THE FAMILY COMPANION: or, MOTTO. " 1 am tiib great alligator, the steam engine, tiie hurricane upon two legs, with his coat tails sticking out, because he goes so past they can never lie flat. when i walk, i get on so sharp that i hear the wind hallooing after me, quite out of breath because it can't keep up along with me. i never run,— that's a fact, because i should get to the end op my journey before i begun. why, it is only last saturday i beat the electric telegraph by half an hour ; and wasn't i badly hurt one day with a shot out of my own rifle, by running up to see where it hit the mark before it got there. " whatever you do, go a- head : for i guess there's no use lagging behind when all the world is running." Memoirs of a Kentucky Gentleman, vol. i. p. 37. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. I. R. A.— Many apologies for our omission last week. Your communica- tion was mislaid until too late for press. We shall not fail to pay at- tention to your suggestion. ALBERT S. ( Manchester).— Wait a little longer. We will communicate with you shortly. L. M.— Perhaps. A Stranger ( Kingsland).— You had better address a letter to F., at this office. un Pere de Famille.— Very right. There ought to be but one opinion on the subject, C. F.— Arrangements are pending to effect the alteration alluded to by our correspondent. L. K.- The rumour is certainly current; but we cannot tell what reliance can be placed on it, that Charles Kean is to be knighted at the conclusion of the Windsor Castle theatrical performances. A precedent for the creation has been found in the case of the famous Sir William Davenant. AN ARTIST.— There are many elaborate receipts for making meguelp, one of which we inserted a week or two since. Very good meguelp is, how- ever, made with equal portions of linseed oil ( fined with sugar of lead) and mastic varnish. CHARLOTTE.— Jerome Buonaparte, ex- King of Westphalia, is the only surviving brother of Napoleon. G. C. K.— Western Australia is the nearest Australasian colony. LUCY.— Don't be rash. MERCATOR.— There are no third- class season tickets, we believe, granted on the Eastern Counties Railway. F. B. ( Birmingham).— A steerage passage to New York can be obtained for about £ 3. Diogenes.— Literary legislators are plentiful in the House of Commons. Messrs. Wakley, D'lsraeli,, Wilson, Monckton, Milnes, Talfourd, Bowring, & c., have all been at some time of their lives connected with literature. F. C. ( Cambridge).— An original and undoubtedly genuine Rembrandt would fetch from four hundred to a thousand guineas at Christie and Mansons. WILLIAM K. — A post- office letter carrier receives from a guinea to thirty shillings a week for salary. In answer to your second question, you must make application at the Home Office, Whitehall. Cawljne.— See No. 71— The tale is original. T. ALLWORTH.— Your handwriting is plain and legible enough, but hardly suited we think. T. M.— There is no publication of the kind, that we are aware of, in ex- istence. ZETA.— Apply to a Theatrical Manager. The remuneration granted for a play varies according to its merit, the celebrity of its author, and the rank of the theatre in which it is performed. Thus, for a melo- drama at the Victoria or Queen's, five pounds is considered a very fair price ; on the other hand, at one of the West End Theatres, five hundred pounds has frequently been demanded, and received, for a similar en- tainment. F. ( BASINGSTOKE).— Yes. A PICTURE CLEANER.— The famous Haarlem Preparation for restoring pictures, can only be obtained, we believe, at one establishment in Lon- don, that of Mr. Clark, in Piccadilly. GEORGE.— Write again ; we have mislaid your letter. MONTE CHRISTO.— M. Alexander Dumas is the son of a General who served, if we mistake not, under Napoleon. LOUISA K.— We shall always be glad to hear from our fair correspondent. CLERICUS ( EXETER).— Advowsons are still occasionally put up for sale, but the practice is not so common as it formerly was. G. Q.— Try again. T. M. C.— We cannot furnish you the information required. JUNIUS.— The publication in question is an illiberal, libellous, and back- stabbing sort of journal. Its abuse of a popular actor ( in the matter of the Monte Christo row) was a disgrace to the press. P.— Not that we are aware of. LORD BrAYBROOKE'S PEPYS. The fourth volume of pleasant old Sam Pepys' diary and correspondence, edited by Lord Braybrooke, has just appeared, and is as replete with humorous spicy gossip and sly racy anecdotes as its predecessors. Pepys is exhibited in great force as a playgoer. Here then we have Pepys at the Play. " 12th Aug. 1667. After dinner, all alone to the King's playhouse, and there did happen to sit before Mrs. Pierce, and Mrs. Knipp, who pulled me by the hair ; and so I addressed myself to them, and talked to them all the intervals of the play, and did give them fruit. The play being done, I took the women, and Mrs. Corbett, who was with them, by coach, it raining, to Mrs. Manuel's, the Jew's widow, formerly a player, who we heard sing with one of the Italians that was there, and, indeed, she sings mightily well, and just after the Italian manner, but yet do not please me like one of Mr. Knipp's song, to a good English tune, the banner of their aire not pleasing me so well as our own, nor so natural. Then home, and my wife come ; and so, saying nothing where I had been, we to supper and pipe, and so to bed. " 22nd Aug. 1667. To the King's playhouse, and there saw * The Indian Emperor.' But all that troubled me most was that Knipp sent by Moll to desire to speak to me after the play ; and she beckoned to me after the plav, and I promised to come, but it was so late, and I forced to step to Mrs. William's lodgings with my Lord Brouncker and her, where I did not stay, however, * * * and it was so late that for fear of my wife's coming home before me, I was forced to go straight home, which troubled me. Anon, late comes home my wife, with Mr. Turner and Mrs. Turner, with whom she supped, having been with Mrs. Turner to- day AVERAGE SPECIMENS OF FRENCH MILITARY PROCLAMATIONS IN ALGERIA.—" The Moors," says M. Alby, " had fine horses and good sabres ; but their muskets were bad ; and the men, softened by centuries of peace and prosperity, smoking keef and eating copiously, might be expected to run, as they did, at the first cannon- shot." It is hard to understand how the loss of the French should have amounted to even the twenty seven men at which it is stated in their general's bul- letin. Did M. Bugeaud, unwilling to admit the facility of his triumph, slay the score and seven with his goosequill ? But if the victory was easily won, on the other hand, it was largely rewarded. For having driven before him, by the very first volley from his guns, a horde of overfed barbarians, enervated by sloth and narcotics, and total strangers to the tactics of civilised warfare, the mar- shal was created a duke ! A vessel arrived last week from Singapore, brought 3294 packages, 710 lumps, and 411 blocks of gutta percha. NEW PROPULSION.— We are told thar Sir Thomas Mitchell, before he left London, had made successful experiments on a method of pro- pelling through water by the screw, which avoids the lateral resistance offered to all existing applications of the instrument; and left behind him instructions for a patent— which is now comple'e. Sir Thomas expects great things from this construction — no less we understand, than a performance of 500 miles a day for large steamers. The results are in- calculable if this prove so. The sea will be more an obstacle than dry land. The wave will almost beat the rail. Thirty days cut to Sydney, for instance, will bring that most remote of our colonies, compara- tively speaking, near home. We shall hear more of Sir Thomas Mitchell's instrument if it can put a girdle round the earth, at any such rate of conjuring. THE BEGGING SC PROFES- SION."