Σ indeed, it would be of no use if you were to try to keep Dr. B. Acquisitiveness strong, too! Evening Concerts, both vocal and instrumental, cannot | sands that I have examined. I never saw the propensities fail to produce the richest effects. In the vocal department so strongly indicated. Let him go to sea by all means all that is excellent and rare in the English and Italian schools is selected the former is supported by the combined talents of Miss Stephens, Miss Paton, Miss Travis, Messrs. Braham, Vaughan, Knyvett, Bellamy, and Phillips-and the latter by Madame Caradori, Miss Bacon (a pupil of Velluti's, and of very great promise) Signor Curiom, and Signor de Begnis. Songs, Glees, English Finales, Italian Scenas, Trios, Quartetts, and P Grand Finales, from the favourite Operas of Mozart, Rossini, Mayerbeer, and Weigl, are introduced; and from such composers and performers the lovers of vocal music may fairly anticipate a charming treat. The instrumental department will receive the aid of F. Cramer, Kieswetter, De Beriot, the first violin performers in Europe; and the latter of these professors will play a Concerto on the first and last evenings, and lead the band on the second. Mr. Kiesewetter, whose surprising powers are well known, will lead the band on the third evening, and perform a Conterto on the second. Mr. J. B. Cramer, at the earnest solicitation of the Committee, and for the first time at any provincial meeting, will give a Concerto on the Piano-forte on the first and third evenings; with this gentleman's talents the musical world are well acquainted, and by them he is considered, in elegance and taste, to have no competitor. That old favourite, Lind. ley, will also delight his audience on the second evening in Concerto on the Violoncello; and Mr. Nicholson will introduce a Concerto on the Flute on the last evening. Chit Chat. PHRENOLOGY. The following jeu d'esprit on this subject, copied from and a Child. you Dr. Brain. Well, my good Mrs. Atkins, I see that have brought your son to be examined. Mr. Aikins. Yes, Sir, if you will have the goodness. Children are a great pleasure, but then they are a great are; and a widow, especially a lone woman, cannot help feeling anxious about settling them in life. To be are, I have only my twins, a girl and this boy-but still a great trouble. One does not know what is fittest them, poor things! Dr. Brain. Phrenology is precisely what will ease that rouble, Mrs. Atkins. Our discoveries tend particularly that point, by observing and following the natural inications. My friend, Mr. Hewson, I think, sent you to Mrs. Atkins. Yes, Sir; he told me that by looking at boy's skull;-take off your hat, William!-and feeling bumps Dr. B. Organs, my good Madam! Call them organs! Mr. 4. I beg your pardon, Sir; I will. Mr. Hewson and, that by feeling his bump (organs, I mean) you would able to tell me what to do with him. I should like to g him up to the grocery line, like his father, and take into the business at a proper time; but the boy, it es, has read a foolish book called Robinson Crusoe, and is wild to go to sea. Why don't you take off your William, and let the Doctor look at your organs? He won't hurt you, child. For all he's so bold and full tricks, the boy's as shame-faced before company as his ter. Hold yourself up, William. Dr. B. How old is the young gentleman ? Mr. A. Twelve, come next Michaelmas. He's but a imp of a thing, in spite of his great spirit; too puny yhalf for a boy. Fanny and he are so alike, that if it ere not for their clothes, we should never know them under. But I suppose, Doctor, that's only their faces? ake it their bumps-I beg pardon-organs are quite diferent? Dr. B. Undoubtedly, my good Mrs. Atkins. Difference of sex is attended with difference of faculty. The Perceptive organs, for instance, are usually more developed in women, the reflective in men. This is quite a boy's forehead. Come, Sir, let me feel. I shall do you no harin. The Doctor feels the child's head: Mrs. Alkins walks at the room looking at the casts, and talking to herself.] A large distinctiveness-a prodigious combativenessAres strongly developed-adhesiveness small. Really, Mrs. Atkins, this boy is the most striking instance of the truth of our science that I have ever met with in the thou Dr. B. Why, it means a desire to possess; which, in a boy, probably shows itself in a love of marbles, and apples, and nuts, without being very scrupulous as to the means by which they are acquired. Mrs. A. Oh, it's a wonderful art! See, William, how the Doctor finds you out! Yes, he-I take shame to say it, but the boy stole all the apples off our nonpareil tree last year; and we can't keep a gooseberry in the garden for him. I can trust his sister any where, she's such a good little quiet thing-but WilliamDr. B. Never fear, Mrs. A. its an excellent organ under proper government, and will turn to a desire to capture Dutch spice ships, and Spanish argosies. You must send him to sea. Mrs. A. Ah, well-a-day! But, Doctor, how is it that you can tell all these things? Dr. B. Why, look here, my good Madam! do you see that projection on the side of Just here, Mrs. Atkins-here, my good lady. If I had another child, I could show you what I mean in a moment. Mrs. A. Run and fetch your sister, William. Dr. B. Ay, then I can explain the difference. I'll venture to say there is not such a combativeness-why don't you go for your sister, my little man, as mamma bids you? Mrs. A. Why do you stand there like a simpleton ? Go for Fanny this moment. Child. Pray, mamma, don't be angry, I am Fanny. Mrs. A. Oh dear me! dear me! this is one of Wil liam's unlucky tricks! Get out of my sight you good-fornothing hussey. What will the Doctor say to be made such a fool of? Dr. B. Make a fool of me, Mrs. Atkins! I should like to see the person that could do that. It is not all the tricks logy; but I give you warning, my good Madam, that, of men, women, and children that can put down phrenowhatever trouble you may have with your son, you will have more with your daughter. I was never mistaken in my life; and there are organs in that little noddle fit to belong to Joan of Arc. Good morning, Mrs. Atkins! She'll follow the drum, I tell you; or, very likely, go to sea herself. Good morning, Ma'am. Make a fool of a phrenologist, indeed! 