Monmouthshire Merlin

COMING TO TOWN, AND OPENING PARLIAMENT. The "Movement" has commenced, and the metropolis is once more becoming filled with fashion, pouring itself in through every -leading avenue. London is just on the eve of being alive again,- and Westminster is awaking like n giant refreshed. Hut to the cry that everybody is coming to town," succeeds an other, that his Majesty is itat," and that Parliament is con- sequently to be opened by commission. Various speculations are afloat in political circles as to the opinions, influences, or IS circumstances, that have operated to produce this sudden cn&nge of the Royal mind but the best explanation of the an- nouncement of his Majesty's resolution not to come to town just now, is, that the return to St. James's at this juncture was never meditated at all, and consequently that the King had no intention of opening Parliament in person. Lords and Commons, however, will assemble and Debate will once more regain the use of its thousand tongues. The projected novelty, the talking-machine," has not yet been in- troduced, and the discus-ion must therefore be carried on upon tiie old principle—interrupted perhaps, just at this season, by an unavoidable increase of coughing." The longer we live the more we are convinced that nothing lengthens a speech so much as an attempt on the part of the audience to shorten it. Hear a man to the end, and it arrives sooner than you expect; mterrnpt him, and it extends into a resemblance of the Irish- man s rope, of which somebody had cut off the other end." W e recollect how an illustrious wit, now no more, described his mode of managing Coleridge, whenever the poet (as was his wont) launched out into a two-hour discourse upon me- taphysics. I never interrupt him," said always sit quiet until he tires himself, and then you take the sling out of him, and he's quite manageable." This should become a Par- liamentary principle. Men in these days will say their say and attempts to put them off with a half speech only urge them to perpetrate a double oration. An excellent hint, worthy alike of speakers and interrupters, is afforded in a case which came the other day under the notice of the Police Correction- elle in Paris. An oratieal witness would wander from the point into ancient history. The President, interrupting him, said*) Never mind ancient history." V ery well,' replied the witness, "just as you please. To proceed. The notion has often crossed my mind, &c,anrl then he coolly proceeded to thread his way through the dark tracks of ancient history, and to talk himself without metcy. To the point, to the point, sir." Very well," replied the witness, "just as you please. As I was saying," and so on. Ilis speech he would make, and the interruptions lengthened it. On he went, until he came to a triumphant point-" at all events my conscience does not re- proach me." Here, perhaps, he would have finally stopped, as at the climax of clap trap—but here the President again spoke, and the following ensued. President—Why should it? On the contrary, much praise is due to vou. W itness—That is just what I said to myself: nothing ought to hinder an honest man from obeying the cry of conscience. President—Well! well! you have disclosed all you know— sit down. Witness—And to allow any personal motives to hinder me from acting would be to incur general disapprobation, for- President—Enough, sir; sit down. Witness (continuing)—For the social wants require one to—• I President-git down. Witness-Afford mutual help, which President—Will you sit down ? Witness—Alone can be of real protection to citizens- President-Officer, make the witness resume his seat. Witness (speaking as he is led away by the officer )-Against the spoffations of the noctural robbers Ot eer (forcing the witness to his seat)—Come, eome, we have had quite enough. PaSs""588 minUte or two afterwards)—'Who infest terruDtionCethft-W^5 fCOn>ete~"t'le sPealter was satisfied. In- the renort'nf ,.aPPcaml to succeed, had but prolonged amnle of wh t'S 0 10n > ai*d he himself had furnished an ex- Perseverance! be Called the p0etry and PhilosoPhy of

•p. °PENING OP PARLIAMENT. r °Pcne(1 to-day by commission. The Royal bournp tl?n<vr %veFe~~t,le Chancellor, Viscount Mel- The V' C a"l"'s Lansdowne, and Viscount Duncannon. the nroc S *;ornniissk>n was read in the House of Lords, in werl c.,Cr>Ce °' 111611(1 hers of the House of Commons, who were summoned to attend at their Lordships' bar in the usual manner. The following is the KING'S SPEECH. <( LORDS AND GENTI/EMEN, > • M e are commanded by his Majesty to acquaint you, that is Majesty continues to receive from all Foreign Powers the strong assurances of their friendly disposition, and his Majesty iinn S tmt [^P^rience the blessings which peace confers quillitvatl°nS W'" tGnd to con^rul aiK' secure the present tran- fatorl^k :\ofajesty laments that the civil contest which has agi- C'OSP IF I!AN'S'' Monarchy has not yet been brought to a Xna" 'iu* 'ias continued to afford to the Queen of lfnlT K r"- '»y Treaty of Quadruple Alliance of sstrv' enoa?e<' to give, if it should become neces- 1 ^liijesty rejoices that his co-operating force has i< p use^ul assistance to the troops of her Catholic Majesty. n 1 -•vents have happened in Portugal which for a time threat- 1^ ° disturb the internal peace of that country. His Majesty ei'° .V1 consequence, a temporary augmentation of his naval 6 ln, agus> for the more effectual protection of the per- sorts Rlld property of his subjects resident in Lisbon and the in ms commanding his Majesty's squadron was authorised, of P » n, '.t0 aff°rd protection to the person of the Queen t- r 11w'thout, however, interfering in those Constitu- '°nS divided the conflicting parties. Is Majesty has directed the reports of the Commissioners IP in etl to enquire into the state of the province of T iOwer a't\c » a 1 before you, and has ordered us to call your r«wnh° 1 imP°rta:Usubj''f-t- deliherot V\'t a'so 'n. charge to recommend for your serious tho im 10n 056 provisions which will be submited to you for tice J^j0^CtIlen* °f *he law and of the administration of jus- plishment oftK °U \hat ,lk ^Iajesty's anxiety for the accom- <1 vtr thpe objects remains undiminished. von =1,? enj°ined to convey to you his Majesty's desire that inoro j consult upon such further measures as may give cn s ability to the Established Church, and promote CJacord and good will. OF THE HCSUSE OF COMMONS, ipv' ■ e of the year have been prepared with every ineet tpe exigencies of: the public service in the spirit eeortdmj. Majesty has directed them to be laid hitliP-t^0*1 delay. TJ» increage of the revenue has „ ,ln1' _-fn,10re than justified the expectations created by the re- newal (.1^>rmeF years. His Majesty recommends an early re- f lnquiries into the operation of the act permitting of Joint-stock Banks. The best security in thr> ,^maa;,?-i»cnt of banking affairs must ever be found the au'^ wtegritv of those who are entrusted with the miKr ,s 'r'itl0n °^thcm, and in the caution and prudence of whioh 10 n° 'cft's'ative regulation should be omitted increase and tjie stability of establishments «P<>n wh,ch commercial credit so much depends. „ ,,MYILOILDS AND ( 1 K\IL.LVMT:V, •mrioV 1 aj6Siy ^as m°re especially commanded us to bring a-iontim^n n!°tl?e the state of Ireland, and the wisdom of tHni TUch IB€asures as may improve the condition of that part of the United Kingdom. His Majesty recommends nicimT cons"'mtion the present constitution of the mu- and^hp t'lat country, the .collection of tithes, BrovismnV Pressing question of establishing some legal ^ucli nreeilit' 6 ^°°-r' yarded by prudent regulations and by lede^e of the 'T aSainst abuse, as your experience and know- mits thpsA ,6Ct ena^'e you to suggest. His Majesty com- that vou wif^T 1I?t.erests ^to your "hands, in the confidence wishes of his "Vf6- to ^rame ^aws iQ accordance with the Maiestv il J anLd the exPectations of his people. His wni 2 'n,P ,f fu' that should th>s h°Pe be fulfilled, you the law and o n t0 ^ie weifare*)f Ireland, but strengthen benefits tn nll I" ™, of these realms, by securing'their benehts to all classes of his Majesty's subjects." y

T I^. RYJ UEA,' .FE LOVER.—Instead of the romantic being imagined him to be, Antonio was the most matter-of-fact peison in the world the melancholy wanderer over whom mv tancy had woven a veil of mystery, never knew a moment's care except when a horse fell accidentally lame, or bad weather spoilt a day's sport. His temper was even, but his disposition was selfish. and his generosity only extended where his personal comfort was unconcerned. 1 do not complain of his conduct to me. He tried to make me comfortable, but. atas he Hnte un- derstood what conMituted my comfort. 1\ was not the ele- gantly furnished room, "or the box at the theatre, which I sought it was the look, the words wrbtclv had first charmed me, and which 1 now hoped to hear repeated. This was what 1 wanted, but this, alas! was destined never more to come to me. 1 was the welcome companion, -not the cherished idol of Antonio v he wished me to join him in his pleasures, and assist hitn in his need, but mild as his disposition was, it never sacri- t ficed its selfish inclinations. 1 gave way in every thing, 1 adopted his taste, and Waited on his wishes. My love was an active passion, which Wept me ever occupied with the object of it, while.his was only the social feeline which makes us seek a confidential compauion. I „w the Wenness of his own re- source#, and made myself necessary to him. I slaved for it, but it answered my end!-he could not do without me, and for ftar of losing 1M. proposed to many.

