full mouthfuls, the large fat eyes were a mouthful each, the brain another, "never ending still beginning," luscious and yet unsatiating. Reader, if you are an epicure, and yet never ate the head and shoulders of a large fresh-boiled mahaseer, hie thee to Hurdwar; get Kirke to catch one for you; ask him to dinner: and if I be in the neighbourhood, and you wish to enjoy a good dinner and pleasant talk, send for me, and I'll engage that you shall "go to your repose" in a charming frame of mind.Davidson's Travels in Upper India..

DR DODD'S EXECUTION.-In the first volume of the Mirror' for 1843, p. 393, the contemporary reports of his dying moments are given. A letter written by Mr Storer to gratify George Selwyn, who was said to be in such matters an amateur, confirms the general accuracy of what was there stated, but supplies some additional facts: The Doctor, to all appearance, was rendered perfectly stupid from despair. His hat was flapped all round, and pulled over his eyes, which were never directed to any object around, nor even raised, except now and then lifted up in the course of his prayers. He came in a coach, and a very heavy shower of rain fell just upon his entering the cart, and another just at his putting on his night-cap. He was a considerable time in praying, which some people standing about seemed rather tired with; they rather wished for some more interesting part of the tragedy. The wind, which was high, blew off his hat, which rather embarrassed him, and discovered to us his countenance, which we could scarcely see before. His hat, however, was soon restored to him, and he went on with his prayers. There were two clergymen attending him, one of whom seemed very much affected. The other, I suppose, was the ordinary of Newgate, as he was perfectly indifferent and unfeeling in every thing that he said and did. The executioner took both the hat and wig off at the same time. Why he put on his wig again I do not know, but he did, and the Doctor took off his wig a second time, and then tied on a night-cap which did not fit him; but whether he stretched that or took another, I could not perceive. He then put on his night-cap himself, and upon his taking it he certainly had a smile on his countenance, and very soon afterwards there was an end of all his hopes and fears on this side the grave. He never moved from the place he first took in the cart; seemed absorbed in despair, and utterly dejected, without any other signs of animation but in praying. I know the same thing strikes different people different ways, but thus he seemed to me, and I was very near. A vast number of people were collected, as you may imagine. I stayed till he was cut down and put into the hearse.

The Gatherer.

Anecdote of Sir Francis Burdett -When Sir Francis Burdett was tried at Leicester for a seditious libel, in March 1820, on the trial being fixed for the Thursday, early on Tuesday he entered the town in the costume of the Melton Hunt, wearing a scarlet jacket. He breakfasted with a party at the Three Crowns, and there joined the hounds, which threw off at a distance of four miles. He was in the field till three in the afternoon, when he dined with a convivial party. On Wednesday morning he was again with the hunt, and in allusion to the approaching inquiry told some of his companions that "he supposed they would throw off after him on the following day."

To the Unhanged Villain.-Count Anersperg's solemn admonitions might not inappositely be addressed to some of the swindling bankrupts of the present day:"Thou art an awful sinner! true, our laws yet leave thee free;

But within thy soul in terror rack and gallows must thou see.

Smite thy breast then in contrition, thy bowed head strew ashes o'er ; Bend thy knee-make full confession,- Go thy way and sin no more!''

London in the time of the Romans.—When Sir Christopher Wren was re-building Bow Church, beneath eighteen feet of made ground he found what appeared to be a Roman causeway of rough stone, close and well rammed with Roman brick, and rubbish at the bottom for a foundation, and all firmly cemented. This causeway he ascertained to be four feet thick, under which lay the natural clay, that descends at least forty feet lower. On this Roman causeway he determined to lay the foundation of the tower, as most proper to bear a structure of great weight. Sir Christopher was of opinion, for various reasons, that this highway ran along the northern boundary of the colony. The breadth, then, north and south, was from the causeway (now Cheapside) to the river Thames; the extent, east and west, from Tower hill to Ludgate; and the principal middle street, or prætorium way, was Watling street.

The Duke of Otranto and Prince Talleyrand.-According to a homely expression, "there was no love lost" between Fouché and Talleyrand. The former said, “Talleyrand est nul" till after he has drunk a bottle of Madeira: and the latter asked, "Do you not think that Fouché has very much the air of a country comedian?"Lord Brougham.

