"The laurel crown was graciously received, placed on the brow of the King for a moment, in compliment to the donors, and then handed to an attendant.

Henry had interdicted his subjects from treating the French his prisoners, with derision, by ballads sung in the streets or otherwise. Though wishing to appear pleased with all he saw to the eyes of his subjects, he from time to time found it necessary to explain to his captive the Duke of Orleans, who rode hear him, that his people wished to manifest joy at seeing him again, and by no means desired to give offence to others. The Duke expressed gratitude for the consideration thus evinced, and pensively moved on with the Duke of Bourbon, to whom he appeared to communicate what had just been said by the King.

"Immediately after these princes, came the celebrated standard of the oriflamme. Its fame had extended far and wide, and all eyes rested with exulting admiration on so remarkable a trophy. The oriflamme was a banner formed of plain red taffeta, and attached to a lance of the same colour, ornamented with gilding. To this, vast importance was attached, as it was said to have been a gift from heaven direct to King Dagobert. An ensign so venerable from its antiquity, so sacred from its origin, was entrusted to no common hand, when it accompanied the French armies to battle. He to whom it was last confided, the Sieur de Bacqueville, had proved himself not unworthy of the important charge, and had gallantly laid down his life in its defence. The Counts d'Eu, de Vendosme, de Richemont, and other officers of rank followed. But the public attention was directed especially towards the Count de Richemont. He had been severely wounded, and left for dead. The humane care of Henry, to whom he had been borne, proved the means of restoring him. On this account he was in some degree an object of interest, but he was still more so on another. It had been predicted, so ran the rumour, by no less a personage than the infallible Merlin, that the English might be conquered by a Prince named Arthur, born in Armoric Britain, and carrying a wild boar for his ensign. The name of the Count was Arthur, he was born in that province, and owned the device indicated as that of the future conqueror of England. The captured ensign, and blood-stained coat-armour of the Count were now borne aloft in triumph, and numbering him with the prisoners, the multitude exulted in the belief that English valour had foiled Merlin, and baffled even the hostility of fate.

"A crowd of prisoners of inferior rank followed, and the procession was closed by a strong body of English troops, who had fought in the late battle. As these passed the conduit, the promised streams of wine began to flow, and they, in common with the populace, partook of the treat which unsparing liberality had provided, amidst the continued shouts of their fellow-countrymen. Of course in the end, the struggle for participation degenerated into a riotous scramble, and more was wasted than was drunk, which perhaps, after all, was not to be regretted."

CORRESPONDENCE.

"Still pleased to praise, but not afraid to blame." TO THE EDITOR,

SIR, I have been much interested by reading in the Iris the discussion of a " Philosophical Query" which was proposed for solution, some weeks back, by your correspondent " O."

The query appeared to me, necessarily to involve the doctrine of Light and Colours; and promised, therefore, to be an excellent subject for an interesting philosophical disquisition.

Pleased with the sound of words, and fondly anxious to display what may be called a literary acumen, your worthy correspondents seem to have completely lost sight of the question; and, therefore, so far from offering to your readers any thing like an elucidation of the subject, have, by metaphor and analogy, completely enveloped it in clouds.

With the respect due to " A Friend," I must observe,

that his letters, in explanation of the phenomenon, are extremely kind, but by no means demonstrative;— written, evidently, with that great good humour, which is so very desirable in all philosophical enquiries ; but which however is calculated rather to excite esteem for the author, than admiration of his talents.

The replies of "O" are ingenious, though somewhat ambiguous; and prove, very clearly, that the writer is much better pleased to propose difficulties, than to offer any solution to them.

"A Friend" I think relies too much on the ipse dixit of others, and does not sufficiently examine for himself; but believes that "it must be so," because he finds it so stated in "vol. LXXVI of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and in Darwin's Zoonomia!"

"O," on the contrary, is undoubtedly an Original Thinker, but affects too much to treat with indifference the opinions of his learned predecessors.

