Star.
London, England, 1830-08-18 00:00:00

SCINTILLA.

THE TII AMES ON FIRE.—At a fire which occurred
some years ago at Alma& Enderby's oil-warehouse, near Black_
friars, streams of burning oil ran into and remained ignited in the
River, which occasioned it to be said that the proprietors were the
first persons who were ever known " to set the Thames on fire."

LACONIC CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO QuAKEiti.
--A. Art thou married, friend ? B. Who ?—A. Thee. B. No.--
A. Oh !—B. Art thou married, friend ? A. Who ?—B. Thee.—
A. Yes.—B. Ah !—Furet de Louden.

CROWN DIAMONDS.—The two most valuable dia-
monds of the French Crown are called the Sand and the Regent._
The Sand takes it name from Nicolu de Halal de Sand, who was
once its owner. The Sand was sold for a crown to the Duke of Bur.
gundy by a Swiss in the 15th century. In 1589 it was in the Ns.
session of Antonio King of Portugal, and by him it was first pledged
to De Sand for 40,000 Byres, and subsequently sold for 100,000
livres ; De Sand, in like manner, disposed of it to James 11. of
England, then resident at St. Germain
's, from whom it passed into
the hands of Louis XIV.

TH E EISA D-GA R DEN ER.—Hie Majesty, on visiting
the gardens at Hampton Court, was received by the head-gardener,
who alighted from his carriage. " said the King, 4, I
do not wish to see you in your carriage • a plain buggy will do as
well. You are head-gardener at Windsor and other places ; too
much to do; you must resign Hampton gardens; others should
share; too many places for one gardener to hold." The situation is
worth between four and five hundred a-year. This pluralist of
cabbages, &c. will lose a portion of his celery, and Royal benevo-
lence will be extended.—Age.

COLUMBARIEs.—The news of the events in Paris was
brought to Brussels by pigeon* and ass pigeon cannot carry more
words than a telegraph, the art of lalonic writing is necessarily in
request. One of them is said to have borne this pithy sentence,
" Paris up—the King down—the Minister off." One of the
pigeons score a tri.ooloured cockade. The carriers arrived in un-
usually quick time, owing, it is supposed, to the fright they got in
starting from Paris in the midst of the confusion and the discharge
of fire-arms. There is to be a regular revolutionary dove-house es-
tablished in Paris, for the sole purpose of bringing immediate in.
telligence of changes in the Government. Similar columbarics are
to be set up in Madrid and Lisbon, under the idea that, before
long, those capitals may furnish some intelligence worth hearing.
CHARACTERISTICS.—The Duchess d'Angouleme
evinced a sang froid really surprising. Her husband appeared as
if going to a paella de Masse; but that amiable woman, the
Duchess de Berri, seemed solely occupied about the future
destiny of her two children—upon many occasions her handker.
chief was before her eyes. There is not a mother who, in looking
at her, would not pity her. The children talked, laughed, bowed,
and kissed hands to those who passed by. The following words
escaped from the lips of the young Duke. A peasant presented a
basket of apricots at the door of the Duchess's carriage, " Irons
Wes bier ainsable," said the child ; " you are the first person who
has given me any fruit since I left ltambouillet ; when I return to
the Tuileries, I will request my preceptor to reward you. At pre.
sent I have no money, and minima left the chateau in such haste
that she Is not provided with any.'
NAPOLEON was fond of quick replies: he could bear
contradiction, but invariably turned away from those who addressed
him with hesitation or embarrassment. The following anecdote
will sufficiently prove that a ready and well-timed answer was an
infallible passport to his favour t—" At a grand review, which, on
a particular occasion, took place on the square of the Carrousel, the
Emperor's horse suddenly reared, and during his exertions to keep
the animal steady, the rider parted company with his hat. A lieu-
tenant having picked it up, advanced in front of the line, and pre-
sented it to Napoleon, Thank you, Captain,' said the Emperor.
still occupied in patting the neck of his steed. 'ln what regiment,
Sire ?' immediately demanded the officer. The Emperor, consider.
ing his features attentively, and perceiving his own mistake replied
with a smile, The question is apropos—in the Guards.' In a few
days the newly-appointed captain received an official notification of
the promotion, for which he was indebted solely to his presence of
mind, but which his bravery and long services had merited.—Con.
slants Armoires of Buonoparte.

