said he, I hope before I die, to see this your youngest daughter, a great queen. And I, replied the queen, hope she will live to see you a Pope. These prophetical compliments were strictly verified, and that too within a short time of each other. METEMPSYCHOSIS. The very ancient doctrine of the transmigration of the soul still prevails in many parts of the east, where it is facetiously said, that the souls of poets animate, after death, the bodies of grasshoppers, as these insects usually sing till they starve. AT the assizes for one of the midland counties, a woman was tried for the murder of her bastard child, and after the Judge had taken great pains in explaining the provisions of lord Ellenborough's act, the jury acquitted her of the murder, and found her guilty of concealing the birth of the child. The prisoner next tried, was charged with stealing a goose, and the same jury, thinking that the law applied equally to both cases, acquitted the prisoner of the felony, but found him guilty of concealing the goose! A nobleman (says Miss Edgeworth) inquiring of his Irish servant what was the cause of the noise he heard? -66 "It is the singing in my ears,” replied Pat, "and I have had it, your honour, these six months." METEORICK STONES. ON the 19th of April 18 8, at one o'clock in the afternoon, a great quantity of meteorolites fell in the commune of Pieve di Casignano, in the department of Taro (formerly the dutchies of Parma and Placentia). The air was calm, and the sky serene, but with a few clouds. Two loud exveral less violent, after which several plosions were heard, followed by sestones fell. A farmer who was in the fields saw one fall about fifty paces from him, and bury itself in the ground. It was burning hot. A frags ment of one of these stones is deposited in the museum at Paris. JEVENILE LINGUIST. Progress of the English language in allied countries being a literal copy of an advertisement (published out of compliment to the English garrison) for St. Ferdinand's Theatre at Palermo, on 10th January, 1807:-" Gasper Grifoni, a boy six years old, for his benefit's night shall expose on the stage four languages in mask, to wit, English, French, Spanish, and Italian, with a hobgoblin lackey, and a Greek Tragick, and Lappanio Spanish, and French servant.-One of the most tragical scenes, labour of the said boy who shall expose in the middle of such graceful and ridiculous representa tion." METEORICK STONE. THE minister for the home department, has communicated to the imperial academy of Petersburgh, the following account of a meteorick stone. weighing 160 lbs. that fell in the circle of Ichnow, in the government of Smolensko. In the afternoon of the 13th of March, 1807, a very violent clap of thunder was heard in that district. Two peasants in the village of Timochim, being in the fields at the time, say, that at the instant of this tremendous report, they saw a large black stone fall about forty paces from them. They were stunned for a few minutes; but, as soon as they recovered themselves, they ran toward the place where the stone fell. They could not, however, discover it, it had penetrated so deep into the snow. On their report, several persons went to the spot and got out the stone, which was above two feet beneath the surface of the snow. It was of an oblong shape, blackish like cast iron, very smooth on all parts, and on one side resembling a coffin. On its flat surfaces were very fine radii resembling brass wire. Its frac ture was of an ashen gray. Being conveyed to the gymnasium of Smolensko, a professor of natural philosophy there, considered it at once, as ferruginous, from the simple obser vation of its being extremely friable, and staining the fingers. The particles of which it is composed. contain a great deal of lime, and of sulphurick acid. The subjoined characteristick Anecdotes of several species of Birds are extracted from Shaw's General Zoology. THE DWARF HAWK, SMALLER than a Merlin: upper parts brown, the tail crossed by a few deeper bars: under parts white, marked on the throat and breast by oblong brown spots, and on the belly and thighs by narrow transverse bars. This small hawk is a native of the interiour of Africa, where it was observed by Monsieur Levaillant, who describes it as of a highly bold and spirited nature, preying on small birds, and occasionally driving away from its haunts, even the larger birds of its own genus, as well as Shrikes, &c. It builds on trees, forming its nest of small twigs, intermixed with moss and leaves externally, and lining it with wool and feathers. The eggs are five in number, spotted with brown near each end. The female bird is nearly twice the size of the male. Monsieur Levaillant relates a singular instance of the audacity of this species. He was sitting at a table, engaged in preparing some birds lately killed; when one of these hawks suddenly stooped, and seized one of the newly stuffed specimens, and flying with it to a neighbouring tree, began to plume and tear it open, but finding nothing but moss and cotton, seemed indignant at the disappointment; and, after tearing in pieces the skin, at length contented itself with devouring the head, the only part which remained in its natural state. THE SHRIKE. When this bird, says Levaillant, sees a locust, a mantis, or a small bird, it springs upon it, and immediately carries it off, in order to impale it on a thorn, and is so dexterous in this operation, that the thorn always passes through the head of the bird or insect thus transfixed. If it cannot find a thorn, it fixes the head of the animal between a division of two small branches, and this with as much address as if performed by hu man means.