66 A country paper, describing a thunder storm, last week, says, several cattle were killed; but, fortunately, no lives were lost!"-This must be a blunder, to a dead certainty. Beattie, in his "Dialogue between Swift, Mercury, and a London bookseller," ridicules the word-making, or, as he calls it, the "fashionable jargon of the age." Amongst his line of conduct was indicative of exactitude to a other matters he introduces the bookseller as boasting that degree." Duke of Grafton, he said, "The people, my good Lord, It is related of George II. that, one day, addressing the are like my wife; though they quarrel with me themselves, they will not suffer others to do so." Conjugal Happiness.-A Brussels paper contains, in a satirical article on the state of morals in Belgium, the that it is the result of authentic researches, and they may following table. The editor gravely assures his readers, rely upon its fidelity: Wives who have abandoned their husbands to follow lovers...... 3,021 Husbands who have fled to avoid their wives.......... 4,102 Couples living at war with each other under the same Persons living together with the most marked indiffe rence to the habits and pursuits of each other' Persons who are reported happy by the world, but who really are not so.... Persons who are happy in comparison with others who are more wretched.. Really faithful and happy couples.... Synonymous Sounds and Dissimilar Significations.The excellent and laconic dunning letter, the point of which turned upon the opposite significations of the word oblige, brings to our recollection a similar play upon another word. A person who was in constant fear of the bailiffs, having absconded, one of his acquaintances was asked what was the reason of his absence; to which he replied, "Why, Sir, I apprehend he was apprehensive of being apprehended." Days of Yore.-In the fifteenth century, it was the custom in great families to partake of four meals in the course of the day, viz. breakfast, dinner, supper, and livery; the last of which consisted of delicate cakes, mulled wine, and spiced liquors of various kinds, served up in their bed-chamber previous to their going to rest, which was usually between the hours of eight and nine, sent day; but when we consider they breakfasted at seven, which may appear strange to our fashionables of the predined at ten, and supped at four, the greater portion was not spent in sleep; and such were the good effects of early rising, that an earl and his fair countess had for breakfast two loaves of bread, a quart of beer, a quart of wine, two pieces of salt fish, six baconed herrings, four white herrings, or a dish of sprats." Yet so variable is that creature, fashion, that in those days shopkeepers, mechanics, and labourers, breakfasted at eight, dined at noon, and supped at six, which were later hours than those of the nobility. 2,033 5,142 6,112 4,012 1,210 1,022 CD E FG H WHITE.29 bib day boe 3 The white to move, and to give checkmate in seven moves. A malicious anecdote, told of Gibbon by the most malicious of women, Madame de Geulis, is turned to very good account in the amusing description of the lovemaking of an old Lord,-Lord Lumbercourt, who thus proposes himself to the heroine, Miss St. Clair : One morning, as Caroline St. Clair was sitting in a sort of bower or summer seat, at the extremity of the beautiful terrace at Belle Vue, overlooking the lake, her whole soul occupied in sketching the magnificent prospect that lay extended before her, the light was suddenly obscured, and looking up surprised, she beheld the opake form of Lord Lumbercourt standing directly before her, his back to the view, and his large gray eyes fixed with extraordinary seriousness full upon her face. She smiled:- Wont you sit down, my Lord? I did not expect'. Nobody wishes to be pitied, I think,' said Caroline, looking confused. I do I wish for your pity ;-for pity is akin to love.' A little more than kin, and less than kind,' perhaps,' said Caroline; not knowing very well what she was saying. Kind! yes, you are kind!-kind to all-kindness itself! Do not be unkind only to me.' Caroline's blushes betrayed her internal embarrassment, See all the pangs you talk of!' hastily interrupted Ca- 'You did not expect such an interruption." I fear, Miss St. Clair, I have no chance of ever being in the foreground of your picture,' said Lord Lumbercourt, sitting down close to her. Very little, certainly, at present,' said Caroline, colouring, for I fancied that a donkey would be the most picturesque animal, and I was longing for one just at the moment your Lordship appeared; but it is really impossible to take, or mistake, you for a donkey in any respect.' Then you really don't think me quite an ass?" said Lord Lumbercourt. O! they will cure themselves! Only let them alone, O! you little know what some hearts endure!' It would be the surest proof that I was one myself, if You seem very uneasy, my Lord,' said Caroline, in a tone of commiseration, observing him shifting about on his seat, and changing colour; I am afraid you are suffering.' I am, indeed," said Lord Lumbercourt, with a sigh. Indeed! and is it in your toe?' Hang the toe!' exclaimed Lord Lumbercourt, hastily. Is it so bad?' said Caroline, quite tenderly, thinking his vehemence arose from the twinge. It is here!' exclaimed Lord Lumbercourt, emphatically, laying his hand on his heart; but Caroline, who was looking at her drawing, mistook this motion. In your stomach? the gout in your stomach!' she exclaimed, with alarm. ⚫Hang the gout! Can a man have no other complaint than that cursed gout?' 