Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper from London, Greater London, England • 8

SAN. 10, 1858. LLOYD'S WEEKLY LOIDOI NEWSPAPER 8 South Kensington museum. Because Englishmen sensibly combine a variety of tastes, they are continentally considered to have none for music and art. Our crowded concert-theatres and picture galleries testify'to the absurdityof such-a notion and perhaps no better proof to the contrary could be given than the fact that about twenty-five thousand visits were made to the South Kensington Museum during the short period already expired known as Christmas holidays.

This must not be taken for that staring which is so often likened to the agonies of a stuck pig but rather for a genuine devotion to some line of study. The fact is, that although there is plenty to be seen in the museum the greater part of it must be uninteresting for people go to study their own peculiar taste and whatever illustrates anything beyond that will probably be passed by almost unheeded. The South Kensington Museum must be regarded as only' a portion of the teaching held out by the nation to the nation as an attempt to discover how far a college of arts, sciences, and mechanics would be appreciated. At least, so far as art is concerned, it is represented by the Sheepshanks' collection of modern paintings which of course must stand for amusement and refinement) rather than for instruction by a fe specimens of sculpture, apparently collected without design; and by a very tine collection of architectural casts, of small detached pieces, and which are doubt-lees quite sufficient to illustrate that branch of art, from something near the Tower of Babel to the New Palace at Westminster. With the assistance (absolutely essential) of lectures, this branch of the institution would be perfect but her Majesty's commissioners, setting a good example, commenced at the commencement, and are as yet scarcely out of the elementary stage.

But already may be observed, studying these fac-similes of every age of ornament, numberless young ladies who have desperately learnt Mr. Kuslrin by heart, the heart being" unfortunately not required for any more sociable purpose and the want of soul in the Renaissance" is often lisped by lips which fear to own the want of soul in the London suburbs. From the Kensington museum and the Crystal-palace may be learnt quite as much of architecture as is good to be known but with painting it is different. The picture gallery is composed entirely of Mr. Sheepshanks' collection of modern works.

Now this is manifestly insufficient to teach the history of art and moreover, from their isolation, and from the condition of their governmental care, it may be imagined that they are put forth as master-pieces. But this, ot course, is not intended. Indeed, in no collection shall we find the higher purposes, of art so carefully avoided. Very few of the pictures teachlessons, although very many will become valuable from their recognition of modern manners and customs. The most interesting series is that from the French dramatists, in which, of ceurse, the morals come from the authors illustrated.

It is perhaps out of compliment, and prompt gratitude to the donor, that the Sheepshanks'-gallery is placed at a good walk's distance from the National-gallery, or even the Vernsn. Thus the pleasant deer and heather pictures of Landseer; the soft peasantry impossibilities of Mulready and the natural, but common-place, subjects of Sedgrave, cannot lose by comparison with the soul arid sublimity of Raphael or of Francia. A 'tedious three miles' padlock is put on the mouth of the gift horse. It is-in choice of subjects that our artists blunder. Nothing can be better than the representation of something that we have seen" when a good lesson is conveyed with it, that might otherwise be forgotten; but, generally, something that we have not seen is far more valuable.

Kustic Civility," Leaving off her Weeds," or such horrors as "First and Second-class," will always find admirers; and so do many things that cannot even be mentioned. But painting is surely an interpretation as laneuase is an interpretation. When we have THE SCRAP-BOOK; COLUMN. Newspapers a Hundred Ysaes Ago The nes. papers of that day dealt largely in small beer.

hIT are a few extracts from the newspapers a centur ago Saham, near Wotton, in Norfolk, May 12 There is at thiB time a rook's nest with young 07 on the top of a chimney in this parish a thing 30 markable that the eldest person here never saw heard of the like." We hear from Cornwall that a few days ago a man in the parish of Eglosheal handed his horse until he was dead, on his being infcrrmJ that he choak'd lambs and when the horse wa3 ml dying, beginning to paw with his feet says he dost repent I thought that thou was't guilty On Sunday, towards the dusk of the evening, thres men, supposed to be French valets, being finely Cla broidered and laced, having swords on, dodged young-woman into one of the woods of Kensington, gardens, and attempted to violate her but beitl overheard by three young men, they went to her re lief, and though unarmed drubbed the principal while the other two fled. The Frenchman wu Wen marked in the face by the fists of the young men." Another tells how a butcher at the Herefordshire elec-tion eat for dinner a large fowl and a pound of ham" two pigeons, with a crust in proportion, two poumjj of roast beef, one-half of a large turkey, half a roast lamb, two tansy puddings, two gooseberry tarts, two apple puffs, hall'-a-pound of Cheshire cheese, anj drank four bottles of port, and a pint of rum maiie into punch, besides cider with his meat, anslwjj neither disguised in liquor nor disordered in his stomach." And another describes the eccentricities of John Tallis, who died at Burcott, in Worcestershire, aged eighty. For thirty years this monoiai. niac had remained in bed, under an impression that he could not bear the fresh air. There was only oae small window to the room, consisting of four panes of thrice the ordinary thickness.