THS INTERRUPTED BRIDAL. Tlie gates of the good old English mansion, Vyvyan place, were rarely without visitants. But very rarely had such a crowd surrounded the time-honored porch as was a,sembled there to witness the bridal of Grace Vyvyan. Far and near, by rich and poor, by young and old, Grace was rather idolised than loved and there were some circum- stances connected with her approaching marriage which caused all who knew her to take even a more than usual interest in the event. Such phrases as "poor lady!" "so young and good and handsome, too," might be heard; from which even a stranger might have guessed that but little good was prognos-- ticated of the approaching ceremony, so far as the bride was concerned and any one who had carefully noted the brent brows and flashing eyes of sOme of the men, as they stood apart in little groups of five or six, would not have long hesitated to say that slight provocation from the bridegroom would have procured him as much exercise for sword and dagger as would render it expedient to defer matrimony foi' some time—if not for ever. Vyvyan Place wii? 'che of those vast and solemn old man- sions, of wiliela f U',11 vet the lover of the antique and the noble may '.vtcpi Wilh some few specimens and which it is impossible to enter without feeling that there is a legend connected with every room of it; or, if there be not, that there ought to be. The long and vaulted passages which return the footsteps in hollow and almost melancholy echoes, and the spacious apart- ments, with their floors of polished oak, huge fire-places, and great hay windows, of Vyvyan place, told of the days, when they and the broadlands far around rewarded the first of the Vyvyans, for the well-timed loyalty with which lie made his own person the shield for th&t of his sovereign against a thrust which, but for his prompt devotion, had sent the King to his eternal home and plunged England in a civil w.ir, In the no- blest of the noble apartments of this vast and venerable house a group was assembled, from whose appearance and conversa- tion no one, without other ineans of judging, would have deemed that the bridal üf one of the family was expected that year, to say nothing of that day. Sir William Vyvyan had established himself at the bay window, and was exceedingly intent, as it appeared, on the task of counting the several leaves upon one or more of the giant oaks in the distance Grace Vy- vyan was speaking with a, flushed countenance, and with a vehement motion of her small, white, fairy-like hand, which for the first time in her life taught those who saw her, that even her sweet temper might be tried a little beyond calm endurance. Her lady mother tried to look at her very indignantly, but, in fact, only succeeded in looking very much puzzled; and, of two swarthy gentlemen who completed the party. it would be difficult to say whether father Francis or gentle-Master Aubrey bore the more snake-like expression of concentrated malignity in his large dark eyes gleaming with an unpitying light. It is true that the zeal or the curiosity of those without doors had caused them to assemble some hours earlier than necessary but though it was thus early, and relatives and friends were yet to arrive, and even the hride's-maids were in no hurry to "at- tire their fair friend for the important ceremony, the aspect of the family party was assuredly anything but wedding-morning- like. Whatever may be your power ever me in other respects," exclaimed Grace, "you shall not in my presence assail the fair fame of Edward Clinton without hearing me defend him. I repeat that only force, the worse than force, you exercise over me in the terrible power you have over my unhappy father, could induce me to live to have my hand claimed and tyran- nically seized by an Aubrey, when my whole heart is given to a Clinton." Daughcr exclaimed her mother and in that age a pa- rent was ever reverently listened to, and for a moment Grace was silent. But finding that her mother added nothing to her exclamation of warning or remonstrance, she resumed. For the sake of my unhappy father—for unhappy he must be when his safety depends on so abhorrent and ill-assorted a union—I may not, I dare not, resist yoaf power in aught else but as you would avoid the sharp stmguigs of indignant and reproach- ful truths, fearle?*!y and promptly spoken, I warn ye that ye never again speak slightingly of one to whom, were ye a thou- sand times as good as ye are, ye were not comparable," And thus speaking she rose and left the apartment. On reaching her chamber the fair girl experienced that ter- rible re-action which unwonted mental excitement rarely fails to produce, and she, before whom two of the sternest hearts in Christendom had quailed but a minute before, now sank upon her couch in an agony of tears and shuddering. From contemplating her grief we must for a brief space turn to the chief cause? of it. The short reign of Edward VI, and the alterations it had produced as to ecclesiastical property and authority, gave birth to a deadly animosity between the rival faiths, which in the succeeding reign, of Mary, was mani- fested in scenes at which angels might weep and fiends exult. As usual in matters of opinion, though many had changed from careful examination and perfect conviction, not a few had changed from that mere weakness, the love of change, for its own sake. Among the number of the latter was Sir William Vyvytm. Crged into enthusiasm by the enthusiasm of not a few of the courtiers with whom he associated, he had embraced the opi- nions for which the young King and his favourites had de- clared themselves; and it Was with absolute dismay that he saw tho untimely deaths of Edward and of Lady Jane Grey call into life and permanency the power of Mary. Sir William wa-: not t.lt £ man to volunteer martyrdom in any cause. Tak- ing 'he earliest opportunity to withdraw from Court, he has- tened to his ancestral seat, and congratulated himself upon his fortunate escape. His great wealth, and his daughter's great beauty, had caused the hand of the latter to be sought by a soldier of for- tune, the stern-visaged Aubrey. A flat refusal was Sir Wil- liam's answer; and this for two reasons; firstly, he hated the sight of Aubrey and secondly, he had betrothed his daughter to Edward Clinton, a gallant youth whose paternal property abutted on Vyvyan place. When Aubrey took his leave, on receiving so determinate a refusal, a man of greater discern- ment than Sir William would have seen something ominous in the sardonic sneer with which Aubrey consented to promise that, though not destined to be more nearly connected, they should meet again for all that." Sir William, however, saw nothing to excite suspicion or alarm and the term of proba- tion which young Clinton's father had imposed on the lovers having expired, preparations had already commenced for their nuptials, when Aubrey, attended by a stern-looking ecclesias- tic, suddenly appeared to throw both families into a state of the most admired disorder." A brief private interview convinced both the weak-minded Sir William and his gentle but high-minded daughter, that the life and property of the former were at the mercy of Aubrey, who, having been among the frst to proffer sword and service to Mary while her power was as yet unstable, was now mighty to destroy or to save. Loving and beloved, it was with no slight effort that Grace determined to sacrifice her own hap- pin and that of her lover. But her father's life was at stake the power of her forbidding and unwelcome suitor was demon- strated by documents too authentic to admit of doubt, and too comprehensive and efficient to admit of resistance or evasion; and, as we have already shown the reader, Edward Clinton was discarded, and the day had arrived for the nuptials of Grace Vyvyan and the heartless and rapacious Aubrey. The Day! the very hour at length arrived. Weeping, pale as monumental marble, yet erect, and with a firm, an almost haughty step, Grace descended to the grand withdrawing-rooni. As she passed through an anti-chamber one of her bride maids took her aside for an instant and sniù-" Why tears? Wiry tremors? JVear as ruin seems, I tell you yet again that rescue is still nearer. Why, rather than see you the bride of the ruf- fian sworder Aubrey, the mailed hireling of any cause, good or bad, the craven shame of manhood, who could thus wed un- willing beauty for the sake of hoarded and coveted gold; why! dearly as we have loved each other since childhood, I vow that I could rather strangle you with my own hand than witness so unholy and unnatural a union. Courage Aubrey's fancied triumph is only delayed that his fall may be the more complete. 'Trust the Mevillc!' is our motto; neither my father nor I will this day belie it." Amid the sighs of some, and the prayers of all, the gallant procession wended its way to the olden chapel of the Vyvyans, and the foremost of the party had already entered when Ed- ward Clinton rushed forward, and in a voice tremulous with passion, and with a visage which told how fearful and deadly that passion was, called upon Aubrey to draw and defend his life. To do that unscrupulous person justice, he did not num- ber cowardice among his numerous bad qualities and a fierce combat had already commenced when the Lord Neville and his armed followers rushed from the chapel. In an instant the combatants were separated, and in a solemn and sonorous voice Lord Neville exclaimed, God save Queen Elizabeth I" It would be to gild refined gold," to attempt to describe the delight with which the lovers heard the magical words which put all obstacles all dangers to flight. Aubrey and his priestly col- league found it good for their longevity to depart without the ceremony of leave-taking; ami in a very few days the whole neighbourhood of Vyvyan place were gratified with the sight of a real, and not an Interrupted bridal. W. T. II,

