Go to, you ill-natured being; but will you not inform me how first eb.

Smile not on me that bewitching smile-no, sweet thing, no-I am immoveable-there are reasons-or, by the soul of Pygmalion-there are certain penalties-you -you understand me.

Well, but is it a ring-a belt-a cap?

"Tis really truly nothing of the sort 'tis the simplest
thing imaginable-'twas born of the first breath of the
wind, when the moon was still, and Orion dreamed of
neither storm nor tempest-'twas cradled in the fibres of
the gossamer's wing, and kissed into life by one mellow-
ing ray of the dying sun-you doubt-look!
Heavens! where are you?

Ha, ha, ha,--here, to be sure; are you satisfied?
Not quite.

You little provoking thing-then listen. I will give you an account of my unseen expeditions; remember, that when I am invisible, I am as a thing of air-intangible-you cannot harm me-no pistol or sword terrifies me-no wrath of husband or brother-I can sit in the narrowest space imaginable-even between two plump dowagers.

CHAPTER THE FIRST.

The unseen maketh mention of divers beautiful Mr. Braham-a disturbance-and the Albion.

་

and as she spoke, she advanced her glass to the fringed Another titter ensued, and there were several more most
curtains' of her too bright eye, "who is that lady soappish things uttered; several dainty youths' poured
beautiful white forehead, and large blue eyes-do you their tattling converse into their ears, but the Unseen had
know her." "Yes, I think it's Mrs.
Mrs. again fled, he had taken refuge in a remote corner, where
bless me, how odd it is that I should forget her name; he hoped to find himself unannoyed by the breath of
they say her husband is likely to be one of the richest scandal; but he was mistaken, he had fallen into its
men we have, but I hardly can allow that." She deepest nest, where it reigned supreme in all its defor-
really is extremely pretty, however, you must acknow-mity, deprived of the veil of beanty, which had before
ledge; I never saw such delightfully black hair, and partially concealed its
shall he venture to call
such a finely feathered eye-brow-she is a very hand-
some woman," and so saying, 'she cast her own blue eyes
divine' upon the ground. Was she thinking how sweetly
fair she looked herself?

"

The Unseen was by the side of the lovely creature
alluded to in an instant. "Oh the blessings of invisibi-
lity," thought he to himself, "here I can fit around from
flower to flower-how charming it is." His vox in-
terna' was interrupted by the dulcet tones of the
lady, whose thrillingly sweet voice sunk upon him like
the harmony of the spheres. "How glad I am, my
love," said she to her husband, “ that we came this
evening; I wish we had brought Miss
with us: it
is a pity she is away: I declare I never saw a theatre so
full either here or abroad, did you, my love." Why,
I have seen a fuller house," returned he, " but only once
or twice this will give the place an airing."
"Pray
who," said the lady to a gentleman beside her, "is that
on our right, front bench, do you know her, she seems
extremely pretty." 'No, ma'am, I have only seen her
once or twice before, she is a very fine girl-very fine
indeed; I don't think the one behind her looks so well-
very tall-some people say she is handsome; Miss
is not." "Oh, no," returned she, arching still more
her arched brow, "no comparison." "But bush," said
Mr.
"there is the leetle bell, we shall have the
performance beginning; but bless me what a pit; oh,
what for a pit."

The rosined bows of the musicians were twanging their last twang-the hautboy and flute were uttering their final drawling note, and Mr. Eland was ushering in the last fashionably late party, who were putting the whole box in an uproar, when the Icetle bell' sounded its silver sounds again, and the "gorgeous shrouding" green curtain furling up in its many folds, discovered the habitation of Jock Jabos' mistress, who was sitting with the tea things more Volatile untouched before her, while her guests were revelling and carousing around. Galt would have said, "it was sae hamely a scene, a body might ken it without an extraordinaire diffee kulty." It seemed all very pretty and very natural. The Invisible, in the mean while, had absconded to the opposite part of the house, in order to hear the opinion of others, and had taken his seat by the side of a tolerably handsome girl, but who completely spoiled herself, by the conceit and negligeè which she affected, but which did not in the least become her. 'La, Papa," exclaimed Dames-she, leaning back and shaking her luxuriant hair from off her forehead, "how excessively childish such a scene as that is, it is really disgusting too, only see-faugh-how those fellows are cackling and drinking, and look at that odd man in the wig, I don't know who he is, I wish he would leave off bowing and nodding his head, it really makes one sick, so much grimace." My invisibility began to be endangered; I felt the muscles of my face relax; so pulling my invisus pegasus' by the ear, I rested in another part of the theatre. In this there was somewhat of noise; a low murmuring of scandal; the air gratefully bore the scents of sympathetic lavender, and delicate musk; in it, too, there were many bright and sunny faces gleaming, but methought conceit, and a little spice of malignity spoiled, in a great degree, those otherwise perfect visions. "Where is little ***," said

"Box, box, confound the laziness of the fellow," vociferated an elderly gentleman, here boxkeeper." "Coming, Sir," answered the man, who flew with the rapidity of a Mercury from party to party, "I will be with you in an instant-there, Sir, first and second benches:" the old gentleman and his party descended. No sooner were the tippets and shawls removed from the necks of the ladies, and the gentlemens' hats deponed, than they universally expressed their admiration of the appearance of the house. "How excessively full it is, uncle," said one of them, a lovely girl, whose lightcoloured locks streamed down in serpentine tresses, and kissed a cheek as fair-as fair as Niobe's, though not so pale withal, "did you ever see any thing like it, Harry." No, I really must acknowledge," said her brother, a spruce dapper fellow, something like her, only on a bolder scale, I've a notion we shall have a tolerable sort of a squeeze." A squeeze," said the uncle, smiling, good heavens, only look there, look what a tarmoil there is in the pit, and how they are pouring and showering here, on all sides." When Braham was here before it was not half so full," rejoined Harry, "and I can't conceive why the people are all at once seized with such a mania." "Oh, it is a most unaccountable whim; people will do the strangest things at mes," interrupted the young lady, but who is that st come in-one-no, there, Harry-two boxes hence,"

one.