'Let me get you some wine and water, my Lord. Le me ring for Gregory,' trying to disengage herself. No-you-you only can be' Have some raspberry vinegar My sole restorative, uttered Lord Lumbercourt, com tinuing his own speech with difficulty, and not attending in the least to the vinegar proposition-Only give me time And me patience-thought Caroline, who plainly sa what she had to undergo; and as Lord Lumbercourt puffed and wiped his brows, and puffed still more with vexation, because he puffed so much, she had no resour but resignation and sitting still. It was now her turn twist and twirl between her fingers the piece of paper had picked up, and to be silent-though not absent-an it was Lord Lumbercourt's turn, as soon as he recovere his breath, to speak. He told her, with all the earnestnes and sincerity of truth, and with all the embarrassmen and difficulty that mark a true attachment, how truly, an devotedly, and irrevocably he loved her-how entirely t whole happiness of his future life depended upon her and how exclusively her happiness should be the whe object of his, if she would allow him to devote it to her Caroline at first, rallying her spirits, attempted to inter rupt him, and to laugh it off, by treating it en badinage as a jest. 'You don't really think me in jest,' said Lord Lumber court, pressing her hand, and fixing his eyes upon her. Caroline coloured crimson-the mantling blush rushed over her beautiful polished brow and cheeks; she raised her eyes, with one glance of conscious self-convicted knowledgment, then instantly dropped them beneath his Affectation-O how unlike you! dearest Miss Clair!'-murmured Lord Lumbercourt, again seizing reluctant hand, 'You know that I am sincere-you know that my whole heart and soul are yours-that I love you as I never loved woman. O do not trifle with me!' I will not trifle with you, my Lord! You do not de serve that I should. I only wished to have spared you, to have spared myself this scene. I feel your preference mont gratefully, but I never can return it.” Yes, impenetrably hard, my Lord!' she said, with a look and tone of such meaning, that Lord Lumbercourt Lord Lumbercourt's supplications, and protestations felt the ice close over him; and relapsing again into silence and lamentations, may easily be conceived. He could no and nervous perturbation, betook himself, with more assi-bear to relinquish his suit-he petitioned hard for the Caroline herself felt very awkward and uneasy; and the more silent Lord Lumbercourt became, the more inces santly did she talk, though certainly without eliciting much attention from his Lordship, who evidently did not know what she was saying: neither, indeed, did she very well know herself. He looked so mortified and miserable, that, pitying his uncomfortable feelings, she said with great sweetness, But you don't look at my little sketch, my Lord; and this is one of my very first attempts in drawing from nature. I want to know if you think it like'. Like every thing you do; like yourself-perfection!' I-I must go,-I forgot something." No, no, dearest Miss St. Clair!-do not leave me; stay one moment.' I cannot-I cannot, my Lord!' said Caroline, breaking from him. I forgot!-I left a paper-a letter-open Indeed!' said Caroline, looking up astonished, and be-on the table-I must go and get it, and she would ginning to think the gout had got into his head, I did not know you had any other complaint, my Lord.' Then you are much mistaken!' She looked still more astonished, both at his words and manner. I beg your pardon. Forgive me for being so hasty,for speaking with such abruptness and warmth.' gout must' Not at all! I can easily imagine how irritating the It is not the gout, Miss St. Clair. Don't talk of the gout; forget it, I pray you.' I am very glad you can forget it, I am sure; it is a ⚫ What then?-is it your head?' Is that all!' exclaimed Caroline, laughing. From you I did expect it,' said Lord Lumbercourt, in a tone and with a look that brought a blush over her lovely laughing face: from you only I wish it.' have fled, but Lord Lumbercourt had hold of her dress, At least let me go with you,' he said, very gravely and •O, no! no! I only—forgot—I had left a paper very Miss-St. Clair!'-gasped his Lordship, quite out of • Never-mind them,' gasped his Lordship. 1 smallest hope for time-for permission only to try to alter her determination against him by patient perseverence to recommend himself to her affection by any sacrificesto become what she would wish him. She was gentle. but inexorable; till at last, in despair-in an unluck moment he went down upon his knees, in order to me her obduracy. Caroline could scarcely refrain from laugh ing, he looked so inexpressibly ridiculous. The awkwar constraint and painful posture of the stiff swelled limbe the odd contortions he involuntarily made and the ab surd figure of this unwieldy, infirm, gouty old man, i this attitude, would really have overset the gravity of Judge. But Caroline behaved admirably, and without a visib smile besought him to rise. But in vain ;-as if despa had seized him, he remained rooted to the spot at speechless, while she exhorted him, till she was tired, get up. At last, having implored him to rise till her patien was exhausted, she said- My Lord, I must insist up it that you rise! But I can't!' said the unfortunate peer. At this confession, and the rueful face with which was uttered, Caroline's gravity was utterly overcom and unable to resist the absurdity of the spectacle, was seized with a fit of laughter, which, by attempting suppress it, shook her internally so violently, as to ren her utterly incapable of assisting her noble lover to upon his legs. In vain she tried to push him up by shoulders; the half smothered laughter which nearly a vulsed her, and which he had the mortification of hear made her powerless as an infant, so that her exertio united with his own, utterly failed to accomplish the e tion of his ponderous body, and she was compelled last, to ring the bell for some more able arm. Havi done so, she was making her escape out of the room, fore the footman could answer it, when she ran agai Colonel and Mrs. Cleveland at the door. Whither so fast, Miss St. Clair. Stop a minute," claimed the Colonel, detaining her. But at the spects of Lord Lumbercourt upon his knees before an em chair-by the seat of which he was painfully support himself with his hands-both Colonel and Mrs. Clevela burst out into an incontrollable fit of laughter, wh seemed likely to have no end, while Caroline