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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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mffi CHAMBERS' PHILOSOPHY REFUTED . LABOUR PLEADDJG ITS OTTS CATJ SE . THE EHPLOTEB AXD T 24 PL 0 TXD . X TAJHLIAB DIALOGTHK . —PAST HL According la appointment the four parties to the dialogue respecting the Employer and the Employed , met in the room of tht " Stranger ' s Home " public-louse , in the ' torn * of DeviVsJhtst , after the dote of Tuesday ' s market and the dialogue teas thru tcaimed : — Robin . — "Well , ilabter QuIIL is there owt strange since we met last ? Ecod , bat Maister Smith looks ten years older . Smith . —Aye , Robin , aye , 1 -can feel for the -woes of others . Robin . —Why , what ' s np now ? Owt bad in the market ? . '
Smith , —Market , market ' . It ' s anythine but a market-Robin . — "Why , ] tfaister Smith , -what ' s the matter ? Smith . —What's the matter ? "Why , just as I predicted . They ' ve OTerdone it . L-ubin . —Overdone "what , Maister Smith ? . > mhh . —Why the China and India market . They are all glutted : the worst news that ' s come into Devil ' s Dost since tie last panic . Robin . —Ecod , but 1 thought there was STimmat cone wrongs for all them there milk that was busy building a -week ago , as folks said for the India and China market , are ail jrive up : and there ' s a , wonderfal to da among the Bricklayers and Stone-masons , Carpenters and Joiners , and , in fact , all the
trades . I don ' t go out to read the papers now , 3 Iaister Smith ; bat- ilaister Sparaib , the butcher , came to me on Saturday neet , and axed how it "was that so much meat -was left on Ms hands more than other -weeks ? But as he is a grumbling in the best of times , 1 didn ' t mind him much ; int he was lamenting orer the case of poor folk , and saying as how them as would hare a nice joint on Sa"bxrday neet , said they'd try a serag of mutton ; and others Trould take a lot of broken iueat ; and them there as had a scrag , - would be content with a pluck ; and the good "workmen that wouldhave an extra joint , to feast their friends at Christmas , would wait for a ireek ; and so on . Ecod , Maister Sparerib said he wished , that sheep -were all scrags and plneks ; for folk Tranted nowt else on Saturday . He axed me the reason , and I told Mm that it wa 3 all
maeMnerrthem there nying devils that folk with money was building- palaces for—bronght the Stone-masons and Bricklayers , and all the rest . of them Joiners , and Carpenters , and 2 sall-makers , flocking here , and Tailors to make clothes for them , while all-the work ¦ was done afore they came - while them warehouses and big pawnshops was full of as much as would fit the world : and so instead of nature we had evervthing fiction-like . And , ecod , sure enough , but 1 hear Maister Squeezegut , overseer of that there fine refuge for the paupers , says that he ' s like to have custom enough . ' for , ecod , he hasn ' t house room for all that ' s applying for relief . Smith . —Well , well , but Robin , how could we have foreseen all these things ? Don't yon see there-was a demand ; and shouldn ' t we , as a matter of course , and as good Christians , endeavour to supply the ¦ wants of others ?
Robin . —Ecod , Maister Smith , thou needn ' t look so blue about it . Thou ' st quit Devil ' s Dust in good time . Smith . —Confound it , Robin , "good time" do yon call it ? Look here . Here ' s a notice I have just received © fa public meeting of landed proprietors to be held in the Town Hall tliU evening , to take Into consideration the best and speediest means of relieving the present distress of the working classes , by volun ^ tary contributions , or such other means as shall pretvnt an additional levy on landed property .
Robin . — Ecod , Maister Smith , but that ' s just Tsiat I said ; and thon'Ji £ nd that " Shoddy HaU " will have to pay its share ! Maister Sparerib axed me to come and move an amendment for * ' protection for labour , " as lie says his eyes are opened to the infernal system , as he calls it , that wont allow hard-TrorkingibTk to bny a bit of meat on Saturday neet . May be , Maister Quill , thou'lt second it . QmTl . —I tell yon what , Robin , you may depend ¦ npon it that all those things are better left to the management of the monied classes . A good petition , founded on' a sensible resolution , setting forth the prevailing distress , wiH have much more effect on the
Government fha-n all your ridiculous , and absurd propositions abont * 'protection for labour . " Hasn't Mr . Smith clearly pointed out to vou that his situation is just as pitiable as yours ; sna shown you that in the long rna the grievances -of the people must nitimatdy fall upon the shoulders of their superiors ? Hobin . —That's what I ' m hearing every year . It ' s all alike : until something pinches themselves , they care novel for ike condition of the working classes : and then -when they meet Jit sall to " PROTECT" themselves Stan the Wrthen I Bnt IT 1 tell thee -what , Maister Quill ; "who are thev to petition ? QuUL—Why , Sir Robert -Peel and the House of Commons , to be sure .
Robin . —Ecod , but Peel and them folk will have enough to do to get taxes now ! and its hard to think that folk that u-ovldiCt Tuar poor people letting their own distress wID give owt for others to make a story for them ! Bless mv life ; don ' t I remember what all them landlords and capitalists said -when ilaister Ferrandaxed them for £ 1 , 000 , 000 forpoorfolk ? and , eeod , £ 1 , 000 , 000 wulbe npwt amongst them allshortly . QnjJL— "Well , but Robin , the case is different when Mr . Ferrand asks for a grant of £ 1 , 000 , 000 , and when the capitalists petition for relief . Robin . —What's the difference , Maister Quill i Does ' nt see that machinery ha 3 enabled ite owners to collect most of the money in the countrv into their oirn hands ? and , ecod , Peel has but to look out for
the scrapings wherever he can catch them . Time ¦ was , Maister Quill , when Government had the cream and folks had the milk between them ; but them there iiying devll 3 and cast-iron men have lapped up aS the cream and left the Government only the skim milk , and the licking of the pan for poor folk . I'll tell you what , Maister Quill , you told me to look at all the churches , and all the improvements that machinery had made for Devil ' s Dust : and , ecod , ¦ when panic comes they'll none of them put a bit on ihe poor man ' s planer " : Then where ' s all your great boastaboutthe " cheapness" produced by machinery ? QtmTI — "Well , but surely Robin , under any circumstances , it would be better to have things " cheap " than "dear ?"
Robin . —Msisier Quill , tnat s another piece of wisdom-we have long lieanl of ; and when y-y-t complains of demagogues and philosophers , and will hear nowt that they say , we must come to common sense , and common reason , and ask you what you mean bv ' ¦ ehesp" and " dear V Q . uilL—Sow , Robin , you speak like a man of sense . Robin . —Wait till you hear what I ' ve to say . Well then , 1 remembers eighty years . I remembers all the years that things were "dear , " and all the vears that things -were " cheap . " And , Maister Quill , in the " dear" year ? , I could get the " dear" food and " dear" cloth , and " dear" every thing , and have more money at the end x > f the week than 1 had -when all things-were" cheap . " 1 remembers when the quartern loaf was two shillings in Devil ' s Dust ; and , ecod , " dear" as it was , poor folk could nave it . Now if s sixpence ; and , ecod , its a scramble , and a god-send to get it .
