The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-13 00:00:00

THE PRACTICE OF NAVIGATION

(From the Times.)
Desirous at all times to call attention to every work
of merit calculated to advance the interests of our vast
marine, we think we cannot too earnestly recommend
to the notice of nautical men the production of a
treatise purporting to facilitate the practice of naviga-
tion—we allude to a work recently published by Lieut.
Raper, R.N., Secretary to the Royal Astronomical So-
ciety, entitled " The Practice of Navigation and Nau-
tical Astronomy." '
The feeling which could induce this gifted officer to
devote so many years of slavish toil to the attainment
of a purpose at once so laudable, and indeed consi-
derate, as that of diminishing and lightening labour in
others, will doubtless be duly appreciated by every
mariner competent to estimate the magnitude of the
task undertaken, and the utility and importance of the
end achieved.

The treatise before us we believe to be the first pro-
duced by a practical seaman, uniting to an unusual
share of scientific attainment suflicient of professsional
experience to take into account every probable case or
cause of obstruction afloat likely to militate against the
success of long solutions, elaborate, or laborious
" reckoning." Sailors have a great predilection for
" short scores"—long calculations, like long speeches,
are their utter aversion. Nor will the nature of a sea-
faring life always admit of time to obtain results through
the medium of complicated " methods," producing, as
it were, a multitudinous mass of figures. For these,
and other well-matured reasons to be found in the pre-
face of his work, Mr. Raper has contrived to furnish
for the practitioner (too frequently at sea the slave of
time) short and ready rules, which in every required
case at once abridge and render comparatively facile
the process of computation. Who but a clear-sighted
seaman could have seen the necessity of effecting in
figures a radical reform ? How often does it happen,
that in a short-handed vessel, returning from a distant
voyage in the season of winter, the mate and master,
all anxiety to ascertain the " ship's place," are suddenly
called from the work of computation, compelled to
drop slate, and i` clap on a clew-line," in order to
complaining spars ?" In
f!
shorten sail and save tbei
situations of a similar nature which gall for immediate
manual aid—the help of every hand aboard save the
head at the helm—the mate and master (not tranquil-
lised more in mind), subsequently finding their slates
in the " lee scuppers, or water-ways" of the vessel, are
compelled in anxious'suspense to watch the weather, so
as to take advantage of the first favourable lull which
may seem to afford sufficient time to attempt another
trial at solving the question so much desired. This
may be the determination of the latitude by means of
two altitudes of the sun' obtained at intervals apart;
the solution of which, by following the customary me-
thods given in other works, becomes a rnatter of
reckoning puzzling in the extreme, and, indeed, often
beyond the comprehension of the mariner, fatigued
both in body and mind. What, then, is the result ?
The sought 4oluipn ends in total failure, the two corn-
putors giving it up as unattainable, having no desire to
be swamped, or swept away in a flood of figures.
Under such circumstances—cases of constant inter-
ruption, so trying to the nautical temper--it surely
cannot be considered n, matter .of Marvel that the ma-

prig /if Oki n, pirtingArly tivo trnployo(ln tto
R4ould manifitot oomothing_oCAßtAgto

morunnot etitrnov;
forealeulatlone of 11 pomplicated nature, -Indeed, w
question whether a veritable blue-water mariner would
not as soon, or nearly as soon, undergo the torture of
listening to one of the senseless and long-winded ora-
tions of a certain senator netorious, for his narrow-
minded opposition to everything which relates to the
well-being of our wooden walls, as attempt the task of
wading through the " sea of troubles" which, by the
way of formuke; are to be found in works we would
cite, purporting to assist the unitiated in nautical
science.*

But, indeed, " extreme brevity of solution" is not the
only attractive feature of our author's work. The stu-
dent, practitioner, and even the teacher, will not only
find much that is new,t interesting, and instructive to
seamen, but also many useful precautionary hints, with
a fund of valuable lore, unaccountably omitted in other
productions of a similar nature. In the pages of Mr.
Raper's Practice we meet with no superfluous book-
making matters (would that we could say the same in
all elementary works.) Each table, rule, and precept,
appears in the place best calculated to facilitate prac-
tice, and no ordinary pains seems to have been taken
in the important particular of preserving uniformity in
the design and system of. computation. The rule
designated the " Degree of Dependence" (the name
speaks for itself) we prize much, and only regret it
cannot be made available in cases of political practice.
Mr. Raper (and we think no one will dispute his ap-
preciation of the subject) seems to set a high value on
" precision in maritime positions." Accuracy in this
respect, as navigation advances to perfection, becomes
a matter of increasing importance, because, as Mr.
Raper very properly observes, " where longitudes are
well determined, the error of a chronometer may be
ascertained on every occasion of making the land."
For this, and. other reasons which must be obvious to
all maritime men, no inconsiderable pains have been
taken to produce correct data in the latitudes and
longitudes of the numerous geographical positions
necessary to appear in the pages of our author's Prac-
tice; the attainment of which, as the computor informs
the reader in his preface, " has been a very laborious
task, and cause of great delay in the appearance of his
work."