Death of Lord Strafford.-On the night before Strafford's execution, he earnestly desired to speak with Laud. The Lieutenant of the Tower not having power to grant his request, he sent a message to the

Archbishop to pray for him that night, and to give him his blessing on the morrow as he passed his window on his way to the scaffold. The next morning the Archbishop, apprized of his approach, came to the window; then the Earl bowing to the ground-"My Lord," said he, "your prayers and your blessing.' The Archbishop lifted up his hands, and bestowed both: but, overcome with grief, fell to the ground in animi deliquio. The Earl, bowing the second time, said, "Farewell, my Lord; God protect your innocency.'

The Birth of the Princess Victoria.-That was a bright day to the illustrious parents of our young and beloved monarch, when her birth was announced to a waiting and anxious nation. The duke wept for joy, and the fact that the infant was a daughter, and not a son, did not appear in the least to diminish the general rejoicing. The country appeared to be relieved by the event from a considerable pressure of anxiety, for Prince George of Cumberland was not born till three days afterwards, and Prince George of Cambridge was the then only issue of the royal marriages of 1818.-Fraser's Magazine.

Honesty in Trade.-At the lowest calculation, there are 150,000 labels, printed with French type in the French language, annually cleared at the London custom house alone. These labels, so imported wet from Paris, are here used for wrapping round English - made "French" soaps, scents, pomatums, and cosmetics in endless variety, known by the French names of Fixatur, Philocome, Oleophone, Sachets, &c. Hint to Lovers of Flowers. - A most beautiful and easily-attained show of evergreens in winter may be had by a very simple plan, which has been found to answer remarkably well on a small scale. If geranium leaves (branches ?) are taken from healthy and luxurious trees, just before the winter sets in, cut as for slips, and immersed in soap and water, they will, after drooping for a few days, shed their leaves, put forth fresh ones, and continue in the finest vigour all the winter. By placing a number of bottles thus filled in flower baskets, with moss to conceal the bottles, a show of evergreens is easily ensured for a whole season. They require no fresh water. Effects of soaking Seeds in Chemical Solutions.-Seeds of wheat steeped in sulphate of ammonia on the 5th of July had by the 10th of August, the last day of the show, tillered into nine, ten, and eleven stems of nearly equal vigour; while seeds of the same sample, unprepared, and sown at the same time in the same soil, had not tillered into more than two, three, and four stems. The time of steeping varied from fifty to ninety-four hours, at a temperature of about 60° Fahrenheit. I found, however, that barley does not succeed so well if

steeped beyond sixty hours. Rye-grass and other gramineous seeds do with steeping from sixteen to twenty hours, and clovers from eight to ten, but not more.Mr Campbell's Transactions of the Highland Society.

"As Good as a Play."-King Charles the Second attended the debates in the House of Lords. He received their lordships' thanks for his condescension. Andrew Marvel, writing on this subject some time after his Majesty's debut, thus expressed himself:-"The King has ever since continued his session among them, and says it is better than going to a play.

A Word to the Wise.-"Parson, I had much rather hear you preach," said a baffled, swindling horse-jockey," than see you interfere in bargains between man and man!" "Well," replied the parson, "if you had been where you ought to have been last Sunday, you might have heard me preach." "Where was that?" inquired the jockey. "In the state prison," returned the clergyman.

The Hydropathic System. One of the English captives at Teyrien gives the following evidence in favour of hydropathy. It is a female who writes:-"We contrived to make ourselves a little tea; and then, with our clothes all wet as they were, prepared ourselves for sleep: this was a matter of no small difficulty; for, huddled together as we were, it was next to impossible for all to find room to stretch their limbs. However, with our feet towards the still smouldering fire, we did our best; and, strange to say, all woke in the morning tolerably refreshed; and though our clothes were still wet upon us, neither man, woman, nor child of our party was the worse for their yesterday's drenching."

A Literary Treat.-Ozias Linley having once expressed an inclination to read the Memorabilia' of Xenophon, a waggish friend promised to supply him with that beautiful composition, the language of which is simplicity itself, though abounding in the refinements of the Attic dialect. But instead of Xenophon, the wag brought him Euclid's treatise on music in the original Greek,—a work which, being involved in its construction, was nearly unintelligible to him. After a fortnight's labour, Özias threw the book aside, and told the person who had placed it in his hands, in answer to an inquiry how he liked the ' Memorabilia,' that he expected to have read more about Socrates, but the dog was so long in getting to him, that his patience was quite exhausted, and he had given up the book in despair.