— At a recent meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society the Rev. Mr. Branch said that a short time since he had visited a room in Westminster, where he saw a woman with a dying child in her arms Commiserating the wretched creature's condition he inquired into her history, and her means of liveli- hood, and, in answer to his ques- tions, she replied, " Oh, Sir, my suf- ferings are very great, and so are those of my child; but when my child is gone I know not what to do." " But," observed Mr. Branch, " it will be a happy release for you and your child, as you can make no exertions while you are burdened with her." " Oh, dear Sir," ejacu- lated the mother, when she is gone, I'll have to pay 9d. a day for another child, while she costs me nothing. Unless I do so I'll earn nothing by begging, for it is the child that excites compassion." In another room in the house Mr. Branch found forty beggars, vago- bonds and rogues, male and female, young, old, lame, and blind, gathered round a 1H&. all relating their ex- ploits, and planning for their next attacks upon the public. In a regular wareroom in Westminster he saw exhibited for hire and sale every variety of dresses, including widows' weeds and tattered rags, shabby genteel costumes, clerical suits, & c., adapted to the ' different mendi- cant operations pursued by the several parties who patronised this extraordinary bazaar, and who made begging a il profession." to her daughter's school, to see her daughter's dancing, and the rest, which she says is line. My wife very fine to day, in her new suit of laced cuffs and perquisites. " Aug. 24, 1667. After dinner to a play, and there saw ' the Cardinal!,' at the King's house, wherewith I am mightily pleased ; but, above all, with Becke Marshall. Bnt it is pretty to see how I look up and down for, and did spy Knipp, but durst not own it to my wife, for fear of angering her, and so I was forced not to take notice of her, and so home • ward. " 1 Aug. 1667. To the King's House to see ' The Custom of the Country.' The house mighty empty— more than ever I saw it— and an ill play. After the play, we went into the house, and spoke with Knipp, who went abroad with us by coach to the Neat Houses in the way to Chelsy, and there, in a box, in a tree, we sat and sang, and talked and eat; my wife out of humour, as she always is, when this woman is by. So, after it was dark, we home. " 17 April 1668. Thence with Brouncker to the King's House, and saw ' The Surprizall,' where base singing, only Knipp, who come, after her song in the clouds, to me in the pit, and there oranges, 2s. After the play, she, and I, and Rolf, by coach, 6s 6d, to Kensington, and there to the Grott", and had admirable pleasure with their singing, and fine ladies listening to us with infinite pleasnre, I enjoyed myself ; so to the tavern there, and did spend 16s 6d, and the gardener 2s. Mighty merry, and sang all the way to town, a most pleasant evening, moonshine, and set them at her house in Covent Garden, and I home. " 21 April 1668. Took Mrs. Turner to the King's House, and saw ' The Indian Emperour;' after that done took Knipp out, and to Ken- sington, and there walked in the garden, and then supped, and mighty merry, there being also in the house Sir Philip Howard, and some com- pany, and had a dear reckoning, but merry, and away, it being quite night, home. " 22 April 1668. To the fishmonger's, and bought a couple of lobsters., and over to the ' Sparagus garden, thinking to have met Mr. Pierce, and his wife, and Knipp, but met their servant coming to bring me to Chate- lin's the French house, in Covent Garden, and there with musick and good company, Manuel and his wife, and one Swaddle, a clerk of Lord Arlington's, who dances and speaks French well, but got drunk and was then troublesome, and here mighty merry till ten at night. This night the Duke of Monmouth and a great many blades were at Chatelin's, and I left them there, with a hackney- coach, attending him " In these " high- jinks" at Grottoes and Spring- Gardens Pepys was generally accompanied by Mrs. Knipp and Mrs. Pierce. Perhaps, there- fore, the reader will not regret to know more about them. The loquacious secretary of the admiralty was, it appears, somewhat credulous as regards supernatural appearances. Though pressed fcr space, we must spare a few lines, telling h « w Mr Pepys was Troubled with ghosts. " 29th Nov. 1667. Waked about seven o'clock this morning with a noise I supposed I heard near our chamber of knocking, which, by and by, increased : and I more awake could distinguish it better. I then waked my wife, and both of us wondered at it and lay so a great while, while that increased, and at last heard it plainer, knocking as if it were breaking down a window for people to get out; and then removing of stools and chairs, and plainly, by and by, a going up and down our stairs. We lay both of us afraid, yet I would have rose, but my wife would not let me. Besides, I could not do it without making noise; and we did both conclude that theives were in the house, but wondered what our people did, whom we thought either killed or afraid as we were. Thus we lay till the clock struck eight, and high day. At last I removed my gown and slippers to the other side of the bed, over my wife, and then safely rose and put on my gown and breeches, and then, with a firebrand in my hand, safely opened the door, and saw nor heard anything. Then, with fear, I confess, went to the maids' chamber- door, and all quiet and safe. Called Jane up, and went down safely, and opened my chamber- door, where all well. Then more freely about, and to the kitchen, where the cook- maid up and all safe. So up again, and when Jane come, and we demanded whether she heard no noise, she said ' yes, but was afraid,' but rose with the other maid and found nothing ; but heard a great noise in the great stack of chimnies that g^ es from Sir J. Minnie's through our house ; and so we went, and their chimneys have been swept this morninj and the noise was that, and nothing else. It is one of the most extra- ordinary accidents in my life, and gives ground to think of Don Quixote's adventures how people may be surprised, and the more from an accident last night, that our young gib cat did leap down our stairs from top to bottom, at two leaps, and so frighted us that we could not tell whether it was the cat or a spirit, and do sometimes think this morning that the house might be haunted." We are indebted to Mr. Leigh Hunt for many pleasant and poetical sayings about music. Let us here thank him for reminding us of a fact which comes to us with the value— and ought to come to the City world with the authoritv and temptation— of a precedent. Passing Stationers' Hall, in his wa'k from St. Paul's westward :—'" Concerts[ says he] as well as festive dinners used to take place in the great room, of both of which entertainments Steele was fond. . . The most illustrious musical performance that ever took place in the hall was that of Dryden's Ode. A society for the annual commemoration of St. Cecilia, the patroness of music, was instituted in the year 1680, not without an eye perhaps to the religious opinions of the heir presumptive, who was shortly to ascend the throne as James the Second. An ode was written every year for the occasion, and set to music by some eminent composer ; and the performance of it as followed by a grand dinner. In 1687, Dryden contributed his first ode, entitled, ' A Song for St. Cecilia's Day,' in which there are finer things than in any part of the other, though as a whole it is not so striking. Ten years afterwards it was followed by ' Alexander's Feast,' the dinner perhaps being part of the inspiration i'oor Jeremiad Clarke, who shot himself for love, was the composer. " The Guards Mess in the Beauchamp Tower. I Mr. Wyndhatn Flitter was staying at an hotel near London bridge for a few days " until his effects arrived from Ostend, which he expected by each packet," and here Philip met him at a quarter past seven, and they went on to the Tower. Mr. Wyndham Flitter did not appear to stand in any awe of the beef- eaters or sentinels ; although Philip was somewhat nervous, expecting, as it were, for any breach of etiquette, to be called out and shot immediately by the authorities. But his friend boldly crossed the court yard and led the way up the steps of the Beauchamp Tower. Nobody had jet arrived, so Philip, who was all eyes, had time to look about hiin a little. The appearance of the room. was somewhat in contrast to tint which it must have presented in former times, when day after day the dying twilight closed in upon failing ' hearts, whose throbbings grew fainter and fa nter in that dismal stony room until they ceased to beat; and every cold ray of early morning announced another day of hopeless wailing and agony. Now the stony walls, it is true, remained, with all their sad memorials of anguish or resignation; but one of the Beep arches was shrouded by the gay colours of tile regiment; a cheerful. fire blazed and crackled on the hearth reflected in tiny beacons 011 the plate and glass of the well- appointed dinner - table; and the air, instead of being imprisoned, was kept out by a screen covered with light and graceful subjects, and convoyed an idea of aught but solitude or despondency. Presently an officer appeared. He did not know Mr. Wyndham Flitter or Philip. but he bowed politely to them : poked the fire ; said it was colder than yesterday; and then proceeded to settle various straps and buttons of his uniform - which did not appear comfortable, After him came an Ensign, who was young and mild, and not bothered- with a beard— thinking there was no fun in life like never going to bed until six in the morning, and dancing him- self to a lath at every public ball that was advertised. This young gentle- nan stood before the fire, and found out a likeness to a scene in the last ballet amongst the coals, which sufficiently occupied him. Anon more arrived, including young Rasper— who immediately introduced bis friends— and Jack Poole, who was formerly in the 7th, and had also been asked. Mr. Wyndbam Flitter now began to talk to every body, and Philip, in spite of his misgivings, felt quite at his ease, for there was an easy graceful courtesy about their new acquaintances— a knowledge of the most agreeable conventionalities of the sccial world, even amongst the youngest, and a gentle manner of availing themselves of it— that made a stranger feel immediately at home with, if not