Star.
London, England, 1831-06-09 00:00:00

TILE LATE MRS. S'IDDONS.

This lady, who, at no very distant period, was not less
emiment for the splendour of her mental endowment., than
fot the towering majesty of her person and demeanour, pad
the great debt of Nature yesterday morning at nine o'clock, !
at her late residence in Upper Baker-street, Portman-square..
Ihe announcement of this melancholy fact the public was in
part prepared for by the recent appearance of paragraphs,
which spoke of her illness and of its alarming tendency.-- ,
We hear that her life was wholly despaired of by her medi-
cal attendants on Saturday last, since which, however, she
rallied a little, and alight hopes were entertained by some of '
her friends that she might for a time longer be spared to
them. The disorder for a very little while manifested signs
of abatement, but returned pith accumulated force, end she
sank under its effects at the day and hour above stated.
To readers in general, and to theatrical readers in particu.
lar, it may be an object of curiosity when recording the
death of an individual so eminent in the theatrical hemi-
sphere as Mrs. Siddons once confessedly w.ut, to know
something concerning her birth—her parentage—as well as
of her career upon that stage which she rendered so celebrated
and which, since her secession from it, " has never seen her
like again."
Sarah Siddons was the eldatt daughter of Roger and
Sarah Kemble, and was born at a small public-house at
Brecknock, in South Wain, on the loth of July, 1"55,
wanting therefore only five weeks to have completed her
78. h year. Her father was the Manager of a strollmg com-
pany
of Comedians, and we have the testimony of 31r.
Holcroft, whose words we are about to quote, that it " was
more respectable than many other companies." Her first
appearance on the stage is narrated by Mr. Holeroft in his
memoirs: it was for the benefit of her father, when she was
extremely young, and she repeated as her coup cressai the
fable of the frogs and the mice.
From this period it appears Miss Kemble performed regu.
!arty in her father's company, but rarely in tragedy, as she was
accounted an excellent singer, though she knew nothing of
the science of music. At this time, Mr. Siddons, her future
husband, was a member of her father's company, and, though
he was valued for his versatility, and "could do any thing
from Hassle! to Harlequin." yet were not his attentions
to Miss Kemble approved of by her parents, in consequence,
it is pretended, of her extreme youth, her age being then but
15 years. She was, therefore, placed " two years under the
protection of Mrs. Greatheed, equally removed front her
lover and the stage." Here she acted in the capacity of
lady's-maid to the lady above named, who resided at Guy's
Cliff, near Warwick. However it seems, that she panted
for the enjoyment of those plaudits which '
had encouraged her
early efforts ; but, in all probability, more ardently for the
society of one from whom absence could not estrange her
affections. In fine, she quitted her situation, and a
journey to Scotland was probably averted, by the consent of
the parents to their union. Mr. Kemble himself gave his
daughter's hand to Mr. Siddons, before she had completed
the eighteenth year of her age. This match, as our readers
may guess, was rather one of affection titan of prudence, for
though it tray not be disputed that "she was every thing
to him, and he to her was every thing," yet the young cou
pie had an establishment to form and support, and an at-
tempt was made through some influential prisons who had
witnessed her performances at Cheltenham with great satis-
faction, to procure fur her en engagement in London, for
which purpase Garrick was applied to, who engaged
her, more, it is supposed, to keep her talent from the rival
house than for any service it was likely to render himself.
Her first appearance in London was in I.ortia, in the Mer-
chant of Venice, at Drury-lane Theatre, on Friday, the 20 h
December, 1775. She afterwards appeared as the Queen to
Garrick's Richard, and .Ilrs. Strickland to his Ramon., and
other parts. Henderson first saw her in 1776, at B rating.
ham, and was immediately truck with her excel'ence,
aid pronou':ced that she would never t e surpass al.—
! He was at this time the hero of the Bath stage. and wished
for the support of such talents as he saw in Mrs. Eddons.
Ile reco: ttt t ended her accordingly in the we meat manner to
the managers, but without success. She, however, in 1777
appeared on the Belt stage, and was received with mentid
applause ; and in 1782 she took her leave of it in a poetical
address. On the 10th of October. of that year, she returned
to the metropolis, and appeared at Drury-lane theatre es
Isabelta,on which occasion, we are informed, the house over-
flowed. So great indeed, was her success that her salary
was doubled, arid an extra benefit was granted to her
—besides rebid), the. Gentlemen of the liar raised a sub.
niietion of one hundred guineas, which was tran.mitted
to her with a complimentary letter. In 1781 she vi-
sited Dublin, and again in the following year, when she also
visited Edinburgh. At both places she received flattering
encomiums and splendid presents • amongst others, a large
silver urn, on v.h.ch was inscribed •• A Reward to Merit."
Tire donor, it is said, was never known. In 1765 Mrs. Sid.
dons had first the honour of reading a play before their 11a.
jades, at Buckingham house; and after this pram" she
had her brmber, John Kcieble, were frequently sum-
nettled there and to Windsor Castle, fur a like purpose.
In 1803, her brother John having become a proprietor of
Covent Garden Theatre, she appeared there as 15.:14,.a, en
the 27th of September, in that year. Here she continued
occasionally to perform until the 20th of June, 1812, whim,
in Lady Macbeth, she sock her tins! leave of the stage,
Af cr the dream scene the house rose, and would not allow
the play to proceed to its termination. After a shirt pause,
the curtain rose, and 11rs. Stelduns delivered an address. At
its conclusion John Kemble entered, took her by the hand,
and 1. el her ofd' amidst a toreent of applause. Notwithstautt.
ing this forma! red-chum, on the 21d of June, 1813, Mrs.
Sidelons performed Lady Randolph, for the benefit of the
Drury-Lute Theatrical Fund ; in the saint ycer she also ap-
peared as Lady Macbeth, for her brother Charles' benefit ;
and in 1816, she performed Katherine tor the same kitidob.
ject. On the fish of June, 1617, she consented to appear in
the character of Lady Macbeth, to gratify the late Princess
Charlotte, whose indisposition prevented her from attending.
Mrs. Siddons, note/ ithetamling, went through the p.eform.
suce, and seems tohave loan little of her power in the tour
years of retirement from tit.: star.
Mrs. Siddons in person was majastie, het features b au-
.ifully Roman, and most poerfully expressive. S.r Joshua
Reynolds's painting of her as the' ftagic Muse,' several by
Lawrence, and the ctlebrated Trial et Katherine' by gar.
lowe, will convey a correct idea of her permute' dignity ; but
what pen or pencil can justly impart die expressive power
of her flee countenance ? Mrs. bidden* heti three children,
one of whom, Mr. Henry Siddons, appeared at Covent-jar.
den to 1802. He was but an indiff actor. He is known
as the author of Tease's a Tell-tole,' and other drame:ie
pieces, besides novelle. Ile was latterly, we believe, the
manager of the Edinburgh Tneatre, and died there. Mr.
Horace Twists, her nephew, and the children of her brother
Charles, are, it is said, likely to inherit bee property, which,
is spoken awe cmeid:rable.

