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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th December 1846, Edition 2 of 3, Page 3, iiito December 26,1846, THE N0RTHERN STA...

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      Iiito December 26,1846, The N0rthern Sta...

      iiito December 26 , 1846 , THE N 0 RTHERN STAR . 3 " ~ ' ! . ¦¦ ¦ -- ¦• . - . . _—_»

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      Part Ii. The Following Lines Possess At ...

      Part II . The following lines possess at least the merit of Icing well-timed , and , therefore , may fitly form part 0 f our" Garland : "— ¦ ¦¦ ' *

      WINTER , JBT < SEOK « E WILUiH WHEEKB . ] Stern Winter thou art come again With tottering palsied hand ; Crisping the grass open tlie x dain , And whitening all the land . 2 iow rimcy dews and hoary fiost Bedeck the grove , the field ; The trees their verdure all have lost , Sor food nor shelter yield : The birds sit cowering on their perch , Ko longer free and bold ; They tremble ou G > s oak . tlie birch , Benumbed , half dead with odd . The brook no longer riuling flows

      Across the flovrtry plain , A level surface now it shows , Beneath the icy chain . At S £ a-ien fcj thy stern effects , Thy unrelenting stray ; Thy storms iiave caused many wreck ? And wrought despair , dismay . At home , altoad , where'er we look , Thy chilling power is felt , Aud charity is like the brook , 'Tis froze when it should melt . And charity is always cold , At least so proverbs say ; Giving perchance unto the bold " Whilst weak ones pine awav .

      At best 'ns but a fcebl « gltam , Tiiou ; h kindness it may show ; 'Tis but the weakened Solar beam , On old December ' s snow . Uut way should man need charity When winter storms affright ? 5 Tis by the Tyrant ' s stern decree Which still withholds our right . Let us no longer tameiy botv Their Charity to ask ; But be resolved like men that now We ' ell situs to the task—The glovious task our land to free Prom tyrants and their power , To raise our arms for liberty And make oppression cower .

      As muter stt . rais do pass away Aud snow begins to melt , Whene ' er bright S-jls reiulgeat ray Upon its mass is felt , — S . i kn-. > wled . e falling on the foal Its darkest clouds will part , illume , invigorate the whole . And soften every heart . The mists of preju-iice will fade Before the rising Sun , Let but the Truth be once displayed , And half our task is dune . And when the spring time of our hops Brings forth its buds of joy , When we ' ve no foe with whom to cope , Aor Tyrants to destroy , — How sweet ' twill be for to look back

      On winters stormy days , 'Twill lend new verdure to the track , ' Twill shed arouml a Maze Of Triumph on eaehlionestone Whose aid has helped to bring The Power of truths reviving sun To herald in the Spring . And all who've nobly d « ne their best Their fellow man to aid , Have struggled manful with the rest , And ne ' er the cause betrayed . The noble cause of " Equal Right " Worthy the worM ' sapplause , Are all who struggled in the fight For Just and Equal Liws . And they shall reap from off the soil The seed they ' ve sowniu tears , Eajoy the Harvest of their toil When "Winter disappears .

      The great event for the reading world within the last few davs has been the publication of the usual Christmas Back from the pen of "Box . " It is the fashi- < n to praise everything written by this popaiar favourite , and , consequently , the " Battle ot Life " is already extolled by many of the critics as one of the best efforts of its author . "We are sorry that for once we mast be so unfashionable- as to dissent from thiaiudgment .

      f ' THE BATTLE OF LIFE : A LOVE STORY . " Opens— " Once upon a time about a hundred years ago . " The scene a spot where long before a great battle had been fought . The characters first introduced are a Dr . Jeddlcr , and his two daughters , Grace and Marion . The doctor is described as a philosopher in hh- ' way ; "his philosophy , it appears , was to look upon the world as " a gigantic practical joke ; something too absurd to be considered by any rational man . This old doctor is a " bore . " His two daughters are delightful specimens of the

      nambypamby , sentimental class of young ladies . Marion , the youngest , is betrothed to one Alfred Ueathfield , a ward of Dr . Jc-ddler ' s , who has been brought up in the family . This hero of the piece ia a wise and virtuous medical student ; tba . section of "Young Eaglaud" being particularly noted for morality and discretion beyond their years ! ! The arrival of t «< s * ' nice \ onng man " is foli . vwed by the appearance of two country attcrnies , " Snitchey and Craggs ;" the former of these is exceedingly loquaeious ^ aud so compensates for the taciturnity of his more silent , if not wore sensible partner : —

      "' Ladies !' said Mr . Saitchey , « for self and Craggs , trko bowed , ' good morning . Miss , ' to Marion , * I kiss jour hand , * which he did . * And I wish you '—which be might or might not , for he didn't look at first sight like a gentleman troubled with many outpourings oi sum . in behalf of oth ? r people— ' a hundred happy returns of this auspicious day . ' 'Ha , ha . ha 2 ' laughed the doctor , Ifaeughtfuily , wish his bands in bis pockets , ' The great fai-e =: iaa hundred acts ! ' 'You wouldn't ; I am sure , ' said Mr . Snitchey , standing a small professional blue bag against one leg of the table , ' cut the great farce short

      for this actress , at all events , Doctor Jeddier r 'io , ' returned the doctor , * God forbid ! May she live to laugh at it as loas asjshe can laugh , and then say . with the Preach wit , 'the farce is ended ; draw the curtain . ' ' The French wit / said Mr . Snitchey , peeping sharply into his Hue bag . * was wrong , Doctor Jed- - . ler , and your philosophy is altegether wrong , [ depend upon it , as I have often told you . Xothing serious ' in life ! What do you call Jaw ?* ' A j . £ e , ' xfplied the doctor . * Did you ever go to law ? asked Mr . Snitchey , lookins eat of the blua bag . * Xsver , returned ihe doctor . ' If you ever do , ' said 3 Ir . Snitch-y , ' perhaps you'll alter that opinion . '

      * Granted , if you please , tbatitis foolish / said Snitchey * there ' - « agree . For example , here ' s a smiling COUnfey , pointing it oat with his fork , ' onceoverran with soldiers—tresspassers every one of ' em—and laid waste by fire aud sword . He , he , he ! Tbe idea of any man exposing himstlf , voluntarily , to fire and sword ! Stupid , wasteful . positively ridiculous ; you laugh at your fellow creature ? , you know , when yoa think of it ! Bnt take the snriUn ; country as it stands . Think of the laws ap . peruinin . i ; to real property ; to the mortgage and

      reparation of r = il property ; to leasehold , freehold , and copyhold estate . * Think , ' said Snitchey , with suck emotion that he ac : ually smacked bis lips , ' of the complicated laws rtlaiing to ' title and prosf of title , with all the contradictory precedents and numerous acts of Parliament connected with them ; think of the infinite number of ingenious and interminable chancery suits to which this pleasant prospect may give rise ; and acknowledge , Djc tor Jeddlcr , that there is a green spot in the scene about a-1 I believe , ' said Mr . Snitchey , looking at his partner , ' that I epeak fer self and Craggs ?

