The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-09 00:00:00

OPERATIONS OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

(From yesterday's Times.)
The Bank returns published on Saturday suggest what
can hardly fail, at the approaching meeting of Parliament,
to prove a point of interesting discussion. In the letter
of the Ministers authorising the suspension of the bill of
1844, it was intimated that the profits of any violation of
that bill should be devided between the Bank and the
Government ; but there was no expression of an inten-
tion to fix upon any portion of the enormous profits to
be derived to the Bank from working their reserve down
to the point just short of infringement. The letter in
question gave the Bank the power not only of utterly
exhausting its reserve, and thus of employing two to three
millions at 8 per cent., which would otherwise have been
impossible, but freed it from making those costly sa-
crifices, which would have been unavoidable, if the
suspension of Peel's Act had not been decided upon, to
bring that reserve from the low point it had reached up
to a position of safety. Thus, in the autumn, as it was in
the spring (when the inability of the Bank to manage the
the deficiency-bill question caused the Chancellor to draw
from the public several millions at a cost to the country
of 5 per cent., to be deposited in the Bank, and then
loaned by that institution back again to the public at 6 and
7 per cent.), amidst all the misery of the recent panic the
Bank of England, by which it has been caused, is the only
party who is not only exempt from suffering, but who is
actually from its operation deriving unbounded gains.
If the matter could be regarded as ending here, we
should be driven to the belief that a blundering and mis-
directed selfishness is the true policy for success in busi-
ness. Happily, however, we are not obliged from these
immediate results to draw our permanent conclusions.
The present profits of the Bank of England, derived from
the sacrifices they have inflicted upon the community,
still fail to convince us that the true interests of both are
not in reality identical, and that, if the bank had pursued
the course urged upon it, of conducting its affairs truly
as bankers, looking to no other end than that of the per-
manent success of its own business, it would not be in a
better position than that which it now occupies. On the
31st of December last we pointed out that the bank,
under the act of 1844, had no other responsibilities than
those which it shared in common with its brother
bankers throughout the kingdom, and that all that any of
them have to do is to take care of their own interests.
If, however, the bank is to be regarded as having
adopted a sound method of taking care of its own inte-
rests, it is quite clear that the other bankers have all done
the reverse. If it be sound permanent policy to clutch
at enormous momentary gains and constantly to bring a
business concern to a position in which it could be stopped
in a few hours, and by the influence of the slightest
casualty,—if, in fact, it be true policy to bring such a
concern at last to a point at which it can only be saved
by the interposition of friends (no matter whether those
friends be the Government or individuals), who support
it solely because of the way in which its fall would involve
others,—then, assuredly, the Bank can claim every credit
for the performance of its functions ; but in the same way
the merchant who, at the imminent risk of stoppage,
shall venture into a wild speculation, may point to the
profits, if it happen to turn out advantageously, and
justify the step by the result. These things, however,
in one way or another, always in the long run of years
come to some ugly termination, such as to prove that
after all the party has contrived to mistake, instead of
to follow, the road of self-interest he was seeking. Even
as far as matters have already gone, there is enough
to keep up this faith in the present case of the Bank
of England. Had the Bank at the commencement of
the year acted as, we presume, Mr. Loyd or Mr. Glyn
would have acted in like circumstances,—had it met the
increasing demand for its commodity by a proportionately
increasing charge—had it resolved, in view of the times of
peril which were predicted to keep up a reserve against its
liabilities sufficient to protect itself under all contingen-
cies ; and had it by this means kept itself in a position to
stave off all possibility of the approach of its greatest ene-
my—panic, by saying at all times, " Let no really solvent
bank or trader fear the chance of being broken down by
any merely fortuitous pressure, since, although the weak
must fall, we are strong enough to give assistance in any
sudden case, of real need," it may be doubted whether its
actual profits from smaller loans at a higher rate of inter-
est would not have equalled all that it has grasped by its
reckless prodigality ; while, as regards its prospects for the
future, in having escaped the accumulated odium which
now rests upon it, the difference may well be deemed in-
calculable.