• .:
• POLICE lIEPCRTS.
MAIY.LA aorrara.—Sir Marks Tbhetwn, liart• arrtat ed
to I.IIOW cease why he refused to pay for a smi.ire t t Was',
which he vat chatted with breaking in a Itsckhey newt,.
The driver stated that ln.twetn a fortnight and titer
weds ago be drnvc Sir two, Piccadilly to Qiecti
Anne.strcet, where he got out at a geatlariai,'s i.,:.,PC•
mcdiatAy as Sir Charles was gettinz out of the climb the
driver beard one of the witoinas tall; and, kiln the sound,
fearing that the glass we• broken, he get dawn, examined
it, at.d fnuad such to be the fact. He knocktd at the i:a3
door, and acqm.inted the Ken ant with what had taken plat:,
but he denied all knowlerhfc of the gentleman further than
that he lived bomewhere in Sr. James's. Aftet waiting
some time. and threatening to c dl a constable, and give the
gentleman in charge, he was inform... 4 that his name was Sir
Clothes Heatlicote.

Thistlet• n, one of the nfFr:•r aaid he got rl,e suninto:;l6
to serve, but, after numb:rim inquiries. v a. u• able to dile.
cover any tiir Charles Heat! cots: at all. He called at
house in Catleen Anne-street, hut the sen3rt thin: told him
he knew nothing about the vntletnan. At length he lamed
Sir Charlea Iblietson's name and address in Dok..-street,
St. James's-square.
Str Charles alleged that the window was broken before,
and appeared very indignant at the se-errion that hi. name
or address was denied at the house in Queen Anne-street.
Mr. Onirriwit : The coachtna•t has sworn that it was
denied.