If I mistake not, "A Friend undertakes simply to demonstrate, that he can feel the different colours of the spectrum. Whilst " O," on the other hand, very earnestly endeavours to prove that he can see them with his eyes shut. Hence, from the character of your correspondents, and the nature of the problems to be resolved we may perceive why the "reductione ad absurdum" mode of demonstration should be preferred to any other.

As, however, I feel anxious that something should be given to this interesting problem more in the shape of demonstration. I must request that the attention of your readers may be again called to the subject. In making this request, I would not be understood to insinuate, that I think "O" and " A Friend" incompetent to the task :-if each of them would determine, attentively to examine the enquiry, rather than its phraseology. I am persuaded the result of such an investigation, would be far more interesting to your readers, and, at the same time, far more gratifying to themselves. SCRUTATOR.

The parade of falsehood is easily put down by plain truth. HENRY 4TH. Truth loves open dealing.—HENRY 8TH.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, I have observed a Letter signed "Ding Dong," in your last Iris, wherein, among other things, it is said, that I have laid a garbled statement before the Public. This is a charge which, as I do not deserve, I can immediately disprove but I must first be told how and where it is thought to be garbled, particularly as none of the parties to the same have ever ventured to deny the truth of my allegations. Mr. Lewis has lately recognized it, and tacitly admitted all the facts.

As

Now, Sir, if the individual above alluded to, be an unprejudiced man, and a gentleman, and will favor me with a meeting, I will submit such documents as shall convince him that he has done me wrong. to the Portrait, drawn by Minasi, I have no concern whatever with it. I sat at the express desire of the artist, and I have something else to do than to speculate in pictures, or to seek any emolument therefrom.

With respect to the other parts of " Ding Dong's' letter, it is not my business to interfere; I am the servant of the public, and will exert myself to the utmost to deserve the kind patronage and protection with which they have honored me.

I am, Sir,

J. SALTER.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Believing that the insertion of "Juvena's" Letter Index" would lead to a to our correspondent protracted discussion not altogether suited to the nature of our work, we took the liberty to hand it to the gentleman who furnished the article on "Patriarchal Chronology," in order to be favoured with his opinion. He returns for answer, that he does not feel inclined to enter into any controversy on the subject. When he wrote the article in question, he was aware of many objections that

might be started on the subject of Antediluvian Chronology; but to keep at a distance from the arena of controversy, he selected a view of the subject, which he believed would not be likely to lead him into that unpleasant field. It is well known that the patriarchal chronology is attended with very considerable diiculties, arising from the discrepancy that exists between the Hebrew, Samaritan and Septuagint Pentateuchs, and the corresponding part of the history of Josephus, in whatever relates to dates and numbers; but that years, in the common acceptation of the term, are to be understood, there can be no reasonable doubt. "Index" knows perfectly well that there have been many sorts of years since the world became a world;' for the year of Romulus consisted only of 304 days, that of Numa contained 354, and there have been years of 360 and of 365 days; but every sort of year that we read of was intended to express one complete revolution of seasons. It was long before men were able exactly to ascertain the length of time that elapsed from any one season till its next return. But the regular alternation of summer and winter would enable them at least to approximate to the true "time that the sun takes to make his revolution through the zodiac." Accordingly we find that in most cases 12 lunations were adopted as the length to be assigned to the year, and, to make the year and the seasons keep pace with each other, intercalations were occasionally made. But the general conclusions of "Index" are not affected, whether we suppose the patriarchal year to consist of 354 or 360 days, or of 365 days 6 hours, or 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 49 or 54 seconds. To suppose that months and not years are intended carries absurdity on the face of it, for then the patriarchs must have become fathers at from 7 to 12 years of age, according to our mode of reckoning, and some of them even so early as at 2 or 3 years of age. To make the antediluvian year consist of two months is still more absurd, as there is nothing in nature which would lead men to parcel out their time into such periods; we must view such a supposition therefore only as the fiction of "Juvena's" brain. That years of the same sort upon the whole, and not periods of time so different in their length as years and months, are intended in the various parts of the writings of Moses, will appear from the eleventh chapter of Genesis, in which the ages of some patriarchs are given whose lives were extended to the verge of a thousand years, and also of others who, without any intimation given of their being cut off prematurely, did not attain an age much beyond what is often witnessed in modern times. If periods so materially different in their length had been designated by the same word, surely some intimation would have been given us when the one or the other was to be understood. It was not possible for "Index" to divine what "object" "Juvena" might "have in view," so that he is not surprised if he has not happened "to clear up" the difficulties that occured to him: it was enough if he accomplished his own object, which was to take a peculiar, and to him a novel view of the subject but he can (if necessary) make it appear, that, according to the testimony of ancient authors, we ought not to doubt for a moment" that years and months were not interchangeable terms in any era of the history of man, or "since the world became a world Much satisfactory information on the subject in question will be found in Dr. Hales' Analysis of Chronology, to which "Juvena" is respectfully referred. Communications have been received from Dramaticus. A Lover of the Drama. Ponto.-Seneca.Humanitas. Sam.-John Swilbrig.-B. I. T.— J. C.-A Constant Reader.---P. W. and Quin.