one of them. They all sat down at table, ' Wyndham and Philip on the right and left of the commanding officer— Rasper next to Flitter, and Jack Poole on the other side— and then all the others, with the Ensign for Vice. The duel formed sub- ject matter enough for dinner ; and the lies that Mr. Wyndham Flitter told at 1ast approach: d the marvellous. Philip, who did not wish to be brought into tills narrative, albeit he was dazzled by his friend's brilliancy, was engaged with the Colonel in a little sober talk about the inscriptions" on the walls, Normandy, and, finally, about the French railways; so Wyndham had all the young men to himself, none of whom Le found had ever been out, except Jack Foole ; but that was in Iieland. " Indeed." said Mr. Flitter, " I fought in Ireland myself once— a very ludi. rous affair. Let me see— that v. as the fourth or fifth time I was out. First," and he began to count his fingers, " with a man who took my hat at an evening party, and swore it was his own. I said if it was I'd spoil it, and I put a bullet through it, at twelve paces. Secondly in America " " Ah 1 indeed," said one of the efficers. " Do you know America ?" " As Will as London," replied Mr. Flitter. " I was iu Canada with the Guards, in 1841," continued the other. " Canad 1 is the only part I don't know," replied Mr. Flitter. " California — anybody know California." Nobody did. '- Ah ! that's America, if you please," said Mr. Flitter, quite relieved. " I fought a duel there, with a bear- hunter. We used rifles, and were to advance and fire. He fired first and missed. I walked up to him, and said, ' Look here now ?' being in devilish good practice. ' wait till those two birds up there get in a line, and see what I'll do.' He was in a deuced funk, but he looked up, and when they did get in a line I fired. ' the bullet went through one and riddled the other as well, and they both fell dead." The Ensign was beaming with admiration and astonishment. " ' strainger,' said the men. continued Mr. Flitter. ' you are a screamer I' ' Tell me some news,' said I, or else we shall have another scrimmage !' Upon which he gave me this ring, the blue stone is a Californian pebble, found in the beds of rivers after floods. ' There,' he said, ' that belonged to Washington, and now it's yours.' " The ring was passed round the tab'e for inspection. " you were going to tell us something about Ireland," sai! young Rasper. " Ah! very true— yes ; what was it?' replied Flitter, thinking for an instant. " Oh— I had a row with a man named Desmond Blake." " What I Desmond Blake of Clonmel ?" asked Poule ; " He was in our regiment." " No— one of the Blakes of Ballyshannon," replied Mr. Flitter. " It was a cold morning, and we shivered so' that we could hardly hold our pistols: much ' ess hit one another. So we kept popping away ; and presently Morgan Ryan, who drove the mail for amusement, pulled up at the roadside, with all his passengers, to see the fun. He would wait so long that a gentleman quarralled with him, and so they borrowed our pistols for a go- in of their own, whilst we went and had a drain at the post- house. ' J his brought about a reconciliation between Blake and myself, but by Jove, when we had got hack Ryan had shot his man." " Your friend has seen a great deal of life, I should expect," said the Colonel to Philip, quietly. " A great deal, indeed," replied Maitland ; he is altogether a wonderful person. There does not appear to be anything in the world that he does not know something about." And it appeared so, for Mr. Wyndham Flitter was already off on another subject. " Never played Fly Loo ?" he asked. " God bless me ! you astonish me. Why. Fly Loo is the finest game go ng. You know Lansquenet ?" " Yes !" said several vo ces eagerly. " Is it like it ?" " Not is the least," replied . Mr. Flitter: " but it's quite as good. it's played in California immensely, but it can only be played in summer!" " Will you explain it ?" " Certainly," said the other. " Six people sit round a table, and each puts a bit of sugar before him, and stakes a dollar. The owner of the first bit of sugar that a fly settles on has all the rest. It's amazingly exciting. I won enormous sums at it one year." " You were lucky then," observed young Rasper. " Not particularly. I trained a blue- bottle to keep near me. It was not exactly the right thing to do, I admit, but every Yankee is such a sharp blade that you must be a sharper, if you would win." The conversation circulated with the wine, until it became general, and then they all launched their favourite topic?. What I saw in California. ^ tHE WoNDErS OF The MIrAGE. the mirage here displayed again its wonderful illusions' in a perfection A country girl riding past a turnpike gate without paying the usual fee, the toll man hailed her and demanded it, she asked by what authority he desired toll of her. He answered, The sign would convince her that the law re- quired threepence for a man and horse." » Well," replied the girl, u this is a woman and mare, there- fore you haVe no claim !" and she rode off, leaving him the laughing stock of the by- standers. CORN TRADE.— In our last number we adverted at same length to the probable future fluctuation in the value of wheat, and have nothing further to say on the subject at pre- sent. With the closing year all par ti<- s are naturally unwilling to enter into fresh engagements _ of any im portance, and the trade has through- out the week remained in a dull state. The opinion that we arc nearly if not quite, at the lowcsi point, appears, however, to be gain' ing ground, and whilst buyers have on the one hand, acted witli greal caution, holders have on the other manifested no particular anxiety tr press business, and the fall in prices has not been great at any of the lead ing provincial markets. A GUANO EMBALMED CHILD — The other day the mummy of ! male child, found imbedded in ; i vast deposit of Peruvian guano, nea I Africa, was brought frnm that to I Liverpool by the barque Octavia. In the deposit were found three bodies, supposed to be those of a father and mother, and this child. The two adult bodied have been for- warded to the British Museum.— Liverpool Albio n. FORCE OF HABIT. — LORD Campbell, in his " Lives of the Chancellors," says . that Lord Ten- terden, the celebrated judge, expired with these words on his lips— u Gen- tlemen of the jury, you will now con- sider your verdict." The last words of Lord Hermand, the Scotch judge, were equally striking and profes- sional— " Guilty, but recommended to the mercy of the Court." AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.— Geo. Edw. Allen. Esq., Lord of the Manor of Bathampton, has kindly given to every poor family in the vil- lage 10 cwt. of coals, and to every deserving labourer a pair of substan- tial boots. Lord Clarendon's opinions of the Irish, in answer to the Dublin Corporation :—" I will venture to hope that the ingenuity and talent by which Irishmen are pre- eminen'ly distinguished, may henceforth be devoted to the true interests of their country." His lordship had in his mind's eye, - probably, such names as Wellington and Wellesley, the Fa- bius and. Marcellus of the British empire; Burke, Sheridan, Usher, Berkeley, Boyle, Sterne, Steele, Swift, Goldsmith, Barry, Hastings, Cum- ming, Grattan, O'Connell, Cuiran, Foster, Burke, Clare, Bpresford, Charlemont, rosse, Croker Plunket, Shiel, Castlereagh. Sir H. Sloane, Macartney, Francis ( the author of " Junius), Parnell, Pottinger, Go ugh, Hardinge, Abernethy Lover, Morgan, Blessington, Balfe, O'Neill, Sliec, Rogan, Adam Clark, Maclise, Sheri- dan Knowles. In fact, in all thc branches of human knowledge, and on the widest arena of human enter- prise, the names of Irishmen are to be found. It is said that a brewer's dog at Malmesbury is • regularly drunk six days in the week by licking the droppings from the various vats, and only gets sober on Sunday, when he is tied up by his master, who, in turn, is drunk until Monday, when the dog is again freed. Mr. Edward Stirling created a great sensation at the Olympic, oh Thursday, by his admirable imper- sonation of an old executioner in Albert Smith's new drama of the " headsman." his crustiness and surliness was characteristic in the extreme ; and his exertions contri- buted in no small degree to the unequivocal success of the piece. The famous Friesland dwarf, Jan Hannema, commonly called Admiral Von Tromp, is still exhi- biting at the Cosmorama- rooms ; and at this festive season is a great attraction to the country cousins now on a visit to the metropolis. and with a magnificence surpassing any apparition of the kind I had pre- viously seen. Lakes, dotted with islands and bordered by groves of gently waving timber, whose tranquil and limpid waves reflected their sloping banks and the shady islets in their bosoms, lay spread out before us, inviting u?, by their illusory temptation?, to stray from our path and enjoy their cooling shades and refreshing waters. These fading away as we advanced, beau iful villas, adorned with edifices, decorated with all the ornaments of suburban architecture, and surrounded by gardens, shaded walks, parks ; and stately | avenues, would succeed them., renewing < h? alluring invitation to repo3e, by i enticing the vision with more than Calypsian enjoyments or Elysian plea- j suces. These melting from our view as those before, in another place a vast j citv, with countless columned edifices of marble whiteness, an£ studded with . domes, spires and turreted towers, would rise upon the horizon of the plain, . asonishing lis with its Stupendous graudcur ami sublime magnificence. But it is in vain to attempt a description of these singular and extraordinary j phenomena. Neither prose or poetry, nor the. pencil of the artist, can ad- , equately portray their bcau'. ies. The whole distant view around, at tins j point, seemed like the creations of a sublime and gorgeous drearti, or the effect j of enchantment. I observed that where these appearances were presented in 1 their most varied forms, and with the most vivid distinctness, the surface ot the plain was broken, - either by chasms: hollowed out from the action of the winds, or by undulations formed of the drifting sands. Extraordinary Phenomenon in the Wilderness. During the subsidence of this tempest, there" appeared upon the plain j one of the most extraordinary phenomena. I dare to assert, ever witnessed. | As I have before stated, I had discounted from my'mule, and turning it in \ with the caballada, was walking several rods in front of the paity, in order to lead in a direct course to the point of our destination. Diagonally in front, | ro the right, our course ' being west, there'appeared tlie figures of a number j of men " and horses, some fifteen or twenty. Some of these figures were mounted and others dismounted, and appeared to be marching on foot. Their J raccs and the heads, of the horses were turned towards us, and at first they appeared as if they were rushing down upon us. Their apparent distance, I judging from the horizon, was from three to five miles. But their size was i not correspondent, for they seemed nearly as large as our own bodies, and j consequently were of gigantic stature. At the first view I supposed them to he a small party of Indians ( probably the Utah's) marching from the op- j posite side of the plain. But this seemed to me scarcely probable, as no j hunting or war party, would be likely to take this route. I called to some of our party nearest to me to hasten forward, as there were men in front j coming towards'us. Very soon the fifteen or twenty figures were multiplied j into three or four hundred, and appeared to be marching forward with the ; greatest action and speed. I then conjectured that they might. be Captain j Fremont and his party with others, from California, reiurning to the United j States, by this route, although. they. seemed to be too numerous even for this, j I spoke to Brown, who was nearest to rne, and asked him i f bo noticed the j figures of men and horses in front? iHe answered that be did, and that lie j had observed the same appearances several times previously, but that they ; had' disanpeared, and he believed them to be optical illusions similar to the j mirage. ' It was then, for the first time, so perfect was the deception, that I conjectured the probable fact, that these finm s were the rt flection of our own images in the atmosphere, filled as it was with fine particles of crys a llzed j • natter, or by the distant lioriz > n, covered by ti c same substance. ' I his in- duced a more minute observation of the phenomenon, in or.' er to detect the deception, if such it were. I noticed a single figure, apparently in front in advance of all the others, and was struck with its likeness to myself. Its mo- tions, too, I thought, were the same as mine. To test the hypothesis above • suo- Wested, I wheeled suddenly round, at the same tine stretching my arms i out to their full length, and turning my face sidewisc to notice the movements I of this fi- mre. It went through precisely the same motions. I then marched ; deliberately and with long strides several paces ; the figure did the same. I To test it more thoroughly, I repeated the experiment, and with the same result. The fact then was clear. But it was more fully verified still, for' the whole array of this numerous shadowy host in the course of an hour melted entirely away, and was no more seen. The phenomenon, however, explained and'gave the history of the gigantic spectres which appeared and disappeared so mysteriously at an earlier hour of the day. The figures were our own shadows, produced and reproduced by the mirror- like composition impregnating the atmosphere and covering the plain. I cannot here more particularly explain or refer to the subject. But this phantom population, springing out of the ground as it were, and a raying itself before us as we traversed this dreary and heaven- condemned waste, although we were en- tirely convinced of ' the cause of the apparition, excited those superstitious emotions so natural to all mankiud. Singing a Song at an Evening Party. The process of singing a song at an evening party may be thus described : — The young lady on being led to the piano, first throws a timid- glance round the r, om— ostensibly to evince a gentle confusion— in reality, to see who is looking at her. She then observes to the mistress of the house, " that she is not in very good voice, having a slight cold," which she confirms by a faint sound, something between a sigh, a smile, and a single- knock cough. The hostess replies, " Oh, but you always sing so delightfully." The young lady answers, " that she is certain she cannot this evening ;" to strengthen which opinion, she makes some young gentleman exceedingly joyous by giving him her bouquet to hold ; and," drawing off her gloves in the most approved style, tucks them behind one of the candlesticks, together with her filmy handker chief, in such a fashion, that its deep laced border, or embroidered name, may be seen to the best advantage. The top of the piano, which had been opened for the quadrilles, is then shut down by an active geutleman, who pinches his fingers in the attempt; the musicians form a series of dissolving views, and disappear, no one knows where, nor ever will; and the young lady takes her place at the piano, and, as she plays the chords of the key she is about to luxuriant in, everybody is not perfectly silent, so she finds the music- stOol is too high, or too low, or something of the kind, and the pedals appear exceedingly difficult to be found. At length, everything being still, she plays the symphony again, and then smiling at the hostess, and saying, 4 that she is certain she shall break down," brings out the opening note of a recitative, which makes the drops of the chandelier vibrate again, and silences a couple who arc whispering all sorts of soft nothings on a causeuse in the drawing- rOom- ; j We are going to hazard a passing remark. We think it bad policy for the young lady vocalists of the present day always to choose Italian music for j their displays. The performance is but pseudo- dislingue after all, for it is,! perhaps, not going too for to s'tate, that two thirds of the fair singers are ! more or less ignorant of the language they are pouring from those cells « f j pearl and coral, ( which commonplace people designate mouths,) except the I knowledge derived from the Opera translations; and, in addition, they | generally provoke comparison by selecting the difficult morceaux of the great singers. We are not one of those patriotic folks who snarl about " patroni- sing foreigners," with the rest of the hackneyed subjects of discontent, for we acknowledge their musical superiority ; but a pretty English girl may depend upon it she never looks so attractive as when singing a pretty English ballad. Ler her attempt " Casta Diva" with all due style and execution, and, or course, her hearers will admire her power of voice; let her warble " The May Queen," or " The Grecian Daughter," with the same care and CHAT'S FAMILY COMPANION. CHAT'S FAMILY COMPANION. 3 EPITAPH Oa " William nott. Shoemaker of Bedlam, near Ludlow, Salop. Clerk, and Standing Overseer of the Pa- rish. He was NOTT born of womankind ; And so it may be said, Although within this grave he lies, We know he is NOTT dead. no one possess'd a better sole ( soul), When death gave him a call; he to the last was firm and strong, And calm gave up his awl ( all). To church he regularly went, Upon the . Sabbath- day-; It was his duty so to do, As Clerk, and not to pray. His character as Overseer, For charity we find, To those who badly were distrest He was NOTT very kind. Foolish or mad he never was ; And yet it strange appears— He lived a very quiet life In Bedlam forty years. Peace to his shade ! now he is gone There's no one living can But tell the truth and say that he Was NOTT an honest man. Then underneath this silent sod We'll let him now remain ; For sure and confident we are He WILL NOTT rise again. There is a story current, that when the present Pope was a youth, and in the Guardia Nobile at Rome, he fell deeply in love with a beautiful English girl. She refused his suit, although he was handsome, youns, and noble, on account of the dif- ference of religion ; and he took the matter si much to heart that he re- tired to a convent, became an ec- clesiastic, and eventually Pope. BEWARE OF THE DUN.