Monmouthshire Merlin

GIRL'S DRESSES.—I cannot approve of the modern practice of dressing little girls in exact accordance with the prevailing fa- '( shion, with scrupulous imitation of their elders. When I look at a child, I do not wish to feel doubtful whether it is not an unfor- tunate dwarf who is standing before me attired in a costume suited to its age. Extreme simplicity of attire, and a dress sacred to themselves only, are most fitted to these fresh female buds and it vexes me to see them disguised in the fashions of La Belle Assemblte, or practising the graces and courtesies of r Will there not be years enough from thirteen to seventy for orna- menting or disfiguring the person at the fiat of French milliners, for checking laughter and forcing smiles, for reducing all va- rieties of intellect, all gradations of feeling to one uniform tint New Monthly Magazine. KNOCK AND Rrao.—A curious distinction, according to the Irish papers, has been introduced between barristers and solici- tors the former are allowed to use the knocker, the latter are limited to the bell, when they visit a judge in chambers. The patriots are very justly indignant at this attempt to degrade the honourable corporation of attornies. The degree of honour to be I I accorded to the hammer and the wire is not absolutely settled.— In Scotland, knockers are vulgar, and bells genteel; the same rule obtains in France, the region of bienstance. In England and Ireland, the bell is for the maid and the knocker for the mistress. The reason in either case is not very obvious. Perhaps the ho- nour given to the knocker in England is because of its antiquity; but why should the Scotch, who are as fond of old customs as their neighbours, not follow their example in this respect 1 THE GOATSUCKER.—When the sun has sunk in the western woods, no longer agitated by the breeze when you can only see a straggler or two of the feathered tribe hastening to join its mate, already at its roosting place then it is that the goatsucker comes out of the forest, where it has sat all day long in slumbering ease, unmindful of the gay and busy scenes around it. Its eyes are too delicately formed to bear the light, and thus it is forced, I to shun the flaming face of day, and wait in patience till night I invites him to partake of the pleasures her dusky presence brings. The harmless, unoffending goatsucker, from the time of Aristotle down to the present day, has been in disgrace with man. Father has handed down to son, and author to author, that this noctur- nal thief subsists by milking the flocks. Poor injured little bird of night, how sadly hast thou suffered, and how foul a stain has inattention to facts put upon thy character. Thou hast never robbed man of any part of his property, nor deprived the kid of a drop of milk. When the moon snines bright, you may have a' fair opportunity of examining the goatsucker. You will see it close by the cows, goats, and sheep, jumping up every now and then under their bellies. Approach a little nearer he is not i shy, he fears no danger, for he knows no sin. See how the noc- r turnal flies are tormenting the herd, and with what dexterity he I springs up and catches them as fast as they alight on the belly, I legs, and udder of the animals. Observe how quiet they stand, and how sensible they seem of his good offices for they neither strike at him, nor hit him with their tail, nor tread on him, nor try to drive him away as an uncivil intruder. Were you to dis- sect him, and inspect his stomach, you would find no milk there; it is full of the flies which have been annoying the herd.- Waterton's Wanderings in South America. Nothing can be more beautiful than a turtle dove of Africa, who bears on her pearl grey plumage, precisely over the place of the heart, a bloody spot, consisting of different kinds of red blended, perfectly resembling a wound. It seems as if this bird, dedicated to love, was destined to wear her master's livery, and had served as a mark to his arrow. What is still more wonderful, these rich coraline tints disappear in most of those birds as soon as the season of love is over, as if they were robes of ceremony lent them by the benevolence of nature, only during the celebra- tion of their nuptials.-St. Pierre. A good fire, on a winter day, at a mere trifling expense, is of importance to a poor man. One pennyworth of tar, or rosin I water, will saturate a tub of coals with triple its original quantity of bitumen (the principle of heat and light), and of course ren- der one such tub of three times more value than it was unsatu- rated.-Northern Whig. The following mode to get water perfectly pure is so easy of adoption, as to be within the reach of almost every person Take a common Portugal grape jar, and punch a hole in the bottom; place it over a tub, having previously filled it w < small stones and gravel and the filter thus constructed wiL .aswer every purpose of purification. It is a cheap and effect,- mode of obtaining water as clear as crystal, and perfectly freed from its usual impurities.—Mr. Richards Lectures on Dietetics. The hot mineral springs on Mount Elborus, the highest of the,, Caucasian chain, are 1500 English feet above the level of the I sea; the line of snow on the Elborus is 11,000 feet; the point to which Messrs. Kupfer, Menetrier, Meyer, and Bernadotzi at- tained is 14,000 feet; the point reached by M. Lens 15,700; and the highest summit which was gained by a native of Kabar- dina, named Chilar, 16,330 feet; being more than 2000 feet higher than Mount Blanc. GOOD SECURITY.—A person who wished to borrow a small sum of money, being asked by Swift whom he proposed as secu- rity "I have none to offer," said the poor man, "excepting my faith in my Redeemer." Swift accepted the security, made the entry accordingly, with all formality, and declared that none of his debtors was more punctual than this man.-Sir W. Scott's Memoirs of Swift. CURIOUS 55IGN. The following is on a violin-maker's sign-, board at Limerick :—" New Villins mad here and old ones rip- pard, also new heads, ribs, backs, and bellys mad on the short- est notice. N.B. Choes mended, &c.-Pat O'Shegnassey, "painter." There is something so very deceiving in the progress of time. 11 9 Its progress is so gradual. To-day is so like yesterday that we are not sensible of its departure. We should make head against this delusion. We should turn to personal account every example of change or of mortality. When the clock strikes, it should re- mind you of the dying hour. When you hear the sound of the funeral bell, you should think that in a little time it will perforin for you the same office. When you wake in the morning, you should think that there has been the addition of another day to the life that is past, and the subtraction of another day from the remainder of your journey. When the shades of the evening fall around you, you should think of the steady and invariable pro- gress of time—how the sun moves, and'moves till it will see you out—and how it will continue to move after you die, and see out your children's children to the latest generations. Every thing around us should impress the mutability of human affairs.—" Dr. Chalmers. MONMOUTH: Printed and Published by CHARLES HOUGH, at the Merlin General Printing-Office, Monnow Street, to whom, or to the <1 Editor, all communications should be addressed. Editor, all communications should be addressed. London AgentsMessrs. Newton and Co. Warwick Square; Mr. R. Barker, Fleet Street; and Mr. G. Reynell, Chancery Lane, where, as well as at the Colonial Coffee House, Skinner Street, this Paper is regularly filed.