IRON TRADE IN FRANCE. Extract of a paper read by Mr. Porter at the Statistical S(. ciety More than two-thirds of the value created in France by mining industry belongs to its iron-works. These are spread over a great part of the kingdom, there being only 12 out of the 86 departments, into which it is divided, whore iron-woiks are not carried on. The quantity of ore extracted from the whole of the iron mines amounted to 1,551,473 tons English weight, of which the value was 1144,252, which is considerably in- creased by the cost of labour in dressing the ore, and of car- riage to the furnaces. The number of smelting furnaces in use was 374 and the weight of iron produced 221,886 tons. About five-sixths of this quantity was made in the form of pig-iron, and the remainder into castings of various kinds. The value added to the mate- rial by these operations was £ 1,297,502. Number of reverberatory furnaces for re-melting pig-iron, 59.—Cu- polas for ditto, 132,-Qualltity of metal thus treated, 15,492 tons.—Of which the value was, £238,3Ij5,-And the cost of the processes, £ 142,575. Hence, it appeals, that the cost of pig-iron is equal to L7. 5s per ton, and of castings from re-mehings £18. 12s 3d per tdn. There are stated to have been in use 97 furnaces for convert- ing tiie ore at onre into malleable iron and steel, by a peculiar process, employed in Corsica. The quantities of each metal produced in this manner were-iron, 8531 tons; steel 399 tons. The value of the metal produced, and the cost of these pro- cesses, were :— Value. Cost of process. Iron £ |3S,002> Steel 8,577 J ^O9*527- wumDer or torges lor converting cast into malleable iron, 1,230.— Quantity made by these, 131,862 tons.—The value of which was, £2.25I,280.-Per ton, £17. Is 7d.—Whole cost of this conversion,- £ 1,062,870.—Per ton, jg8. Is. 3d.

UNSPOKEN SPEECHES.—The Morning Post of Monday gravely gives, as having been delivered at the Pee) Banquet on Friday I week, three of the speeches which were intended to be spoken 1 on the occasion, but on which the prosing of the previous speak- I er», and the rapid ixlvauce of morning, put an unmerciful ex- ngui«her. TUe speeches had doubtless been previously de- the™ fos' s UepOiter, wtio had at once transmitted ine™'10 duly garnished with cheers," loud cheer- 4111 raptur«us appUus?." The names of the speakers enee a^°»5C,,ons ,laVe I'een thus singularly called int-o exist- 'l'lie (;j A. An<lerson, !\1r. Leadbitter, and Mr. Brash. ihe Exi'wf •^rg"»-slatett that when the. Post was received in i occasioned^ at*'n8-rt>oms, ihe.sighl of the lost Pleiads'' OCCBL%iontd ihe Exi'wf •^rg"»-slatett that when the. Post was received in i occasioned^ at*'n8-rt>oms, ihe.sighl of the lost Pleiads'' I Mr. J, A Ah!?*18 of *aughler" fusd "rapturous applause." I "camperej 0R 1*°" 1,18 cars ,*lie a mouse in. a bowl, and 1 gratataiioQ. when his friends crowded round him with con- I the other hi* successful gpeech. Leadbitter, on Ituted his own a ^<*0 man, repaired to the stand, and p«. owls eff,iott with sincere delight and admiration.

MADAME DEKAXMTENON. Jamais Numa sansKgeric. N'eut triomphè days l'ltalie Ni Mahomet sans tin pigeon Racine mcltra dam l'histoire Que sans la sage Ahintcnon Le grand Louis serit sans gloire. Madame de Maintenon, whos< proper name was Frances d'Aubigne, of an ancient hut reduced family, was born in 1635, in a prison at Paris, where her father was. incarcerated, and her mother being unable to support hir, she fell to the care of her paternal aunt, Madame Yilette. T( escape this state of depend- ence, she married the celebrated tioct Scarron; who himself subsisted on a pension allowed bythe court. With him she lived many years but at his death in 1660, she found herself as indigent as before; Iter frien(s endeavoured to obtain a continuance of her husband's pensim, and presented so many petitions to the King, all beginningwith The widow Scarron most humbly prays your Majesty," &c., that, annoyed at this frequent occurrence, he exclaimed, Must I always be pes- tered with that widow Scarron linally, however, he settled on her, through the recommcndatioq of Madame de Montes- pan, a much larger pension, and coifided to her the education of the young Duke of Maine. The letters she wrote on this occasion attracted the attention of Uc King, and were the ori- gin of her advancement. Louis suUequently conferred on her e "0" the lands of Maintenon, and thence :he derived the appellation by which she was ever afterwards kiown. About the end of 1685, Louis XIV. is stated to havcrnafried her, although she had completed her fiftieth, and he w:;s in his forty-eigth year. The extraordinary elevation of .Madame de Maintenon," says the Right Hon. Edward Hopkins,* the influence she pos- sessed over Louis XIV., and consequently the share she had in the affairs of Europe, will not perrrit me quite to forget her. She was of low birth—at all events could not claim gentility she was the widow of the poet Scarion, and now wife to the Grand Monarch, of which fact not one man of sense in France makes the least doubt. The truth of it is universally believed the King, at different times, through conscience or esteem for her, or indeed justice, had a mind to (eclare the marriage, but policy forbade. He durst not stand thi resentment of the Dau- phin and the Princes of the Wood, hazing on occasions reason to know how averse it was to them and latterly, Louis had grown very timorous. Fenelon's (tie great Archbishop of Cam bray) disgrace was owing to Mainenon's influence. Hav- ing been in high favour, and chosen pieceptor to Les Enfans de France,' as most proper to form grait Princes, he had ad- vised the King to wave the intended dlclaration, and that was the real cause of his persecution afterwards, at the Court of Rome, though his book was the pretence. Madame de Main- tenon went every morning to the convent she had erected, and staid till the time the King came to her apartment, which was regularly at eight o'clock, and he eontiiwed with her uhtil sup;' per. His Ministers joined him there to confer in her presence; all others retired at the entrance. Whenever the Princcsses or great ladies saw her, she was upon a lit de repos,' a.s if in- disposed, apparently to avoid the embui-tas of the ceremonial, considering what she really was. Few of the Court ever saw her, except upon her going to and fro in tier coach to the Con- vent but there happened an extraordinary occasion, which gave me a full view and observation of her, upon the marriage of her niece to the Due de Xouailles, which was performed in the parish church of Versailles, when all of the highest rank of the Court, under the Princes of the Mood, of both sexes, at- tended and paid her great honour. She was in high good hu- mour, as she had reason, for her niece's marriage into one of the greatest families in the kingdom. She was dressed decently, becoming her age, and as an old woman of quality.would do. She affected not to conceal her grey hairs. She had no remains of beauty, which indeed it is said she never possessud but she had a good and sensible countcnancc, and in troti all must allow that she was a woman of very extraordinary talent. Madame de Maintenon's zeal in the cause of religion was great. From a gay and licentious Prince she converted Louis into a devotee, and to her advice and influence is ascribed the celebrated revocation of the edict of Xantz, She tl- prevailed on ths monarch to found a religious community for the educa- tion of three hundred ladies of rank at St. Cyr, whither she fre- quently retired, as a relief from that melancholy, ofvvhieh she complains so pathetically in one of her letters, and .hich few, unaware of her real situation, could have supposed her liable to in a rank so elevated. Though Queen of France in all but the name, she had to endure much affliction, more, she used to say, than her patience could have borne, had not the further- ance of religion and morality throughout her country been ever present to her thoughts. Hated by all the Royal Family for her power over Louis, disliked by a Court recently so licen- tious, for the strictness of her principles, and unpopular with the multitude, who ascribed to her counsels the ill-success of the French arms, she was continually harassed with every in- sult, every invective that spleen and rage could invent. Re- gardless, however, of the world's injustice, she continued to fulfil every duty of a true and loyal wife, and wa.s the sole soother of the sorrow, sickness, and nge, under wkicli Louis laboured in the melancholy years that terminated his reign. In 1715 the great monarch breathed his last, ann Madame Maintenon immediately retired to St. Cyr. On her way thither she thus feelingly addressed her faithful companion, Mile. d'Aumale :—"My grief for the King," said she, "is great, but it is soft and tranquil. I shall often weep, but my tears will be tears of tenderness, for in the bottom of my heart his Christian death gives me joy. I have already offered a thanksgiving to Cod for it. From the beginning of his sick- ness I have never prayed for his life, but for his salvation." Yet ever after, when she named her Royal husband, she could not restrain her tears. To Madame de Glapion, who expressed her astonishment at seeing so much weakness joined with so much fortitude, she said, Daughter, one may wetp for a King." It is a most surprising circumstance that Laiie left no certain provision for her, only recommending her to,tl|p Duke of Orleans. She would accept no mofQ than a^pension of 80,000 livres, which was punctually paidijtntil her feath. She survived the King four years,.which period she spent in the closest seclusion at St. Cyr, wholly occupied in acts of charity and devotion. The sole event that broke in on the quietude of her retirement, was tlie visit paid to her lyy the PeteeJ The Muscovite Entpcrrrr, who trttversed klrigfffikiU iwtfearch-eT the great men of the age, and who was himself the^entest of them all, expressed a wish, when in France, to see the woman whom Louis the Fourteenth had loved. Madame de Mainte- non acceded to the request, but begged his Majesty would permit her, on account of her infirmities, to receive his visit in bed. The community of St. Cyr, in the habit of ceremony, met at the gate of the cloister the Russian Prince, w40 pro- ceeded directly to Madame Maintenon's apartment, followed by some French noblemen and his own small train. ilaving entered into conversation with the Royal widow, he himself drew aside the curtain of the bed, desiring that it might be also opened at the feet. He attentively gazed oa her, and seemed much struck with the still dignified and amiable expression ot her countenance. I can easily believe," said he to those around him, that this woman was a queen." Madame de Maintenon died the 15th of April, 1819. The following epitaph, by the Abbe Yertot, was engraved upon her tomb The more we examine Frances d'Aubtgne, in the several periods and different situations of her life, the less we shall doubt that she was a saint, and almost a heroine facile crederes inngnam libenter." We have, perhaps, erred in classing Madame de Main tenon among those generally denominated the female favourites of Kings, as she was the wife, and not the mistress, of the mo- narch. We were solely induced to do so by the mystery at- tached to her eventful career. We shall now conclude the present subject, as we by no means seek to detail the lives of those women who ruled France under the licentious Louis XV.; the mistress of whom were bad, without a single virtue.—Court Paper. This gentleman, who visited France in the suite of the first Eng- lish Ambassador after the Revolution, has left behind him a very inte- resting manuscript history of his travels, from which the extract above is made. Mr. Hopkins was Secretary of State for Ireland. -0-

