dens, and mentioned that the natives which he designated kola red (rouge

of tropical Africa roasted and used them like coffee.

de kola), and which a German scientist has since named kolanin.

-

It has not been definitely stated that Besides using fedegozo seeds as a the infusion has any stimulating effect, substitute for coffee, the natives embut it is only fair to suppose it has, ploy the whole plant as a remedial otherwise the negroes would hardly agent in various complaints and disemploy it in lieu of coffee. Chemical eases. It is closely allied to ordinary analysis shows it to consist of fatty senna in fact, in Liberia, on the west matters (olein and margarine), 4.9; coast of Africa, it is called small senna tannic acid, 0·9; sugar, 2·1; gum, - so readers will not be surprised to 28.8; starch, 20; cellulose, 340; learn that the whole plant is purgative. water, 7·0; calcium sulphate, and phos- This is mainly attributable to the muciphate, chrysophanic acid, 0.9; malic laginous and extractive matters in acid, sodium chloride, magnesium sul- conjunction with the small percentage phate, iron, silica, together, 54; and of chrysophanic acid that analysis achrosine, 13.58 parts in one hundred. proves to be present in the plant. TorAchrosine is soluble in water, and com- refaction destroys the purgative prinmunicates to the latter a garnet color. ciple in the seeds and causes them to It contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, taste like coffee. nitrogen, and sulphur; but its exact composition has not been determined. It is soluble also in alcohol and in acids and alkalies. The color cannot be fixed upon tissues by any known mordant, and it is this circumstance that induced Professor Clouet, who made the analy-patient during the cold period of a sis, to term it achrosine, or "not coloring," although being colored itself.

One of the most useful properties of the plant is its febrifuge action. It is generally administered by boiling an ounce of the seed in ten ounces of water; and when this quantity is reduced to nine ounces, it is given to the

rigor; a profuse perspiration follows, and the rigors do not recur. The seeds have repeatedly been employed in France and in some West India Islands for this purpose; and instead of the decoction being used as just described, sixty grammes of the seed have been macerated in a litre of Malaga wine.

The value of the plant is recognized in all parts of the world. Mohammedan writers recommend its use in cases of coughs, especially whooping-coughs; an infusion of the root is considered by the American Indians to be an antidote against various poisons; and in Brazil the same preparation is used as a tonic and diuretic in dropsy and liver complaints. This latter property has gained for the plant the same unconventional title that country children apply to our own dandelion.

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And a light wind blew fresh from sea to May match the Athenian's master-work of

From Temple Bar.
ELIZABETH INCHBALD.

the assistance of such of her children as remained single.

GODWIN, condescending for once to Four of her daughters married early, epigram, described Mrs. Inchbald as and went to live in London, which "a piquante mixture between a lady thenceforward became the promised and a milkmaid." Sheridan declared land to Elizabeth, who, at thirteen, that she was the only authoress whose declared that she "had rather die than society pleased him; and the passing not see the world." In early youth, glimpses we obtain of her in the me- though her charming manner and gay moirs and letters of contemporaries disposition eminently fitted her to be excite the wish that they were fuller popular in society, she shrank from it and more frequent. nervously, because of a stammer which Few things in the annals of biography in later years was considered only an are more to be regretted than the evil addition to her many attractions. Yet, fate which, making a never-to-be- oddly enough, her great ambition was to become an actress. With this end forgiven Dr. Poynter its instrument, robbed the reading world of Mrs. Inch-in view she persistently endeavored to bald's "Memoirs written by Herself," improve her enunciation, writing the and substituted the materials collected words which she found most difficult, for those memoirs, manipulated afresh and carrying them about with her, so by the prosy and pompous James that she might lose no opportunity of practising them.

Boaden,

The publishers of that day knew that Mrs. Inchbald was compiling her recollections, and competed eagerly for them, offering a thousand pounds without seeing the manuscript, and in one case even proposing to settle an annuity on her. But she demurred and held back; and only a memorandum found amongst her papers rather mysteriously indicates the fate of the precious work.

- What I should wish done at the

Query.
point of death.

Dr. P.-Do it now.
Four volumes destroyed.

The bright anecdotes and sketches of famous contemporaries that must have flowed from the pen of the author of "The Simple Story," when relating her own chequered career, are lost beyond recall. But it is still possible to disentangle the facts of her life from the wearisome platitudes and yet more intolerable puns of her historian.