      The object of the meeting of the above-named persons is to relieve D " . Jeddier of his guardianship , tbe medical student having arrived at age and being about to depart for foreign lands to complete his medicsi education . He departs , leaving his ladyelore to the care of her elderaister , and this concludes part the first of the story . ,. Alter a lapse of three years , and when Alfred is on his way back to Dr . Jeridlers , we are introduced to a not verv reputable character in the person of one Idichael Warden , Rq ., a broken-down spendthrift , - who , 1 in the office of " Snitchey and Craggs , iuferms those worthies—though for what reason it is

      impossible to discover—that he is not only deep in debt but deep in love also ; the object of his passion being Marion , the nice yonns medical student ' s " intended . " We have then a mysterious meeting between Miss Marion and the rake Warden , and so far as the reader can see at this stage of the story , he rau > t conclude not only that Marion has _ two strings to her bow , " but also that the rake , is the favourite of the two . Alfred arrives , but , lo ! the bird bad flown ; Marion had , a few ; minutes before the arrival of her true and faithful lover , gone off , as every one concludes , with the used-up spendthrift . . .

      Six years more are supposed to have passed when the third part opens . Michael Warden returns as he departed , somewhat mysteriously . De learns , ¦ what now the rea der learns , that Alfred the jilted fryer , had not broken his heart , nor committed " suicide , but instead of any such : "romantic " " mode of easing himself of his griefs , had consoled himself by marrying Grace the eldest sister , who appears to have been nothing loth when once she found the field left to herself , in cunseomnce of the flight of her sister . At last .

      whensnic had supposed her married to Michael Warden , and some supposed her Head , back conits Jlarion neisher wife nor ghost , stiil unwed and unhnrieil . The mysterv of her conduct is now explained . It was verv true that Alfred had loved ber , and she Alfred , bnt she had a notion that her sister , and nv : t inrcelf , should be the wife of the model medical student , and , therefore , ran away , pretending to have goae off with Mr . Warden , instead of winch she had ready only been staying with "Aunt Martha , " during the sis years (!) of her mysterious « eolusi «« from her family . Finally , there is a hint

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      at the dose , thatall parties are made comfortable by Mj »* MHnon * mngherhaBd - to the reformed rake , Michael Warden . ' « S If m ' If ??* ™ p ™ » able , and unnatural rift i -f * ' 1 ) lck ^ s Ch ™ tmas Story , which , for all it contains about Christmas , might just as wcU have been published at Midsummer . We have said the story is improbable and unnaturO , and we appeal to the common sense of our readers , if they ever before heard of such a pair of sisters as the daughters of Dr . Jeddier ? It hashappened before now that two sisters have loved one and the same man , but we should like to known when and where , except i . \ Mr . Dickens ' s book , was there an instance oJ womankind playmg at sucli a game for the purpose of losing ? Suppose a real Marion hot in love with an Alfred , and Alfred with her , Grace making no manifestations of rivalry , and Alfred havinno

      loveg thought about Grace , where is there a Marion in reai life who would act as Mr . Dickens ' s heroine is represented to have acted ? The real , passionate , natural lover , man or woman , has none ot the sentimental disinterestedness which would induce tbe banding over the object of his or her affection to another ! Again , had Miss Marion determined not to marrv her nice y .-nug man , she . 'night have carried out nor determination without making a pretended elopement with a character in whose company her own character was not very safe . She might , too , have gone off to " Aunt Martha's" without creating such a " scene" as closes part the second , which though it may do for the Lyceum will not go down with the reader . Note the inconsistencies and improprieties of this bo ok : Alfred loves Marion , but marries Grace ; Marion loves Alfred , and don ' t love thf

      questionable Michael Warden , yet she runs awaj from the former , and concludes by marrying the latter ; lastly , it docs not appear that Grace loved Alfred , but because her sister thinks so . and runs away , she does as that " dear good sister" wishes , and becomes Alfred ' s wife ! Aud these absurdities have been strung together , we are told , for the purpose of illustrating the " quiet victories and struggles , great sacrifices of self and noble heroism" in this" world of sacred mysteries !" There are two " characters" introduced into the book , evidently with an eye to their stage-fitness , whom we have not yet mentioned ; the first of these is one Benjamin Britain , a serving man to Dr . Jeddier , " a small man with an uncommonly sour and discontented face . " This worthy thus describes himself : —

      " * I . don ' t know anything , ' said Britain , with a leaden eye and an immovable visage . « 1 don ' t care for anything . I don't make out anything . I don ' t believe anything- . Anil I don ' t want anything . ' His companion " character" is one " Clemency Ncwcomc , " she . is thus described : — " She was about thirty years old , and bad a sufficiently plump and cheerful iace , though it was twisted up imo an odd expression of tightness ihatmade it comical . But the extraordinary homeliness of her gait and manner would have superseded any face in tbe worl-s . To say that she had two left legs , and somebody else ' s arms ; and that all four limbs seemed to be out of jfiint , aud to start from perfectly wrong places when they were set

      in motion ; is to offer the mildest outline of the reality . To say that she was perfectly content and satisfied with these arrangements , and regarded them as being no trasiness of kt-rs , and took her arms and legs as they came , and allnwed them to dispose of themselves just as it happened , is to render faint justice to her equanimity \ L . x dress was a prodigious pair of self-willed shoes , that never wanted to go where her leet went ; blue stockings , a printed gown of many colours , and the most hideous pattern procurable for money ; and a white apron . She alwavs wore short sleeves , and always had , by some accident , grazed elbows , in which she took so lively an interest that she was continually tninz to turn them round

      and get impossible views of them . In general , a little cap pt-rclied somewhere on ber head ; though it was rarely to be met with iu the place usually occupied in other f objects , by that article of dress ; but from head to foot she was scrupulously £ clean , aud maintained a kind of dislocated tidiness . Indeed , her laudable anxiety to be tidy and compact in her own conscience as well as in the public eye , gave rise to one of her most startling evolutions , which was to grasp herself sometimes by a sort of wooden handle ( part of her clothing , aud familiarly called a busk ) , aud wrestle as it were with her garaituts , until they fell into a symmetrical arrangemaiL "

      ^ This Clemency Ncwcome waa made to fit Mrs . Keeley ; and we believ the" character" does fit her , and > he the ' * character" most admirably . Of course there are beautiful sentences scattered here and there worthy of tbe pen of Charles Dickens ; and there are two or three descriptive passages equal to anything ha has be'V-re produced;—to wit , the " Bat' le Field , " the baH-roomlseene , the interior ot the office of ' Snitchey and Craggs , " and the exterior of the . Nntmeg-Grater Inn ; the following extract describes the battle-field : —

