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Northern Star (1837-1852), 12th April 1845, Edition 2 of 3, Page 3, SOIREE IN HONOUR OF 'THOMAS PATERSON. On...

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    • VINDICATION OF THE RIGHT OF FREE EXPRESSION OF OPINION.
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      Atbil 12, 1845. The Northern Star. 3

      Atbil 12 , 1845 . THE NORTHERN STAR . 3

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      A Case At Sessions. Yesterdav, At The Se...

      A CASE AT SESSIONS . Yesterdav , at the Sessions heldin Buckingham , TheRev . ' shnon Shutwood , famed for tucking ham And capon into his appointed man , Gravely discuss'd a deadly breach of law , And then committed to the county jail ( After apatient hearing ) WiHiamFlail : For that he , Flail , one day last week , Was seen maliciously to sneak And bend his body by the fence Of his own garden , and from thence Abs tract , ont of a noose , a hare , Tvhich he unlawraHy found there , Against the peace ( as may be seen In Burn and Blackstone ) ofthe Oueen .

      He , questioned thereupon , in short , Could give no belter reason for't Than that his little boy and he j ) id often in the morning see Said hare , and sundry other hares , Nibbling on certain herbs of theirs . Teddy , the seventh of the boys , Counted twelve rows , fine young savoys , Bit to the ground by them , and out Of ne'er a plant a leaf to sprout : And Sam , the youngest lad , did think He saw a couple at a pink . " Come '" cried the Reverend , " Come , confess !" Flail answered , " I wfll do no less . Puss we did catch ; Puss we did eat ; It washer turn to give the treat Nor overmuch was there for eight o' us

      With a half gallon o' potatoes : Eight ; for our Prue lay sick abed , And poor dear Bessy with the dead !" " We cannot listen to such idle words , " The Reverend cried : "The hares are aR my Lord ' s . Have yon no more , my honest friend , to say Why we should not commit you , and straightway ?** Whereat WRl Flail Grew deadly pale , And cried " If you are so severe on me , An ignorant man , and poor as poor can be , 0 , Mister Shutwood , what would yon have done If yon had caught God ' s blessed only Son , When he broke off ( in land not His they say ) That car of barley on the Sabbath day I Sweet Jesus ! in the prison He had died , And never for our sins been crucified . "

      " Constable ! take that man down stairs , He quotes the Scripture and eats hares . "—W . S . L Douglas JerroWs Shilling Magazine .

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      The Illuminated Magazine—Aran.. The Cont...

      THE ILLUMINATED MAGAZINE—Aran .. The contents of this month ' s number are varied and entertaining . " Travel and Talk , " by Luke Rooen , contains a severe castigation of thehomoeopathic quacks . " The Past , the Present , and the Possible , " is cleverly written . The " Adventures of a Scamp , " if we correctly understand the writer , appear to be likely to be brought to an abrupt , and anything but satisfactory conclusion . "We regret this , for we have derived much , amusement , and by no means of an unprofitable kind , from their perusal . "Contemporary History" deals most unmercifully with that portion of the press-gang popularly denominated " Penny-a-liners ; " we give an extract : —

      Although the writers alluded to are called penny-aliners , the rate is , in fact , three halfpence aline . That is to say , such a sum is paid by four of the morning papers and the evening papers . One ofthe morning papers pays somewhat less . The Sunday papers differ in the rate of remuneration paid to this class . One of them allows as much as threepence per Rne . Now the public may be in the habit of associating the idea of" penny-a-Rners" with something excessively paltry , but , in point of feet , some of these men make a good deal of money . An article of 100 lines produces 12 s . CtL , and if that amount he multiplied four or five times , the sum mounts up . It is by no means an uncommon thing for a penny-a-liner to make £ W or £ 50 by a good murder or any other startling event These incidents , it is true , do not often arise ; but these men are so indefatigable in picking up " unconsidered trifles , " that in the worst of times the industrious get a tolerably good living . Indeed , there is one penny-a-liner who makes something like £ 1 , 000 a year . It is to he

      remarked that there is a vast field . They do not , as we have said , felsify events , but they make them subservient to circumstances . Thus , if a coroner ' s inquest should not be sufficientl y interesting for the morning papers , and should the copy unfortunatel y not be used by anv of { hem , it is dressed up the next day for the evenings . Luck runs sometimes so much against the writers , that even the evening papers leave out the account , perhaps pressed by Parliamentary reports , or , peraoventure , nrgea by a spirit of economy . In these cases , the affiiir is treasured up tfll the Saturday , when a rethauffee of the leading points is made up for the Sunday papers , and the date and the heading being altered , it is duly paraded under the licad of latest intelligence , particularly by a Certain class of Sunday papers , which affect to give news np to the very latest hour , and the reporters for some of Which , upon the principle that it is " an iR wind which blows nobody any good / 1 sometimes convert the upsetting Of a boat in the Channel into a " distressing shipwreck and melancholy loss of life . "

      The following sweet lines we extract from an arti cle en the coming ofthe Spring : — Soon nature will resume her dormant powers , Immortal as in triumph over death ; The Spring will soon be with us . Many flowers The earth wfll hallow with sweet forms and breath , And thousand bosoms with detight be rife , Those symbols welcoming again to hie . They will arise o ' er many a wooded lull , In lowly spots mid many a pleasant vale" "iil gem the brink of many a gurgling riR ; And who w 01 deem their charms of slight avail , Wooing us to regard their blossoming , Telling us silent tales of oar warm Spring ? Fond hands will place them in the sick man ' s room Their presence gleaming Hke a ray of Rght And beauty , peering through its saddened gloom ;

      And with their scent will visions , calm and bright , Lulling in soft deR ght the sense of pain , Arouse the faiutness of the sick one ' s brain : A finsh wiR overspread his faded cheek , A brightness fill again the sunken eye ; And friends wiU bow to hear him softly speak Of health and vigour , life-renewing , nigh ; A blessing wiR be with them—that they keep Mope from relapsing into weary sleep . And shaR we not love flowers , if they but raise Oar thoughts a moment from the worldly din That stirs our hearts too deeply in this maze Often , ambition , passion , or of sin ?

      0 , are they useless ? Every flower we see To sight and sense betokens purity . The present number closes the fourth volume of this Magazine : and we perceive , by an announcement from the conductors , that it is intended , next month , to commence a new series . On the first of May next , the Wmt & nated Magazine will appear as a handsomely bound smaR " octavo volume , without extra dmrge . ^ This arrangement will , at any rate , possess Hie merit of originality and novelty , and , we think , cannot fail to increase the present popularity of this publication . The present form is very inconvenient , and anything but elegant ; we are , therefore , disposed so heartuy welcome the promised change .

      Simm0kd3' Colonial Magazine—Aran.. This ...

