for the purity of his patriotism as well as for activity and conduct.

While the fortress of Missolongi was closely besieged by the Turks in 1825, Karaiskakis, with the aid of some of the troops from Navarino, effectually cut off their communication with Eastern Greece. When, in 1827, the approach of Kiutahi Pacha from the north, threatened Greece with a renewal of the sufferings from which she had just been in a great measure delivered, he was the principal opponent of the barbarians, and stood the keeper of the gates of Greece, with a boldness and resolution worthy of the best days of the nation. It was in the month of May, of that year, that he received his mortal wound, in attacking a Turkish position. His dying words are no less remarkable for Laconic brevity than the devoted patriotism which they expressed: "What I have done, I have done: now for the future!"

My coachman drove me to a French Hotel, to which he belonged; and, having alighted, I waited only long enough to inquire the way to the American Missionary's house, when I set out in quest of my family. I was soon in the presence of Mr. Hill, who easily recognized me, and welcomed me with great kind

ness.

but

He informed me that he was not ac quainted with my father's residence, as be had never met with any of my friends; that we probably might soon find it out. He therefore set off with me, and began to make inquiry of persons we met in the streets, if they knew of any Samians residing in Athens. After this question had been repeated several times, we received an affirmative answer from a person whom we had addressed; and some conversation ensued which drew the attention of several others. A boy, who had understood the general object of our inquiry, suddenly started away, and running some distance, stopped at a house where he knew a family of Samians lived, and informed them that a stranger was seeking for some of their islanders. On hearing it, two young men instantly followed him to the spot where we were still standing; and, addressing Mr. Hill, inquired whether I was a Samian. I looked, and saw them eyeing me very closely, when one of them inquired whether I had come from America, and then if I were not their brother. Their countenances at once seemed to lose the expression of strangers. I saw the likeness of my family; and, seizing their hands, which they offered me, we interchanged such expressions of joy and satisfaction as are natural to affectionate brothers after a separation of fourteen years.

They assured me that, although they had not expected me for some time to come, they had felt a hope rise in their minds as soon as they heard that a stranger was inquiring for Samians. I learned that the family were all well, and at home, except my father, who was at Samos and a brother and a sister, who resided in the east of Euboea. I was soon at home, and in the presence of my mother.

But how should I describe the reception I received? My brothers had shown all the affection that could have been expressed by them, and all that could have been desired; but it was easy to see that the feelings of a mother's heart are of a different class. She was unable, not only to give utterance to her joy, but even to bear it. She seized me, smiled, wept, embraced, sighed, spoke a word or two, sobHer bed, and seemed entirely overcome. exclamations went to my heart-the language so familiar in my childhood, and for so many years unheard-ihe same words and the same voice which first taught me to speak it: altogether, the feelings I had were such as to affect me deeply. My mother was for a time quite unable to recover her composure; but I soon felt all the pleasure of being once more at home, and in the midst of my much loved relatives, after many years spent in a foreign and a very distant land.

The kind remarks and inquiries which ensued, the information I asked on an hundred different subjects, and the relations which were expected of me, in my turn, of what I had seen and done, I must pass over-although naturally to me some of the most interesting recollections I have now to recal, of my visit to my friends and country. To a foreigner it would have seemed as strange, as to me it appeared natural, to find myself among a family where the words in familiar use were as old as the times of the Trojan war, and where many of the household terms are the same which are still found in the classics back to Homer. I sat on a chair, one of whose names is still cathedra, as in the Iliad; and the words of welcome and inquiry which had greeted me on my entrance, were chiefly such as are still found in ancient authors.

How had things changed in Greece since all past periods of her history! I saw memorials around me of all ages. Wherever the traveller turns his eye, he sees a splendid temple two thousand years old, which has been commemorated by writers, in classical strains, for the perfection of its style, or the importance of events which it has witnessed; the ruins of others, more ancient, more grand, or relating to more eventful scenes; or, at least, mountains, hills, vales and streams renowned in history and poetry. But among them all, there are perhaps none so apt to call up feelings of present sorrow or lively pleasure, as those objects which are connected with the late revolution. Any American may go to Greece, and with only the story of the humane interposition of his countrymen in his recollection, to save the people from starvation, find much to excite these mingled feelings at many a point of his journey. Let him take the simple, unvarnished journal of Col. Miller, and recur to the scenes which he describes, and he will be reminded that the Americans and Greeks have grounds for a lasting intercourse and attachment.