Sir Charles: But I can swear the servant told me he gave
my name and address as soon as asked for
Mr. Gatremr t What the servant may have told yeti is
no evidence; you must pay the man for the whitlow.
Sir Charles —What ! though I tell you I did not break it.
Mr. Ontyrtvw.—The man i, on his oath; and he
terve it.
Sir thatles.— But take my oath.—
Mr. GRIFFITH —You can't; you are the dcfentla it.
Sir Charles.—Then you are going to take a hackney-
coachman's word against mine ?
Mr. GnirriTti—(rising from h ss:at in great
It is not nue, is nut true. lam not taking his word,
I am taking his oath, and I am baund to take the oath ul
any man, however humble in life, against the U!.EUrirOrtvtl
ebser ion of aly other man, no matter how high his rai.k
may be.

Sir Charles (with correspond:n.7, warmth)— But I see you
are taking his sord against mile —I see you are; and I will
take is before a higher tribunal—l'll consult my solicitor
upon the subject.
However, he ore Sir Charles left the c.ffice. he raid the
coachman the expenses of the window, as well ashis expenses
for loss of Vine in attending before the Ma glivrate.
IitCuMPINSE 505 THE Loss or A DAT.-.-7110Mas
Todd, an Lisk labourer, sal brought btfure Sir C. S. Hum.
Tait, who sat for the Lord Mayne, charged with having,
when disguised in liqtoir, given klich..el Grvirg, a w .tcli.
man. and an Irishman asst, a knock oil the head, which
in:eaten' with his duty, by preventing him from crying
the hour.

The complainant said that, as he was going along, at
eleven o'clock the night before, and just about to cry the
hour, the defendant bawled out " Silence !" and struck his
hat down Over his eyes, so that, when he tinned about to see
who did it, he touldlit see nohJcly (a laugh). When he
afterwards asked what was that for, :IC was told that he haJ
no right to disturb the ether wa•chmen, who were all going
to sleep, and that if he did, lie should be put to sleep with
a poke: himself.
Sir C. S. Hunter : Well, I suppose he had taken a &up
too much?

The complainant staid that such was certainly the case.
They had never seen each other before, and the blow can.e
quite unexpected.
Sir Claudius : He didn't hurt you. lie br, ke no bones,
I hope ?
Complainant: No, your Worship, I can't say he did,
but he abstracted me in my juty. How can a watchman do
for the public, if he meets with such obatropulous fellows ?
Sir CLAUDIUS : Well, I suppose you locked him up for
the night in the watchhouse. Now what would you have me
do, my good fellow ? I dare say he's sorry enough for
what he has done.
Complainant : Why, my Lord, I've lost my day through
him, and I want to have it made up to me by him.
Sir CLAUDIUS : By him ! Why, look a. him. Do you
suppose he can pay you for a day's work ? Come, come, he
has been in the watchlteuse all night, and if he wanted to
ate the fraternity in a state of repose, I'm WIC he must have
been fully gratifitd (laughttr.)
Defendant—God bless your Lordship, I didn't know that
I struck the gentleman • fur I was carrying a lead, and I got
a glass or two, that made roe as drunk as a lord, and then I
' was dragged to the watchhouse.
Sir Claudius—Are you able to pay this man for the lop
of his time, at have you any friends that are able to do en?
' Defendant—The Lord bless your Honour, I haven't a
friend in the world, barrio' myself and yourself; and the d-1
a farthing I'm worth in money, but owe it to him. I'll
make it up to him some way or other.
Sir ('laudius—l hope you don't mean to pay him in the
same coin he complains of—over the head ? (Laughter).
Defendant—l'll gi 4C him something to drink ; something
good.
Complainant--1 won't stoop to drink with you ; I want to
be paid for the loss of my day.
Sir Clauditts—He says he'll give you something good to
drink. I'd have you take him at his word ; but I'd have
you take care bow you drink too much. Come defendant,
what do you intend to give him ? A nice pot of cold spring
wirer ? (Loud laughter.)
The watchman, (who looked very grumpy all this time)_
Please your Worship, I don't want to have anythirg to do
with hint.

Sir CL A ussius.—TAke my wnrJ far it, that he woi'tgise
you anythirg that will injure you. Ile looks as if be was
able to give you plenty of watcr. I wish that all the watch.
men would deal at the s;gn of tl e P Imp. (Great Laughter,
in which Alderman F..rebrother, w!:o was pre:ant, most
heartily jnined.)
The Watchman.—T don't want to drink anything with
him.