ran out of room, and gave free vent to the mirth she could no long restrain. [To be concluded in our next.] a Scientific Notices. Comprehending Notices of new Discoveries or Improvements in Science or Art; including, occasionally, singular Medical Cases; Astronomical, Mechanical, Philosophical, Botanical, Meteorological, and Mineralogical Phenomena, or singular Facts in Natural History; Vegetation, &c.; Antiquities, &c.; List of Patents. kind. KANG WEATHER. pressed by it in one leg, and how much it is raised in the She seemed now to have become more cheerful, and entertained greater expectation of comfort from her admission into the visible world; and she was very sanguine that she would find her newly-acquired faculty of more use to her when she returned home where every thing was familiar to her. CASE OF A LADY BORN BLIND, WHO RECEIVED SIGHT when candles were brought into the room, her brother's IN HER FORTY SEVENTH YEAR. On the eighth day, she asked her brother, when at dinner, what he was helping himself to; and when she was told it was a glass of port wine, she replied, "Port wine is dark, and looks to me very ugly." She observed face in the mirror, as well as that of a lady who was present; she also walked, for the first time without assistance, from a chair to a sofa which was on the opposite side of room, and back again to the chair. When at tea, she took notice of the tray, observed the shining of the japan work, and asked what the colour was round the edge; she was told that it was yellow; upon which she remarked, "I will know that again.' The meteorological notices in the Atlas have hitherto been confined to the barometer and thermometer: we propose, in future, to add occasional observations on the velocity of the aerial currents; and, preparatory to doing this, it In the Philosophical Transactions which has just been may be advisable to furnish our readers with a figure of published, there is an interesting case recorded of a lady the apparatus usually employed in experiments of this who had been born blind, receiving her sight after she had entered on her forty-seventh year. When about six months In keeping a journal of the weather, the two particulars old she was placed under a Parisian oculist, who performed to be noted, respecting the wind, are, its direction and an operation on both eyes, with a view to afford her sight. Eighteen days after the last operation had been perits velocity or strength. These particulars are commonly The operation proved unsuccessful, the right eye was obtained by the use of separate instruments, of which those attacked with inflammation and completely destroyed, and formed, Mr. Wardrop attempted to ascertain, by a few for the former purpose, or the direction of the wind, are in the left the vision was not restored. The lady continued experiments, the precise notions of the colour, size, forms, too familiar to all, under the name of wind-vanes, weather- in this situation till after she had reached her forty-sixth position, motions, and distances of external objects. As she could only see with one eye, nothing could be ascercocks, &c., to require any further notice in this place; year, when she applied to Mr. Wardrop. This gentleman tained respecting the question of double vision. She evibut, to ascertain the velocity or strength of the wind, a found the right eye-ball collapsed, but the left possessing dently saw the difference of colours; that is, she received considerable diversity of contrivances have appeared, many its natural globular form, with a transparent cornea, but of which display no very inconsiderable share of ingenuity. obliterated pupil. The lady could distinguish a very dark and was sensible of different impressions from different It has been proposed to suspend a rod, in the manner of a room from a very light one, but was not able in the latter colours. When pieces of paper, one and a half inch square, pendulum, with a flat board, instead of a ball, at its lower case to preceive the situation of the window from which the differently coloured, were presented to her, she not only extremity. It is obvious that, when the wind infringes light came. From this circumstance Mr. Wardrop con- distinguished them at once from one another, but gave a decided preference to some colours, liking yellow most, upon such a board, it will, according to its strength, force ceived that the retina was in a fit state for receiving the and then pale pink. It may be here mentioned, that it more or less out of a vertical position; and, therefore, impressions of light, if the obstruction to its admission when desirous of examining an object, she had considerable the quantity of the angle of deviation will be the measure into the eye was removed, and consequently determined difficulty in directing her eye to it, and finding out its poof that strength. Another contrivance resembles a small on the performance of an operation with this view. On windmill, by the number of the revolutions of which, in a the 26th of January, he operated on this lady, after which sition, moving her hand as well as her eye in various digiven time, the result desired may be obtained. Instru- she could perceive more light, although she was unable to rections, as a person when blindfolded, or in the dark, ments have even been described which express upon paper, distinguish either forms or colours. The result of the gropes with his hands for what he wishes to touch. She hot only the several winds that have blown during the first attempt justified the favourable views entertained of also distinguished a large from a small object, when they were both held up before her for comparison. She said space of twenty-four hours, but at what hour they begun the state of the retina, and the propriety of a second opera she saw different forms in various objects which were and ended, with the strength and velocity of each. These tion was determined on. On the 8th of February, Mr. shown to her. On asking what she meant by different contrivances have, however, some defects or inconveni- Wardrop repeated the operation, after which the power of forms, such as long, round, and