FLOATING BEDS.—Some curious and interesting expe-
riments were tried last week on the Serpentine river,
Hyde-park, to test the powers and buoyancy of a novel
sort of hammock beds or mattresses, of very simple con-
struction, yet of importance to nautical people and pas-
sengers in ships, and intended for the preservation of lives
at sea in cases of shipwreck. Captain Stevens and his
son, and several gentlemen connected with naval matters,
threw themselves into the water, into which the hammock
mattresses were also thrown. They got hold of them,
and found no difficulty in placing themselves upon them,
and floating comparatively high and dry by their assist-
ance for a considerable time. The experiments took
place early in the morning to avoid a crowd, but they
were nevertheless witnessed by many scientific persons
and others. _ _

THE AURORA. BOREALIS AT GREENWICH.—The fol-
lowing is the account from the Greenwich Observatory of
the aurora borealis, on Sunday, the 24th ult.:—The sky
was generally overcast during the day with cumulostratus,
cirrostratus, and scud, till five p.m., and nearly clear af-
terwards. Rain was falling during the afternoon. At
6h. 23m. a.m. a faint streamer of an aurora borealis was
seen, and between this time and 10h. p.m. occasional
streamers were seen. At 10Ir. p.m., and again at mid-
night, the aurora borealis was magnificent. The magne-
tic instruments were very greatly disturbed during the
whole day. At about ten p.m. the horizontal force mag-
net was in a position which it had never reached since the
establishment of the magnetic observatory, and such as to
show a great decrease in the horizontal component of the
magnetic dip. The aurora continued visible till two o'clock
on Monday morning, the magnetic instruments being
disturbed almost all day. There was a moderate wind al-
most every day during the week. The total horizontal
movement was 760 miles. _ _ _

THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK.—We give in another
paragraph the particulars connected with the death of the
Archbishop of York. .The annual value of the see is
£lO,OOO, and the Archbishop of York takes precedence
next after the Lord Chancellor ; he enjoys the title of
Primate of England, and the office of Lord High Almoner
to the Queen, besides possessing the patronage of three
archdeaconries, two chancellorships, one precentorship,
23 non-resident canonries, and 53 benefices. The pro-
vince of Canterbury includes upwards of 20 sees ; and, as
might.be expected, the annual values of the two provinces
bear a due proportion to each other, Canterbury being
considerably greater.than that of York ; at the same time
that many important offices and privileges belong to the
latter. Had Sir Robert Peel been in office, we have no
doubt but the estimable Bishop of Chester would have
been promoted, but the probability is that at present
either the Bishop of Worcester or the Bishop of Norwich
will be translated. The Queen will, perhaps, be more
favourable to Dr. Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford.
DRAINING.—At a late agricultural :meeting, S. T.
Kekewich, Esq., one of the leading magistrates of the
county of Devon, with reference to draining, said he had
no hesitation in saying that it was the most important
improvement which could be introduced, and one so gene-
rally necessary, that, out of 2,000 acres, 1,800 required
draining. As an instance, he would allude to a field of
about 26 acres belonging to his friend, Sir Thomas Ac-
land, which, a short time since, was only fit to feed a few
sheep and bullocks during the summer, and for which the
tenant paid only 7s. per acre. The rent would be £9 a
year.; suppose the tenant paid 6 per cent. upon the out-
lay made in draining it—that would be £9 a year more,
and would raise the rent of the field to XIS. The
farmer told him with very great frankness, that when
the field had been drained he should have it "pared
down" and burn it, in order to bring it into cul-
tivation, at a further cost of 153. per acre, or £l9 10s.
-for the whole field, and after that he should get a crop of
wheat out of it, which he (the tenant) estimated at 25 or
26 bushells per acre. He took it at 25 bushels, and he
made the man confess that the very first crop of wheat to
be taken out of that field, after being drained, would be
worth, at a fair price, something above £195. This was
one instance of the results of thorough draining, but this
was not the only good they did by it.
MURDEROUS ASSAULT AND ITS SINGULAR CONSE-
QUENCES.—An assault with intent to rob was committed
upon a workman on Saturday, (says the Glasgow Mail of
Monday) under very aggravated circumstances. About
one o'clock in the morning a man in the employ of Patrick
Robertson and Co., ivas passing through Main-street, an
unfinished street, leading from Argyll-street up to Myth-
wood-square. He had got about half-way down, and was
at the open and unprotected part of the road, when three
stout men, who had the appearance of carters, darted out
from the side of the path, and collared the. unfortunate
man. Thinking they were but in jest he entreated them
to let him pass, but the only reply he received was a blow
which felled him to the ground. One of the ruffians then
threw himself on the poor man, and the other two com-
menced to rifle his pockets. In their savage haste they
had apparently used a knife to tear open his clothes, as
he felt a sharp weapon grazing along his skin. Dreadfully
alarmed, he naturally thought they had a design to mur-
der him, and contrived to get his clasp-knife out of his
pocket, which he opened, and by a desperate effort
turned himself over, and stabbed in the groin the man
who was holding him. The stab must have been a severe
one
, if it do not prove ultimately fatal, as the manimme-
diately after receiving it, fell back heavily. His comrades,
seeing the condition he was in, slunk behind, and thus
allowed the workman an opportunity of eflecting his
escape. Having found three policemen in Argyll-street,
he communicated the particulars of the attack, and they
immediately proceeded to the spot,. but the vagabonds
The clothes which the man had
wounded
nmdedadecogmoopdantilolenh: retreat, carryingi with them their
on when attacked in this murderous manner were in
numerous parts completely cut through, and a deep sear
in
his
eas leftoinn this
tiarmasatnd.sh threecNKhso., are
landlord
of
—A cutscandidates
moo hisnthseth
teflea r
vbreasthtpoounsbtli He offavour,
t o attesti
e
ruthless nature of the assault which was made upon him.
LAWTON'S.
s ,n fowlsthere are few of higher and more deserved pretension and
repu
in
Clayton-square. His taste and liberality in the cuisineel'are
ictlbieoswt r
i,
ntai localLltaionvuelrii.ep oisolenabled. races,E Eco-
nomy adinitted by all who have availed themselves of his provi-
t
nce in all his arrangements,
anshtseoll::l si
erflpin'eurleYolrallale9;:tl imipsc,ll eehbale anr anti erul I ntdbe
alt3d. ivetealti entertainmentfouthins ath cicieixh:el eici department been newly painted, and refurnished from top to bottom ;
in Liverpool. His house has
tentian should be pariiculariv drawn to his snacks anti
dinner?, which are provided in 7 the coffee-wooni, at the
11):1-retillitliletalkt a:311014s. beds:
IOWESt possible charge, and invariably give the highest
satisfaction.-7Chronicie-

k`T"

LATEST FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

WEST INDIES.

The Royal Mail Steam-packet Medway, arrived at
Southampton on Sunday, with 38 cabin passengers, and
185,577 dollars, and 144,355 dollars worth of gold dust
and coin.
By this arrival we have our usual file of West India
papers, but, with the exception of accounts of numerous
and unanimous meetings, condemning in the most severe
terms the legislation on the subject of the sugar duties,
they are very barren of interest. Jamaica is described as
being in a sad condition, and as being deserted by num-
bers of merchants, in the anticipation of increased decay
of trade. The meeting of the House of Assembly was
looked forward to with much interest. There had pro-
bably never been so many meetings and so much unani-
mity as is described to exist in Jamaica and the British
West Indies generally. The oppressively hot weather in
Jamaica for a few days since the accounts by the last
packet had been succeeded by profuse rain and a favour-
able change. The islands generally are described as being
in a fair state as regards the weather and the present
crops.