-We need only watch this shrike for a single minute in order to witness its ravages; and if we take the pains to examine the spot it frequents, we are sure to find on every bush and tree the victims which it has transfixed, the major part of which are often so dried as to be unfit for his food; a proof of his singularly destructive instinct. It is often taught to fight by the natives of Bengal, one being held up opposite to another, on the hand of a man, to whose finger the bird is fastened by a string, sufficiently long to enable it to fly and peck at its adversary. It is said to be of a remarkably docile disposition, and is sometimes carried by the young Indians, in order to execute little commissions of gallantry; and, at a signal given by the lover, will seize and carry off with much dexterity, the small gold ornament usually worn on the head of a young Indian lady, and convey it to its master. It will also, with admirable celerity, follow the descent of a ring purposely thrown down a deep well, catching it in its fall, and returning it to its owner, The Persian poets represent the Bulbul as enamoured of the rose, and grieved or angry, at seeing it rudely cropped.-Whatever may be said by poets and unscientifick observers. Mr. Pennant has not scrupled to declare his opinion that the natural note of this bird is harsh and unmelodious. If this be the case, the musick of the Bulbul may be considered as nearly allied to the cele brated song of the Swan, so often recorded in the flights of poetick fiction. PARADISEA TRISTIS. This bird is a native of India and the Philippine islands, and is said to be of a very voracious nature, feeding both on animal and vegetable food, and is particularly fond of locusts and grasshoppers. On this head the count de Buffon relates a curious anecdote. The island of Bourbon, where these birds were unknown, was overrun with locusts, which had unfortunately been introduced from Madagascar; their eggs having been imported in the soil with some plants which were brought from that island. In consequence of this, Mons. Deforges Boucher, governour general of the isle of Bourbon, and Mons. de Poivre, the intendant, perceiving the desolation which was taking place, deliberated seriously on the means of extirpating the noxious insects; and for that purpose, caused to be introduced into this island, several pair of the Paradise Grakle from India. This plan promised to succeed; but unfortunately, some of the colonists, observing the birds eagerly thrusting their bills into the earth of the new sown fields, imagined that they were in quest of the grain, and reported that the birds, instead of proving benefirial, would, on the contrary, be highly detrimental to the country. The cause was considered in form. On the part of the birds, it was argued, that they raked in the new ploughed grounds, not for the sake of the grain, but the insects; and were, therefore, beneficial They were, however, proscribed by the council; and, in the space of two hours after the sentence was pronounced against them, not a Grakle was to be found in the island. This prompt execution was however followed by a speedy repentance. The locusts gained the ascendency, and the people, who only view the present, regretted the loss of the Paradise Grakles. Mons. de Morave, consulting the inclinations of the settlers, procured three or four of these birds eight years after their proscription. They were received with transports of joy. Their preservation and breeding were made a state affair. The laws held out protection to them, and the physicians, on their part, declared their flesh to be unwholesome. After so many powerful expedients for their welfare, the desired effect was produced; the Grakles multiplied, and the locusts were destroyed. But, an opposite inconvenience has since arisen. The birds, supported no longer by insects have had recourse to fruits, and have fed on the mulberries, grapes, and dates. They have even scratched up the grains of wheat, rice maize, and beans; they have rifled the pigeon houses, and preyed on the young; and thus, after freeing the settlers from the locusts, they have them. selves become a more formidable scourge This, however, is perhaps an exaggeration; since Mr. Latham in his second supplement observes, on the subject of this bird, that .ons. Duplessin, who had resided many years in the isle of Bourbon, had given his opinion that the Paradise Grakle might be advantageously introduced into that part of Spain nearest the coasts of Africa for a similar purpose, and added, that, so far from its having become a nuisance in the isle of Bour When storms deface the laughing sky, And thunders shake the vaulted air, Then vain indeed thy graceful mien, To shelter from the storms above! Then tell me, flower, why thus alone Thou lov'st in solitude to shroud! Does malice on thy features frown, Because they're chaster than her own, Or dost thou hate the crowd? "Alas! my friend! this lonely spot "Has long my favourite station been; "Here to the garden-tribe forgot, "Their joys incestuously hot, "I breathe the air of health serene! "Besides, the splendour of their dress, "Outshines too much my languid hue; "Nor will the moans of weak distress, "Excite in them one fond caress, "Howe'er my friend they may in you." Then since 'tis thus, my sweetest flower! Come! let me bear thee far away, Where neither haughty pride nor power, Thus genius blest with every grace, To triumph o'er the human heart, Withdraws to some sequestered place, The mighty works of time to trace, Unknown to all the schemes of art. Thus PRATT with kind parental care, Smiles on the pure poetick FLOWER; Retrieves it from the desert bare, To thrive in more salubrious air, And flourish with the circling hour! Grafton-street, August, 1809. J.G. A FRENCH SONNET OF THE 15TH CEN TURY IMITATED. All lovely babe! dear image of thy sire, Sleep on the bosom which thy lips have pressed; Sleep, cherub, sleep! thy limbs some rest require, And close those tender eyes so much oppressed! Sweet little love! whilst you secure enjoy Slumbers which long have fled from me; I wake to view, to feed, to guard my boy. My only comfort is to look on thee! Hush, my dear child, my only hope, my joy! Sleep on that breast, which doth thy life sustain: Let me thy pretty voice once more enjoy, Thy untaught prattle doth such charms PHILOSOPHICAL AND ECONOMICAL INTELLIGENCE. American Fir to be compared with that of a committee be appointed to inquire into the truth of the above suggestion; and to report to the society on the comparative strength of Norway and Memel timber, with that of the timber of North America, in which the committee will distinguish the particular states of North America, whence the timber may have been imported, the comparative qualities of which, with those of Memel and Norway, shall be reported upon. |