Several yards of Al nel were always wound round his head. His shirts were lined with swanskin, and the breast and sides quilted for fear of exposure on either side of him was placed a row of small pillows to prevent any draught when he turned in bed a stopper was fitted into each nostril and a woollen cloth thrown over his face, Hvtton's A Hundred Years Ago. A Sapid Toilet. Once more settled down 6 found time to be hungry, and accordingly ordered tea. Who could paint our despair when the men pm-claimed that there was neither tea nor kettle to boil water in both having been left behind! We hat plenty of provisions with brandy and Ouralian nalifka, and these enabled us to make a meal.

There is, however, nothing which can be compared to the beverage that cheers but not inebriates," and makes the tra. veller supremely comfortable after a day of hard toil. We sat talking over our misfortune and the anticipated pleasures of the morrow, till past one o'clock then lay down on the rocks and wrapped ourselves up for the night but the joint effects of wine and smoke had given me a violent headache, which prevented me sleeping. A little before three o'clock I was np, and my toilet made, by rubbing the smoke out of my eyes, and giving myself a shake. Atkinson's OrimUtl and Western Siberia, Teavemjng in Norway.

My beard, moustache, cap, and fur collar were soon one undivided lump of ice. Our eyelashes became snow-white and heavj with frost, and it required constant motion to keep them from freezing together. We saw everything through visors barred with ivory. Our eyebrows and hair were as hoary, as those of an octogenarian, and our cheeks a mixture of crimson aud orange, so that we were scarcely recognisable by each other. Every one we met had snow-white locks, no matter hoar youthful the face, and whatever was the colour of our horses at starting, we always drove milk-white steeds at the close of the post.

Bayard Taylor. A Courageous Old Woman. Her cow had strayed, and was nowhere to be found in her usual pastures. This gave the good dame considerable anxiety. At last she determined to search for her in the higher valleys.

Leaving her cottage early one morning, she rambled on for several hours, and at length found herself far up on. the Taganai without coming upon any traces of the fugitive. This was very disheartening still she would not give up to search. The valley she had entered ripon was thickly wooded with pines in many parts; in others' there were fine open glades, with clumps of bushes and shrubs, and among these she wended her way from one little plot of grass to another. At last she spied the well-known dark brown hide through some bushes.

The old woman thought of the many hours she had been searching for the truant and stealing softly on, determined to give her sufficient chastisement When within reach of her birchen staff the blows fell fast. Up sprang the animal and turned sharp round, when, to the dame's horror, she saw a large brown hear. The two stood staring at each other, apparently with equal astonishment and apprehension, when Bruin, seized with a sudden panic, turned tail and bolted." A tkinson's Oriental and Western Siberia. The Study op Pkoveebs. By no means the least interesting part of the study of proverbs is the attempt to trace their origin from local peculiarities, We have already remarked that Dean Trench has been very happy in some of his speculations upon this point.

The proverb which recommends us to Make hay while the sun shines," must have had its birth under a variable sky like that of England. We claim it without much hesitation for the green pastures and the showery skies of Lancashire and Cheshire. The fine old proverb, "He who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock," sets us down at once upon some rocky and wreck-strewn coast, such as that of Cornwall. The expressive epithet, mw-hearted" (cowardly), and the accumulative phrase, "bone and feather" (the ship went down "bone and feather" that is, with all belonging to her), must have come from a district abounding with sea mew and It was in such a district that we picked them up. We heard it said in another plate with regard to wheat growing too fast in the winter, that it was winter-proud and a blighted ear, at outer husk without kernel, was called "phantom corn." This was in a district famous for wheat.

Frazer's Magazine. An Active Eeadee. Mrs. Linnet had become a reader of religious books since Mr. Tryan's advent, and as she was in the habit of confining her perusal to the purely secular portions, which bore a very small proportion to the whole, she could make rapid progress through a large number of volumes.

On taking up the biography ef a celebrated preacher she immediately turned to the end to see what diseased died of and if his leg3 swelled, as her own occasionally did, she felt a stronger interest in ascertaining any earlier facts in the history of the dropsical diviM whether he had ever fallen off a stage-coach, whether he had married more than one wife, and in general, any adventures or repartees recorded of hi previous to the epoch of his conversion. She then glanced over the letters and diary, and wherever there was predominance of Zion, the River of Life, and notes of exclamation, she turned over to the next page! but any passage in which she saw such promising nouns as "small-pox," "pony," or "boots and shoes, at once arrested her. Blackwood's Magazine. A Pboposal op MAitEiAGE. I won an old lady's heart by a present of tobacco on my return to Inkaus kraaL She had been frequently looking at me very attentively, and paid me some neat compliments, had she been young, and more like Peshauna, Ishou have been flattered but, unfortunately, her appea1' ance was not one that would be at all likely to the tender passion.