The arrival of the Medway has brought us but little ad-
ditional news from Mexico, but the account already pub-
lished is abundantly confirmed. The American force is
stated to be in daily receipt of reinforcements, and Santa
Anna in a helpless condition. It was rumoured at Vera
Cruz that he was before Puebla on the 30th, with 2,000
or 3,000 men, altogether dispirited ; and another rumour
was current at Bermuda, from news said to be received by
an Halifax vessel, that one-half of the city of Mexico was
still in the bands of the Mexicans, who would fight to the
last. All accounts concur in describing the commerce of
Mexico to be suffering most severely, and agree in the
belief that circumstances arc now favouring the Ameri-
cans.

SWITZERLAND.—The situation of Switzerland was the
all-absorbing subject of conversation in Paris on Satur-
day. No authentic accounts of the actual commence-
ment of civil war in that country had been received, but
Paris letters lead us to expect, by to-day, painful de-
tails from the. Cantons. The occupation of Neufchatel
by the Radicals is the first act of aggression on their part.
The effect of it on the Prussian government we shall soon
learn.

PROSPECT OF A SEVERE WINTER.—A St. Petersilurgli
letter of the 7th of October states, that the streets are
already covered with snow, and sledge-parties were daily
arranged. The thermometer (the preceding day) marked
three degrees below zero (Reaumur's scale).
DAR/VG RORBERY.—The Paris Illoniteur mentions an
act of highway robbery of a character so audacious as to
cause, on Saturday, in Paris, serious reflections on the
state of the country. The diligence from Vannes, for
L'Orient, containing 40,000 f., the property of Govern-
ment, and escorted by two Gendarmes, was attacked on
the road by a band of 12 or 15 highwaymen, who firel a
volley, which killed two horses and one of the Gendarmes.
The other galloped off to seek assistance. The robbers
in the meanwhile, plundered the coach of its contents and
effected their escape.

MURDER OF A POLICE MAGISTRATE IN CEYLON.—Art
inquest was held on Saturday last at Negomba on the
body of Mr. F. L. Dick, police magistrate, of that place,
who had met his death from a gunshot wound on the pre-
vious night. It appears that the deceased had left his
house on Friday night, in company with Mr. Northmore,
C. C. S., and three Peons, to go in search of a notorious
burglar, a native, who had recently escaped from custody
at Chilaw, and who was reported to be hiding in his father's
house, situated at Palanchina, five miles from Negombo,
and northward of Kaderani. The man they were in search
of was well known to be a most desperate character, and
had often been heard to say he would shoot any one who
attempted to capture him. The head men of Negumbo
endeavoured in vain to dissuade the magistrate from going
on such an errand. He took a brace of loaded pistols in his
belt, and, in the company we have stated, started on foot
for Palanchina. They arrived there between 9 and 10, when
the moon was well up, and objects were plainly distinguish-
able. The house which had been indicated was searched,
but the burglar was not to be found ; the father, however,
told them he thought his son was secreted in a cot-
tage not far off, belonging to one Singho Appoo, and
to this the party proceeded. Mr. Dick and one Peon
went to the front door, another went to the door at the
rear, whilst Mr. Northmore and the third Peon remained
at alittledistance. They knocked and demanded admission,
whereupon Singho Appoo called out to know who was
there; one of the Peons replied it was the magistrate of
Negombo, and that he must open the door and let them
in. A woman was then heard to say, " Take your gun,
and shoot the thieves." One of the shutters was at the
moment half opened, close to the deceased, who, it is
supposed, peeped in, and immediately after a gun was
fired, and he fell dead on the spot. Mr. Northmore and
the Peons then forced their way into the house, and se-
cured Singho Appoo and his wife, who were the only in-
mates. The gun, which was quite hot, had been fired
with slug, and the shot had completely divided the carotid
artery, from which the blood was pouring in great quan-
tities.—Colombo Monthly Examiner, Sept. 16.