Sir CLAUDtt•a.—You mean you e t wart to drink
Mrn'a alc wish him. I'm afraid 30.1 don't fancy the
flavour. 'Tis very few of your countrymen that do.
(L .ughter.)
Detendant.—please your ilmiour, I don't happen to have
any money about me nuw, but_

fir Clat-ad!to‘: I know you haven't. tut you can give him
plait)) to drink the all that. I'll tell you wl•al you'll do.
Give him your dad : (a laugh.) Exchange cards. and meet
to-night in Leadenhall-street. At what time do you go upon
duty, watchman ?
Watchtnan : At Intlf.past tight, please you, my Lord.
Sir Claudius a Very good. Then meet together exactly at
eight o'clock, and have half an hour's carouse together at
Aidgate pump : (great laughter) There, the case is at an
end. Yuu may as %ell go now and settle the matter in the
way I advise. But def. ntl..nt. I d have you give up your
national contempt for cold water, or you'll get into some
desperate scrape or other.
TOWN HALL —PADDY •xn HIS Two Wtves.—A gay
little !chow, named Patrick Coghlux. trom the 'is er Isle,
wits brought before 3lr. Alderman Awseew, in custody of
Kinsey, the officer, to answer the charge of deserting his
wife ard child, who have become chargeable to the par eh of
St. Mare's.
The wire, Julia, a very dew t body. having attired that
Paddy had deserted her for the hat for night, went on so say
that she had learnt he was since n +wield to another woman—.
" Gan paidon his auto/ for it, few herself wits lawfully Mat.
ried :u him nine years since, at tie Catholic Chapel of Bris-
tol, had brought him three fine children ;" and ore of them
stood by her side, a girl, eight years of age.
Ahleimen ANSLAY—Now, master CoAhlan, how comes
this shout? Are yeu really n ar:ied to another woman ?
Paddy ()watching his Itead)—Faith and I am, your Wor-
ship, worse luck to trio.-- I'm kilt entirely with the thoughts
tit it—(here Paddy threw a sheep's eye at J is wife, and con-
tinued—l'm a misfortunate man, and the divil's
women sure etaiugh, fur making me fond o' them. Well,
then, I won't be liouliling your Worship long ; but your
11:.110of must be multi bat I was at %Vhitruntide fair, and
tar ladies got tickling me till I wa.n't myself at all at all;
and I—l-1 et bothered, and I nth ! blood and twos,
saving your Worship's presence, it's 0 use 10 COIW.SIe
marred one of 'em next morning at Carol erwell church.
" Paddy, Paddy !" exclaimed the wife, " dos't be teli-
ing me ahe about the bal. VII like ye the worse far ii ;
only say yell never du the likes that again, and ni
forgive you. You've been a good boy to me many a day ;
ax his t • onour's pardon, and mine, and I'll pray for your
sins, and there'll be no more about it."
The laughter occasiontd having subdded, at the request
of the wife, the Testament was handed to Paddy; a hu,
kissing it with reverence, fell upon his knees, and vein,
mently protested never to he tickled again by any lady hut
his own wife; to cherish Irn and his child as bits m he
lived, and abstain from all unlawful delights, especially en
Whitsunday.

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111 Bt. E DE MALL—TeiliCittla
Leghorn straw hats are manufae-