THE FIRST GRAY HAIR. By T. HAYVIS BAYLY. (From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine for January.) The matron at her mirror, with her hand upon her brow, Sits gazing on her lovely face—aye lovely even now Why doth she lean upon her hand with such a look of care 1 Why steals that tear across her cheek.—She sees her first gray hair. Time from her form hath ta'en away but little of its grace His touch of thought hath dignified the beauty of her face Yet she might mingle in the dance where maidens gaily trip, So bright is still her hazel eye, so beautiful her lip. The faded form is often mark'd by sorrow more than years; The wrinkle on the cheek may be the course of secret tears; The mournful lip may murmur of a love it ne'er confest, And the dimness of the eye betray a heart that cannot rest. But She hath been a happy wife ;-the lover of her youth May proudly claim the smile that pays the trial of his truth A sense of slight-of loneliness—hath never banish'd sleep Her life hath been a cloudless one ;-then, wherefore doth she weep 1 She look'd upon her raven locks ;-what thoughts did they recall ? Oh! not of nights when they were deck'd for banquet or for ball;- They brought back thoughts of early youth, e'er she had learnt to check, With artificial wreaths, the curls that sported o'er her neck. She seem'd to feel her mother's hand pass lightly through her hair, And draw it from her brow, to leave a kiss of kindness there; She seem'd to view her father's smile, and feel the playful touch That sometimes feigned to steal away the curls she prized so much. And now she sees her first gray hair oh, deem it not a crime For her to weep—when she beholds the first foot-mark of Time She knows that, one by one, those mute mementos will increase, And steal youth, beauty, strength away, till life itself shall cease. 'Tis not the tear of vanity for beauty on the wane- Yet though the blossom may not sigh to bud, and bloom again, It cannot but remember with a feeling of regret, The Spring for ever gone—the Summer sun so nearly set. Ah, Lady! heed the monitor! Thy mirror tells thee truth, Assume the matron's folded veil, resign the wreath of youth Go )—bind it on thy daughter's brow, in her thou'lt still look fair 'Twere well would all learn wisdom who behold the first gray hair!

OUR NATIVE LAND. By Mr. Pringle, from" The Poetical Album." Our native land-our native vale,- A long—a last adieu Farewell to bonny Teviot-dale And Cheviot's mountains blue Farewell, ye hills of glorious deeds, And streams renown'd in song Farewell, ye blithesome braes and meads, Our hearts have loved so long Farewell, ye broomy elfin knowes, Where thyme and harebells grow Farewell, ye hoary haunted howes, O'erhung with birk and sloe The battle mound-the Border tower, That Scotia's annals tell; The martyr's grave-the lover's bower, To each-to all-farewell Home of our hearts Our fathers' home- Land of the brave and free !— The sail is flapping on the foam, That bears us far from thee. We seek a wild romantic shore, Beyond the Atlantic main We leave thee to return no more, Or view thy cliffs again. But may dishonour blight our fame, And quench our household fires, When we, or ours, forget thy name, Green island of our sires. Our native vale-our native vale- A long,—a last adieu Farewell to bonny Teviot-dale, And Scotland's mountains blue

CONDITION OF THE POOR. At the instigation of a valued correspondent, as well as from our own sense ot its great importance, this subject received, a few weeks since, some portion of our serious consideration. Our remarks were then closed with an expressed intention of soon resuming the topic, with something more than mere criticism on the sentiments of others-with a remedial scheme of our own, which then indistinctly dawned upon our vision. We are now placed in the dilemma of not knowing whether to desire that the readers of the Merlin should be angry at our delay in the execu- tion of this promise, which would imply a compliment withal; or that they should be forgiving of the nonfulfilment, because forgetful of the engagement, which would be to protect us be- neath our own insignificance. We shall, however, presume to state that the subject has not been lost sight of, and that its dif- ficulty alone has caused our procrastination. We have not been deceived by first appearances, but have by our investigations discovered a plan, which we believe to possess the quality promised by us-that of originality. Let not our readers, and especially our rural readers, be frightened at the idea of a speculative disquisition, for it is to them almost exclu- sively that our observations are addressed; and if they shall find us not easily intelligible, we will frankly own ourselves defeated in our direct undertaking. Some knowledge of the origin of any complaint is indispensible to its proper treatment. We are therefore, ip our present task, compelled to a preliminary inquiry into the causes of that dis- tressful condition to which the lower orders in this country are reduced. It seems then obvious that excessive population is one of the chief of these. It seldom, and in but few districts, happens that more hands are wanted than are easily attainable, in any of the multifarious works of human industry. On the other hand, in- stances of many claimants for one piece of employment are of daily occurrence. This circumstance is more apparent when our view embraces both the agricultural and manufacturing poor; for it is certain, from the manner in which these classes mutually press on each other, that their interests and condition must al- ways be blended. We are aware that a potent troop of theorists, who range themselves under Mr. Sadler's banner, will be ready to oppose our position, by shewing that the country is by no means brought into its highest point of cultivation, and that it might be rendered capable of supporting a much larger population. This latter statement we are not quite prepared to deny; aglance at some parts of our own county would seem to confirm it. But we think we can (though it is to attempt things untried) reconcile these two hypothesis, and even shew that one is a necessary con- sequence of the other. This will