Her face was thin and wrinkle0! while her whole body looked as though it were cf vered with a skin that had been originally intentlf for a very much larger person. During th.e.?a time that she was at work she was uttering disjointed remarks to me, and at length proposed, in the shameless and barefaced manner, that I should marry her daughter. I requested to know which of damsels then present was the proposed bride, an." was siown a young lady about twelve years old, had very much the appearance of a picked Cochin China fowl I concealed my laughter, and tola old lady that, when this became taller, andv'1; 1 fat, I might then think more seriously of herpropas'' tion but as at present I had not six cows (the quired price) handy, I could not entertain the ject. The old lady told me she would get the and bone adorned with fat by the time I came on as other visit; and, foi all I know, this black charm" may be now waiting in disappointed plumpness Sporting Scenes amongst the Kaffirs of South Afrun- peril, that WtSjJjl nn hnnr of sirSnberimr weakness. Such a game is played Tait." this month includes TangledTalk" on education and crime.

-From the current number of the "Dl atonal Magazine," we extract the following story of the 'Koh-i-noor: Few people in England know the pedigree of the Koh-i-noor, fewer still the superstition concerning it which exists in India, namely, that the race, the dynasty, or the individual who possesses it will infallibly come to destruction. This belief is founded on a curious chain of historic coincidences, of which we will give a slight sketch. When or where the Koh-i-noor was originally discovered no one knoWB. The first record of its existence is in'the seventeenth century, when Meer Jomlah, whs himself had torn it from a native Hindoo prince, presented it to Aurung-zebe, the Emperor of Hindostan. With the diamond, say the Indians, came the curse on the emperor's house, a curse which, passing over himself, fell'on his descendants with irresistible force for not a crowned head of his whole race after him possesses! either manliness or common sense.

The empire which he had built up and consolidated with so much genius and power, at his death crumbled to pieces; and when Nadir Shah, the "tyrant robber" of Persia, invaded Hindostan, he found but the name of past greatness between him and the imbecility, effeminacy, and disorganisation of its then rulers. Nadir Shah's. every step was a conquest and in theyear 1739 Mohamed Shah's last act of independent royalty was played out the Persian took Delhi by storm, committing excesses to which history has no parallel; and after a month's terrible occupation, retired with his slaves and his plunder, among which was the famous Koh-i-noor. On his way back to Persia, Nadir Bhah was asBsssinated by hiB own chiefs in oneof the passes of the Cabul mountains, and his ill-gottea wealth, blood- stained as it was, was looted among men as fierce and as lawless as Murder and rapine were met and avenged by their like; which, indeed, is the meaning of the superstition connected wi th the Koh-i-noor. Ahmed Shah Dooranee, the first king of Cabul, who was one of the assassins, took the diamond for his share of the spoil; and the curse passed from Delhi to Cabul.

Ahmed Bhah Dooranee's dynasty lasted to the present day but under so terrible a law of crime and sorrow, that we can well understand bow men like the Hindoos, to whom all life is one manifestation of avenging deities, whose religion is deprecation rather than worship, and who make even murder a sacrifice to their gods, should see in such a fearful history the cruelty of destiny rather than the guilt of man. Not a crime, and not a form of human suffering or passion, is missing in the annals of that doomed house and neither the rnysteriouB guilt of iEgisthus, nor the sorrows of the Manlii, were greater than those of the race of Ahmed Bhah Dooranee. The last king of Cabul was Bhah Shooja, He was exiled, and Dost Mohamed Khan made ruler of Cabul in his stead. Shah Shooja fled Bunjeet Bing, taking with him the fatal Koh-i-noor all that remained to him of his former enormous wealth. Eunjeet Sing received the runaway; but having discovered that the symbol of the sovereignty of India was still in his possession, starved and maltreated him until he gave it up.

For with the Koh-i-noor passed the sentiment of supremacy, though with the clinging curse attaohed. Eunjeet Sing left it on his death -bed to the idol Juggernaut; but his hem and successors disregarded his bequest, and kept the diamond to themselves. After passing from one hand to the. other, dimmed by tears and stained with gore, according to its the diamond was at length captured among other spoils, by Lord BalhouBie in his conquest of the Sikhs, and by him presented to the Queen. Later events in India would soem to confirm the fatal character attached to this jewel but when, some years ago, the legend was given to the writer of this paper, not a suspicion was abroad of the trouble that was to come.

XL. In the number of the National Review" just issued, will bo found an interesting article on George Sand; an essay on the Principles of Indian Government and reviews of Ben Jonson, and the Caar Nicholas; the Monetary Crisis, and the poems of Mr. Coventry Patmore. THE PANTOMIME SHADE. Now, from rich carvings golden, the hangings grown so olden Are turned aside by cleaners' hands, that seek to bring the light To box- chairs' burnished tracings, that twine round velvet facings, Where have sat, in orinoline, May Fair beauties, soft and bright.

