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A new magazine, essaying a more systematic treatment of the subjects within its range than any chat has yet appeared. The divisions are, 1. Theology; 2. Literature; 3. Foreign affairs; 4. Notices of New Books. It does not profess to be the organ of any given denomination, but rather to unite the evangelical bodies by the prominent discussion of those points on which they agree, -keeping in abeyance those on which they differ. Time alone can develope the practicability of supporting a Mr Lowe vigorous periodical work on this foundation. announced many great names in his prospectus, and we see the vigorous pens of some of them in his first number.

Scott's Poetical Works. People's Edition.

The sale of Scott's works should not now excite surprise,--for, like those of Shakspere, they will cease only with the language. When Lord Jeffrey republished his reviews, he omitted his quotations from the Waverley Novels, as he learned from Mr Cadell that instead of diminishing after the death of the author, the demand was increasing. Could Scott have foreseen this, his crushing labour might have been intermitted, and his

66

grey hairs," like Wordsworth's, allowed slowly and peacefully to descend to the grave. Others are reaping what he sowed, but when his publisher advanced L.30,000 to pay off the whole of the Scott debt, on the alone security, as Lockhart informs us, of profits contingent on after sales even of Scott's works, the man who did so is entitled to his reward. The statistics of these sales would form an interesting chapter in literary prosperity, and we shall probably be able to give some account of them at an after period. Meantime here is Scott in two-penny numbers, and that should take a feather from the plumes of the anti-copyright fraternity.

The Curate of Linwood.

A story gracefully told, illustrative of the doctrinal differences subsisting between the two schools of theology that agitate the Church of England. The authoress (the sex of the writer is apparent), espouses the evanWe have gelical side, and makes out a good case. doubts whether the fictional form be the best for discussing the solemn and abstract questions at issue in this controversy; but the other side has set the example, and the public has given its seal to the present work, by calling for that which is à test of good authorship, a second edition.

Curiosities of Modern Travel.

Some of the critical brethren sneer at compilations,— which may be explained on the principle that their own vocation lying greatly in the extract line, they are jealous of competitors. To make good selections, whether from prose, poetry, or books of travel, requires both judgment and taste; and both these qualities having evidently been called into play, in the getting up of this neat volume, we have every confidence in recommending it as a most suitable gift-book.

The Diplomatists of Europe.

A series of sketches from the portefeuille of M. Capefigue-and embracing Metternich, Talleyrand, Wellington, Richelieu, Castlereagh, and other well known The sketches are interesting and graphic; and by the aid of the foot notes of the Editor, Major Monteith, may be safely and profitably perused.

names.

Essays on Total Abstinence. By ANDREW PAterson.

The "Scripture argument," in favour of tee-totalism, is here discussed fairly and temperately, but without much novelty.

Hengstenberg on the Psalms. Vol. 1.

The first volume of Clark's Foreign Theological Library, a ponderous speculation for private adventure; and one which shows that in the matter of producing not only cheap but solid books, the booksellers are determined not to be behind the publication societies, which have of late multiplied so much. This competition between those who publish for "love" and those who publish for "money," will produce wholesome effects, if confined to works of such standard character as the above, and as ends, not means, are what we look to, we are indifferent as to who distances the other, although we should think the professional book-venders will most likely be successful, just as in the case of fighting, where the extemporaneous bravery of the crowd is soon extinguished by the steady, although less bustling movements of military forces.

Wild Flowers and their Teachings.

The press has from first to last teemed with books, original and selected, on the subject of flowers, but all must yield the palm to this lovely volume. Instead of man's engravings of the "poetry of earth," we have here the fragile leaves, stems, and petals of nature, fastened with delicate touch to the pages of the book, --and "flowers of lovlieness" they are, although transfixed to paper, and bereft of the perfume of vitality. Then we have botanical descriptions, and afterwards all worth recording that has been said about flowers, whether in prose or verse, by philosophers and poets, from Bacon and Shakspere, down to the days of Whewell and Mrs Hemans. This is no book-making speculation,—it is evidently the fruit of a beautiful conception, long thought of and assiduously pursued to completion.