be presently adverted to but first we shall look for the cause of that excess of population which we have assumed to be itself the cause of such distress to the peasantry—and this we think to consist in the pauper's inalienable property in the soil. Strange, that such words should be put together! Strange, that with all our hereditary antipathy to perpetuities, with our just and ancient feeling against rights to property, which can not be parted with, either by the will or the misconduct of the owner, any species of such estates should yet remain! Wonderful, that our ancestors should have struggled so vehemently against condi- tional gifts and entails, by which a few great and powerful fami- lies might be placed above the chances of the world and that we should have established, in their stead, a system in which wretchedness, however incurred, constitutes a legal and indefea- sible title to the profits of land Such, nevertheless, is the re- sult, if not of the first intention, at least of the present adminis- tration of the Poor Laws. And here we shall terminate our investigation of causes-for it were possible to inquire into the origin and propriety of this state of things, and thus to proceed, step by step, each cause being itself but the effect of somewhat preceding; but we should then depart widely from the merely practical object which we now propose. For the same reason, we shall abstain from detailing the general inconveniences of inalienable property. To one par- ticular effect, however, we shall just allude, as it offers our pro- mised reconciliation of the two suppositions of excessive population and imperfect cultivation of the soil. The paupers' right increases with the improvement of the land. But it is not for that right that the occupier will venture on improvement. Human industry is but seldom excited for the sole good of others, and those indif- ferent persons. It follows that, where circumstances are such (and the case is abundantly common) that the pauper alone will receive benefit from the improved cultivation, (and that but tem- porary, from the rapid advance of population under any encou- ragement), the occupier will not trouble himself to improve. To lead him on, he should have a hope that his own interest will rise at least equally with that of the poor, and we all know how frequently this incitement is wanting. but the principal eitect of this inalienable property of the pan;;er, and to which it is our main object to direct our readers' attention, is the encouragement of improvident marriages. It is 1 9 doubtful which is most conducive to a thoughtless union of the sexes, the recklessness occasioned by abject poverty, or the cer- tainty of a provision for the offspring. Prudence is equally ex- cluded by both-and it is remarkable that our system should combine these seemingly incompatible inducements. Our parish pauper certainly experiences much wretchedness, and in flying to that solace which matrimony affords, is little deterred by the fear of plunging others into the same distress-and any momentary reflection, if it arise, is speedily set aside by the knowledge that his children must at all e"nt<; 6>niov the same protection from absolute starvation which forms the sum of his own worldly prosperity. Thus it is that the voice of prudence is listened to, in regard to marriage, (with individual exceptions of course) by every class, excepting the very lowest. We might enlarge upon this part of our subject, but it is of so painful a nature that we are glad of the excuse which the short- ness of our allotted space presents. It will be better, before our readers' patience is quite consumed, that we hasten to the prac- tical deductions we would make. It is clear that the prevention of improvident marriages would be of the greatest importance in alleviating the sum of distress amongst the poor. Legislative enactments for accomplishing this purpose are not for our present consideration—they would involve questions too perplexing and difficult; and perhaps are removed from the province of a country paper. That which is plainly within the power of our readers will always form our most proper topic. Within their own reach then, in regard to this matter, there are two modes of proceeding. The first consists in a more vigilant administration of the Poor Laws, by the concurrence of magistrates and overseers, and a determined exercise of as much severity as shall be consistent with charity and the law of the land, where distress is wilfully, and we may say wickedly, self- incurred—wickedly, inasmuch as many others, if not in some degree the whole community, are dragged into the same suffer- ings. This plan partakes of the nature of coercion, Our other mode, which we claim as original, and to which all that we have hitherto stated has been merely meant as a necessary introduction, proceeds upon the opposite principle of reward rather than punish- ment, of leading rather than driving mankind. We mean, how- ever, that it should be used conjointly with that already stated. Our principle is simply to hold out a premium to celibacy and chastity. We would have the professors of those virtues (for surely the former may be classed as a virtue, where every requi- site for prudent marriage, pointed out by nature and providence, is wanting) placed in a situation offording the strongest contrast to those who form the reckless unions so prevalent in the present day. And in this, our great endeavour should be to clear the dangerous period of youth, to give time for the dictates of pru- dence and manly foresight to operate, and to prevent the hapless marriages of mere children which we so constantly see. After a certain period of life, even.this mild species of restraint might be allowed to cease, and then matrimony might be entered into with such superior advantages as should almost guarantee the prudent of both sexes against future want. At the same time, those who rebelled against these measures, should, by a just and even benevolent rigour, be left as much as possible to the ill con- sequences of their own imprudence. We are now performing but the office of pioneers, and are unprepared to enter into de- tails, any further