      " Ouce upon a time—it matters little when , and in stalwart England , it matters little where—a fierce battle was fougi . t . It wa-s fought upon a long summer ' s day , wiien the waving grass was green . Many a wild flower formed by the Almigbty hand to be a perfumed goblet for tbe dew , felt its enamelled cup fill high with blood that day , and shrinking dropped , ilany an insect deriving its delicate colour from harmless leaves and herbs was stained anew that day by dying men , and marked its frightened way with an unnatural track . The painted butterfly took blood into the air upon the edges of its wings . The stream raured . The trodden ground became a quagmire , wheuce . from sullen proofs collected in the prints of human feet and horse ' s hoofs , the one

      prevailing hue still lowered and glimmered at the sun . Heaven keep u ^ from a knowledge ot the sights the moon beheld upon that field when coming up above tbe black line of distant rising gronn-i , softened and flurried at the edge by trees , she rose into the sky aud looked upon the plain , strewn tvith upturned faces that had once at mothers' nieastR sought mothers' eyes , or slumbered happily 1 Heaven keep us from a knowledge of the secrets r . bispered afterwards upon the fainted wind that blew across the scene of that day ' s work , and that nights death and suffering . Many a lonely moon was bri ght upon the battle-ground , and many a & tar kept watch upon it , and many a wind from every quarter of the Birth flew over it before the traces of the fight were worn away . "

      " TJiey larked and lingered for a long time , but survived in little things , for nature , far above the evil passions of men . soon recovered her serenity and smiled upon the guilty battle ground as sbe bad done before when it was innocent . The larks sang high above it , the swallows skimmed and dipped and flitted to and fro , the shadows of the flying clouds pursued each other swiitly , over srass and corn and turnip-field and wood , and over roof and church spire , in the nestling town among the trees , aw = iy into the bright distance on the berdcrs of tbe sky and earth , where the red sunsets

      faded . Crops were sown and grew up , aed wer « gathered in ; the stream that had been crimsoned , turned a watermill ; men whistled at the plough , gleaners and ha \ makers were seen in quiet groups at work ; sheep and oxen pastured ; boys whooped and called infields to scare away the birds ; smoke rose from cottage chimneys ; sabbath bells rang peacefully ; ola people lived and died ; the timid creatures of the field , and simple flowers of tte bush and garden , grew and withered in their destined times ; and all upon the fierce and bloody battle ground , wktiv thousands upon thousands had been killed in tbe great fight . "

      Though we should stand alone , we must pronounce this book a thorough failure . It isca led * ' the Battle of Life , a Love Story , " but it teilsof neither battle nor love worthy of the name . Heaven save us from such mawkish Jovers as we have in tiiis book ; and as to batiks where is tiie great principle combatled for , or the great difficulty surmounted ? Mr . Dickens has before nnw described the " battles of life , " niid the'truth of 1-is descriptions has achieved forhis works , a popularity on the strength of which , he is now read , no matter what he writes .

      Despite the exaggerated carricatures which mar all his productions , in most of them the realities of life are brought home to the hearts of his reader * , and this gives his works their charm ; but in the book before us there is no reality , and although the clever acting of Mrs . Keeley , may excite roars of laughter and applause at the ec centricities of Clemency lVewcome , those who read the book and judge for themselves , will , we are persuaded , not a few ol them , ay . ree with us in this conclusion , It" is not yet too late to sing with heart and voice

      HURRAH FOR OLD CHRISTMAS . [ G . Lixs-scs Basks . ] Hurrah ! for old Christmas , the beauty and jolly , Hurrah ! for old Christmas , the friend of us all . Who laughs at ihe frowns of grim-faced melancholy , And comes with a transport to great and to small . Up . up ! let us drink to the jocnud old fellow . Though wrinkled his brow , and his locks silver grey , Yet bis footstep is light , and his heart , it is mellow As any that joins in our banquet to-day . Tien pluck from themistletoe , pluck from the holly , The red with the white in a chaplet appear , While we banish dull care , which to cherish is folly . And drink to old Christmas , the king of the year .

      The sage has declared , with a solemn convi & tion , The moment that ' s present can only be ours , — The poet has painted , in beautiful fiction , The land of the future all teeming with flowers , — The painter has dreamed of the past , and its glory Depicted in colours that never can die , But the future and past is an old ballad itory , There ' s naught like th » present good cheer to supply . Then fill up tho goblet , for where is the spirit , Whose eye , whether sparkling or dimm'dby a tear , Would not if it ' s honest , most eagerly merit This bumper to Christmas—the king of the year . Hurrah ! for old Christmas , good feeling and gladness , - Are bis by a right which is truly divine ; He robs the proud heart of its cankering sadness , Aud deems there ' s uo virtue but springs from the vine He pledges past times round tlie cottager ' s ingle ,

      He light ' s up the smiles of the young and tliegay Delighting in pleasure ' s deep fountain to mingle , The kindliest feelings that suffer decav . His stay may be short , but his reign shall be meny , For whenever he comes 'tis a token of cheer , Then drink to his health , and the red holly harry , Tbe aritnd of old Christmas , the king of the year .

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      Hurrah ! for old Christmas , againfill the chalice , ; : T Be first and be foremost to raise the gla ^ lshout ,.. . " -.. „ When hope lights the cottage , and mirth fills the palace , The song and the carol shall never ring out , " For sorrow and care are twin sisters of pleasure , They rest in her bosom , they walk in her train , And permitted to taste , they will empty the measure The brightest to-morrow shall ne ' er fill again ; Then pluck from the mistletoe , pluck from the holly , And red with the white iu a chaplet appear , Let us drive away care , which to cherish is folly , And drink to old Christmas , the king of the year . Press of matter compels us to withdraw several choice pieces , with some remarks of our own , which we will try to make room for next week . Ere we close we must drink

      THE YEAR'S LAST CUP . [ By Fkakces Bbown . J With tbe festal song , with the glad hearth ' s blaze , With the wine of its own bright vintage days , Stiil rich in the light of rosy eyes It c .-ioght through the vineyard ' ^ pa rted leaves , — While Sight , in the might of silence , lies On snow-clad hills and starry skicf , And the kneil of its numbered hours draws near , V . ' e fill the tup of tlie parting year ! But say , to whit pledge , of memory ' s hoard , Is the wealth of that nijstic wine-cup poured !—Is it Tunc t To his e \ er onward track , And his tireless step that hath ne ' er turned back ,-To his glass , with whose dim s « iid > ctaseless flow

      Beauty ; , nd strength and glory go , — And his scythe which the nation ' s might hata mown , Let us drinii to these)—but not theoe alone ! Pledge wc the dark veiled Future thus , And the weahli of hope it had once for us , — The stores which its billows still may hide , — Aud the barks sent furtb on its boundless tide : Or , the Fast , wiih its springs in memory shrined , — The snows wfcich its winters left behind , — And the harvests fair which its toil hath sown , We pledge ;—but we pledge not ibese alone J Say then , hath the year ' s last cup bean crowned For the loved and the loving hearts around

      The names in our soul ' s sealed b-jok enrolled , The heads of grvyaud the locks of gold ! May the time-tried friendship fear no thrall Of frost ' s that cold on life ' s twilight fall ; And the young , may we never find them grown Less true ;—but we pledge not these alone ! Are there not loved ones yet more dear That mingle not in ourl ' estal cheer , — Tile names by the hearth long heard and wept , Aud still in the hush of memory kept % Drink to the absent ! Change and tears Have come ou these late and sevei irg years , — But the faith ofuur love no change hath known , And we pledge them now;—but not them alone !