se- c 'I lanai vow
THE SIAMESE TWINS.—A correspondent of the Raleigh
(North Carolina) Biblical Recorder, under date of August
2, 1847, gives the following account of a visit to Chang and
Eng, the celebrated Siamese twins, who, it will be re-
membered, visited this town some 15 years since :—" In
company with my friend Mr. William M'Nance, I called
to see the Siamese twins, Chang and Eng, residing about
one mile and a half from Mount Airy, on a valuable farm,
which they have lately purchased, and removed to from
the county of Wilkes. To my great disappointment they
were not at home, being absent on a visit to their planta-
tion in Wilkes. The wife of one of them was at home,
and four of their children, all of whom resemble them
much in appearance. They have each of them children
about the same age. In addition to their native names
they have assumed the name of Banker, in honour of their
banker of that name in the city of New York. The Mrs.
Banker we found at home appeared to be a good-looking
intelligent woman, with a free and open countenance, aP-
parently about 25 years of age. There appeared to be a
number of servants about the premises, of different ages
and sexes. Their house is small, but they are preparing
to build a new and commodious one. The wife of one of
them and two of their children were at Wilkes. They
live alternately at each place, and so will continue until
they build a new house or sell their plantation in Wilkes,
which they design to do. They take much pleasure in
farming, have a tine crop, and are quite plain and econo-
mical in dress and manner of living, are fond of hunting,
and, with their wives and little ones, apparently quite
happy and contented. Their wives are said to be members
of the Baptist church, of respectable parents, and the
twins occasionally go to church with them. They are
punctual in attending the elections, and vote the Whig
ticket. I learn tliat, in addition to their property in
North Carolina, they have an invested fund in New York.
ttAhhsee
iytrh epy
werema dr eu
situatedef
oi d n
so ft foawr mhmeiarnregk ,
et
ti
ewould
pbrpeaocmsi
leui
t;
however,ehs boeft tge
er
tthat
inducements of the chase make them prefer a residence
near the mountain."