— The worst creditor a man can possibly have is a printer; he soon acquires a proficiency in the art of boring, from his constant habit of going to pres'." A Philadelphia paper describes a curious patchwork bed- quilt made by a blind lady, and composed of 55,555 pieces. The Economist estimates the money paid for foreign erain and provisions at £ 18,000 000 for the present and each of thelast two yesrs. ENIGMA. I'm good and bad ; I'm r. ew and old ; I'm rare and common, bought and sold I'm often sought, and highly prized, And yet avoided and despised ; I dwell with woman and with man, In China, Persia, Hindostan ; Tn burning deserts, snowy plains ; ' Mid summer skies and wintry rains. The Prophet Jonah, cali'd by me, Set forth to visit Xineveh ; And Pharaoh had me when his host Beneath the raging sea was lost, I'm English, French, and German, too; The Christian has me, and the Jew ; All nations to ray power bend; I often prove a useful friend ; And yet a hitter enemy. Though every one possesses, me, And some may wonder what is in me, Yet many risk their lives to win me. YaREG. Tite original shrine of St. l'M- munrl, which formed the Knave of the church of Grenst-' d, 7'-- e.\*, Such fetes as these are numerous, and each seems superior to the'other. On the 1st of January, old style, a popular ball is given io the pnlace ; more than 20.0( 1) people of all classes are present. The 18th of January is cele- brated with the religious ceremonies attending the blessing of thc waters. Every river and canal throughout the empire, are blessed with all the pomp and circumstance of the rites of the Greek Church. A large hole is cut in the ice upon t' c Neva, opposite the palace, and over it is erected a little temple covered with purple and gold. A scarlet carpet is spread from the portals of the palace to thc stops of the temple. At an appointed signal a procession of bearded priests, in white satin vestments bordered with gold 1 lace, form in ranks on e^ ch side the plssage to the river. Then pass out the ' Imperial choir, singing anthems; a' » d chosen men bearing the holy standard. To these succeed the metrnpalitan and the bishops, in eniscopal crowns and habiliments, like those of Levitical priests under the old dispensation. Im- . mediately after these follow thc emperor, irrand flukes, and a crowd of general officer \ all bareheaded. The metropolitan enters the temple, and having i blessed the water, takes a bucketfull from the stream, approaches the emperor, and sprinkles him as in baptism; the emperor then embraces and is kissed by the metropolitan. The like ceremony is repeated through all the imperial dukes and suite. The procession then returns to the palace, where religious exercises, and the vocal harmony of a choir producing the finest sacred • melody, detain thc court for another hour. Character of the Russian Peasant The Great Russian peasant, however, is said to be both hospitable and pious. His virtues are those of the barbarian, his vices those of the slave. But he seldom feels happy except when in a state of intoxication. He loses his sobriety and his gravity together, and when in drink is as gay and polite as possible. His loud, harsh, queruloos tones are changed for low, sweet accents. He greets his neighbours with profound bows, and though his steps the serious inroads made on its otherwise sound timbers by the ptiixus, a species of insect well known for its rapid and destructive habits. THE CITIZEN NEWSPAPER.-— A new addition is about to be made to the weekly newspaper press. A journal called the Citi- zen, the size of which is the largest allowed by law, being advertised to appear on the 13th January. Mr. Cobhatn, son of the cele- brated actor of that name, has been performing with immense £ clat at the Theatre Royal, South- ampton. On Monday, January 1, he appeared as the Duke of Buck- ingham in Shakespeare's play of " Richard the Third." He rendered the character in the most able manner. A new Farce has been accepted by the management of the Olympic, and may shortly be looked for, from the able pen of Mr. Angus B. Reach. Green roem gossip speaks in the highest terms of its point and hu- mour. are devious, and his eyes are glassy, he never falls, and ncTer fails to find his cabin. He kisses his wife and children, applies to the most extravagant I terms of endearment, and goes to sleep with the impression that he is the most amiable of mankind. But he awakens the next morning from this state of forg tfulness, resumes his stern and savage humour, and, as if bound to a^ ert his entire self- possession, he dogs his wife with the fury of a demon. The girls were formerly married at thirteen, but, by recent regulation?, this is not lawful until they have arrived at sixteen years of age. Their charms terminate soon after the nuptial ceremonies, and i: i a year or two, the brutal tyranny of the husband, and hard work in the field, have converted the blooming bride into a wrinkled hag. Yet, strange to say, the Russian- wife receives the castigations of her husband, not only with submission, but ( as the evidence of his sincere affection; and on the other hand, the Russian husband acknowledges that he whips his wife, as he would dust his sheepskin, , from the best of motives. " Biou kak choubou, i loublen kak douchon." u I beat you like my schube, I love you like my heart.'' When the peasant dies, the priest writes a passport for heaven, which is ( signed by the bishop, and placed in the hands of the dead. After thc'funeral i priests and the friends of the deceased meet at his house to enjoy themselves, I and the first toast in commemoration of the deplorable event is, " to the . happiness qf his soul, for ho was a good fellow, and loved grog.'* Ivan the Terrible. It was near this spot that Ivan the Terrible, a monster, whose atrocities so far exceed all former precedent, as to be almost beyond belief, erected his instruments of torture. Among these were cauldrons of boiling oil, into which he threw the victims, of his fury, while he addressed the aescmbled multitude upon the justice of the punishment he inflictcd, nnd exclaimed, I am your god, as God is mine ; my throne is surrounded by archangels, as is the throne of God." Here, also, Teter the Great superintended and assisted in the execution of the desperate soldiers who had opposed his innovations. Seated upon a throne he witnessed the dying agonies of two thousand of the S'trelitz, and when tired of the r; ick he compelled his nobles to complete their destruction with the sword. With the wine- cup in one hand and the cimeter in the other, he swallowed twenty bumpers, and cut off twenty heads in a single hour, and as if proud of the achievement, he invited the ambassador of Prussia to try his skill. Eighty of the guilty janizaries were subsequently held up by the hair before the crowd, and decapitated by the hand of the infuriated Czar.— From " The Czdr, his Court and People A Yacht in a Storm. If the old instincts of Roland Cashel's sailor life would have rendered the scene interesting to him, watching as he did the way his craft " behaved," and marking well the fine qnalitics. she possessed as a sea- boat, there was another and for more intense feeling then occupying him as he stood close befcide that swathed and muffled figure, who, pale and sileut, marked by some gesture, from time to time, her dependence upon him. To Roland, the rattle of the gale, the hissing sea, the strained and creaking cprdage, all not only brought back old memories of his once life, but effectually seemed to dispel the colder mood of " ind, which admixture with a world of fashion had impressed upon him. He was again, it not in reality, in heart and spirit the bold Buccaneer that \ valked the western sca=, bursting with life, and eager for adventure. Every plunge that sent the bowsprit down, every squall that bent the taper mast, and laid the vessel half seas under, inspirited and excited him, not the less than the wild storm called forth every form of encouragement to her, who vibrated between actual terror and a strange sense of delight. Roland lay at her feet, partly as a barrier against the surging water that, breaking over the how, swept the entire deck, partly that he might mark beauteous features, on which the binnacle light occasionally cast its glare. " It is fine," inurmurmed she, in a low soft voice, " and I almost feel as if my own terrors should serve to high ten the sense of ecstacy. I tremble while I delight in it." There was an expression of intense excitement in her eyes as she spoke, and her p- ile features for an instant flushed, as roland's look met hers. " How I glory in your words," cried he, wild with enthusiasm: " I feel ' ike one who suddenly awakes to life out oT some dreary sleep— rather this is the sleep— this is itself the vision in which I lie, here, beneath your smile, while we are borne onward through the hissing foam. Oh, would it but last— would that this dark and starless night could be for years, that we might thus cleave the dark waters on and on;" " And whither to ?" asked she, in a whisper scarcely breathed. " Whither to? echoed he, " what matters it, while we journey