      SIMM 0 KD 3 ' COLONIAL MAGAZINE—Aran .. This is a very interesting number of the Cohmal Magazine , for besides the usual statistical and other articles of sterling merit , there is in theprcsentnumber more than one paper of a lighter , and more generally amusing character . The principal contents are , an "Account of the SeUgherry Hill Tribes , " containing a description of a most remarkable peoplethe Todas or Todavas . Following this is an article on " Port Philip contrasted with Van Dieman ' s Land . " "The Australian Sketches , " byT . M'Combie , are

      exceedingly Interesting . Tfe regret that want of room prevents us giving an extract from these "Sketches . The Present state of Demerara , " The •' Conunercc of Java , " the "Progress of the Sugar Trade in the United States , " and the " North American Fisheries , " are all able articles ' , and of importance to those interested in colonial affairs . Lastly , there is a scene at Fernando Po , entitled " Krooman versus Boobie , " which cannot fail to excite the risible faculties of the reader , at the expense of poor Boobie Tfe close this noticcwith a description ofthe present masters ofthe Oregon territory .

      THE TEAPPEKS , OB BEAVEB HOXXEBS . In the old times ofthe Canadian fur trade , when the trade in furs was chiefly pursued about the lakes and riv «* i the expeditions were , in a great degree , carried on mbaneaus and cauoes . But a tetany different classhas now sprung np—the " mountaineers "—the traders and trappers that scale the vast mountain chains , and pursue their haza rdous vocation amidst their rrild recessesmorlngfrom place to place en horseback—exposed not aloBeto theperiis of the wilderness , out to the perils of attack fr 0 m fierce Indians , to whom it has become as fevouraolean exploit to harass and waylay a band of trappers with their pack-horses , as it is to the Arabs of we desert to plunder a caravan . The equestrian exercises » which they are constantly engaged—the nature of the Country they traverse—vast plains and mountains , pure

      ana exMBrating in their atmospheric guaHties—seem to Jaake them , phvsicaRy and mentaHy , a more Rvely , vigorous , darin g . ' and enduring race than the f ur traders and trappy of former days , whogeneraUyhadhutsor terns to shelter them fromQieinclemency of the seasonswere seldom exposed to the hostffity of the natives , and generah y were within reach of supp Res from the settlements . There ^ pg ^ Q 0 dasg of men on the earth who lead a fife of more continued exertion , danger , and excrtaaent , ana who are more enamoured of their occupations , than the fiee trappers ofthe wild regions of the West Ko toil , no danger , no p rivation , can turn the trapper aside from his pursuit . If his meal is not ready in time , he takes his rifle-iies to the forest-shoots his game—hghte his fire , and cooks his repast . "With his horse and Ms rifle he is independent of the world , anu

      Simm0kd3' Colonial Magazine—Aran.. This ...

      spurns its restraints . In vain may the most vigilant and cruel savages beset his path—in vain may rocks , and precipices , and wintry torrents oppose his progress ; let but a single track of a beaver meet bis eye , and be forgets aR danger , and defies aR difficulties . At times he may be seen , with his traps on his shoulders , huSetini , ' his way across rapid streams , amidst floating blocks of ke ; at other times , with his trims slung on his back , clambering the most rugged mountains—scaling or descending the mostfrightfulprecipices—searching by routes inaccessible to horse , and never before trodden by white man , for springs and lakes unknown to his comrades , where he maymeet with his favourite-game . This class of hunters are generaUy Canadians by birth , and of French descent ; who , after being bsund to serve the traders for a certain number of years and receive wages , or hunt on shares , then continue to hunt and trap on their own account , trading with the company like the Indians ; hence they are caRedjVce men .

      The Family Herald. Parts 22 And 23. Lond...

      THE FAMILY HERALD . Parts 22 and 23 . London : Biggs , 421 , Strand . These parts of the Family Herald are , as usual , replete with instruction and entertainment of the best character . The wonderful and ( well-nigh ) universaUy read romance of " The Wandering Jew" is continued , and several other tales and articles , romantic , moral , and scientific , ably written , are furnished for the amusement and enli ghtenment ofthe reader . The articles of the editor are no way deficient in that originality and talent which render all he pens so piquant and suggestive of sound thinking . From one of these , in part xxiii ., we give the following extract on the prevailing foll y—the latest freak of ignorant superstition—the wearing of

      GALVANIC RINGS . There is always some mania or other in the ascendant , something that the cockneys say is " aR the go . " There is the music for the million mania—the polka maniaand the galvanic ring mania , and the mesmeric mania , aR even , at the present moment , " on the go . " There are many others besides these ; but you may be perfectly sure of striking a sympathetic chord in some heart if you introduce one or other of these subjects in a promiscuous company . Some few days ago a happy couple were married with a galvanic ring , and the fact was recorded in the daRy papers under the name of a galvanic marriage . ¦ We trust it may prove an auspicious one ; but we suspect it is rather too scientific . Marriage is not a scientific subject . # # * #

      If ever the people are infected with any mania that bears a resemblance to a science , or that takes the name of a science , you may be certain that it costs them no trouble whatever to learn . AR that is popularly known of phrenology may be learned in ten minutes by a moderately good memory . Mesmerism is so very easy that it does not require any learning at aR . You strike out the Rght Of truth therein with your own intellectual match-box , and all at once you know aR that is known of the mesmeric principle . As for the galvanic ring—the most important discovery that has been made in modern times , as a shopkeeper in the Strand a few days ago very gravely informed us—aR that is popularly known about it , even by those who wear it , is ludicrously little . Some even do not know that it is made of two metals , or what is the use of the two metals , and it is rather with a sort of credulous superstitious feeling that they wear it , than with any

      enkghtened understanding of the principle of its construction , or the nature of galvanism . The most of them , perhaps , would be ashamed of appearing superstitious , in the vulgar sense of the word , and would probably feel insulted were they so designated ; but , after all , what is any popular conceit or belief , or suspicion of this kind , bat credufity ? It is the very same principle which led our forefathers to believe in charms , spells , amulets , fortunetelling , and witchcraft , which are now laughed to scorn . "Were these things the mania now , as they once were , the scientifics would abuse the credulous people who gave ear to them . And yet there seems as strong evidence even now for the influence of charms and spells , as for that of mesmerism and galvanic rings . The expressing of our own gratification at the perusal of the interesting contents of these numbers ofthe Family Herald is the best recommendation we could give this popular periodical .

      The Illustrated Family Journal. Pabt I.—...