Now workmen use the hammer, with loud and bnsy clamour, And flit about, like murky sprites, through webs of dust and rope, For Pantomime is coming the toil, and moil, and humming But herald the spectacle last managerial hope. Full on the stage is beaming the light from "battens" streaming, And fresh, in all its beauty, stands King-painter's fairy scene; Where leaves and berries mazy, with coral-redB mix hazy, And boughs droop down te kiss the sea of pure ultramarine. The author fast is punning, the cisan air is humming, The dtmtense, chatting gaily, holds levees like any queen Some flats" into their "setting" the manager is getting The gentleman-comedian well is mimicking Charles Kean; And gems that glow and sparkle, with effects that still and startle, And groups of spangled witches, that swell the fairies' queen band. With heaps of shining metals, that grow from flow'rets' petals, Complete the soft enchantment the world of Faery dreamland. Amid the scene entrancing, where eyes are brightly glancing, A figure creeps on slowly, through the gay and medley host, With step so faint and silent, that as she softly by went, 'You'd deemed that figure stealing nothingless than shade or ghost.

With dress worn white and threadbare, with dim and faded head-gear Of crape, that falls so shroud-like o'er her thin and pallid face, She moves to where the dresser," with woman's smile, God bless her From worker takes her working of rich silk and tinselled lace. For this, with her no sleeping, but tailing vigil-keeping Through long nights and dreary days, fill the early grey of morn Has found the teiler sobbing, her brain and pulse wild throbbing, What hours of grief and sadness that poor worker lone has borne Her beggar pittance granted, and now no longer wanted, With a shrinking, drooping mien she seeks tie street to gain But a scene of home and wild-wood, so like to hers of childhood, Has stayed her steps a moment and a moment stays her pain. 'Tis past from where the laughter now leaps to beam and rafter The silent one has stolen to her garret-home away. Let's hop not fever- lying, though she has prayed for dying; And while we yet are hoping, for that worker let us pray. SHADOW.

Astronomical Discoveries duking 1857. Astronomers have been particularly active during the past year, as the following brilliant list of discoveries will testify Comet by Dr. D'Arnst, at Leipsic.on the 22nd of February visible for about eight weeks. Comet byM. Bruhns, at Berlin, on the 18th of March visible for about eleven weeks.

This comet is identical with III, of 1844, discoveredby M. Bror-sen. Planet (43), by Mr. N. Pogson, at Oxford, on the 15th sf April named Ariadne.

Planet (44), by M. Goldschmidt, at Paris, on the 27th of May. Comet by Dr. Kiinkerfues, at Gottingen, on the 22nd of June; visible about four weeks. Planet (45), by M.

Goldschmidt, at Paris, on the 28th of Jane, named Eugenia. Comet by M. Dieu, at the Imperial Observatory, Paris, on the 28th of July visible about four weeks. This comet was discovered also by Dr. C.

H. F. Peters, at Dudley, U.S., on the 25th, and by Professor Habicht, at Gotha, on the 30th of July, Planet (46), by Mr. N. Pogson, at Oxford, on the 18th of August; named Hestia.

Cornet by Dr. Klin-karfues, at Gottingen, on the 20th of August visible for about six weeks. Planet (47), by Dr. Luther, at Bilk, on the 15th of September. Planet (48), by Goldschmidt, at Paris, on the 19fchof September; named Pales.

Also another planet' (49), by the same person and on the same evening; named Doris. Planet (50), by Mr. Ferguson, at Washington, U.S., on the 5th October; named Virginia. This planet was also detected by Dr. Luther, at Bilk, on the 19th of Oct.

Comet VL, by Dr. Donati, at Florence, on the 10th of November visible for about five weeks. X. Y. Z.

Illustrated Inventor. Examination er Surgeons fob ImiL The examination of candidates for the appointment of assistant surgeon in the service of the East India company has been fixed to commence on Monday nest, the 11th in st, The number of vacancies in the medical establishment to be filled up will be fifteen or sixteen. BREAD UPON THE WATERS. It suits poetasters," said Tom Hood, to talk of the domain of the sea and of the fields of the ocean; oil u. in hnt.

hoitv estate that is all fish pond, and it is but a barren field that grows nought but weeds." The old'Scythian Time, who sweeps on equally regardless of his jokes or of their verses, winning the final victory alike over poetasters and over wits, and calling constantly for new editions of the Guide to likely to command no fncrncA fmm mir hnokB the contemotuous epithets which men have been wont to apply to the weeds, of the sea. They have floated through ages oi scorn and obloquy. Projecta vilior alga," was the lowest term for worthlessness in the language of Horace and of Virgil Downright Dr. Johnson terms them "noxious and useless We are now entitled to say in equally Johnsonese language, Sir, they are neither." Seaweed has a more extended range of growth than perhaps any other vegetable for wherever the ocean rolls there it lives. How, then, should it be noxious or useless even to man Moreover, its known esculent capabilities are already very great, and a most intelligent and meritorious effort is being made, at this time, to increase our knowledge of the chemical character of marine and to multiply their application as food or medicine for men aud animals.