It would be an idle task to attempt, in the columns
of a daily paper, anything like a detailed or minute
analysis of this inimitable work. Our purpose is more
to call attention to its value, and vast utility, particu-
larly to those who seek surer.guidance and safer sailing
of the ships and vessels of our commercial marine.
In closing our necessarily brief notice of this ser-
viceable volume, we hesitate not to pronounce it as the
only perfect practice (and we are emphatic on the word)
we ktow of on navigation and nautical astronomy ;
and, from the many considerations the author has em-
braced in carrying out his cardinal design—namely,
short practice and uniformity in the process of com-
putation, we feel confident it will be hailed by every
seaman pf sense, every master-mariner, and merchant-
mate who can appreciate the value of time afloat, in the
light of a friendly and welcome work.

* In one practical work of pretension we find thirteen
different methods given to work out " a lunar observation,"
and out of these several unrecommended modes the unprac-
tised computor is left to choose for himself, and to trust to
chance in the selection of the method he may adopt. It is
there street-showman-like " which-ye-please" sort of me-
thods which give to seamen such distaste for figures.
For instance, " adjustment of the compass," height
and description of lighthouses, spherical traverse table, used
in peat circle sailing, and throughout the practice of nauti-
cal astronomy, and tabulating rules, by which the distinction
of cases is made by ocular instead of by .mental means—in
other words, by referring to the eye instead of to the mind.
These tabulating rules are quite new, and are singularly
happy in producing ready results. For example—A ship
from India to the Cape of Good Hope makes the land unex-
pectedly. The ship is in east longitude, sailing west, and it
becomes desirable to ascertain whether the chronometer has
gained or lost. A single glance at the tabulating rules de-
cides the question, and shows that the chronometer has
" gained less, or lost more, than allowed for."
$ To wit the quackery under the respective heads—" How
to clear for action," and " how to survey a coast when sail-
ing along it." On these subjects see the erudite directions
of John Hamilton Moor.

SINGULARLY ROMANTIC STORY

" Truth stranger than Fiction."

The Droit furnishes us with the following singular story :
" In 1829, M. S., a Frenchman, arrived in London from
Paraguay, where he had passed fifteen years in the service of
the arbitrary and eccentric Dr. Francia. Soon after his
arrival M. S. formed a close intimacy with a fellow-coun-
tryman, who lived in the same hotel, to whom he related
his whole history, informing .him that he was about to pro-
ceed to Paris to see his only relation, an uncle, who was an
honorary canon of the chapter of St. Denis, with a fortune
amounting to 15,000 f. a-year, to which he, M. S, was the only
legitimate heir, and that he had with him in his trunk all
the necessary documents for proving his identity, as he doubt-
ed whether his uncle, who was eighty years of age, would
recollect him. It was agreed between the two friends that
they should set out together for France, but in the evening
before the day fixed for their departure, M. S. was arrested
and taken to Worship-street, on a charge of having forged
some Blink of England notes. His pocket-book, which he
had abolitt him, was examined, and in it were ten notes, four
of which were ascertained to be forged : M. S. was com-
mitted. On reaching the prison he sent for his friend M. B.
and received for answer that he was gone with M. S.'s bag-
gage and his own on board a steam-packet, having first paid
their joint bills. It was in vain that poor S. stated and proved
these circumstances, and protested that the forged notes were
received by him of B. He was brought to trial, convicted,
sentenced to be transported for ten years, and sent to Botany
Bay. In the meantime B. came to Paris, presented himself
to the old canon as kis nephew, assuming his name, and, by
means of the documents in his possession, so completely im-
posed himself upon the aged ecclesiastic as his nephew, that
when he died two years afters he made the pretender sole in-
heritor by will of all his property. After a lapse of eleven
years, M. S. was at last carried back from Botany Bay to
London, and thence made his way to Paris. After two
months' search, M. S. has discovered the retreat of 8., and
claimed the fortune and name 'of which he had been robbed
by him. B. of course, maintains himself to be the true
nephew, and proclaims the claimant to be the imposter. A
suit is about to be commenced which cannot fail of being
long and intricate; for not only will it be difficnit for S. to
maintain his case by proofs, on account of his many years'
absence from France, but it is a question whether he is not
precluded by the law of prescription. The interest of this
case is greatly heightened by the circumstance that B. has
for the last six years been living in one of the northern towns
of France making a'most honourable use of his wealth, was
two years ago married to the daughter of one of the greatest
landowners of the department, and had, it is said, in con-
templation to offer himself as a candidate for the Chamber
of Deputies at the next election.