QuIIL—How do you account for that , Robin ? Robin . —Account for it ? why can't thou account for It ? Doesn't see that while every thing is being " cheapened , " labour has been made cheapest of all ; and , ecod , thotfst made It so cheap , that thou must give folksummat to eat to tempt ' em to take itloike . So ihou giv ' st their labour to foreigners-to tempt them to take it at afl . QnilL—Well , but Robin , don't you see its not fair to ascribe all these evils to Machinery ? machinery and its blessings are , as it were , but half developed . Restrictions , as Imav say , of which those upon human food are the most bariJarous , sit as an incubu 3 , nay press as a nighir-mare on the breast of machinery , and ¦ withhold all those "benefits which would otherwise
freely flow from it , from the working classes . Once unshackle Industry and untrammel trade , by allowing the produce of English labour to be exchanged -with , those -who would give us food in-return , and then-Robin . —Ecod , and then iit'dbe worse off than ever . ' What would' st ta' call Tree-trade , Maister Quill ? "Why , if s free enough to have turned the little village ofXterlTsDust into a great city , to send two members to Parliament ! And hasn ' t seen . mill piled on mill , and house on nouse , one after "tother ; and hasn't every additional mill been a bit of " extension , " as thev call it ? and dont I tell thee that every " extension " ha 3 been followed hy 2 . reduction of wages ? "Well then , here ' s a question , Maister Quill : if the end of
all them " extensions" has been a Digger reductions in trage , eaa ' st tell me how much retraction the great " extension" of all would "bring about ? : Why , good God of heaven , just look at all them there Indians , and them there Chinese , that folk tell us is nigh hand one half the world ; and see how toon them there flying devils nas completed all orders from those parts . Aye , aye , Maister Quill ; yon say trade with those who Vould give "US food in return . ' Ecod , It ' s Mr . Smith and the eotton lords that would get the " food in return ; " and if we may judge by the past , we might Bee big TFarehouses full of wheat at one side of the street , and warehouses fell of cloth -and calico at 'tother side , and those that made the one that bought the other walking naked and hungry between both !
Smith . —Pooh , pooh , Robin ; you talk nonsense . How is it possible that masters would be so dead to their dwm interest as not to exchange the wheat that they got in return for produce , for labour to produce more t Not but I admit , Robin , that you have conaderaHy staggered my notion infaYour of a free-trade in cornu Bobin , —Tea , Mr . Smith , you'd exchange it sure enough : but then you'd exchange all : you'd be naufer of' tiuwagtof labour , and thiprice of wheat ; and yon'd teD the labourer that competition compelled you to giro Ms produce so " cheap , " and com petition for corn made you buy it so "dear , " that you'd hare to get Chambers , and Chadwick , and Mug teridge , and Jemmv Graham , and Johnny RusseD ,
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and that there damned ould fooil , ould Brougham , and that there ould woman , Joey Hume , and Frankey Place , with two or three doctors , to draw out a table with figures that would reaeh from here to York , shewing the amount of food that folk could live on and work , and how " low living" and " frugality" was goodforhealth ! and how goodlivingleu to dissipation and idleness , and brought Dastards ! TYeshoula have cart-loads of books , and waggon-loads of " reports " from committees of capitalists and commissioners of bankers and cotton lords \—new-fangled stuff , and coroner ' s inquests , telling us the length , of poor folks ' guts , and how much blud poor folk owt to have , and all that kind of stuff , as if poor folk hadn't as many guts as rich folk , and wern ' t made like 'em ! "Why damn it , Master Quill QnilL—Hold , hold , Robin ; swearing is no argument .
Robin . —It ' s enough to make folks swear to see the way poor folk is talked about , and wrote about , and treated now-a-days ; and to see Maister Smith and his sort , and thee and thy sort , supporting news papers by advertising to get £ 4 or £ 3 per cent , for ** thy" money , and covering the walls with speculations and prospectuses as to how thou might make more of it ; and boasting that in ten yeai-s thou ' st invested as much " brass '' in one damned speculation and another as would pay the interest of the national debt ; and then leaving poor folk to pay the debt after all ' . Ecod , Maister Quill , 1 tell thee what ;
thou may ' st bring down all the books in thy shop and read them all , and thoul't never convince the working people that the laws are just that allows thee and the capitalist to do these things , and leaves the poor to starve . And I'll tell thee more too ; that whatever price free trade allows the masters to purchase corn at , no law that thou can make will ever regulate the price of the loaf that comes on the poor man's table . And I'll tell thee more than that too ; that landlords alone will have to pay tares and the interest on the national debt , unless tIipv look about .
QuIIL—Aye , aye , that ' s it . The landlords are the men Have at them ! They must enable the -workin" classes to live . Robin . —Ecod , but not bv " cheap" bread , though . QuIIL—What then , Robin ? Robin . —Why g ood wage ; to be sure ! Let them work on the land , and then they wont care what priee bread is . They'll liave It out of their own sweat—and " dearer" and better . They'll eat enough ; and get more for surplus , and be good customers in the manufacturing market . Quill . —" What , Robin ; then you are opposed to machinerv altogether ?
Robin . —Noa , nowt of the sort' I remembers reading after Cobden , when he was at Bradford , and he axed a Hand-loom Weaver that opposed him it" he was against machinery ? The poor man ' s name was Butterworth , and his answer was : " ^ Noa , Mr . Cobden : I'm not opposed to machinery . " Xou may < zo to bed by machinery , and get up by machinery , and cat by machinery , and drink by machinery , and put 011 your clothes by machinery ; aye , and pick your teeth by machinery ; if your machinery doesn ' t take i > iy bed frv . » tm-lzr me . Die roat ojf my back , and the loaf ujT ray talA ? . * ' Eood , but that was wisdom ! It ivas worth all the tons 01 * tracts that ever was issued l > y that skin-flint of a League .
Quill . —Well but , Robin , why talk of tilling the land at home , when we can get corn so much * " cheaper" from abroad i Besides , you know that the very best authorities tell us that the land of England does not produce , and indeed u not capable of producing , enough of corn for the people i Robin . —There you go again , Maister Quill , with your " better to get' cheap' corn from abroad , than grow it at home . " 1 say that the man that grous it at home uill be able to have enoughof it , independent of all laws and restrictions ; and he'll be a better customer in the market with his surplus , than all the Chinese
and Indians and other folk in the world . And it ' s aU gammon about England not being able to produce enough I Why there ' s nearly twice as many folk now in England as there was sixty years ago ; and there ' s just as much land as when we had only a half of the population : and then I remember , some folk would talk that foolish stuff , that England couldn ' t feed them all . But now we sec this very year , that the same land is capable of . supplying the whole population ' . Aye , Maister Quill , and if we had four times the population we have , we'd find that the land would produce six times as much as it does now .
