informer, or more technically speaking, an approver, one of a party who a year before had perpetrated the murder of an entire family in the south. He had lately been taken, had turned king's evidence, made confessions which led to the apprehension of his accomplices, and was now proceeding, under charge of a policeman, to be a witness for the crown upon their trial. I observed that I still could not comprehend why such a miscreant should appear in so respectable a dress, and be treated in other respects with a degree of indulgence to which another in his condition of life (for he was of the lowest class) though unstained by any crime, could have no pretension. The barrister made answer, "This is often indispensable for the purposes of justice, for it is difficult to imagine how unmanageable these ruffians sometimes are. They know the importance of the testimony they have to give, and which they alone can give, and in consequence become capricious and exacting in the extreme. Though in the hands of government, and with the evidence of their own admissions to convict them, they take a perverted pleasure in exercising a kind of petty tyranny over the civil authorities. They insist on having clothes, food, lodging, modes of conveyance according to their particular whims; and, if their impertinent demands be resisted, threaten to withhold their evidence and submit to be hanged. One starts at the singularity of a man's saying, 'Let me have a smart new blue coat with double-gilt buttons, or a halter,-a pair of Wellington boots, or the hangman,' but our desperate villains do these things, and the person in question I can perceive is one of them."

TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS.-The migration of souls was regarded by the Hindoos as a state of unrest and unhappiness, since the soul was held by it constantly subject to the power of death, and exposed to the toil of unceasing transmutations. With this there naturally connected itself a moral interpretation of life. This people seem to have been sensitively impressed with the sinfulness of man, of the guilt with which he is burdened; and, on this account, singularly possessed by a deep and solemn dread of the penalty which awaits him at the eternal retribution. To this source must be referred the prayers so constantly recurring in all the ceremonies of Indian worship for pardon and preservation from sin. Hence, too, the opinion of the meritoriousness of expiations, and the extreme rigour of their penances. How, then, could there be any charm in a life which was looked upon as an expiation for infinite transgressions of an extremely minute ceremonial law? On this account we find, from the oldest times

and in the oldest Hindoo works, a continual longing to be emancipated from this migration of the soul, and the desire of happiness coneceivd as perfect rest.— Ritter's History of Ancient Philosophy.

DOINGS OF THE KAFIRS.-In 'Sam Sly's African Journal,' published at Cape Town, Their character is somewhat peculiar, wita series of outrages by the Kafirs appear. ness the following sample :

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'Cuylerville, Oct. 22, 1843. "TO THE EDITOR: SIR,-I beg to state to you that on Wednesday evening, the 11th instant, about sunset, two Kafirs stole from my herd eighteen head of cattle, while my daughter, about fifteen years of age, was herding them within sight of my house. They seized her by the arm and dragged her into the bush, where they stripped her naked, and would have murdered her, but she promised them if they would let her go she would bring them more cattle._She spoke this in their own language. They then asked her who would bring the cattle; she replied "I will." One of the Kafirs returned her stays, and made her explain

the use of them. All this time one of them stood over her with an assagai ready to plunge it into her if she attempted to move. After consulting together, they let her depart, taking her clothes with them.

66 "I am, &c.

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FRANCIS WHITTLE." HONOURS ANCIENTLY RENDERED TO THE DEAD.-Homer gives us details of the solemn games instituted in honour of the departed warriors of Greece. With comparatively humble individuals the forms observed were not a little striking. In such cases the dead body was decked with chaplets of flowers and green boughs, and sprinkled with ointments and perfumes. It was carried to the grave surrounded with torches even in the daytime, and attended by mourners beating their breasts, tearing their hair, and heaping dust upon their heads. The corpse of a young man, dying in the flower of his age, could only be buried in the morning twilight; for it was thought a kind of impiety to reveal so strange and dreadful an event in the light of day. The mourners walked slowly, declining their heads upon their hands, and repeating sorrowful exclamations with tears. Lamps were kept burning in the subterranean vaults of the dead, or herbs and flowers strewed upon their grave. If the body was burnt, ointments and perfumes were showered upon the pile, libations poured forth by the surrounding friends, and the remains of the funeral fire extinguished with wine.