the straw used in the fabrication

rely, Grano itarcruolo, or March !
a :vat. There are three v ,riches of it. all equally cultiva-
icd in the eavirons of Florence. The poorest and most
aunty anti serves best fin, the production of this plant when
its- straw is intended to be thus used ; and the most the.
vied situations, and those most exposed to the air on
the summits of knolls and small hillocks, are always to be
preferred.
If the soil be poor, about two-thirds or three.quartm
riore seed is sown than on ordinary occasions, when the
Frviluelinsi of grain is the object—if, however, it be rich
,:rd strong, six times the quantity is requisite.
The seed is sown broad-cast ; and it is necessary at cer-
i3iii distances to form furrows for the drainage of the rain
w.itsr, as this grain, in order to produce a straw sufficiently
tine for the manufacture of hats, does not succeed except in
dry situations, and has no need of any thing beyond a
passing humidity. The most favourable period for its
sowing in the neighbourhood of Florence, is towards the
end of December; but it may be delayed even till the
month of March. In sterile ground, it requires but alight
covering—two fingers of =oil being sufficient to make it
shoot ; hut in a rich soil, and less elevated situations, it
must be sown deeper.
The gathering of the straw usually occurs towards the end
of May or beginning of June—and in dry weather. When
sown in a rich soil, it must be gathered a little sooner, as it
otherwise would become too strong and rank, and thus its
quality be deteriorated. nought also to be pulled—not cut,
as in the latter case there is a chance of losing the upper
portion—!hat abate the knots, which alone is employed in
the plaiting. To obtain a well-nourished and at same time
a fine straw, it is essential that the gathering take place be-
fore the ear he half grown, and ere the grain has begun to
form ; it is then full of a nutritive juice which fills the
stalk, and which dries up so as to leave the inside empty,
and consequently renders it !store liable to break. It is
pulled up in the same manner as is done with flax, so as to
bring along with it the roots—formed into small sheaves, of
such a size only as may be grasped in one hand, and then
laid out on the field, and allowed to dry in the sun until the
straw cannot ferment, or otherwise suffer by being heaped up
in store. _ _ _

To sender the straw fit fur manufacture, it is placed in
small portions or sheaves on a dry soil, and there left ex.
posed to the sun and the dew, taking care to separate the
sheaves from each other, so that they may freely enjoy the
h,fiuence of theta two natural agents, by which Its bleach.
ing is produced. Four or five days, or even less if the dew
be abundant, is sufficient fur this purpose. The bleaching
cannot take place, except during the finest weather, as all
other humidity than that from the dew stains the straw, and
for that reason this operation is usually performed during the
months of June and July.
In Tuscany it is not customary to bleach the straw, until
they wish to obtain the stalk for immediate fabrication. As
soon as it has obtained the desired whiteness, they take front
each sheaf that portion between the car and the first joint—
the only part they plait for the manufacture of hats. The
portions of straw thus gathered are then passed through WU
phur, for which purpose they are formed into small bunches,
which mw be spread out at pleasure. They are soaked in
water, and after being well drained are placed within a
et ulted chamber, still in bunches, which arc made to spread
cut as much as possible. Sulphur is then set fire to In the
midst of the chamber, and all communication with the ex-
terior air prevented. The object of this fumigation is to
whiten the straw—to give it a proper consistency— todestmy
any insects it might contain—and to preserve it completely
front future corruption.
After fumigation, the straws are picked according to their
size, and divided into thirty or forty different qualities,
which determine the degree of fineness of the hats, and
consequently their price. The tresses are generally mac:
of three bits of straw, and are more or less broad accord.
ing to its quality. The beauty and fineness of the hats de-
pend, therefore, upon the number of turns the tress makes to
compose it.

CLIMATE OF ENGLAND.—T. A. Knight, Esq.
F.R.S. writes that our winters are less severe than
formerly—our springs more cold and ungenial ; our
summers, and the latter part of them in particu-
lar, ns warm at least as they formerly were ; and our
autumns considerably warmer.
CLIMATE OF PARIS.—M. Bouvard, from an
extensive series of observations, continued for se-
veral years, says, on au average, the sky is covered
with clouds 182 days, partially covered 184 days,
142 days it rains, frost 58 days, 180 of very
foggy weather, 12 of snow, 9of hail, and 14 of
thunder.

Mexic AN BEEs.—Captain Beechy observes
that the entrance to the hive is always guarded by
a bee as centinel. The time each mounts guard
l►e believes to be twenty-four hours, but the latter
point he is not able to fix with so much precision as
the first.
COMBUSTION OW AN Al LOY OF TIN AND
LEAD, BY ROBT. W. Fox, ESQ.—In the last No,
of the Royal Institution Journal, Mr. Fox writes,
'• When tin and lead have been strongly heated to-
gether, the alloy continues ignited for a long time
after it has been removed from the flame, throwing
out numerous and brilliant ramifications without
cessation, till the whole be oxidated, if the quantity
be small. The addition of gold does not impede
the process, and it appears to be converted into a
purple oxide." With platinum in combination, the
oxidation is more partial.
FIGURE OF THE MAGNETIC EQUATOR.--
It appears that it crosses the earth's equator at two
points nearly opposite ; that in the ocean it de-
clines very little from the equator ; where it ap-
proaches islands It feels their influence and its de-
viation increases ; and when it reaches the conti-
nents of Africa and America, their influence seems
to be powerfully felt, and its deviation becomes the
greatest.
SMELTING OF IRON.—Heated air for blast
furnaces has been used for some time at the Clyde
Iron Works, and with great success. Experi-
ments have proved that iron is smelted by heated
air, with three-fourths of the quantity of coal re-
quired when cold air—that is, air not artificially
heated, is employed for that purpose. It is sup-
posed that this improvement will accomplish a
saving in the cost of iron in Great Britain to the
amount of at least 200,0001. a year.
EDUCATION OF TIIE PEOPLE.—In no fewer
than a hundred and nine cities and towns inFrance,
institutions have already been, or are about to be,
established, at the public expense, for the instruc-
tion, by able Professors, of a portion of the indus-
trious classes of the people, in the geometrical and
mechanical knowledge applicable to the useful arts.
The number of pupils is estimated at between four
and five thousand.

