Star.
London, England, 1830-08-12 00:00:00

' SCIVTILLX.

VALOIS MOD CAPET.—With Hein 111. the race of
Vidois became extinct ; and with Henry IV. that of Bourbon com.
meuced. It is curious that the families of Capes and Valois both
ended by the succession to the throne of three brothers, who all died
without leaving kin male.

THE KING AND TILE DEY.—A is said that the King
of France and the Dey of Algiers have both chosen Naples as their
place of residence : if so, the worthies may meet, and may, with
great truth, greet each other in the words of Peachier" and Leckit—
" Brother, brother, we are both in the wrong !"
CoiNCI n a c I.—The 28th of July, 1830, corresponds
with the 9th of Thertnidor, in the year 3 ; and thus the day of
the fall of the Bourbons was the anniversary of the fall of Robe.
spierre.
LORRAINIL—When Claude Lorraine, who it is well
known was not celebrated for painting figura, disposed of his pic-
tures, he used to say to the purchasers, " I sell you the landscape,
but mind, I give you the figures."
P RUSS I A.—ln 1819 there were 516 presses in Prussia;
in 1822, 580 ; in 1825, 693. Of periodical publications of vs.
rious kinds, there were 300 at the end of the year 1827.—Liferory
Gazette.
POLAND.—In Independent Poland, with a population
of 107,934, the number of journals published is five ; in Russian
Poland, with a population of 15,377,389, 39; in Prussian Poland,
with a population of 1,984,124, one; and in Austrian Poland, with
a population of 4,226,969, four; being 49 journals for a population
of 21,696,416 ; or, on the average, one journal for 142, 784 persons.

—Literary. Giulia,.
WHAT A RAT !—A few days ago a gentleman in
Bedfordshire, caught a pike, which was of such an extraordinary
size round, that be opened it directly, when, to his astonishment, it
contained in its stomach a full-grown water-rat.
-

