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and sometimes extra public concerts; but these weekly meetings are quite select, as no one can visit them except with a member; and they are called the Harmonic Society. The band consists principally of amateurs, some of them people of title; it is a large one, and has some very good performers, among whom the greatest novelty to me was two ladies, who play famously on the violin. I have been told it is an instrument frequently played by ladies on the continent, and that it is considered quite feminine. It had to me, however, a strange effect, to see these two females standing conspicuously in front, and boldly leading the band. These concerts are held in a fine room belonging to the Free Masons. The company consists of one hundred or one hundred and fifty; they first assemble and take tea and coffee, and the evening closes with a handsome supper.

General Hope.-I was at one of these parties about a month ago, when General Hope, his suite, and some British naval officers were present. They gave an additional brilliancy to the room. I know not when I spent so pleasant an evening: it was quite a treat to hear the English language spoken without a Scotch or foreign accent. General Hope is a very fine gentlemanly man, and, from the dignity of his person and manners, seemed well calculated for the important mission he was sent upon. He and his suite staid three days at the consul's before they proceeded to Stockholm,

for the consul entertains all the English of any distinction.

Mode of guarding against the Cold.-With the great wraps we go out in, and with the excellent stoves within the houses, it is impossible to suffer from the cold; and I only wonder that the enlightened English should be so far behind their more ignorant neighbours in the art of obtaining warmth. The natives, it is true, often pervert their knowledge to a very bad purpose, for, by keeping their rooms so highly heated, and omitting a daily ventilation, they generally look pale and emaciated, and bring on a premature old age. They also heat their bed-rooms intensely, which debilitates more than any thing. But this we have wholly avoided, and, by regulating the temperature of our sitting-rooms with a thermometer, we keep the heat to a degree most salubrious, and enjoy the benefit alone of a method that, for economy and comfort, I wish was adopted in our little island. Thus we avoid all the evils the prejudice of the English would ascribe to the stoves of the continent.

Ladies' Dresses.-The ladies wear odious short waists, and indelicate short sleeves, which make them look very ungraceful. They imitate the English in every thing; but from this it appears they are several years behind us. They get what millinery and dresses they can from England; but it is very difficult to procure such things here, on account of the Custom House; and yet, strict as

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this is, there is no country where so much smuggling prevails.

The Swedish Stage.-There is a theatre here where plays are performed. The house is bad, the acting bad, and the language being Swedish, we could not, of course, understand it. The audience have no light, except that which comes from the stage. This is intended to heighten the effect of the performance. A very odd kind of wooden frame, to which the lights are attached, is drawn up through the ceiling over the pit, the moment the curtain is elevated, and as regularly let down the moment it falls. This, I conclude, is for the audience to amuse themselves in looking at each other during the intervals between the acting. The entertainment of gazing, however, cannot be very great, as the house is so cold, that the theatre costume consists of fur boots, bonnets, great coats, and pelisses. It is rather strange, that the second town in Sweden should not boast of a better theatre; and yet I find this is much talked of.

The following simple way of preventing flies from sitting on pictures, or any other furniture, is well experienced, and will, if generally used, prevent trouble and damage.-Let a large bunch of leeks soak for five or six days in a pailful of water, and wash your picture, or any other piece of furniture, with it. The flies will never come near any thing so washed.

A boy, in the service of Mr. Thomas Fawcett, of Gate, lately accompanied his master in shooting all day upon the Moors, and, in returning in the evening, his master desired him to make the best of his way home. The boy proceeded on foot, but being much fatigued, sat down, and fell asleep. How long he remained in that situation is uncertain, as, when found, he was in his own bed asleep. A neighbour passing on the road early the next morning, found his clothes scattered in various directions, nearly a mile off. The account he gave was, that he dreamt he had been at a neighbour's house, at a good supper, after which he supposed he went to bed there. It appears he actually walked three miles, though in a profound sleep the whole of the time; during which he stripped off his clothes, and walked home naked, passed the gate, and went up stairs to bed, the whole of the time beinga sleep.-Westmorland Advertiser.

The Deserted Cottage.

BY MRS. ROBINSON.

Who dwelt in yonder lonely Cot?
Why is it thus forsaken?

It seems by all the world forgot,

Above its path the high grass grows,

And through its thatch the north wind blows→→
Its thatch-by tempests shaken!

And yet, it tops a verdant hill,

By summer gales surrounded!
Beneath its door a shallow rill
Runs, brawling, to the brook below,
And near it sweetest flowrets grow,
By banks of willows bounded.

Then why is ev'ry casement dark,
Why looks the cot so chearless?
Ah! why does ruin seem to mark
The calm retreat where love should dwell,
And friendship teach the heart to swell,
With rapture pure and fearless?

Stranger, yon spot was once the scene
Where peace and joy resided!

And oft the merry time has been,

When love and friendship warm'd the breast, And freedom, making wealth a jest,

The pride of pomp derided!

Old Jacob was the cottage lord,

His wide domain surrounding
With Nature's treasure amply stor❜d;
He from his casement could behold
The breezy mountain ting'd with gold,
The varied landscape bounding.

The coming morn, in lustre gay,
Breath'd sweetly on his dwelling!
The twilight veil of parting day
Stole softly o'er the rushy shed,
Hiding the mountain's misty head,

Where the night breeze was swelling.

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