Elizabeth, the fairest of several fair daughters of John Simpson, a Roman Catholic farmer living at Standingfield, near Bury St. Edmunds, was born in 1753, only eight years before her father's death. Her mother, who seems to have been a sensible and energetic woman, brought up her large family well, and long carried on the farm with

Elizabeth's taste for the drama was

shared by all her family; one of their favorite amusements was to read plays aloud, each taking a part. When the theatre at Bury St. Edmunds was open the Simpsons were regular attendants; they made friends among members of the companies performing there, and in 1770 Elizabeth applied to Richard Griffith, manager of the Norwich Theatre, for an engagement. Nothing came of the application then, but a friendly correspondence and an amusing entry in her pocket-book: "R-i-c-ha-r-d G-r-i-f-f-i-t-h. Each dear letter of thy name is harmony!"

In the same year her brother George exchanged the farm for the stage. His frequent letters, which no doubt dwelt rather on the lights than the shadows of theatrical life, increased Elizabeth's desire to follow the same course.

Visiting Mrs. Hunt, one of her married sisters, in 1771, Elizabeth became acquainted with Mr. Inchbald, an actor of respectability, who promptly fell in love with her, accompanied her on sight-seeing expeditions, and after her return wrote to her mother and herself what was evidently an offer of his hand. Her answer was more candid than encouraging;

In spite of your eloquent pen [she con- | back to the farm if any of her family cludes] matrimony still appears to me with knew where she was to be found, Elizless charms than terrors... to enter into abeth did not join her sisters when she marriage with the least reluctance, as fear- arrived in London "in the Norwich ing you are going to sacrifice part of your Fly," but went in search of some life, must be greatly imprudent. Fewer friends who had been living at Charing unhappy marriages, I think, would be occasioned if fewer persons were guilty of this Cross, only to find that they had quitted indiscretion - -an indiscretion that shocks London for Wales. She appears then, if one may judge from an account of her proceedings which Boaden pronounces founded on fact (on the ground that it was published in her lifetime and not contradicted by her), to have become distraught with nervous excitement, to have run away from houses where she would have been kindly received, to have wandered aimlessly about the neighborhood of Holborn, and finally to have obtained a room at the White Swan, under the pretext that she had been disappointed of a

me, and which I hope Heaven will ever preserve me from ; as must be your wish, if the regard that you have professed for me be really mine, of which I am not wholly undeserving; for, as much as the strongest friendship can allow, I am yours E. Simpson.1

It seems, from some brief but significant entries in her journal, that at this time she was wavering between Mr. Inchbald, who loved her, and Mr. Griffith, whom she fancied she loved : January 22nd. — Saw Mr. Griffith's pic

seat in the York coach. But her hosts must have regarded her with some sus

29th. - Rather disappointed at not receiv-picion, for they locked her into her ing a letter from Mr. Inchbald.

In March she records receiving a note from Mr. Griffith which "almost distracted her." Whether its contents were personal or professional does not appear, but undoubtedly it put the finishing touch to her determination to leave home, and as her family, despite their theatrical predilections, had persistently opposed her desire to become an actress, she ran away to London, leaving on her dressing-table - as became a heroine of romance - a farewell letter to her mother.

Elizabeth was then eighteen years old, and very lovely. Even Boaden waxes eloquent in describing her:

room at night!

She remained there, however, living on "a roll or two and a draught of water," until her failure to obtain an immediate theatrical engagement, and her rapidly dwindling funds, frightened her into communicating with her sisters. She then received her mother's forgiveness and help, and met Mr. Inchbald again at the house of her Some brother-in-law, Mr. Slender.3 incidents during her negotiations with managers, peculiarly revolting to a girl of her high spirit and natural refinement, no doubt sharpened her appreciation of Mr. Inchbald's unwearied devotion. She had evidently begun to realize acutely the difficulty of making her way in London alone and unprotected. Two months after her arrival in town they were married by a Catholic priest and afterwards by a Protestant clergyman, and in the evening the

3 The fragments of her diary which escaped destruction contain excellent descriptive touches.

She says of her brother-in-law: "Mr. Slender was in reality good natured, but his good nature cousisted in frightening you to death to have the pleasure of recovering you; in holding an axe over your head for the purpose of pronouncing a re

2 Memoirs and Correspondence of Mrs. Inchbald. prieve." Vol. i., p. 25.

4 Yet Boaden declares they were "both Roman