The Almanack of the Month.

An arrow from the inexhaustible quiver of Punch,— containing wit, racy and sparkling with a modicum of the useful, in the shape of chronology and calendar of In the critical the month, the former decidedly good. notices, we have a slight rebuke administered to Dickens, charging him with juvenility in the early part of the "Cricket," which shows that fraternizatism in amateur theatricals has not corrupted Punch criticism. In the same paper it is stated, that Leech and Doyle would have been better illustrators of Dickens, than Maclise and Stanfield,- -we think so too, but not because their dignity is compromised by illustrating small books, but because the former would have given the public better anatomy and more modesty.

Gleanings.

POPULAR KNOWLEDGE.-If knowledge be in itself a good, the fuller the measure of it the better for the posses. sor, no matter whether he be of the higher or the lower, the learned or the unlearned, caste. For our own parts, we are strongly of opinion that superficial knowledge is not much better than no knowledge, and all must agree that inaccurate knowledge is worse than none at all. Hence we are no friends of what is commonly termed popular literature-that is, literature fit only for the ignorant, which finds and leaves them so. We may be told that their capacities will not admit of higher teaching-a libel on common sense! Complaisantly as we may regard our own mental superiority, we may rest assured that most literary subjects may and should be made as intelligible to the peasant, if he can read and reflect, as to our noble selves. But, unluckily for popular improvement, they are not made intelligible; books of elementary instruction are often written without method, and generally abound in unmeaning conventional terms, and we call every body ignorant that does not understand them. The maxim, "Every man a mouthful and no man a bellyfull," has been current long enough -more so within these fifteen years than at any former period, and its value we may now fairly begin to dispute. -Athenæum.

THE PRESS IN 1812.-The following extract from the Edinburgh Courant of July 1812 is curious, as exhibiting the wonderful change which has taken place in the character and quality of periodical literature "thirty years ago," as compared with the present day.

"Modern literature affords no examples of the multiplication of copies equal to those of Moore's Almanack, and Mavor's Spelling-Book. Of that famous Almanack, about 420,000 copies are sold annually; and of that generally used Spelling-Book about 120,000 in the same period; yet, as the former consists of only 2 sheets, and the latter of 7, each consumes 840,000 sheets, or 1680 reams of paper! If, then, one printing-press can work 3 reams per day, Moore's Almanack will employ 4 presses, or 8 men, nearly 6 months; and Mavor's Spelling-Book 2 presses, or 4 men, all the year, besides the employment of binders, &c. The press of no country boasts of works of similar circulation."

THE LATE DR WELSH.-The following letter of the late Rev. Dr Welsh, written upwards of twenty years ago, is interesting, as showing how his clear and acute intellect plainly foresaw the rapid advance which knowledge was to make in this country by means of cheap literature. "TO JOHN ANDERSON, jun., Esq., Edinburgh. CROSSMICHAEL, 17th May 1825. MY DEAR SIR,-I for some time past have been thinking of writing to you upon a subject that has perhaps occurred already to yourself, and been approved of or rejected. But in case it should not, I shall briefly state my ideas in regard to it, as I think something might be made of them, and wish you to have the benefit.