      Drink to the changed ! they have ttft their place in cur heart ; , like a broken altar ' s , base , Still graved with the sculptured names of yore , But a wreck and a ruin evermore . Drink to the dead ! there are hearts that hold Thejr memory yet with a love untold ; For time and Death have no shadows thrown On itstruth . Shall we drink to these alone ! Hold ! for the cup hath bri-ht drops left , That we may not wasteon the rentand reft . — One purer pledge , as tbe year departs , To the holy land of our homes aud hearts ;

      For the faith to her ancient glory given , Aud the love that for better hopes hath striven ; Oh , bright be her stars , however oar own May set;—yet we pledge not these alone ! Drink to the world ! there is promise yet In tbe bright To Come , which no eye i . ath met , In the march of her nations , beckoned on By the light of their far-seen Sabbath dawn . But bark ! ' tis the mighty midnig ht ' s chime , Like a voice from the passing waves of time ; And our cup is drained , with its latest tone , — Let us fill to the bright New Year alone !

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      The People's Journal. Pabtxi. London: J....

      THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL . Pabtxi . London : J . Bennett , 69 , Fleet-street . A continuation of the papers on " Household Edu * cation" by Harriet Martineau ; a " Memoir oi Frederick Douglas" the black champion of Aboli tionism , now in Eneland , by Mary Howitt ; " Thoughts upon Democracy , " by Joseph Mazzini ; and the " Condition of the Poor in Losdon , " by William Howitt , are the principal articles in this part of the i ' t'opfe ' sJournai . Vie have no room for comment .

      THE FAMILY HERALD . Part 43 . THE MUSICAL HERALD . Part 1 . We have only room to say that both these publications continue to deserve the extraordinary amount of public patronage they long since so worthily acquired . The contents of each of these parts will prove our assertion . THE DOMESTIC MONITOR . Nos . l and 2 . London : E . Mackenzie , 111 , Fleet-street . The second title of this publication— " Literary , Scientific , Legal , and Medical Adviser , " sufficiently explains the purpose of its projectors . We notice in the second number the commencement of what promises to be an excellent scries of articles on White Slavery . "

      " Hownr ' s Journal of Lit' j and Popular Progress . " William and Mai . jwitt have withdrawn irom the "People ' s Journal , '' and will , on the 2 nd of January , commence a new publication under the above title . The reasons for this charge are set forth in a " prospectus" now before us , from which we iearn that Mr , Howitt will be sole proprietor of the new journal ; and the " editorship will be jointly conducted by and in the name of William and Mary Howitt . "

      Republican Esiisiatb Of "Lavsof Freedom....

      Republican Esiisiatb of " Lavsof Freedom . — The flutchinsons , en Wednesday nisht , gave their first concert since their return from Europe , at the Tabernacle , and to a larger audience than we have ever seen within the building . It is very generally known that in England their concerts were numerously attended , and they were , personally , as well as professionally , welcomed by the English public iu a very flattering manner . They were in the habit there of singing pieces reflecting severely upon slavery in the United States ; and this , of course , greatly increased the warmth of their reception , especially with ths class of persons who were most devoted to them . It is not strange that they have been greatly flattered by this ; but we are sorry that

      they should have been blinded by rt into the cross improprieties which marred their concert on Wednesday evening . Instead of the simple and pleasing melodies which their old friends and admirers expected to hear , the Hutchinsons gave a series of abolition songs ; some of which were so repulsive to the taste and good s-juse of the audience , that very many , both ladies and gentlemen , left the room . The abolitionists present , of course , applauded vociferously , and this excited corresponding disapprobation from other quarters . For a great part of the evening the concert was made a scene of utter and disgraceful confusion . Suppose the Hutchinsons were to sing Whig songs , or Locofoco songs , at their concerts , who would justify them for a moment ? And why should they expect their abolition melodies

      will meet with more favour ? We sincerely hope that the caresses and flatteries they received from the English haters of every tbim ? American , have not at once extinguished their patriotism , and destroyed their sense of good taste and propriety . Of their performances , in a critical point of view , we mu > t speak in terms of unqualified disapprobation . The music which they sin ^ is miserably poor ; and their singing of it almost equally wretched , without method , expression or effect . — New York Courier and Enquirer , Nov . 20 , 1846 . [ The most despotic tyrants do far less mischief to the cause of Republicanism than is done by the American scoundrels who unite slavery with democracy . The miscreant who penned the above is a precious sample of these worst enemies to liberty . —Ed . A * . S . ]

      The Late Thomas Hood . —We are sorry to learn that the children of the late Thomas Hood are , in consequence of the death of their last remaining parent , left entirely dependent upon the small fund , amounting we believe , to about £ 800 , collected by public subscription at the period of Mr . Hood ' s death . The pension of £ 100 granted by Sir Robert Peel ceases with the decease of Mrs . Hood , who lived but a twelvemonth to enjoy it . We believe that Lord John Russell has already been applied to by the friends of the family to continue the pension to the children ; but his lordship has intimated his inability to comply with the request , since the pension becomes , by the death of Mrs . Hood , the property of the public . We feel confident that the wishes and intentions of the public will be best answered by a new grant of the same trifling amount to the orphans , to whose departed andjhighly gifted parent the public owes so large a debt of gratitude .

      Fibb at St . James ' s Chapel , Pentoxville . —On Sunday afternoon , about half-past four o ' clock , considerable alarm was caused in the neighbourhood of Pcutonvillo , by tbe outbreak of a fire in the beautiful chapel dedicated to St . James . Smoke was seen issuing from the windows of the building by someone » ho was passing at the time , and upon an entrance being effected , it was discovered that the joists and flooring immediately beneath the communion table were on fiw . By the prompt arrival of assistauce the flames were subdued before much damage wa done to the sacred edifice . The fire is discovered to have originated from the overheating of a hut-ai r furnace . . To PEEVE . vr Night-Mare . —Sit up all ni . < !» fc , aa ( l : ; o to bed in the day-time . By this plan it is a moral impossibility to be troubled with the nightmate .

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      ^ ^^ Mit &

      A Dutchman's Horse. — An Old Dutchman) I...