NEW PATENT ROTARY ENGINE.--A new rotary
steam-engine is now at work at Mr. Tyrrells, engineer,
Deptford, showing the great economy of weight, fuel,
and friction of which steam-power is capable. This will
be at once understood, when we state that the whole of
this four-horse engine (without the boiler), would not
occupy much more than half a hat-box, the actual dimen-
sions of what may be called the piston being only nine
inches by four inches, and the weight of the whole box
being between two and three cwt. A steam pipe from
the boiler brings the steam into this little receptacle, an
eccentric crank is turned by the rotary motion within it;
and here is all the machinery said to be necessary to propel
the largest engines, whether mining, marine, or locomo-
tive. The adaptation of the interior of the little box
may be described to consist of five segments of cir-
cles of highly polished steel, so arranged that the abut-
ments and pistons, or acting arms (also of steel highly
polished), bear on each other so as to secure steam-tight
contact without any packing. The patentees state that
their engine makes 400 revolutions in the time the re-
ciprocating engine makes 200 revoliv ions, with the same
rate only of expenditu e in fuel—power for power—and
further that the number of revolutions made in a given
time do not sensibly affect the. power. One of the most
common defects in rotary engines has been their tendency
to leakage, whereby a continual loss of power has been
sustained. The new engine, on the contrary, is perfectly
steam tight, and works at a high velocity without any per-
ceptible friction; it has no " dead point,""and works at full
power up to the size required. We learn, however, that
the patentees are about to construct a larger engine on
the same principle, with a boiler of proportionate size,
and the opportunity will then be afforded, iu the most
practicable and tangible way, of measuring the con-
sumption of fuel with the power of the engine, and
the amount of work actually performed. The Admiralty
have requested,' an estimate of the cost of fitting the
Minx with an auxiliary engine of 50-horse power.
The Minx is a vessel of three hundred tons burden, and is,
it is said, to be furnished with a screw propeller, which
the rotary engine is supposed to be peculiarly well fitted to
un
lightentgi oines of
tta
her,l
esine new
present
respect
te
l
rotary
to a
drive. The actual dimensions of this new engine of 50-
horse power would be not more than 31 inches by 16
inches, the velocity being calculated at a main of 300 re-
volutions per
Minx xllefeoisirluatbthesetdi substitution
uoislnieedhr'o would,
the minute.
it iy
alone, about 50 tons, leaving out of calcula-
tion ordi-
narilyengmachinery
inaahtogether the economy of space and fuel.—Times.
THE BOSJESMANS.--A group of five of these " inter
esting people was exhibited on Monday evening, at Exe-
ter Hall, Strand, to a large assembly of the curious, and a
lecture delivered on their nature, properties, propensities,
and habits, by Dr. Knox. They were landed in Liverpool
by the brig Fanny, Captain "Wheeler, and that this is
their first appearance in Europe. Without saying that
"
Europe will be, or not be, profited by their arrival, it may
be affirmed that nothing, even in this age of strange and
unnatural" importations, is more curious than this stunted
family of African dwarfs. In appearance they are little
above the monkey tribe, and scarcely better than the mere
brutes of the field. They are continually crouching, warm-
ing themselves by the fire, chattering or growling, s moking,
&c. They are sullen, silent, and savage—more animals in
propensity, and worse than animals nn appearance. The
exhibition is, however, one that will and ought to attract.
The admirers of "pure nature" can confirm their specu-
lations on unsophisticated man, and woman also, or re-
pi diate them, by a visit to these specimen.. They are
well calculated to remove prejudices; and make people
think aright of the times when " wild in Isis woods the
noble savage ran." In short, a 'more miserable set of
human beings—for human, they are, nevertheless—was
never seen. They are about to perform, at the future
exhibitions of them, some curious feats of activity, and'
of their modes of attack and defence, which will be worth
attention.—Thnes. We give the above from a source
which will not be excepted against. Our own opinion as
to the character of the people in question confirms that
of our contemporary.

h

•

Ettcratur.

POETRY.

THE POPLIN WEAVER.
(From Air. Starkey's Theoria.)

I'm loth to awake ye, Art, my dear !
But the steps of a stranger are drawing near :
Up the ricketty stair they come,
Making, I think, for our wretched room:—
Rise, Art, rise! the last shilling 's spent—
Art, it 's the sheriff—the rent—the rent

See, daylight has lit on the window-sill—
Art ! is it you to be slumbering still?
Ye knew that at last we must quit, or pay,
Though ye didn't expect the distress to-day?
Rise,
i Art, rise ! the last shilling 's spent—
Art, t 's the sheriff—the rent—the rent !

At the door !—oh, a month to make up what 's due!
The landlord he knows, Art, your word is true;—
If he saw how we strive, he'd put off the sale— -
'Twas the will of God that the trade should fail!
Rise, Art, rise! the last shilling 's spent—
Art, it 's the sheriff—the rent—the rent!

In days gone by, it was Ireland's pride
To be decked in the web that our looms-supplied :
Those were the times, Art, that ye took me home,
And told me that love would make business come.
Rise, Art, rise! the last shilling 's spent—
Art, it 's the sheriff—the rent—the rent !

It's hunger, Art, that has made ye weak—
What can I think of, your fast to break ?
Here, Art, here is my wedding-ring---
The lodgers will lend on the blessed thing !
Rise, Art, rise ! the last shilling 's spent—
Art, it 's the sheriff—the rent—the rent I

God forgive me I my heart is torn
To drag ye from bed this bitter morn:
The bed that they're coming to seize, and sell—
Where I've nursed and prayed by ye, sick and well!
Rise, Art, rise I the last shilling 's spent—
Art, it 'a the sheriff—the rent—the rent !
VII.