Smith . —Well but , Robin , how would you make the land produce more I Surely men that ' expend their capital in land are more conversant with the subject than you are ; and they make it produce as much as it can ? Robin . —Nay , nay , Maister Smith ; let the popnlation } -res * on the land ; " then folk will begin to see that the land was of no value till labour was applied to it ; and if labour was applied to it , thou would not find it so easy to make £ 90 , 000 of thy £ 20 , 000 in fifteen years , as thou did '« t when thy cast-iron men and wooden -women , and -wire children , ** pressed hardly on the means of subsistence . " Smith . —Well Robin , you -appear to wish to check honourable speculation altogether .
Robm . —>> ay , Maister . Smith , not so : but I'd stop that speculation that allows the few to put the money that belongs to all into their pocket * , and compels the many to starve , or to petition Parliament for relief ; or to ax the Queen to write a begging letter to Parson Barebones to beg for charity to keep them alive that keeps her , and feeds that German husband of her ' s , and all them young half-German princes and princesses . And now , Maister Quill , do ' st think thy faither ever remembers the time in Devil ' s Dust when maisters and men wrought together , that maisters were buying land and spending in speculations ; while the King was begging , and Parson Flower preaching charit-v sermons for poor folk ? Ave , Maister Quill
, we had no Town Hall then , sure enough , because folk didn't want to do what Bess ' s Old Poor Law did for them ! And then thou talkest of the " dissipation , " and "improvidence , " and "discontent" of the working classes . I'll tell thee what , Maister Quill : just thou get Peel and the Government to shut up the gin palaces , public-houses , and beer-shops , and see where the National Debt will go to ! and see where the sailors' pay , and the soldiers' pay , and the pensioners' pay ; aye , ecod , and the Queen ' s pay , too , will come trom : WhY , bless my old life , talk ol "dissipation : " don ' t I live down there in West-street , between a man that sells penny publications that folk < a . n only buy on Sunday , and a bis public-house 4 and isn ' t mv brain addled on Sundav nett with drunken
folk m the public-house , whileMaiMer Smith and the bench of magistrates fines the poor devil that sells penny tracts on Sunday , to try and get a living r Who makes them " dissipated . " Maister Quill ? Why its the Government that lives ou them , and the maisters that encourage them ; and I'll be bound for it , that before machinery came t « Devil ' s Dust , thy faither never saw " Jolly Sailors" open after nuno ' clock on anv neet in the week . Nay , if poor old Maister GruJge , that kept it for fifty years , allowed alad to drink , or aman to get drunk there , Bumble , the beadle , would be at him , and parson Flower would be about his ears . And then about the " discontent ; " I ' ve seen famine , or nearly like it ; I ' ve seen when thy faither and I were put to shifts to get a bit for the children : and we wern't "discontented" tht-n :
jot it was all famine alike . It came from God , then , ^ Maister Quill ; and it came on all vAlhout distinction . King vrould come down something , and Duke come down something , and Lord of the Manor , and Squire ; but no begging letters ; no praying for the poor alone , but praying to avert the famine- from all . And then Parson Flower knew what every man in the pariah had to spare . He was bookkeeper , like ; and many * s the neet , Maister Qnill , I , and my wife and children went to bed without supper—and we thanked God we
had dinner , and we blest God , and blest theKing , and blest Parson Flower , and blest the lawB too : we wern't " discontented " then , Maister Quill : but sow I see poor folk working fourteen hours a day , skulking down the lanes wi ' out stockings , and lying a bed a SundavB , and cursing , and damning , and blaspheming at the laws that let ' s the rich grind the faces of the poor . They sees one set of folk rich and happy , and tcrtJi plenty every day in the year—in " good harvest , " and "bad harvesf '—tci " good trade , ' ! ' and "bad trade : " a ? td tke tamete is alwavb os the folk that
max ' s them rich am ) Tat . So thou seest , Maister Quill , it would be a strange thing if poor folk were otherwise than " dissipated " and " discontented . " QniD . —Tes , but Robin , I tell you it ' s all a consequence of their " improvidence " ; " they might be better off . Robin . —I'll try that with thee , Maister Quill . It ' s always very easy to lay the burden on poor folk ' B shoulders . " One man may steal a horse , while another must not look over the wall . " And now , Maister Quill , just see here . I'll take poor folk , and thou shalt take rich folk ; and let's see whether rich folk is so " provident" and " careful . " Now , let ' s begin -with a lump : rich folk owe a national debt of near eight hundred millions of money . ' The Queen ,
they say , is cutting down her establishment because she ' s in debt . Working folk had to pav the Duke of York ' s debts . The King of Belgium left poor folk to pay his debts . The Duke of D—— owes two millions . My God ! and all the poor folk together only axed for half that to carry them over the bad season ! Marquis of A — owes a million and a half . Lord C owes two millions . The Lord of the Manor here has sold off "Shoddy Hall , " and "Twist Castle , " and a whole parish , to pay the interest of his debts . In short , thev owes among them four thousand millions to the JeW : and then they talk of poor folk being " improvident ' . " Ecod , when they set about building a house they mortgage the walls to
put the root on I And then see how folk compound and begin again : but poor foUc mun always pay twenty shilling in the pound I How , Maister Quill , have i proved that folk werel > etter off before machinery come to Derfl ' s Dust ? ( Loud shouts without . ) Smith and Quill ( speaking together ) . — What ' s that ? What noise is that ? ( Procession passes with bands and banners ; on the first flag , " Procession of the JMemployed . " ) Smith . ~ O ! it's only a muster of the damned tagrag-arid-botetall Gharbsts . Robin . —( Standing at the window . ) Ecod , < xtt folks are Chartists when they get hungry : but I see many a score , and many a hundred too , among them that
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never before was known aa Chartists . ( Shouts of "To the Town Hall ! " Down with the Bastfle !" "Bread or blood ! " ) Quill . —Do you hear that , Robin ? They ase calling for bread . Robin . —Ay , but not for " cheap" bread , Maister Quill . See that there flag , " Down with the League !" See 'tother , " More pigs and less parsons . " Ecod I hope Parson Barebones will sQe ' fhat . See here , Maister Smith , coom and look . Smith . —Nay , Robin , I don't wish to be seen . Robin . —Ecod , but here ! here ' s all the men that ' s worked for thee , passing ivow : coom ahd see . Smith . —No , thank ye , Robin ; I'd rather not . Robin there it isMaister in
_ . — -Ah , , Quill ; them times , before machinery was here , the maister was never ashamed nor afraid to look hU men in the face . ' Smith . —Aye , Robin ; but it is the men that have grown " impatient" , and " insolent" now-a-days . They can ' t have been hungry longer than since Saturday last , and they ' re crying out already . Robin . —^ Ecod , Miiister Smith , in formertimes , if it were not a downright famine , we could stand a qnarter or more before we'd complain , because we had summat laid up ; but now folk cry out when they are hungry , for hunger comes slap on them . They can ' t wait . See here , Maister Smith ; see here , Maistor Quill , " Dou-n with t 7 ieba . « tile . " *¦ Equal rights . " " Fair day ' s n-aqe for a fair day s work . " "Annual Parliaments , " " Universal Suffrage , " " Vote hj Ballot , " "Equal representation" " Xoproperty qualification , " and " Payment of members . "
"THE CHARTER IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT : — We'll die or have it . " Smith . —Yes , yes ; I was right , they're Chartists , never satisfied . Robin . —rEcod , then it was machinery that made them Chartist * , as well as made the churches , the banks , and the bastile . ( Shouts of " To the Townhall ! " ) Smith . —Robin , will you accompany us ? ' Robin . —Thankee , Maister Smith , I'm over old to make my way through a crowd now ; but you and Maister Quill can go down . Quill . —No , I certainly shan't . I ' ve nothing to do witli it .