"I think I see her moppet face at the other side
of the theatre," said another. "Do you think," re-
joined a third, "the Misses**** are here?-oh, yes,
I see them yonder, how beautifully pale they look-that
flower is very interestingly set on-and then how charm-
ing the eldest closes her dreamy eyes-what a sweet girl
she is ;" and the little quizzers tittered beneath their fans
at this ironical compliment. Pray," said one of them,
"can any body tell me which is the elder, Miss
her aunt; at the concert they both looked so well, I
should like to know." "Miss to be sure," said
one. "I think Miss was born the same- -but,
dear me, if there is'nt Miss, as gloomy as usual,
and her brother as blustering and consequential as ever."

or

and

They were not fair-the others were not fair—
They were not good-the others were all bad-
O envy, envy all—and sheer despight-

though their discourse might be exceedingly interesting in its way, the Invisible hates all such people, and not a word of it shall be repeated by him; he has a thorough misprision and contempt of such doings; he will leave those gaudily pranked out and bedizened, those furbelowed and flounced old prudes, to themselves and tooblivion.

The act curtain now fell, and restless from the insufferable heat, the ladies arose. The Invisible looked around and marvelled at the wonderful concourse that were stuffed and jammed in the pit beneath, and were swelting away under the influence of the torrid and broiling gas chandelier. Poor souls, the Invisible pitied ye.

But how

The attention of the Unseen was now drawn towards the other side of the theatre, whence a gentle hum, like the murmurous sound of bees, proceeded; he flew there. A lady was entering, (fair thing that she was) peerless as the moon, bright, outshining all; she was one whom to look upon was to love-and to love was to adore. Could the invisible do aught then but gaze, and gaze upon her with the deepest awe and reverence. extremely unlucky it is, that when we are just beginning earthly common-place nonsense, and the charm is disto fancy a woman an angel, she begins talking about some solved in an instant; we were brought back to reality. Such were the thoughts of the invisible, and such will be the thoughts of those of his readers who have seen a pretty girl-by moon-not by gas-light, that materially alters the case.

"You will think us extremely late," said she to an elderly lady who sat a little behind her, "shamefully late, but really we could not leave sooner, and you know there was no reasonable excuse for avoiding the invitation; the ttttt's were so pressing, and my husband would go." "I am rejoiced, however, you have found your way at last," returned the other lady, but, say no more about it, listen to Braham,." "Is there a heart" indeed, very well sung; excellent. There is a fine house-good many that I know-how d'ye do Miss ****** Oh! there's the new bride, how very pretty she looks-hope your very well, Mrs. how dy'e do-la me! but you Manchester ladies do put on your finery so untastefully; I dont positively see one; Yes, there is one," said she, elevating her glass, "just one that's fit to be look'd at. What d'ye think of Miss and Eliza how they are overloaded with trumpery flowers. Little Marian looks very pretty and interesting, but really, as I said, not one of them knows how to dress

herself."

......

Thus she ran on. Braham was now singing his final song for the second time-be finished it- but it was called

for again. "Poor little man,' " said she, "how dis-
tressing it must be; if I were him, I would sing my
very worst; oh, mercy! what's all this noise and uproar
about, I never heard such a frightful disturbance; what
a noisy race ye are; it is enough to bring the whole
house down upon one." There was now nothing but
roar upon roar, shout after shout, and thunder following
thunder; the ears of the groundlings were almost rent
in twain. God save the King' and liberty' were echo-
ed from every quarter. A cloud of dust arose from the
strained benches of the pit-the Invisible mounted upon
its wreathing surface-passed through the box-lobby-
pulled off his invisible s........,-rushed into the
Albion-druuk a pint of claret-eat a poached egg-and ̧
sunk into a gentle slumber upon the sofa.

WEEKLY DIARY.

OCTOBER.

REMARKABLE DAYS.

MONDAY 28.-Saint Simon and Saint Jude,
Apostles.

Simon is called the Canaanite, from the Hebrew word Cana, to be zealous; hence his name of Simon Zelotes, or the Zealot, Luke vi, 15. After enduring various troubles and afflictions, he, with great cheerfulness, suffered death on the

cross.

There was a very general report in circulation, some time since, that the most eminent poets in this country were employed in the composition of a volume of sacred Hymns and Psalms, for general use; and we were gratified to hear this, because such a combination of splendid talents might have been expected to produce a diversified system of Psalmody for public worship, commensurate with the wishes of those who admired the excellence Jude is called both by the name of Thaddeus of modern poetry, and the elevated standard of and Lebbeus: Matt. x, 3, and Mark iii, 18. taste which distinguishes the present times. It is Jude, the brother of James: Jude, verse 1. And with the sincerest pleasure, that we now congra Judas, not Iscariot: John xiv, 22. He was of tulate our numerous readers on the appearance of our Lord's kindred; Is not his mother called an elegant little volume, entituled, SONGS OF Mary, and his brethren James and Joses, and ZION," from the pen of the celebrated Mr. MontSimon and Judas?' Matt. xiii. 55. After great gomery, of Sheffield. With talents of the highest success) in his apostolic ministry, he was, at last, order in poetry, and a name and reputation of for a free and open reproof of the superstitious the most exalted class among the living poets of rites of the Magi, cruelly put to death. He has Great Britain, Mr. Montgomery has ventured to left one epistle of universal concern to Chris-devote those talents, and to connect that reputation, with a series of devotional poems, in imitation of the Psalms of David, and adapted for Christian edification. Thus he has made a valuable addition to the national stock of "Psalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs," in which piety speaks the language of poetry, and poetry, the language of inspiration.

tians.