"You would probably read Brougham's pamphlet about Education, the substance of which appeared in the last number of the Edinburgh Review, but one;-now from what he says about cheap editions, from coarser paper and a more crowded page, I am almost certain that a very material change will, in a short time, take place in the style of printing books,—the popularity of his pamphlet, and the reasonableness of the suggestion, will partly bring this about, and, besides, the town orders are speedily arising into a degree of importance, that till within these few years, was altogether unknown, and a market is thus likely to be opened up for cheap books, of inconceivable and ever increasing extent. Now, I should think, a speculating man like you, with plenty of money, might do a great deal of good, and make a great deal of money. Take some of the most popular books, such as Ferguson's Mechanics, Cowper's Letters, if the copyright is at an end, and print them on such paper, and in such a type, as Brougham's pamphlet, and sell them at very little profit. The sale would be immense,-you ought to have a prospectus written, and resolve upon a considerable number of books likely to take and be useful,and advertise extensively,-Anderson's Cheap Editions -or Cottagers' and Mechanics' Library,-or some such title. A good collection, consisting of extracts in this style, might sell to a great extent. I think I might make one more likely to be popular than any I have seen, I don't mean for schools, but for general readers among the lower orders. You can give me your ideas about this latter matter, the former, however, is of more consequence, and is for your consideration. If, without much trouble, I can be of any use in giving hints for a prospectus for the books to be so printed, I shall be happy, and I am, my dear Sir, yours truly, "DAVID WELSH."

HATTON THE DANCING CHANCELLOR.-The tender heart of Elizabeth was at once touched by his athletic frame, manly beauty, and graceful air, and she openly expressed her admiration of his dancing. An offer was instantly made by her to admit him of the band of gentlemen pensioners, he expressed great willingness to renounce all his prospects in the profession of the law, but informed her that he had debts which were beginning to be troublesome to him. She advanced him money to pay them off, at the same time-after her custom-tak

ing a bond and statute merchant to repay her when he should be of ability. He little thought he should ever hear of these securities, which afterwards were supposed to be the cause of his death, and before he had even reached the degree of apprentice or outer barrister, he joyfully transferred himself from his dull chambers in the Temple to a gay apartment assigned him in the palace, near the queen's. He was henceforth the reigning favourite, and his official promotion was rapid. He was successively made a gentleman of the Queen's privy chamber, captain of the band of gentlemen pensioners, vice-chamberlain, and a member of the privy council. The delight of the Queen to honour him caused him much envy, and some scandal. Complaints were uttered, that under the existing government nothing could be obtained by any others than dancers, and carpet knights, such as the Earl of Lincoln and Martin Watson, who were admitted to the Queen's privy chamber.-Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors.

RAIN AND RESOLUTION.-Blanchard and Jerrold had serious thoughts of joining Lord Byron in Greece-they were to become warriors, and assist the poet in the liberation of the classic land. Many a nightly wandering found them discussing their project. In the midst of one of these discussions, they were caught in a shower of rain, and sought shelter under a gateway. The rain continued, when their patience becoming exhausted, Blanchard buttoning up his coat, exclaimed, “Come on Jerrold, what use shall we be to the Greeks if we stand up for a shower of rain ?" So they walked home, and were heroically wet through.-Blanchard's Sketches from Life.

SELF-EDUCATION. Burns, Bloomfield, Clare, Hogg, and Cunningham,-these all fall spontaneously into ona bright cluster, which we may call the Constellation of the Plough. They are all, in current phrase, self-educated, though verily we like not the phrase. Either all men are self-educated or none. We incline to the latter alternative. A poor weakling were one who, in the strict sense, could be called a self-educated man. To educate any man it takes a universe; for what is any man but the complex result or focus of ten thousand lines of education, coming in from the extremities of the creation to meet in him? Call the men of whom we speak not self, but heaven-taught men, and you approximate the truth. Such an one stepping forth into consciousness, finds himself in an illustrious academy, and his head schoolmaster is the sun. Subordinate teachers he has not a few, in the "silent stars," the whispering breezes, the waving trees, the sparkling waters, and the voices within his own soul, which respond to these in preestablished harmony. And thus does his education go on briskly with the revolving seasons, till his overflowing thoughts "voluntarily move harmonious numbers; and because he cannot speak, he sings his emotions.

POETICAL ADAPTATIONS.-The two following are cases of adaptation from Shakespeare, by two of the authors of the Paraphrases of the Church of Scotland.