and fatigued with their day's march, had lain down on the summit of the ridge to take a little rest; and both men and officers were soon fast asleep. Amongst them was the gallant officer who then commanded the Connaught Rangers. He had not, however, slept long, before he started up, apparently in great alarm; and calling a young officer of the same regiment, who lay close by him, he said, "D., I have just had a most extraordinary dream; such as I had once before, on the night before an unexpected battle. Depend upon it, we shall be attacked very soon.' The young man immediately went forward; and, after looking between him and the horizon, and listening attentively to every sound and murmur wafted on the night-breeze, he returned, and reported that all was still. The colonel was satisfied, and they again lay down. In less than half an hour, however, the colonel again started up, exclaiming in strong language, that, ere an hour elapsed, they should surely be attacked! On seeing the colonel and his young friend throw aside their cloaks, and move off, several of the officers by them took the alarm. And it was high time; for, on examination, it was found that the enemy's columns of attack were ascending the heights, with the utmost secrecy and expedition. Some of them had then reached the summit, and deployed into line, before the British were ready to attack them. They were immediately charged, broken, and driven down the declivity with great loss. It is remarkable that the same gallant officer, afterwards a general, had a similar dream in Egypt, on the morning of the 21st of March, before the British position was attacked by the French, under cover of the darkness.

MESMERISM IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.-In the year 1599, a girl named Martha Brossier, of Romorantin, in Berry, was reputed to be possessed, and excited a considerable sensation in Paris. At the suggestion of the right reverend the Bishop of Paris, the king ordered a committee, composed of the most eminent physicians, to examine and report on her case. The physicians appointed were Marescot, Ellain, Haulin, Riolan, and Duet; and their report states that this young person was thrown into a state precisely analogous to that of Mesmeric coma, which was tested 'by the deepe prickings of long pinnes, which were thrust into divers parts of her hands and of her necke, and afterwards plucked out againe without any show that ever she made of feeling the same, either in the putting in of them, or the taking out of them, a griefe which, without ma.. jicke and without speach, could not, in our opinion, be indured without any countenance or show thereof, neither by the con

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stancie of the most courageous, nor by the stoutness of the most wicked, nor by the stronge conceit of the most criminall malefactors." The Bishop of Paris, and the Abbot of Geneufue, are then referred to as attesting that she exhibited a preternatural knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages. This report, signed by the above eminent physicians, is very analogous to that recently published by the medical section of the French Academy.-Polytechnic Magazine.

The Gatherer.

Catholic Emancipation. When the Duke of Wellington proposed to the House of Lords the measure of Catholic Emancipapation, in conclusion he spoke to the following effect :-" If, my Lords, when this bill is carried into effect, it shall fail to produce those benefits which his Majesty's government anticipate from it-if it shall fail to allay those dissensions which have so long convulsed Ireland-if its effects, instead of being of a healing, shall prove of an injurious nature, leading to fresh agitations-in that case I shall not hesitate, my Lords, in coming down to this House with another bill, to alter, or modify, or repeal the present one, as the case may require."

The Ancient Greeks.-The late Mr Frend had a peculiar respect for the Chinese, and was impressed with the opinion (not by any means peculiar to himself) that their government and social state is a model. For the ancient Greeks and their writings he had an open contempt; they were children who had learned of the Jews, and spoiled their masters' doctrines: the good was due to their teachers, the bad was their own.

The Horrors of After Dinner.-There is no scene more striking to a contemplative mind, than is presented by a dining-room after the guests have retired. The quiet which reigns is horrid ;-the earthy silence of the grave is not, in idea, more appalling. The chairs in disorder-the fire dying out-the table besmeared and bespattered-the bottles empty-all the vociferous joy departed.-Fraser.

The City Gates.-Ludgate, Aldgate, and Cripplegate, were pulled down in the autumn of 1760. The materials were sold to Blagden, a carpenter in Coleman street. Those of Ludgate fetched 1487.; Aldgate, 1577. 10s. ; and Cripplegate, 911. On Ludgate stood the statue of King Lud and his two sons, and also of Queen Elizabeth.