LOVE OF CHILDREN.—TeII me not of the trim, precisely
arranged homes where there are no children ; where, as the
good German has it, " the fly-flaps always hang straight on
the wall ;" tell me not of the never disturbed nights and
days of the tranquil, unanxious hearts where children are
not. I care not for these things. God sends children for
another purpose than merely to keep up the race—to enlarge
our hearts, to make us unselfish and full of kindly sympathies
and affections ; to give our souls higher aims, and to call out
all our faculties ; to extend enterprise and exertion ; to bring
round our fireside bright faces and happy smiles, and loving
tender hearts. My soul blesses the great Father every day
that he has gladdened the earth with little children ! Hope
on! Elope for ever !—By Mary Howitt.
FAUNTLEROY, WHO WAS HANGED, ALIVE.—It may
seem strange, but it is no less true, that there are strong
opinions abrcad that Fauntleroy, the banker, who was several
years ago convicted of and hanged for forgery, is now living
with his son in America. So strong are the opinions on that
point, that about nine months past his executors, in answer
to a bill in equity, filed against them respecting his property,
put in an affidavit praying time to inquire after him, as,
from report and hearsay, they believed that he was alive. It
appears that a proprietor of a large hotel in Marylebone,
whose name was was Pearse, died childless, bequeathing his
property to his nephew, and appointed Fauntleroy executor.
The nephews, who were wild young men, were, at the period
of their uncle's death, either in the army or navy. The
friends of the nepliews, mistrusting Fauntleloy, insisted
upon his vesting the money left by the uncle in the funds.
This Fauntleroy did ; but afterwards sold it out, with the ex-
ception of £l4O. After Fauntleroy's supposed execution
one of the nephews returned, and having been informed that
a legacy had been bequeathed him instituted proceedings
against Fauntleroy's executors to account for that property.
A bill was consequently filed against them in the Vice-
Chancellor's Court, and the executors, in reply, stated their
belief that Fauntleroy was not hanged to death, but that lie
was alive with his son in America. Having put in an
affidavit to that effect, the court granted nine months to
make the necessary inquiries. The nine months will
terminate next term. It is said most confidently that
Fauntleroy had a protection around his neck against the
rope, that he was suspended but a very short period, and
that as soon as he was cut dqwn he'was conveyed to a house
in West Smithfield, where the necessary remedies were im-
mediately and successfully applied. All this, it is supposed,
was done with privity of the Government and the officers of
justice. Be the report well founded or not, the affidavit was
made, and the time alluded to was granted for instituting the
necessary inquiries respecting the existence or non-existence
of a wretched man, around whose neck it is said, the rope
virtually was for 14 years previous to his conviction, as he
was a forger for that period.—[This is a strange story,
Fauntleroy may be alive, but we saw him executed, and saw
him hanging for some time. If the answer to the bill by not
put in till Fauntleroy be found alive, we fear the delay will
be longer than even a Chancery suit.]—Evening Paper.

About three mouths since, a physician residing in Paris;
having been present at a brilliant soiree, given by an ac-
quaintance, was returning to his domicile, in the rue de Pon-
thieu, on foot, when, while going slowly along .the faubourg
St. Honore, he was accosted by a genteelly-dressed young
man, who, without any ceremony, said, " Sir, if before noon
to morrow I cannot provide myself with the sum of fifteen
hundred francs, I am a lost, a dishonoured man. That sum
you have about you—you have been playing. cards this even-
ing at the house you have just left, and you have been very
fortunate. Denial is useless, for I was present. I wish you
to lend me that sum, whichovill save a family from dishonor
and despair. If you refuse to lend it me, this is for you, and
the fellow of it for me (showing while he. spoke a brace of
pistols). If, on the contrary, you consent to render me this
service, I swear, by all I hold sacred, that the sum shall be
faithfully restored to you before the expiration of six months.
Decide then, quickly, I beg of you." The • doctor was not
armed, and his loan compeller seeming very determined, he
thought his most prudent plan was to yield with a good face,
and banded over the sum, which the young gentleman put in
his pocket,' and wished his kind lender good night, renewing
his promise that the money should be punctually returned,
with interest, at the time specified. The doctor, it may be
supposed, placed little faith in the promise, and put himself
down as robbed. A few days since he was tal:ing 4 stroll in
the garden of the Tuilleries, when he was accosted by a young
and elegantly dressed female, who asked him if his name was
not ? On his replying in the affirmative, she added,—
" Sir, to you I am indebted for my life, and what is dearer,
my honour. Those are obligations which cannot be cancell-
ed • but in addition to that, I owe you the sum of 1,500 f,
with interest." "what do you mean," replied the doctor,
" I have not the honour of your acquaintance." " That
matters not," replied the lady. " Take this pocket book, 1
beg of. ou ; you will there find the sum I mentioned. Take
it quickly," she added, seeing the doctor hesitated. "My
husband may be here in a moment, and this transaction must
he a profound secret between you and I." Saying this, she
disappeared, leaving in the hands of the astonished doctor
the pocket book, which, on examination, he found to contain
bank notes to the amount of 3,000 f!