Smith . — -I thought it was to be a meeting of landed proprietors and rate-payers ? Robin . —; Ecod , and so it is ; the folks there ought to be the proprietors , as they are the rate-payers : so coom and hear what they have to say , Maister Smith . Smith . —Come , then , Robin , if you'll go I'll go ! Take my arm , Robin . Robin . —Nay , Ecod . That would never do , Maister Smith . Ecod , they'd hiss me ; or happen hustle me . Smith . —Well , Jackson , give me your arm . Jackson . —Thankee , sir ; I ' m too shabby . ( Quill bolts . ) Smith . —Good God ! am I to bo left "here alone ?
• lackson ; my good friend , Jackson , vou were always an honest man ; will you stay anil take care of me ? Jackson . —Yes , Mr " . Smith , I'll stay and take care ° * >' e . Now I trust that you'll see and understand tha t the working classes , howsoever oppressed , never cherish vengeance in tlreir breasts , or withhold prot ( Ction , when called for , even from those who oppress tn Smith . —I thank vou , Jackson . Do you think th ey'll come back ? Do you think they saw me ? Robin . —Farewell . Maister Smith . A clear
conscience is the best property that a man can possess , and the best safeguard against all the dangers that threaten . I have nowt to fear : so I'll go and face my townsmen . ( Shouts without of "Old Robin , " " honest Robin , " "three cheers for Robin , " " take care of Robin , " " don ' t press him , " " carry him on your shoulders , " " put Robin in the chair , " "he's fittest to preside , " no cotton lord , " " no Free Trader , " " three cheers for Robin . " ) Jackson . —Mr . Smith , do you think old Robin would change places with you now , and take " Shoddy Hall" into the bargain ? ( Tobt continued . )
Science Anlj Art.
science anlJ art .
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French Academ y or Sciences . —At the sitting of Dec . 9 th ,. M . Hector Ledru laid before the academy some specimens of cold-drawn iron , and other tubing . A few vears ago the only tubing made in France , for jras and other purposes , except lead tubing , was made by hand . In England , iron-drawn tubing ( by heat ) , without soldering , was first made , and was imported , by special permission , into France on account of its vast superiority over hand-made soldered tubes . Within ihe last" two years the French have , in this branch of manufacture , eclipsed the English , for they now , by pressure , draw tubing cold , ana it is in every respect perfect , indeed much more perfect than the hot-drawn tubing . A letter was received from M . Routretde l'lsle , claiming for an English chemist ,
in 1625 , and whose name he gives , probably erroneously , as Frebet , the merit of the invention of the acrotherm ovens , respecting which so much lias been Raid lately , and also that of the incendiary rocket of Capt . Warner , as described hy M . Jobard , of Brussels . We think it highly probable that the method of baking bread by hot air was known in 1625 ; and if we knew what Capt . Warner ' s invention was , we might offer an opinion on that subject also ; but we have no other authority than the description given by M . Jobard , and how are we to know that he has hit upon Capt . Warner ' s real or pretended secret ? M . Sclligue made another communication respecting his mode of propelling vessels at sea by an explosive gas , instead of steam . M . Selligue appears to be more
and more confident of the superiority of his plan . A paper was received by the academy from Dr . Natalia Guilott , on the black substance resembling charcoal which is found in the lungs of man , and to which some of the French physicians have given the name of metanoes This substance goes on accumulating in the respiratory organs in men of a certain age , and particularly in old men . It has all the character of pure charcoal , and is in a state of extreme division . A recent anjilysis has been made of it under the eyes of M . Dumas and M . Melseus . The causes of this deposit have been differently explained ; fome of the faculty have even supposed that it arises from small particles of charcoal dust , or the dust from carbonised wood used as fuel , conveyed by the respiratory action iuto the lungs , and accumulating there until it forms a compact mass . This opinion appears , from the researches of M . Guillot , to be an erroneous one . He shows clearl y that the cause , whatever it mav be , is
not external . When this substance has accumulated into a mass only a millimetre ( the thousandth part of a metre ) in thickness , the air tubes and venous conduits are obliterated ; the tissues then are transfonned into a black substanee , which sometimes covers half the pulmonary orcans . Respiration and circulation are now alike impeded , and , as the disease goes on , death ensues , the whole of the pulmonary organs being hermetically sealed against the admission of air . This is frequently the case with persons of advanced age . When tubercles exist in the lungs , and this black matter is deposited around them , they do not undergo the changes peculiar to consumption in its normal character . The tubercles become calcareous , are free from unctuous matter , and do not increase in volume . JSo vessel of new formation is developed , or , if this has been the case before the deposit of the melanose , they beeome obliterated , and the progress of the consumption is arrested .