      A Dutchman ' s Horse . — An old Dutchman ) in America , having lost his horse , published the following ' advertisr-ment . W hclher he . ever foundl his horse is a matter of mystery to this day ; probably the old horse is still running : Runaway , or stolen , or straid , mine pig black horse , about fourteen or fifteen hands and six inches high . He has got four black legs , two pehint , and two pefore , and is plack all over his body except his face , and that is plack too . He trods , and ganters , and baces , and vawks , andveuhevawkshisfect and legs all go alter one another . Uo has two ears upon his head , both alike , but yon is plockev than todcler . ' lie has two eyes , von is put out , and todder is non desidc of his head , and ven you go pori todder side be vont see you . Yen

      he cats much he has a pig-belly , and ho has a long dale vot hangs down bchint , but I cut it short todder day and now it notso long as it was pefore . He is shod all round , but his uehiufc shoes corned off , and now he has only got shoes p-fore . He holds dp his bead and looks caily , and ven he scaivs he jumps about like everything in the world , lie will ride mit a m \ ' \' c , or chaze or cart , or will go py himself mitout nobody put a bag on his pack riiit apoy on it . He is not very old , ar . d ren he vawks or runs , his head comes up pefore and his dale stays'bchint , only ven lie duena mind and cits mad , and den . his dale comes first . Whoever will pring him pack shall pay five dollars rewart , and if lie pring pack'de tief dat stole him , he shall pay twenty dollars and ax no questions . Wait a Little Longer . —Marriageable ladies are now called " waitinu maids . "

      _ A _ DiFFEnKNCB . —Coach versus Rah ,. —The' host distinction we ever heard between railway and coach accidents was that of an old whip . " If , " said lie , " you gets comfort ! 'bly capsized into the ditch by the road side , there you are ; but if you gets blown np by an-engine , run into a cutting , or dF an embankment , where are you ?"

      A DEMOCRATIC BANK . Vault . —Mother earth . Exchange . —The transplantings of the nursery and garden . .-Deposits . —The seed sown by the farmer . Discounts . —Happiness , sobriety ,. and manly independence . Assets . —Smiling fields waving with a golden harvest . Liabilities . —Indebted to God alone who sends the sunshine and the rain . Dividends . —Health , wealth , and honest patriotic hearts . —Young American . . .

      THE HTPOCniTE . " He was the , man Who stole tho liv'ry of the court of heaven To serve the Devil in . In holy phrn ? c transacted villanies That common sinners durst not meddle with . At sacred feasts , he sat among the saints And with his guilty hands touched holiest things , With one hand he put a penny in the urn of poverty , And with the other took a shilling out . " . —Pollock ' s " Course of Time . " Chinesk Dinner . —An officer of the United States squadron in the Chinese seas gives the following bi'J

      of fate at a lar » e Chinese dinner , to which he , with numerous other foreigners , had been invited : — 1 . Bird ' s nest soup . 2 . Pork fat , fried with potatoes . 3 . Hoes' hoofs , i . Mushrooms , stewed . 5 . Bird's nest salad . 6 . Gibletsoup . 7 . ' Kitten hash . 8 . Fried Irish potatoes . 9 . Rat hash . 10 . Tea . 11 . Sharks ' fins . 12 . Fried ducks . 13 . Dog stew . 14 . Stewed chickens . 15 . Ham stew . 16 . Pork stew . 17 . Fried cucumbers 18 . Pate of rats . 19 . Feline of ragout . 20 . Ham stewed with pork . 21 . Sucking pig . 22 . Snail pate . 23 . Snail soup . I tasted the first disb , and became so disgusted that I could not proceed . They were brought ou , one dish at a time , in exquisitely beautiful China bowls .

      FARMER'S LIFE . The Farmer ' s life is the life for me—¦ \ Ve love its quiet scenerj ; AVe love its shades , its hills and dales ; We love its cheerful fireside tales : We luve to tend its fl-iclts aud herds , We love to hear the singing birds ; We love the sweet salubrious air ; "We love the prospect wide and fair ; We love to plow , we love to sow ; We love to gaiher , love to mow ; We love the new mown grass to smell ; We love to hear the tinkling bell ; We love to tread the grassy lawn , Along the brook—among the corn ; We love the whole ; but can ' t rehearse , His pU-asures allin prose or verse .

      , Io TiiiEMTHB!— Not Washington , and the gallant men under li ' uu , when they rushed on , and snapped up " them Hessians . " . Not when French sail crowded upon the cast , and the struggling stars shot irresistibly into the zinth—not then did the warnerved patriots ol the past age feel happier , prouder , than we feel , as the advocates oi a free home to live upon , turn , one by one , into the ranks . —Anti-Renter . The Pkeacher Corrected . —A younjr urchin being severely lepriniauded by his mother fur saying

      " hell , " remembered the chastisement , and on the following Sabbath , when the minister , in preaching , used the wojv ' , leaped up and exclaimed , " By Jings I if you had my mother to ( leal with , you wouldn ' t , swear that way without being licked , 1 know . " ¦ ¦ $ gr A newlv-married couple , s » me years since , took up their ab tic in Poplar-street . Ac breakfast the next morning , ai ' ter their entrance , the gentleman said to his lady , " Afy dear , thisjs Poplar-street and bv putting in «( you ) it becoraeB » qpw ? ar . " " Aiid by putting us in it , " promptly replied the lady , "it will become populous . " boat

      Tub RuGCLAion . —A traveller in a steam- . not particularly celebrated for its celerity , inquired of a gentleman who stood next to him what the bone was called ; -upon which the latter replied , "V think , sir , it is called tke-JtyutatMyfor-1 perceive all other steam-boats go by it . " ... A Merry Andkkw . —Sir Andrew Agnew being asked what was a " moral engine ? " replied "A railway engine that does not run on the Sunday . "Punch . . .,-.-A View of a Great Man . —A writer in one of our leading journals , thus introduces a " great man " for the veneration of the Christian community : —

      " View him at the san-uinary battle of the Horseshoe , when no quarter was asked and none given , and where uine-teuths of twelve hundred infuriated Indians were sent to sleep with their fathers !"View him there ! we will do no suoh thing . We bad rather pay a sixpence more and see the devil himself . —Burritt ' e Citizen .

      PLEA FOR PRIZE CATTLE . To Mister Punch , Please Sir , i am a Cook in A gentilman ' s famaly where yure Paper is took in by us servance and Cause great a Miisement , lean Ashure you , down stares in the Kitching . lias for my Self , I am sure i often larfs over it till i amost bastes . But there ' s won subjiek on witch i hone i feels a little bit Tender , and you will very much obleege me If you will Crack no more Joax upon It . Wot i mean is , your Skitts upon the Fat cattal , witch i must say they often Hurt ray Feelins . The jiutes of Beat" about crismas i Look upon as quite picteis and i don ' t like

      them to be maid Fun of ; no more-would you if you wos in mv Place , witch , as Cook , the Fat is my perkisit . The Fatt being the best part of the Meat , it is very pretty piekine , and i Git ior it at the rate Of Fourpence a pound for Meltin . If you brought down the Fat it would be a great Loss of Substaos to Us pore Servancc , witch of coarse we should expeck to be considdeied in the wagis . So you won ' t wonder at my Feeiin sore about the Fat . I know this , that if i lost my Fatt it would be Half as Much gone out of My pockett as my Place is Wuth . ^ our umbil Servant , Hann Lardeb .