(1.) "How long your strength and substance waste
On trifles, light as air ?"—Par. xxvi. 2.

The last line is from the following,

Trifles, light as air,

Aro to the jealous, confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ."--Othello, Act iii. Scene 3.
(2.) "Till death's pale ensigns o'er his cheek,”-Par. xliv. 9,
is borrowed from

"Thou art not conquered; beauty's ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips, and in thy cheeks,
And death's pale flag is not advanced there.-
Romeo and Juliet, Act v. Scene 3

The 44th Paraphrase was written by Blair, the author of the " Grave,", but the composer of the 26th is un

known.

TASTE FOR BEAUTY.-Shakspeare says, "the man that hath not music in his soul is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; let no such man be trusted." But what can we say of him who hath not in his heart that crystal spring! who hath not in his spirit that divine afflatus which creates and inspires the beautiful! that exquisite perception that renders truth most lovely! which invests every change with meaning, and gives intelligence and grace to thought! Divest life of its poetry, and it becomes a blank. Divest nature of that gorgeous robe, and she veils her face in clouds.-F. E. Davies.

EUGENE SUE.-M. Eugène Sue, whose fictions are at present so popular, was born at Paris on the 10th of December 1804. The Empress Josephine and her son prince Eugène Beauharnois, were his godmother and godfather. The Sue family is very ancient, and has been established for many years at Lacolme, near Cannes, in Provence. It is still represented there by M. Sue, a retired officer of high rank, and great-uncle to our author. The majority of Eugène Sue's relatives have been physicians of great celebrity. His great grandfather, Peter, and his grandfather, Joseph, have left extensive anatomical works; and to them the French medical school owes the introduction of the pathology of Gaubius, which succeeded that of Boerhaave. Joseph and Jean Joseph both graduated at the Edinburgh University, and made known to their countrymen, in numerous translations, the works of the Scotch school of medicine. Our author's father was chief physician to the Imperial Guard in the Russian campaign, and has also published several popular works. Immediately after the restoration he became the king's physician, and lived in intimate friendship with the Empress Josephine, Franklin, Massena, Moreau, and all the great personages of the consulate epoch. He made a generous bequest to the Academy of the Fine Arts of a magnificent collection of comparative anatomy, and objects of natural history, formed in his own family by four generations of physicians, and which constitutes a gallery in the Palace of the Fine Arts of great value. Eugène Sue himself, according to the wishes of his father, entered upon a medical career. He was surgeon attached to the military suite of the king; then to the staff of the army in Spain in 1823; and also, in the same campaign, to the seventh regiment of artillery. He was present at the siege of Cadiz, at the taking of Trocadero, and at that of Tarafa. In 1824 he quitted the land for the naval service. He made several voyages in the Atlantic; and having traversed the West Indies, he returned to the Mediterranean, visited Greece, and in 1828 was present in the ship Breslau at the battle of Navarino. On returning from this campaign, he renounced the navy and medicine, and took up his abode at Paris, where, thanks to the handsome income he enjoys as a paternal inheritance, he was enabled to lead a life of brilliant happiness. His favourite occupation at this time was painting, which he studied at his friend's, the celebrated Gudin. The idea of turning novel writer was not thought of by Eugène Sue till 1830, when an old comrade of the artillery happened, in conversation, to remark that as " Cooper and Marryatt had made the sea romance popular, he ought to write his recollections, and create the maritime romance of the French." This pleased our author. He quitted the painting brush, and took up the pen. His first work was Kernock the Pirate, the success of which caused him to continue to write, following the dictates of a lively and fertile fancy. Thus appeared in succession numerous works, which may be arranged in the following order.-Sea Romances, Kernock the Pirate, Plick and Plock, Attar Gull, the Salamander, and the Watch Tower of Koatven, Maritime History History of the French Marine under Louis IV., and abridgment of the military marine of every people. Historical Romances, Latreaumont, Jean Cavalier, and Letorieres, the commander of Malta. Romances of Manners-Arthur, La Concaratcha, Dyleytar, L'Hotel Lambert, Mathilde, &c. Philosophical and Political Romances, the Mysteries of Paris, the Female Blue Beard, and the Wandering Jew, a tale of the Jesuits, Dasamar Latreaumont, the Pretendress, and several others of great effect, produced in concert with Messrs Dinaux and Legouve. M. Eugène Sue at present inhabits, in the heights of the Faubourg St Honore, a little mansion covered with creeping plants and flowers, which overarch the peristyle. A fountain plays in his most beautiful of gardens, in the midst of rocks and sea plants,