square, and desiring her ences, which render them inferior to the anemometer in-vision was not much increased. The operation was again to draw with her finger these forms on her other hand, and vented by Doctor James Lind, of Windsor. performed on the 17th of the same month, with complete This simple instrument consists of two glass success. She returned home in a carriage from the house then presenting to her eye the respective forms, she pointed tubes, dd, of five or six inches in length. in which the operation was performed, with her eye covered to them exactly; she not only distinguished small from Their bores (which are so much the better only with a loose piece of silk. The first thing she noticed large objects, but knew what was meant by above and always for being equal) are each about four. was a hackney-coach passing, when she exclaimed, "What below; to prove which, a figure drawn with ink was tenths of an inch in diameter. They are con- is that large thing that has passed by us ?" In the course placed before her eye, having one end broad and the nected together like a syphon, by a small of the evening she requested her brother to show her his other narrow, and she saw the positions as they really were, and not inverted. She could also perceive motions; bent tube, the bore of which is one-tenth of watch, concerning which she expressed much curiosity, for when a glass of water was placed on the table before her. an inch in diameter. On the upper end of the and she looked at it a considerable time, holding it close leg, de, there is a tube of latten brass, which to her eye. She was asked what she saw, and she said on approaching her hand near it, it was moved quickly to is kneed or bent perpendicularly outwards, there was a dark and a bright side; she pointed to the a greater distance, upon which she immediately said, "You move it; you take it away." and has its mouth open towards a. On the hour of 12, and smiled. Her brother asked her if she other leg, d c, is a cover, with a round hole saw any thing more; she replied, "Yes," and pointed to in the upper part of it, two-tenths of an inch the hour of 6, and to the hands of the watch. She then diameter. This cover, and the kneed tube, looked at the chain and seals, and observed that one of the are connected together by a slip of brass, seals was bright, which was the case, being a solid piece which not only gives strength to the whole of rock crystal. The next day Mr. Wardrop asked her to instrument, but also serves to hold the scale. look again at the watch, which she refused to do, saying, The kneed tube and cover are fixed on with that the light was offensive to her eye, and that she felt hard cement or sealing-wax. To the same very stupid; meaning that she was much confused by the tube is soldered a piece of brass, i, with a visible world thus for the first time opened to her. On the round hole in it, to receive the steel spindle; third day she observed the doors on the opposite side of and, at the other extremity, there is just such the street, and asked if they were red, but they were in other piece of brass soldered to the brass hoop which fact of an oak colour. In the evening she looked at her mands both legs of the instrument. There is a small brother's face, and said that she saw his nose; he asked oulder on the spindle, upon which the instrument rests, her to touch it, which she did; he then slipped a handda small nut to prevent it from being blown off the spin-kerchief over her face, and asked her to look again, when by the wind. The whole instrument is easily turned she playfully pulled it off, and asked, "What is that?" On the sixth day, she told us that she saw better than and upon the spindle by the wind, so as always to prethe mouth of the kneed tube towards it. The lower she had done on any preceding day; but I cannot tell She seemed, indeed, of the spindle has a screw on it, by which it may be what I do see; I am quite stupid." wel into the top of a post, or a stand made on purpose. bewildered, from not being able to combine the knowledge also has a hole at the bottom, to admit a small lever for acquired by the senses of touch and sight, and felt diseving it into wood with more readiness and facility. A appointed in not having the power of distinguishing at once in plate of brass is soldered to the kneed tube, about half by her eye, objects which she could so readily distinguish inch above the round hole, so as to prevent rain from from one another by feeling them. ing into it. There is likewise a crooked tube somemes added, to be pit occasionally upon the mouth of the eed tube, a, in order to prevent rain from being blown to the mouth of the wind-gauge, when it is left all night, exposed in the line of rain. The force or momentum the wind may be ascertained by the assistance of this strument, by filling the tubes half full of water, and shing the scale a little up or down until the 0 of the ale, when the instrument is held up perpendicularly, be a line with the surface of the water, in both legs of the ind-gauge. The instrument being thus adjusted, hold it perpendicularly, and, turning the mouth of the kneed be towards the wind, observe how much the water is de On the seventh day she took notice of the mistress of the She seemed to have the greatest difficulty in finding out the distance of any object; for when an object was held close to her eye, she would search for it by stretching her hand far beyond its position, while on other occasions she groped close to her own face for a thing far removed from her. She learned with facility the names of the different colours, and two days after the coloured papers had been shown to her, on coming into a room, the colour of which was crimson, she observed that it was red. She also observed some pictures hanging on the red wall of the room in which she was sitting, distinguishing several small figures in them, but not knowing what they represented, and admiring the gilt frames. On the sanie day, she walked round the pond in St. James's-square, and was pleased with the glistening of the sun's rays on the water, as well as with the blue sky and green