Star.
London, England, 1830-07-28 00:00:00

SCINTILLA.

A WONDER.--In the island of Skye, where the ge-
nius of rain descends in a perpetual drizzle, there has scarcely, it is
said. fallen a single shower during the last six weeks, and this when
nearly all other parts of the kingdom. highland and lowland, have
been drenched and flooded with constant " even-down pours !"
ANCIENT FREEHOLD.—At the Sussex election in
1807, an elector named Morton voted in right of his patrimonial
land at Rusper, which had been in possession of his ancestors 730
years.
VORACITY OF RATS.Mr. Carey Corfe destroyed
with his two celebrated terriers the other day, at a farm near Ba-
singstoke, in two hours not less than 230 rats ! In well-store.!
barns and corn.stores the destruction caused by these vermin cannot
be rated at lean than 21. 10s. per week, or 6501. per annum—
/Innis Adrertiatr.

GENERAL ELEcTiox.—Magna Charta ordains that
at least 40 days shall elapse between the issuing of the writ by the
King in Council, and the meeting of Parliament. This is enforced
by statue 7 and 8 William 111. c. 25, which enacts that there shall
be 40 days between the terge and the return. Jr. consequence of the
union with Scotland and Ireland there is usually a lapse of SO days
or more. In the Act of Union with Scotland 50 days are mentioned
as the period to be allowed by proclamation for fixing the first Par-
liament of Great Britain. The proclamation for dissolving the la.
and summoning the next Parliament permits 52 days to intervene.
A singular ceremony exists at feasts in China before
they proceed to their libations. Before they drink, they all rise
from their seats and advance towards the middle of the room, hold.
ing their cups with both hands; they raise them to the height of
their mouths and lower them again to the ground—the lower the
more polite. This is repeated three times, aix times, and even
nine times; every one lowering and raising their heads at intervals,
more or less loaf, by a quick movement ; each man following the
movements of his neighbour. After repeated trials the cups reach
their mouths at the same time. They then empty them together.
and look at each other very seriously, and as if to show that they
have drank up the last drop. After this operation they salute each
other with the same ceremonies, and gradually return to their places
to continue their repast. There sometimes are endless discussions
happen who shall first be seated, when after a long aeries of salute.
dons, inclinations of the head, gestures and reverences, they sit
themselves down at the same time.—Nadosal.

NEW MEDICINE.M. Leroux, an apothecary at
Vitry.le.Francais, has extracted from the bark of the willow a new
substance, to which he has given the name of salicine ; and which
he has found to be a powerful febrifuge. A committee of the
French Academy, to whom M. Leroux's discovery was submitted
for consideration, have pronounced most favourably with respect to
it. They say that its medical properties are singularly energetic.
and that it may be advantageously substituted for quinine. M. Ma.
jendie administered 18 grains in a day, in three doses of six grains
each, and that quantity sufficed to remove intermittent fever, with.
out any return. It appears, therefore, that the quantity of salicine
necessary for that purpose is smaller than the quantity of quinine
which must be employed under the same circumstances.Foreigra
Quarterly Review.

SCOT-TISII REPRESENTATION.—The following docu-
ment, prepared byan intelligent friend, who vouches for its accuracy,
cannottobe regarded by our readers as valuable. It shows
into what number of hands the right of election in our Scottish
counties is committed, and may perhaps point out, to the excluded
community, the importance of a more extended suffrage, along with
the privilege of voting by ballot. Vigil we have the voting by
ballot, we never can have an incorruptible constituency, or a really
pure and independent representation ; and therefore to obtain this
boon,—a boon which at present is working, in France, such wonders
in favour of liberty,—ought to be the leading object of every peti.
tion made by the people to the Legislature :
County. Freeholders. County. Freeholders.
1. Aberdeenshire 184 Brought forward 1754
2. Argyllshire ll4 19. Kinrosa.shire
3. Ayrshire lB5 20. Kirkcudbright ...... ... .181
4. Banffshire 49 21. Lanarkshire 222
5. Berwickshire..... 149 22. Linlithgowshire
6. Buteshire • .. 21 23. Nairnshire
7. Caithness shire . 33 24. Orkney and Shetland ... 43
8. Clarkmannanshire .... 16 25. Peebles.shire
$. Cromartyshire .......• • • 19 26. Perthshire. 239
N. Dumbartonshire
11. Dumfries.shire.......... 24 28. Ross-shire ......--- 82
12. Edinburghshire 165 29. Roxburgshire l5l
13. Elgin and Moray 32 30. Selkirkshire 33
14. Fireshire .............239 31. Stirlingihire l3O
IL Forfarshire 124 32. Sutherlandshire...---- 21
is. Haddingtonshire lOB 33. ‘Vigtonshire —...-- 70
17. Invernawnhite 77
18. Kincardineshire ....