Co; RT OF REQUESTS.—AN AWKWARD SITUATION fOR A BEDSTEAD.— A very red-gilled slieep's-eyed-Jooking butcher, summoned a very steady-looking limb of the law for 14s for meat, alleged to have been had and eaten, or (in the language of the said butcher) dewoured and not paid fot by no means.- Commissioner :-( to defendant)—How will Jou pay this 1- Defendant: Immediately, Sir; and, perhaps, you'll allow me to explain the animus of this prosecution 1-011, certainly go on Sir.—Defendant Well then, Sir, I can assure you, that if the plaintiff's bedstead didn't stand where it 4>es—I shouldn't have been summoned here this day.—Commis>ioner Indeed Be good enough to explain that.-Plaintiff: I will, Sir, if you please. My wife's bedstead stands just aginsta wall as belongs to a room as a Conserwative sirciety meets in^ Werry weIl- they get a singing "God save the King," "Ctippies lie down," and all sorts of SUI h tbingt, and my wife kni c'ut git no sleep, and it was only the 'tother night my wife wassbOOk right out of bed as they was a drinking the health of fcir "Robert Peel, and I can prove the bruises on her. (laughter.,)—Commis- sioner: lleally that's a veiy said affair. I wis Dot aware that loyalty was so general.-Plainliff: Lord bless Vt^t, Sir, though I lives in Hoiford-market I'm rcglcr'ly anh(5^f> they gits up 0 debates, and drinks healths so hard that naiojly kar'nt git a wink of sleep, and so my wife has determined k*|put an end to it. (Laughter.) This man is one ot ihero»— (ybe red-gilled butcher here looked remarkably vicious.)-^ AwJuryman: I should really recotiimend the I)Iaintiff to askiiii,,wife's krmis- ion to shift the head of this liedstead, or he wijjt liever be out of difficulty, <Tlie tMrt sud cott»&re the*- paid, and the parties quitted the Court.. 1 A NOVEI. WA(;nR.—A coal-heaver, WITH ^N^PSUAL aPPar- te natives of huge knocked knees and round shoulders, known at the City Basin as YafHing Billy,f* summoned a brother coal-heaver at the same wharf to tWwlCoiinty Court, Kings'-ate street, for lo:M, r. Dubois What'sit.for 7 Plain- tiff: Vy, my Lord, I'll tell you. We chap^ as fikes 'ard work likes lots of beer and wittles, and soptetintft we vvies (vie) whu li on us can heat most, and drink most beer, and you'd be astonished if so be you hadcom'd amor,g-uSí sQlne night, and seed us. (Laughter.) Well, I makes a wager as how, arter we'd unloaded Lord Melbourne—A Juryman: Unloaded who, sir ?-Plaintiff Vy, Lord Melbourne, and a ptecious big barge, too, I can tell Y8, only precious leaky, I expects we shall all go down in her some day (laughter) bnt that's neither here nor there. Howsomdever, I betted a bet 116 how I'd drink twenty pots of heavy all to my own cheék, it twenty quarters of an hour. (Laughter.) Veil, ve get! rid if old cranky (the barge), and I goes regler to work on the beefj and I vun it, my Lord (laughter) I drink't every drop on itfand 'ad a quarter of an hour to spare and then this 'oar Ufthouourable feller said he hadn't got no money, and so I took legal advice, and took the lor on him.—Commissioner: What do you say to this ungentlemantly transaction. ( Roars of )augh(et.)--Pefendant: Vy. I 'nose the lor,35 well as he does, and you 'nose as how he can't rekiver not in pint of lor; its a galling irausactioo. (Hoars of laughter.)-Plaintiff: I'll bet yon two to.one you'll sartinly fall overboard one of these 'ear days;, (!'he latter ob- servation was made very significantly.) Yo. 'nose hour rules, yer waimint. (Laughter.)-Commillliioner; Order, air, and do'flt threaten the poor man. The jury cannot entertain the case. It 14 dismissed.— Defendant, waving his fan tiler in triumph, turned to the plaintiff, andwid, Now, who 'nose the lor. In ye, my little yaffler t" (Laughter The smutty liti- gants left the Court highly complimenting ea<h other, after the highly approved fashion of Puddle Dock. Washing the throat and chest every morning on rising with strong vincgai and water, in equal parts, it an inflilible pre- veutive „fit<Jl<ienza. Tbis ought to tie maie widely known; for the d'isease is now quite as fatal as wa&tlie cboleira» when in KngVand. Lord Russell, •Chairman of 'he'Dmrv_Jan«rHeform Din- ner, is the only child of the Marqaes^of Ta*i»mclt. tJV his mar. iiage with the eldest daughter ot the £ arl of Harrington. His Lordship is in his 2SMi year, ant) representative |^r Tavis- | tock.