PRESERVATION or WOOD.-Put Lodi's ounces of
resin in an iron pot, and when it is melted add eight ounces of
stick sulphur. When these are liquified, add to them ten quarts
of spermaceti oil. Heat the whole moderately, and add by degrees
about two ounces of yellow wax, cut into small pieces. Keep this
mixture stirred frequently ; and when it is melted, add carefully any
colour that is required, the powder being first mixt with a little oil.
Two or three coats of this varnish or paint will preserve wood for
20 yam—Frew* Paper.
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MENTAL DELUSION.—A very curious Cale of delu-
sion upon one subject only, came before the Magistrate. at.
Merthyr, some time ago. Caleb Morris, a native of Nefern, Pem-
brokeshire, as sober and industrious a workman as any in Slerthyr,
lately took it into his head that he was " possessed of unclean spi-
rits," and that Mr. Evans, of Zoar chapel, a most respectable dis-
senting minister, had been the cause of such infliction. Impressed
with this idea, be became restless, and uttered the most dreadful
threats, protesting that he could endure his tortures no longer, and,
though he knew he should be hanged for it, he would kill Mr.
Evans whenever he could find him, at the same time taking a large
clasp knife from his pocket, and whetting it on a brick. The parson
with whom he lodged, alarmed for Mr. E.'s safety, sent to put him
on his guard. On the night of the sth inst, the" possessed" went
to bed as usual, but it was ascertained at three in the morning that
he had left his room ;he did not return till four. In the mean time
be had been at Mr. Evans's-house, and had endeavoured to prevail
on Mr. Evans to come down and shake hands with him, which, most
fortunately for that gentleman, he declined doing. When Caleb re-
turned to his lodgings, he bitterly lamented his disappointment.
On his being committed, for want of security, to keep the peace, he
assured Mr. Bruce that he would murder 3lr. Evans the first op-
portunity he had.
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WALIIALLA.—In the northern mythology, a palace
called Walhalla was appropriated for the heroes who met death in
battle. The present King of Bavaria, when hereditary Prince, wasso
ravished by this illustrious idea, that he decided tn. carrying it into
execution In good time. John Miller, the renowned historian, whom
he made acquainted with his resolution, wrote to him in the follow.
ing terms, 20 years ago, at the time Germany was suffering under
the French thraidrom :—" It does your Highness great honour, that
you do not abandon the elevated idea of the Walhalla, this orna-
ment of our country. Never was the German nation more in need
of not forgetting herself, in order to show her character in this new
era of dignity. Fathers and their offspring, if in shadows the mind
is still alive, and if, as we hope, the German trunk shall still ficu-
rish for future times.—fathers, I repeat, and their °Spring will
thank you, noblest of the Wittelsbachs, that you, in a time which
threatens to deprive us of ourselves, have been mindful of the Ger-
man father-land." This magnanimous idea, of which the juvenile
mind of the Prince was so fond, the King now puts into execution.
Last lilay, the preparations were begun for building the Walhalla
on a hill close to Donaustauf (a country town not far from Kati--
bon,) and on the 18th of next October, the anniversary of the battle
of Leipsic, the solemnity of laying the first stone will take place in
the King's presence. This temple, supported by a number of mar-
ble pillars, and adorned with the busts of great men, will become
one of the noblest monuments of the age. The place where the
Walhalla will stand its exceedingly well selected, as a ravishing land-
scape surrounds the hill, from whose top this majestic building is
to look down. Many travellers will, in future, visit a place which
contains all the predominant character of Germany's warlike history.
—Literary Gasette. '

BIRTHS.
The 17th inst. in Eaton-square, Mn. Keith Douglas. of a dough-
ter.—At his Lordship's house, in the county of Dublin. the
Viscountess Dungarvan, of a son.

MARRIED.
The 12th host. at North Creek. Norfolk, J. T. Graver Browne.
Esq. of Re tone-hall, Norfolk, to Frances, daughter of Arch-
deacon Bathurst, and granddaughter to the Bishop of Norwich.—
Tuesday, at St. Andrew's, J. W. Spurrier, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn.
to Frances Jane Mary, second daughter of J. I'a more, Esq. of
Bedford-row.—At Waldron, in &MCI, T. Bray, to Mrs. Mary
Sharvell, the relict of the late Lieut. 11 Sharvell, of the Royal
Navy.—The 15th inst. at Budleigh, Devon, H. E. Shepard, of
Porchestet-terrace. Bayswater, to Miss M. A. Prichard, of the NUM
place.—The 3d Inst. at Kilflyn T. Sergeant, Esq. of Kilfinan, to
Susan, daughter of the late H. Touchstone, Esq. of Ballyagogue,
in
this county.—At Rockbrook, County Westmeath, P. J. Nagle,
Esq. of Ballyellis, County Cork, to Kate, second daughter of tbc
late J. 51'Cormkk, Esq. of Ballymahon, County Longford.

DI ED.
In Lomita- place, James, youngest son of the late Dr. Mitchell
- -The 15th host. at his house at Baldock, Herta, I. Hindley, Eeck
aged 76 —On the sth inst. Mrs. Mary Hart, of Sloane-tweet, agea
83—On the 16th inst. at Reading, In her 19th year, Charlotte, relict
of J. Prettijohn, Esq late of the island of Barbadoes— The 15th
hut, at Forest-place, Laytonstone, J. W. Unwin, Esq. one of his
Majesty's Coroners for the amity of Middlesex, in dap MO year of
his age—At p ambetwell, on the 16th last. Sarah Elizabeth, the
wik of M. Greenaway, Esq. of the tEast India Company's service,
in the 36th jeer of her age.

Loom*: Printed aad Published by Joao Novara4 at oho $lBl
earn Nat, Plobeasidoia.Tastrb Bu.