How silent he sleeps! not a stir, or breath!
Poor famishing husband, you're worked to death !
At the shuttle before and after the sun—
And a morsel of meal when the day is done !
-Rise, Art, rise I the last shilling 's spent—
Art, it 's the sheriff—the rent—the rent !
Arm.
Dead ! —Oh, my God ! it is over at last—
The wearisome struggle is past—is past !
The heavens be praised ! 'tisn't you need fear—
'Tis your widow that 's desolate, husband dear !
Rise, Art, rise, to the happy skies,
Where the tears are wiped from the poor man's eyes !

SKETCHES OF A TRIP TO THE CONTINEN r,
s- ITALY, AND EGYPT.
BY EDWIN BEET, ESQ.
No. XVIII.
(Written for the Liverpool Standard.)

In my return to Palermo from Agrigantum with my
kind-hearted friend and good Samaritan Williams, we
visited some Saracenic hot wells. The waters are from
80 to 90 degrees of heat ; vast volumes constantly gush
forth, and the rooms are clouded by steam. The pillars
and arches of these wells are picturesque and antique,
and resemble those of a Saracenic bridge near the Ele-
phantine bone cave, in the vicinity of Palermo. We also
passed close to the lofty Monte Camarada, seen for many
miles, and slept at Alcarra. The mode of travelling by
latiga is not unpleasant, except when crossing the preci-
pitate beds of rivers, steep-descending valleys, or ascend-
ing sudden elevations, when a false step of either of your
mules might be dangerous to life or limb. The latiga is
much like our sedan-chairs, only the supporting poles,
instead of being carried by human hands, are fastened
into the sockets of the harness of the horses or mules ;
and the jolting frequently causes you to strain vigorously,
and hold fast with pertinacity, or you would be thrown
with violence against or upon your companion and bro-
ther voyager, who faces you. A muleteer and a stout lad
are generally the conductors, who walk and run at about
five miles an hour by the side, or before and behind the
latiga.
My journey with Mr. Williams was made very pleasant
by his interesting narrative of his eight years' residence
in Sicily : the frequent dangers he was exposed to by the
noxious air in the sulphur mines—often obliged to run to
the entrance of the mines for air and life. In one instance
two of the natives were prostrate in suspended animation,
and, by almost superhuman exertions, he dragged them
one in each hand to the entrance of the mine, and then
fell senseless and fainting himself. Many anecdotes he
related of the ignorance and superstition, often fatal, of
the native Sicilians (true fatalists), who, by their bigotry,
perished rather than avoid the dangers besetting their
perilous employment ; as our miners, too careless to carry
Davy's safety-lamp, are so frequently blown up by fatal
explosions.
The leading features in the landscape of Sicily are the
constant succession of hill and valley, dried-up rivers in
the summer, and the vast cacti plants along the highway
sides, growing from 13 to 15 feet in height, and nearly
two feet in circumference. Our verdant English hedges
are here in Sicily, as in Italy, almost unknown. I was
sadly disappointed in what I expected to be the soft Sici-
lian vespers, as in several of the churches I heard the
most boisterous Stentorian vociferations and bellowings,
which, after the scientific and polished strains of the
eunuchs and choir at Rome, grated on my ears with hor-
rible discordance. In a paved court near the Senate-
house and Post-office, there are 48 tablets, with various
Roman, Italian, and Arabic inscriptions, fixed into the
walls ; and the dried-up fountain, with its disgusting
nude gigantic female figures and sea-nymphs, is more
a nuisance than an ornament to the city. Sunday morn-
ing was a noisy time : all the markets busy—sturdy fel-
lows crying. out their commodities. Three gentlemen
and two ladies I observed drinking cooling drinks at a
krthing a glass : it was iced and spiced water, rolled
about in a curiously suspended cask, to cause a sparkling
effervescence. The lottery-offices I have noticed sell a
great many tickets on the Sunday. " Better luck on the
better day," these voluntarily-taxed merry people expect.
The tables of the money-changers in the streets and shops
are open and busily employed on the Sunday. Strolled
into another gorgeous church : found a very small con-
gregation of about four (the number that attends Boyle's
Lectures at Bow Church), and the priests laughing. One
of the tablets above alluded to had this inscription on it :
DEAE NEMES 1.. M
GELLIVSCAE.
EX.IM

DIVO CLAVDIO
RES . PANHORMIT.