ORANGE MEETING IN DUBLIN. The Orangemen of Ireland, modestly laying exclusive claim to the title of Protestants, called together by the eight Lords, have had their meeting, and a prccious exhibition it was. Nothing could, exceed the frantic violence of the speakers, The resolutions adopted are moderation itself compared to the language and action of the speakers. Lord Hoden drew out an orange handkerchief, and suddenly a thousand were unfurled and waved. Insanity seemed to have taken in3tant possession of the assemblage. The speeches and exclamations were most ferocious. Sir Robert Peel may rest assured that these tigeis are the most dangerous enemies with whom he has to contend. The proceedings did not terminate when the accounts were for- warded from Dublin, but the great guns had been fired off, and nothing remained but the discharges of the light infantry. We I r have the details from our own reporter, as well as in the Dublin Evening Post, and in two Conservative contemporaries, the I'ost and the Herald, and with perfect safety may we state, that Sir Robert Peel has more cause to lament this frenzied ex- hibition than his Majesty's Ministers. The Lail of Roden took it upon him to assert that that was the most important, the most influential, and the greatest assemblage of the Pro- testants of Ireland that ever took place." The Noble Lord must either have forgotten the great Protestant meeting of 1829 in favour of Caiholic Emancipation, or, having recollected it, knowingly said that which is not the fact. The display of titles is meagre the display of orators such as to give pain only to their friends. nut, indeed, what has the cabal really to com- plain of but the extinction of factious ascendancy, the impartial administration of justice, and the declared purpose of the Go- vernment to reform the civil and ecclesiastical institutions of the country 1 And first, for the material part of the proceed- ings, and for the impudent pretence by which the cabal styled themselves the Protestants of Ireland. We have it, fortunately, in our power to try these two things by an infallible test—the signatures to the Leiusler Protest, to which we have already more than once adverted with satisfaction, and to which we ntov reveit with triumph. We pray the dispassionate fiiitish reader to look closely to the following array of rank, and sta- tion, and fortune put forth on both sides-that is, on the side of Lord Downshire and his Tory confederates on the one pait, and of the Duke of Leinster and his reforming associates on the other. To make the contrast more striking, we give the names in parallel columns H TO It 1ES. R i: FORMERS. r).E).s. REEITS. Duke Dukcs Leiuster Marquesses Downshiie Devonshire Waterford Marquesses Sligo Earls Rathdowne Anglesey Roden lleadfort Belmure Clanricarde Charleviile Earls Fitzwilliam Donoughmore Ludlow Bandun Besborough Glengall Essex C'ourtown Charlemont Viscounts llarberton Leitrim Doneraile Fingall Ferrard Shannon Lords Hawarden Roscommon Muskerry v Milltown Downes Viscounts Gormanstown Clonbrock Lismore Crofton South well Clarina Bangor Blayney -.20 Templetown Duiially Riversdale Cloncurry Itanc I if re Cloncurry Rossmorc French Ilovvden Dunboyne Tcniplemore Carew Strafford Talbot de Malabide Sherborne 34 We peiceive that the coronets of Lords Hill and Riversdale have been stolen for the occasion by the honest Tories, to add to the diminished lustre of their gathering, though it is noto- rious that the gallant Commander-in-Chief, however his feel- ings incline that way, did not deem it quite becoming in a pub- lie servant to join openly in a factious cabal against the King's Government; and though it is equally certain that Lord Ri- versdale has joined in the protest against the corrupt and selfish agitation of the Tommy Downshire boys and Jocelynites Thus, in point of title and property, it is seen that the corrup- tionists are in a humiliating minority, while the majority of the Reformers is still more triumphant among the Commoners. Sixteen Members of Parliament attended upon Lord Down- shire's call. Fifty-seven have protested against the Noble Marquess's agitation and misrepresentations. Of these twenty- eight aie Protestants.— Evening Chronicle.

POLICE. MANSION-IIOUSF.—Jane Turner, a Belfast woman, in the depth of poverty, pregnant, and having a child in her arms and five half-naked children in her train, was brought before the Lord Mayor by a police-man, who had the preceeding night conveyed them in a most deplorable condition from the street to the Giltspur-street Compter. The policeman stated that he found the woman and her wretched family at half-past eleven o'clock on Wednesday nigbt near the pI i vate door of the Mansion-house. She told him that she had come to town from Saffron Walden for the purpose of taking a last farewell of her husband, who had been transported for life of what she was told was forgery, and she showed hi u a letter from the unfortunate convict abounding with affection, and expressive of his anxiety to see his children before his final departure. She also said, that upon arriving at WobLvich she learned that he had sailed for his destination, and that after all the suffering which she had experienced she was now most desirous to receive some little help in her walk from London to Manchester. The Lord Mayor having read the letter, asked the woman w.lu^hef her hu-sb'tad had written it s Tiiefjboman replied that he had not, for he could not write. TheUtnrd Mayor :How then could he have committed for- gery 7—The woman 1 don't know how they could make him guilty, your Lordship, for I know he can't write a word, but he was tried on the 17th of October, at Saffron Walden-welt I remember the day. The policeman said. that as far as he was able to collect from what she had told him, her husband had been charged with having had something to do with forged passes, by which paupeis imposed upon parishes. The W oman That's the case I believe, your Lordship. He was taken up with another man and woman and tiicd for the forgery, and they made him out guilty, though he said he was innocent, and God knows I believe him. lie used to go about the couulry to support all of liS, and in less than six weeks there'll be another of us in the wide world, and nobody to help us. Oh you don't know what a power of misery I've suffered since he was taken from us. The Lord Mayor: Whatever might have been his degree of guilt, it is evident that you are a great sufferer. But what rea- son have you for thinking that your husband has been trans- ported for life 7—The Woman Sure there's nobody would have heart to tell me an untruth. 1 know well they have, for I got a petition drawn up, that was signed by the minister and the people that know me, to the King's Minister, and I brought it up to London with me, for they all thought he wouldn't be sent away from nic. The Lord Mayor Are you sure that this is not a made-up story?—The woman: I'll suffer to be patted from my poor children, as well as from him, for ever, if I tell a word that is not true. The minister and the neighbours in Saffron Walden did all they could, but we never got an answer from the King's Minister. i hey were so good to me that I must have perished along with all these poor things, and the one that's not born yet, but for them. At Deptford, too, that I just come up from, J got such kind help from Mrs. Stone, a lady that only lives, I believe, to help such poor cieatures as myself. The Lord Mayor: Are all these children your own 7—The woman: 011, yes; He knows it that knows all our hearts. There's the oldest; she has never been well since her father was took up. The Lord Mayor: She looks ill what is her age 7—The woman Thirteen years' old there is just two years difference between each of 'em their father wished too see 'em so much before he'd go, that it broke my heart more than anything else that he went without it. The Lord Mayor: And what d,, you propose to do?—The woman My father and mother are at Manchester, and I want to go to them they are very poor, and able to give me but little assistance but 1 trust in God we could get some of the children off our hands, and then I could work for the rest. The Lord Mayor Some inquiiy shall be made, and in the mean time you and your children shall be taken care of at my expense, and you shall have covering and shoes. I have been fiequcntly imposed upon, but I hope and believe that it is not the case now. The woman May God reward you, and I hope you will ax if I am not telling the truth, my Lord and if you find me out saying a word that's false, send me to prison, and keep me there for ever. Some kind-hearted bystanders who witnessed the scene, were much affected at it, and gave the most convincing proof of their sincerity.

Lord Lovat, to whom his Majesty has been pleased to re- store the ancient title of his family, which was forfeited when the famous Lord Lovat was beheaded in 1746, married the Hon. Charlotte Jerningham, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of the present Lord Stafford. It is a curious coinci- dence to remark that, by the maternal side, he is lineally de- scended from Lord Kenmure, who suffered in 1716, and also the Earl of Carnworth, who was condemned at the same period. Ilis Lordship, who is a keen sportsman and a capital shot, maintains the greatest hospitality, in the true Baronial style, f as wont by chieftains of old, at his magnificent seat, Leiufort Castle, Inverness-shire. The celebrated Falls uf Kelmorak, and the iomantic pass of the D'eaum. on the river Beauley, which intersects his domain, are the admiration of all travellers in search of the picturesque. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JANUARY27.—The King v. Parry. — The Attorney General, Mr. Matile, and Mr. Chilton, showed cause against a rule, calling upon the defendant to show cause why he exercised the office of Town-councillor of the borough of lleieford. The objection to his election was, that there had not been a proper revision of the burgess list of the ward which he represenied. The borough was divided into three wards, and two assessors were appointed for each of the wards, and (tCO lIssessors for the whole borough. The assessors for the whole borough acted as assessors in this case, instead of the two as- sessors for the Mayor's Ward. It was then objected that the burgess list revised by these assessors was not an authorised list according to the itatute, and that consequently Mr. Parry's election was void. The learned counsel contended, first, that the Court would not receive this objection, because it was madq by a person whose title to be a burgess, if he was one, was dis-j rated and if he was not a burgess, he had no right whatever to appear in Court as a relator and next, that if this objection prevailed, it would not only affect the election of Mr. Fairy, but would destroy the existence of the Corporation itself.-Sit t •" an(^ Whateley on tha other side contended, that this last consequence-was not so dreadful as to alarm tlie "Court fjrom 'enforcing the law (a laugh); and that as to the first ob. jection, every inhabitant subject to the government of a Cor- poration, and liable to the rates and taxes it imposed, was a good Telator fo* the purposes pf a motion like the prelcnt.-i- The Court took time to consider. An individual; sentenced to hard labour in a house of de- • teniion at Wiwbooig, recently committed suicide, because the judgment pronounced against him deprived hira of the elective Iranchise,—•