shrubs, the colours of which she named correctly. It may be here observed, that she had yet acquired by the use of her sight but very little knowledge of any forms, and was unable to apply the information gained by this new sense, and to compare it with what she had been accustomed to acquire by her sense of touch. When, therefore, the experiment was made of giving her a silver pencil-case and a large key to examine with her hands, she discriminated and knew each distinctly; but when they were placed on the table, side by side, though she distinguished each with her eye, yet she could not tell which was the pencil-case and which was the key. From this period till the time of her leaving London, on the 31st of March, being forty-two days after the operation, she had acquired a pretty acctirate notion of colours, their different shades and names. Her, knowledge of distance and of forms was very incomplete, and there was considerable difficulty in directing the eye to an object. She, however, entertained the hope, that when she got home, her knowledge of external things would be side. more accurate and intelligible, and that when she came to look at those objects which had been so long familiar to her touch, the confusion which the multiplicity of external objects now caused, would, in a great measure, subThere is no other case on record of the sight being restored at such an advanced age; in the celebrated instance recorded by Chiselden, in the 35th volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society, the boy, who was also born blind, received his sight at the age of fourteen. In that case also the boy could distinguish, before the operation, black, white, and scarlet, and when in a good light, he had that degree of sight which generally continues in an eye affected with cataract; whereas in the lady, whose case we have given above, the pupil being completely closed, no light could reach to the retina, except such rays as could pass through the substance of the iris. Correspondence. There are some points in the annexed letter in which we differ entirely from the writer. In our opinion the shopmen in Liverpool do not merit the censure passed upon them; and we can assure Observer that he is quite mistaken in his surmise, that he could have gained admission to the Botanic Garden if he had been disposed to fee the attendant.-Edit. Kal. THE OBSERVER. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,-Some ladies of my acquaintance, knowing that (I am sorry to say) I have but little to do except walking about this great town, like a second Paul Pry, with my umbrella in my hand, and quizzical hat, have facetiously given me the name of the Observer, and some of them have gone so far as now and then to send me petits billets, desiring me to put their ideas into some form, and publish them for the benefit of the public; but being an old bachelor, and unwilling to intermeddle with these female effusions, well remembering the case of my friend Gil Blas and his master the Archbishop, I have thought it best merely to make copies and send them to you, that, if you think them worth room, the wishes of my fair friends may be thus gratified. THE OBSERVER. DEAR OBSERVER, Will you be so good as to take some method of informing the little ugly man, with the red nose, in Mr.'s drapery and mercery shop, that he injures his master's business very much by his short and impertinent answers; and the dandy-like young man, also in the same street, who thinks more of his own per son than of his employer's interest, that if he does not pay more attention to us, we have determined, after his next offence, never to purchase any more silks or ribbands where he is stationed.-For myself and friends, LYDIA. I must confess that there is some justice in Lydia's animadversions, for my feminine acquaintance generally complain of the incivility of shopkeepers in the above trades, who think they are doing you a favour to show their goods, instead of, in these times of competition, being obliged by your preference. The great contrast between the manners of such persons here, and those of the same profession in London, must have been observed by all who have visited that metropolis. This rudeness and ill behaviour can certainly only be imputed to the score of ignorance, though why the metropolitan should be of better bred materials than the provincial in the same line, I am at a loss to account; but such is the fact. The shopkeepers in Bristol, I am told, are more unpolished still than those in this town. I thought that not possible. 0. DEAR OBSERVER,-I wish you could find out some of the directors of the public institutions, and lodge a complaint against the incorrigible stupidity of their doorkeepers, &c. who refuse to let strangers in to view their works of art. It is a disgrace to this enlightened town to suffer their public places to be kept so private. We are told admission may be obtained by applying to a subscriber; but how, in the name of wonder, is a stranger to know who are subscribers to all the places that are to be seen! And what is the use of having them at all, if the public are not to have the means of appreciating them! See the difference on the Continent; there, every establishment of art or science is accessible to all. If the keepers of these sanctoriums are so ignorant of man or woman kind as not to be able to discriminate persons, let them be removed, and have others of more unclouded understandings. My husband and myself, during our ride a few days ago, observed a most solitary looking place, which, we were told, was the Botanic Garden; and, alighting from our carriage to take a view, we were abruptly stopped by a man who assured us we could not be admitted without a ticket from a subscriber. We asked for the names of such; but, from his directions, we found that we had no chance of success. He showed us, most significantly, a handful of written cards, and said by such as those we might be let in. Whether or not he could have then accommodated us with one, we did not stop to ascertain; but our own thoughts upon that subject were, that, like Peter Pindar's razors, they were made to sell.