REVIEWS.

THE LIBERAL.-Verse and Prose from the South.

Volume the First. London, 1822.

We opened this thing with abhorrence—and shut it with horror and disgust.

It is the most diabolical piece of blasphemy, slander, and wickedness, that we have ever beheld, or that we ever hope to behold.

If the evil one ever appointed agents upon earth, they are the wretches from whose pens

this lothsome abortion has issued.

Lord Byron (if he be one of them) has now set the final stamp upon his character; he will live-but he will live a curse, an abhorrence. While there is one feeling of equity or honourwhile there is one grain of religion or virtue in the composition of men, that monster will be re

pelled and thrust away, which, snakelike, would poison the very bowl of their existence.

He shall live!-how gloriously the names of Benbow and Byron-of the two Hunts-of Shelley and Paine-how sublimely they will float down the stream of time-how will future ages honour them-how fair and lovely they will bloom.

But expect no review from us, worthy reader, of this mass of grossness and impiety-we would not stain our pages with such pestiferous villany. It is sickening and revolting to every one, and should be burnt, like the rank dogmeat, in the public market.

Can we expect that those adders, that would spurt their innocuous venom at the throne of the Eternal-can we expect that they would have any regard for the feelings of worthy and honourable men-no; they who have outraged all ties of principle and honour, will not hesitate at the worst of crimes-but they may smile at themthe opinion of one good man, is worth the approbation of a thousand of these wretches.

Could any one have prophesied that a being, so noble, could have so debased himself:-could any one have told us that the author of Childe Harold would have sunk to what he is?

It is conceived in atheisin, and brought forth in blasphemy; it is devised in hell, and promulgated by fiends;-it is fostered by corruption, and nursed by sin and despair.

Reader, if you have seen the serpent spawn

Kings, your Sovereign serve with awe;
Judges, own his righteous law;
Princes, worship Him with fear;
Bow the knee, all people here.
Let his truth by babes be told,
And his wonders by the old ;
Youths and maidens, in your prime,
Learn the lays of heaven divine.
High above all height his throne ;
Excellent his name alone;
Him let all his works confess;
Him let every being bless.

SCIENCE, ETC.

NORTH-WEST LAND EXPEDITION.

We feel happy to announce the safe arrival of Captain Franklin, and the gentlemen composing the north-west land expedition.

It appears, that the toils and the sufferings of the expedition have been of the most trying description, and that, if they did not exceed belief, they were at least of such a nature as almost to overcome the stoutest heart, and deter all future attempts of a similar tendency. It was fitted out in the summer of 1819, and, in the course of the following year, it was enabled, by a liberal aid and reinforcement from the N. W. Company, to advance to the shores of the Great Bear Lake, which, we think, is situated in about 67 deg. north lat. where it encamped and wintered. In the ensuing spring, it approached the Copper Mine River, which it descended until it fell into the ocean.

Hitherto the expedition was accompanied by Mr. Wintzel, a clerk to the North West Company, with ten of their best Indian bunters; but the wide and with the ocean, elated the expedition so much with the open sea, which appeared at the confluence of the river hope of ultimate success, that it was thought proper to

In most of these imitations of the Psalms of David, sixty-seven in all, there is a perfection epic poem,-unity of subject, comprehending in dispense with the further attendance of Mr. Wintzel and which belongs equally to a divine hymn and an itself, a beginning, a middle, and an end. Al- his hunters, who accordingly returned up the river, though this rare excellence may appear to some leaving the expedition to proceed in two canoes to exof our readers as a matter of inferior importance, plore the coast of the Polar Sen, eastward from the yet to many, we trust, it will be more highly ap-mouth of the Copper Mine River towards Hudson's Bay. preciated, as a criterion which distinguishes these "Songs of Zion," from the compositions of the hand of a master. mere versifier, and shews them to come from the

thor's imitation of the 148th Psalm, the last in
We shall now present our readers with the au-
the present collection, which may be considered
as a fair specimen of the whole, in all of which,
the author says,
"he has endeavoured to do his

best, and has never hesitated to sacrifice ambiti-
ous ornament to simplicity, clearness, and force
of thought and expression.”

PSALM CXLVIII.
Heralds of creation cry-
Praise the Lord, the Lord most high;
Heaven and earth, obey the call,
Praise the Lord, the Lord of all.

For He spake, and forth from night
Sprang the universe to light;
He commanded,- Nature heard,
And stood fast upon his word.

Praise Him, all ye hosts above,
Spirits perfected in love;
Sun and moon, your voices raise,
Sing, ye stars, your Maker's praise.
Earth, from all thy depths below,
Ocean's hallelujahs flow;
Lightning, vapour, wind, and storm,
Hail and snow, his will perform.
Vales and mountains, burst in song;
Rivers, roll with praise along ;
Clap your hands, ye trees, and hail
God, who comes in every vale.

Birds, on wings of rapture, soar,
Warble at his temple-door;
Joyful sounds, from herds and flocks,
Echo back, ye caves and rocks.

But it seems that, in consequence of the approach of winter, so early as the latter end of August, heavy falls of snow, dense as mist, and an extremely bare and illprovided wardrobe, the expedition was unfortunately north-east of the Copper Mine River, and ascertaining, prevented from accomplishing its end, farther than exploring about 500 miles of the coast, which lies to the that so far as the eye could penetrate, the sea which lay before them was quite open, and perfectly free of ice.