iMterrllatty. The following excellent advice is given in a letter 10 tliu working elates, which is ascribed to Mr. 31. D. Hill Frnuklin says, If you want a good bcrvant, wait on your- self. I might startle you by saying, If you want a good edu- cation tench yourselves nor would the advice, if understood in too literal a sense, be sound hut it is true, beyond all doubt, that every mrtn who has had a reSlly good education has done infinitely more for himself than his best teachers have done for him and it is equally true that many of the greatest men that ever lived have been self-educated. For my own part, I be- lieve the greatest difficulty in learning is overcome when the scholar is made aware that with ardour and industry he may do everything for himself, and without these good qualities no teachers can help him. An account of the sporting excursions of Charles X. just published, specifies, among other curious articles, the number of head of game killed by the ex-King in each year. In one season from 20,000 to 25,000 head were killed, of which the King killed from 8000 to 10,000 the Dauphin, 7000 to 8Q00, and the Ojficiers des Chasses, f>000 to 6000. 'The number of pheasants killed each year by the Royal sportsmen was 8000; each bird cost ncaily 20 francs to the peasantry. DON CAIU.OS.—'The following proves pretty clearly the opi. nion entertained by the friends of Don Carlos here, of the pros- pects of his cause. A well-known Carlist house in Coieman- street, London, had ordered 8000 shoes for the use of the Pre- tender's army, of an eminent manufacturer in Ilatton Garden, who has, however, within the last few days, been instructed in sell Ihetu for any thing they will fetch.— Don Carlos had belter be off while his shoes are good. EXAMINATION OF LAW STUDENTS.—The Hilary Term ex- amination of attorneys under the new system, which has excited such interest in the legal profession, commenced and terminated on Monday last, at the hall of the Incorporated Law Society, Chancery-lane. The number of students who attended con- siderably exceeded that of former years, being no less than 138. Several young gentlemen, from theirdeficicncy, did not, to their gieat mortification, pass the examination, in which no material change, so it is understood, had taken place. The inquiry ex- tended to all the branches of law and practice-established common and statute law—conveyancing—equity—-bankruptcy criminal law, and practice of the Courts in other departments. The respective students have since petitioned the examiners for re examination, and the request is now under the consideration of those gentlemen. Yesterday several inquiries were made at the office of the above Association for lists of those students that bad passed, but the reply was, that no lists had as yet been published, nor was it likely that any would be printed. Many of the successful candidates have received their certificates from the board. The names of the examiners and their proceedings are kept secret until their decision on the above question, as to the propriety of a second examination is made known. The determination of the examiners is likely to be known this day. — Evening Chronicle of Friday. A NEW WONDER IN SONG.-The musical world of Dresden have recently been enchanted by the delightful singing of Fraulein Ilenriette Carl, who appears to have created a most extraordinary sensation in that city. A correspondent of the Altgemeine Musikalssches Zeitung applies to her the observation made by one of Sontag's admirers, The Carl is an event;" and contends that he does so more justly than his predecessor, inasmuch as the appearance of Sontag was not active but pas- sive that is, formed no epoch in the history of art, the singer being only a perfect specimen of the modern Italian school of song while the school of Carl is one so totally unknown to the present time, so grand, so perfect, and her attempts range so far beyond the boundaries of modern art that she forms a new division, an epoch in the world of song. Her voice is de- scribed to be of extraordinary compass, and brought to the highest degree of cultivation. Her execution is regulated by the most perfect taste, and purity and delicacy of expression. Her heaters at three concerts lately given by her were enraptured, and though the first musical talent resident in Dresden as- sisted on the occasion, their atttempts appear to have vanished as nothing before the brilliant display made by this giantess of song. Her master-piece appears to have been in the grand ariat of Donna Alllla in Don Giovanni, her performance of whifch is announced as a grand musical achievement.-The !II /sica I rv vdd. A correspondent in the Cambrian says—Among the multifa- rious advantageous uses to which cider may be applied, is one wlijch I believe is not very generally known. One gallon of hrahdy added to six of new cider, after it has been racked off, makes Pomona Wine. This, when eight or twelve months o_l it is a very good substitute for wine for the use of the poor or sick, and is beyond all comparison more wholesome than the wretched mixtures sold so cheap under the name of Lisbon W ine." 1'HE CHASE.—As a funeral was lately passing along the turbpike-ioad, in the parish of Guilsfield, Montgomeryshire, two persons attending on horseback were attracted by the har- riers of Mr. Pugh. Llanerchydol, near Mr. Plymley's of the Bank, when they left the solemn procession, to join in the joys of ihe chase Since the intention of Mlle. Taglioni to visit England has been announced, some of the provincial theatres have offered her 100 gnineas a night.-Guligllalli. DELICATE AFFAIR,-The gentlemen of the long robe will next term be employed in an action against an English Mem. ber of Parliameut, who attempted to invade the affections of the wife of a branch of nobility in a western county.-I.imcridc Chronicle. ^MALIBHAV.—We learn from Brussels that the monument to be erected over the grave of Madame Malibran, at Lacken, will be free from all superfluous embellishments, and as unas- suming as was the modesty of tho singer herself. A bronze cojumn is talked of, 12 or 14 feet it* height, surmounted by an urn covered with cypress, or "immortelles." One of tile sides of the pedestal will bear the following inscription:—"The Arts in despair.—To Maria Felice Garcia de Beriot Malibran born at Paris in 1808 died at Manchester in 1836.—Homage add gratitude from her adopted country and her disconsolate husband." THE SOLDII US' RETUHN.—A novel circumstance occurred at Carmarthen this week. Two spruce dames, ufal, fair, and fo;rty," who had for some years cast away their tveeds, taking it for granted that their lairds, who had long gone over the hills and far away to right Kiog George's battles," would never re- turn, were resolved to pine no more in discunsolate widowhood, and they determined on beating up for other companions in arms and each succeeded in getting a stout and jolly recruit to fill the vacant billets. But this state of things was not to last long for, to, and behold a few days ago, the old veterans returned, loaded more with the spoils of Time than those of War and after inquiring for their better halves," and finding that they had not kept their troth, they, instead of beating the Rogue's March," to the intruders, have, for the present at least, "turned and left the spot," Olt do not deem them weak." Last week an experiment was made on the London and Birmingham Railway, of a new engine constructed for the island of Cuba, where a railroad is in the course of formation ••cross the island, 75 miles in length. The weight of the ma- chine is about nine tons, and it cost about .£1450. It pos- sesses a thirty-horse power, and at a speed of 25 miles an hour, It drew 60 tons weight, which was contained in 19 caits filled with gravel. LIIIERAI. GUESTS.— Two young gentlemen, residing not 100 miles from Wiveliscombe, entered a respectable commercial inn, at Southmolton, taking with them two horses remaining full 24 hours; had their horses dressed twice (having rode them out a second time),—every attention paid to them by the boots, waitei, and chambermaid. On their departure from the inn, they paid as follows :—to the ostler, 21,1 to the boots, Id; to the chambermaid and waiter, Id. It should be further observed, that during their stay they had one supper only, pwliich was so substantial a meal that it served them for food the whole time, by partaking of three pints of Sir John Barleycorn. —Western Times.. TIME rou MAnnrAGE.—T!<e most proper age for entering the holy bands of matrimony has been much discussed, but never settled. I am entitled to my opinion and although I cannot here give the grounds on which it rests, the reader may take it for granted that I could adduce, were this the proper place, a great number of weighty icasons, both moral and physical, for the dogma which I am gSing to propound. The maxim, then, which I would inculcate, is this-that matrimony should not be contracted before the first year of the fourth septenniad, on the part of the female, nor before the last year of the same in the case of the male. In other words, the female should be at least twenty-one years of age, and the male twenty-eight years. That there should be seven years' difference between the ages of the sexes, at whatever period of life the solemn contract is entered upon, need not be urged, as Jit is universally admitted. There is a difference of seven years, not in the actual duration of life, in the two sexes, but in the stamina of the constitution, the symmetry of the form, and the lineaments of the face. The wear and tear of bringing up a family might alone account for this inequality but there are other causes inherent in the con ■titution, and independent of matrimomy or celibacy. In re- spect to early marriage, as far as it concerns the softer sex, I have to observe, that, for every year at which the hymeneal knot is tied below the age of twenty-one, there will be on an average three years of premature decay of the corporeal fabric, and a considerable abbreviation of the usual ran¡;e of human existence. It is in vain to point out instances that seem to nullify Ibis calculation. There will be individual exceptions to all.general rules. The above will be found a fair average esti- mate. On the moral consequences of too early marriage, it is not my intention to dilate though 1 could adduce many stronc arguments against, and very few in favour of, the prac- tice. ° It has been said that 01 matrimony may have miseries but celibacy has no pleasures." As far as too early marriag is concerned, the adage ought to run thus, Marriage have miseries, though celibacy may have no pleasutes.'—V* James Johnson's Economy (If Health. INFLUENZA.—Among the causes which have led to the fata, termination in so many cases of influenza lately may be men- tioneo one,.unfoitunately too prevalent with the public—namely, the practice of considering the complaint a slight one.. and ex- pecting to remove it by simple remedies thus tampering with the constitution, and rendering a disease, in the first instance controllable by proper measuies, totally unmanageable and almost irrevocably fatal. The young and apparently healthy have equally been victims with the aged and the weak, for want of necessary attention to the health in these instances and where life has been preserved under such circumstances it has not unfrequently been at the expense of a debilitated con- stitution, and possibly permanent injury to the lungs. The epidemic commences its ravages generally by the symptoms of a cold, more or less severe, which is either neglected or else treated with hot punch at night. This, of course aggravates the fever and inflammation and when at length the medical: man is summoned, it is to find that the disease has made such progress as to baffle his best endeivours, and to destroy the patient. Such is the histoiy of perhaps a large portion of those mses which have terminated fatally. The tendency of the epi- demic to induce bronchitis and pneumonia has been manifested in almost eveiy instance but it has sometimes happened that inflamoiation of the windpipe has been present. Death has ensued in a few cases from a very singular cause-the. violence of the cough causing such a deter'iiinati'on of blood to tlie head, as lo induce the rupture of a vessel, and consequent apoplexy. It is a fact, that no deaths have occured among the new police force from the epidemic, and it has been attributed to the cir. eumSlancc that the men are all under 40. At first view .this may appear plausible enough, but it will not stand the test, of examination, for many persons under that age have perished, although not so constantly exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather as the police. The explanation may be found in the fact, that these police, as soon as they labour under any indis- position, declare themselves on the sick list, and are imme- diately relieved from duty, and have proper treatment. Had this plan been generally adopted, there had been les* fatality. His Royal Highnes the Duke of Nemotirc underwef operation, on Tuesday morning, by Doctor Baudery (who >■ attended him to the expedition to ConstOlntine), and win- tfl tracted two amugdules (glands) in the throat, in order to -fl 1 radical curc from the frequent sore throats to which the I' fl is subject. The opeiation has succeeded perfectly. S WALTZING.—Waltzing in England is often little more whirling round and round, till aii head! are giddy b :fl Germany, particularly the north, from the Coutl ball-rcx 1 < the humblest hamlet, the first movement3 are exceedingly ,e u i sured and formal, qiiickbniHg gradually as the tune prOt ell but seldom running into the English wlilrlcbbiit; « THE CONSUMPTION OF BI'TCHER'.S MEAT.—"tht cliant!¡ has taken place during the last half century in the consuttlp ofSl of butcher's meat is still more extraordinary than that witi has taken place in the consumption of corn. The que«iii9 made use of has been wonderfully increased, and its quaMsfl signally improved. From 1740 to about 1760 the populating of the metropolis fluctuated very little amounting during ihe whole of that period to about 670,000 or 675,000. Now, ing the ten years ending with 1750, there were, at an average,, about 74,000 head of cattle, and about 570,000 head of s't^sp, sold annually in Smithfield maiket. In 1831 the poftuL <o& had increased to 1,472,000. or in the ratio of about zy.( cent. and at an average of the three years ending with i, 156,000 head of cattle and 1,238,000 head of sheep wet, an- nually sold in Smithfield; being an increase of 212 per on the cattle, and of 217 per cent. on the sheep, as cofhi*11 with the numbers sold in 1740-50. It consequently ap that the number of cattle and sheep consumed in Londor. ,j increased, since 1740, about in the same proportion as th. pulation. The weight of the animals has, however, a goor -.mt more than doubled in the interval. In the earlier part or century the gross weight of the cattle sold at Smithfield die i at an average, exceed 370lbs., and that of the sheep di.. r:. exceed 28lbs., whereas, at present, the average weight o 1 caule is estimated at about 30011;5., and'lhat of the she:. st about 801bs. Hence, on the most moderate computation, i, i)til be affirmed that the consumption of butcher's meat in the w frol,olis, as compared with the population, is twice as grev (i this moment as in 1740 or 1750.—J. It. M*-Cnifocki A JOVIAL Boif L.-On the 24th of October, 1694, a hot punch was made at the Right Hon. Edward RusseU's house ■ lie was Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of his li, jesty's forces in the Mediterranean sea. It was Mtde :n fountain, in a garden in the middle of four walks, all co ercd over-head with orange and lemon trees, and in every walk fi-crei was a table the whole length of it covered with collationi In the said fountain were the following ingredients—viz; tc 7; hogsheads of brandy, eight hogsheads of water, 25,000 ler-c-t:s,. 20 gallon* of lime juice, 1,300 weight of fine wb'-ie.^ sugar, ti", pounds of grated nutqjegs, 300 loaeied biscuits .'nd a pipe of diy Malaga. Over the fountain was a large car' -y built to keep off the rain, and there was built on purposes :t:t boat wherein was a boy belonging to the fleet, who rowed i-Mnd the fountain and filled the cups to the company, and, .1 probability, more than 6,000 men drank thereof. Tliis. « r splendid instance of Russell liberality. At Maraye-en-Othe (Aube) in one sporting excursion v .sc • lately took place, eighteen wild boars were killed, one of v. 1: weighed 400lbs. The Utrecht Courant remarks, that M. Martin Van B r who will probably be elected President of the United Stai, a descendant of some ancient planters at New Hottand. AMERICAN MODESTY.—Major Noah, editor o(:,the Ei-I. Star, a New York paper, observes of Mi; Ellen Tree: "0:: were struck with the pure pronunciation of Miss Tree, whi • i. that of the English tongue as spoken by an Ametican in gc^ society!" f.