Such purposes they already largely subserve in various parts of the world. The Icelanders, the Highlanders, the Irish, the Kamschatkaus, the inhabitants of the Orkney Islands, the populations of Van Diemen's Land, New South Wales, and New Zealand, the Chinese, the Cingalese, the Japanese, and the Scindians, feed extensively upon seeweed and its products. They ferment them, or eat them boiled with butter, or as broth with animal substance, or pickled; byway of condiment with meat, stewed with rice, in the form of jelly, and in a thousand other ways. The Carrageen moss (Chondrus Crispus) and laver (Por-pbyra Vulgaris) find their way as luxuries to our tables. Nevertheless, there is the strongest reason to believe that the esculent capabilities of the age are but very imperfectly developed.

Sir John Trevelyan has under the auspices of the Society of Arts offered a handsome premium for the best original essay, accompanied by illustrative edible preparations, and containing new analyses of these economic applications of the algffi and their products, To medical men their utilisation, as articles of diet, affords a field of research especially interesting, since the large quantity of iodine and bromine which they contain, indicate valuable dietetic relations in which they may be employed. We trust that the bread which the sea thus casts upon our shores may soon be estimated at its true value. The Lancet. DEATH OF THE EARL OF I LC HESTER. The Dorset Cownty Express says We have to announce with extreme regret that to the and losses which society has sustained by the hand of death, and which overshadow with unusual gloom this season of the year, is tobe added the demise of the Eight Hon, of Ilchester, which melancholy event took plaoe at Melbury-house, at ten minutes past seven o'clock on Sunday morning last.

As a- politician, Lord Ilchester was steadily attached to the old whig party, was the personal friend of the Marquis of lansdowne, and co-operated with the noble marquis in all those measures which brought out and testified to thewell-underetood and broadly-marked character of the whigs. The deceased nobleman rarely, if ever, spoke in the House of lords, but was studiously watchful of the progress of public affairs, and was rarely absent from his place when the pelioy of his party stood in need of vindication by the votes and speeches of its adherents. The late earl held very extensive possessions in this county; and his country seats at Melbury-house, near Sherborne Eedlynch, Somerset and Abbotsbury-cartle, are well known to most persons in the West of England. As a landlord, his lordship nlled a high and most honourable position. It, is in this relation of life, in which he was so worthily distinguished, that the pasBing tribute of our humble admiration of Lord Uchester's high characl er is due, and may be rendered with the utmost sincerity and truth.

Our own personal knowledge of the sentiments of hislordship'atenantry justifies us in speaking with equal earnestness and gratification on this point, and assures us of hearty and general concurrence in speaking his praise now" on the part of a very numerous body, who only perhaps most loved and admired him because they knew him best. Kind-hearted, considerate, and just affable, accessible, and condescending his lordship has left him a memory dear to many a honest heart, and an which may be followed by landowners of this and other counties with a welcome addition to the lustre of their reputation and the geniality and usefulness of their career. Many local and other in-stitutiono felt the benefit of bis lordship's benevolent impulses, and our county hospital found in him a generous patron and a munificent contributor to the revenues of that charitable asylum. The deceased nobleman was the third Earl of Ilchester, created 1756; Baron Ilchester and Btrangeways, 1741 Baron Ilchester and Stavordale, 1747 Baron of Eedlynch, 1747? privy councillor, 1837. The family name of the late earl was Henry Stephen Fox Btrangeways, D.C.L., son of the second earl by his first wife, daughter of Standish.

Grady, Esq. He was bom in 1787, and was therefore in the seventy-first year of his age when he died. He married, in 1812, the second daughter of Lord George Murray, bishop of Bt. David's, niece of the fourth Duke of Atholl, 'who died in 1818; and he succeeded hie father in 1802. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Dorset Yeomanry cavalry in 1846, and was patron to seventeen livings.

The heir presumptive of the wealth and honours of the deceased earl is the Hon. William Thomas Horner Strangeways, born 1795, who, having held various distinguished appointments since 1820, filled the post of envoy extraordinary and rninisfcer plenipotentiary at Frankfort, from August, 1640, to January, 1849. The deceased nobleman, as we have said, was widely and most deservedly esteemed among us in this part of England; and in consequence of his lamented death several festivities, in which many leading county farnilies were prepared to take a part about this period, have been necessarily postpone. In this category are the county ball, ihe great gathering iri our town in honour of J. J.