The Wearer only knows where the Shoe Pinches. A Roman being about to repudiate his wife, among a variety of other questions from her enraged kinsmen, was asked, "Is not your wife a sensible woman?

-Is she not a handsome woman?-Has she not borne you five children?" In answer to all which questions, slipping off his shoe, he held it up, and interrogating them in his turn, "Is not this shoe," said he, a very handsome one?-Is it not quite new? Is it not extremely well made? How then is it that none of you can tell me where it pinches?"

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Duck-breeding among the Celestials.-In China the rearing of ducks is an object of great moment. The major part of them are hatched by artificial heat; the eggs, being laid in boxes of sand, are placed on a brick hearth, to which is given a proper heat during the time required for hatching. The ducklings are fed with crawfish and crabs, boiled and cut small, and afterwards mixed with boiled rice; and in about a fortnight they are able to shift for themselves. An old step-mother then leads them where they are to find provender, being first put on board a sampane, or boat, which is destined for their habitation, and from which the whole flock, often, it is said, to the amount of three or four hundred, go out to feed, and return at command.

Tales of the Dormitory. "Wiffen, the translator of Tasso," says William Howitt, "and I used to sleep in a large chamber, with sixty other boys; and as we went to bed at eight o'clock, we used to entertain the lads with relating such stories as came into our heads without any forethought or preparation. Night after night it continued, and became as exciting and absorbing as one of the tales of the Arabs round their evening fires in the desert. Every night, so soon as all were in bed, there was an eager cry of Well, now then, go on with the hatch-up!""

The Most Unhappy Man.-In a conversetion held before Charles IX, by several learned men, it was disputed what condition in life was the most unfortunate. "In my opinion," said Tasso, "it is that of an impatient old man, depressed with poverty. For," added he, "the state of that person is doubtless deplorable who has neither the gifts of fortune to preserve him from want, nor the principles of philosophy to support him under affliction,"

What is Genius? "Genius," says Buffon, "is Patience;" or (as another French writer has explained his thought) "La Patience cherche, et le Génie trouve ;" and there is little doubt that to the co-operation of these two powers, all the brightest inventions of this world are owing;-that Patience must first explore the depths where the pearl lies hid, before Genius boldly dives and brings it up full into light.-Moore.

Mussulmans and Christians.—Early in the 13th century, even when the recent outrages

of the crusaders had roused a bitter spirit of vengeance in the minds of the eastern Mohammedans against Christians in general, a good understanding existed between different classes of both, in many respects. Leibnitz has abridged a treaty made by the Florentines and the Soudan of Egypt, stipulating for a free admission of our merchants into that country,- for their safe residence, and for liberty to depart at their pleasure. They were also to be allowed to build a church, and to have a consul and magistrates. At the same time the Mohammedans had consuls in the south of Europe, with liberty to be governed by their own laws in matters arising among themselves when trading there. Involuntary Homage.—The philosopher's wife complained to the philosopher that certain two-legged animals without feathers spake evil of him, spitefully criticised his goings out and comings in; wherein she too failed not of her share: "Light of my life," answered the philosopher, "it is their love of us, unknown to themselves, and taking a foolish shape; thank them for it, and do thou love them more wisely. Were we mere steam engines working here under this rooftree, they would scorn to speak of us once in a twelvemonth."Teufelsdreck.

A Physical Hell disputed and affirmed.— Origen wrote against the literal interpretation of the physical descriptions in Scripture; his allegorical explanations of heaven and hell were assailed by St Jerome, who set the example of dwelling on the material torments of hell with a minuteness and precision which even Egidius de Columna, in his Treatise on the Geography of the Infernal Regions,' has scarcely equalled. A physical hell and a physical purgatory became so strongly established as articles of faith, that it was deemed impiety to doubt of their having a real and local existence.