      THE ILLUSTRATED FAMILY JOURNAL . Pabt I . —London : Sherwood and Co . In awarding our approbation to this new candidate for public patronage , our only regret is our inability to adequately express our admiration . All that we hoped for , all that we predicted when noticing the first number , as to the talent to be displayed both in the literary contents and the pictorial embellishments of this publication , have already been realised , and more than realised . The success , the large circulation which we also predicted , is , we hope , in course of realisation : not because we aim at winning a prophetical character , but because such suceesswill only be the just meed of the enterprise and talent devoted to the

      Illustrated Family Journal . Of the literary contents wo must speciaRy single out a startling romance from the French , entitled " The Advocate and the Marchioness ; " "The Recreations of Mr . Zigzag the Elder , "a series of gossiping , but most pleasing articles on the wonders and antiquities of the " Great Metropolis ;" articles headed "Modem Affectations ; " " Neglected Fields of British Commerce ; " and last , not least , the choice selections from the best of our living poets . From the miscellaneous and selected contents we give the following capital Turkish story , taken from a work entitled " Three Years in Constantinople . "

      THE SULTAN AND THE SIPAHT . The risk of fire arising from several hundred thousand lighted pipes or pieces of charcoal and tinder , burning in every direction throughout a wood-mult city , like Constantinople , is suiBcientto justify the attempts made by divers sultans to abolish smoking . But no sovereign waged war upon pipes and their attendant coffee more inveterately than Murad IV . He hunted down smokers , coffee-drinkers , and opium-eaters , with relentless severity . If delinquents , high or low , were caught in the act of smoking , their heads inevitably paid forfeit . Murad often went forth tebdil ( disguised ) , on purpose to watch if the police did its duty , or to see if he could fidl in with individuals bold enough to infringe his edicts . On one of these occasions he is said to have met with an

      adventure calculated to diminish his passion for these experiments . Having disguised himself as a simple citizen , he passed over to Scutari in a common kayik , and prowled around the caravansaries , where strangers arrive from the interior . Not having discovered a single defaulter , he took his place , to return , in one of the large passage-boats , by the side of a sipahy , who had come from Kutaya to claim . arrears of pay . In the course of the passage the trooper produced a short pipe , Rt it , and commenced smoking . Upon seeing this , Murad could scarcely contain his anger ; but , as the man was in his power , he resolved to amuse himself at his expense , so he leaned aside , and said to him in a whisper , "By the Prophet ' s head , yoldash ( comrade ) , you must be a bold man ! Have von not heard of the Sultan ' s edicts 1

      look , we are within sight of the palace . Take care of your head ! " " If the Sultan neglects to pay his soldiers , or to furnish them with more substantial food , they must needs sustain themselves by other means , " replied the sipahy ; " the Prophet has said that starvation by other hands is homicide ; by one ' s own suicide—which is worse than homicide . My tobacco is good—it is raya tribute , Bismillah ! it is at your service . " Upon this , Murad , pretending to look around , as if in fear of being detected , drew his pelisse over Ins face , took the pipe , and smoked away lustily ; then , returning the forbidden luxury to the soldier , he exclaimed , "Kardash ( brother )! you seem to be a most liberal man ! It is a pity you are not more discreet . To speak truth , however , I also am fond of my pipe , and laugh at the Padishah ' s beard in private . But

      heads are heads after all , and do not sprout hke young figs . So take my advice , and be cautious when you reach the city . " "Man can die but once , and each has his appointed day , " retorted the sipahy . " I may as well die , my mouth filled with smoke , as with an empty stomach . It is weR for him who wants neither bread nor salt to deprive others of this substitute for food ; but the day will come when , InshaRah , he wRl broR for it . " " ARah , Allah ! this is a most incorrigune rebel ana blasphemer . He shall be impaled with his own pipe-stick ! " ejaculated the Sultan aside ; then he added , in a half-whisper , " Speak lower ; spcaklower ; Effendimiz ( our Lord ) has long ears . " "And so have all the asses in Stambol , " retorted the sturdy trooper ; " but his braying may not keep him from

      following the road taken by Sultan Osman . ' The boat now touched the shore , and it was nearly dark . The sipahy jumped on land , closely foRowed by Murad , who , when they had advanced a few paces , stopped the soldier , saying , " Tour looks please me , and your language proves you to be a brave man . You are a stranger . I wRl find you lodging . Come ; I and my Mends care not the husk of an almond for the Sultan ; we wiR enjoy our pipes . " The trooper looked round for a moment , and , seeing no one near , answered thus : — "Hark ye , friend 1 I do not Ukc your looks . I have heard of this Sultan ' s pranks . He shoots men with arrows as others shoot dogs . There is honey in your speech , but gaR in your eye . You are either a spy or the Sultan himself . If the first , you merit a rope ; if the other , worse than a rope . None but

      rascals would lure starving men to death . But , whether spy or Padishah , you shall have your deserts . " Whereupon he took forth his short mace , and administered a most severe cudgeRing to the despot . Then , bounding away with the speed of a gazeRe , he disappeared among the narrow streets , leaving Murad foaming with rage , and with half-broken bones . Having rejoined his attendants , who were waiting at an appointed spot , the Sultan concealed his adventure and retired , bruised and infuriated , to the SeragUo . There he forthwith issued orders for beheading the chief of the poMce of Tophana , and for hasthe watch

      tinading all his tchaoosh for not being upon . Next morning he sent for the virir , and without disclosing what had happened , commandedhim toissue a proclamation , offering ten purses of gold and free pardon to a sipahy who , on the previous night , had beaten a citizen near the landing-place of Tophana , provided that he would present himself forthwith to the Bostaojy Bashy But the sipahy , recoRecting that heads | did not . Qroat Hke green figs , never made his appearance , and Murad ffienceforih took care not to stir ont , unless rtosely followed by his bash tebdR and other disguised and

      confidential guards . No words can sufficiently express the > beauts-of ihe pictorial embellishments ; the sunerktive teste and luxurious imagery of Mr . Linton ' s illustrations , no SpSn ^ aUo justice to . ™ ey must I * , sag to be appw-aated . Here are five numbers ol this

      The Illustrated Family Journal. Pabt I.—...

      excellent work , containing eighty pages of letterpress , and the most beautiful creations of the art of wood engraving , all for the paltry sum of elevenpence . Truly may the proprietors of this work say— - 'Tis not for mortals to command success , Rut we'll do more , Sempronius , we'll deserve it . "

      The Sugar Question Made Easy. Bv C.. F. ...

      THE SUGAR QUESTION MADE EASY . Bv C . . F . Stollmeyer . London : Effingham Wilson , 11 , Royal Exchange . The author of this pamphlet , a disciple of Mr . Etzler ' s , reviews the different propositions at present before the country relative to the " Sugar Question , - " his object is to unite the free trade principle of uncontrolled admission of all sugars , no matter from where or by whom produced , with the means to save the West India proprietors from absolute ruin , which the adoption ofthe simple free trade principle would be sure of itself to produce . To benefit the British public , increase commerce , and restore the prosperity of the West Indians , there is no other remedy " than to change the mode of sugar

      cultivation , or to introduce slaves , or to do both . And the writer adds , "that both those remedies can and ought to be applied at once . " To effect the first , he would grow maize sugar , instead of , or in addition to the sugar cane , and prepare the sap in accordance with a new discovery of Mr . Etzler ' s , " who has succeeded in crystalising sugar without heat or boiling . ' To effect the second , he proposes—as want of labour is the great evil ofthe West India colonies , " that the West Indians should import the requisite machines from England . One iron slave , at a purchase of less than five hundred pounds , under the superintendence of three or four labourers , if driven either by steam or water power , will ( he asserts ) do the work oi three hundred human slaves . "

      Brevity is good , but we think the author has written too little to do justice to his subject . He , however , states , that he is ready to explain at any time , for the sake of science and humanity , to any persons desiring it , aU the points treated on in the pamphlet before us .