As the expedition returned, its wants and its exigencies became alarming in the extreme, and it soon required the whole fortitude of the heart, and the utmost exertion of the frame, to brave the hardships which stared it in the face. In approaching that part of the Copper Mine River from which it set out, it was necessary to double an immense point of land, which would occupy a greater length of time than its emergencies would well admit of, and it was therefore deemed necessary to set the canoes adrift, and cut a direct course over land to the Copper Mine River. When the travellers arrived on the banks of the river, they experienced some difficulties how to get across, but having killed ten elks, with the skins of which they contrived to construct a canoe, this bardship was soon overcome: but the joy which it diffused was as transient as disappointed hope. In forcing their melancholy way through the untravelled wilds between the Copper Mine River and the Great Bear Lake, they fell completely short of provisions, and were for many days under the necessity of subsisting upon sea-weeds, and a powder produced from pounding the withered bones of the food which they had already consumed. In this struggle, betwixt the love of life and the dread of a death that must be terrifying to all mankind, Mr. Wood, nine Canadians, and an Esquimaux, fell untimely and regretted victims; and had not the survivors, who for several days were driven to the necessity of prolonging a miserable existence, by feeding upon the tattered remnants of their shoes, and, we fear, upon a more forbidding and unpalatable fare, exerted themselves by a super-human effort to reach the Great Bear Lake, it is probable that they would have all suffered the most exquisite and appalling martyrdom. Here they found the

hands and the bleached bones of the animals that bad served them for last winter's provisions, which afforded them the melancholy ingredients for preserving the vital spark, until their arrival at some post belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. It is said, that upon the arrival of this surviving party of the expedition at Slave Lake, the Canadians there were very nigh breaking forth into some alarming outrage, when they found that their former comrades, instead of returning with the expedition, had been lost for ever; but we understand, that no serious injury has transpired, in consequence of this very natural disappointment.

Lieutenant Franklin, and the rest of the gentlemen engaged in this expedition, arrived safely in Yarmouth Roads on Wednesday last.

CHINESE SHEET LEAD.

The following account of the Chinese method of making thin sheets of lead, was communicated to Dr. Brewster, by Mr. Waddell, who during his residence in China obtained much information respecting the arts of that singular country. The operation is carried on by two men; one is seated on the floor with a large flat stone before him, and with a moveable flat stone-stand at his side. His fellow workman stands beside him with a crucible filled with melted lead, and having poured a certain quantity upon the stone, the other lifts the moveable stone, and dashing it on the fluid lead presses it out into a flat and thin plate, which he instantly removes from the stone. A second quantity of lead is poured in a similar manner, and a similar plate formed, the process being carried on with singular rapidity. The rough edges of the plates are then cut off, and they are soldered together for use. Mr. Waddell has applied this method with great success to the formation of thin plates of zinc, for galvanic purposes.

DISCOLORATION OF CORAL.

It is found that Coral, when worn upon the naked skin in heated apartments, becomes white and porous. The discoloration is ascribed to the action of a particular acid, which exists in the moisture of the body. In order to prevent this change the coral should be digested in warm oil, or melted wax, so as to enable it to resist the action

of the acid.

MATHEMATICS.

VARIETIES.

MR EDITOR,-Most of your readers, I am persuaded,
will be much gratified by seeing the following anecdote
inserted in your entertaining repository. Of it's genu
ineness there cannot be a doubt, since I have heard it
repeatedly told, in the most interesting and impressive
manner, by the Rev. Melville Horne, who was some-
time curate to Mr. Fletcher.
Yours, &c.
S. X.

Authentic Anecdote of the Rev. John William Fletcher,
Vicar of Madeley, in Shropshire.-Mr. Fletcher had a
very profligate nephew, a military man, who had been
dismissed from the Sardinian service for base and ungen-
tlemanly conduct. He had engaged in two or three duels,
and dissipated his resources in a career of vice and ex-
travagance. This desperate youth waited one day on his
eldest uncle, General de Gons, and presenting a loaded
pistol, threatened to shoot him, unless he would advance
him 500 crowns. The General, though a brave man,
well knew what a desperado he had to deal with, and
gave him a draft for the money, at the same time expos-
tulating freely with him on his conduct. The young mad-
man rode off triumphantly with his ill-gotten acquisition.
In the evening, passing the door of bis younger uncle,
Mr. Fletcher, he determined to call on him, and began
with informing him what General de Gons had done, and
as a proof, exhibited the draft under De Gons' own hand.
Mr. Fletcher took the draft from his nephew, and looked
at it with astonishment-then, after some remarks, put-
ting it into his pocket, said, "It strikes me, young man,
that you have possessed yourself of this note by some
indirect method, and in honesty I cannot restore it but
with my brother's knowledge and approbation." The
nephew's pistol was immediately at his breast; "My
life," replied Mr. Fletcher, with perfect calmness, "is
secure in the protection of an Almighty Power; nor will
he suffer it to be the forfeit of my integrity and your
rashness." This firmness drew from the nephew the
observation that his uncle De Gons, though an old sol-
dier, was more afraid of death than his brother." Afraid
of death!" rejoined Mr. Fletcher, "do you think I have
been 25 years the Minister of the Lord of life to be afraid
of death now? No, Sir, it is for you to fear death; you
are a gamester and a cheat, yet call yourself a gentle-
man! you are the seducer of female innocence, and still
say you are a gentleman! you are a duellist, and for this
you style yourself a man of honour! Look there, Sir,
the broad eye of heaven is fixed upon us-tremble in the
presence of your Maker, who can in a moment kill your
body, and for ever punish your soul in hell." The un-
happy man turned pale and trembled alternately with
rage, but still be threatened his uncle with instant death.
Fletcher, though thus menaced, gave no alarm, sought
the dia- for no weapon, and attempted no escape; he calmly con-
versed with his profligate relation, and at length per-
ceiving him affected, addressed him in language truly
the circum- paternal, till he had fairly disarmed and subdued him.
He would not return his brother's draft, but engaged to
12 + x
procure for the young man some immediate relief; he
then prayed with him, and after fulfilling his promise of
assistance, parted with him, with much good advice on
one side, and many fair promises on the other. The
power of courage, founded on piety and principle, toge-
ther with its influence in overcoming the wildest and
most desperate profligacy, were never more finely illus-
trated than by this anecdote. It deserves to be put into
the hands of every self-styled "man of honour," to show
him how far superior is the courage that dares to die,
though it dares not to sin, to the boasted prowess of a
mere man of the world. How utterly contemptible does
the desperation of a duellist appear, when contrasted
with the noble intrepidity of such a Christian soldier as
the Vicar of Madeley.