Sitting of Dec . 16 th . — Antiquity of the Earth . —The sitting to-day offered but little interest , and was of short duration . M . Elle de Beaumont ( made some observations on a question submitted for consideration , viz : —" What relation exists between the progressive cooling of the earth and thatof itesurface . " M . Elle de Beaumont has calculated that the annual cooling of the surface of the globe has been greater than that of the globe itself during a period of 38 t 369 years . According to this solution the antiquity of the period when our globe was entirel y incandescent , is of a remoteness which defies calculation , and shows that persons who attempt to fix the age of ourpjanet by geological deductions must still be very distant from a perfect knowledge on this subject . Some
recent discoveries in geology have , indeed , shown that the earth is much older than the earlier discoveries have led us to suppose ; but if , as is generally believed , the globe was at one time incandescent , the rate at which M . E . de Beaumont calculates the progressive cooling of it , in relation with the surface , would give to it an antiguity far greater than ( any that has hitherto been assigned to it . The Ethnological Society of London . —We purpose giving regular reports of the proceedings of this society , which we trust , will be found interesting to our readers . -It was founded in November , 1843 , by Dr . King , the Polar traveller . As naturalist to the expedition in search of Sir John Ross and his party , when shut iip in the ice of Regent ' s Inlet , he had the oppor
tunity of studying the physical and moral condition of the Red Man , and his narrative of that expedition bears testimony of his labours in Ethnological research . After studying the subject for some years , and stating his viewB to an appropriate prospectus , a sufficient number of known scientific men formed themselves into a body , under the name of the " Ethnological Society of London , " for the purpose of affording that co-operation which Dr . King required and the science merited . The object is , to inquire into the distinguishing characteristics , physical and moral , of the varieties of mankind which inhabit , or have inhabited , the earth , and to ascertain the causes of such characteristics . Various interesting papers have been read
at the meetmp of this society . The first of the present session , entitled the "Natives of Guyana , " byChevalier Schomburgk . was read rathe 27 tn ult ., Admiral Sir C . Malcolm , President , in the chair . The aboriginal inhabitants of Guyana consist of Atarawaaks , Warraus , Caribs , Accawais , MacusiS , Areciinnas , Wapisianas , Atorais , Tarumas , WoyawaiB , Maopitiaua , Pianaghotto , and Drios . Their united riumbers amount to 6 , 850 . The At * rais are nearly extinct ; and the MaopitiaHs number only fourteen men , eleven women , eignt boys , and six girls . The form of the Guyana native lrat marks the tribe by which it is raised ; and while that of the Warrau , Arrawaak , and Oarib is a mere shed , the houses 6 f ~ the MacusiB and Wapissianas are frequently built of mud , sur-
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mounted by a roof of a pointed form of almost eastern character , and thatched with plain leaves . Each tribe has its own hunting ground , and each family its own plantation . The natives of Guiana , while yet infants , are betrothed . The youthful lord is bound as soon aa he is able to assist the family of his intended until she becomes his wife . The naming of the child devolves upon the Piaiman , or conjurer , who performs certain mystic ceremonies in a dark hut on the occasion , the duration of them depending upon the amount of the fee which is
presented to him . On verging from childhood the youths are subjected to severe trials : the boys , as a test of their courage , are put into a bag with stinging ants , or are lacerated about their breaste with the teeth of the wild hog , or the beak of the toucan ; the grrls are deprived of their long hair , and then slung in their hammock over an incessant smoky fire , an ordeal which frequently costs them their life . Characteristic drawings by Mr . Goodall , the artist to the expedition , ornamented the walls of the meeting room ; and there was a living illustration in the person of a Macusi . —From " The Institute : " a new weekly scientific journal .
Interestin g . Discoveries at Nineveh . —The news of the progress of M . Bottn ' s excavations at Khorsahad , near Mosul , Palestine , arc always interesting . There are at present one hundred and : sixty workmen engaged thereon , and besides the walls , which are covered with sculptures and inscriptions , many antiquities of a peculiar and at present inexplicable natuyc are met with . For example , under the large bricks , of which the floor consists , are stone repositories , which arc filled with small clay enamelled figures of men and leasts , without anything on the surface indicating the existence of such repositories , or there being anything within them to explain their contents . In another place they discovered great
rows of earthen vases of a remarkable size , placed on a brick floor and filled with human hones , and similar to those which have been found at Babylon , at Ahwaz , and other places in South Persia . The palace ' seems to have been totally plundered before its destruction , for neither jewels , nor instruments , nor even the small cylinders , so numerous in the neighbourhood , are anywhere found : merely some bronze images of beasts ( for instance , a very fine lion ) have been discovered , as also a part of the bronze wheel of a war chariot . But the most incomprehensible circumstance is , that the alabaster slabs with which the walls are cased , and which are covered with inscr iptions and sculptures , bear on the back , likewise .
inscriptions in arrow-headed characters , and certainly not in the Assyrian , but in the Babylonian language . As it is naturally not to bo presumed that the architects could have been so foolish as to have graven these inscriptions where no one could have seen them without pulling down the wall , it must be presumed that the slabs have served twice , first belonging to a Babylonian palace , and afterwards have been transposed by the A ' ssyrians , and freshly graven . At present no sculptures have been found on the back , which would , indeed , be of the greatest interest , no Babylonian scuh > tures having ever yet been discovered . Some of the lately found bas-reliefs are especially remarkable : for instance , one representing the . siege of a town situate
oh an island : the sea is covered witli ships , the fore part of which form a horse's head , arid which are occupied in bringing the trunks of trees for the purpose of erecting a dam . The water is covered with all kindff of marine animals—fishes , crabs , and winged sea-horses . The richness of the details , and the mass of sculpture which the palace contains , are amazing , and it is incomprehensible how so magnificent a building should have been so strangely buried in the earth . The French Ambassador at Constantinople has not yet obtained permission from the Porte to send to Paris those articles of antiquity which will bear transport , which says little for their interest there , at a time when the English are removing whole cargoes of antiquities from Lesser Asia to London . —Awjsburgfi Gazette .
New Nautical Invention . —A useful invention is now in the act of being applied to one of our men-ofwar . It is called a " manojuvrer . " It is the proposition of R . Fullertan , Esq . ; is an Areliimedean screw fitted through the dead wood of the ship at right angles with the keel , and set in motion by the capstan , for the purpose of turning the ship round when , from calm weather , the helm has no effect on the vessel . It does not project in any degree , no as to impede the ship's way through the water ; and must be highly useful in the case of a ship being aa tacked by steamers or gun-boats , in bringing tht . broadside to bear on them ; or it may even assist e ship in the act of staving .
Agriculture Airt* Iftorttcuiture.
Agriculture airt * Iftorttcuiture .
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HoRTicuLtuKE . —It is a common opinion , though a very fallacious one , that recently planted trees or shrubs are liable to injury by frost , and therefore , that after the winter may be fairly said to have set in , all planting operations should cease till spring . Plants of a very delicate habit , and under any circumstances liable to be injured by frost , it is perhaps desirable to have established before winter ; but in the case of fruit trees , and the general run of hardv trees and shrubs , planting may be carried on with perfect safety during intervals of fine weather , and the plants will thrive much better than if left undisturbed till spring ;—The Greenhouse . Although the weather has been unfavourable , by reason of the long-continued absence of the sun , the greenhouse is
by no means destitute of flowers . The early plants of pink , blue and purple cinerarias are in full flower , as are also the Chinese primroses , the forward camellias , and not a few of the tulips and other Dutch bulbs . If the weather continues damp , it is essential during these short days to have a little fire heat occasionally , and water must be all but withheld . — The Flower-garden . Look over the half-hardy perennial plants in pits and frames , and pick off carefully every decaying leaf , and let the lights be otf all day when the weather is dry . —The Kitchen-garden . The cauliflower and lettuce plants in frames should not be covered except ( hiring rains or frosts ; it is desirable by constant , exposure to the air to render them as hardy as possible , and to prevent them from being drawn up . —Bell ' s Weekly Messenger .
Saoo Palmist . —Of all the palm-trees which are natives of Asia , the sago palmist is one of the most useful and interesting ; a liquor runs from incisions made in its trunk , which readily ferments , and is both salutary and agreeable for drinking . The marrow or pith of the tree , after undergoing a slight preparation , is the substance known by the name of sago in Europe , and so eminently useful in the list of nutritious food for the su , 'k . The trunk and large leaves of the sago palmist are highly useful in the construction of buildings : the first furnishes planks for the carpenter , and the second a covering for the roof . From the leaves are . also made cord , matting , and other articles of domestic use .