Manchester: Printed, Published, and Sold, by the Proprietors, HENRY SMITH AND BROTHERS, St. Ann's Square, to whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed. Sold also by all the Bookseilers in Manchester and the neighbouring towns.

ceased, with eulogies on the greatness of his lineage, his wealth, bounty, strength, wisdom, and valour. They are occasionally employed through the day in shrouding the body, which is supported in an erect position in the centre of a house appropriated to the purpose; first, with grass-cloths, fold over fold,. each piece being fastened to that immediately beneath, and, last of all, with European and Asiatic manufactures, web over web in a similar manner, until it arrives at an enormous bulk. These envelopes of costly materials ;-chintz, taffetas, brocades, &c. are sometimes carried to the ruinous extent of two hundred cubic feet, exhibiting the appearance of an oblong package, with a protuberance arising from the midst of the upper surface. To retard putrefaction, some gallons of brandy are daily poured upon the fabric, which, after percolating through it, is collected in troughs, and quaffed off by the attendant mourners, as the most delicious and renovating beverage in nature. It acts like a charm, for their songs immediately assume a loftier strain of woe. Thus, for the space of twelve months were conducted the obsequies of a Malemba trader, -Empollo Leumba,--a worthless character, whose wealth, great alliances, and vanity, procured him that outward respect and honour which his countrymen secretly denied him. His ears were cropped for some misdeed of his youth, and his countenance bespoke the insidious betrayer. I was present at the conclusion of the solemnities.

Among the thousands who thronged to his funeral, ardent spirits were distributed with an unsparing hand, which doubtless was the chief cause of their attendance. The corpse, placed on a low open bier, moving upon small wheels, was, with the assistance of ropes, dragged by the assembled multitude to the grave, a hole twelve feet deep. In this was an immense wicker basket, ready to receive the shrouded body, which being lowered into it by cords, the lid was closed, and the whole covered with earth; finally, two large elephant's tusks were placed over the head. A pathway led through the hollow dell, where the burial ground lay, and we may conclude, that the repository of the dead is held sacred, since the natives resist the strong temptation to open them offered by the great quantities of ivory deposited in these places.

One of the traders shewed me a spot where he once saw a lion devouring an antelope, and I must needs say, the valley, from its awful retirement, seemed a suitable haunt for the monarch of the forest.

To be continued.

REMARKS ON TEA.