IMITATION OF THE NINTH ODE OF THL-" THi •» BOOK OF HORACE. Donee gratus eram tibi," &c. SIR ROBERT PEEL. I' Whilst I was your love, before INGLIS'S arms ,1 Had rifled your dainty Conservative charms, | I never once thought of a trip to the Highlands, J Bnt reign'd, like a king of the Cannibal Islands. (1) I OXFORD. 4 Whilst you were a pious ascendancy Christian, *■ Ere WELLINGTON sinn'd on the Catholic Question, M I flourish'd, the pride of high Churchmen and Tories 1 Nor dreaded that Glasgow would rival my glories. i PEEL. Dear Glasgow's professors can answer the riddle, To Scotch metaphysics who join the Scotch fiddle; (L I'd freely consent to be worn a spectre, That they might survive to regret such a Rector. OXFORD. Young INGLIS now wins me with amorous Pfeans, Good INGLIS, who bullies the Jews and Wesleyans JOE HUMF. were twice welcome my tithes to destroy, Could it hinder O'CONNELL from snubbing the boy. PEEL. What, if I should leave Presbyterian embraces, And yoke me again in your orthodox traces- If sandy-hair'd Scotchmen I vow to forswear, (3) And tell ALMA MATER once more she is fair ? OXFORD. Though INGLIS more bright than a star in the skies h Though you are as cross as the currents of Isis, (4) Though smooth as a bishop, and light as a feather, Dear PEEL, let us live, let us perish together! (1) Persaruni vigui rege beatior." (2) Dulces docta inodos, et cithartr sciens." (3) Si Jlava excutitur Cloe." (4) Improbo Iracundior AdrS."