      A COUNTRY CAROL . ( FromPimc 7 t . ) I ' m a true English farmer—no , that's not the word ; We dont' mention it now , 'tis a name never heard ; No such people as l ' aimers in these times there be—Agriculturists now , mun , is what tbey calls we . Folks are growing Far too Knowing , Much too fast for a fellow like me . Our calling itself is no longer tbe same , Ii has got a new nature as well as new name ; We must all study science , we husbandmen , now , And one need be a scollaru to follow the plough . Sent to college , Cmmmed with knowledge ,

      Taught the wherefore , the why , and the how . Time was when the farmer had no rule but one , Just to do what his fathers ai ' ore him bod done ; The new fangled inventions we now take in hand , I , for one , must confess that I don't uudertstahd . Weeds restraining , Ditching , draining , Subsoil pluugbi u ^ , all over the land . I remember the time when tho stable would yield Whatsoever was needful to fatten a field ; But chymistry now into tillage we lugs , And we drenches the earth with a parcel of drugs ; Makes each fallow Fhysic

      swallow-All we poiaons , I hope , is tbcilugs , Lor ! when I was n youngster , who thought , to bestir ^ Ot guino , or gypsum , to usa for manure « Of acids and salts from the blue bottle shops—Where . we soon shall be going for tinctures and drops , Draughts and potions , Washes , lotions , Pills and powders , to doctor the crops . Well there , to myself I s , iys often , says I , Things will come iouud tigain , rveno doubtby-nnd-bye , And your wiseacres ftnJ , arter all ' s said and done , That the old plan of farming , my bucks , is the one ; Drop reliance On their science , KOnly finishinc whers i . taev beftun .

      Mmvkl Mtliimxm*

      mmvKl Mtliimxm *

      "The Broken-Toois Thai Tyrants Cast Aw A...

      "The Broken-Toois thai Tyrants cast aw at . " —The French government is reducing the number of newspapers it maintains ,, on account , of the enormous COSt . " '" " ...... ' , ; r Potatoes . —In Poland the potato disease is wholljr ' unknown with respect to crops of native grown sots j but an instance has been just recorded of the disease having manifested itself iu a crop of "Ask-kaved ' Kidneys . " grown from English seed ? , obtained from England two years ago . By this it is inferred thai , the disease is " in the potato itself—the result iu over cultivation ; and that it does not arise fro . ' n any peculavities either in . theatmospherc or in the state of the land . . - ' ¦

      Mr . CuAnf . ES Dickens has taken a houso in the Rttede Courcelles , near the Champs £ iy ? ees , for the wihtfr . The other evening bo was at , the Opera with his family , and in tho same l-ox was the charming Mrs . Norton , 'i ' iicrc- are already force . ( i'Veneh ) translations in hand of Dickens ' s present work . Tub Convict Establishments In consequence of the recent determination of the Government reluiive to the system nftrunsporthitr . felons t' - > the penal colonics , some extensive alterations are b' -ing tna . de in the convict establishment at Wmiiv .-ieh . Orders have benn received to increase . the . number or priswicra in the Dockyard and the Royal Arsenal ; Forty-live men were set to work last week in the proof department , where they ^ perform tlicmeninl task of cleaning shot and shells . There is a report that the present system of hulking prisoners is to be abolished , and that suitable humlin-is for their reception are to be erected both in the"D : > ckyard and Roval Arsenal .

      Inff . iuoh Courts . —It is provided that tne-l . ej . islaturemav establish inferior courts'in the'United Slates . We defy it , says the Y'wkea Boodle , to establish inferior courts to the many wo have . The Members' for the City of London . —Tho . Liberal candidates at the next genera ' , elecii'ni will be Lord John Russell , Mr . Patteson , SirG-. Lurpent . and Mr . Rothschild . TRi . uonAr ! is is Italy . —A line of telegraphs is about to be established along the coast , of the Adriatic , between Venice and Trieste . The distance is 2 G German miles , or about 119 English , and there will be 23 stations , the exneiise of which is estimated at 23 , 000 florins ( £ 2 , 800 ) . At the time of the French domination in Italy , u line of telegraph ' s

      existed from A noma to Brindisi and Naples , which , thouffh on an inferior scale , was of great service to the French , in signalising the movements of tho English fleet . Sufferings of Travellers bt nik _ Snow Stoum . —The passengers , who were in the trains stopped by the snow on the York and Newcastle railway , suffered very severely by the exposure , to cold and the want of food . Several wui'o compelled to pas ? two night ' s in tbe carriages . The passengers in the Masjnot coach from Berwick were also subjected to extraordinary privations , as were , indeed , all whs' had the misfortune to be travelling either north-or south ot this town during tiie week . —Newcastle Guardian .

      High Time . —We are informed on the best- authority that government have appointed an experienced engineer , thorbugly versed in the system of mining peculiar to South Staffordshire , who will immediately visit this district with a . view to the adoption of means for preventing the lamentable loss of life which annually takes p ' ace in :. working tho iron and coal mines in our neighbourhood . —Birmingham Journal . NovKt ' SrsTEM or Emctioxeehi \ g Bmberv is New York . —The grand jury of Jiew York have made a presentment , confirming the Report that

      sonic thirty or forty prisoners were released from the Penitentiary , by keepers , on the 2 nd of Nov ., on condition of voting the ] nco-foeo ticket , at the Into election . On the evening before the election the prisoners' clothes were exchanged for citizens ' dresses , and in these habiliments they were conveyed across the river in boats , by the keepers , arid placed in comfortable Quarters for the night , with copious supplies of liquor , & c . They , however , broke lose from their guardians , betrayed the secret , and were nearly all ar ' p sted the next morning . The grand jury further declared that a similar system of corruption had been adopted on former occasions

      An American "Punch " . "—A periodical , forming a sort of counterpart to PtuicA , and entitled the Yankee Doodle , has been published in New York . T he illustrations are by our clever English artist , Mr . Martin ( son of Belshazzar Martin ) , and are very excellent . Another artist employed is Mr . Clark , a nephew of Lady Morgan . Distress in Mabvlbbose . —On Friday last the overseers were engaged until ten o ' clock at night in distributing relief to the outdoor poor . The average monthly distribution of breiid amounts to 8 , 000 loaves . i

      Westminster Bridge—On Saturday the eastern foootpath across this bridge was re-opened to the public , and an intimation given that on or before the 24 th inst . the thoroughfare for carriages would be thrown open as formerly . Tub West-end Refuge fob the ITouskmjss Poor . —In consequence of the severity of the weather , this institution , situate in Market-street , Edgcware-Road . has been throw open for thn nightly reception of 200 poor persons . Each is furnished with a supper of bread and half a pint of beef soup , a comfortable bed , and breakfast in the moi'titnff .

      Tub notorious Dr . Lardner . —The following announcement appeared among the marriages in the papers hist week : — " On the 2 nd of August last , at the British Embassy , Paris , by the . late Bishop Loscombe , Dr . Lardner , to Mary , only daughter of Colonel Spicer , Late of the- 12 th Lancers ; the marriage having been previously solemnised in the United States . " Quick Work . —The wife of an inhabitant of Armelinger ( Basle-Campagne ) says , a letter from Basle , has had five children in the course ol the present year . In the early part of March she had twins , and a few days ago she was delivered of three children . The twins arc still living , but the last three ch ijdren , who came into the world rather before thofr ' time , have died .