and a long close gallery, walled in with sculpture and plants, leads from the house to a little outer gate quite hidden under an artificial rock. The interior of the house is composed of very small apartments, somewhat confined, and rendered obscure by the flowers hanging down the windows. The furniture is crimson, with golden nails: the sleeping apartment alone is lighter, and of a blue colour. There is scattered about a little of every style-Gothie, Renaissance, Fantastic, and French. The walls of the drawing-room are hid by works of art, painting, and sculpture, various curiosities, family portraits, masterpieces, and works of modern artists, his friends. Glorious names shine in every part-Delacroix, Gudin, Isabey, Vernet, &c. A drawing of Madame Lamartine, and some verses of the illustrious poet occupy a conspicuous place. One picture in particular has a privileged situation, upon canvas, in the midst of the coquetries of the drawing-room. It is an anchorite of Isabey, of terrible effect, forming a remarkable contrast in that little temple of luxury. The favourite horses, dogs, &c., of M. Sue are the subjects of the majority of the remainder, painted either by himself or by M. Alfred Dedreux. In all these we detect traits of character, a passion for luxury and strong emotions, with a reaction towards retirement and meditation, an enlightened taste for the fine arts, and a love of animals and plants. Among the many authors who may be termed successful, few have attained a popularity so extensive as Eugène Sue.-Correspondent of Glas gow Examiner.

[What a pity that the subject of the above sketch, gifted with an active imagination, and with powers to lead the masses around him, should only follow their impulses for fleeting excitement or wild and impracticable schemes of bettering society.]

Proceedings of Societies.

AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION.-At the meeting of this association (21st January), a discussion took place, whether a report of committee should be read before the meeting or not. On taking the sense of the members present, a large majority voted for the report being read, on which a disruption took place, the minority leaving the meeting. Serious difference of opinion has existed in the association for some time regarding a proposal to introduce agricultural chemistry into the parish schools. This joined to some objections regarding the duties of the Professor of Chemistry, has been the main cause of the disruption. The report, which was a long one, was at last read, and contained a very favourable account of the funds and the proceedings of the association, with complimentary allusions to the services of Professor Johnston. A considerable number of farmers from the country parishes were in the majority, they no doubt thinking that, in the education of their boys, there was no great harm in alternating a little practical science with the daily rounds of qui quæ quod.

ROYAL SCOTTISH SOCIETY OF ARTS.-12th January1. A development of the operation of the harmonie ratios in a progressive series of scalene triangles, and of their effects upon the rectangles which these triangles produce, by the union of their hypothenuses.-By D. R. Hay, Esq., F.R.S.S.A. Mr Hay showed that the beauty of proportion and symmetry depends upon the operation of the numbers 2, 3, and 5, and that these numbers operate in the formation of geometrical figures by the division of the circle into 360 degrees, asserting that no other mode of division would produce the same results, because that number is in a peculiar manner a multiple of these three harmonic numbers. He also showed that by the combination of the scalene triangles, resulting from his process, a series of rectangles were produced, and that these rectangles had peculiar harmonic qualities that belonged to no other figures of the same species. Such a scale is still a desideratum in architecture. 2. Description and drawings of a circular saw, for general purposes--By Captain, G. D. Paterson. 3. Description of railway indicator By W. Anderson. 4. Model of window sashes-By W. G. Gover, for the purpose of moving inwards to clean windows.