thus. The sun- tipped icebergs of the North Sea, or the rosy mountains of the Spice Islands ; the balmy shores of Quito, or the bleak cost of Labrador*— all are alike to me." " A large vessel under the lee !" sung out a voice from the bow, and the cry Was repeated still louder, while the Pilot shouted, 44 Show a light at the irast- head ; put your elm hard up." The double command was scarce obey- ed,. when a huge black mass heaved past them them her great yards almost seeming to grate the cordage. The looming size of the immense object that towered over head, and the death- like stillness of the yacht's crew till the danger was past, thrilled with a cold terror through her1, and instinctively she grasped Roland's hand more closely. The gale had now become furioua, and as the light spars were barely able to sustain even the little canvas spread, the sea swepc over the vessel as she lay storm- tossc- d and scarce na- » vigable. The hatches were fastened down, the boats stronglv secured— and every precaution of seamanship adopted ; and so long aS those were in pert formance, and " a certain activity and bustle prevailed, so long did Lady Kiigoff's courage appear to support her; but when all was done and the men ejurned their places in watchful silence, and her mind was left to the con- remplation of the raging hurricane alone, she seemed to think, apd, with a faint low sigh, glided from the seat and fell fainting to the deck. 14 You cannot take her below," said Sickleio i, as Cashel, raising her in his arms, was about to carry her to the cabin ; 44 we dare not open the hatches— see, . there it comes again i" and, as he said, a great wave broke over the vessel's quarter and fell in torrents over th° deck, washing as it re- ceded several- loose spars overboard. By the aid of coats and cloak? innu- merable, Cashel, at last, succeeded in enveloping the fair form beside him, and supporting her head upon his arm as he sat ; he saw, to his unspeakable delight/ that she soon dropped into a calm sleep. This is a disastrous bit of pleasuring," said Sickleton, as he stood hold- ing on by one of the braces ; 44 who cou'. d have supposed such a gale was brewing." 44 Well, well," replied Cashel, 44 if it comcs no worse " 14 If it do. s, we can't stand through it, that's all," said the Lieutenant drily1; 14 the old Pilot says we shall have to make a tack to keep clear of the Hook, but what boat can sail on a wind with a storm- jib and three- reefed topsail!" 44 She behaves nobly," said Roland, as he gazed at the sleeping form, to uard which seemed all his care. Sickleton mistook the remaik, and said, 44 Aye, that I knew she would ; but the sea is tremendous for a small craft, and see how close we have land under our lee— that black mass yonder." ' 4 I'd give all I own in the world that she were safe on shore," murmured Cashel, not heeding the other's observation; 441 cannot forgive myself for having induced her to venture out." expression, a- d they win lt once jaj in ( ove ^ ^ howeT( T correct], sue may gc. through the first mentioned air. the only candid impr~ sioa left, u, » e have heard it ranch better don; upon the New Years in Russia. " ft'r tass has been celebrated in the Imperial chapel. Ja V 3 , m , he int° the hall of ibe throne are opened, and !; ,^ VV1CC:' C'iarJ 0f thc I- Wial cort, - e pa= = es throush. I ir, t comes a CROWD or military officers. Often a thousand in number, in even kind of ani- form next the gentlemen the horses next the gentlemen of the chamber, ! i„ " ro"" S ttr' 4 " cu the masters of the ceremonies, all in gala , „ , Ul:;" c P"' ™ r- jgh the ball of presentation into th » apartments . oeyontt. the:, cor es the grand master r. f the ceremonies in a gold coat. .. winging b s Jtafl- of office, and immediacy after him the emperor and entires enter hand in band, and salute with the most graoffol civility the : « rr « entat. vM r, f „, her courts. Thc younzer member* of the Imperial family, thc se^ ps of pages, and the great ministers of stale f„ nnw their majesties, and remain in the apartment during thc audience. The emperor ; is creased in a plain dark loose unifoim :. tbe empress in white satin, and a • ' rain of reive( linxd with ermine Her neck and arms arc covered with jewellery. and l, r. ed with a- cor< met of diamonds. Pages- ilmp her heavy | train, and the. r majesties advance with the grand master, and address the members of the corps diplomatique. The emperor has vrrv little to sav, and \ , Par' of ' ho performance in a few minutes. The empress , prolong, thc interview. She passes from ore to the other, trembling with excitement, Slio bears all the motks of carlv beautv, but art cannot conccal thc furrows which care and sickness have left upon ber features. She con- fer , es with each rbout their respective countries. She removes the glove | from her fair thin hand, and presents it to the person honoured with the presentation. The latter takes it with his own. kisses it with respectful fer- vour, and her majesty passes to the next in order until the interview Is finished. 1., e, r majesties then again join bands, and march on into the Other roams beyond, followed by Ibe grand dukes and duchesses, pages, ministers of state, and finally by the ladies of the court, several hundred in number, dressed | n thc national court costume. A white satin gown is worn beneath a robe of red velvet, which opens in front, and falls loosely from the sh0ulders and the back in a long train. Bracelets and necklaces of great value cover the naked arms and bosom, and a tisra of red velvet set with precious . ton s, placed over thc forehead, contrasts most forciblv with the pallid countenances of the wearers, unaccustomed to this carlv rising and morning exercise. In the evening of the same day the streets arc illuminated. At eight o'clock thc dignitaries of the empire, and the gentry of the court, assemble again in . the ball- room of the palace, and crowd about the doors through which their majesties are to enter. As soon as they are thrown open the orchestra strike op " God save the Emperor," and the Imoerial family ap- pear, and greet thc assembly with bows and courtesies. The Czar in a scarlet coat, a sle- 1 cuirass, white buckskin breeches and military boots, displays his fine tall person to the best advantage. The Czarina is in white satin and diamonds. She is followed by the Grand Duke Alexander,— the heir to the throne,— a large stout person, with a very amiab'e expression of countenance and much gentleness of manner, and all the other members of this remarkably good- looking family. Thc giant Orloff. the constant companion of the em- peror; thc Prince of Georgia, a Russian pensionary; thc Hetman of the Cossacks ; the various petty czars of the races tributary to the empire ; thc accomplished Nesselrode. with his weasel face and small gray peering eyes; the pompous Tchernicheff, the Minister of War : the Woronzows, the Narich- kins, the Demidoffs, the Wolkonskies, and Dolgourouskis; the Potoskis, Lubermerskis, and olher great Polish nobles, who do homage to the Czars ; the foreign princes of various degrees; Knights of Malta, and eentlemen of eiery order; painters and poets of reputation, and many distinguished cha- racters— all are there, and all in thc gay colours and rich costumes of their rank and country. I The defects of paint, even the somethiog of flummery, so apoarent in every Court and every palaee in tbc day- time, have disappeared. Every thing is remoulded, softened, and beautified beneath the influence of wax light. The I emperor and empress, and some of the more important characters open the ball with a polonaise, a measure well suited to thc dignity of monarchs, inas. much as they may move fast or slow, as may be convenient. The dancing of their majesties is usually confined to a stately march. After the polonaise, the company are at liberty to move about at pleasure. Some dance quadrilles; some go to the card- tables in the Hall of St. George; some s'roll into the gallery containing many hundreds of Russian officers, painted by an English- man; and others find amusement and refreshment in the ante rooms. Files of grenadiers of the guard are stationed at every doorway. They are tall fellows, in snow- white uniforms, and golden breast- plates, helmets, and immense jack- boot, nnd stand motionless like statues. At midnight precisely, supper is announced with a flouri- h of trumpets and the firing of cannon, and his maiesty leads his Imperial consort and his euests into the marble chamber. Thc scene now presented is magnificent beyond descrip- tion. The banquet hall, of immense extent, is set with tables loaded with vessels of silver and gold. Beneath the boughs of orange- trees, bonding with fruit, each one takes his appointed neat. Negroes of Moorish costume, serve every delicacy in the world. The Imperial tokay, and wine of every country, ore poured from golden tankards, while the most deliemus music and thc sounds of falling waters come floating upon perfumes, from the grooves of the Winter Garden. Bel-' azzar the king made- not so great a feast. It rivals the enchantment of Eastern storv. i> s CHAT'S FAMILY COMPANION. The Lieutenant nude 110 reply, but peered through the sky- light of the cabin. " My Lord is lying like a dead man." said he, " frijht and sea- sic'-- ness together have nearly done for him, and vet it was only two hours hack he thought he'd mode a good figure at the Admiralty. 