.
The celebrated piece of chalk which has ever been
the universal standard of measure among men.
The portrait of the " oldest inhabitant" who is sup-
posed to have forgotten more than any person now exist-
ing ever knew.
The band of Charity, standing open, with a counter-
feit sixpence in it.
One string of that famous instrument which tickles
people much more than that of Sivori or Paganini ever
did—namely, the Scotch fiddle.
The new yarn, which was spliced into the cord of
Evangelical union on board the Great Western during
;he late fearful gale, and taken out again as soon as the
storm was over.
A specimen of a bug, which lives through all the
seasons, and thrives the more for every attempt to ex•
terminate it—the Hum- bug. —New York paper.

FREIGHTS. —Accounts from Gottenburgh of the
28th ult., state that 17s. per ton for iron had been paid
to Hull ; and from Dantsic of the Ist current, that char-
ters for spring had been closed at 181. for London and
Liverpool per last for beams.—Dundee Advertiser.
THE NEW HOUSE OF LORDS.—It was generally
expected that their Lordships would meet in their new
House on the assembling of Parliament, but it is now
ascertained that the decorations and embellishments,
which are of the meat magnificent description, cannot be
c,rnpleted in sufficient time. Consequently the Peers
will for a short period continue to sit in the prelim',
House.

AUSTRIAN JUSTICE.—It will be remembered that
at the last Waterford assizes two Austro-I aliens, be-
-I.nging to the Anna, of Trieste, were acquitted of the
murder of Keane, the carman, the jury agreeing that it
was in self defence that homicide was committed. It was
believed that one of the Austrians, the small man in par-
ticular, gave the fatal stab to Keane. The men returned
to Italy, but not by the ship Anna, as she sailed previ-
ously to their liberation. But the merciful hearts of
Irish jurors were not of the stuff which administers
Austrian justice. On the arrival of the two sailors in
Trieste, they were imprisoned for the murder of the Irish
man, and brought to trial. The small man was found
guilty, and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Such
is his penalty in his own land, for killing a man in so
distant a country. It will be seen by this that the Aus-
trian authorities have no great affection for the knife,
and that murder is not thought lightly of in Austrian
Italy. The crew of the ship Anna, which has returned
to this port from the Adriatic, brings this intelligence.—
Waterford Chronicle.

EXPERIMENTS IN GUN COTTON.—Since the expe-
riments recorded in a recent publication of our paper we
hare received the following information from Mr. Hain-.
day of experiments made with a superior gun cotton to
that used previously:—Fifteen grains in a common fowl-
ing-piece projected a ball at fifty yards through three
boards, each II- inch thick, the latter board being covered
with copper 1-16 inch thick. Between the first and se-
cond board there was a space of 36 inches; between the
second and third 44 inches; the latter resting against a
gate from which a portion of the spars were broken, the
ball projecting it to some distance: the ball could not be
found. Eight grains at the same distance, and with the
same boards situated as before, sent a ball through the
first board into the second, which had a cross-bar of the
same thickness as the board, making-if inches altogether,
and was stopped by an iron bar: the ball when taken
out was found slightly injured. Three grains, in one of
Edge's rook-rifles, sent a ball, at a distance of 25 yards,
through If-inch plank. Experiments were also tried in
the Ardwick lime pits, when it was found, after several
trials, that 222 grains of gun cotton produced a better
effect than four ounces, or 1,750 grains, of the usual
gunpowder employed in mining operations. So w e may
safely estimate the power of the gun cotton as eight
times stronger than gunpo•A der, Another remarkable
fact with regard to this interesting body is, that when
exposed to a temperature from 200 to 300 degs., or, if
kept at the latter temperature for a short time, the cotton
becomes brown, and loses its property of explosion ;
but if thrown into a vessel heated to 350 degs. it imme-
diately explodes. Steaming it, as calico printers steam
their cloth, has no effect upon it ; if any, its efficacy is
increased. The acids used (equa mix:toes of nitric and
sulphuric acids) were as strong as they could be made,
and used only in such proportions as would wet the
cotton employed. This is the most difficult part of the
operation, and requires dexterity in the a.anagement, as
the cotton is apt to take fire unless it is speedily satu-
rated with the acid. This circumstance, we fear, will
prove a practical difficulty in the manufacture of this
article on a large scale.—Mancheser Times.
A ROBBER SHOT.—A distres.sieg itfLir occurred
on Monday night last, at Forneett Peter's, a small
village in Norfolk, near New Buckinglsam, and about
twelve miles from Norwich. This is an agricultural
village, and the name of one of the farmers residing
there is Robert Bailey. Mr.-Bailey has two sons living
at home with him, and about the middle of Monday
night one of these observed some men enter his father's
barn. He had no doubt but their object was to rob it,
and be awoke his brother and father, and these being
dressed, all three proceeded to the barn. Here they
found three men in the a?,t of filling sacks with wheat,
having already filled three, when Mr. Bailey surprised
them, and demanded them to surrender. One imme-
diately struck him a severe blow with a large bludgeon
with which he was armed. One of the sons bad taken
the precaution to arm himself with a gun, and the
moment he found the blow struck he fired at the man
who struck it, and the contents entered one of his eyes,
and were chiefly lodged in- his head. The others were
so frightened that a second was secured, while a third
fled. Messrs. Bailey recognised them all as their own
labourers, and one of them the thrasher. The man that
was shot, whose name is Brown, arrived at the Norwich
Hospital about three o'clock on Tuesday morning, and
we have not heard that he is at present dead. The
other who was apprehended has been examined, but had
not arrived at Norwich Castle in the early part of this
afternoon. He will, no doubt, be committed for trial.

lIINT TO THE CREDITORS OF MILITARY GENTLE-

MEN.-A bookseller, in Glasgow, allowed a military
gentleman, stationed in Glasgow, to run up an account
with him. The regiment, after some time, was ordered
to England, and the officer alluded to forgot or neglected,
as miatary men as well as others cometitnes do, to pay
his account. The creditor took cecasion, after he had
left, to rerdni him of it very civilly, and to request pay-
ment when convenient. No answer whatever was re-
turned. After a decent interval, another application,
equally polite, was made for the money ; but still the
result, or non-result, was the same. Five applications,
extending over a considerable period, Ivere thus made, to
each and all of which the gallant officer mkintained a most
pro7oking silence. The bookseller at last wrote him,
d i t Chief.
or, true to his
more sharply than before, that if the debt were not paid
in eight days, he would lay the whole of the circum-
satnasnnceers
evenbeforet thethiand Commander-inthe
c r
Tlferwwasorndo,
did as he had threatened to do. Ina few days, he had
received a letter from the military secretary of the Duke
of Wellington, announcing that the officer alluded to had
been apprised from the Horse Guards of this demand
against him, and that doubtless the account would be
paid. Almatt simultaneously the money was sent by
the recusant officer, but without a word of explanation.
We record the fact, as it may be useful to other creditors
in similar circumstances to know that the present autho-
rities at the War-office consider 'officerfibound to na
their debts.—Glasgow Argus.