Casanova, a Venetian, doomed to solitary confinement
in the dungeons of Venice, in 1755, says, that in one of the only
hooks which he was allowed to read, the authoress gives a history of
the Virgin, beginning with bet immaculate conception ; every thing
previous to her birth from that time being fully narrated. "At
three years old," she says, " the Virgin swept the house, assisted
by nine hundred servants, all angels, commanded by their own
Prince Michael!"
POPULAR PREACHING.—at was said btz Jeremy
Taylor, in speaking of popular preachers of his day, at they en-
tertained their hearers with " gaudy tulips and useless daffodils, and
not with the bread of life and medicinal plants growing on the
margin of the fountain of salvation."
ABORIGIN A L JUSTICZ.—The following is handed
down as a true copy of a warrant, issued by an Indian magistrate :
—" You. big constable, quick, you catchum Jeremiah Offscow,
strong you holdum, safe you bringion afore me.—Thomas Wa.
ban, J. P."
GEORGE 11. AID HIS Quetn.—Monday, 2d Sept.
1729, went to town. The nest day we saw the Queen at court :
from thence we went to Sir R. Walpole's In his chariot, and dined
with him and his lady only. On this occasion he let me into se.
veral secrets relating to the King and Queen—that the King con.
stantly wrote to her by every opportunity long letters of itwo or
three sheets, being generally of all his actions—what he did every
day, even to minute things, and particularly of his amours, what
women he admired, and took as favourites; and that the Queen, to
continue him in a disposition to do what she desired, returned as
long letters, and approved even of his amours. and of the women he
took; not scrupling to say, that she was but one woman, and an
old woman, and that he might have more and younger women, and
she was very willing that he should have the best of them. By
which means, and a perfect subserviency to his will, she ef-
fected whatsoever she desired, without which it was impossible to
keep him within bounds.—Lord King's Journal.
Tom THUMB, dec.—lt is not generally known that
lk, popular history of the " Seven Champions of Christendom "
which has delighted so many generations of little masters and
misses, was written by Richard Johnson, who was also fhe author
of the first prose history of that equally renowsed hero " Thomas
Thumbe," the first edition of which appeared in 12mo. 1621.
The original edition of the " Seven Champions" ' is now $ greet
mirky. The Nine Worthies of London,' 4to. 1592, and the
" History of Toni a Lincoln," which was so popular in its day
as to have run through seven editions in 1635, were also analog
the productions of this author, whose first named work admits only
" Robinson Crusoe," and perhaps " Gulliver's Travels," as rivals
in the estimation of every rising generation. Swift, when he tram.
posed the latter as a political satire, little thought that the chief
scene of its triumphs would be the nursery. That Tom Thumb"
is of Danish origin is notorious, and that he has remained in tea.
ditionary existence here since the partial occupation of the island
by his countrymen is probable ; Mr. Johnson. however, was his
first biographer. Half a century hes scarcely elapsed since a little
blue Gag-atone in the pavement of Lincoln was shown as his grave.
stone ; asdlslocobt, it will be recollected, was one of the five Danish
towns in England.
PROPERTIES OP A PARLIAMINTMAN.-1401d Coke,
in his fourth " Institute" defines certain qualities essentially requi.
sits to constitute a good member of parliament, and he refers to a
parliament roll, 3 Henry VI. which affirms that a parliament-man
should have three properties ascribed to the elephant:-1. That he
bath no gall ; 2. That he is inflexible, and cannot bow ; 3. That he
is of a most ripe and perfect memory. 1. To be without malice, ran-
cour. heat, and envy; in elerante melancholia transit in nutri-
mentum corporis : every gall h inclination, if any were, should
tend to the good of the whole body—the commonwealth. 2. That
he be constant, inflexible, and not to be bowed, or turned
from the right, either for fear, reward, or favour; nor in judg.
ment, respect any person. 3. That in remembering perils past.
dangers to come may be prevented. To these addition is made by
Lord Coke of two other properties of elephants. The one. that
though they be " maxims virtutia, et maxim' intellectus"— of
greatest strength and understanding,—" tamen gregatim temper
incedunt," yet they are sociable and go in companies ; for " anima-
lia gregalla non aunt nodes., sed animalia solivaga aunt nociva :"
sociable creatures that go in flocks or herds are not hurtful, as deer.
sheep, &c. but beasts that walk solely or singularly, as bears. foxes.
ike. are dangerous and hurtful. The other property is, that the
elephant is philanthropos, homini errand viam ostendit." And, in
the opinion of Coke, these properties ought every Parliament.man
to have.
HYDE-PARK IN 1682.—A newspaper, dated Ja-
nuary, 1682, contains the following account of some of the amuse-
ments of which Hyde-park was then the field :—" This day his
Majesty (Charles II.) with most of the Court, went into Hyde.
park, where the Guards exercised before the Morocco Ambassador.
His 'Excellency seemed highly pleased with our manner of military
discipline. The soldiers were gallantly accoutred, and the caws
magnificently. In return, the Ambassador's followers exercised,
after their manner, which, though strange to us, was most excel-
lently performed, and with most admirable agility, their horses
being very tractable and well managed. Some of their performances
were throwing of lances ; which, with incredible swiftness and
agility, they would catch again before they fell to the ground.
They did, ewise, upon full speed, take off a ring (being
hung up for that purpose) upon the end of their lances, very
rarely missing. Scarce ern was seen in the park so great an ap-
pearance of coaches."
A COMPLIMENT TO DEVONSIIIRE PROVINCIALISM.
...Judge Rolland told a witness in the Crown Court that he spoke
the provincial dialect so bad be could not understand him.
ANOTHift COMPLIMENT.—Captain Cooke, the re-
sumed emesender of the Javelin Men, during a trial on Wednesday.
at Kuser, Ia which the risibility of some part of the audience in the
/22:sa excited, said in a loud voice extending his wand in the
boas whence the interruption proceeded •• I am sorry of your
Deposals, behaviour when a man is trying for his life—if you had
head the clergyman's sermon, you would have behaved yourselves
WM°
Usztv L IN TORtdATION.—II appears not to be suffi-
dandy known that persons above 64 years of age, are not liable to
Isine as jurymen at Sessions or Assizes. During the late Assists
M Exeter, no less than four or five individuals, who had been aware
et it, applied to be excused on that ground. Many have, no doubt,
I anned considerable expense from their want of knowledge on this
subject ; and in every case the Judge told the applicants that they
should have previously ascertained 'it. Would it not be well for
those who summon men to travel from a distance, to furnish them
, with such information ?
with 1

BIRTHS.
On the oth inst. in Upper Ikkezatreet, the lady of Baron de
Kutzleben, of the Hon. East India Company's service, of a daughur
--Tuesday. at Bryanston, the Lady Emma Portman, of a sow.'
On the 30th alt. in Clifotd.street, Lady Janet ilrolronsl, of Ili"
and heir.

DIED.
At St. James's, on the 7th instant, the infant daughter of Thee
/durables, Esq.
Sunday, at Onesley-lodge. Reading, the Hon. Mrs. John Sta.
wife Lkut..Colenel Stapkton--Secklenly, en SatnidaY
Alston,
at *
Seethe*, war Bids id, in the 44th year of his sr. CO'.
Seek, R.N.—At E
Itlintern.hettee, Das*, ea the'lllth ult. leanor,
rake of theists Rt. Ron. Robert Digit), ,Into Admit* tithe Fleet.

lanes s• &Wad am/ Pololbbed by JousrMaTws. at ihe
emes N. t; Temple au.