      The Movement. London: Holyoake, 40, Holy...

      THE MOVEMENT . London : Holyoake , 40 , Holywell-street , Strand . We are sorry to announce the cessation of this publication , arising from the fact , that since the commencement of the second volume " the weekly sale has failed to return the weekly outlay . " Unfavourable circumstances have conspired to prevent the recovery of the ground thus lost ; the principal of which has been the lengthy , serious , and almost fatal illness of the editor , Mr . Holyoake , which disabled him from attending to the management of the paper , and taking measures to avert the present result . The party represented by the Movanent , will , however , not be absolutely without an organ , as will be seen from the following extract from the Editor ' s farewell address : —

      The most important consideration connected with the cessation of the Movement is the welfare of the Anti-Persecution Union , which is now left without an organ . To remedy this evil the Committee of the Union have determined to issue a Monthly Circular , to bo of four pages the size of the Movement , to be published at a penny . The Circular will relate purely to Anti-Persecution Union matters , will acknowledge all subscriptions , register the presentation of petitions , place before the pubUc the cases of aU victims of blasphemy laws , and it is trusted will never cease to exist till every law in England and

      Scotland is repealed which affects the free expression of Theological opinions . By this means the Union wiR seek to preserve its individuality more effectively than hitherto , and to correspond as usual with its members , its friends , and the public . The action now pending against the Hull magistrates and other important cases demand immediate support . The office of the Circular wRl be at the office of the Union , 5 , Paul ' s Alley , Paternoster-row , London , to which place all communications and subscriptions are to be addressed , to G . 3 , Holyoake , secretary . The first number of the Circular wfll be issued on the

      1 st of May . We believe the whole of the numbers of the Move ment ( sixty-eight in all ) may be had on application to the publisher .

      The Morning Star—Nos. Xii. And Xiii. Lon...

      THE MORNING STAR—Nos . XII . and XIII . London : Iletherington , 40 , Holywell-street . The Morning Star was commenced as a monthly publication , but is now , we perceive , published weekly . It is the advocate of Mr . Etzler ' s views , and the organ of the " Tropical Emigration Society . " We notice two of a series of articles on " Modern Legislation and Social Science , " which appear to be ably written ; but the price of the publication being but a penny , renders it unnecessary we should say more as all who choose may purchase it and judge for themselves .

      The National Temperance Advocate April. ...

      the national temperance advocate April . This number contains several interesting articles , and will be found well worthy of perusal both by those who adhere to the principles of the Temperance movement and those who are opposed to them .

      Tapscott's Emigrants' Travelling Guide. ...

      TAPSCOTT'S EMIGRANTS' TRAVELLING GUIDE . This is merely an advertising circular , published jointly at 90 , Waterloo-read , Liverpool , and ft } , Southstreet , New York ; and also we perceive at the Banner of Ulster office , Belfast . It professes to be a Travelling Guide through the United States and Canada , showing the distance from New York , time by railroad , steam-boat and canal-boat , rate of passage , charge for extra baggage , < fcc ., & c . There is a show-up of some of the frauds practised by the land-sharks on unsuspecting emigrants ; and altogether we dare say this circular will be found considerably useful to persons about to emigrate .

      The Astrologer —Part I. London: 10, Well...

      THE ASTROLOGER —Part I . London : 10 , Wellington-street , North Strand . This publication professes to be a " Weekly Oracle of Destiny : containing revelations of the past , present , and future , and all things associated with the wild and wonderful ! " The editor announces that at an " enormous sacrifice" of " ease and retirement , " he has come forward pro bono publico to tell all that has been , and all that shall be . With a lofty magnanimity he forewarns all ignorant critics , that their ill-natured doubts and sneers will be utterly disregarded , as he takes for his model Themistocles , making you welcome to " strike—but hear . " On the principle , we suppose , that " two of a trado never agree , " he denounces the numerous hordes of fortunetellers who " prey on theeredulity of their victims !"

      He adds , very disinterestedly , that he will " give the benefit of his art , free of all charge and cost whatever , to those of lus correspondents who may feel really anxious and desirous to know the result of some particular event . " Be it so . Can he then tell us when the income tax will be repealed ? or when the Bishop of Exeter will learn humility ? or when Sir James Graham will practise honour and honesty ? or when Trafalgar-square will be completed I or when Brougham will abjure the woolsack ? or when the national debt will lie paid ? or when O'Connell will cease to humbug the flWwi-landers ? or when the Nation will give over blethering its beautiful ballads of death to the Saxon ? or when Lord Mayor Gibbs will settle his accounts ? or when Punch will cease to be the people ' s favourite ? If he can consult the

      planets , and throw star-light upon these questions , then—why then he shaU see what he shaR see . The Ghost in Hamlet was nothing to the ghosts in the Astrofoaer . In one article tho writer , who says he has " studied ghostcraft with the enthusiasm of a poet , and endeavoured to penetrate its arcana with the perseverance and zeal of a philosopher" (!) , tells a tale of a ghost who used regularly to come to an evening card party , and take a hand ! Sometimes the ghost lost ; and then , as gamblers will often do , he would capsize the table ! But this" spirit blessed or goblin damned" is beat all to nowhere by another ghost who used to visit the same writer , and , seated by the fireside , used to smoke apipe (!) , drink brandy and water—his ghostship liked it "stiff , " too (!) . Spirits should be fond of the spiritual . ' But this is not all : he balanced a pipe on his ghostly nose (!) , performed on the violin to the tune of " All round mv hat , " and " The g irl I left behind me" (!) , and danced the polka as well as if , when alive , he had

      lived in Bohemia ! Now , such a ghost as that was " a gay old buffer , " and must have been worth anything as an antagonist to the blue devils . Mayhap our readers will think we are joking : » j » we assure them that what we have inst stated will bc found in the fourth number of this publication , it is unnecessarv to say more , other than that it the Astrologer does not get a myriad of fools to support him , then will the galvanic ring makers be possessed of a most shameful monopoly . , The Astrohaer tells , at any rate , one bit of truth : he says the priests of Mexico and Peru possess the power to transform themselves into monstrous serpents . This we believe . We believe it not only ot them , but of the priests of all other countries . They are the true serpents of the earth , the " monstrous spawn of the " great red ( blood-stained ) dragon ot superstition , the existence of which Mr . Astrologer would fain perpetuate ; but which must be utterly " cast out "before freedom , plenty , and happiness , can be known and enjoyed amongst inon ,

      Lectures To Farmers On Agricultural Chem...