WHAT IS THAT, MOTHER ? ■vVhat is that, mother ? •r. Tlie lark, my child! ftitwrn, has but just looked out and smiled, en he starts from his humble grassy nest, A/i 1Si!lp au4 aw.ay, with the dew on his breast, nU a hymn in his heart to yon pure bright sphere, xo warble it out in his Maker's ear.— iVr'er, my child, be thy morn's first lays Tuned, like the lark's, to thy Maker's praise. What is that, mother ? The dove, my 8011 And that low sweet voice, like a widow's moan, Is flowing out from her gentle breast, Constant and pure, by that lonely nest, As the wave is poured from some crystal urn or his distant dear one's quick return— Ever, my son, be thou like the dove. In friendship as faithtuh as constant in love. What is that, mother ? u The eagle, boy! Proudly careering his course of joy Firm oil his mountain vigour reiving, BceastLng the dark storm, the red bolt defying; His wing on the wind, and his eye on the sun, He swerves not a hair, 'out bears onward, right on.- Roy, may the cote's flight ever be thine, Onward and -upward, and true to the line. What is thr.c mother? The swan, my love! l*e 'a floating down from his native grove. 1.0 loved one now, no nestline nigh. He is floating down by himself to die Death darkens his eye, and unpluines his wings, Yet the sweetest song is the last he sings.— Live so, my love, that when death shall come, Swan-like and sweet, it may waft thee home!

itonDflit Ølarketø. CORN EXCHANGE: Monday, Jan. 30.—There is a very short supply of all grain: with the exception of Irish Oats, a very large portion of vhicl have come to hand in very bad condition. Although the si.pplv of Wheat remains exceedingly small, yet Is per quarter rc-iuc- tion may be quoted on the finest parcels, and the inferior ties are very difficult of sale, although offering at a reduction of 2s per quarter. Barley is equally dull, and little business has been done in this article. The same remarks will apl'!Y to Malt, which is veiy heavy of sale. A few of the finest parcel? of Oats have gone off on the same terms as on Monday lab t, bm the inferior qualities are lower. Beans and Peas of all de- crip tious are exceedingly dull of sale, at last Monday's prices Per Qr. s. s. Per Cjr. s. Wheat,Ivent&Essex 45 to 62 Peas, Grey 34 lo 36 Suffolk 45 — 62 Small Beans 44 — 46' Suffolk 45 — 62 Small Beans 44- 4b Norfolk 40 60 Tick ditto. 30 — 45 Rye 30 35 Oats, Potatoe. 25 31 Barley. 28 32 Poland 25—30 Matting Hartey. ——— —— Feed. 23-26 Peas, White 34 36 Flour 40 50 Boilers 36 38 Ditto, fine 50 55 Malt 528 lo 60s. THE ARRIVALS AHE— Wheat. Barley Malt. Oats. Beans Peas Flour English 5200 8749 6863 4699 1131 1141 102(8 Scotch. 71 100 215 1300 — — 80 Irish. 879 — 20338 — — — Foreign 2892 108.9 — 3791 I 1141 466 200 Average Prices of Grain in England and Wales for the last Week-(Imperial Measure). Wheat .59 0 I Oats 24 0 | Beans 40 0 Barley 36 0 | Rye ..41 0 | Peas 39 0 Aggregate Average of the Six Weeks, which regulates Duty. Wheat 59 4 I Oals 24 9 Beans 42 4 Barley 35!ltHye 42 5 1 Peas 41 0 SMITHFIELD MARKET. Monday, .Tan. 30.-This day's supply of sheep was, for the time of year, rather great; its supply of beasts moderately good of calves aud porkers limited. Trade was, with the primest of each kind of meat, somewhat brirk, at fully-with the middling and inferior kinds very dull, at barely-last Friday's prices. (By the quantities of 8lbs., sinking the offal.) Coarse and inferior beasts from 2s 2d to 2s 4d second- quality beasts, 2s 8d to 3s 2d prime oxen, 3s 6d to 3s lOd prime Scots, &c., 4s 2d to 4s 4d coarse and inferior sheep, 2s lOd to 3s Od second quality, 3s 6d to 3s lOd prime coarse- woolled sheep, 4s 6d to 4s IOd; prime Southdown sheep, 5s 2d to 5s6d lambs, Os Od to Os Od large coarse calves, 4s 4d to 4s lOil prime small ditto, 5s 2d to 58 6d sucking calves, 17s Od to 35s Od; large hogs, 3s 6d to 4s Od neat small porkers, 4s 6d to 4s lOd and quarter old store pigs, 12s Od to 20s Od each. WAV AND STRAW. SMITHFIELD. JAN. 28. flay .j. 85s Od to 90s Od I Clover 115s Od to 120s Od „ Inferior. 72s Od to 83s Od Infenott. 84s Od to 105s Od Straw. 40s to 44s. PORTMAN MARKET.—Coarse Heavy Lowland Hay, —s to —s; New Meadow Ilay, s to—s; Old ditto, 80s to 96s; use- ful ditto,—s to —s; New Clover ditto, —& to —s; Old ditto, 95s to 115s Wheat Straw, 36s to 42s per load of 36 trusses. NFWfTATE AND LEATDEiN^IAlX" 'III,,titiery, fait. 30.—(By the carcass, per quantities of Ribs., being one half thå Imperial stonfr and lib. additional.)- Beef, 2s 8d to 3s IOd Mutton, 2s lOd to 4s 2d Veal, 3s W0r* to 4s 6d l'ot k, 3s 6d to 4s lOd. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com- puted from the returns made in the week ending Jan. 24, 1837, is 335 11 jjd per cwt., exclusive of the duties of Customs. BOROUGH HOP MARKET.—P. R CWT. Monday, Jan. 30.—Choice pockets continue in demand. Currency East Kent, in pockets, 1833, £0. Os to £0. Os; 1834, £0. Os to SO. Os; 1835. f3. 10s to £ 5. 0s 1836, £ 4. 6s to £ 8.0s; Mid-Kent, 1833, CD. Os to £0. Os; 1834, £0. Os to £0. Os; 1835, £3. 10s to £ 4. 4s; 1836, C4. 10s to f7. 10s Weald of Kent, 1833, £ 0. Os to £0. Os; 1834, JEO. Os to fO. 0s; 1835. £ 3. 8s to £ 3. 16s: 1836, £ 4. Os to £4. 16s Sussex, 1835, X3. 5s to f3. 15s; 1836. £ 3.15s to £ 4.12s; Farnham, 1835, SO. Os to fO. 0s 1836, £ 7. Os tof9. 103. SEED MARKET. Turnip, White, per bushel, 25s to 27s; Red, 25s to Ms; Green, 25s to 26s Canary, per qr. 40s to 45s Cinque Foin, 34s to 35s Tares, new. 44s to 48s ditto, old, 38s to 40s; Hapeseed. 130 to £ 34; Clover, Red old. per cwt. 54s to 76s White, 54s to 80s Foreign Red, 58s to 76s White, 60s to W-l, Trifolium Incamatum, —s to -5; Trefoil. 18s to 22s; Linseed Cakes, English, fl3. Os to E13. JOs; Foreign, £9 9s to £10. 10s per ton. LIVERPOOL WOOL MARKET, JAN. 21. English Wools have been almost unsaleable during the last five days. In the Yorkshire markets the same state of inactivity at present exists. The accompanying quotations may therefore be regarded as merely nominal.—DOWD Ewes and Wethers, 181d to 19Xd ditto Tegs, 20d to 21d Combing Fleeces, 19d to 20d ditto Skin, I7d to 19d Supenor Skin, njd to l8Jd Head ditto, 15^d to ltf^d per lb. Newport, Saitrtday, February 4, 1837 Published by the sole Proprietor, EDWARD DOW'LINC of Westgate-street, at the Merlin Office, in the same street and Printed by him at the House of Mr. LEWIS ENWAM Commeicial-st.reet, in the same Boroueh t/i wWh >5' lda.'eicd)liShin& 0ffice, a11 0rders to tlie Editor are to be London A gents:— Messrs. Newton and Co., Warwick >l square; Mr. R. Barker, 33, Fleet-street; Mr. G. Reynell No ? SY T; and.Mr- S. Deacon, Coffeehouse! Paper'isreguSytled" Mans™° where lhU J Agenw for Ireland, Johnston ar-d Co., Eden Quay, Dublin, ]