Parquharsen, Esq. (on which occasion the noble earl was to have taken the chair), and the dinner of the Melbury troop, of Yeomanry cavalry. The earl had four children, two of whom' ai-eiiving, namely, Lady Digby, and Lady Caroline Kerrison, married to Sir Edward Kenison, Bart. and two sons, namely, Henry Thomas and Steven Stavordale, both of whom are dead. The Italian Opera BAzAAK.The area formerly occupied by Covent-garden theatre has been considerably enlarged, by the addition of the site of several houses, which stood in its rear, as also of that of the Piazza hotel the whole space now devoted to the new opera house and the glass bazaar exceeding an acre in area.

The southern portion of this space is that intended for the formation of the glass bazaar, which will be some 250 feet in length, and eighty feet wide. The entire structure will be of iron and glass, having a semi-circular roof, and an entrance at each side at either end, It will, as far as can be judged from the design, be a favourable specimen of what may be done hereafter of the same character. The new opera house, as well as the bazaar, is the design of Mr. E. M.

Barry, who, The Engineer, to which we are indebted for this notice, thinks, has done little justice to the former, although it is well satisfied with his views as regards the latter structure. The front of the new Opera-house will be in Bow-street, as also one end of the glass bazaar, the other end opening into Covent-garden market. Gas at Mastchesteh. The management of the gasworks has been often referred to as embodying the principle which should be adopted in inclusive of the metropolis. A large profit is derived from the supply of gas, and can be devoted to the public improvements.

Gas was first introduced into the neighbourhood, for the lighting of a mill in Sal-ford, in 1805, three years after its introduction in England, by Boulton and Watt. The first public gas-works were erected in Water-street, in 1817 there are now four stations (besides those of the borough of Salford) and it was lately stated by Mr. Alderman Shuttleworth, that out of the real profits there had been spent for public improvements considerably more than half a million sterling. Builder. Tns Duke of Brunswick.

The Duke of Brunswick has brought an action for libel against a theatrical paper called the Gazette de Paris. The duke is one of the most assiduous habitues of the Italian opera, and the box where he appears every night, gemmis remlgens et auro, is well known to the frequenters of that fashionable house. Between the acts his serene highness, when there are no ladies in his loge, plays a game of chess. It sometimes happens that the game is not finished when the curtain rises, and no chess player will be surprised to hear that it is prosecuted rata its close. A writer in the Gazette de Paris, under the pretext of giving a critique of the performance, instead of confining himself to what took place on the stage, wrote an insolent article, dwelling on the impropriety of the duke's chess-playing propensity, the indulgence of which he argued was on insult to the public LITBBATUBS.

MONTHLY JPrrBLICATIOira, The new year generally brings with it a large crpp of novel literary ventures. Cheap magazines, new editions, puMicationsputforth good-naturedly by self-denying publi8aersfor the exclusive and laudable object of Ailing some imaginary gap in the literature of the time. Perpetually, men appear with a broadsheet that is to bring to cheerful daylight some hitherto obscure class of the community. A genius suddenly discovers that the undertakers or the poulterers have no organ. Whereupon the genius sets up an Undertakers? Gazette, which speedily transforms itself into the winding-sheet of the geniusand finally represents not even the undertakers, but a bank-mptcy solely.

Now, this present year, 1838, has produced, as yet, very few organs. Two or three new serials it has already brought to light, but these are of no great importance, and maybe speedily disposed Of. Thus the Chronicle of the Revolt in India," illustrated as in courscof publication by Messrs. Chambers, may be useful as a remembrancer; but some of its illustrations (the "Escape from Delhi," for in-stance) portray episodes in our bloody straggle with the savage sepoys that it would have been well to describe, and that lightly, by the pen only. A complete chronicle of the revolt is possibly a popular want, however and Messrs.

Chambers, as usual, take boldly to the field to supply it. A Dictionary of Daily Wants, must be an endless publication; yet, say Messrs. HoiUston and Wright, it shall be complete in twenty-four twopenny parts. That mam wants but little here below," is an assertion upon which the dictionary is based, evidently-still, even the first part, now before us, contains much useful information. Whether this information be a daily want" is aquestion that we shall not pretend to answer.

The dictionary, however, bids fair to be a very useful little treasury of knowledge, alphabetically arranged. While these new ventures are launching, old serials are approaching their termination. The current number of Mr. Russell's British Expedition to the Crimea" brings it to within one month of its finis and Augustus Mayhew's Paved with Gold" will be complete in March. Thackeray's Virginians" are yet young in their third number only and promise to be very interesting children.