For myself, being a Greek, and at the same

time half an American, I felt deeply on this subject; and I expect to retain those impressions and to foster them through the rest of my life. Athens was now in a state of tranquillity and happiness. Nothing occurred while I was there to interrupt public peace, or to raise a disquieting apprehension. How different was the state of the city in 1828, when the American ships were arriving in the ports of Greece, laden with supplies of food and clothing for the starving and naked inhabitants, thousands of whom were flocking from the mountains, and crowding on the shores to receive their portions and live!

Athens had long been in the possession of the Turks, then besieging a band of Greeks who held the Acropolis. At length the patriots were forced to yield, and were permitted to retire; but many a brave man had lost his life, and many a widow and orphan were wandering about the Morea and islands in a state of starvation.

Among the incidents which I related to my friends, was that of my acquaintance with the friends of Collettis in Paris, and the message which he had requested me to deliver to our distinguished statesman, on my arrival at Athens. My brothers proposed that I should visit him, and mentioned that a peculiarly interesting occasion would soon present itself -the festival of St. John-when he always keeps open house all day, to receive any visiters who may choose to call. This is an old custom, by the way, common to Greeks-at least those of wealth. The Greek church observes the reputed days of many saints, and those persons who bear their names hold levées, or in other ways celebrate them, at their own houses. Collettis' name being John, his levée was of course held on the day of St. John; and, when it came, I accompanied several of my friends to his dwelling, to pay my respects.

John Collettis is a native Greek of the most devoted character, and enjoys the confidence of most of the nation. He received a liberal education, and was among the early patriots, who, at the approach of the Greek war, devoted themselves, with a solemn oath, to the liberty of their country. He has been actively employed, since the war, in different important stations; and now resides in Athens, of which he is one of the representatives in Congress. He is a single man, never having been married, but lives in handsome style, like a man of affluence. We were ushered into a large room, where sweetmeats and refreshments were offered to crowds of visiters who were entering and passing out, after exchanging a few words with the distinguished statesman. Collettis received his visiers standing, with becoming dignity and entirely at his ease. One of my friends preseated me to him, and he immediately accosted me with a smile and a friendly welcome back to my country, alluding to my visit to Paris, and to our mutual young friend the student, of whom he inquired with interest.

The King of Greece is a full-sized, goodlooking man, about 26 years of age, with manners, deportment and character which make a favorable impression. The Greeks appeared to me to be very well content with him, as they doubtless consider it impossible to enjoy the privilege of being without a king, or of having one of their own nation. I heard no one speak unfavorably of his conduct or intentions, nor did I hear any fault found with anything which he had done or said. His popularity is increased by the high esteem which is everywhere felt for his amiable wife. The queen has a very kind and gentle disposition, with a very prepossessing exterior. Her manners are simple, easy and condescending; and as she is daily seen out, riding, without pomp, guards, or retinue, in a plain carriage, purchasing at the shops, and then enjoying a short drive or returning home, the impression made by her on the public is of the most favorable kind.

On these occasions she usually has but a single attendunt-a Greek lady, of fine, intelligent countenance, whose family are deservedly among the most beloved and respected by the nation. She is daughter of Bozzaris, who performed an act of bravery and devotion to his country not surpassed by any recorded in the history of any age, modern or ancient. The period when he led his little band against the Turkish army was so early, that his soldiers had not yet had much to encourage them to the attack. They were not accustomed to war, and could not have felt like long-practiced soldiers. He also had had but little experience in commanding, and even in fighting. Besides this, the enemy were numerous and powerful, while his force was small, unsupported, and it provided. The country was not with them in any other sense than to desire their success. The Greeks were disheartened and terrified at the approach of an army of barbarous Turks, which they considered wholly irresistible; and, with one consent, kept back from the scene of danger. The Turks, approaching from the north, pursued the same route which Xerxes took on his way into Greece. They had passed Thermopyla, and encamped on the plain of Thebes, where he attacked them.

FLIES' FEET.

The insects are beginning to appear around us, as the warm season comes on. Who has not wondered at the facility with which a fly walks up a pane of glass? And how is it? The most easy and natural presumption for a conjecturer perhaps is, that it is done by the aid of a little glue sticking to his feet. Some naturalists have assured us that it is effected by a little suction apparatus, which provides for a vacu um every step the insect takes. The sci

entific not long since inclined to think, (and of course the public, who take their opinions when they know them,) that the fly supported itself on smooth surfaces by means of the stiff little bristles which cover the bottoms of his feet, and are seen through the microscope. A polished glass itself, when examined with the magnifiers, exhibits many minute cavities in its surface. But how could the insect walk thus under a horizontal glass, with his feet upwards?