In a fleur-de-lis having the picture of the Virgin Mary, two sapphires, valued at 657.; eight rubies ballaces, valued at 26. In the cross next to the fleur-de-lis, four sapphires, valued at 367.; six rubies ballaces, valued at 187. In the cross next to the fleur-de-lis, four sapphires, valued at 367.; six rubies ballaces, valued at 187. In another fleur-de-lis and cross, four sapphires, valued at 231. ; seven rubies ballaces, valued at 421. In another fleur-de-lis and cross, six sapphires, valued at 621.; eight rubies ballaces, valued at 50l. In another fleur-de-lis and cross, four sapphires, valued at 187.; eight rubies ballaces, valued at 401. Total value Twenty eight diamonds in the crown, valued at 61. each

-£380

rim, is another Maltese cross, in the middle of which is a large unpolished ruby, which once graced the coronet of the chivalrous Black Prince; and underneath this, in the circular rim, is another immense sapphire. The arches enclose a cap of deep purple, or rather blue velvet; and the rim of the crown, at its base, is clustered with brilliants, and oramented with fleurs de-lis and Maltese crosses equally rich. There are many other precious gems-emeralds and rubies, sapphires, and small clusters of drop pearls of great value. The following estimate of the value of the different jewels contained in this magnificent diadem has been published. Twenty diamonds round the circle, 1,500l. each

Two large centre diamonds, 2,000l. each

Fifty-four smaller diamonds at the angle of the former Four crosses, each composed of twenty-five diamonds

£30,000

4,000

168

100

5

12,000

174

16

Four large diamonds on the tops of the crosses

40,000

£1,023

This crown was of considerable antiquity, and had been made in imitation of the one made for King Edward the Confessor. On the restoration of Charles II, it was thought right to re-produce the state crown. One was accordingly made, which was only worn by that king on his return from the Abbey to Westminster Hall, a part of the ceremonial which was last repeated at the coronation of George IV. Since the time of Charles, a rich crown, embellished with diamonds, has been prepared for every succeeding king or sovereign queen to wear on that occasion. When William IV was crowned, the whole ceremonial took place in the Abbey. The like course was followed in the case of her present Majesty; and no banquet has been given in the Hall since 1821. From Westminster Abbey Queen Victoria returned direct through Charing cross to St James's palace. Proceed we now, having shown the price of this important article in former reigns, to describe that worn by her Majesty on her coronation, June 8, 1838,-of which our cut this week gives a faithful representation, copied from the London Polytechnic Magazine,' and furnished to that interesting publication by Rundell and Bridge. "It is composed of hoops of silver, which are completely covered and concealed by precious stones, surmounted by a ball covered with small diamonds, having a Maltese cross of diamonds on the top of it. In the centre of this cross is a magnificent sapphire. In front of the crown, above the

Eighteen smaller diamonds contained in the same Pearls, diamonds, &c., on the arches and crosses Also one hundred and forty-one diamonds Twenty-six diamonds on the upper cross

Two circles of pearls about the

rim

10,000

500

3,000

300

£111,900

"It will be observed, the value of the sapphires and rubies has not been included

and we have reason to believe that, were it possible to re-collect and again bring together such precious gems, the estimate just given would fall much below their intrinsic value. The old crown made for George III weighed upwards of seven pounds; but notwithstanding this gorgeous display of jewellery, independent of the gold cap, the present crown only weighs nineteen ounces and ten pennyweights. It measures seven inches in height from the gold circle to the upper cross; and its diameter at the rim is five inches."