The departure and death of George, in the January number, aie described with that easy strength which is the conspicuous charm of the great novelist's writings With this new year, we are told Mr. Shirley Brooks, fi Flinch contributor, and author of Aspen Court," and Miss Violet and her Offers," steps forward, offering the public a serial story. It is entitled The Crordian Knot;" but whether this knot be in the fashion arranged (or true lovers, or pretend to the sturdy proportions of that borne upon the shoulders of London porters, is a question which we shall settle when we have seen the gay csver that is illustrated (so we are also told) by Tenniel. Ask Mamma" is in its tertth month; and "Davenport Dunn," by Mr. Lever, has passed through seven months.

Leech, in the former serial, is in his loved clement. The stable-boys are true to the life the horses are the admiration of veterinary surgeons. In the January number of "Davenport Dunn," we notice an exquisitely-balanced sea-shoreby night effect, by Phiz. Gilbert, with his finely-flowing pencil lines, still enriches Koutledge's "Shakspere" already arrived at its seventeenth number. If this artist had the mind, the poetic tenderness, and insight of Kenny Meadows, he would be the prince of illustrators.

But alas he has perfect execution, but few ideas of his own to execute. He is basely literal as a rule. John Cassell still issues his "Art Treasures Exhibition," giving the people, at a low price, good illustrations Irom the great masters. Part 8, now before us, is devoted to the works of Albert Cuyp, Jacob Jordaens, Jacob Kuysdael, Cornelius Bega, and Jan Steen, Mr. Charles Knight's Popular History of England," has reached the stirring times of Cromwell, and its twenty-fifth part.

We are happy to find that the popular author has so far recovered from his indisposition as to resume his pen. The Life of John illustrated by George Cruikshank, and described by Robert Brough, will be completed on the 1st of February, by the issue of the tenth part. We shall probably devote a separate article to this remarkable work, when it lies in a complete state before us. To Titan" for the present month we are indebted" lor De Quincey's "Suggestions Upon the: Secret of the from which we make the -following excerpt The argument for tracing baok the gi'eat conspiracy to the discontented rajahs is that otherwise, and supposing the mutiny raised for the object specially affecting the sepoys, they would not have massacred their officers. Then must have de6ii ed to leave an opening for pardon in the event ci inat crime was exacted to compromise ho native army effectually with the government.

But this in many waj was sure to operate ruinously for the sepoy interests, and could therefore have found" a sufficient motive only with the native princes. But the female, sacrifice was welcome to all parties. Porno-doubttheyrepre-sented the British officer as saying: So long as the danger affected only myself, I would never have relaxed my hold on India; but now, when the war threatens our women and children, India can no longer be a home for m. Another urgent question concerns the acts of the Bengal government. Many unfounded charges, as in a oase of infinite confusion and hourly pressure, must be aimed at the governor-general the probability of such charges, and the multiplied experience of such charges, makes reasonable men cautious is fact, unduly so and the exoeBS of cant ion re- acts upon Lord Canning's estimation too advantageously.

Lord BalhouBie is missed; bis energy would have shown itself conspicuously by this lor surely in such a case as the negotiation with Unnadoor Jung of as to the sSeorkas, there cap. be no doubt at present, though a gi'eat doubt, unfairly indulgent to Lord Canning, was encouraged at lust, that niostimbecileoscillation governed the Calcutta counsels. And it is now settled that this oscillation turned entirely upon a petty personal motive. A subordinate offices had accepted the Hepaul offer, and by that un atatfaorised acceptance had intruded upon the prerogative t)f Lord Canning. The very same cause -this jealous punctiliousness of exacting vanity, and not any wish to enforce the severities of public justice interfered ts set aside the proclamation of Mr.

Colvin at Agra. The insufficiency again ot the steps taken as to Kena Sahib speaks the same language. In this very journal, full six weeks earlier than in the Calcutta proclamation, the offer of a large sum tor this man's head had been suggested. Thatofferwas never kept sufficiently before the public eye. But agrosser aeglecttnon this, as affecting the condition of many thousands, and not of any single villain, was the non-employment of the press in pursuing the Bteps of the mutineers.

Everywhere; as fast as they appeared in any strength, brief handbills should have been circulated circumstantially relating their defeats, exposing their false pretences, and describing their prospects. Once only the government attempted such a service; and blundered sd far as to urge against the sepoys a reproach which must have been unintelligible both to them and to all native readers. Again, a question even mere practical and instant arises as to the modes of public vengeance. If, when finally defeated, and in a mili ary sense destroyed, on some Bignalfield of battle, the mutineers should fly to the hills in the great ranges, or the jungle, the main fear would arise not from them, lout from the weak compromising government, that would show itself eager to treat, and make what the Soman law calls a transoetio, or half-and-half settlement with any body of sepoys that showed a considerable strength But, in such ease, besides that the rebels, having, now no Delhi, will 'have soanty ammunition, our best resource would be found in the Spanish bloodhounds of Cuba, which we British used fifty years back for hunting down the peor negro Maroons in Jamaica, who were not by a thousand degrees so criminal as the sepoys. That no wtobs is done to the Bengal government by this anticipa tion of an eventual compromise, may be judged by the as- I seroon (resting apparently on' anequare auuioncyj, mat even at this hour that government are making it a subject for deliberation and doubt whether the sepoys have forfeited their pensions! Doubtless, the Delhi and Cawnpore exploits merit good-service pensions for We' Others by millions, who come to these questions in a far nobler spirit, fear that, at any rate, and with every advaitage for a righteous judgment, too jnanvof the worst sepoys laden with boot" may find means to escape.