Fine Arts.

DR ABERCROMBIE.- The money collected for the bust of this eminent physician has been found sufficient to defray the expense of two by Mr Steel, which have accordingly been ordered; the one to be placed in the Physicians' the other in the Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh.

University and Educational Entelligence.

SCOTTISH UNIVERSITY TESTS.-The Witness announces on what it regards as authority, that Sir Robert Peel is to propose the abolition of these tests, some time during the ensuing session of Parliament.

ACADEMICAL ETIQUETTE.-When Lord John Russell was in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, contemplating Dr Anderson's old engine model, the repairing of which first suggested to Watt his great discoveries, a request was conveyed to his Lordship by the students that he "would favour them with an address." Lord John declined, on the ground that he was not connected with the University.

News of the Weck.

SCOTTISH REPORTERS.-The migrations of these gentlemen to the metropolis, either to side with or oppose the Daily News, still continues,-their transportation being generally signalised by a dinner, a piece of courtesy not observed on the other side of the Tweed, or, if performed, certainly with less flourish of drums and trumpets than we have of late been accustomed to. Edinburgh being bereft of reporters, the provincial soil will be scourged,--and next time that a meeting takes place in Fife, we suppose some of the Cupar papers will be crying "the kingdom for a stenographer !"

NEWSPAPER HARLEQUINADES.--Some of the newspapers are getting absolutely rabid in their attempts to get into fame and circulation. One has offered to give globes to their subscribers; a second piano-fortes; and a third tero thousand pounds. All this is absurd enough; but an evil is at the bottom, in the shape of an incipient revival of the immoral system of lottery allotments, which however disguised by the pretence that these baits are "given away,' is substantially involved in one and all of the schemes.

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MR BRAHAM.--The veteran has at length announced his intention of retiring into private life by giving lessons in singing-but, like others who take farewells, he will most likely give "some more last notes." Every veteran that we have yet heard of, has "lagged superfluous on the stage." Garrick, Kemble, Siddons, all did it, and why not Braham?

EXECUTIONS. The recent executions in London have temporarily revived the subject of capital punishments. Whatever doubts may exist as to the propriety of these punishments, there can be but one opinion as to their brutalizing tendency, and utter inefficacy as street exhibitions. Criminals are never like white mice shown through iron bars when suffering imprisonment--they are not now publicly whipped-neither are they now publicly seen in the tread-mill-why then should they be publicly suffocated? Whatever good ends hanging serves, would, we humbly think, be equally secured by the catastrophe being managed within, and not outside the prison walls. Sir James Graham has excluded reporters from the " room"--would it not be better to carry out his principle by excluding the public from all share whatever in these disgusting tragedies.

press

MRS SIGOURNEY.-At a recent competition of an American Institution, the prize for "the best pair of domestic silk-stockings" was awarded to the poetess. This seems to indicate that the "blues" are improving. William Howitt declares, in one of his books, that he does not know a better house manager than his own wife, and we should be glad to have more of this kind of statistics.

MRS WILSON.-The daily papers announce the death of Mrs Cornwall Baron Wilson, a lady who has for many years contributed both poetry and prose to the Albums, and other periodicals.

MISS MARTINEAU.-This lady has published another letter, in which she reiterates her belief in the Mesmeric revelations.

THE REV. H. J. TODD.-Mr Todd, known on this side of the Atlantic as the editor of Johnson's Dictionary, died lately in America, at an advanced age.

AMERICAN WAR.-Lord Morpeth has signed his name to the document of the Peace Society, recommending addresses to be sent by the citizens of Britain to the citizens of America, deprecatory of international butchery amongst brethren in "blood, language, and religion." This is a move in the right direction; for why should peaceable people fall out at the bidding of pugnacious politicians?