MITF,TII

t once ex

ANI3CDO4% DI, Louis PHI IPPR —May we be permitted
'we to relate a recent anecdote of l iz Majesty,
tremely characteristic, and indicative of a superior n
very distinguished English nobleman, Lord B

had the honour of dining with the King in that uncere -
monious manner in which he delights to withdraw himself
from the trammels of state, the conversation was carried on
as if between equals, and his Majesty, inter alia, remarked,
that " he was the only sovereign now in Europe fit to fill a
throne." Lord B in, somewhat staggered by this piece
of egotism, muttered out some trite compliments upon the
great talents for government which his royal entertainer had
always displayed, &c., &c., when the King burst into a fit of
laughter, and exclaimed—" No, no, that is not what I mean ;
but kings are at such a discount in our days,- there is no
saying what may happen ; and I am the only monarch who
has cleaned his own boots, and could do it again!"—Literary
Gazette. •

AN EVER-BURNING FLAMt.-21. paper was lately read at
the Royal Irish Academy, by Mr. G. J. Knox, " On a
Principle for producing an Ever-burning Flame." " A be-
lief," he observed, " in the discovery of an ever-burning
lamp appears to have been prevalent in all ages ; and tradi-
tion informs us that lamps have been found in tombs where
they have continued burning for upwards of 1,000 years, of
which mention has been made in the works of St. Austin,
Plutarch, Pliny, Ludovicus Vives, Baptista, Porta, and
Licetus. The Rosicrucians, who laid claim to the know-
ledge of everything mysterious, pretended to have re-disco-
vered the secret of their construction, which was supposed to
have been buried in the tomb of their founder. Dr. Plott, in
a treatise which he has written upon this subject, alluded to a
lamp mentioned by St. Austin in his book De Civitate Dei,
which was hung up in the temple of Venus ; and to another
found in the tomb of Pallas the Arcadian, who was slain by
Turnius in the Trojan war,. which continued to burn after
its removal from the tomb and exposure to the air—proving
that these lamps were not supplied from any bituminous
source, or volcanic fire. He considers the requisites for an
ever-burning lamp to be,—a perpetual wick, which might be
made of gold wire, or asbestos; and a perpetual supply of
fuel, which he imagines the bituminous springs of Pitchford,
in Shropshire, or the inflammable gases issuing from fissures
in coal mines, would afford. That such could supply fuel for a
flame, so long as the bituminous spring existed, or the gas con-
tinued to exhale from the mines, is evident; but it no more
deserves the appellation of an ever-burning lamp, than does
a fire arising from any volcanic source. The desideratum
for such a lamp is, that it should contain, within itself, a re-
novating principle, such as, probably, does the luminous
atmosphere encompassing the body of the sun, supposed by
Sir William Herschel to be electrical. That electricity was
the principle upon which such a lamp could be constructed
having occurred to me some years ago, I reflected upon the
different means by which a constant light could be produced
from this source, and concluded that, if by an arniogement
of metals, a thermo-electric current could be produced of
• sufficient intensity to decompose water, the heat produced by
the burning of the two gases arising from the decomposition
would be sufficient, when applied to the alternate metallic
junctions, to continue the electrical current of the thermo-
electric pile ; while the gases, which in burning become aque-
ous vapour, might be condensed by passing through a long
tube, through which being conveyed to the closed vessel in
which the water had been originally placed, they would again
undergo decomposition, recombination, and condensation.
Such a thermo-electric arrangement has been discovered by
Prof. Botto, of Turin, who has obtained decomposition of
water from a series composed of a great number of wires of
platinum and iron. To prevent the apparatus from acquiring
in time the same temperature, the alternate junctions of the
metals, to which the heat is not applied, might be connected
with the pedestal upon which the lamp is placed : and the
pedestal be either allowed to rest in a cold situation, or else
be connected by wires with some extensive cooling surface."

STA.TISTICS FOR. ALL.—In Great Britain the number of
individuals in a state to bear arms, from the age of 16 to 60,
is 2,744,847. The number of marriages is about 98,030
yearly ; and it has been reckoned, that in 63 of these unions
there were only three which had no issue. The number of
deaths is about 362,700 yearly, which makes nearly 25,492
monthly, 6,398 weekly, 914 daily, and 40 hourly. The deaths
among the women are, in proportion to the men, as 50 to 54.
The married women live longer than those who continue in
celibacy. In the country the mean term of the children pro-
duced by each marriage is four, in towns the proportion is
seven for every two marriages. iThe number of married
women is to the general number of individuals of the sex, as
one to three ; and the number of married men to that of the
male sex, as three to five. The number of widows is, to. that
of widowers, as three to one; but the number of widows who
marry again is, to that of widowers in the same case, as seven
to four. The individuals who inhabit elevated situations live
longer than those who reside in less elevated situations. The
half of the individuals die before the age of seventeen years.
The number of twins is, to that of ordinary births, as 1 to
65. According to calculations, founded on the bills of mor-
tality, one individual only in 3,126 attains the me of 100. The
number of births of the male sex is, to that of the female sex,
as 96 to 95.—Edinburph Philosophical Journal.

