Star.
London, England, 1826-07-03 00:00:00

HYMN TO THE MOON.

41 INCUSO PATUIT ORA."

Thy port bespeaks thee Goddess, though unerowted ;
Like Naiad wanderer, from some lake-built bower
Launching thy bark through Heaven's bright surf and shower,
And making graceful vaunt of kindliest power,
The vapours, dolphin-like, do crowd, and bound,
Shewing their changeful backs ; and round and round,
Quick-dying lightnings colour them; with sound
Of deep winds, on thou marehest, through each isle
That Iles in beaded lines along the sky, •
Thy sky of amorous blue, and we do smile
Gravely, and bow unto the gentle joy!
And so thou makest festival above
With the pale watchers of the night : and men
Feel there is joy in Heaven! and bill, and plain,
Laugh in their sleep more beautiful: and then
Thoughts, that the blase of day had sad, do move
Starlike, and tremble in the soul, proud love
Of all things high and noble, and do prove
•
Our very day celestial; and an life
Seems in this purest moonlight—moonlight pure
And radiant, from the morning's mist and strife,
And e'en bad men the thought of good endure.
And weeping eyes look up to Heaven secure!
(New Mandsly 3fagesine).

SKETCHES OF PARISIAN SOCIETY.

FROM THE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, JULY 1.

A ludicrous adventure lately took place at the house
of one of our Ministers, who is remarkable for the gra-
vity and haulm, of his manners. He invited to dinner
a poet, a member of the Institute, a man distinguished
for excessive diffidence and absence of mind, and who,
like the master of the house, is a good Jesuit. The poet
somewhat astonished at receiving an invitation from
his Excellency, made his appearance in the dress worn
by the members of the Institute, consisting of a black
coat embroidered with green silk, And a sword. What
was his consternation when, on entering the drawing
room, he found he was the only person in official cos-
tume, all the rest of the company being in plain dresses
The sword which dangled awkwardly by his side,
striking his legs and impeding every motion, was the
most inconvenient part of his costume ; and when the
company were summoned to the dining room he con-
trived to remain behind the rest, and taking his sword
from his side, he hid it under the cushions of an otto.
man. About nine o'clock the company began to depart,
and only a few of the Minister's particular friends re-
mained. This was the fitting moment for the poet to
take his departure,.—but he still kept his seat. At eleven
o'clock almost all the company were gone; and when
twelve came the poet was left alone with the Minister
and his wife. His Excellency naturally concluded that
his guest had some favour to solicit ; but at length,
finding that he said not a word, he wished him good
night and left him alone with his wife: The Lady, Who
was still reclining on the ottoman, was not a littleasto•
nished at the poet's protracted visit. The poor member
of the Institote, overwhelmed with confusion, was very
silent and very dull, and at length the Lady, oppressed
with; drowsiness, closed her eyes. The poet thought
this a favourable moment for regaining possession of
his sword. He cautiously approached the Lady-, and
putting his hand beneath the cushion, seized the hilt,
but not having reached the scabbard, drew out only the
unsheathed blade. To facilitate this awful operation
the poet knelt down, and just as he had extricated his
sword from its hiding-place, the point touched the
Lady's foot. She opened her eyes and beheld, with
amazement, the poet on his knees, pale and trembling,
and holding a drawn sword in his hand, pointed to-
wards her. She thought herself about to be murdered
by an insane lover. The poet stammered out an unin-
telligible attempt at explanation, and hastily tetreated,
sword in halid, while the Lady in hrr terror, exclaimed
that he was a monster ! The friends of the Minister
affirm that this is an old story,—that the affair hap-
pened two or three years ago, and that a celebrated
geometrician was the hero of the adventure ; but the
real fact is, that the fatal dinner took place last week.

Mr. M'Lzon, younger, of Carib°ll, has withdrawn
from the contest for the county of Cromarty, and Duncan
Dassosum, Esq. younger of Tulloch, will therefore be returned
without opposition.
Earl 11TZWILLIAM completed his 78th year on the
30th of the last month, and has enjoyed his title and estates nearly
seventy years. Lord filwrou is just turned of 40, having been born
May 4, 1746, 'limn years after the marriage of the Earl and
Countess. lie has three sous and five daughters now surviving.
Mr. Marshall is said to be 64 years of age. The linswerable
Mc Duncombe's age is, we believe, about 28, and Mr. Wilson's
about 50. Ow late Member, Lord Waraeliffe, is in his 50th year.
It is said that Alderman Baum-% one of the late
Members for the City, intends to resign his gown.
The Dublin Election isconducted with spit at, but with
raid feeling and propriety. Many ludicrous incidents
occurred doting the conflict. A poor man who was
selling oranges in the crowd was immediately descried
by a few mercurial and humourous spirits, who, for the
sake of a juke, half practical half political, set the mob
on him with cries of Down with the Orangeman!"
The emblem is often mistaken for the thing in Ireland,
and accordingly the vender of oranges was buffetted
about most unmercifully, and his fruit scattered among
a congregation that made it very speedily disappear.
Thursday the 44 Melodists' Club" held their seventh
and last dinner this season, at the Freemasons' Tavern.
Among the vocalists present, were Messrs. Brabant,
Sinclair, and Pear man, who exerted their musical powers
with the happiest effect. Several popular Dramatists
and a number of literary characters attended. A just
tribute of reverential homage was offered to the me-
mory of Von iNtber, who was one of the members of
the Club, and whose presence among them caused the
event which has prematurely wiihdrawn him tram the
world to be move intensely felt. His memory was given
from the Chair, and drank in solemn silence, and the
stanzas written on the occasion by Mr. Planche (who
was present), were admirably sung by Mr. Brabant,
who had adapted them with great taste to some of the,
most beautiful and popular strains of Weber's own music.
ABERDUN, JUNE 27.—1 n consequence of the heat of
the weather for these list three months, and the total
absence of rain, tl.e ground about the country has be-
come so dry that, through carelessness Or design, the
brushwood has caught lire about forty miles hence, on
s the banks of the Dee, and the destructive element is
spreading far and wide. There is a report to-day that
the forest of Eleutanna, on the estate of the Earl of
Aboyne, has commenced burning ; if this be the case,
GOD knows when it will stop, if rain does not corne.—
The injury will be dreadful, as thousands of acres will
be destroyed.