=

Solution of No. 46, in Iris No. 28, by Mercurius.
First, the ordinate of the parabola is evidently 22.5.
Let 2a = 22.5; b = 20; d= 3.1416, and the
distance of the section from the extremity of the cone's

base.

Now, by a property of the circle,
da2 + dx2

meter of the cone's base; and ference.

By similar triangles, therefore, x: b ba2 + bx2

the slant height of the cone. ba2 + bx2 da2 + dx2

22 Hence, dba+2a2 dbx2 + dbx+

the convex superficies of the which is a minimum per question, and is in fluxions,

2x3x® — 4a3x1x — 6a2x2x

4x6

0. Wherefore, x4 — 2a2x2

3a: this reduced, gives a√√√3a2 = 19-48. Hence, the diameter of the cone is = 25.97; the slant height=26.666; the perpendicular = 23.29; and the solidity 4115.4893.

Solutions were received from Mr. John Hill, Amicus, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Wilson.

Question No. 49, by Mr. Williams Given 7568 X xx3 a maximum to find x.

Question No. 50, by Mr. W. M. Lawrie. To determine the ratio of the densities of the sun and earth, independent of the sun's parallax.

BONAPARTE'S LIBRARY.

Soon after the demise of Bonaparte, some books which had been supplied by his Majesty's Government, for the prisoner's use, were taken from the executors by Sir Hudson Lowe. They have since been brought to England, and purchased from an authority in the Colonial Office by Martin Bossange and Co. in Great Marlboroughstreet. Among them are se eral which are covered with remarks in Napoleon's hand writing, especially a Map in Bruce's Travels to discover the source of the Nile, and a work of Volney.

HONEY-MOON.

A moon is considered, figuratively, as synonymous with a month, not only in a general way, as "scarce a moon had passed," but also to denote particular periods. The Honeymoon, for the first month after marriage, is yet a common expression, and signifies a period of thirty days, which is nearly the average of the calendar months. This ancient mode of typifying that happy period was brought into common use by our Saxon ancestors, who, previously to their settling in this country, had adopted that phrase from a custom, long in use among the northern nations, of drinking a favourite beverage, composed of honey, for thirty days after every wedding.

A gentleman's servant at Holywell in Flintshire, was sent out for a quantity of "Mould-candles," and thinking that by the expression was meant candles made at Mold, very simply went to that town for them, a distance of nine miles.

There are in a pond, near the Powder Mills, Faversham, three trout, which have become so domesticated, as to come at the call of the person who feeds them, and actually leap from their native element to eat out of the hand of their feeder.

Sinclair is now at Florence, from whence he goes to sing in an opera composed by Rossini, at the approaching Carnival at Venice, for which he is to receive 8000 francs.

The celebrated English Captain Cochrane, who is famous both in and out of Europe for bis long excursions tour in Siberia, to discover whether in the high northern on foot, and who has been out for two years engaged in a latitudes there is any connection between the continents of Asia and America, has married in Kamtschatka a native of that country, and is now on his return. He has not found any junction of the two continents.

HAIL-STORM IN ORKNEY.

Account of a remarkable hail-storm that came on in

Orkney, in 1818. Abridged from a long and full account given in the Transactions. of the Royal Society in Edinbargh.

lightning came on in Orkney, after a clear warm morn. About noon, on the 24th of July, 1818, thunder and about an hour and a half, when a dense black cloud was ing with a light air from the south. These continued for five or six miles, steadily advancing from the south, and seen apparently rising from the sea at the distance of spreading in its progress. It soon assumed an ominous. aspect, and occasioned considerable darkness. The lightning became more vivid and the thunder more tremendous. The cloud was rent for a moment by one flash brighter than the rest, so as to afford a view of the prospect between the mainland of Orkney and the Island of Stronsa, and the thunder seemed to strike the surface of Stronsa Frith like a solid body. The wind began to rise, and darkness like that of night threatened to come

on.

Richard Caithness, who possesses a farm in Stronsa, was making kelp on the shore. He hurried home, and The lightning was now instantaneously followed by was overtaken by the storm just as he reached his house. noises like the firing of guns in Stronsa caves.' Hailstones of uncommon magnitude began to fall. The first seen by Caithness struck through a window, in his own language, really like a goose-egg. In two or three minutes more the wind increased to a hurricane, and pieces of ice of almost all forms were precipitated with the utmost violence. Caithness describes the clattering noise of the hail as it fell into the sea, as quite terrific. The bail kept the water boiling as it were, and he repeatedly saw the lightning striking in the form of balls or masses. of fire into the sea, and dashing up the water as high as the masts of ships.'