SHAKSPERE'S SIGNATURE.—The curious in such matters
may remember, that about three years ago much interest was
excited by a book being brought to the hammer (at Evan's),
with " Willm. Shakspere" inscribed on its title-page : it was
the first and folio edition of the English translation of " Mon-
taigne's Essays," by John Florio, printed 1603. That sold
for £100: it was bought by Pickering, as was undi rstood,
for the British Museum. Previously to the discovery of that
book and autograph, according to Sir F. Madden's observa-
tions on that autograph of Shakspere, and the orthography
of his name, communicated to the Society of Antiquaries, by
Sir F. Madden,-in a letter to Mr. John Gage, director, there
were only five acknowledged iiennine signatures of Shakspere
in existence. Of those, three are attached to his will in the
Prerogative Court, executed on the 25th of March, 1615-16;
the fourth is written on a mortgage deed, dated the 11th of
March, 1612-13, of a small estate purchased by Shakspere
of Henry Walker, in Blackfriars ; and the fifth on the coun-
terpart of the deed of bargain and sale of the same property,
dated the 10th of March, 1612-13. It is in a good state of
preservation, except in the folds, where the writing is slightly
injured. It is in the engrossing hand of the period.

DESTRUCTIVE ENGINES IN WARFARE.—AS a recent in-
vention for blowing up and destroying ships or towns has of
late excited considerable curiosity, the annexed extract from
the travels of Count Falkenstein, (Joseph 11., Emperor of
Germany,) will be read with interest :—" A native of Dau-
phiny, by name of Dupr6, who had spent his life in cultivating
the science of chyrnistry, invented a kind of tire, so rapid, and
so devouring, that it could be neither avoided nor extin-
guished : water, instead of destroying it, gave it new force.
Various experiments were tried with it on the Canal of Ver-
sailles, in the presence of the King (Louis YV.), which were
repeated at the arsenal of Paris, and in several seaports.
The most intrepid soldiers trembled at the effects of so dia-
bolical an invention, and considered it with the same horror
that the ancient knights felt at the . discovery of gunpowder.
Being convinced that one mats, assisted by such an art, could
destroy a fleet, or burn a city, the king commanded Dupre
never to communicate his secret, and paid him for his si-
lence.. His Majesty, however, was at that time engaged in a
ruinous war; the English braved him in his harbours, and
every day he suffered losses and disgrace. He could easily
have destroyed his enemies, but he preferred to suffer rather
than to augment the evils of humanity. Dupree is
.since
dead, and his dangerous secret lies buried with him."

WHAT ENGLAND HAS DONE : WHAT IT HAS YET TO
no.—The earth-works on most of the great lines of railway
in England are very extensive, in many cases averaging from
100,000 to 150,000 cubic yards per mile. On the North Mid-
land Railway from Derby to Leeds, a distance of 721 miles,
about 9,500,000 yards of earth were moved, being more
than 130,000 cubic yards per mile. During part of the time
that the works were in
.progress, from 9,000 to 10,000 men,
assisted by eighteen steam-engines, were employed, besides
great numbers of horses. Temporary stables were erected,
and the agriculturists in the vicinity obtained large supplies
of manure, an advantage from which they had previously
been excluded on account of their distance from towns. The
quantity of, earth and stone removed in forming the London
and Birmingham Line was about 16;000,000 cubic yards,
which, if formed into a belt three feet wide and one high,
would more than encompass the earth at the equator, Look-
ing at what has been effected in this country, by the labour,
ingenuity, and industry of man, we are reminded, says the
Penny Magazine, of a striking passage in one of the rhapso-
dies of Mr. Carlyle :—" Who," he asks, "shall say what work
and works this England has yet to do ? For what purpose this
land of Britain was created, set like a jewel in the encircling
blue of ocean ; and this tribe of Saxons was sent travel-
ling hitherward ; No man can say; it .was for a work,
and for works, incapable of announcement in words. Thou
seest them there ; pa"t of them stand done, and visible to
the eye; even these thou canst not name; how much less
the others still matter of prophecy ! They live and labour
there, these twenty million Saxon men ; they have been
borne into this mystery of life out of the darkness of past
time :—how changed now since the first father and first mo-
ther of them set forth, quitting the tribe of Muth, with
passionate farewell, under questionable auspices; on scanty
bullock-cart, if they had even bullocks and a cart, with axe
and hunting spear, to subdue a portion of our common
planet ! This nation now has cities and seed fields, has
spring-vans, dray-waggons, Long-acre carriages, nay, rail-
way trains ; has coined money, exchange bills. laws, books,
war-fleets, spinning jennies, warehouses, and West India
Docks ; see what it has built and done, what it can and will
yet build and do ! These umbrageous pleasure woods, green
meadows, shorn stubble-fields, smooth-sweeping roads ; these
high-domed cities, and what they hold and bear ; this mild
' good-morrow' which the stranger bids thee, equitable, nay,
forbearant if need were, judicially calm and law-observing
towards thee a stranger,—what work has it not cost ? How
many brawny arms, generation after generation, sank down
wearied! HOW many noble hearts, toiling while life lasted,
and wise heads that wore themselves dim with scanning and
discerning, before this waste White-clip', Albion so called,
became a British empire !"
MR. THESIGER.—A curious anecdote is current as to the
accident which first brought Mr. Thesiger into notice. The
tale is, that, at the Surrey Sessions, he was acting as counsel
for a defendant prosecuted by the Excise, for smuggling ci-
gars. The indictment charged that the defendant had smug-
gled certain qnantities of the cigars, in bundles weighing one
pound each. The case was so clear that there could be no
hope ; the cigars were weighed, and found exactly to tally
with the indictment : and all was supposed to be over, when
Mr. Thesiger remarked that his client was not indicted for
smuggling straws, but cigars ; and he demanded that the
straws which, in accordance with the then custom, were
passed through the cigars, should be withdrawn, and the bun-
dles again weighed. It is needless to add that, with the per-
mission of the judge, who did not even affect to preserve his
gravity, they were placed again in the balance, and being
found under weight, the defendant was of course acquitted,
and the reputation of this shrewd advocate made for ever.
The tale is quite consistent with the learned gentleman's
character.