— Yours, &c. ANN NEWCOME. I cannot help joining in opinion with the above remarks, that, in this town, there are too many obstructions thrown in the way of enabling strangers to see your curiosities. How many persons of the highest respectability are induced from the fame of your trade, your docks, and schools of art and literature, to pay you a visit, but who, from want of knowledge of persons interested, can only judge of the outward appearances. Many of your places of charity might obtain benefactions were they thrown more open to inspection. Why not at once put a price upon admissions to all places? You would then see the result. I do not say that all ranks should participate in such indulgences, and be introduced to these monuments of your liberality and philanthropy; nor would that be the case. The class of persons whom the restrictions in question are intended to preclude would seldom or ever be desirous of admission. There must be a taste for such things, arising from superior cultivation of manners and feelings; and that such persons should be debarred, is unpardonable in those who manage these affairs. 66 They order these things better in France." Yours, &c. TO THE EDITOR. THE OBSERVER. Sir Walter Scott, it is reported, is shortly to be married to a lady of immense wealth. Mr. Bruce (who, under the patronage of the late Lord Melville, became professor of Logic in the University of Edinburgh, and afterwards Historiographer to the East India Company, and lastly, in conjunction with Sir David Hunter Blair, printer to the King for Scotland) lately died, leaving behind him, to a maiden sister, an immense fortune, some say of three hundred thousand pounds. The worthy Baronet, it is reported, has successfully made love to this accomplished lady, who, on her part, insists on his receiving from her, his incumbrances. Who, after this, will say that the before marriage, one hundred thousand pounds to clear climate of Scotland is cold?-Morning paper, Buying Children!-A certain lady, possibly a daughter of Pauliana Pry, amongst other questions which she put to a true Lancashire man, said, "And pray are you married ?"-" '—“ Ay.”—“ And how many children have you?"" I've bot (but) two Ma'am."-" Bought two?" "Ay, bot two, and enough too." The Comet. The passage of the perihelian of the new perihelial distance 0.845 (that of the sun from the eart discovered Comet will take place on the 10th instant; i taken as unity). Longitude of the ascending node 590de 12 min. 24sec. Longitude of the perihelian 43 deg. 24 min 35 sec.; inclination of its orbit, on the plane of the eclipti 26 deg: 29min. 52 sec.; its motion direct. This comet w first discovered in Italy, by M. Pons, and afterwards a Marseilles, by M. Gambart. To Correspondents. CAUTION TO THE PUBLIC.-Since we published the followin paragraph in the last Mercury, we have met with many persons who have been duped by this young regu who groans for a living, that we conceive we shall b doing a public good by repeating the caution here.—" Suspicious Character.-In reply to an anonymous corre pondent, who inquires whether we have ever met with e heard of a miserable-looking boy in the streets, whose stor is, that he came from Scotland, in search of his father an mother, &c. we have to inform him, that the description he gives of the lad leads us to believe that we have both seen him and heard of him, and that, in all probability, b is an arrant impostor. On Sunday evening last, returning home, soon after nine o'clock, we heard a low maning voice, as if of some person in pain or distress. - Upon 17proaching the place whence the sound proceeded, we foun a boy lying amongst the rubbish of the foundation of house now erecting in St. James's-road, top of Alfre street. He appeared to be about twelve or fourteen year of age, extremely ragged and filthy, with apparently a other clothes on but a kind of coarse shirt or frock, such is usually worn by the boys who serve as understrappers the engineers in our steam-boats. His story was the sam as our correspondent states. He left Scotland to seek hi father and mother, but could not find them; and had means of procuring shelter for the night. We observed some persons assembled round that we suspected the star to be a fabrication, from the manner of the boy, as his mod of arresting the attention of passengers appeared to b that of a practised vagabond. However, it might be other wise; and the lad was not to lie in the lane all night be cause he was suspected of being an impostor. He w therefore supplied with sufficient to procure him a night lodging, and directed to inquire his way to Strand-stree since which we have seen nothing of him. Happening mention the circumstance to a friend, he informed us th a person answering the description we have given of th boy had told him the same tale a few nights before, an that he had given him some money, clothes, and for We have been thus particular, in order to put the publ on their guard against the artifices of the cunning yo rogue, who, if our suspicions are well founded, ought be lodged in the House of Correction." RAPID COMMUNICATION.-Before our next publication, web lieve that we shall show that the scheme of propelling ca riages, &c. by means of the air-pump, as lately revived the Brighton paper, was proposed at least twenty yea since, in a pamphlet entitled "Insular Defence." It is no before us, and we shall, probably, give some account of it the next Kaleidoscope. Our arrangements have obliged us to postpone, until nex week, the essay of A. F. D. on Youth, the Season for Pies his familiar Miscellany, from which all religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending LITERATURE, CRITICISM, MEN and MANNERS, AMUSEMENT, elegant EXTRACTS, POETRY, ANECDOTES, BIOGRAPHY, METEOROLOGY, the DRAMA, ARTS and SCIENCES, WIT and SATIRE, FASHIONS, NATURAL HISTORY, &c. forming a handsome ANNUAL VOLUME, with an INDEX and TTLE-PAGE. Its circulation renders it a most eligible medium for Advertisements. No. 328.