The use of tea promotes, in most constitutions, sensations on the stomach, from its stimulative action which are highly grateful; and the production of a somewhat similar excitement on the coats of the digestive organs, seem to constitute the chief recommendation of some articles of diet very generally used in other nations. Thus the garlic of the Spaniards, the spices of the people of the East, the coffee of the French and Dutch, have, from this effect on the stomach, a considerable influence in diverting from the use of intoxicating liquors. If the Irish bad, in

their damp climate, a warmer diet than their potatoes furnish, it is likely that whiskey would not be so generally used; and it is equally probable, if the Turks were permitted by their laws to drink wine,

the eating of opium would soon become less habitual.

ed.

It may be difficult to account very satisfactorily for the effects tea produces on the sensations; but principle we find in strong drinks. The researches of we are not better able to explain the inebriating analytical chemistry have not yet cleared up this point, nor is the mode of action in which the intoxicating influence is produced, whether by absorption or through the medium of the nerves, better explainSome wines, which contain very little alcohol, affect the head as soon as those containing treble the quantity: while those possessing the same absolute proportion of spirit, are found to vary considerably in their inebriating powers. It may be conceived, therefore, that such effects result rather from difsally diffused. The action of tea on the stomach ferent principles, than one common element universeems to be in some degree narcotic; and though narcotics differ from pure stimulants, they are still possessed of a true stimulant operation. That tea tends, like the strong stimulants, spirits, wine, and beer, to retard the digestion, there cannot be a doubt; and, for this reason, it may not always agree with weak stomachs, in which the digestive process is already too tardy. But it is this quality that renders it more valuable in general diet, since, in moderately stomach that sensation of satiety which gives the retarding this process, it preserves longer in the feeling of strength. While the stimulants just mentioned produce these effects, persons drinking only water have generally the digestion so much expedited, that a feeling of sinking and emptiness sooner takes place. From this cause water-drinkers require more food, and are well known to have keener appetites than the drinkers of fermented liquors. Tea appears to have the same effect in rendering a smaller quantity of food adequate to the feeling of full support, and that without producing the dangerous consequences of strong drinks: and, as one part of the art of diet consists in making less food answer the purpose of nourishment in a prepared, than would have done in a natural state; another part extends to the consideration of those articles of food, which, while they give those sensations to the stomach that are so necessary to the happiness of animal life, produce also, by an indirect influence, effects equally salutary on the

morals and manners.-Palin.

The Third Time.—The facetious Dr. B., of W--r, having, inadvertently, preached one of his early sermons for the third time, one of his parishoners having observed it, said to him after service, Doctor, the sermon you gave us this morning, having had three several readings, I move that it now be passed.'---We recommend this little anecdote to a few of our resident Clergy.--ED.

A method of multiplying the delineations of natural objects, has been invented by means of an instrument called Hyalograph. Designs are traced on the glass of the instrument, and these are transferred to paper by a kind of ink; and this process may be repeated, as is the case in lithography.

During the times of the very severe penal laws against the Roman Catholics in Ireland, it is little wonder that they were almost all Jacobites, or suspected to be so. Their priests, from their foreign education, were peculiarly objects of suspicion. On one occasion, a priest, whose jovial manners renderpolitics were not acceptable, dined with a freehearted ed him a welcome guest even at tables where his loyalist in the county of Tipperary. He sat next the host, and immediately under him a dragoon officer. After dinner the master of the house gave "The King," adding with a smile, as he turned to his neighbour, "but not your King, by G-." The priest instantly turned to the officer, and, glass in

hand, gave," The King, but not your King, by

"How, Sir!" cried the dragoon very angrily, "what do you mean by such a toast?" "I don't know," answered the priest, "ask the gentleman at the head of the table, for I give it as he gave it to me."

POETRY.

THE "LONELY HEART:"

There is a joy in loneliness,

Which lonely minds alone can know, Such as to none can e'er express

The secrets of their joy or woe; Souls, wild, and various as the lyre,

That ne'er to mortal touch will yield ; Mysterious as the tomb's deep fire,

Never to mortal eye reveal'd: Who feel within them deathless powers, That pant and struggle to be free; That would outstrip Time's lazy hours, And launch upon Eternity. Ah, little deems the blind, dull crowd, When gazing on a tranquil brow, What thoughts and feelings unavow'd What fiery passions lurk below! That while the tongue performs its part, And custom's trivial phrase will say, On Fancy's wings the truant art

Fleets to some region far away; Feeds sweetly on some chosen theme, Holds converse with the dearly-lov'd.. Weaves the light tissue of a dream,

Or wanders, where we once have rov'd.