Spade Husbandry . ' — A correspondent writes as follows : — "As the ' allotment system' has become more common of late , I beg leave to let the public know what may be done by ' spade husbandry . ' William Innian , of Bolton , near Bradford , gardener , had two plots of ground which had been broken up two years , measuring together 248 yards—six yards more than the tweutieth part of an acre—which he sowed with carrot seed last March , and reaped the crop the latter end of October , filling sixteen sacks with clean carrots , which weighed fourteen loads of 2521 b 8 ., and 11 stones ( 16 lbs . per stone ) , which he sold for 8 s . per load , a market price , amounting to £ 6 18 s ., or the incredible sum of £ 115 10 s . per acre . N . B . — Mr . Inman will allow any person to measure the ground , and will prove the quantity reaped if desired . " ¦ —Bradford Observer .
: Destruction of the Mealy Bug . —This formidable enemy may be extirpated without injury to vegetation by a solution of soft soap , or soft soap and sulphur . Take a leaf with some 01 these pests on it , and smear it over with soft soap and sulphur , and it will almost immediately kill the insects . On account of the mealy bug , however , secreting itself and its larvae in Very small chinks and crevices , it is difficult to de' stroy it ; and this appeal's to set at defiance all attempts to extirpate it with one or two dressings , without recourse to something injurious to vegetation . However , it may be got rid ot by persevering in the use of a solution of soft soap and sulphur , luke-warm , and applied with a painter ' s brash , rubbing it well into the crevices .
Destruction of 0 li 7 i :-s . —The inhabitants of the South of France and Italy , who cultivate on a large scale the olive tree ; complain of the severe losses caused by insects , and which they seem unable to guard against . The olives are attacked by a small caterpillar , which penetrates into its kernel , on which it lives , and Escapes , about the end of August , by an opening near the pedicle , and , by means of a thread which it spins , reaches the ground , where it undergoes its metamorphosis , and then becomes a butterfly . The caterpillar , in * making the hole through which it escapes , causes the pedicle to die , and the olive falls before it is ripe . Once on the ground the caterpillar seeks a dry leaf , or some crevice in the earth , constructs a light ailken web , is changed into a chrysalis , and , in the space of from three to sixdavs , the butterfly appears . At the
instant the caterpillar leaves the olive it meets with numerous enemies ; thus^—birds , while it hangs by the thread ; ants , as soon as it reaches the earth ; and , finall y * a small hym&tuypurut deposits its eggs on its body , and these produce small larvse , which live on , and are developed at the expense of its flesh and fat , without attacking the vital parts . As soon , however , as they are completely developed they kill the caterpillar , or chrysalis , and make under its Bkin from fifteen to twenty oval webs . In order to destroy a great number of these lepidoptera , the following plan-may be followed : —At the end of August , when the caterpillar leaves ' . the olives , a trench of about an inch or two in . depth must be du ^ around the tree , and filled with diy leaved so as to furnish a convenient hiding-place for the ¦ caterpillar to form its web . In the beginning of September the leaves must be collected and burnt , and the trench filled up , bo as to bury any that may remain under the clods .
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The Allotment System in Worcestershire , — In the Morning Herald of the 13 th ult . waspublished a report of an influential meeting held at Worcester on the 11 th of the same month , for the purpose of affording the benefits of the allotment system to the operatives of Worcester and its neighbourhood . A society was then-established , under the presidency of the lord bishop , and a committee of management was appointed for carrying out the objectin view . This committee has since been actively engaged in drawing tip rules , procuring land , and other necessary business , arid Monday last ( December 23 ) was appointed to receive proposals from parties willing to take allotments . Injproofof the anxiety evinced by the labouring classes to avail themselves of the system , we may now state applications of this nature were received from no less than 121 parties . These applications
were written upon a printed form prepared for the purpose , in which the applicants were required to state their name , age , occupation , resideuce , name and residence ofj their employer , rate of wages per week , whether they were married or single , and what was the nnmberi of their family , these particulars being asked for iii order to guard against misrepresenta tion . On comparing the returns with regard to wages , it wasfoujnd that they varied from 4 s . to 21 s . per week . Grants of land for the purpose of allotments have been ! offered by several parties , and there is no doubt that as much can be procured as is required . It is expected that Sir John Sebriglit ; who is an extensive landed proprietor in the immediate vicinity of Worcester , and who has tried the allotment system upon a large scale , will grant a valuable piece of land close to the city .
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DREADFUL SHIPWRECKS . Toulon , Dec . 17 . —The most extraordinary bad ¦ weather we have experienced during the past week has caused much damage along the coast , and prevented many vessels from reaching their destination . Amongst others , the . transport M 6 nagere , which sailed from this port on the 6 th , for the Island of St . Marguerite , to take on board Arabian prisoners , and carry them to Algiers , has been obliged to return to Toulon to-dav , with a leak and the loss of both her anchors and cables . The steamer Montezuma , Captain Fournier , from Algiers , was obliged to run into Port Mahon , with her paddle wheels broken and her boilers seriously damaged . The Montezuma left Port Mahon on the 14 th , and anchored in our roads
this afternoon . She brings no news of importance . The transport Expedition , Captain Meniac , sailed frem Toulon on the 2 nd for Rio Janeiro , was obliged to seek shelter in Port Mahon , much injured . Three thunderbolts fell on this vessel . The brig Jollet , from Nantes , also ran into Port Mahon ; the lightning set fire to the vessel , and nearly burnt all her cargo . I have just learnt the loss of the following vessels yesterday , at the entrance of the Porte of Cette : —Tho Russian ship Helena , Captain Enlierg ; the Norwegian brig Iduna , Captain Peterson : the Dutch galliot Angelina , Captain Meendin ; and the French boat Josephine , Captain Lebriten , for Newfoundland . Ten vessels , whose names I could not learn , were lost at Agde , near to Cette .
Amsterdam , Dec . 19 th , —The ship Polly , which was stranded off Texel , on her way from Amsterdam to Newcastle , has arrived in the North Holland . canal , near Blaawe Keet . The crew left on the 17 th , for the Nieuwe Diep . The Albion , Captain McKenzie , from Newcastle , is still safely moored off the Due d'Alven , near Rotterdam . On the 18 th inst . the Helvoetsluys was full of ice . On the 15 th the Catha * rina , Captain Mowle , of Liverpool , arrived off Egmondaan Zee , where the captain landed to procure provisions . December 20 . —The English and French post did not arrive here to-day . The ship Catharina Jackson , of Baltimore , was towed up to Heivoetsluys yesterday . The Texel yesterday was full of drifting ice . Up to this day no tidings have reached this city of the ship Joanna , which left Elbing , for Hull , in August last .