BAy OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALANO.-It is now admitted
by all persons possessing any knowledge of the southern he-
misphere that the Bay of Islands has established itself as the
most important locality of all the explored regions of New
Zealand ; and to those who have been sufficiently interested
in the success of the new and important colonies in that lati-
tude, it will have been fully manifested that the tide of popular
choice has fully set in in favour of the site where the British
government has established itself. The arrival of each suc-
ceeding ship in the country has brought intelligence tending
still more to confirm the favourable impressions gradually
developing themselves in England towards the Bay of Islands;
and it is now confidently believed that, as its many advanta-
ges become more generally known, and' the additional infor-
mation emanating from private individuals colonising these,
which continually appears in the public journals, become
diffused throughout Europe, the Bay of Islands must inevi-
tably be the favourite colony with all emigrants. At this
juncture, then, when emigration is proceeding with unre-
strained rapidity, a highly-important sale is advertised by
Mr. George Robins to take place early in May, and which
consists of a large tract of land situate on the banks of the
Great Keddie Keddie River, having a frontage of many thou-
sands of feet to that noble estuary, in the hart of the com-
merce of the country, and in front of the bay where all the
ships from all parts of the world anchor. •To all those, there-
fore, whose prospects of worldly improvement are sbmewhat
dubious in their parent country, add who areabout to launch
themselves anew in the far south, it will be well if they per-
mit these few observations to confirm them in their inten-
tions ; and with a view of entering at once into busy 'occupa-
tion and Profitable mercantile pursuits, let them ponder
deeply upon the opportunity now afforded them of purchasing
frontage land in the most estimable pogition of the Bay of
Islands, nor wait until they arrive at their destination, where,
as a natural consequence, land so importantly situated bears
a price of £4OO per cent. snore than in England.

Nprovti !nit&

eleourred repoatty

of High Eag •••
er; OnI Saturday morning a pauper.
named William Brewer, aged 87 years, was found dead in
leis bed by his grandson, who had been sleeping with him ;
end Mrs. Anne Mead, of Blounts Farm, died. the same
morning, aged 91 years. Within the last three weeks, two
paupers have died in the same parish—viz., Jane Clift, aged
81, and Sarah Sorrel, 91.—Essex Herald.

GAS LIGHTING, LONDON.—For lighting London and its
suburbs with gas, there are eighteen public gas- works ; twelve
public gas-work companies; £2,800,000 capital employed in
works, pipes, tanks, gas-holders, apparatus ; £450,000 yearly
revenue derived ; 180,000 tons of coals used in the year for
making gas; 1,460,000 cubic feet of gas made in the year;
134,300 private burners supplied to about 400,000 customers ;
30,400 public, or street consumers ; about 2,650 of these are
in the city of London ; 380 lamp-lighters employed ; 176
gas-holders, several of them are double ones, capable of
storing 5,500,000 cubic feet ; 880 tons of coals used in the
retorts, in the shortest day, in twenty-four hours ; 7,120,000
cubic feet of gas used in the longest night, say 24th Decem-
ber ; about 2,500 persons employed in the metropolis alone
in this branch of manufacture ; between 1822 and 1826, the
consumption was nearly doubled ; and between 1827 and 1837,
it was again nearly doubled.—Mr. Halley, Engineer of Al-
lianee Gas Works, Dublin.

DENBIGH.—The town of Denbigh, that is what consti-
tuted the ancient town from the thirteenth to the sixteenth
century, was gathered within the circling walls that ran
round the rocky hill, on which stood the fortress; and
nothing, perhaps, could better show the altered condition of
society than to contemplate, at the same time, the narrow
limits marked by the boundary of those crumbling walls; and
the cheerful street which now descends the hill in perfect se-
curity, running away, as it were, from the needless protec-
tion of the huge fortress, and spreading into the vale, to in-
vite the foot of the traveller to enter into its peaceful and
attractive precincts, The view from that part of the " mas-
sie mount" which is now used as a bowling-green, is surpass-
ingly beautiful. Thu eye ranges along the belt of the Clwv-
dian hills that bound it on either side, with their summits
here and there crested into sharp peaks, or occasionally
gathered into forms which Mr. Gilpin denominates " heavy
and lumpish." Beneath, in the hollow of the vale, the gentle
Clwyd, though somewhat of a diminutive stream, curvets in
all the wantoness of unrivalled dominion and ample space,
tracing the neighbouring lands into all the varieties of figure
which correspond with her own capricious course. On all
sides the landscape swells into majesty, or subsides into the
sweetest recesses of sequestered life. Herds of living and
lowing animals gaze over the rich meadows, and flocks of
sheep pasture the verdant slips that ascend the mountain
side, or dot the towering steeps like fleecy spots upon a
ground of flowering heath. In some favoured tracks the ad-
venturous plough has already overcome the difficulties of hill
culture, and consecrated to Ceres the unfruitful waste, filling
her golden horn with the varied treasures of the year. The
picture of the Mantuan bard might almost be transferred to
the vale of Clwyd:—