4! There," continued he, " day is breaking yonder, we shall soon know our fate; if the Bale freshens after sun- rise it is all up with us." llun the craft in shore and I'll engage to save her," said Cashel, eagerly I m a strong swimmer in surf; 1 rescued a Malabar girl- once, and in a sea nearly as heavy as this." Stickelton smiled incredulously, and turned away It . s freshening by Jove 1" said lie, as a squall struck the vessel, and laid her almost on her beam ends, while every plank shivered as though she were rending In pieces. " It's coming stronger, Sir," said the Pilot, as he shook the sea from his rough coat and bent his gaze steadfastly towards the east; " I'd rather not see the red sun- rise. Keep her away man, man, keep her away." Shall we try it ?" muttered Sickelton, to some whispered observations of the other. We may as well," rejoined the Pilot, she'll never hold steerage way with her present canvas, and if she won't bear the main- sail we must go on shore and 110 help for it." " Bear a hand there, boys," cried Sickleton, " shake out the main- sail." " You'll carry away the mast," cried Cashel, as he heard the order. " It's like enough," growled the Pilot, " but yonder's the lee shore." " I could save her— I'm certain I could save her," said Cashel. " lie's thinking of the lady !" said the Pilot to Sickleton, and the contemp- tuous tone showed how humbly he estimated him. " Breakers a- head— shoal water," shouted a voice from the bow. "' Bout ship," cried Sickleton, " stand by sheets and tacks there— down helm. Are ye readv, men » " and the next moment the obedient vessel sprung rouv d, and was cleaving the water on another tack. " What is it? where am I;— is this a dream ?" said lady Kilgoff, as slie moved back the hair from her eyes, and looked up at Cashel, who for hours had nrver moved or stirred. " To me it has b? en a delicious dream," said Cashel, as lie met her glance and if it were not that you may feel alarmed, it would be still such." " What a terrible sea ! Where are we!" " Not far from shore," said Cashel, encouragingly. " A devilish deal too near itj though," D . muttered the Pilot under his breath. " Oh, I remember all now. Where is my lord, Mr. Cashel ? Is he ill ? " He's gone below— he is sleeping, I believe. It has been a wild night for you ; and you've passed here on the deck. " Here?" ssid she, looking up and blushing, for she still lay supported against Roland, and one of his hands held the boat- cloak across her." " Yes, here," said Cashel, with a voice and manner that made the colour mount to her cheeks and as suddenly desert them again. Meanwhile the Lieutenant liad gone below, and re- appeared, with a chart, over which he and the Pilot now bent in the deepest consideration. " Then that must have been the ' Calf' light we saw to the eastward," said Sickelton, pointing to the map. " I'd say so too," replied the other, " if such a run did'nt seem impossible ; but we only tripped our anchor last night, before sun- set." " Ten hoars, though ! one can do a deal in ten hours !" said the Lieutenant. " It may be worth as many years sometimes !" said Cashel, in a whisper to her at his side. " Breakers riglt- a- head !" shouted the man in the bow. " We1 re among the 4 Barrels !' cried the Pilot, " back the top- sail— down mainsail " " But il wis too late ! Like a sea- bird rising to his flight, the light craft bounded forward, till her shining copper glanced above the waves, and then with a spring, dashed onward, amid the foam and spray that rose like a mist around her. The frothy shower flew over the deck, while the hissing water Spirted up on every side with a crashing splintering sound. The keel came down, and while a loud cry broke forth, " She's struck !" the mast snapped suddenly across, and fell with its- draped rigging into the sea. From the beautiful and classic Novels of the " Caxtons" now publishing in Blackwood's Magazine, we have extracted the following admirable and Hume- like disquisition on books and their influence, we will call it The Hygienic Chemistry of Books. " If science is too much against the gr > in, ( for we have not all got mathe- matical heads,) something in the reach of the humblest understanding, but sufficiently searching to the highest— anew language— Greek, Arabic, Scandi- niviar, Chinese, or Welsh ! For the loss of fortune, the dose should be applied less directly to the understanding.— I would administer something elegant and cordial. For as the heart is crushed and laceratcd by a I06S in the affections, so it is rather the head that aches and suffers by the loss of money. Here we find the higher class of poets a very valuable remedy. For ob serve that poets of the grander and more comprehensive kind of genius have in them two separate men, quite distinct from each other— the imaginative man and the practical, circumstantial man ; and it is the happy mixture of these that suits diseases of the mind, half imaginative aud half practical. There is Homer, now lost with the gods, now at home with the homeliest, the very'poet of circumstance,' as Gray has finely called him-; and yet with imagination enough to seduce and coax the dullest into forgettip. a:, for a while, that little spot on his desk which his banker's book can cover. There is Virgil, far below him, indeed * Virgil the wise, Whose verse walks highest, but not flies, 4 as Cowley expresses it. But Virgil still has genius enough to be two men— to lead you into the fields, not only to listen to the pastoral vced, and to hear th? bees 1 um, but to note how you can make the most of the glebe and the vineyard. There is Horace, charming man of the world, who will condole with you feelingly on the loss of your fortune, and by no- means undervalue the good things of this life ; but who will yet show you that a man may be happy with a vile modicum, or parva rura. There is Shakspeare, who, above all poets, is the mysterious dual of hard sense and empyreal fancy— and a great many more, whom I need not name; but who, if you take to them gently aud quietly, will not, like your mere philosopher, your unreasonable stoic, tell you that you have lost nothing ; but who will insensibly steal you out of this world, with its losses and crosses, and slip you into " another world before you know where you are!— a world where you are just as welcome, though you carry no more earth of your lost acres with you than covers the sole of your shoe. Then for hypochondria and satiety, what is better than a brisk alterative course of travels— tspecially early, out of the way, marvellous, legendary travels ! How they freshen up the spirits ! How they take you out of the humdrum yawning state you are in. See, with Herodo- tus, young Greece springing up into life; or note with him how already the wondrous old Orient world is crumbling into giant decay; or go Carpini and Rubruquis to Tartary, meet the carts of Zagathai GERTRUDE VON DER WART. Ilcr hands were clasped, her dark eyes raised, The breeze threw back her hair, Up to the fearful wheel she gazed, All that she loved was there. The night was round her, clear and dark, The holy heavens above ; Its pale stars watching to behold The might of earthly love. " And bid me not depart," she cried, " My Rudolph, say not so ; This is no time to quit thy side— Peace, peace ! I cannot go. Hath the world aught for me to fear When death is on my brow ? The world— what means it, min e is here ! I will not leave thee now. " I have been with thee in thine hour Of glory and of bliss ; Doubt not its memory's living power To strengthen me in this. And though, my honoured love and true, Bear on— bear nobly on ! We have the blessed heaven above, Whose rest shall soon be won." And were not these high words to flow From woman's breaking heart ? Through all that night of bitterest woe She bore her lofty part. But, oh ! with such a glazing eye, With such a curdling cheek, Love— love of mortal agony— Thou— only thou couldst speak. vians, with that audacious brute Pizarro ? and the Polynesians, just for all the world like the ancient Britons ? and the American Indians, and the South- Sea Islanders ? how petulant, and young, and adventurous, and frisky your hypochondriac must get upon a regimen like that! Then, for that vice of the inind which I call sectarianism— not in the religious sense of the word, but little, narrow prejudices, that make you hate your next- door neighbour, because he has his eggs roasted when you have yours boiled; and gossipping and prying into people's affairs, and backbiting, and thinking heaven and earth are coming together, if some broom touch a cobweb that you have let grow over the window- sill of your brains— what like a large and generous, mildly aperient ( I beg your pardon, my dear) course of his- tory ! How it clears away all the fumes of the head !