The Bewitched.-To be bewitched seems to have been regarded as a disease. There appears in the register of burials of St Olave's, Hart street, the residence, during the reigns of Elizabeth and some of her successors, of several noble and distinguished families. "1579. 16 MAYE.Was buried Agnes Peirsonn, Sv'ant, to Mr Paule Banninge, aged 30 years; wITCHED." It was imperative on the parish officers, at that time, to note down the complaint of which the party had died.

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Character of King William III.-Few monarchs were more highly rated than was King William in his time. We are told that "at the age of eighteen the prince's good sense, knowledge of affairs, and seasonable concealment of his thoughts, attracted the attention of Gourville. Evremond, though himself distinguished chiefly by vivacity and accomplishments,

St

Harmony in Ireland.-When George the Fourth, in 1821, determined on visiting Ireland, it was boldly predicted that his coming would put an end to all political differences. Lord Bloomfield, then Sir Benjamin Bloomfield, arrived in Dublin before his master, and intimated the Royal anxieties that all differences should be laid aside. It was agreed that a public dinner should be held at Morrison's tavern, where the leaders of both factions should pledge each other in libations of everlasting amity. This took place; and from the vehement protestations on both sides, it was believed by many that a lasting reconciliation had been effected. Master Ellis and Mr O'Connell almost embraced each other.

St Marylebone Bank for Savings.—The fourteenth annual general meeting of this institution was held on Thursday, the eighth of this month. It appeared from the several reports read to the meeting, that no less than 2,435 new deposits have been made in the last year. 14,130 deposit accounts remained open on the 20th of November last, of which 8,819 held balances averaging less than 41. 8s. 10d. each. Upwards of 319,4961. was then invested with the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt; this amount has since risen to 329,0967. 3s. 10d., and is rapidly on the advance. The evidence thus afforded of the growing disposition of the working classes to provide against the casualties of life, will prove a source of gratification to all reflecting minds.

The Hogging of Ships.-The weight which a body has when it is immersed in water is always the weight of as much of that water as is equal in bulk to itself; that is, a vessel displaces a volume of water equal to its own immersed bulk; consequently, the stern-quarters, rudder, &c., not receiving any support from the fluid, naturally fall, and cause what is nautically termed "a broken back." This is believed to have caused the catastrophe of the President.'

A Useful Dream." Dreams," says Le Sage, "are liars that sometimes tell the truth." The 'Plymouth Times' gives the following curious tale :-" On Friday week, the wife of a farmer named Croker, of Gabwell, dreamt three several times that a villager of Maidencombe, called Eales, was coming to murder her. She was much frightened, and desired her husband to

go to Eales's house, which is not far off, and see if he was home: this was about twelve or one o'clock in the night. Croker got up, and proceeding towards Eales's house overtook him and two of his sons laden with a quantity of hay and straw, which they had stolen from his (Croker's) yard, and he had lost some several times before, but had been unable to detect the thief. He procured the constable, and had them taken before the magistrates, by whom they were committed to Exeter gaol."

Prize Essay.-A twelvemonth or more since the proprietors of the 'Atlas' newspaper proposed prizes for the best essays on the remedies for our present presumed national distress. These prizes have been awarded-to Mr Samuel Laing, late Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, the first premium of 100.; to the writer of the essay bearing the initials B. C. E., the second premium of 50l.; and to Mr Edward Baines, editor of the Leeds Mercury,' and author of the History of the Cotton Manufacture,' &c., the third premium of 251.

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Falls of Niagara.-In a work published by the French missionary, Father Hennipen, in which a view is given of the Falls as they appeared in 1678, Goat Island is represented dividing the waters as at present; but besides the two existing cascades, a third is depicted on the Canada side, crossing the Horse-shoe Fall at right angles, and appears to have been produced by a projection of the Table Rock. In the description Father Hennipen states, that this smaller cascade fell from west to east, and not like the other two, from south to north. Seventy-three years afterwards, in 1751, a letter on the Falls, by Kalm, the Swedish botanist, was published in the 'Gentleman's Magazine." It is illustrated by a plate, in which the third Fall is omitted; but the writer states in a note, that at that point the water was formerly forced out of its direct course by a projecting rock, and turned obliquely across the other Fall.