      LECTURES TO FARMERS ON AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY . Br A . Pbtzholt . Tins is a useful book , and should be in the hands of every farmer who intends to improve on the present state of agriculture . It is the first work we have seen in which the chemist has condescended to write , so as those not initiated into the mysteries of the science may understand what he writes : about . It fins UB * wide chasm that has existed between the theoretical chemical farmer , who experiments in his study upon a grain of wheat in six ounces of soil , contained in a garden-pot , and the honest clod-crusher who pract ises upon his broad acres . Hitherto , when the farmer has been desirous of knowing themost usefulmanures for his soil , and the crops best suited to both , he has heentoldby thetheory-mento study "Liebig ' s Agricultural Chemistry ;" andbysome " practicalmen , " whose practice has been confined to dibbling twenty grains oi

      Lectures To Farmers On Agricultural Chem...

      wheat in a corner of their garden , five yards by four , in some back yard in the metropolis , or , perhaps , in ^ 'WfK ^ liehaa *««» . told that he must study " - . full ' s System of Husbandry . " Though we do not intend to deny that "Liebig ' s Agricultural Chemistry , and " 'full ' s System of Husbandrv , " are both excellent and useful books in their wav , yet Liebig wrote only for chemists ; and 'full ' s practice vvdl be found woefull y wanting in manv , indeed in nearly all soils . A . Petzholt , in the work before us , has made up the void that existed between these two miters—he has used thetheorv of Liebig to show why the practice of Tull succeeded , and on what soils it will or will not succeed . A farmer may learn by studying Liebi g , that the urine of his animals , especiall y his horses and pigs

      , is extremely rich in ammonia : but he is readv to inquire what is ammonia ? and on being told that it is an invisible gas , he exulting !; - asks what an invisible gas has to do with the amount of cither his dungheap or the crops his land shall produce : and though it may , and has much to do with tho strength of his manure heap , yet he must understand the rudiments of chemistry before'he can be made to know this . Unfortunately , Liebig does not furnish sufficiently these rudiments , but writes as if every one who is to read his book , understands chemistry nearly as well as himself ; indeed , lie does not profess to write lor those not initiated . While , on the other hand , the farmer who studies the Tullian system , and attempts to put it in practice , unless lus soil be such as that

      constant pioughings and hoeings shall sufficientl y accelerate the " degradation , " or wearing down ofthe soil , so as to furnish a constant supply of the earthy materials , or " inorganic constituents" of plants , he will nnd himself disappointed ; for there are very few soils , the original constituents of which are such as that ploughing and horse-hoeing will furnish these earthy materials in sufficient quantity ; and though the process will do much good , yet the extra labour will not do all the good the farmer was led to expect it would , and he will relapse into the old mode employed by his fathers , which has succeeded , though only partially , up to the present time . A . Petzholt , in the work before us , has endeavoured to divest chemistry , as far as concerns its practical application to agriculture , of all its mystery : he has descended to the most plain and homely illustrations . He has explained the first rudiments of the science , which is the moat difficult part for the farmer to

      understand ; and on reading the work we cannot but admire the ease with which so mvsterious a science may be acquired , and become convinced of what vast importance to the farmer is that knowledge which will enable him to find out the qualities of the crops he wishes to grow , the quantities of their constituent elements , the qualities and capabilities-o £ us soil , and which shall tell him at a glance the land of crops his soil , in the state in which he anal ysed it , will produce the most of ; what manures , and how much of them , he shall . apply to produce an abundant crop of any other vegetable he may be desirous of growing ; what rotation of crops his particular soil is best suited for : in fact , one is left to wonder why every farmer has not long since become a chemist , that he might know these things , which to Mm are all-important . Petzholt ' s work , as its name imports , is a complete , easy , and familiar introduction to that portion of this science which , ere long , must become the basis of all agricultural operations .

      Publications Received.—Life Of Thomas Sp...

      Publications Received . —Life of Thomas Spcnce—The English Institutions : an Educational Poem—The Phrenotypic AlpHabet ,

      Vindication Of The Right Of Free Expression Of Opinion.

      VINDICATION OF THE RIGHT OF FREE EXPRESSION OF OPINION .

      Soiree In Honour Of 'Thomas Paterson. On...

      SOIREE IN HONOUR OF 'THOMAS PATERSON . On Sunday , April Gth , in accordance with a notice inserted in last week ' s Star , a very numerous and respectable body of friends assembled at the Hall of Science , City-road , to give their meed of approbation to Mr . Thomas Paterson , for his heroic faithfulness under long and bitter suffering in the cause of free expression of opinion . The tea and refreshments , which were of the best quality , most abundantly supplied , and laid out in most admirable order , did honour to the excellent proprietor , Mr . Bendall , and gave great satisfaction to all parties . After the removal of the cloth , Mr . Hetherington was called to the chair . The Chairman opened the proceedings by

      announcing the object of the meeting—viz ., to express their admiration of one who had openly and honestly avowed his conscientious conviction , and , in so doing , to testify their regard for , and the great importance they ; attached to the principle of free expression of opinion . This principle he considered to he superior to all others—the grand element in the greatness of a nation—the fertUe source from whence sprang inventions in arts and sciences—the constant guide and incentive to all that is , or may be , good and useful , and the most effectual cure for hypocrisy ; while to its restriction he attributed the great distress of our most useful classes , the dog-and-mangerism ofthe arrangements for distributing wealthin fine , the solution ofthe problem of the existence of that large class of idlers who

      are" Like a watch without its hands , As useless when it goes as when it stands . " He ridiculed the liberty allowed by law to think , but hot to speak , comparing it to the physician who should be allowed to investigate the cause of disease in a patient , but be totally precluded from stating the result of his investigation in a prescription for the malady . So superstition was considered to be the malady of society , and they claimed a right to say so . He concluded a long and able speech , frequently and heartily responded to by the meeting , by handing to Mr . Paterson the sum of £ 30 lis . 2 d ., the amount subscribed to the Testimonial Fund , and in giving the following sentiment : — " Mr . Thomas Paterson , the assembled friends of the right of private judgment , and the free expression of opinion , embrace the

      occasion of presenting to Mr . Paterson the present testimonial , to convey their warmest respect and approbation to him who a second time left a quiet retirement to place himself in the thick of danger , and by inflexible defiance to render the bigot ' s greatest power abortive , and smooth the path for future friends of freedom . " Mr . Patebsox Jwho was received with enthusiastic applause ) , in rising to speak , excused in himself a hesitation of manner from a want of practice in addressing the public ; and having just left a cell where , during a confinement of fifteen months , he had only spent one hour and . a half in conversation with his fellow-creatures , they being confined to the chaplain and the gaoler . He explained his reasons for the course he had followed to be , that , however