TO A FRIEND.

The world does not know me; to that I appear,
As rapture, or grief, wakes the smile, or the tear,
Now light-now reflective-now mournful-now gay,
Like the gleams, and the clouds of a wild April-day.
The wise oft will frown, the contemptuous will smile,
The good oft reprove, yet look kindly the while;
Indifferent to those, I am thankful to them,
But ev'n they do not know what it is they condemn.
For it is not the faults which the multitudes see,
That are wept o'er in secret so wildly by me,
These scarcely a thought from my sorrows can win ;
Oh, would they were all !-but the worst is within,

Thou only dost know me; to thee is reveal'd
The spring of my thoughts, from all others conceal'd;
Th' enigma is solved, as thou readest my soul,
They view but a part, thou beholdest the whole,
Thou know'st me, above, yet below what I seem,
Both better, and worse than the multitude deem;
From my wild wayward heart thou hast lifted the pall,
From its faults, and its failings; yet lov'st me with all.

THE FARMER'S WIFE AND THE GASCON.
At Neuchatel, in France, where they prepare
Cheeses that set us longing to be mites,
There dwelt a farmer's wife, famed for her rare
Skill in these small quadrangular delights.
Where they were made, they sold for the immense
Price of three sous a-piece;

But as salt water made their charms increase,
In England the fix'd rate was eighteen-pence.

This damsel had to help her in the farm,
To milk her cows and feed her hogs,

A Gascon peasant, with a sturdy arm

For digging or for carrying logs, But in his noddle weak as any baby,

So she gave strict injunctions to the Gascon,
To watch it while his mistress was to mass gone.

Watch it he did-he never took his eyes off,
But lick'd his upper, then his under lip,
And doubled up his fist to drive the flies off,
Begrudging them the smallest sip,
Which if they got,

Like my Lord Salisbury, he heaved a sigh,
And cried,-O happy, happy fly,

How I do envy you your lot!'

Each moment did his appetite grow stronger;
His bowels yearn'd;

At length he could not bear it any longer,
But on all sides bis looks he turn'd,
And finding that the coast was clear, he quaff'd
The whole up at a draught.

Scudding from church, the farmer's wife
Flew to the dairy;

But stood aghast, and could not, for her life,
One sentence mutter.

Until she summon'd breath enough to utter
Holy St. Mary!'

And shortly, with a face of scarlet,

The vixen (for she was a vixen) flew
Upon the varlet,

Asking the when, and where, and how, and who
Had gulp'd her cream, nor left an atom,
To which he gave not separate replies,
But, with a look of excellent digestion,
One answer made to every question-
"The Flies!'

The flies, you rogue !—the flies, you guttling dog! Behold, your whisker's still are cover'd, thickly; Thief-liar-villain-gormandizer-bog!

I'll make you tell another story quickly.'

So out she bounced, and brought, with loud alarms,
Two stout Gens-d' Armes,

Who bore him to the Judge-a little prig,
With angry bottle nose,

Like a red cabbage rose,

While lots of white ones flourish'd on his wig.
Looking at once both stern and wise,
He turn'd to the delinquent,
And 'gan to question him, and catechise
As to which way the drink went.

Still the same dogged answers rise,
The flies, my Lord,-the flies, the flies!'

'Psha!' quoth the judge, half peevish and half pompous, Why, you're non compos.