This tablet to the goddess Nemesis, who is said to he the
daughter of Jupiter and Necessity, or from Ocean and
Night. Adrastus, King of Argos, first raised an altar to
her ; and Rhamnus raised a magnificent temple to her at
Attica. A temple in the Capitol at Rome was also dedi-
cated to this goddess. She is figured with a stern coun-
tenance, a whip in one hand, a pair of scales in the other,
and is supposed to have the power of punishing those
who escape human justice. There is also a very curious
Phoenician inscription upon a stone at Catania; but your
type will not express it, otherwise it would much interest
the antiquary. I was rather surprised to hear two violins
twanging away vigorously on the Sunday morning : look-
ing in at the open window, I saw lots of young people,
lads and lasses, being taught dancing.
I must not omit stating here the obligations I owe to
Mr. Marsden, the American consul, who, with his lady
and son, during my stay at Palermo, shewed me much
kind attention and hospitality. How happy was I in
hearing, once more in recovered health, the English
Church service in the large saloon of Mr. Marsden's
palace, from the balcony of which there is a delightful
view of the bay, and generally a refreshing breeze blowing
off the sea. I played many games of chess with this ex-
cellent gentleman, but he was too good a player for me,
my only shadow of a victory being now and then the
satisfaction of seeing him profoundly reflective.
In one little church down near the sea-side, I was ra-
ther startled in observing that one of eight large beauti-
ful pictures was stated to be .a copy by an Englishman who
had stolen the original; the copy being so clever, it was
sometime before the theft was discovered : the inscription
underneath the picture states the fact so little honourable
to our countrymen.
Mr. Godwin had been long a resident in the island. It
was very singular that in a conversation we found we had
resided many years at the Isle of Wight, the garden of
England, and that many persons were mutually known
there by us. How strange are the sensations that arise in
the mind when a casual rencontre abroad brings together
persons who have the same associations of ideas, know the
same persons, recollect the living and the dead, who are
far away, or for ever removed across the " bourne from
whence no traveller returns ;" and as I wrote to the
" Bard of Colour," so I now address my friends Marsden
and Godwin, at Palermo—
-

Distance divides us now ; but o'er my soul
Past scenes return—a solemn wandering train.
The wheels of life roll onward to the goal,
And we perchance may never meet again.
The friend who now in sadness pens this lay,
Departing for Britannia's far-famed shore,
Hears in the breeze of night some spirit say,
Bid them farewell. for we shall meet no more.

And my good worthy friend, Williams, after a regretful
adieu, and anticipating a meeting at Liverpool, I found
since, upon inquiry, had only returned to see the faces of
his affectionate family, and to die. Eight years of expo-
sure to the noxious atmosphere of those sulphur mines of
Sicily had done their work, and brought on prematurely
the silver hairs of age, and the once robust constitution
was shattered. But the change of climate is at all times
trying; this I myself experienced, for never baying had
anything approaching to a fit of fainting before, neverthe-
less I fell senseless on the floor the fourth week after my
arrival in England. This arises frequently, I have been
told, from sudden change of climate, and that of Sicily,
Malta, and Egypt, is very different from the climate of
this island. I returned to Naples by steam-boat, and had
an equally favourable passage, crossing in about twenty-
one hours. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Har-
vey, brother to T. K. Harvey,, the poet, and we soon got
intimate and friendly, journeying together to Naples from
Sicily, from Naples to Leghorn, thence to Florence.
Some account of our journey to the gay city of Florence
must commence my next chapter.