When the farmer and his family ventured to look abroad, the fields presented a scene of perfect desola

tion. In the farm-court the hailstones lay a foot and a half deep. In the fields, though they did not exceed half this depth, yet crops of every kind were utterly beaten down, and not a vestige of them was to be seen for some time. The astounded farmer saw only fields of rough ice. All this destructive change had been wrought in less than ten minutes. On his attempting to wade out in the direction of some black cattle, the horrid cries of which were very different from their usual bellowing, the loose ice slipped beneath his feet, and when he happened to stumble reached to his knees; and his legs were so much cut by its sharp edges, that he was obliged to desist, and wait until the ground began to appear by the melting of the hail. The pieces of ice were of various shapes; most of them rounded like eggs; many flattened and not unlike thick clumsy oyster shells; some ragged and jaggy. He thinks the largest piece of ice he lifted, might weigh from four ounces to nearly half a pound.

The terrified black cattle and horses, which had broken their tethers, and been observed at the beginning of the fall of hail running violently backward and for

On the links or downs, at some distance from the house of Caithness, a large flock of tame geese had been feeding he found many of them wholly deprived of life: a few of them were still living, but so much injured that all of them pined away and died in a short time. Some of these poor birds had their bills split; others had an eye struck from its socket, and hanging by the nerve; and the brains of some were fairly knocked out; many had either a leg or a wing broken.

materials thus furnished, risk the publication of a few hundred copies, to be placed in the hands of some respectable bookseller, he being sufficiently remunerated as soon as the sale of a sufficient number of copies would allow; the profit from the sale of the remaining copies might be distributed to some of the numerous charitable Institutions with which the town abounds.

Should this plan meet the approbation of your Shorthand correspondents, and of Mr. James, I shall be glad to contribute my share to a work which might thus be rendered both amusing and beneficial. Oct. 23, 1822.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

N. W.

SURGERY. MR. T. TURNER, SURGEON, will deliver the INTRODUCTORY LECTURES TO HIS COURSE, at the Lecture Room of the Literary and Philosophical Society, November, beginning precisely at 12 o'clock. George-Street, on FRIDAY the 1st, and MONDAY the 4th of For Outlines of the Course, Terms of Attendance, &c. Manchester,

Pachester, October 24th, 1922.

SIR,-With deference to the gentleman, who made his remarks on Byrom's system of Short-Hand, in No. 37 of your Iris; I beg leave to offer to the public, my observations on the comparative excellence of the different LECTURES ON ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND systems of Short-hand now extant; and, I hope my candour in the attempt, will not prove offensive to those, gentleman alluded to, I do not mean to say, that Mr. with whom I differ in opinion. In disagreeing with the Byrom's system is preposterously bad, or that it is in no ward, galloping and plunging, had now collected toge-degree worthy of attention; by no means; I own with ther in a herd. Caithness at length made his way to him, that it is the result of much patience, industry, them through the half-melted ice: they still trembled exceedingly some of the horses had lain flat down on and indefatigable research on Mr. Byrom's part; but to VALUABLE COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS; cube just towards others, who, doubtless, have been as rious Miscellanies in Art, Coins, Medals, and Jewelthe grass, with their heads stretched out and all the industrious and indefatigable as he, I must acknowledge|lery; a grand upright Piano, pair of Globes, Fowling Pieces, animals were more or less cut and bleeding. Some of it seems strange to me, how any persou, can with proMosaic Slabs, &c. &c. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, by the weaker horses, he says, will never recover. The Mr. THOS. DODD, at his Auction Repertory, No. 28, King. priety, give the preference to Mr. Byrom's system, since milch cows gave no more milk, and indeed would not street, Manchester, on Wednesday, October 30th, 1822, and Dr. Mavor's has gained such popularity, and even ob- two following days; to commence (the pictures) at eleven in the suffer the people to attempt to milk them any more. tained the title of UNIVERSAL SHORT-HAND. It is even forenoon, and the Coins and Miscellanies in Art precisely at three in the afternoon of each day. strongly recommended by the compilers of the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, in the following words, (and I suppose we may allow them to be pretty good judges.) "No one appears to us, to have simplified, and improved the art so much, as Dr. Mavor. To those who earnestly recommend his publication, which in many wish to become proficients in Short-hand writing, we schools of the first reputation now forms a deserved class book." Also Mr. Richardson, of Chester, who pubMavor's to be the best, and many other encomiums 1 lished a treatise of STENOGRAPHY in 1810, allows Dr. could adduce in favour of it, from some "whose slightest praise is fame," as he says himself in the preface to his work. But I shall say no more upon the superiority of Dr. Mavor's, as there is one which is infinitely superior to it, both in brevity and legibility, which are two of the most essential advantages Stenography can possess, I mean Mr. Richardson's. For a specimen of brevity, I will refer the reader to Mr. Richardson's treatise on Shorthand; where he may find the Lord's Prayer, written according to both systems, wherein he will discover it to be written with sixty characters less by Mr. Richardson's than by Dr. Mavor's, which in so few sentences, I deem a great advantage; and although it possesses so great an advantage in point of brevity, it is nevertheless as legible the truth of which, any person may convince himself, by consulting page 45 of the work I have just quoted; and by the aid of some improvements which I have recently made upon it, I can say with the greatest

As the ice melted away, great numbers of small birds were found dead, and collected in heaps by the boys belonging to Caithness's farm. On the shore were observed numbers of rock pigeons, hooded crows, guillemots, and ducks, which had been killed at sea by the hail, and were left by the receding tide. Many wounded gulls and sea-swallows were seen floating on the sea, occasionally attempting to fly, but unable to raise themselves.

