Star.
London, England, 1830-08-27 00:00:00

SCINTILLtE.

Aw AMERICAN RAT.—A New York paper contains the
following paragraph :—" The Marblehead Rejisler states that a rat,
caught by the nape of the neck in a trap on Thursday night, completely
skinned himself and absconded, leavirdl his whole hide unbroken, ex-
cept by the teeth of the trap !"

HYD ito Pilo ut A.—A learned and experienced physician
in Philadelphia, Dr. Rosseau, maintains that hydrophobia is not pro-
duced by a specific virus. He regards it as a tetanic afibction, and says
there is always danger of hydrophobia front the bite of a dog, *heater
the dog be healthy or diseased, in the same manner as there is always
danger of &lock-jaw from running a splinter or a nail into the foot or hand.
It is only in one cue in a hundred, or in a thousand, that the running of
a splinter or a nail into the hand or foot is followed by the lock-jaw. In
like manner it is only a few instances out of many that the bite of a dog
occasions hydrophobia. On this theory, dogs are even a greater nuisance
than they were of old. It teaches that there is danger of hydropho.
bia from the bite of any dog, and at any thne.—/Itiladelphia Gazette.

AWFUL !—At a public dinner on Saturday week, at
Whitehaven, given to Sir J. Graham, Mr. Lawson, proposed, " May
the heads of Don Miguel, Ferdinand the Seventh, and Charles the
Tenth, be rolled in the dust, and the sooner the better !" The chair-
man, Thomas Hartley, Esq. desired that this toast might be drank is
solemn silence! !

REMARKABLE HANK OT SILK.--A bank of silk, pro-
duced by a single worm, was lately reeled in the presence of several gen.
tlemen in Bolton, which was 365 yards in length ; and on being weighed,
was found to be of the texture of 1,500 hanks in the lb. A single pound
of this silk would reach 710 miles. The worm was only seven days in
spinning the hank, consequently it produced at the rate of 52 yards
per diem.
EXTRAORDIN A RY CI RCUAISTA NCE.—In a field near the
Lincoln road is to be seen a man of the name of George Harrison, a
pauper, who is totally blind, reaping among the other reapers, and
doing his work equally as well, and nearly as much in a day as the best
man in the gang.

How TO CATER FOR SPORT.—A young gentleman, who
has a strong inclination for field sports, borrowed a double.barrelled
gun, and sallied forth, determined upon slaughter. He reached the
Hone and Jockey, where sat an old duck, enjoying her water excursion.
He aimed with deadly intent, he pulled, the gun fired, and ite hit the
pond. He loaded a second and third time, and at last site received
an accidental corn shot, which deprived her of life. The gamic was
bagged.
LINCOLN HAS LONG BEEN CELEBRATED FOR CLAIMS
UPON :THE Awriousstraw.--Saturday last, at a small cottage,
the property of Colonel Sibthorpe, I.P.a a portion of the plaster tea.:
removed, when there was discovered some inscription, but which, from
its not being expected to be found, and from the ignorance of those who
were the discoverers, it has been nearly effaced : from the portion that
remains, it seems to bear the date ISM, and the name Hussey, but who
he was we are not aware. In the reign of Henry the Eighth, there
were some of that name, but the date will not allow of the supposition
that this name can have any reference to theirs.

BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY.—Green be the pil-
low of honest Allan Ramsay, at; whose lamp Burns lighted his brit-
liant torch ! But it is impossible not to regret that such an affecting
tale as that of Bessie Bell and Mary Gray should have fallen into las
hands. The Southern reader must learn (for what Northern reader is
ignorant ?) that these two beautiful women were kinsfolk, and so strictly
united in friendship, that even personal jealousy could not iptertup:
their union. They were visited by a handsome and agreeable young
man, who was acceptable to them both, but so captivated with their
charms, that, while confident of a preference on the part of both, he
was unable to make a choice between them. While this singular si-
tuation of the three persons of the tale continued, the breaking out et
the plague: forced the two ladies to take refuge in the beautiful valley
of Lynedoch, where they built themselves a bower, in order to avoid
human intercourse and the danger of infection. The lover was rot in-
cluded in their renunciation of society : he visited their retirement,
brought with him the fatal disease, and, unable to return to Perth.
which was his usual residence, was nursed by his fair friends with all
the tenderness of affection. He died, however, having first cot mant.
clued the infection to his lovely attendants. rhey followed hint to th.:
grave, lovely in their lives, and undivided in their death. Their ha.
rial place in the vicinity of the bower which they built is still ri-
sible, in the romantic vicinity of Lord Lynedoch's mansion. and pm.
longs the memory of female friendship, which even rivalry mu:a roc
dissolve. Two stanzas of the original ballad alone survive :
" Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
• They were twa bonnie lasses
They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae
And theekit it ower we rashes.
• • • • • • •

They wadna rest in Methven Kirk,
Among their gentle kin,
But they, would lie in Lednoch braes.
To beck against the sun."
" There is, to a Scottish ear, so much tenderness and simplicity 1.
these verses, as must induce us to regret that the rest should hire
been superseded by a pedantic modern song, turning upon the Dios;
unpoetic part of the legend, the hesitation, namely, of the lover whtc .
of the ladies to prefer."—Poetical Works of Sir if Sou.
Vol. XI.

Yesterday evening, as the servant of Mr. Smith, car-
penter, of Whitechapel-road, was walking along the highway, with
child in her arms, with whom she was playing, it fell from her. when a
cart went over it, and broke its thighs ; the child was conveyed hor.e.
where it expired in the presence of its distracted mother.

BIRTHS.
The 23:h inst. at the Principal's lodgings, Bluenose Co Ox-
ford, Mrs. Gilbert, of a daughter.—The 25th inst. at Harpenden-hou.e.
Harpenden, HertfordAire, the lady of J. Sniith, Esq. of a son and heir.

MARRIED.
The 24th inst. at Broadwater, near Worthing, Sussex, Mr. G. Ward.
of Bridewell Precinct, to Sarah, second daughter of Mr. Etlmund4..!
Worthing.—At Quebec, on the Ist of June, at the Chapel of the lion
Trinity, G. Keys, Esq. Deputy-Purveyor to the Forces, H.P. to Man
Jane. eldest daughter of Mr. Marshall.—Wednesday, at Norwood, E. P.
Thompson, Esq. of Dover, to Anne Eliza, eldest daughter of the la:,
G. Thompson, Esq. of Rye, Sussex. —At Islington, on the 21st ins:.
Mr. W. E. Plunibridge, to Elizab.th, died daughter of Mrs. Abraham.
of Hackney.

DIED.
The 23d inst. in the 70th year of het age, Elizabeth. wife of 314 J.
Dabell, leather-seller, Cranbrook..—The 24th inst. at IVatford- Hertb.
Elizabeth, daughtcr of T. Nicholl, Esq. solicitor, of that place...At
Edinburgh, on the 23d inst. the infant son of CoL Mavne.—The 21th
inst. at Kentish-town, in the 14th year of her are, Catherine, the fifth
daughter of Mr. J. Edwards, of Hanover-street, Hanuver-squarc.—Thr.
23th imt. at Brompton, Catherine, the wife of G. Ogle, Esq.

LOWDON Printed and Published by Joint BUTYL, at lk STAR.
Orricr. No. 1, Piekett-place, Temple Bar•

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