•
Exercent colles ; atque horum asperrimo pascunt.
—From Roscoe's Wales, new edition.
SPORTING DID-YOU=RVERS, BY RIGDUM FUNNIDOS.—
Did you ever know a man confess that he had never been
a-hunting in all his life? Did you ever know a man thrown
out in a fox-hunt who hadn't cast a shye ? Did you ever see
a stage-coachman turn pale ? Did you ever know an angler
miss his trout when there was not something the matter,
either with the hook or the rod, the line or the reel, the river,
the bank, the fish itself, the air, the earth, the sky, the water,
the solar system, or Murphy's Almanac? Did you ever know
a stout man of opinion that a little man looked well on horse-
back ? Did you ever know a horse that has just kicked your
horse ever known to have kicked before? Did you ever know
a modest blacksmith ? Did you ever go pigeon-shooting a
second time ? Did you ever know a rough rider who was
member of more than one Teetotal Society at a time ? Did you
ever know a huntsman with agree yourself (or any one else) as
to the best cast for hounds at fault? Did you every know a
huntsman truly grateful to you for having lifted his hounds
during his temporary absence in the rear? Did you ever
know a man offer to lend you a horse for a day's hunting—
that looked as if he meant it ? Did you ever know a skating
or fishing party fixed for Thursday, that the weathercock
didn't chop round to due south or north on Wednesday
night ? Did you ever come home from an archery meeting
without either a metaphorical hole in your heart, or a real
one in your leg ? Did you ever see a lady driving a gig
without secretly congratulating yourself that you were not in
it ?—New Sporting Magazine.
HOLYWELL.—Who has not heard. of Holywell and its
miracle of a spring ! Who has not had his youthful heart
stirred within him at the wonderful story of the chaste and
beautiful St. Winifred, and her recovered head ! But the
Holywell of former days, the place for pilgrims and penitents,
is no longer what it was, but has become a bustling manu-
facturing town, more estimated for its mines, mills, and ma-
chinery, than for the waters of its far-famed well. The
town still, as it formerly did, crowns the brow of an emi-
nence, which slopes down to the shores of the dee. The
stream, which flows from this celebrated spring, and which
in early times, carried its healing waters in murmurs that
spoke of " promised pleasure" to the gazing sufferers, hav-
ing upon its banks one solitary mill to supply the hospital
brotherhood of Basingtverk with the fine flour of their deli-
cate simmels, now absolutely roars with the sound of batter-
ing hammers and battered anvils, used in the conversion of.
the ores and metals raised in different parts of Flintshire and
Denbighshire, and in fabricating them into copper sheets
and copper bolts, rolls of wire, and articles and vessels of all
kinds for use and ornament. St. Winifred's well, which
gave the name of Holywell to the place, is a powerful spring,
throwing up about thirty tons of water per minute, with
scarcely any variation in rain or drought, in winter or sum-
mer. The whole of this structure as it now stands, together
with the chapel above, was built by Margaret, mother of
Henry VII.; the style partaking of the character of that eras
though Mr. Grose is of opinion that portions of it are of
much earlier date. The interior work is most beautifully
executed, and presents a fine specimen of enriched groining,
with carved pendants illustrative of its legend, and sculp-
,turez alluding to the house of Stanley, forming a canopy over
the well; from whence the water passes under an arch into a
large basin, in which the artist of the accompanying engrav-
ing has introduced several characteristic figures in the act of
immersion—no doubt intended to represent the infirm and
holy pilgrims of bye-gone days. It would speak favourably
to.therr taste if the well, basin, and building were kept in
more cleanly and careful condition, by the good people of
the town ; but ,the said good people in their justification
affirm, that its comparatively neglected state is attributable
to the proprietorship being disputed by the Marquis of West-
minster and the authorities of Holywell."—From .Roscoe'S
Wales, new edition, now publishing in monthly party.
FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.—Monday week commenced the
grand feast of the Passover among the Jews: during the whole
of the week before, the Jews, all over the world, have been
busily employed in removing from their houses the vestige
of leavened bread ; and on the day previous to this feast cam-
mencing, the master of the house, with a wax light in his
hand, enters and examines every room to see that it is per-
fectly free from leavened bread. The feast lasts eight days,
during the whole of which time they neither eat nor drink
anything containing yeast. As eight days' holiday would fall
particularly heavy on the poorer classes, it is only the two
first and the two last days that are kept strictly, they being
allowed to follow their various callings during the interme-
diate four. Formerly the Jews (and a few still keep up the
ceremony), would on the first two nights kill a lamb and
roast it whole, and all the household, even to the servants of
the same faith, assemble together, and the master of the
house explains how they were in bondage in Egypt, and
how the Lord delivered them by the slaying of the first-bore
of the Egyptians. This now almost obsolete custom of slay,
ing a lamb and sprinkling the blood on the door-post has, at
different periods, formed the basis on which the enemies of
the Jews have founded their charge of imputing to them hu-
man sacrifices, though the Old Testament expressively in-
for ms us that the Jews were commanded to do so by God,
that it should be a sign to the angel of death to pass over
those houses; and in commemoration thereof the Jews to
this day keep the feast of the Passover.
FRENCH SWINDLER.—A wealthy wine-merchant of Ma-
con, who has also large cellars at Bercy, had arrived from
the country to settle some law affairs in Paris, and had made
an appointment to meet his attorney a few days ago at the
Palais de Justice, being compelled in the settlement of the
cause to make a tender in court of the sum of 1700 f„ for
which purpose he provided himself with that sum ; he came
to Paris for the purpose, accompanied by his young wife. On
arriving at the palace du Chatelet, they found that they had
yet an hour to the time of their appointment, and decided on
going to a restaurant's in the neighbourhood and taking
breakfast. While they were at their meal, two young gen.
tlemen entered, and, seating themselves at another table close
by, began talking in rather a loud tone of a most extensive
conflagration which had broken out within the last hour at
Bercy, and it was feared that the price of wine would rise in
consequence of the large quantity that would doubtless be
destroyed. Our merchant pricked up his ears, and handing
over the sack in which was the devoted 1700 f. to his wife,
told her to make the best of her way to the Valais de Justice,
and pay over the money to his attorney, who would be ex-
pecting him, whilst he ran as fast as he could to Bercy to
look after his property there. This arrangement was carried
into immediate execution. No sooner had the lady entered
the Palais de Justice than she was accosted by a person whom,
from his robe, she took for the attorney of her husband, who,
addressing her respectfully, asked if her name was not Mad.
H—. On her replying in the affirmative, he said he was
glad of it, for that he was afraid they should be too late, the
cause had been called on, and he had not a moment to spare.
Madame therefore handed over the money to him, and he
left her. She took her seat very quietly in the court to wait
the arrival of her husband. In about half an hour he came
in quite in a fever from his haste ; he had been to Bercy,
where he found every thing as he had left it. The story of
the fire was a hoax. He then asked his wife if she had seen
the lawyer, and she replied " Yes, and have given him the
money," While pondering on the mischievous hoax that
had been played him, the attorney, " the real Simon Pnre,'
came to him, reproached him for the money, as if not imme-
diately paid into court it would be too late. Our merchant
stared ; said the money had been paid some time sinpe by
his wife, whom he then introduced to his legal friend. The
mystification of the fire then flashed upon them all. The
fire story-teller and the first lawyer were " fellow-workmen,"
and bad managed by the means above related to obtain pos-
session of the money, which, it is needless to say, never was
paid into court. Information of the mystifiers was given to
the police, but no clue to them has yet been found.