      denciontin abilities , he thought everybody might help a little in any great undertaking ; and knowing that many men of talent were engaged in battling with Government for the right of free expression of opinion , he thought that too much would be risked by causing them to suffer . Hence he had stepped forward , and though the authorities had imprisoned him , and thereon plumed themselves upon having achieved a victory , the reverse was the case . Mr . Paterson here entered into many interesting particulars of his proceedings in Scotland , and the treatment he received at the hands of gaol chaplains , who denounced him and his friends in the vilest language , holding them up as examp les of the grossest immorality and most vicious propensities . While , as regards these chaplains themselves , it was not a little singular that one

      had , a short time before his ( Paterson ' s ) release , been charged before the magistrates for refusing to pay two prostitutes the wages of their degradation , and another ( chaplain ) haa absconded to America with £ 2 , 000 belonging to a parish over which'he presided . He ( Mr . P . ) had » een charged with having put his bead in the lion ' s mouth—this was true , and the reason he put his head there was the hope of choking him . If wild animals—such as he took priests to be —ran about , tothe danger of society . hethoughtitmuch better to try to tame them than to run away crying out cowardly , " O , they are wild . " ( Applause . ) He concluded by thanking them for the testimonial as a tribute offered to principle rather than person , and an evidence to future advocates of man ' s rights that their labours would not want friends to approve ,

      dangerous and painful as their path always was through the foes they had to oppose . Mr , Paterson sat down amidst reiterated applause . The Chairjian then proposed the second sentiment , as follows : — " The Anti-Persecution Union , which has for its principles the recognition of the first step towards equality , namely , unrestricted discussion , and for its objects the protection of all whose exercise of this liberty is prolubited or attacked . " Mr . Holtoake , Secretary of the Anti-Porsecution Union , in responding , said he was glad that they had assembled on that day when so many old and friendly faces could present themselves—that they had met in a place associated with the memory of distinguished advocates and signal successes—that they met under the auspices of Mr . Bendall , whose generous cordiality the Union had often experienced , and that they had in the chair Mr . Hetherington , whose hearty support when liberty was in danger , could always bo reckoned upon—indeed , everytlilng conspired to assure them that this was a very pleasant meeting . If he might

      advert to other than the neutral tepics to which the Union was pledged—if he might refer to Mr . Paterson , and the sentiments with which he was identified , he could testify that long before Mr , Paterson was known to the public , he exhibited in Sheffield that disinterestedness , bv p ' acing himself in front of danger , to save those whom he thought more useful to society , which has since characterised him . There wore some people who could talk of nothing but policy , and on that account condemned the course Mr . Paterson had pursued ; but from Bishop Warburton down to the Rev . Mr . Dunn , of Glasgow , did not every priest scoff at the infidel as one who dared not come out-in open day and avow himself . Nothing could answer this sneer but bold action , such as Mr . P- h & d exhibited . No course could have been more politic than that which has been pursued . Half those people who cried down such conduct walked the earth enjoying an- immunity frohl contempt only because of such daring as had been exhibited . Another class hoped to annihilate their endeavours by

      Soiree In Honour Of 'Thomas Paterson. On...

      refusing them any sympathy . This party had sympathy for the majority , who had , if they were to be believed , truth on their side , and who had all power and privilege ; but for Mr . P . and his friends , who were few , —who were attacked on all sides , and who , whether right or wrong in their views , were struggling for equal liberty , and thence deserving supportfor them , torsooth , there was to be no sympathy . But let the world stand aloof if it will—free expression is tho liberty of being sincere , and Mr . P . and his friends would still struggle for it . —Mr . II . then rapidly glanced at the history and present exertions

      ot the Anti-Pcrsccution Union , and expressed a hope that the Union would soon bo able to present Mr , Johnson , of Hull , with the £ 20 illegally wrested from him by the magistrates of that town ; that the repeal of blasphemy laws would soon become an electioneering question , and that every person present would individually memorialise tho legislature on the subject . Mr . II . sat down by remarking that he had come prepared to enroll members of the Union , that they might commence their new Monthly Circular in numerous company , ( At the conclusion of the meeting more than fifty persons took out tickets of membership . )

      The Chairman then introduced to the meeting as a well-known friend of liberty , aud one who had suffered for the freedom of the publication of opinion , Mr . Julian Harney , to respond to the third sentiment— " The Press . —Honest Journalism , the most potent hel p to Universal progression . " Mr , fiAKiVEr most cordially responded to the sentiment . He considered popular ignorance , and the absence of honest journalism , the great cause why the people ' s mightiest struggles had always proved abortive ; in elucidation of which ho took a hasty glance at the most important popular struggles of

      ancient and modern times , shewnig that their failure arose from the want of intelligence on the part of the people , which , since the discovery of the art of printing , was mainly to bo imputed to the dishonesty of journalists . He warmly complimented Mr . Paterson , and concluded by showing the deadly effects of priestcraft as exhibited at the present time , more particularly on the Continent . The priests were the most wily , the most unscrupulous , and the most formidable foes of popular progress , and should be everywhere combated with untiring and fearless energy . Mr . Harney sat down amidst warm applause .

      We regret that the crowded state of our columns prevents us giving a more ample report of the proceedings of tills highly interesting meeting , which will long be remembered by all who were present ,

      Cftartfet Hxttllmixtt

      Cftartfet hxttllmixtt

      London. Metropolitan District Couircm, T...

      LONDON . Metropolitan District Couircm , TcKNAGAnr-nAKE , April 6 th . Mr . G . Cooper in the chair . — The balance sheet of the quarter was brought forward , audited , and found correct . Mr . J . Simpson was unanimously re-elected treasurer , and Mr . J . Arnott secretary , for the ensuing three months . Several reports were delivered in , respecting the ensuing Chartist Convention and the Llewellyn Hat Club , and the council adjourned . Balance Sheet of the Metropolitan District Council , from Jan . Sth to April 6 th , 1845 - . —

      Receipts , Expenditure . £ 8 . d . £ s . d . Balance last quarter 0 0 1 Rent I o 0 Camberweli .. .. 046 Secretary ' s salary 0 12 0 City of London .. 0 10 5 Advertisement duty 0 1 G Hammersmith ,. 080 Printing .. .. 010 0 Marylebone .. .. 095 Paper and postage 024 SomersTown .. 0 G 0 Standard of Liberty 0 2 0 2 5 10 Westminster { Clock- house ) .. .. 090 Receipts .. .. 2 II 1 WhittingtonandCatO G 8 Expenditure .. 2 5 10