than some outlines may be necessary by way of illustrating the principle we have laid down. Possibly, there- fore, some accumulating advantages might be offered to those, of both sexes, who shall have attained the age of thirty years in irreproachable celibacy and honesty. It is not necessary that this reward should be pecuniary—though, were it so, we are much mistaken if the rate-payers would not ultimately find their money so laid out the most profitable speculation of their lives. There are many benefits of vast importance to the poor, which might be yielded to them in the country, without detriment to their wealthy neighbours, but which are at present naturally, and perhaps we may add justly, withheld. Such are those plans detailed in the Quarterly Review, and formerly set before our readers-temporary palliatives, we think, in the manner there recommended, but permanent restoratives when adopted with a view to the object we now propose. The most proper districts in which to try these measures would evidently be those parishes in which the principal inhabitants are united by stronger ties than that of mere neighbourhood. The example once set, we doubt not that interest would thenceforth be a sufficient stimulus to their general adoption. We can foresee but one objection of magnitude as likely to occur to the minds of our readers against our proposed plan. This is of a nature but ill adapted for discussion in a periodical intended for general perusal; and were it otherwise, it is so much a matter of opinion, that we should hardly expect the mere state- ment of our own, however strongly put, to have any weight. We gladly, therefore, avail ourselves of a passage from the pages of a profound philosoper, in which the question is both stated and discussed-which combines argument with authority, argu- ment irresistible to unsophisticated and unprejudiced minds, and authority that of the wisest and brightest of mankind." The following is an extract from Lord Bacon's New Atlantis:- You shall understand that there is not under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of Bensalem; nor so free from all pollu- tion or foulness. It is the virgin of the world. I remember I have read in one of your European books, of an holy hermit among you, that desired to see the spirit of fornication, and there appeared to him a little foul ugly Ethiop but if he had desired to see the spirit of chastity of Bensalem, it would have appeared to him in the likeness of a fair beautiful cherubim. For there is nothing amongst mortal men more fair and admirable than the chaste minds of this people. Know, therefore, that with them there are no stews, no dissolute houses, no courtesans, nor any thing of that kind. Nay, they wonder, with detestation, at you in Europe, which permit such things. So likewise ( with you) during marriage, is the case much amend- ed, as it ought to be if those things were tolerated only for neces- sity 1 No, but they remain still as a very affront to marriage. The haunting of those dissolute places, or resort to courtesans, are no more punished in married men than in bachelors. They hear you defend these things, as done to avoid greater evils; as advoutries, devouring of virgins, unnatural lust, and the like. But they say, this is preposterous wisdom and they call it Lot's offer, who to save his guests from abusing, offered his daughters: nay, they say farther, that there is little gained in this for that the same vices and appetites do still remain and abound-unlaw- fullust being like a furnace, that if you stop the flames altogether it will quench but if you give it any vent it will rage. Their usual saying is, that whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself; and they say, that the reverence of a man's self is, next religion, the chiefest bridle of all vices." We shall not, by any observations of our own, weaken the effect of this beautiful passage. We have perhaps been already too long on this topic; though we have fancied that our earnest desire for brevity may have rendered our meaning in several places less clear than it might otherwise have been. Should a further explanation of the measures we recommend be desired by our readers, we may soon resume the subject.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. At a meeting of the owners and occupiers of land in the hun- dreds of Ely and South Witchford, held at the White Hart Inn, on Thursday, the 31st of December, 1829, Jonathan Page, Esq. in the chair, the following petition was agreed to, and ordered to be presented to the House of Commons :— "To the Hon. the Commons, &c. The humble petition of the undersigned owners and occupiers of land in the hundred of Ely, and south part of the hundred of Witchford, in the county of Cambridge- "Sheweth,—That agriculture, which is justly considered the mainspring of our national resources, has for some years ceased to yield to those engaged in its pursuits a due return for their ca- pital, skill, and industry, and that the difficulties under which the cultivators of the soil have laboured have of late increased to an alarming extent. That to whatever causes the calamity is to be ascribed, and however opinions may differ on the subject, your petitioners feel that its existence is too apparent to admit of controversy, and that the present posture of affairs, as evincing the depressed condition of agriculture, and the injurious consequences resulting from it, is truly appalling, and calls aloud for prompt and efficacious re- medies on the part of the legislature. That in no respect has the unprosperous state of agricultural pursuits more forcibly shewn itself than in the inability of the farmers to find employment for the poor,—a circumstance which has been mainly instrumental in reducing the labouring classes to their present wretched and degrading means of subsistence and your petitioners, in considering this subject, cannot forbear contrasting the present condition of the poor with their state in times of agricultural prosperity. When the tillage of the land afforded a fair remuneration to the farmer, the labourers reaped the due reward of their toil, and with their earnings maintained their families, and