NOCTURNAL TELEG RAPHS.--M. de Courettes,
has arrived in London from Paris, with the view
of obtaining the adoption of a system of nocturnal
telegraphs, The chief improvement is a new and
more simple alphabet, or set of signs, by which
greater rapidity is obtained. The nocturnal tele-
graph consists of one lamp fixed on the top of a
post to be erected at the proper elevation. Round
this fixed lamp another is made to revolve at the
end of a moveable beam. A sufficient number of
distinct positions may be thus obtained with rapi-
dity. The distance between one station and ano-
ther of a diurnal telegraph is usually about eight
• or ten miles, according to circumstances, but
nocturnal one may be at intervals of 18 miles.
The first outlay of capital for the establishment of
such telegraph, to serve fer both night and day

?
in France, is ealoulatect at about 801. for each sta-
tion ; in Enfeliied the expense would be somewhat
greater, andit could be worked for 1001. a year.
NEW STEAM DISCOVERY.---The discovery of
a new meetetnical power has been announced as
the real of modern philosophy ; this newly-in-
vented
power is said to be stronger than any cur-
rent of water, and to exceed the steam-engine in
force, as it has been described in theory to be cer-
tain and irresistible ; it acts naturally by a con-
tinual rotatory motion ; it is quite portable, and
may be used on all occasions as an economical
moving power, the expense attending its use being
very trifling. The invento- of this machine being
a professed mechanist, and well versed in the sci-
ences, will no doubt be enabled to apply it for new
purposes, and for general utility ; amongst other
advantages it will possess the following, and which
will be proved according to the strict problem
above announced. It can travel and convey im-
mense loads to all parts of the universe with great
safety and celerity, having power to go out of the
common roads, so as to arrive at any season at a
fixed destination, in spite of all geographical obsta-
des.— French Paper.
STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH INDIA.—A
Public Meeting of the Merchants of Liverpool in-
terested in the trade with India, was lately held at
the Und.rwriters' Committee-room. J. T. Alston,
Esq. in the Chair—at which the following Reso-
lutions, on the subject of the communication be-
tween th;s country and India, were agreed to una-
nimously : 1. That it is of the most essential im-
portance to British commerce, and the increasing
trade with India, that every facility should be af-
forded to the conveyance of letters, newspapers,
parcels, and passengers, to and from the East In-
dies. 2. That it appears to this Meeting that this
object will he best promoted by the encourage-
ment of steam-navigation, and that a Memorial
shall be transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury,
requesting their immediate attention to this im-
portant subject, by praying them to bring in a
Bill to repeal so much of the Act 59 Geo. 111.
c. 3, which prevents any higher postage being
charged than twopence on each letter, to and from
the East Indies, and to authorize an increased rate
on all letters conveyed by steam-navigation to and
from that country. 3. That it be particularly re-
commended to the East India Association here, to
transmit a similar Memorial, and to pursue such
measures as may appear to them most effectual for
accomplishing this desirable object.
EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA.—SOMO influen-
tial inhabitants of Sydney have sent to this coun-
try the Reverend Doctor Lang, with pots era to
make arrangements with the government, for the
foundation of a college there. The progress of our
Australian colonies has been such as to insure
prosperity- to such an undertaking. The sum first
required is seven thousand pounds. Government
has engaged to advance half that amount as a loan
immediately that the colonists have made good the
remainder. This has, in fact, been done—four
gentlemen have been engaged to conduct different
classes. The first classes put in operation will be,
probably, a language class, in which the Latin and
Greek languages will be taught ; a class of prac-
tical mathematics, embracing writing and arith
metic ; a class of geometry and experimental phi.
losophy : a class of English literature or belles
iktires ; and to these will be added a class of mental
philosophy. Mr. Carmichael, a gentleman of very
high qualifications, has undertaken to make pre-
parations for this last and most important class,
conjointly with the language classes for which he
