Star.
London, England, 1824-03-15 00:00:00

the Reader's notice ; it is to spew that, tinder certain cir-
cumstances, highly vivid and embodied images of the
mind may be produced—attended as in this instance
with pleasurable sensations. 0.1 the other hand, le 'a
singular result, but varied by the opposite quality of
pain, attends the incipient influence of the febrile rni•
'as= of Cadiz and Malaga. Sznsation and ideas ate,
as under the action of the nitrous oxide, simultaneously
vivified. The mind soon becomes insensible to actual
impressions, and a new world of ideas, of the most
frightful kind, take their place. Horrid spectral images
arise, t!.e fore runner of a suddenly diminished degree
of excitemenr,,of total insensibility, or of death!'
By this mode of procedure the author 'establishes a
pathological principle, namely .‘ that when sensations
and ideas are, froth some .peculiar state of the sangui-
neous fluid, simultancou ly rendered highly intense, the
tormer arrive at a certain height of vividness, and gra-
dually become fainter, while the latter, in an inverse
ratio, iacrease in vividness; the result being, that recol-
lected images of thought, vivified to the height of ac-
tual impressions, exclusively, or nearly so, constitute ,
the states of the mind."
Having thus stated the pathological principle on
which he means to proceed, he next proceeds to enquire,
if there are not certain morbid conditions of the body
in which the blood, frir) its altered quality, may not
prodirce_the same consequences as the nitrous oxide
and febrile. miasma, which, when inhaled, affect the
.composition-of the blood, and, at the same time, exert
a vivifyipg influence over the feelings of the mind.
This enquiry naturally leads him to treat of Spectral
Illusions resulting from the highly excited states of
particular temperaments ; —the Hysteric ; the neglect
of accustomed blood-letting ; Hectic symptoms ; Fe-
brile and inflammatory affections; inflammation of the
brain, &c. &c. followed by remat ks on the apparitions
of good spirits, recorded in popular narratives; appa-
ritions connected with demonology ; departed spirits ;
dreams; &c. &c. &c. with an Appendix.
As a whole this volume is exceedingly curious, and
contains numerous well-authenticated stories of ap•
paritions ;—stor tes whicli the hunters after such lore will
not meetµ ith every day; but let them read the whole
work attentively, and not content themselves with swal-
lowing the bane without also taking the antidote. We
regret that our limits prohibit any extracts from what
may be styled the more amusing parts of this wt,rk ; but
we may, pethaps, return to it on some future day.

The Bachepr's Wife ; a Selection of Curious and inte-
resting Extrads, with carsory Observations. By John
Galt, Esq. Post Bvo. pp. 450.
_

This volume, without being intruded as having great
claims on the attention of the Public, is, notwithstand-
ing, highly amusing, and well suited for the parlour
table. The extracts are generally introduced with col-
lcquies. This, the E.dicor informs us, was an after
thought, to give an air of freshness to the result of a
task that necessarily excluded originality. • On this we
shall only remark, that in doing so he has verified the
old proverb,—" Second thoughts are often the best."
But though the contents of the volume, are, as Mr.
Galt avows, generally taken from other publications,
several of the pieces termed ‘ &ray Lssa.ys," and
",Stray Podry,"have certainly not before been pub-
lished. The following is from i 4 The Stray Poetry."

44 THE POET TO HIS WORKS.

" flowers horn beneath a wintry sky,
When Chall ye burst the envious shade ?
Or, like the bard, fore-doont'd to die,
Unseen, unlionouril, must ye lade ?
"4 Yet droop not hopeless round his 'urn,
Untimely though your biossorna fall,
Await with Mm the year's requen,
For you nor he alkali perish all !
" Sprung through a crevice of the tomb,
A solitary stem may blow,
Gay orphan of the silent gloom,
And point the humble value below!
" Some timpfe, unambitious strain,
Low breathed in beauty's pensive ear,
The soft complaint of tender pain,
Framed in the Sowing of a tear !
" The poet's pate immortal part,
From all unhallow'd dross reined,
Shall live 10 many a gentle heat,
The heaven of a poetic mind !"

tAttitltlt's MEDAL—Previously-to the arrival of his
:Royal 'Highness the Duke of Yonx to 'preside at the,
-Anniversary Festival of the Covent-Garden Theatrical'
!Fund, the Stewards and Committee of 'Management'
assembled in the Committee Room, for the -purpose of
rpresenting Mr. Tratvicerr with the above named Medal,
:as a tribute of their gratitude and•esteem for their Trea-
tstrres services. From Mr:GA-alum it descended to
'his widows the late 'Mrs.GAttittUK ; and on'the death of
-that Lady, it was•diTosedif at public auttion, when;
Mr. NiaTtrEws became'the successful bidder; and from
Mr. NlA•rtrews, it was purchased by'the 'present Com-
mittee, tohe bestowed on Mr. FAWCETT, in commemo-
ration of his unceasing exertions. This 'pleasing duty
was petfor med. by Mr. NIATHEws, and 'Mr. FAWCETT
acknowledged the honour conferred on him with strong
feeling and•the warmest expressions of ratitude. •
Friday night last, the silk-factory of Messrs. Henry
Barlow and'Co. at Macclesfield, took 'fire, and 'was en-
tirely burnt down. This unfortunate event will cause
from three to five hundred hands to be out of employ.
'fhentimber of barrels of strong and table•beer brewed'
in the year .1822, in England, Scotland, and %Valet, was
8'.350,870 ; while the quantity of 'strong beer exported
in the-same space of time, did not-exceed 71;828.
COMSll•AettbENr.—Tuesdarlast.as the True llriton
ceoich svas•entering New-street, Huddersfield, on its re.
turn 'from Manchester, it was overturned with a tre-
imendoui-erasbi and several of 'the passengers.seriouily,
Injured. -A female passenger now lies at the Woolpick
'lnn, in an alarming state, having had her hip-bone trac-
turfed, and she is otherwise much bruised, and not un-*
'likely to.fall *victim to the abominable practice-of fir,
krious•driving. The whole of this alarming scene, was
t witnessed by Joseph Haigh, Esq. And on the following
rmorni`ng the'coachman was summoned to appear before
ttbat 'NlagiStrate and 'Mr. HonsrALL, to answer for his
:condutt. 110 defence was made, and The pedalty of ten
,pounds was imposed for 4, furious driving.' -
Toe'Fire CAUSE.—It will be recollected this cause'
involves intefests to .the -amount-of %OWL a -year:'
.-the Petition the'Earl of:Fife-to the Court of Session,
-to apply the judgment if the Muse of Lords, was moved
in the Second Division ron Tueiday last. 'lt was re-'
marked ou the Bench,' are duty of the Court was in. thil'
:cute clearly defined 'certain issue had been sent
.down by tire-House of Lords for trial, which their Lord-
ships must remit to the'Jury Court for determination, in
.mterconformity to the terms in which it is-conceived
in the .jnifstnent if- the House :of 'Lords. 'The court
aeearitingly directed such issue to'be prepared'for its
approval.

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MINN