trained them in habits of industry and so- briety. They then filled their stations in society with credit to themselves and advantage to the community and, duly appre- ciating the benefits of our constitution, they felt they had an in- terest in the public weal: but now, no longer able to maintain themselves by the sweat of their brow, they are driven to the scanty pittance derived from parish funds, and which is doled out to them, not according to the labour received in return, but the ex- tent of their families. Congregated on roads and in gravel-pits, their spirits have become broken, and they are constantly re- pining at their hard condition, and inciting each other to vicious courses, while their employers are regarded as task-masters, and the ties of attachment to the land of their birth become gradually torn asunder. Your petitioners cannot but regard the present condition of the peasantry with feelings of intense anxiety for the welfare of the state they see in it matter for serious reflection for every well- wisher of his country and they implore your honourable House to take some means of arresting the further progress of the evil, and of averting the lamentable consequences that must otherwise ensue from it. As the most seasonable and effectual mode of re- lief, they would entreat you to push to its utmost practicable limits, consistent with the maintenance of the public safety, eco- nomy and retrenchment in every department of the state ;—they would urge the necessity of a material reduction of all taxes press- ing directly or indirectly on the necessaries of life, and particu- larly on the wholesome beverage of the poor; and they would also submit to your consideration the propriety of remodelling the poor laws, with the view of placing them, as far as circumstances will allow, within the spirit of the Act of Elizabeth it appearing to your petitioners that those laws, as now administered, too often operate as a premium on idleness and dissipation, rather than as an incentive to industry, and have also a direct tendency to en- courage early and improvident marriages. Your petitioners, in calling the attention of your honourable House to the state of the public creditor, disclaim any desire un- justly to invade his rights, but they cannot refrain from observing, that in the various financial measures introduced since the war, he appears to have been dealt with solely as a claimant on the public resources of the country, without regard to his responsi- bility for the debt, as a member of the community: as a proof of which they would notice the fact, that the funded property has in- creased in value in the same ratio that land has diminished thus, in effect, relieving the fundholder from his due share of the bur- dens of the war, and pressing them with increased severity on the landed interest. They feel it also to be worthy of remark, that notwithstanding the Government derives a large revenue from the sale and transfer of landed property, no duties are payable on similar transactions in the funds, the whole management of which is conducted free from charge to the fundholder. Your petitioners humbly request your honourable House to take into your consideration, at an early period of the Session, the present state of the agriculturists and the labouring classes, and to adopt such measures for their relief as to your honourable House shall seem meet.Times.

UNION-HALL, SATURDAY.—Solomon Jonatti, having the appearance of a Polish Jew, was brought before Mr. Chambers on the following charge :— A Mrs, Parkin, who resides at Bermondsey, stated that on the 26th of November, the prisoner called at her house, and in broken English told her that he was a foreign merchant, and had arrived in the river from Rotterdam the same day with some valuable Cachmere shawls and other expensive articles, the duty on which would be enormous if he had not managed to get them on shore by stealth. After having displayed these shawls, of a rich-look- ing pattern, he then said that he wanted to raise four guineas, in order to pay the whole of his' passage from the Continent, adding that if she lent him the sum he required, the shawls should remain in her possession until he called to return the money. Mrs. Parkin, believe the shawls to be valuable, con- sented, but in order to be doubly sure" that they were of the real texture, requested him to wait in the parlour until her hus- band, who was ill in bed, had an opportunity of seeing the ar- tMesas well as herself. The ■shawls were then taken up stairs for the sick man's opinion as to their quality and the dazzling colours at once took his fancy, and having, by his account, tra- velled in foreign parts, both in China and Persia, he at once pro- nounced that the shawls were unquestionably the manufacture of the latter country. The moment, however, Mrs. Parkin heard her good man's opinion orlthe subject, she hastened down stairs to the" foreign merchant," and immediately advanced him the money he required and, by her own admission before the ma-' gistrate, she would have had no hesitation in doubling the sum, had he expressed a desire to have it, so convinced was she that the shawls were worth at least ten guineas a-piece. When the four guineas were advanced to Jonatti, he took his leave, pro- mised to return in two hours, intimating, that in return for the kindness with which he was treated he should present her with a few bottles of eau de vie, besides a few yards of rich Brussels lace, the moment he managed to get his luggage on shore.