Extraordinary Shipwreck . —The Esk trader , Captain Stokes , left Newcastle on Saturday afternoon , shortly before high water , on her voyage to London , with a valuable general cargo . She was towed by two powerful steamers from the usual berth at Newcastle-quay down the river , and on rounding Whitehill-point , near Shields , she grounded , in consequence of taking the point too closely , on a rocky uank , which extends some distance into the river . She heeled round and was towed off , as was supposed , with little damage . The steamers towed her slowly down the river and across the bar , without anv leak being discovered . She being supposed all tight , went to sea . The wind blowing from the east , it was desirable to give her what is called " a good offing , " and she was towed out about seven miles . The steamers then left her , and in about an hour
after it was discovered that she was making water rapidly . The pumps were entirely useless against the rapid ingress of water ,, and the long-boat was launched , into which the crew had just time to get when the Esk went down . The crew were unable to save anything , and had they not been prompt in launching and getting into the boat , all hands would have suffered . It was broad daylight , and several other vessels were near , into one of which the fcrew were taken . It is supposed the vessel was strained by getting on the bank , and the heaving of the sea had caused her to spring a " bulk head . " It is somewhat remarkable that a vessel belonging to the same company .-tdao'caUed the-Eskv likewise foundered at sea , when all hands perished , in her voyage j&om Newcastle to London , some years ago * and the vessel which foundered on Saturday last was built to supply her place .
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A FARTHING FOR REPEAL ' . When a traveller finds that the farther he goes the more he increases his distance from the place of . his destination , he is very apt to conclude that he is on the wrong road ; ana the simplest of simple Re-Repealers must [ surely begin to marve ! at this fact , that the farther i they follow their g' ^ 'e , the farther off they are , byjhis account , from their goal . The nearest way to Repeal would , indeed , seem , ' like the nearest way home , to be the farthest about . -
Last year it was to be had in six months ; a few days ago the cause was declared to be so prosperous that it was hardly possible that by any mismanagement it could miscarry ; but lo ! last Tuesday it was proclaimed that ! there must be more money , and three years was the time talked of . Mr . O'Connell ; unlike the sybil , raises his terms as ho gets his prize i ' , ' ( live me six months of p eace , and vou shall have Repeal at the end of it , " said he , in ' 4 o . lie got his get the Repeal , j sLx months of peace , — and the beguiled people did not "The cause is in so fair a way that it is'hardlv possible you can by any mismanagement lose it , " was the next assurance . This was a great comfort -, for it promised that the thing would require no further trouble , and carry itself . But what comes next is in quite another note .
" Give £ 50 , 000 a year for three years , and you shall have all you want . " Will not six months of peace dons well now as in ' 43 , for peace [ has the advantage over £ oO , < iut ) a year of requiring no contributions ? And as the cause was put a few days ago so flourishing that it could be hardly so mismanaged as to miscarry , how can it possibly want £ 50 , 0011 a year for three years ? Leave iwell alone . But let us hear Mr . O'Connell ' s last proclamation : —
' ¦ The year ' 43 was the year of monster meetings — ' 44 that of patient forbearance and peaceful determination . Let ' 45 be that of Repeal organization and weekly collections . Let thrre be a collection from every district , if i | t be only £ 1 , a shilling—ay , a penny . Who was there who could not pay a farthing a week ? ( 'Xo one . ') Then let every man do so . ( Cheers . ) If every man in Ireland paid a shilling a year , it was all he asked , for it would amount to £ 100 , 000 a year . Lot every man in Ireland - ' consider that he owed a farthing to his country . IIow little would it be to him , but of what inexhaustible advantage to Old Ireland > . — ( Cheers . ) If there was a collection of £ 50 , 008 for three years , there did uoteorist in Europe a statesman so sttipidas not to see that the time had arrived when Ireland could no longer be refused her rights . " \ Wo are come jto that scene in the play where I ago says to
Roderiuro—11 1 have professed me thy friend , and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness . 1 coukl \ neve-r better stead thee than now . 1 ' ut money in thy purse—I say , put money in thy purse . " In the Irish reading , it is put money in my purse ; but we have jthe text without variance in the next speech ; '' Thus do I ever make my fool my purse . " \ It is in an act to which we have not yet come that the dupe begins to complain— "Every day thou doff ' st me with some device—your words and performances are no kin together—I have wasted myself out of my means , and oegin to find myself fobbed in it . " I
There is far more of the quack , however / than of the Iago in Hr . O'Connell ; and the apter illustration is Scott ' s Dousterswivel , the alchymist , who drains his dupo of his last guinea , promising always that the present contribution called for is ail "that is wanting for the perfecting of the wondrous work just on the point of projection . The story is always the same— !
' teiiice I have ; consulted in such matters , I have never , ' said Mr . Hennati Dousterswivel , " approached so near de arcanum , what you call de great mystery , —de Pauchresta —de I ' olychresta—I do know as much of it as Pelaso de Taranta , or Basilius—and either I will bring you in two and tree days do No . III . of Mr . Mishdigoat , or you shall call me one knave myself , and never look me in d £ face again no more at all . " And what was said of this class of adventurers in the main exactly fits our Repeal charlatan—Attem habent sine art * :, partem sine parte , quorum molitim est mentiri vita forum mendieatwm ire .
The simplest of Repealers will see how unnecessary it is for him to answer the call for the farthint ? for Repeal , tearing in mind that it is scarcely possible so to mismanage the cause as to mar it . lie may therefore , witli perfect safety , keep his farthing in his pocket , resting assured that it will make no difference , one wjay or the other , in the progress of so indestructible ja cause . The question , as Irishmen have been told ) by their great authority , is too nourishing to be spoileil hy mismanagement ; but the peasant ' s state , not so happy , will hardly bear the mismanagement of even ja farthing . Let him , tUerofore , look to his farthing , and hold to his farthing , aiid feel easv aliout Repeal .
We will not pretend to assess the value of a C ' ollenegreen Parliament . It may be worth three farthings to people of green longings ; but what seems ^ to us unreasonable is the requisition of a farthing , or any fraction of a farthing , for a thing declared so certain , so inevitable . ! As well call upon poor folks to subscribe a farth-jng for the rising of the sun ;¦ they would do better to spend it in a rushlight for the intervening hours of darkness . Is there a banker in Christendom who would give three farthings for this note of hand ?—j Dirrynane , Dec . 16 , 1844 . Three years , after date I promise to pay to Patrick or his order a ' Parliament in College-green , for value received . '
£ 0 0 OJ . j Don Quixote ' s bill for ass-colts , at three-months after date , was a negotiable and eligible security compared with this . We know that we shall have our Parliament sitting in Westminster next February , and would we give a farthing for it ? Certainly not , or our next of kin would soon clap us in a mad-house as incompetent to manage our'affairs . And how much more reason is there for the Irishman ' s sticking to his farthing , looking either at the value of Parliaments , or probability of events ? No ; but keep your farthing in your pouch . A farthing in the hand is better than any number of Parliaments in the College green bush . The Repeal button has distinctly signified thus far and no farther shalt thou go—the-button for Repeal : and button up your farthing safe with that token .
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Earthquake in Savoy . — An earthquake of some violence was felt in Savoy during the night of the 10 th inst . At Rumilly and Chautagne the furniture in the apartments was so shaken that the glasses and other articles left on tables were thrown down . ' At Chambery , however , it was so slight , that it was perceived by only a very &yt persons . Suspected PoisoNEro . —Last week the officers of justice proceeded from Caen to Salleneltes , to effect the exhumation of the body of a female named Alexandre , the wife of an ex-mayor of that commune . Her death had taken p lace fifteen months before , and snsi icions have arisen that her husband had poisoned ker . He was arrested , and after being interrogated was lodged in the gaol of Caen .