      One of tub River Piers Broken bv the Ice . —So closely and thickly did the ice collect around the piers near Temple Bar , that it broke one of them in two , and rendered it impossible for the steamers ' to land their passengers upon it , or for the coal barges to be moored , as they are wont to be alongside it . Novi ' . l and Expensive Fue & . —The Tasus steamer , on her last homeward voyage from the Peninsula , left Lisbon without having , from soniemischance , shipped her usual full supply of coal . Her fuel consequently failing , some spars , & c were first resorted to , and then , to make up the deficiency , two tons of ehesnuts , part of her cage , were sacrificed to the d- vouring element before reaching Plymouth . She called at that port , and took in a supply of coals , to enable her to complete her voyage to Southampton .

      Meeting or Paiilument .- —At the lncotina- of the Privy Council on Saturday , Parliament ivasfordered to bo further prorogued from Tuesday , ( he 12 th of January , unto Tuesday , the IDtfi of January , and a proclamation was ordered , that Parliament shall , ou the said I 9 th of January , beheld ad sit for tlie despatch of business . . A Remnant of the Last Generation . —Died , at Melbham , on the 14 th , at his nephew ' s , Mr . Newman , George Inn , Mr . John Harding , in his 101 st year . The deceased was a native of Bradford , and was born at Barton farm , of which his father was

      then the occupier . At the death of George II . he was working with his uncle , a hatter , on the Boroughwalls , Bath * and was , even lately , went to dosei'ibe with much animation the gaieties which took place iu that city ou the accession of George 111 . The deceased afterwards carried on business at Marlbnrnugh , as a batter , and , subsequently , as a tanner , at Chippenham ; and , since his retirement , has lived in Bath , East Tytherly , and Mclkahara . He was twice married , but has left no descendants . Till within a few weeks or his death , he retained all his faculties , and in all weathers took his daily walk . — Berkshire Chronicle .

      Mors entwine to the left , and beans to the right . Important to Douskkhepers . —By the police act housekeepers are required to scraps and cleanse the footpath in front of their houses at least once a day , and that before nine in the morning , and that all persons having flower pots standing on the window in front of their houses are liable to penalties . An Unf . xp / . cted Discovery . —About a week or ten days ago an aged female , who daring a loag widowhood had kept a very small public house nearly opposite the military barracks here , was token ill and died . She lived rather penuriously , but this was generally believed to bo in consequence ef her poverty —being apparently at all times somewhat straitened in circumstances . After death her depositaries and coffers were of course inspected by her relations , when , wc believe , to the surprise of everyone of them—at all events foher neighbours—her ' wealth , chiefly in bank notes , but partly in silver , was found to amount to no less a sum than £ 910 . —Perth Coif stitutional .

      Cheapness op Poultry and Gams in the Metropolis . —Notwithstanding the high price of'provisions generally , yet poultry and game is now selling in London at unusually low prices . Pheasants are being * old at ' 4 s . a brace ; hares at Is . GJ . each ; geese at 3 s . each ; and fowls at 3 s . a couple . IIoriiible Massacre . —Tiie Conslitulionel ' says : — " Tbe British Government has lately received information , from its agents on the western const of Africa , of a frightful occurrence , which , however , is not novel in the annals of slavery . A negro chief having 2 . 000 slaves upon his hands , and being unable to dispose of them , had them all killed before his own eyes . The French Government has also beon made acquainted with this horrible massacre . We are assured that the Cabinets of London and Paris have resolved to join in punishing with severitv the cruel chief . "

      Origin or tub term " Sending to Coventry . "The day alter King Charles I . left Birmingham ,. on his march from Shrewsbury , in 1612 , the Parliamentary party seized his crrriages , containing tbe royal plate and furniture , which they conveyed for security to Warwick Castle , 'fuey apprehended id .

      "The Broken-Toois Thai Tyrants Cast Aw A...

      messengers and suspected persons ; -frequently at-LackedandLieduced .. sHialLpArties : of the ^ Royalists , whom they . sent prisphers ^ to Coventry ; . . Hence , the proverbial expression respectinar a-re ' raetory person , "Send him to Coventry . ' . ' —Iluiton ' s . History ofBirminyham . (" , » Pnoi . n-ic Pic—Mr .... Andei'san , landlord of the Elephant ami . Castle , . Inn , in VVestgate , \ Vftkeficld , has now in his possessi on a sow , which , in' nine litter ? , h : \ s prod need 149 nigs '; 55 of which were ' Uttered thi .-i year , viz , 17 on the 4 th January , IS on the 2 Gtii June , and 20 on the 9 lh of " the present month . This prolific sow was br « Mi by ' George Ridsdale . E-q ., of Old Hall . - '' - .. ; .,.

      A Cuiiioca instance of toleration took place in Dnnlzii ; on tho 5 ; h . Dr . Grabowski , the Lutheran pastor , at tho . baptism of hisson , chosesix godfathers from tit * different religious secte of that capital , viz ., one Lutheran , one free Protestant , one Roman ' Catholic , one German Catholic , one Calvinist , and one Jew . ' ; , Got . d may be bf-atcn into , leaves so thin , 280 , 000 would bo only an inch think . ' ' . ' ' Tub KAB-ni-is 7 , 910 miles in ' diameter ; and 24 , 880 ni'ks round . M . Imjedkbick Lis * ,, the distinguished German pu blicist , and editor oi' the Fvuille du Zolivercin , died ou the . 30 ch of November , at Ktifctein , to yrhicll place ho had retreated for ( ha benefit of his hea . lt )' . TiiK-KiitQiif EMJam ) entered his ' . fifcy-nfth year on thofithiiwt .

      A Sk » - "Mlb Ma xAitcn . —The King oft >; e . Nct . lierland * bavins asked the Japanese Emperor to allow trading privileges to all foreign nations , . that digni . tnry-rcl ' tiscs , on tbe . snmnd of the evil consequences of such a . [ loiiny in trio case ot ' clic Chinese . Railway N ' . viks . —There are no less th an 5 , 552 workmen now in mil employ on the Edinburgh and Northern Railway . ' The L / ilk Storm , —Upwards of forty vessels were wrecked in the Black Sea during the , late storm . Daking RoBimniBs . —Robberies of watchc ? , by an orgnnizfd ^« ng of villains , have of late become so frequent in Glasgow , that a contemporary advises all " who have not yet been robbed to lcav-3 their watches at home

      Man biiuNo Dead in a Moss . —Some f :-w . days aitti , the Stirling . papers contained a notice of a . man ivlm had been ainisshr . ' , belonging to Tiinrnhill . The man has since been found dead upon the surfit / 'o of the mods which lies between Kippenfthe last place ho was seen ) and Thorohill . - with his hat and boots off , and .. a napkin tied round his head . It , is now said that , finding himself entanis ' -cd iutha moss , his cries for assistance had been heard , but their meaning Iraistaken , and that ,, in struggling through the wet moss , his boots had been drawn off , and his hat { alien from his head , and that lie had bound tho napkin round it to protect him from the cold .