- Shortly fter his de'vrtnrft Mrs. Parkin, having occasion for a little ch ange,- went t ..autly, if' i; ■ 1 she kept silver, and tc her amazement disu>vtreii that up 1 u of £ 3 were taken out. No person having in*he room bii: ne "foreign mer- chant," he was at once suspwtffoa. of havmf committed the rob- bery. upon which a 6ashe8 across i mind that he had imposed on her w»+b t1. s *•»' -rthwith carried to a pawnbroker's shop, and there ascertained that they were mere imitation shawls, and not worth more than 5s a piece. Mrs. Parkin said that the affair has cost her a great deal of uneasiness for ever since it had occurred there had been constant bickering between herself and husband, who blamed her for admitting the foreign merchant" into the house, although she considered her spouse equally blameahle as herself, he having given his sanction for the advance of the money on the shawls. She added, that since the transaction occurred, she never saw the prisoner until the preceding day, when she wet him by chance in Rotherhithe and knowing him, although disguised in dress, she gave him into custody. The prisoner, who at first affected not to speak English, on hearing that the case was about to be sent to the sessions, then declared that the complainant w^s mistaken in the person that he was a licensed hawker, and had never committed the offence laid to his charge, The identity of the prisoner being positively sworn to, he was fully committed. THE CHURCH AND THE SMALL POX.—Law and philosophy have threatened an(* reas°ned against the small pox without effect; at length h«s taken it up. At a village in Norfolk, the clergyman has refused to read prayers over any one that dies of the small pox until he be fairly under ground.- One Charles Pigs died lately in this parish, on a Wednesday; he was buried on Thursday and on Friday the service was read. One of our contemporaries complains of this as very shocking.— He seems to think that the prayers will not do any good after bu- rial. We hope, however, the practice will be persisted in. It is superstition that combats vaccination, and we think it fair to use the same weapon against the horrible disorder, which vacci- nation, when properly performed, so effectually prevents.- Spectator. STEAM CARRIAGES.—We n0^ed in our last the experi- ments making on the railway at Rainhill, with the Novelty steam carriage of Messrs. Braithwaite and Enckson. The ingenious in- ventors confined their attempts, in the first instance, to trying the steam at various degrees of pressure, and at various rates of speed, without a load but on Monday a succession of experiments was mide during the whole day with loaded waggons, alternate use being made of those on Mr. Stephenson s and those on Mr. Winnan's principle. The loads were gradually augmented, and the velocities varied, and the final result was that the Novelty drew a gross weight of 35 tons, being nearly ten times her own weight, at the rate of 12J mi'es Per hour. In the course of the experiments, it was ascertained that the actual friction on a large working scale was 9Ias.Shtvt0fi» including the resistance arising from the irregularities of the road. The expense of fuel for the moving power for thirty miles per ton of goods is less than one penny, and the whole cost will notexceed three pence per ton.- Bolton Chronicle. On the afternoon of Thursday last, Mr, Stephenson, engineer, Forth-street, in this town, having completed a locomotive engine, on the principle of the Rocket, the only one finished since the original one to which the prize was awarded in the late arduous contest at Liverpool, a large Party of .that gentleman's friends assembled in the manufactory to witness its almost unprecedented powers. The trial, though the was only temporarily fixed, which of course precluded the posibility of appIying thfe fuli force of the steam, afforded a gratifyin=> Pr°o of the extraordinary speed at which the engine would be capa e of moving, and the result was of the most satisfactory 10?' Such was its surprising velocity, that at one period of the a ternoon it was calculated that the machine was going at a speed equal to nearly forty miles per hour. The company, amongst whom were several ladies, I viewed the machinery with u* eres>t, and appeared much gratified with the novel specta^- *wc<istle Chronicle. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SOCIETY.—On Mon- day the members of this Society dined together at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its institution. Mr. Alderman Winchester took the chair, in- stead of Mr. Alderman Garratt, the President of the Society, who was prevented from attending in consequence of a recent domestic affliction. Several patriotic toasts were given, and several eloquent speeches were made, by the worthy Chairman in the course of the evening, in aid of the funds of this institution. In mentioning the benefits which had already been derived from it, he stated that there were at present on the fund, 55 members, 72 widows, 41 children, and six orphans and that the sums which had been paid in by the claimants on the fund were £ 6198. 2s, whilst those which had been paid to them and their families were £ 49,553. 10s 3d, independently of annual allow- ances to the amount of £1393. 10s. The health of the Duke of Wellington, and his Majesty's Ministers, was drunk with three times three; and after the first cheers had subsided, they were succeeded by an enthusiastic shout from the gentlemen assembled, which intimated great popularity on the part of the present Ad- ministration with the commercial part of the community. On the health of Mr. Ward, the member for the city, being given from the chair in a neat and eloquent speech, that gentleman briefly returned thanks. He told the meeting that it was by con- fidence in the Duke of Wellington and his colleagues that every thing must be done to alleviate the existing distress. By that confidence, if all could not be done that they might wish, some abatement might still take place in that pinching distress which now affected all classes of the commercial world. He also inti- mated that he had no doubt that though some interruption had taken place to the general prosperity of the country, which all of them must wish to see restored, that interruption would only be of short duration. These sentiments were received with great applause by the commercial gentlemen assembled at the dinner, as were also several allusions subsequently made to the benefits which the country had realised from the practical operation of the principles of free trade. After Mr. Alderman Winchester va- cated the chair, it was taken by Mr. Chapman Marshall, who announced that the donations in support of the charity which had been that evening received, amounted to upwards of £450. POOR LAW S.