is engaged.
APOLOGY FOR NATURALISTS.-We have
beard a great deal about the cruelty of naturalists,
in running pins through butterflies and such
" small deer," but, as Mr. Burchell says, " its all
fudge." When Shakspeare talked about the cor-
poreal pangs of a crushed beetle, be displayed more
of the poet than the philosopher. Instead of the
inferior animals suffering pain from being impaled,
chopped up, or embowelled, they are never, ac-
cording to the -naturalists, so comfortable as when
he exercises his anatomical ingenuity upon
them. If our renders will only take the
trouble to refer to the article " Animal
Kingdom," in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, new
edition, they will find some ieformation that will
induce them, from sheer benevolence, never to take
a walk in the fields without a plentiful supply of
pins, knives, scissars, and pincers, to enable them
-to add to the comfort of all moths, butterflies, dra-
gon flies, frogs, spiders, and beetles, that may fall
in their way. From that article, we learn that Leeu-
wenhoeck had a mite which lived 1 1 weeks transfixed
by a pin. Vaillant scooped out the inside of a
locust and filled up the cavity with cotton. We
should have thought that enough to settle any
reasonable insect, but not so with the locust, for
though, after these ceremonies, he was fastened
down by a pin through his thorax, the obstinate
rascal lived five months. As to tortoises, they live
for months after their brains are taken out, but
there are even many men who do very well without
brains. Spallanzani cut the heart out of three
newts, and they lived, leaped, and swam, for forty-
eight hours afterwards. M. Virey states that he
saw a salamander which was living, although its
head bad been cut off two months before, by a
ligature. But that is not more extraordinary than
the well-authenticated tradition, that Saint
Denis, the patron saint of M. Virey's coun-
try, walked three miles with his head un-
der his arm, after he had been beheaded.
We ate further told that a decapitated beetle will
advance over a table, and recognize a precipice on
approaching the edge—a matter which, under his
peculiar circumstances, we should consider very
unimportant to him ; for if he were to fall twenty
feet, it is clear that he would not break his neck.
Redi cut ofLthe head of a tortoise, which survived
eighteen clays. We will only mention one more
fact, by way of encouragement to fly-pickers and
grub-teasers. Colonel Pringle cut off the heads of
several dragon flies, one of which lived four
months, and another six months; " says the ar-
ticle, which seems rather odd (it certainly does)
he could never keep alive those with their heads
on above a few days." What can dragon flies
possibly want with heads ?

The following is the population of some of the
principal places in the United States, wording to
the last census:—New York, 213,107 ; Philadel-
phia, 161,412; Baltimore, 80,519; Boston and
Charlestown ; 70,164 ; New Orleans, 48,674 ;
Charleston, S. C. 30,289 ; Cincinnati and sub-
urbs, 26,513 ; Albany, 24,516 ; Washington
City, D C. 18,823 ; Providence, R. I. 17,832 ;
Pittsburgh, 17,315 ; Richmond, Va. 16,085.

PANORAMA OF THE BRITISH
EMPIRE.

The STAR has for several months exhibited such a pie.
lure of the Domestic Events of the Empire, as never
before was attempted. It gratifies unspeakably the nadits
of districts who reside in London and distant counties, sad
is a LETTS", race Home to every provincial in foreign
ec'onttien, Of in the colonies. It raises also into general
importance the exertions of local talents in every public
cause. Then as this is a duty performed alone by the Start,
those local patriots would ill deserve their name, if the STAR
and its interests were not reciprocally promoted by them in
every district. We know it has been so in many places, and
the STAR in principles, and in all the best qualities of a
paper, has justified preference; but we reasonably expect
the same attentions aysay wnant, as the means of at
once recompensing our diligence, and adding to the utility of
our valuable and exclusive information. We call also on the
Provincial Proprietors of Papers, whose local labours we
thus illustrate, and invite with earnestness their powerful
attentions in promoting those interests of the Paper which
they best understand. We notoriously excel all London
Papers in priority of Foreign Nors, and our display of the
transactiors of the country is equally exclusive and pie.
eminent.

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