Flies' Feet.

The reader will see above the leg and feet of the house fly magnified in different degrees. The upper figure is the leg, the central and two lower ones the foot turned on different sides, to show how the parts are arranged. Each foot is furnished with sharp, hooked nails, and two small flat palms, like pads, which appear to come down to the level of what is trodden on. These have been supposed to have the power of suckers, and to hold fast to the sur. face of glass in any position, by forming a little vacuum beneath them. It is well known, that a stone of considerable size may be raised, by placing upon it a circular piece of wet leather, having a string fastened to its middle, if the air can be kept out, while the string is pulled upwards. Boys sometimes try this experiment with success. On a similar plan, it has been said, these palms on the fly's foot were made to give him a secure hold on the smoothest surfaces. But more careful at

tention dispelled this mistake. The palms are found to be covered with short hairs, which prevent them from touching the ground; and these, in their turn, prove to be not the supporters of the insect, as they have been supposed by other writers to be, by entering into the minute interstices in the substances which he passes over.

Naturalists now seem generally to adopt an explanation which has been rejected in former years, viz. that a gummy substance found on the feet of the fly adheres to every thing he touches, with sufficient tenacity to support his weight. It is said that his footsteps may be traced on almost anything he passes over, with a magnifying glass, although they are often so faint as to be discernible only with difficulty.

THE MUSCOVY DUCKS. From the American Poulterer's Companion. The French naturalists assert that the Muscovy duck is a distinct species, and not a variety. It is much larger than the common duck, and is distinguished by a caruncled membrane of a red color, which Brun compares to a cherry, covering the cheeks, and extending behind the eyes, and swells at the root of the bill; this tubercle is wanting in the female, as also the tuft of narrow feathers, and rather twisted, which hangs behind the head of the male, which stands erect when excited. She is also smaller; both stand low on the legs, have short claws and the inner ones crooked; are a clumsy bird on the ground, light on the wing, and will perch on fences, etc.

"In a wild state," says Brun, "the drake is of a brownish black color, with a broad white patch on the wings, the female being smaller and more obscurely colored." In the domestic state, it exhibits every variety of color, like a common duck. "At one time," says Brun," the male is white, at another, the female; in other instances, both male and female are black, and again of great diversities of color; but they are commonly black, variegated with other colors." The black are glossed with green on the back, and changeable, as they are exposed to the rays of the sun.

The Muscovy duck, it appears, is only found in a wild state in South America. Marcgrave has observed it in the Brazils; it is also a native of Guiana. Travellers assert that these birds perch on the large

trees that border rivers and marshes, similar to terrestrial birds; they build their nests there, and as soon as the ducklings are hatched, the mother takes them one by one, and drops them into the water; laying takes place two or three times a-year, and each is from twelve to eighteen eggs, quite round, and of a greenish white; the moulting season begins in September, and is sometimes so complete, that the ducks, finding themselves almost entirely destitute of feathers, are unable to fly, and let themselves be taken alive by the Indians. These birds are as shy as our wild ducks, and it is by surprise alone they are to be shot.-Main.

Scaliger and Oliver de Serres have given out that this duck was dumb.

The Muscovy drakes are often very cross and quarrelsome with other poultry, and we have known them to attack small children, particularly when they happen to have any food in their hands, for which reason we have abandoned the rearing of them.

LAURA BRIDGEMAN,

The Deaf, Dumb and Blind Girl, in the Perkins Institution, Boston. From Dr. Howe's late Report. She has a good intellect; she has been seven years under instruction; her teachers have not been wanting in zeal and diligence, and she has been herself untiring in her ef sorts, and yet she is now on the verge of womanhood, without so much acquaintance with language as a common child of six

DUCKS.

years old. This often excites the surprise of visitors who have known the history of her case for a long time, and have taken great interest in it.

I was in Europe during the first half of the year 1844; and the most serious cause of regret which I have for my absence, is the interruption which it caused in my supervision of her education. It may be that I should not have been able to prevent all unfavorable impressions upon her mind, even had I been always here; they were perhaps inevitable at her age, and with her increased capacity for conversation with others, but at any rate I should have tried.