      2 11 1 Balance in hand .. o 5 S Thomas Mabtin ¦ Whee ler , \ John Frederick Linden , / Auaitors > John Simpson , Treasurer . John Arnott , Secretary . Hall op Science , Wiiitechapel . —A public meeting was held hereon Monday night to hear an address on the Corn Laws from John West , of Sheffield . The hall was crowded to excess . On the motion of Mr . Wheeler , Mr . Bentole , of Macclesfield , was called to the chair , and in a lucid manner explained the objects of the meeting . Mr . West then delivered an able argumentative address , in which he clearly showed that if the repeal of the Corn Laws did effect

      a reduction in the price of bread , it must be at the expense of the labourer ' s wages . At the close of the lecture a discussion was courted . A few remarks were made by some gentlemen , which were ably replied to by Mr . West . Votes of thanks were given to the lecturer and the chairman , and the . meeting separated highly gratified with the treat they had received . Cit y Chartist Hall , 1 , TnnsAOAiN . LAKK .-. On Sunday evening last a spirited discussion took place . Mr . Wilson , of the Anti-Corn Law League , presided . Messrs . Dwane , Dalryniple , O'Connor , and others , spoke to the question ; the meeting then adjourned . Question for the ensuing Sunday : "Is the body of the people sufiiciently enlightened to be entrusted with the elective franchise ?"

      HALIFAX . APublic Meetino was held at this place on the 5 th inst ., to confirm the election of delegates to the Chartist Convention , as agreed upon by the West Riding delegate meeting on the 23 rd ult . Mr . B . Rushton was appointed to the chair , when it was resolved , on the motion of Mr . Orossland , seconded by Mr . Lawson , "That Foargus O'Connor , Esq ., and Mr . Christopher Doyle , are fit and proper persons to represent the West Riding in the forthcoming Convention , to be holden in London the third week in April , to take into consideration the best means to be adopted to further the cause of democracy , and make the People ' s Charter become the law of the land . " Tho resolution was carried unanimously .

      NORTH LANCASHIRE . Delegate Meeting . —On Sunday , April Cth , the North Lancashire district meeting was held at Mr . Bradshaw ' s , Temperance Hotel , Curzon-street , Bumley . Delegates were present from Barnoldswick , Ilaslingden , Oswaldtwistle , Colne , Haggate , Marsden , Wheatley-lane , and Burnley . Bacup and Preston were represented by letter . Arrangements were made for bringing the district into a better state of organisatien ; and it was resolved that the next district meeting shall be held at the same place on Sunday , May 11 th , at one o clock in the afternoon .

      EDINBURGH . Lecture . —Mr . M ' Grath delivered a lecture in the South Bridge Hall , on the evening of Thursday last , on the " Evils of Class Legislation . " He commenced by analysing the component parts of our so-called constitution ; demonstrating the injustice and absurdity of aristocratical institutions , and then gave a powerful and lucid exposition of the evils of the present system , both social and political . Mr . M'Grath lectured again on Friday night on Trades' Unions , which subject he handled in a masterly style .

      MANCHESTER . Carpenters' Hall . —A lecture was delivered in the hall on Sunday evening last , by Mr . James Leach , to a large and respectable audience . At the close of the lecture a vote of thanks was given to Mr . Leach and the chairman , after which the business terminated . OLDHAM . On Sunday last Mr . WiRiam Dixon delivered an energetic address in the Working Man ' s Hall , Horsedge-street , in which he exposed the tyranny and absolutism of employers over the employed ; and concluded by exhorting his hearers not to rest satisfied until their just rights were acceded , wliich would secure a just equivalent for their labour .

      NORTHAMPTON . New Locality . —A public meeting was held in the Association Room , on Monday , April 7 th , to elect a delegate to the forthcoming Chartist Conference . Mr . William Munday was unanimously elected ; and after several votes of instruction , and a vote of thanks to the chairman , the meeting was adjourned to the 28 th instant .

      Leeds . —Holbbck Ward , —James v . Brook . —A public meeting of the burgesses and inhabitants of this ward was held on Monday night , at the Bull ' s Head Inn , to take into consideration the late trial at York , between Superintendent James and Councillor Brook , more particularly that part of the evidence which states that Mr . Brook alluded to Mr . James at the meetings held in the Zion School , at Holbeck , and at the Horse and Jockey , in October last . The large room was crowded to suffocation ; amongst those present were Councillors Jackson , Robson , Heywood , and Brook . Mr . James Whitley was called to the chair . He opened the meeting by some appropriate remarks , and concluded by reading over the evidence of the three witnesses at York . Messrs .

      Sykcs , Oludoray , Stead , Chambers , Wade , Johnson , Ross , Stansneld , and Preston took part in the discussion which followed , every one being clearly of opinion that not one word which these men said was true ; after a while the following resolution was carried unanimously : — "That this meeting , having heard the evidence adduced in York in favour of Mr . James , which evidence charges Mr . Brook with having slandered and otherwise defamed the character of that gentleman at certain meetings which were held in this neighbourhood , on the respective dates of the 14 th , 16 th , and 21 st of October last , but more especially those ofthe earliest dates , which meetings ¦ were held , at the Zion Schoel Room , at which we

      were severally present , we hereby solemnly declare that Mr . Brook never uttered the language imputed to him , nor did he , at the above meetings , in an wise asperse the character of Superintendent James . ' The chairman then called on all those who were present at the Zion School meetings , to sign a declaration in conformity with the above , when betwixt eighty and ninety appended their names to the document . A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman , and the meeting separated . We hear that Mr . Brook intends , through his counsel , to move for an arrest of judgment , oa the ground that the count upon which the verdict was obtained for James is bad .. AU the three counsel entertained strong hopes of upsetting it .

      €It M

      € it m

      The President's Oath.—It Is Not Generall...

      The President ' s Oath . —It is not generally known —and the touching circumstance ought to be publishedto the whole world—that the Bible on which Mr . Polk took the Presidential oath , was very handsomely bound for the purpose in the skin of a negro . —Punch . Cuttixc Down a Name . —Most persons arc aware that the cognomen of Cholmondeley is pronouncedfor why we know not , but such it is—Chumlcy . One who was not , however , aware of this , presented himself at the Hon . Mr . Cf iolmomlefey ' s door , and upon tho opening of which asked a fat and lazy servant whether Mr . Chol-mon-dc-ley lived there ? " No , " was the reply , " nor any of his pe-o-ple . —Great Gun .

      Pat in the Playhouse . —The drama by Sophocles , entitled Antigone , recently revived in London , was performed the other night in Dublin . At the end ot the play there was a loud and general " call" for the author ; and tho manager was obliged to come before the curtain , and beg that Sophocles might be excused , as he had been dead more than two thousand years . Scholarship Extraordinary . --TheDe rOv Mercury in noticing the performances of a , vcntriloquist in that town , has the following : — " Wc ought not to omit mentioning that Mr . Macmillan is a Scotch gentleman , and , although having been only eight months in England , he has acquired the mastery of the English language ! " This is nearly as remarkable as the fact noticed by an observant traveller some years ago , that in Paris the children actually talk French to one another !