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR,

SIR,-It has to me been a matter of much surprise, that among the number of your correspondents who have recommended, and who profess to be admirers of BYROM'S SHORT-HAND, no one has thought of adding to his recommendation a specimen of this much admired system; as mere descriptions of its beauty can give but little idea to the mind of a person unacquainted with it, I have enclosed a specimen, containing the same pieces as that of your correspondent "Stenographus ;" and I have little doubt, that an opinion founded on a comparison of the two specimens, will be much in favour of Byrom. If the subject of Short-hand has not already occupied more of your valuable paper than you like to devote to subjects not generally understood, and which are consequently uninteresting to many of your readers, I shall feel obliged to "Stenographus" if he will point out a few of the defects of that system of which he has affirmed, "That a bare inspection of it will show how very defective it is." I have practised it upwards of fifteen years, and notwithstanding its want of perspicuity, its ambiguity, and the difficulty of decyphering it, I have never yet felt the want of a STENOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY to assist in reading even my earliest attempts.

Whatever defects the system of Byrom may have in the eyes of "Stenographus," when compared with that which he has now adopted, and which he seems to be so anxious to teach, he must I think admit that it has one great superiority over the one which he so strongly recommends, and of which he " Thinks proper to state that the printed work of the author (Mr. Taylor) will not be of much use in acquiring it."* The superiority to which I

• Vide Letter of " Stenographus," in No. 34.

:

confidence that it is also much easier to be learned than
any other system whatever. Yours, &c.

E. J. HUGHES.

Academy, Water-street, Manchester, Oct. 23, 1822.

TO THE EDITOR,

"

SIR, I was much pleased with the suggestion of A Short-hand Writer," in a recent number of your useful publication, with regard to a Lithographic Shorthand edition of some of our best authors. As the labour and expence of a work of this kind would probably be more than any one individual would like to risk, I beg to offer a plan, which I think may be very easily carried into effect.

As I believe the system of Byrom to be more generally known than any other, in this town and neighbourhood, might not a few individuals unite their talents in preparing for the Lithographic press a selection of Anecdotes and Poetical Extracts, which might be more easily limited, as to size, and which would, I think, be more generally acceptable, than an edition of the Book of Common Prayer.

As Mr. James has stated that Litho-Stenography has occupied his attention for some time, would he, from

The PAINTINGS present an unusual display of fine productions by artists of the Flemish, Dutch, and Italian schools, whose names and fame stand pre-eminent in the annals of art, the greater part of which have recently been collected to increase the cabinet of the late Duc de Berri; among them is the Chef d'œuvre of Mostaert; a grand composition, representing the Banquet of the Gods on the nuptials of Cupid and Psyche; a grand allegory by Annibal Caracci, of Cupid clipping the wings of Time, a picture of the highest order; a classic Landscape, view in the vicinity of Tivoli, by Gaspar Poussin: a ditto by Wilson; a Magdalen by Guido Reni; and several select specimens by Teniers, Backhuysen, Potter, Schalcken, &c. &c.The MISCELLANIES in ART embrace a variety of chasings in silver and bronze, carvings in ivory, miniatures, and more especially an authentic one of our great dramatic bard, William Shakespeare; Oriental China ornaments, cases of drawing in

struments, antique snuff boxes, rare English and Roman coins quisite execution, a double set of Mudie's national medals, and medals, in silver and bronze, French mint medals of exstruck in silver, to exhibit at one view obverse and reverse of each, a curious antique rife gun of elaborate workmanship, a Spanish toledo and dress sword, an upright grand piano, fowl ing pieces, and mosaic slabs.-The JEWELLERY consists of pins, brooches, rings, necklaces, bracelets, and ear-rings set with diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, turquois, &c. gold chased seals and keys, ladies' gold and enamelled watches, &c. &c.-May be viewed on Monday, October 28th, and Tuesday 29th, by catalogues to be had at the rooms at one shilling-re turned to purchasers.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Philo's Essay has been received, and shall appear in our

next.

Petro is misinformed.--Henry 2nd received a Bull from the Pope to collect Peter's Pence in Ireland.-This tax was first collected in the eighth century by Offa, as a gift, but was afterwards claimed as a tribute by the Roman Pontiff.

Leander's Query is, we think, unanswerable.

We are reluctantly compelled to forego "The Lady's
Wish" until our next number.

A LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

This Paper is Published Weekly, and may be had of the Booksellers in Manchester; of Agents in many of the principal Towns in the Kingdom; and of the News-carriers. The last column is open to ADVERTISEMENTS of a Literary and Scientific nature, comprising Education, Institutions, Sales of Libraries, &c.

No. 40.-VOL. I.

FOR THE IRIS.

MYSELF.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE IRIS.

"I love to think of other times."

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1822.

any character which fate might assign him in the
general drama, than
myself.
No one at the time enjoyed better health or
gayer spirits, or saw life interspersed with half as
many glories, as
myself.
I believed I felt conscious that no one saw the
world in the same colours, viewed it with half the
raptures, or gained so much pleasure from it, as
myself.
I was young, and I thought no one was blessed
with such health of body, and vigour of mind,
myself

as

SIR, AS nothing but selfish things can be expected from me, I do not mean to deceive you by promising any other; and though the world calls it egotism when we speak concerning ourselves, yet I have no hesitation in stemming the torrent of public opinion by saying a few words about self. It is true that "the proper study of mankind is man," but the great evil lies in study-tence ing every one but ourselves." Know thyself" is a very fine maxim, and few, if any, are capable of being benefited by the precept, not so much by the difficulties they should encounter in exploring the spacious field, as in the reluctance with which they begin it: it is under these considerations that I prevailed on myself to trouble you with the cogitations of a lonely hour, because I am deeply impressed with a wish to 'know' and to study' myself.

I remember when the first dawnings of reason began to illuminate my infant mind, I was my mother's darling and my father's pride; I even then thought I was happy, because I was innocent; and as every thing said or done conspired to give me joy, I was convinced that no one ever had the felicity which I had myself.