BRITISH SOLDIERS.--Another right move which we have to record is, that when Her Majesty is pleased to give commissions to non-commissioned officers (which we trust she will often be justified in doing), a sum is to be granted for the purpose of enabling such meritorious persons to keep up their rank-- less difficult now since mess-room extravagance has been curtailed. We venture to predict that this will do more good than flogging.

DELUSIONS OF THE DAY.- A pretty exposure was made last week, at a meeting of a Railway Company. The number of shares, it seems, was 121,000; but on the publication of the prospectus, the number applied for was 400,000. The provisional committee allotted 61,000, and reserved 60,000; for the railway fever was then at its height, and there was a golden prospect of premiums to be realized. But the bubble burst. Of the 60,000 shares allotted, deposits were paid only on 23,560 ! Among the defaulters were 52 of the 65 provisional directors! The total sum collected was £32,395, the sums already expended, £31,903! The preliminary expenses, £4346; for advertising £2000 odds; for clerk's salaries, £557; for engineering and surveying, £14,050; and for law expenses, £8791. Another company met the same week, and for a similar comfortable purpose. On the allotment of 134,000 shares, which should have produced upwards of £260,000, only £10,714 had been paid up, and the expenses were estimated at £17,000. The engineer had drawn £3700, and nevertheless failed to deposit the plans! Of 75 provisionals, only five had paid any deposit! A third held a meeting on the same day. The company was got up by a sharebroker, and an attorney; and the parties whom they induced to take the matter up, gratefully secured these two gentlemen 15,000 shares for the good-will of the bubble.

RAILWAY REVELATIONS.-The list of speculators of L.2000 and under, has just been prepared for parliament, and extends to nearly 600 folio pages. It embraces all kinds and degrees of society; and it will be a wholesome lesson to noblemen, clergymen, physicians, poets, and reviewers, to avoid participation in scrambles where black-legs, beersellers, and scavengers, figure so conspicuously.

THE THORNS OF ROYALTY.-A letter from Venice speaks of the extraordinary precautions taken by the Emperor Nicholas to escape all attempts that might be made against his life. On his arrival at Padua, he himself visited the apartment in which he was to sleep, striking the walls of his bed-chamber with a hammer. He then caused the mattresses of the bed to be removed, and replaced by a leather mattress, which was filled with hay under his eyes. The emperor refused to taste any of the dishes prepared for his supper; and called for his travelling-case, out of which he took a bottle of Malaga wine, and a cold roast fowl, which he shared with Count Orloff. At Venice, the public expected him with much impatience at the theatre; but he remained in the bottom of the box, and could scarcely be seen. Count Orloff sat in the front, attired in a rich uniform. When the play was over, four carriages drove up to the gate, and nobody could tell which was the one intended for the emperor. The same precaution was observed when he left Venice; and no one could tell whether the emperor repaired by sea or land to Trieste.-The Constitutionel.

[Compare the confidence with which Queen Victoria travels, as a counterpart to the suspicion of this imperial autocrat.]

SCHLEGEL. The MSS. and most valuable books of the late Augustus W. Schlegel have been purchased by the Prussian government, and distributed among the Royal and University Libraries of Berlin and Bonn. The remainder of the books have been sold by auction at Bonn.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. The priority of the introduction of gas into Edinburgh is claimed by sundry individuals, viz.:-Adam Anderson, Esq., formerly of South Bridge, by Mr J. Blackwood, for the late R. Blackwood, 4 South College Street; the late Bailie Henderson, South Bridge, &c., &c. The shops above.mentioned were illuminated by private gas works; what was alluded to in Thirty Years Ago,' (Torch, No. 1), referred to the first general illum ination from the Gas Company's works, which were first commenced, as stated, in 1817.