-Vol. VII. The Essayist. A FEW WORDS IN DEFENCE OF THEATRICAL "Veluti in Speculum." "I have heard That guilty wretches, sitting at a play, SHAKSPEARE. The observations with which we are about to preface : ke? Our correspondent, if he is in the habit of perusing the papers, may have met with the report of a recent amination of a man on the charge of having half a azen wives living; and he may recollect that the fellow d to resort to the Church as the most likely place to ward his views, in imitation, perhaps, of the example Sr Pertinax M'Sycophant, "who ganged till the kirk" lorane hunting for a wife." TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1826. sources of amusement and instruction. PRICE 340. amend our lives. To this we should rejoin, that, with a | of coinciding in his denunciation of the most rational Dr. Johnson, a religious man, and a most severe mora- The most polished nations of antiquity, at the best pe- "The Athenians, (says a writer of celebrity,) when should say, the opinion which our correspondent has ad- Although the stage may have been occasionally abused, like every thing else, the true end of acting, as our matchless dramatist says, "both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own features, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure." YOUTH, THE SEASON FOR PLEASURE. common and general remark; yet, like many of its That youth is the season for pleasure," is a very species, it appears not to be well founded, or consonant with reason and experience; that is, in the meaning with which it is commonly received. Youth should, properly speaking, be the season for labour; 'tis then the mind is capable of receiving truth; untainted by prejudices, it is clear and open to receive her maxims; unhardened by experience, it is ready to receive either good or bad impressions; and, as either are applied, will retain them :— this is the time, then, that we should sow the seeds of whatever fruit we wish to enjoy in our manhood; and it and judgment in the selection, to admit of any pleasure is too nice an employment, and requires too much coolness being experienced, save that most exquisite and lasting of all pleasures, arising from the consciousness of doing right, and the hope that we shall be amply rewarded for the pains we are taking both here and hereafter. Here, by those amongst whom we reside, and also by the blessing of a good and wise wife, whom, as we have selected with care and judgment, will repay our discretion with kindThese are the fruits of a youth spent, as it were, in toil ness, and sooth our declining years with tenderness. and labour, in quiet and retirement, apart from the giddy and intoxicating scenes of gaiety and pleasure that we reap on this side the grave, and are only a prelude to others more splendid and lasting, prepared by that Being perty, for a time, to see what advantage we would turn it who made us his servants, and intrusted us with his proto. "Tis when he requests us to give up our trust, that we receive the reward allotted to those servants who do him Now, we would ask our correspondent whether the hurch is to be condemned, or church-going discounteinced, because a place of worship has been the scene of e intrigues of a swindler or a libertine? The answer , no doubt, be in the negative; and the reason which said be assigned may be anticipated. We should be told, order to employ one part of our time usefully, it was makes his youth the season of pleasure! he has partaken It was well observed by one of our wisest sages, that injustice, and who remain faithful amidst so many tempthough the Church may have been occasionally pol. ted by the presence of persons who resort to it for the necessary to devote another portion of it to mere amuse-of pleasure before he could relish its sweets; his appetites orst purposes, there is nothing in the doctrines there in alcated which does not tend to improve our morals, and * Sir Pertinax.—Noow, Sir; where do ye think I ganged to ment: if this be true, as we believe it is, what species of amusement can surpass theatrical exhibitions, in which are united the charms of poetry, music, and scenery? Of the good effect of the moral inculcated on the stage, for this woman, wi' th' siller,-nai till court,-nai till Apuses, or assemblies-nai, Sir, I ganged till the kirk, we can speak from our own experience. The impression 1452 Anabaptists, Independent, Bradleonian, Muggletonian made upon our own minds in very early life, by witnessing tes; till the morning and evening service of churches the tragedy of the Gamester, in which Mr. Kemble and Lachapels of ease; and till the midnight, melting, conciliAe-feasts of the Methodists-and there at last, Sir, I Mrs. Siddons played Mr. and Mrs. Beverley, was so vivid, n an old, rich, sour, slighted, antiquated, musty that it has never yet been effaced; and we are convinced tations! How widely different is the fate of him who are cloyed, and what would be pleasure to others, disgusts him. Pleasure is never more salutary than when taken in moderation and at proper seasons;-what time, then, is tired with labour, and the senses become exhausted by more seasonable for its enjoyment, than after the body is the vexing cares and endless vicissitudes of life and bu siness? or, in whose company can we partake of it so largely, and yet so innocently, as in that of those whom we love or respect, dear to us as life? Then we can experience the effects of pleasure in their true measure; by him who spends his youth in dissipation, falsely called pleasure. No, his hopes for pleasure are all at an end; she holdeth the cup, but he cannot drink; he has already blinded his reason, prejudiced his judgment, impaired his that loucked-ha! ha! ha! she loucked just like a that it has had no small share in producing that rooted effects, rather to be felt than described; effects, never felt join a surgeon's glass-case-noow, Sir, this meeserable was reeligiously angry wi' hersel, and aw the warld, comfort but in a supernatural releegious, enthusiastic, den; ha! ha! ha! Sir, she was mad-mad ass a bedla D'e-Macklin's Man of the World. aversion we feel for gaming in every shape. We have said thus much, by way of preface to our correspondent's essay, in order that we may not be suspected |