You should have watch'd the bowl, as she desired,
And kill'd the flies, you stupid clown.'-
What is it lawful then,' the dolt inquired,

To kill the flies in this here town?'.
The man's an ass-a pretty question this!
Lawful? you booby !-to be sure it is.
You've my authority, where'er you meet 'em,
To kill the rogues, and, if you like it eat 'em.'
Zooks!' cried the rustic, I'm right glad to hear it.
Constable, catch that thief! may
go hang

If yonder bluebottle (I know his face,)
Is n't the very leader of the gang
That stole the cream;-let me come near it!'
This said, he started from his place,
And aiming one of his sledge-hammer blows
At a large fly upon the Judge's nose,
The luckless bluebottle he smash'd,
And gratified a double grudge;
For the same catapult completely smash'd
The bottle-nose belonging to the Judge!

SONG.

In my heart Love has built him a bower,
And there he sleeps all the year round,
You may rap at the door any hour,
At home he will surely be found.

If he slumbers, squeeze gently his hand,
Or a kiss will awake his slight doze,
If such sly tricks the rogue can withstand,
Then tweak him, love, hard by the nose.

H.

VARIETIES.

Goll, of Zurich, has constructed a piano, on a plan by which he gives the higher notes the same proportional force and duration of sound as the lower.

PUN.

At the races on Wednesday, when Mr. Mytton's horse, Theodore, was laying in hard against the Doge, and making some dexterous manoeuvres for the lead, "a guinea," said some one, "that Theodore Majocchi will have it." "Done," replied another, "that Theodore may jockey-but he wont have it."

A person talking to Fenelon upon the subject of the criminal laws of France, and approving of the many executions that had taken place under them, in opposition to the arguments of the Archbishop, said, "I maintain that such persons are unfit to live." "But my friend," said Fenelon, “ you do not reflect that they are still more unfit to die."

PARTY PASSION.

Well, Sir!' (exclaimed a lady, the vehement and impassioned partizan of Mr. Wilkes, in the day of his glory, and during the broad blaze of his patriotism,) well, Sir, and will you dare deny, that Mr. Wilkes is a great man, and an eloquent man?' Oh by no means Madam! I have not a doubt respecting Mr Wilkes's talents.--Well, but, Sir! and is be not a fine man too, and a handsome man ?'—' Why, Madam! he squints—does not he?' Squints! yes, to be sure, he does, Sir! but not a bit more, than a gentleman and a man of sense ought to squint!!

In a certain company, the conversation having fallen on the subject of craniology, and the organ of drunkenness being alluded to among others, a lady suggested that this must be the barrel-organ.

The following singular advertisement appeared in the Savannah Museum :

To the Pious. A splendid copy of the holy bible will be raffled for at the meeting-house this morning; the godly are invited to take chances.

FIRST BOOK AUCTION.

The first book auction in England, of which we have any record, is of a date as far back as 1676, when the library of Dr. Seaman was brought to the hammer. Prefixed to the catalogue, there is an address, which thus commences: Reader, it hath not been usual here in England, to make sale of books by way of auction, or who will give most for them; but it having been practised in other countries, to the advantage of both buyers and sellers, it was therefore conceived (for the encouragement of learning,) to publish the sale of these books in this manner of way.'

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-Your Correspondent L. inquires (in a-former number of the Iris,) the origin of Barbers' Poles, and, why Chimney-Sweepers decorate their dwellings with paintings of the most public places.-The reason for the first I believe is this: Barbers formerly held to themselves not only the right of shaving and hair cutting, but of bleeding with the lancet. The pole in bleeding is of great utility :-held by the person bled, it supports the arm, and at the same time tends greatly to promote a free circulation of the blood. The line painted round the pole, is intended to represent the tape or ribbon with which the arm is bound.

A barber, originally made a tolerable livelihood; though bleeding was not then so prevalent as it is in our times; it doubtless, even then, brought money to his purse; but in a dark and evil honr, some surgeon, viewing the happy thriving state of the lively barber, tore from him this valuable part of his profession, and twisted it to his own; while the poor fellow, in a fit of despair hung that pole out of doors,