SMOCKING ACCIDENT AND MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.—A
few days since, two workmen in the commune of Fresne, near
couches, had just descended to pursue their usual occupa-
tions in a marl pit, when, as the basket which had served
them for their descent was being drawn to the surface, the
sides of the pit gave way, and enclosed them in the abyss.
A number of workmen were immediately collected, and set
to work ; but as it was considered dangerous to begin fro!'
the opening of the pit, fearing a further part of the earth
might give way, there was a hope entertained by the mit
neers that the men might have had time to plaice their escape
into some of the chambers of the pit before the body of earth
fell MI them, and it was therefore determined on that the
best mode of proceeding was to sink another shaft, which
would lead to the chamber in question. Fhis was immedi-
ately commenced, and th-, workmen proceeded with every
possible diligence ; but it was not until 46 hours after the
falling in of the pit that they succeeded in reaching the cham-
ber, where they were rejoiced to find the men in good health,
and unhurt by the accident. It appears that they had had Ir
warning of the impending disaster by some small pieces of
stone falling down, which alarmed them, and 'they had just
time to escape into the chamber where they were found, car-
rying with them a basket containing some provisions, which
they had used very sparingly, not knowing how long it might
take their comrades to reach their place of refuge. The joy
of their families may be more readily conceived than describ-
ed., At one time they state they began to despair of relief,
and were suffering from the want of air, but were soon after
encouraged by hearing the sound of their deliverers at work,
and every minute advancing nearer and nearer to their •place
of shelter. At one time they had quite given themselves up
as lost. After hearing distinctly the sound of the pickaxes
working for their relief, they heard a loud sound as if a fur-
ther quantity of earth had fallen in, and considered that all
was over, and when they again heard the glad sound of the
labourers, they were restored to hope, and were thus mira-
culously saved from that most'horrible of deaths, starvation.

LIVERPOOL:
TUESDAY; APRIL. 13, 1841.
/MINTED AND PUBLISHED
EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY MQIPTINP,.
BY
JOSHUA FLETCHER LACE, ofBB, Mount Pleasant, and
LEONARD ADDISON, of 14, Great Orford-street,'
At No. 4, ST. GEORGE'S CRESCENT, LIVERPOOL.