—The Dundee Advertiser complains, that while strangers may gain parish relief in Scotland by a three years' residence in any part of it, no Scotsman can by any resi- dence in England gain a claim to similar support. The case of a man named Bennet has given occasion to the remark. This person was born in Scotland-travelled through the country with a mendicant—settled in England in early infancy, retaining no other recollection of Scotland, than that in the course of his wan- derings he spent three nights at Dundee. He has lived at Dar- lington, and married an English woman. Of late, the parish officers have looked at him with a suspicious eye and a few weeks ago they fairly pounced upon him, and sent him to Dun- dee, which he had left some five-and-twenty years before. The prudent Kirk Session lost no time in bundling him back again to Darlington and if this generous rivalry continue, more than would suffice to make poor James Bennet independent of parish assistance, will be spent in paying his travelling charges. REMARKABLE FROSTS.-Dr. Hutton, in his Mathema- tical Dictionary, has recorded the following frosts:—In the year 220, frost in Britain that lasted five months 250, the Thames frozen nine weeks 291, most of the rivers in Britain frozen six weeks; 359, severe frost in Scotland for fourteen weeks; 508, the rivers in Britain frozen for two months; 558, the Danube quite frozen over 695, Thames frozen for six weeks-booths built on it; 759, Frost from Oct. 1st till Feb. 26th, 760; 827, frost in England for nine weeks; 859, carriages used on the Adriatic; 908, most rivers in England frozen for two months 928, the Thames frozen thirteen weeks; 987, frost lasted 120 days-began Dec. 22 998, the Thames frozen five weeks 1035, severe frost on June 24-the corn and fruits destroyed 1063, the Thames frozen fourteen weeks; 1076, frost in Eng- land from Nov. till April; 1114, several wooden bridges carried away by ice; 1205, frost from January 14th till March 22d; 1407, frost lasted fifteen weeks 1434, from November 24th till February 10th Thames frozen down to Gravesend; 1683, frost for fifteen weeks; 1708-9, severe frost for many weeks 1715, the same for many weeks 1739, one for nine weeks, began De- cember 14th; 1742, severe frost for many weeks; 1747, severe frost in Russia 1754, severe one in England; 1760, the same in Germany; 1776, the same in England 1788, Thames frozen below bridge booths on it. Dr. Durham says the frost in the years 1708 and 1709 (which was remarkable throughout Europe) was the greatest in degree, if not the most universal, in the me- mory of man, though scarcely felt in Scotland and Ireland. THE EARTHQUAKE AT BUCHAREST. Interesting particulars of the late tremendous convulsion of nature at Bucha- rest, by an eye witness, in a le'ter to a gentlemen of Bristol:— Nov. 17, 1829. I sit down to give you a hasty sketch of a phenomenon, which it was my fate to witness the night before last, and from the effects of which I have fortunately escaped. I had gone to bed late and indisposed that night, and was sleep- ing uncommonly sound, when I felt myself suddenly awaked by something—I at first knew not what, but which my reminiscences quickly informed me was an earthquake. I of course immedi- ately started out of bed, making the best of my way for the open air in the court-yard but I had first a room to traverse, a lobby to pass through, an outer door to open, and then a short pair of stairs to descend, secured at bottom by another door bolted inside. I had, as is always my custom, a night-light burning in my room, which 1 had no sooner quitted, than the door was banged after me, (and jammed down close, as I afterwards found) so that I was left in total darkness, there being no moon to find my way to the handle of the door while groping for which, I had the plea- sure to hear the hinged and bolted windows fly open-the walls cracking in every direction—the ceiling falling down in large masses-the chimnies rolling down upon the roof—all these vari- ous noises being accompanied by the horrid rolling noise of the earthquake itself; at the same time I felt pieces of plaister and ceiling falling upon me, but fortunately not large ones where I then stood. However, I soon found out the handle of the door, ran through the lobby, unlocked the outer door, and got to the bot- torn of the stairs with no other hurt than my foot cut by a piece of glass, and just as I had unbolted the last door, at the foot of the stairs, and got into the yard, in my shirt, and in bitter cold freezing weather, and the ground covered with snow, the earth- quake suddenly ceased. Had it not done so, and had it conti- nued five or ten seconds more (increasing in violence as it did) Bucharest would certainly have been levelled with the ground.- As it is, there is not a house the walls of which are not miserably cracked in every direction, the chimnies thrown down, the flues and stoves damaged, so as to render it hazardous to make a fire in them. Fortunately only two or three lives have been lost that I can hear of, which is really wonderful. It began at four o'clock in the morning, and lasted 25 seconds-we have had three shocks since, but not very strong, and not exceeding a second or two in duration. I have left my house, which is too old and shattered to bear a second earthquake, should such return en regle, and have established myself in a kind of porter's lodge at the gate, constructed of wicker work plaistered over, till the hor- rid impression has passed away, or till the probability of a second visitation has ceased.. You may easily guess all my embarrass- ments, which leave me but little time or disposition to write, so that having hastily begun, I am obliged as hastily to conclude." PARAGRAPHS OF THE SEASON.-An uncommonly fine murder has arrived from Bavaria, to add to the cheer of Christmas. Murders, like young ladies, do not always think it prudent to tell their ages but this must have had place before October, and yet it is quite fresh and as good as if just killed. Seized with a passion for a watch, GEORGE W ACHs-a name akin to the object of desire-killed the owner, and all his family as they came home, one after the other. The subject will be dramatized at Covent Garden.