      AN ESSAY TO MISS KATHARINE JAT An S A now I mean 2 write 2 U , sweet K T J , The girl without a || , ThebeReofUTK . 11 der if U got the 1 I wrote to U B i IsailedintheRKD A , And sent by L N More . My M T head wUI scarce contain 1 calm IDA bright , But A T miles from UI must

      M , •* - » , this chance 1 write . And first should N E N V V , B E Z , mind it not , Should any friendship show , B true They should not B forgot . But friends and foes alike D K , As V may plainly G , In every funeral R A Or uncle ' s LEG . From virtue never D V" 8 , Her influence B 0 Alike induces 10 dcrness Or 40 tude divine . And if 0 cannot cut a — Or cause an ! , I hope U'U put a , 2 l ' s t . R . II for annexation 2

      My cousin «—heart and $ ^ He offers in a f , A § 2 of land . E says E loves V 2 X S , U're virtuous and Y ' s ; In X L N C Y tJ X L AU others in his l ' s . This S A until U I C , I pray D" 2 X Q ' s , And do not burn in F E G My young and wayward muse . Now fare V weU . ' dear K T J , I trust that U R true-When this U 0 then U can say , An S A I O U . The Irish State Church . — - ' She is not Well . " —There is a story in the Lelnster family which passes under the name of « ' She is not well . "

      A Protestant clergyman , whose church was in the neighbourhood , was a guest at the house of that upright and excellent man the Duke of Leinster . He had been staying there three or four days ; and on Saturday night , as they were all . retiring to their rooms , the Duke said , " We shall meet to-morrow at breakfast . " " Not so " ( said our Milesian Protestant ) ; " your hour , my Lord , is a little too late for me ; I am very particular iR the discharge of niy duty , and your breakfast will . interfere with my church . " The Duke was p leased with the very proper excuses of his guest , and they-separated for the night ; his Grace perhaps deeming his palace more safe from all the evils of life for' containing in it « bosom such an exemplary son pf -the Church y The first person , however , whom the Dpke saw in the morning upon entering the breakfast-room -was our punctual Protestant , deep in rolls and butter , his finger in an egg , and a large slice of the best Tipto

      peravy ham secured on tuaplate . Delignxea see you , my dear vicar , " said the Duke ; " but I must say as much surprised as delighted . " "Oh , dont you know what has happened ? " said -the sacred breakfaster— "she is not well . " " Who is not well ?" said the Duke : "you are not married—you have no sister living—I am quite uneasy ; tell me who is nofc well . " " Why , the fact is , my Lord Duke , that my congregation consists of the clerk , the sexton , and the sexton ' s wife . Now the sexton ' s . wife is in very delicate health ; when she cannot attend , we cannot muster the number mentioned in therubric ; and we have , therefore , no service on that day . . The good woman had a cold and sore throat thismorning , and , as I had breakfasted but slightly , I thoug ht I might as well hurry back to the regular family dejeuner . I don't know that the clergyman behaved improperly ; but such a church is hardly , worth ah insurrection and civil war every ten years . —Sidney Smith .

      The Question Solved . —It has often been a " puzzler" to us to decide at what age a girl becomes a young woman , and also at what period of life the fair sex forfeit that desirable title . We have ever noticed that the young are anxious'to obtain it , while we have never yet met with one who was willing to resign her claim . However , we have now some data upon which to form a judgment , although not sufiiciently conclusive . A learned judge decided , on a late trial , that " afemale of thirty-one is not a girl , she is a young woman . " We trust tMsmforma . tion will give satisfaction to many elderly damsels who may be puzzled to tell in what cat-egory they ought to be placed . — Satirist .

      Compliment to Mr . Jardinb . —A cabman , the other day , brought a gentleman before Mr . Jardine for not paying his fare . " After driving him about for some time , " said the cabman , " on further pressing him to know where I should take him to , he told me I might drive him to the devil ; so I thought I might as well bring him before your worship , and X at once broug ht him to Bow-street and had hint locked up . " Jardine was too good a judge to take notice of this very personal allusion . —Ibid . Dreadful Shipwreck . — . When Plumptre heard that the John linos :- was wrecked , at . the Goodwin Sands , he exclaimed , " Awful sign ! we shall next hear ofthe Reformation foundering ! Terrible tunes' .

      —Ibid . More Hoxotjrs to the Gkeai Hakoed . —A clergyman of the Church of England advertised last week that he should preach a funeral sermon on Tapping on Sundav last . Thousands and millions of persons are consigned to " the Capulets" without such a distinguished honour being paid them ; and , with the exception ofthe Royal family , it is very unusual . A foreigner , a few years ago , said our gaols were the finest buildings in the country . It mig ht with justice be said , our "hanged" are Its greatest heroes ; for tho honours paid them do not cease with their lives : their portraits and exploits are carried to the ends of the earth ; their features are taken in wax , and exhibited to admiring thousands ; funeral sermons are

      preached in fashionable churches—every little relic of their history and career fetching a far better price than that of the greatest men that ever adorned the countrv , A few weeks ago a leaf from a copy-bookof the lamented Princess Charlotte fetched only £ 18 s . ; five pounds are said to have been given for the Quaker ' s autograph . Relics of Buonaparte have onlybrought a few shillings ; the rope that hung Thurtett fetched pounds . The autographs ( franks ) of the whole Reform Parliament—yes , the wholeC 58—were the other dav sold , according to the papers , for Rye pounds . For the letter signed " Caroline , ' found in , Delarue's pocket , It is reported that a person of distinction actually offered ten pounds ; but unfortunately it could not be parted with until after the trial ofHocker . —Ibid .

      IMPROMPTU On seeing EUenboroitgh rise to offer his arm to the Duke , on entering the Lords . Out of doors his bay charger weU carries the Duke , In the Peers , close athand and quite ready , AU cottar'd and bridled , with true " Dapple" lpolc , The es-Gov « rnor stands , the old warrior ' s "Neddy . " Rid . The Spiritual Botcher ' s Shops . — "I have always compared the Protestant Church in Ireland , ( and I believe my friend Thomas Moore stole the simile from me ) to the institution of butchers' shops ia all the villages of our Indian empire . ' We villi have a butcher's shon in every village , and you , Hindoo

      shall pay for it . We know that many of you do not eat meat at all , and that the sight of beef-steaka Is particularly offensive to you ; but still , a stray European may pass through your village , and want a steak or " a chop : the shop shall be established ; and you shall pay for it . ' This is English legislation for Ireland . There is no abuse like it in all Europe , in all Asia , in all thediscovered parts of Africa , and ia all we have heard of Timbuctoo- It is an errojj that requires 20 , 000 armed men for its protection in tuna of peace ; which costs more than a million a year ; and which in the first French war ^ in s pite of the putting and panting of fighting steamer ^ wiU and must break out into desperate rebellion . "

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 12, 1845, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_12041845/page/3/