      Siiakespkauk ' s IJouse . —An American gentleman is said to have offered the late owner of Shakespeare ' house , at StriitfortUmi-Ayoh , the sum of £ 100 for one of the oak boards of the floor to convert into snuff-boxes ; but the offer was rejected , ' though is was hinted that the plank could be replaced by another without detection . Tnu Reason Wiit . —Why were there . ' no postage label ? in Henry the Eighth ' s time ? Because a Queen ' s head wasn't worth a penny durinu ; his reign . " , . A . Shabby Civil War . — -The Times says , they could get up , at a few nights' notice ' at ' Astlo ' y ' s , a more respectable civil war than that which has"the credit , of raging somewhere between 'Lisbon and Oporto .

      DisTiiKsa in Flanders . *—The Flemish papers announce great distress in the neighbourhood of Gimnt . The high price ot the raw material having obliged many of the lcaditic manufacturers to close their establishments , a large number of persons were thrown out- of employment , whose- conditions has Wen rendered more than usually deplorable by the inclemency of the weather and tha scarcity of ' provisions . Americas Lazisess . —There was a fellow , says an American print , living down west , so excessively indolcnt , that onec . when he was pushed down a hill , he ran on for three days and nights , being too lazy to stop himself . Thb Auuy . —The Tims announces that the period of miSitary enlistments is to be rcdnced to ten years Has the fiijlure in recruiting led to this deterrainati » n ?

      Baunstaplc—Mr . William Avery , editor of tho North Devon Journal , and a Weslcyan local preacher , lias bc « n unanimously elected mayor of Barnstaple . Dijarlv Bought . —Four standards , captured from the Sikhs , arc among the trophies brought home by the 31 st Reeiinent . Extiiaordis & hy . —One of the volunteers of the Mexican war whs heard to remark , the other day , that he was afraid of nothim ; but danger , Wilson the Ohmtholooi-t . —A subscription has bseu opened at Paisley , the birth-place of Wilson , the poet and ornithologist , for the purpose of erecting a monument to him . Slavbrt . —Attempts are being made to abolish slavery in the French colony ot Cayenne , where it is stated to have produced the most baneful effects upon the cultivation of tiie soil .

      Propkr . — The present allowances of fuel to the army , having been considered insufficient , the waroffice has ordered that the quantity shall be increased one-third . . Maucii op the Moustacub . —The Limerick Crimi iclc says , that in the ensuing year , the entire British army , infantry as well as cavalry and artillery , will assume the moustache . LiiW ! i 3 Pets—It is a frequent custom with the New Zealand females to . pet yimng ui { -s , in the same manner as European ladies fondle dogs and kittens . . ; Success of the New Firm . — The new work by Dickens , "Dumber and Son , " has been verv successful in England , 150 , 000 copies having been publi . siicd . , A bushel of wheat weighing 62 pounds contain 550 . 000 kernels .

      Local Right . — Eighty-five thousatid , four hundred and six electors of the state of New York , recorded their votes at the recent election ; in favour of admitting bbick-skiimed Americana to the rights of citizenship . The " . eighty . five thousand" is about two sevenths of ( he entire voteof the State . . Gkrxk Custom . —In Greece it was the custom at meals f » r the two sexes to eat separately . Roman DiKSBt . s . —The Romans lay on couches at their dining tables on their left arms , eating with their right , Volu . vtekrs . —Rolls are now open at Lttfuvette

      Hall for the enlistment of Volunteers for the Colonel Win . W . Tompkins ' s regiment of infantry . The othcers have been , selected , ami are untiergoinp : daily drills with spirit , and the men will also be put under instruction forthwith , and held in readiness for service at the scat of war , where there is likely soon to be a demand f .- . r them , to stop bullets , fill ¦ trenches , dull sabres . « Sre . A bayonet push in the intestines may very ltk-ly be had for four or five shillings a grape-shot in the ancle for a mere bagatelle ; a musket ball through the head for nothing to speak ofcheap a- , dirt , tho wh'de of them . Why don ' t everybody run to enlist ?—iVetc- York Tribune .

      Toutcgh , axv her Sr . cEKr . —Iiisoivencv has Ion " been associated with the name of Portugal , from the C » urtof the former being .-iniatcd in the street of the latter .- Now that the Portuguese are in a state of bankruptcy , the location of the Insolvent Court in Portugal-street appears singularly appvo ; . viate . — Punch . Da . niel post } Otbr , —Tiie accounts from Rome mentioned amomi other reforms set on font by the new Pope , that his . Holiness has , by a decree prohibited ' . Mendicity and Vagabondism . " " Ol / idlo ' s occupation ' s gone . " Alas I uaavDan ! Tiik QuAKEtts . —It is stated in the Mtdical Times , that Quakers seldom become depressed or melancholic on any points connected with religion . Curious . —Dr . Williams states , in " the Medica l Times , that butlers have recently committed suicide in London more than any other class .

      News . —In a letter to the Tablet , Mr . Charles Waterton , of Walton Hall , describes Don Miguel as " a brave and uncompromising soldier , " and "the nation's darling . " Rkmbmber this ~ A clean skin is as necessary to health us food . Useful—Vinegar boiled in myrrh , or camphor sprinkled in a room , corrects putridity . Tub Ducal Idea . —We understand that no less than twenty watchers are nightly employed watching came on the Duke of Marlborough ' s preserves around Blenheim . Imp ortation of Human Skcias . —The Miraer , a Swedish vessel , which arrived at Hull last week , had as part of her cargo a case of skulls , and they were passed by Ihe Customs' authorities as "One ease containing human i-kulls , bein ? specimens illustrative of natural history , value £ 10 . " As ' specimens ' they aro free of duty .

      Railwav News . —It h asserted that on -and after the 1 st of January next , no goods trains are to run on the-line of the London and North-Western Railway miring the day , arrangements being in progress tor conducting most , if not the whole of the traffic during the night * . As Usual . —Fever is greatly on the increase in Glasgow . Trmperancs Mcvembst . —The National Temperance Society is ' raiting a large sum of money ,. for the promotion of the temperance cause . Among the special contributions we observe the n ima of J . D . Bussett , Esq ., of Leighton , for £ 100 .

      No News .. — Considerable apprehension exists among the relatives of the seamen engaged in the expedition of . the Erebus' and Terror , which sailed from the river in Juris last year , under the command of Sir John Franklin and Captain Crozier , and many anxious applications have lately been made to the Admir . ilty on the subject . No tidiugi have been received aincn last December .-Pk . vsv Parcel Host . —The Parcel Post Company are a !; ont to adopt the penny system , and to convey to ai .-y part of London a package not exceeding 18 ounces in wei ght , for a penny .. . .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 26, 1846, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_26121846/page/3/