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

WHEN We compare the facility which the press now affords of disseminating information throughout every corner of the land, and to every human being who has a mind in the least capable of receiving it, to the state of matters before the introduction of printing, we would be apt to suppose that a profound ignorance of passing affairs must have generally prevailed. When we add to this the absence of railways, steam-boats, and regular mails, both by land and sea, the difficulty of communication would appear to be increased ten-fold. In the ancient civilized commonwealths, among the Greeks and Romans, for instance, who had popular governments, public orators were wont to entertain the people with news of pending transactions. As these orators were generally heads of parties and factions, were men of rank and consequence, and engaged in public affairs, their information had all the authority, and as occasion might be, all the authenticity of the Standard, or Times, or Globe, or Morning Post of the present day. Instead of news-rooms then, or coffee-houses, or club-houses, the people assembled in great crowds in the open air or in the porticoes of their temples, and drank in, with as greedy ears, the politics of the time, as a modern politician gloats over his newspaper. In those days every man that pretended to lead his fellow-man was an orator and declaimer; and harangues from their philosophers, from their statesmen, and their generals, were always expected and always made, on every occasion of importance, The Greeks were proverbial for their avidity for news, and in their cities, crowds of idle loungers assembled at particular places every day, to hear what was passing. On these occasions, all strangers and travellers were eagerly questioned, and thus a considerable amount of foreign intelligence was obtained. Warlike expeditions too were so common, that the intercourse between remote parts of the country, and even foreign countries, and the capitals at home, was continually kept up. The soldiers composing those armies being also of a superior class of the inhabitants-of a much higher grade than the mass of modern soldiery, intelligence and observation were much more prevalent among them. For the same reason too, the commanders of such armies found it necessary to inform the soldiery of the aim, and object, and general leading plans of the campaigns, in a way quite different from the reserve and secrecy of modern generals. Thus it is that we have in ancient history, long harangues of leaders to their troops, and though many of these speeches must be received more as the words of the historian than actually those of the reputed speaker, yet this very practice of the historian shows that the circumstance was founded in truth.

The same means of communication prevailed
THE TORCH, NO. v.

during the middle ages; chiefs, and warriors, and captains of bands, became the organs of intelligence to the inferior subordinate soldiery, and hence from these the news spread by word of mouth to the inferior classes. There were also, among many tribes and nations, an order of priests and bards, as among the Celts and Saxons, who served as the chroniclers of events and the depositaries of state history. These were something like the Quarterly Reviewers and Annual Registers of the present day,—they collected and methodized the current events, and wove them into systems, tinged according to the peculiar views of the respective parties and of the times.

The human memory then, too, possessed amazing powers of retention, just because the absence of all other means of record impelled the mind to store up and con over incessantly things that are now trusted to paper and ink; hence it was that long poems and historical traditions passed down from one generation to another, till at last we of this penand-ink age will not give credit to half the facts told of such comprehensive powers of retention. A good memory then was a fortune to a wandering bard or sennachie, he met with a warm reception at every hearth, and his songs, and legends, and gossip of passing events, filled up the pauses of a long winter night, just as the columns of the evening papers do now. They were actors and musicians too, and thus they formed a substitute for the opera and the concert of modern times. Songs and ballads then had the same effect as political pamphlets now,-they roused the energy, stimulated the thirst for battle and for conquest, and often determined the side, and the particular leaders around whom partizans rallied. We do not know that the liberty of speech or of song was quite as free as the liberty of the press at present. The office of bard was on the whole held very sacred, though occasionally a seditious one got his head chopped off, just as fine and imprisonment, and the deleting pen of the censor are prevalent among nations of the present time.

The invention of printing opened a new field for the spread of information, and written documents gradually assumed the office of oral communications to the public-books and pamphlets began to multiply, but it was not till the seventeenth century that anything like a newspaper was in general use. The Reformation too brought about a wonderful change. It opened up not only views of religious freedom of thought, but led the mind, by congenial views, to those fellow-feelings of man for his neighbour's civil freedom, which the just and mild views of true Christianity must eventually engender. In those memorable struggles of the people, both in England and Scotland, for their civil rights, which occurred during the seventeenth century, both the pulpit and the press were called to the aid JAN. 31, 1846.

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