Her teacher, Miss Mary Swift, has been faithful and industrious; and in the intellectual instruction she has shown great tact and ability. Had all others been as discreet and wise as she, we should not have to regret some impressions which the child has received, and which I shall presently mention.

Her bodily health has been very good during the whole year. She has increased in stature; and her figure which is more fully unfolded, is well proportioned in all its parts, and strong and graceful. She continues to improve in the knowledge and use of language, as will be shown by the fol lowing letters which were written solely by her; and by the extracts from her teacher's journal, in which were recorded at the moment, and with great exactitude the very words she used.

MY DEAR MRS. HOWE:

24th March, 1614.

I want to see you very much, I hope you are very well. Miss J. is very well and happy, I think of you very often. I was very much pleased to receive a letter from you, and I liked it very much. When you come home, I shall shake your hands and hug and kiss you very hard because I love you and amı your dear friend. Miss J. is making a nice worsted chair for you to please you very much for a new house. I send much love to you and a kiss. Are you very glad to receive letters from me? One night I dreamed that I was very glad to see you again and that I slept with you all night. I hope that you do not forget to talk with your fingers. I am sad that people are very idle and dirty and poor. I write many letters to you because I love you very much. My mother wrote a letter to Miss J. that she was very sick and my little sister was quite sick, but they are getting well. I am very well. I am your dear friend. I try very hard about America and Europe and Asia, and many other things. I can say ship, paper, Dr. baby, tea, mother, and father with my mouth. My teacher always reads a story to me: she is kind to me: she sets me a good example.

My dear friend, good bye.

LAURA BRIDGEMAN.

Mention was made in a former Report of her disposition to use the lungs and vocal organs. She still shows this; and so does Oliver Caswell, though to a much smaller extent than Laura. The manner in which she uses these organs seems to show their natural office, and would settle the question, (if it be any longer a question) whether they were destined by nature to be the medium of intellectual communication among men, or whether they were selected from among other equally possible means for interchange of thought; as pantomime, arbitrary visible signs, &c.

Sometimes her acts and expressions furnish themes as interesting to the poet as to the philosopher. On new-year's day when I was in Europe, she met her teacher and said, "It is new happy year to-day." The teacher wished her a happy new year, when she turned to the east, and stretching out her hand, said "I want Doctor a happy new year;" she then paused, and, turning to her teacher, said, " but Doctor cannot know I say so."

I have sometimes questioned her about he æsthetical perceptions, but have not ob Her tained any very satisfactory answers. ideas of beauty in material things are principally connected with smoothness. round ball is not more beautiful to her than a square box, provided they are equally smooth. Freshness or newness is indeed

A

an clement, but this is evidently derived from the associations with new clothes, new shoes, &c.

I asked her who was the handsomest lady of her acquaintance, and she replied, "**** but upon my pressing her for her reason, she could only say that her hands were smooth, soft, and pretty.

A cane with knots on it was less pleasing to her than a smooth one; and an irregulary knobbed stick, than one with the prominences at regular intervals. She has thus the rudiments of the aesthetic sense, but, like that of other children, its development must depend upon education and habit. She is not yet old enough to give any satisfactory account of her own feelings on the subject.

The subject of her dreams is a most interesting one, but like many others must be passed over hastily.

One morning she asked her teacher what she dreamed about, and said, "I sometimes dream about God." Her teacher asked, "What did you dream about last night?" She said, "I dreamed that I was in the entry, the round entry, aud Lurena was rolling about in her wheel-chair to exercise, and I went into a good place where God knew I could not fall off the edge of the floor." Soon after she said, "I dreamed that God took away my breath to Heaven," accompanying it with the sign of taking away something from her mouth.

On another occasion her teacher says, "In the hour for conversation she commenced the subject of dreaming again, and asked, "Why does God give us dreams? last night I dreamed I talked with my mouth; did you hear me talk?" No, I was asleep. "I talked with my mouth"and then she made the noise which she generally does for talking. I asked her how she talked-" I talked as any people in dreams." To the question, what words did you dream? I could get no answer. She asked "do Spanish people dream like

us?"

She sometimes is frightened in her dreams, and awakes in great terror, and says she dreamed there were animals in the room which would hurt her. She has still much fear of animals, and can hardly be induced to touch the quiet and harmless house-dog.

Improvement of Boatmen.-The mission. aries employed by the Philadelphia Sabbath Association have, in connection with other means used effected a great moral change among the boatmen. "Crime, according to the testimony of judges of the