To these I would suggest that, after all, the appropriate, worst, and most helhsb. of punishments for nefiish malefactors, is mortification and ntter rum every one of their schemes. What is the thrust of a bayonet or tae deepest of sabre-cuts 1 These are over in a few moments. And I with others rejoiced therefore that so many escaped from Delhi lor prolonged torment. That torment frn.nj, rMinn deadly mortification of Mewing that in all things they and their wicked comrades nave Med; and that in the coming spring, and amongst Tine lesurreofions of soring, wnen au win oo t.i.,uu the, mighty storm will nave wheeled away, there remwue Sa the children of hell only this surviving consciousness that the total result has been the awakening of our Indian government, and the arming it for ever against ludequs acguiTed'German or French we do not rush to know how Goethe or Prevost have translated "Clarissa Harlow;" on the contrary, we very much prefer readiDg Wilhelm Meister" or Manon Lescaut." It is the spirit that should animate Art that must be recovered.

Art itself lives as ever. In other branches the museum is fortunately able to be more perfect. Attached to the Architectural department are various models of buildings all of them valuable, and many of them very interesting. For instance, the original model for St. Paul's cathedral, which Wren was compelled to alter, almost at the cost of a broken heart.

The model is so large that the Risley family's performance might take place in it or, what is no less comic, it would be large enough for one of the juvenile marriages which distinguish royal families. The perambulators might drive through the doors. The Engineering departments very extensive and veryvaried and our great engineers, moreover, have their portraits on the walls. The' screw propeller may be traced through every stage. There is a goodly collection of wood carving, principally Venetian inose enormous cuwu-like boxes for wardrobes, which remind us of gondolas, and so bring us back to coffins.

Modem majolica ware, in which the true touch appears to be thoroughly revived. Above all, the Industrial Arts are represented. The mysteries of papier machfi are solved. Wool and silk are shown in every stage. The progress of leather, up to boots, the uppers, the welting, the lasting, the closing, the soleing, the healing, for we believe the processes are fearfully numerous.

Not only in bootB, but in the manufactures of Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Bradford, and others, is the industrial history traced and in a manufacturing country (alas not a producing, says modern political economy) such a display of undreamed of mechanism cannot fail to excite the greatest interest. The worth of the despised classes is seen at once. For the benefit of those classes, henceforth to be raised above being despised (better late policy than sever), a library is forming with evening admission. Here the works are principally elementary. It is somewhat difficult to understand upon what principle the selection of books is made but the probability is that it is not a selection at all, but an aggregate of voluntary contributions.

However, it is perhaps as full as it need be, considering the facilities of the British Museum, and how the Tennison library is suffered to rot In the primary branches of instruction the supply is There are sufficient spelling books to enable every staff officer to learn at once. "Seneral Education" furnishes means for learning reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, mathematics, foreign languages, history, and (this is evidence of excellent forethought) the science of teaching. Drawing and the fine1 arts, music, household economy, geography and astronomy, natural history, chemiBtry, physics, and mechanical science, are all represented in the libraries and studios, together with Means for Teaching the Blind," and Hygiene aud Means of Physical Training." The museum is assuredly the most sensible step yet taken in the cause of national education for a people with every intelligence, and who only desire to have their chance. But the commissioners must not rest here, if they have the power necessary to go further, for the consequences would be fearfal in a country which is to have an educational franchise. Hon.

members might get one book at their fingers' ends, as Lord Derby has Shakspeare and supposing it were not a very brilliant book, and Frame or Finsbury should perpetually allude to the busy bee in opposing a short hours' bill Or might not Birmingham (in the spirit of the Knife-grinder) characterise a government proposition as a more tyrannical measure than any that stains the page of Markham To Make PArmt Impervious to Wates. This preparation for waterproofing paper intended for packages exposed to the weather is recommended by Professor Muschamp, of Wurtemburg. Take 24oz. of alum and 4oz. of white soap and dissolve them, in 21bs.

of water. Into another vessel dissolve 2oz. of gum arabic and 6oz. of glue in the same quantity of water as the former, and add the two solutions together, which is to be kept warm, and the paper intended to be made waterproof dipped into it, passed between rollers, and dried; or, without the use of rollers, the' paper may be suspended until it is perfectly dripped, and then dried. The alum, soap, glue, and gum form a kind of artificial leather, which protects the surface of the paper from the action of water, and also renders it somewhat fireproof Illustrated Inventor..