Anciently, according to Seldon, the kings of the Saxon race in England had a crown like those of other nations, which at that period was only a plain fillet of gold; but King Egbert first introduced the circle or fillet with points or rays, resembling the crown worn by the emperors of the East; and King Edward, surnamed Ironside, topped the points with pearls. William the Conqueror is said to have had his circle flowered, but Sandford writes the coronet

had on the circle points of leaves, their points being much higher than the leaves, and each of them topped with three pearls, and their cap or tiara with a cross pattée, as appears on the seal of that monarch. The crown worn by William Rufus was only enriched by points pearled at their tops, and not accompanied by flowers. The crown of Henry I appears to have been adorned with fleurs-de-lis, only a little raised, as is seen on his great seal and coin. Maud, Queen of England, had her crown enriched with leaves and points, the leaves or flowers being higher than the points; and the successors to King Edward III had their crowns variously enriched with points and fleurs-de-lis, placed alternately some higher than the others. King Edward III enriched his crown with fleurs-de-lis and crosses pattée. Edward IV had a close or arched crown, heightened with fleurs-de-lis and crosses pattée, and arched on four bars. Edward V and Richard III bore the same as King Edward IV. Henry VII and VIII had their crowns composed in like manner with two arches, embellished with pearls, &c., and this form of the grand distinguishing ornament of royalty has been continued with little variation down to the present date.

ONE RISEN FROM THE DEAD. IN the reign of Henry VIII, when religious controversies ran high, many of the disputants gave out that they had been favoured with extraordinary revelations. Of these, one of the most remarkable is that described by John Darley, as it may be found in the Cotton MS.,' E. iv, fol. 129. Many had agreed with friends to revisit them after death, but failed to keep their promise. Here is an instance to the contrary. Put into modern orthography, it runs thus :

"I, John Darley, monk of the Charter house, beside London, had in my time license to say service with a father of our religion, named Father Raby, a very old man, who fell sick, and, when lying on his death bed, and after he had been concealed, and had received all the sacraments of the church in the presence of all the convent, and when they were all departed, I said to him, 'Good Father Raby, if the dead come to be quick again, I beseech you to come to me. And he said 'Yea.' He died the same night, which was the cleansing day last past, 1533. After I thought no more of him till St John the Baptist's day last past.

“Item.—On that day, at five of the clock in the afternoon, I being in contemplation in our entry in our cell, suddenly he ap. peared unto me in a monk's habit, and said to me, 'Why do ye not follow our father?' (alluding, it has been supposed, to a former

prior, who had been hanged and quartered at Tyburn). And I said, 'Wherefore?' He said For he is a martyr in heaven and next, to the angels.' And I said to him, 'Where be all our other fathers who died as well as he?' He answered and said, 'They be well, but not so well as he.' Then I said to him, 'Father, how do ye?' And he answered and said, 'Well enough.' And I said, 'Father, shall I pray for you?' And he said, 'I am well enough, but prayer both from you and others does good,' and so suddenly vanished away.

"Item.-On the Saturday next, after five of the clock in the morning, in the same place in our entry, he appeared to me again with a long white beard, and a white staff from his hand lifting it up, whereupon I was afraid, and then leaning upon his staff said to me, 'I am sorry that I lived not to be a martyr.' And I said, 'I think ye be as well as if ye were a martyr.' And he said, 'Nay, for my Lord of Rochester (Bishop Fisher, who had been beheaded) and our fathers were next unto the angels in heaven.' And then I said, Father, what else?' And then he answered and said, 'The angelles of pease de de lament and mourn without mesure,' and so vanished away.'"

PARLIAMENTARY WAGES.

IN former days, in what many people are in the habit of calling "the good old times," when the "wisdom of our ancestors" is supposed to have been in full play, the propriety of giving wages to members of parliament was fully recognized. Of late the march of virtue has been so rapid that it has been assumed honour alone ought to be sought by those who aspire to a seat among the representatives of the people. So fastidious have we become that even the remote idea of taking a place has been scouted; and the man who, like Sir Francis Wronghead, desired "to serve his sovereign as well as his country," has been deemed a sordid person, unworthy of the important trust which he coveted, and which was reserved to be the bright distinction of worthies who were animated by disinterested patriotism alone

This was, perhaps, too much to expect from mere men who, however anxious for the general weal of the country, must naturally feel disposed to take special care of themselves. Mr Buckingham sought popularity, and gained it. How would his Sheffield constituents have been shocked had it been hinted that he had an eye to his own interest! that he, in any shape whatever, would consent to accept of pay or reward! That gentleman, nevertheless, is of opinion that he ought to profit by what he has done as a legislator as well as those he avowed it was his great object