The English in Rome . — A correspondent writes from Rome , that never before were there so many strangers in that city . There are said to be 4000 English families ; but this must be an exaggeration . The rents of honses and apartments are up at an enormous height . Novel Adventure . —A young gentleman of Troy , while on his way up the Hudson in the Swallow , thrust himself in his sleep through the small window in his berth , in the forward cabin , until his feet
touched the water . Coming out just In front of the paddle-wheel , where the spray moved rapidly , he awoke from his dream , and found he was situated in the midst of a horrid reality . He could not crawl back , so he shouted for help , but no one came . He then knocked on the window of the next berth , and finally roused up a person who gave the alarm . The captain supposed it was some insane man , and immediately lowered the boat , and the unfortunate man was rescued from his extraordinary situation . — American jxtper .
Raising the Wind . —During the bustle which prevailed at Alnwick fail , Northumberland , lately , a fellow had the courage to try the temper of the multitude by a new stratagem tor raising the wind , flis show-board was inscribed with the following intimation : — " Wonderfully curiosities of neature ; you may see alive hecr , the most wonderfullest chciree-coloured cat , ^ from Shropshire , and tie stipenduous rose-coloured pigeon , iron the West ef England . Also secrets worth nowing , by the proprietor . All for twopence . " Such prodigies , and at such a price , could not fail of attracting a crowd of spectators , who , on their admittance , were gravely ¦ Jiown a black cat and a white pigeon ; they then very naturally stared at each other , when the exhibitor , trusting to their good-humour , very confidently
addressed them— " Naow , ladies and gemmen , lhave perfonu'd my promise we'oe—for you must no ashaow , there be black cherries and white rooases , and such be the colors of my cat and my pigeiv I have shoon you , moreover , a whole tent full o' people not half so wise as they think for , but wiser naow than when they came in ; and naow ( pulling off his hat ) I hones you will keep ray secret , and not make other folks outside as wise as yoursel , until they ha' paid for it , as you . Now , my secret is , that you have relieved a poor fellow at a trifling cost , that must ha' gone to bed supperless , with his woife and children , if you had not ; and I ' m sure you are too good natured to be angry wi' mefor that . " Honest John Bull and his family did not disappoint him ; for each successive company went away in good humour , leaving others to enjoy the wonder at the same expense , and keep
the secret in turn for their own sakes . Tue Prince of Wales' Income . —It appears , fronl documents just prepared , pursuant to the order of Parliament , that the total revenues of the young Prince of Wales , the heir apparent to the British realms , amounted , in the year ending 31 st December last , to no less a sum ( from the two duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster ) than £ 73 , 100 and upwards . This is a tolerable revenue for a three-year-old Prince . What a fact to contrast by the side of thousands of others with reference to tha condition of the oppressed and down-trodden labourers of England ! This spjlg of royalty , not more than three years old , possessing an annual income of something like three hundred anil twenty-five thousand dollars ! while more than three millions of people are actually struggling with all the horrors of starvation and famine ! And where is' this
amount of money or value produced , and by whom ? In those slave shops , the English factoiies , and by those very wretched people w * ho cannot themselves procure enough from their daily toil to keep them from a wretched death . And why is it that those who perform the labour which creates the value wl » c " supplies the income of this ignoble Prince , do not themselves receive it ? Alas ! the question is for them almost if not utterly useless . The fact is before us : and for . our own admonition and on warning the question should be asked and answered . «« see before our own eyes the same thing in miniature The same influences are working out the same results ; and ere long we too may ask of ourselves , why must the income of some of our wealthy manufacturers or merchants be bo enormous , while we , oj whose toil that income was produced , live and die ifl want and utter misery?—Boston ftJ . S ) Labourer .
TnE Improvements in Westminster . —On Friday the long-talked-of improvements which are to W effected from Westminster Abbey to Bucking ham Palace were in reality commenced , a number 01 men being employed to pull down the houses on j * side of Little Tothill-street . It is contemp lated to remove those sinks of infamy—the Almonry , -Wchard-street , Duck-lane—and to form one wide ana spacious street from the west door of Westmin ^ " Abbey to the Buckingham Palace end of Y ** " *? Orchard-street contains the remains of some of tne oldest houses in Westminster , and a part of ont 01 Oliver Gromwell'B palaces still stands there .
Holloway ' s Pills and Ointment . — Edward Whitd residing at 45 , Clement's-Iane , Strand , was an » £ door patient at King ' s College Hospital , with an aoscessm the thigh , and a wound nine inches long on thesame limb . He could neither bend Ms knee 01 put bis foot to the ground . He remained'Vf ^ . Q . five months in bed r when he was informed L tna * nothing could be done for him . " He wa » t hen carried to his home , and commenced usin g the ; at » J invaluable medicines . He can now walk about m the day long , and is quite cured by the inean »» these wonderful medicines , and this to the astonish ment of all who knew him .
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Another of Feei , s Difficulties , —Save me from ut Friends ' .- —Fair Plat for Ireland . —Ireland is deprived of her fair proportion of influence and power in the administration of public affairs . Irishmen are treated with neglect and scorn . The Queen ' s cabinet contains not ] a single Irishman . The subordinate officers of the Government , with the exception of the petty place assigned to Mi . Emerson Tennant , and two or three more of " such small deer , " are exclusively held by _ English and Scotch . From all publicdepartments in Great Britain , Irishmen are excluded , whilst English and Scotch officials shoulder them out of the direction of affairs in their own country . Towards the ] liberal professions the same nartial
course is pursued : and never was it pm-sued with a more unvarying monopoly than within the last four years . Next ! comes the Church , towards which the rule is rigidly enforced—namely , that Englishmen are worth y to be set in the highest offices in Ireland , but no Irish clergyman entitled to aspire to the meanest preferment being in the gift of Government . Did any one lever hear of an Irish clergyman being naade an English bishop , or an English dean ? - The difficulty experienced by Irish gentlemen in procuring the promotion-of their sons in , the Royal Navy i& almost as great , as if the gun room were a cathedral , and every midshipman a holden prebendary . Even
tne Army , winch is indebted in a great degree for its high renowniand pre-eminence to the valour and conduct of Irish gentlemen , ia now assuming the character of an exclusively British institution . ' Numerous complaints have reached ns from quarters of the highest rank and respectability , of the influence of national partiality at the Horse Guards . Irishgentiemen in vain solicit permission to purchase commissions for 1 their sons . The answer they receive is invariably the same—full of smooth hope , delusive promise , ending In nothing . These things tend to make the Repeal movement the formidable engine of anarchy it is . —Dublin Evening Mail .
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a / ; THE N-O-ttT-BEH-N- SflAIl , .. j DEfciEaoEB 23 , i « 44 .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 28, 1844, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1295/page/6/
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