-Spectator. The next is a highly seasonable anecdote. Mademoiselle Sontag.-A few days ago, this distinguished vo- calist nearly lost her life in a very romantic manner. A person named Chauriel waited on her, in order to request that she would Serve as a model or rather as a mould, for a bust in plaister, which he said should be a perfect resemblance and she acceded to his proposal. The artist told the lady it would be necessary to tie her head to the sofa, in order to place the layer of plaster properly, and this having been done, he set to work. The layer, however, was so thick that Mademoiselle Sontag could no longer breathe, and she began to move her arms and legs with some violence. He, however, took no notice, but continued his work. The lady, almost suffocated, then gave a kick, which upset a beautiful service of china that tvas placed near her. The servants hearing the noise, rushed in, and perceiving the state of their mistress, had sufficient presence of mind to cut off the plaster with a knife. They then released her head from the sofa, and Mademoiselle escaped with a few convulsions. As to the artist, he was kicked out of the house. It is said that M. Scribe, the dramatist, has got hold of this story, and intends to write a vau- deville from it.-Augsburg Gazette. Here is another morsel- There is now at Bordeaux a young girl, born without feet, and without arms, who writes, draws, knits, and loads a pistol, with her mouth. She is almost as dexterous with her nose, and plays different waltzes on the piano. She is also stated to pos- sess remarkable beauty." In the Fashions for Gentlemens's Dress we find these season- able truths- "A very stylish half dress is composed of a granite-colour coat with lappels, lined with black velvet, the under waistcoat of green velvet trimmed with very small round buttons of gold pantaloons of celestial blue, and a cravat of black satin with long ends closed in front by small buttons of wrought gold." What follows is very important, if true- The umbrella of a man of fashion is of tnyrtie-green gros- de-Naples, without any kind of border at the edge "the handle of a Chinese laurel, without any head a simple plate of gold only finishing the superior part. Some fashionable gentlemen wear the crowns of their hats higher on one side than the other. Under waistcoats are decidedly fashionable for dress, and are of very beautiful colours and patterns. The most in favour for evening parties are rose colour silk, sky blue of a diamond texture, and the corners dotted with silver they have a pretty effect. Care must be taken in the choice, that the under waist- coat corresponds with the outside waistcoat. For instance, if the top waistcoat be of black velvet, with crimson stripes, the under waistcoat should be of crimson silk if it be a brown figur- ed velvet, with gold spangles and purple flowers, the under one should be of purple without spangles; and if a purple with a gold figure, the under waistcoat may be of gold colour or purple; 'I, but if one has gold or silver spangles the other should not have any." ATTACK BY A LEOPARD IN THE TOWER.-On Saturday forenoon, about twelve o'clock, a most desperate attack was made upon a young man, named Joseph Croney, residing in Brick-lane, Whitechapel, by one of the leopards at the mena- gerie in the Tower, by which he is most seriously injured. The circumstances are as follow :-The employer of Croney had con- tracted with Mr. Copps, the manager of the exhibition, for the bones of the carcases with which the wild animals are fed and on Saturday morning he was sent with a horse and cart to remove them. The keepers had just before been employed in cleansing the dens of them, and had heaped them up in the yard, prepara- tory to their removal. In securing the cages again, they had unfortunately neglected to bolt the door of the leopard's den, which worked in a groove backwards and forwards, similar to a glass case. The unfortunate Croney, having entered the yard' alone with a basket to remove the refuse, commenced his work, but had not been many seconds employed, when, on raising his head he perceived the leopard push back the door with his paw. The poor fellow seeing the perilous situation in which he was | placed, made for the keeper's apartment, but, before he could stir many paces, the infuriated beast sprang from his den towards him. The unfortunate Croney flew behind some timber near him, thinking to avoid the fury of the animal, but at that moment the leopard pounced upon him, and sticking his immense claws on either side of his neck, grasped the back of his neck with his tusks, and kept a fast hold. The poor fellow shrieked out in the most excruciating pain, and expected nothing but instant des- truction, and, with the animal fastened as above described, he hobbled to the keeper's room, when, to add to his dreadful fears, he found the door fastened by a latch, and could not open it. However, his cries being at length heard by two of the keepers, they came immediately to his assistance, but before they could arrive the animal had got his victim upon the ground, keeping fast hold of him by the neck. The men, upon perceiving the j perilous situation he was in, endeavoured all they possibly could to entice the beast away, but finding all attempts to allure him i fruitless, one of them seized a fowling piece, and commenced beating him over the head with the butt-end till they succeeded in completely stunning him and, being no longer able to keep his hold, he dropped quite insensible, but not till the gun was broken in pieces. The unfortunate young man, having been re- leased, was immediately carried to the house of a surgeon upon Tower-hill, where the wounds in his neck were dressed, and from thence he was carried to Guy's Hospital, and placed under the care of Mr. Morgan, one of the principal surgeons, when, upon examination, the vertebras of the neck was found to be ex- tensively laceratcd by the teeth of the beast, and each si. e of the neck upon the shoulders were equally injured by its talons, which had penetrated to a great depth. The necessary stej >.i e T<3- sorted to by Mr. Morgan, and although the suffeiu i in excessive agony, he is considered to be doing well.