I can even now pourtray the very feelings which influenced my little heart, when maternal kindness would kiss the wound sustained by a fall, or sooth me for the losing of a plaything. Often would mamma wipe off the trickling tear which flowed silently down my infant cheeks, and fondly press me to her bosom, by declaring she never had so fine a child as myself My infant years grew on a-pace, I was sent to school, here my true disposition began to appear, and nature, as if she purposely took off the mask, left me exposed to all the toils and troubles which impetuosity of disposition is capable of bringing on its youthful votary. Yet amidst all my wranglings and negligences, I saw none of my young compeers so clever as

I was surrounded by friends and relations, had a little of the competency of life; I was buoyed up with hope, a stranger to fear: I flew on the pinions of a golden dream, and never did exispromise more real happiness to mortal being, than to myself. I was in that season of life when the affections begin to work their care-giving joys, my spirits were warm, I "felt the softer flame," for I could easily perceive the darts of cupid play their merry dances round the fibres of my heart.-I loved, and I thought no one ever loved so ardently, as myself.

A thousand times has "beauty's pensive eye,

Won from my heart the homage of a sigh."

Often in prose and poetry have I immortalized
the silken eye-lash, the golden locks negligently
waving their lovely curls on the snowy neck, with
more pliant ease than Ceres, when she bows her
yellow head to court the fanning breeze-the rosy
cheeks-the blue eye—with health in body, and
peace in mind, Eliza was to me the world's
greatest treasure: love seemed to smooth the rug-
ged path of life; morning awoke me only to love
and gladness, and night brought her lonely hour
to yield me pleasure and content: but no one
could feel the reverse with more sorrow, than

myself.

PRICE 34d.

of death-her cheek, on which the roses and lilies mingled their loveliest hues, was cold, and paler than the morning star when she hides her silver beams in the west :-her face, on which the graces "seemed to set their seal," no more cheered the friendly circle with its smile; for pale death snatched "my early flower away," and left none to deplore the loss more keenly, than myself.

Surely the moments of parting are delicate in their nature, when the bosom is susceptible of those finer impulses of friendship, which can ill withstand the rude shock of separation; mine was "friendship heightened by the mutual wish"into the dearest love; and never did mortal part with more reluctance from his fellow than

myself.

I saw cruel and unrelenting death pluck my lovely rose, before its latent beauties were expanded to the cheerful sun of life.-I followed the slow mourning hearse which brought my lost love to the green church-yard; my eyes swam with tears as the last mournful solemnities were performed; the salt tears of sorrow trickled down my cheek, in languid streams, as I heard the hoary sexton throw the mouldering earth on the remains of Eliza-my heart was full-my soul afflicted-nature was oppressed. I looked round on the busy sons of men, but in vain, I found none more miserable, than myself.

I walked slowly home-'twas in that season of the year when autumn drops his yellow leaf; and the beauties of summer are beginning to be nipped by the asperity of approaching winter :the scene accorded with my soul's sadness, and drew forth the voice of sorrow from my bursting heart. I looked around on the rustling leaves as they fell, aged and decayed, from their parent branches-with moistened eye I beheld them,

round me falling,

Dry and wither'd to the ground

In Eliza I found taste and affection harmonious to my own, I was convinced that I placed my such is the picture of life, man is the leaf which affections on one of the best of beings-I swore falls before the rude breath of adversity when its eternal fidelity, and no one intended more con- gales blow keener than the piercing winds of austancy, than myself. tumn. I took a survey of the multiplicity of evils For a few years the illusion danced before my which accompany life. I beheld the splendid paeyes in its most alluring colours, like the painted lace and the humble cottage; I could trace riches butterfly, "child of the summer," from flower surrounded with pain and anxiety; poverty with to flower, 'till the keen blasts of adversity nipped ignorance and content. I drew the picture but I myself."my fond hope" in its bud; and no one felt the could not look upon it;-I beheld sorrow and depangs of disappointment sharper than myself. jection painted in every face, but in none more I parted with Eliza for ever.-Oh! never! than in that of myself. never! shall I forget that moment when she Often do I wander by the lonely churchyardgently took hold of my hand, and looking wist-side-often steal in to pay that tribute of regard fully in my face, in accents breathing love and to the departed Eliza, which affection claimed affection, "adieu! my love, my early while living-often have I wept over the urn of friend," said she, "farewell companion of the my departed love, often mingled my tears with cheerful morning of my youth! oh! had I lived the dew of heaven that wets the green grass around to become a sharer in your toil!-a companion in her grave: often do I sit in the old oak near the your griefs through the gloomy vale of life!--but church-yard gate, and silently contemplate the as it is, we must resign, though”- here her spangled heavens in their most resplendent glory eyes closed-her voice faultered-her spirits sunk. I left the room-I burst into tears-I had none into whose bosom I could pour the tale of woe, myself. The unerring dart of death was but too sure of its fair victim-two days was she ill-the third day she closed her blue languid eyes in the sleep

I was impatient of rule, impetuous and trifling in my conduct, for all this I saw no boy making such progress in his education as myself I went to more than a dozen schools, I had more tutors than all the family put together; yet it was generally said that no one made less progress in learning than myself. The transition from childhood to youth is too quick to be perceived by the school-boy, and never did the change take place more imperceptibly in any one, than in myself.

At last I left school, entered on the great stage of life as one of its most sanguine performers; and never one commenced his career on this great theatre, with more fascinating prospects than myself.

No one was ever more conscious of acting a bold and vigorous part in life, or of sustaining

but

the pale moon-the glimmering stars-the rolling clouds-the revolving planets attract my musing mind by their heavenly lustre; methinks I see Eliza sitting in the midst of them, attended by thousands of congenial spirits, surrounded by innocence and virtue; then I look down and survey the narrow house in which my early friend lies