— better than the helle- bore with which the old leeches of the middle ages purged the cerebellum. There, midst all that great whirl and sturmbad ( storm- bath), as the Germans say, of kingdoms and empires, and races and ages, how your mind enlarges beyond that little, feverish animosity to John Sykes; or that unfortunate prepossession of yours, that all the world is interested in your grievances against Tom Stokes and his wife." An Evening at the Opera. ( From Angus B. Roach's Clement Lorimer.) with laden with houses, afid think that a great city is travelling towards you.' Gaze on that vast wild empire of the Tartar, where the descendants of Jenghis mul- tiply and disperse over the immense waste desert, which is as boundless as the ocean.' Sail with the early northern discoverers, and penetrate to the heart of winter, among the sea- serpents and bears, and tusked morses, with the faces of men. Then, what think you of Columbus, and the stem soul of Cortes, and the kingdom of Mexico, and the strange gold city of tho Peru- The wind rose high, but with it rose Her voice, that he might hear. Perchance that dark hour brought repose To happy bosoms near : While she sat shivering with despair Beside his tortured form, And pouring her deep soul in prayer Forth on the rushing stoim. She wiped the death- damps from his brow, With her pale hands and soft; Whose touch upon the lute cords low Had stilled his heart so oft: She spreads her mantle o'er his breast, She bathed his lips with dew, And on his cheek such kisses press'a As hope and joy ne'er knew. While even, as o'er a martyz's grave, She knelt on that sad spot; And weeping, blessed the God who gave Her strength to forsake it not. Oh, lovely are you, love and faith Enduring to the last. She had her meed— one smile in death ; And his worn spirit pass'd. THE CHANGE. Thine eyes are blue as when we met; Nor is thy hair yet tinged with grey; Thy teeth like glittering pearls are set, Ncre n show symptoms of decay Thy voice hath still its silv'ry tone, And smooth as marble is thy brow ; Thy blooming cheek no change hath known ; And yet, and yet how changed art thou! Oh ! while I gaze on thy fair face, Why are mine eyes thus fill'd with tears ? And why do I so sadly trace The memory of other years ? The world discerns no change, whose eyes But view thee lovely as thou art; For deeper, deeper still it lies— Alas! the change is in thy heart! VERONIQUE. Everybody remembers the mam- moth cheese exhibited some few years since, which was considered to be the we plus ultra of caseous enormity. We have now to record a greater wonder of the world, which is confi- dently asserted and believed to be the largest cheese ever made by many hundred pounds. This extraordinary cheese has just been imported from America, and has been purchased by Mr. Craft, of Philpot- lane. It was made, we hear, from the milk of 700 , cows, and weighs no less than 1,474 pounds. Of a verity, wonders will never cease. We are at the Italian Opera. The orchestra has just burst into the- opening strains of the prelude to Norma. The pit is nearly full, and although many of the boxes— nearly all in the grand tier— are yet empty, there are signs by which the habitue can guess that the house will be a brilliant one. In the front of the pit, not far behind the conductor, occupying, indeed, the two places upon the foremost bench, next the avenue which runs up the centre of the parterre, stand two of our personages with whom the reader has already some acquaintance— Mr. Spiffler and Owen Dombler. The for- mer is gazing round the house with that familiar air which betokens a man who is perfectly at home— the face of the latter wears that expression of' eager, but awe- struck curiosity, which so particularly distinguishes those to whom a visit to the Opera is an era in their lives— a thing by which, for months afterwards, events are to be dated. From time to time Mr. Spiffler,. with a patronising air, handed his companion his double- barrelled ivory lorgnette, and condescendingly pointed out the great folks around. " I'm afraid the attendance will be thin," Mr. Dombler ventured to remark. " My dear boy, don't show your ignorance — a brilliant night! But' people can't be expected to hurry away from their dinner at eight o'clock, you know." Oh, of course not!" said the City clerk, humbled and rebuked, Mr. Spifller was busily sweeping the house with his lorgnette. 44 Do you expect anybody in particular ?" asked his companion. " No— no— nobody ; merely the Box- office Barometer!'' " The Box- office Barometer! who or what is that?" " Ahl— 1 see!— so— in the pit— good!" murmured Mr. ' Spiffler to him- self. Then addressing his companion, " You see a square- shouldered man with red hair, standing at the back of the pit ?— he's the Box- office Baro- meter." Dombler was still in the dark. " Why, don't you see, he always has boxes somehow or other for nothing. It's a very useful art that of getting boxes for nothing— there's lots of fel- lows who live by it. Well, the red- haired gentleman is very clever at it. If there's a box unlet in the house he's sure to have it; so you can always tell the state of the box- list— particularly when it ain't a subscription night— by his position. If he's in the grand tier, put down the performance as a dead loss to the lessee; if in the second, there's a little. His apparition further up denotes a so- so state of things ; but if he's only in the pit, you may be certain there's over a thousand pounds in the house." And having delivered this luminous exposition of the state of things denoted by the red- haired man, Mr. Spiffler continued to scan the house with his glass, considerately informing his meek and wondering companion of the result of his observations. " The Duke of Gravesend— in that box, three from the proscenium— and the Honourable Erith Marshe. Look at the duke ! it always takes hiui twenty- five minutes to put on his left- hand glove, and half- an- hour to put on the right. Chalkstones on the joints, you know— terrible thing gout, by Jove! Ah, there's the countess and her daughters! Did you ever see a more beautiful arm ? how it does come out against the crimson, eh. Ha !" with a wave of salutation to a gentleman who entered a box on the third tier, came to the front, looked about the house with a rather disparaging air, and then sat down, resting his chin on his hands, and gazing moodily into the pit. 44 That's Dorling, the critic for the " ( name of the journal whis- pered). " He's so conscientious that we call him 4 the only correct card But, then, look in the omnibus- box. What, the deuce ! you don't think the omnibus- box is in the gallery? So, you see that young fellow with the slight moustache! He broke the bank one night, when I was present, at Aix- la- Chapelle. De Mythe's his name. You'll see it to- morrow among the men whom the fashionable- intelligence reporters of the papers always « observe ' at the Opera. Ah !"— in a louder tone to an acquaintance at a little distance— 44 how do, Colonel Black ?" Then, sotto vocc as before, 44 A most curious chap— nice, good- hearted, agreeable, gentlemanly little fe] low_ remarkable for being like a bird, everywhere at once ' You think he's only here at present. Stuff and nonsense, I'd take ten to one he's talk- ing to one man at the French Plays, and another at the Adelphi, at this very moment. You see the pale, thin man beside him ; he's a noted hand at play, that fellow ! He never wins hardly, but he's always making wonderful com- binations of figures, and thinking he has discovered the doctrine of chances. Lord, what " a. swarm of Jew music- sellers as usual! That's Moses, the sheriff's officer. I know the scoundrel's muzzle well— I was two days in his den in Cursitor- street— the thick- lipped black fellow there, with the lot of rings, in the box on the second tier, by the third lustre. Hillo !— old Fle- thers !— that stupid looking old man. He was introduced to me once, at a mild party at Islington, as a literary character, and^ the author of the cele- brated conundrum, 4 When is a door not a door ?' " " What have gained," asks M. Desjobats, " by our famoes victories of Algeeia ? a thousand bulletins, and Horace Vernet's big pictnres." CORRECT SPEAKING.— We advise all young people to accquire in early life the habit of using good language, both in speaking and writing, and to abandon as early as possible the use of slang words and phrases. The longer they live the more difficult the acquisition of such language will be ; and° if the golden age of youth— the proper season for the acquisition of lan- guage be passed in its abuse, the unfortunate victim of neglected education is very probably doomed to talk slang for life. Money is not necessary to procure this education. Every man has it in his power. He has merely to use the language which he reads instead of the slang which he hears ; to form his taste from the best speakers, writers, and poets of the country ; to treasure up choice phrases in his memory, and habituate himself to their use— avoiding at the same time that pedantic precision and bombast, which bespeak rather the weakness of a vain ambition than the polish of an educated mind. There is no man, however low in rank, who may not materially benefit his financial condition by following this advice, and cultivating at the same time such morals and manners as correspond in character with good words.