promised him a place in the Freemen's Hospital, and gave it him on the first vacancy. "In which situation," says captain Starkey, "I have now been twentysix years enjoying the invaluable blessing of health and good friends." So ends his "Memoir written by himself."

To what end captain Starkey wrote his history, or how he came by his rank, he does not say; but in the "Local Records, or Historical Register of Remarkable Events in Durham, Northumberland, Newcastle, and Berwick," a volume compiled and published by Mr. JOHN SYKES, of Newcastle, there is a notice which throws some light on the matter. "Mr. Starkey, who was uncommonly polite, had a peculiarly smooth method of obtaining the loan of a halfpenny, for which he was always ready to give his promissory note, which his creditors held as curiosities." Halfpenny debentures were tedious instruments for small "loans," and Starkey may have compiled his "Memoirs," with

out affixing a price, for the purpose of saying, "what you please," and thereby raising "supplies" by sixpence and a shilling at a time. It is to be observed to his credit, that had he made his book more entertaining, it would have had far less claim upon an honest reader. It is the adventureless history of a man who did no harm in the world, and thought he had a right to live, because he was a living being Mr. Ranson's portrait represents him as he was. His stick, instead of a staff of support, appears symbolical of the assistance he required towards existence. He holds his hat behind, as if to intimate that his head is not entitled to be covered in "a gentleman's presence." He seems to have been a poor powerless creature, sensible of incompetency to do; anxious not to suffer; and with just enough of worldly cunning, to derive to himself a little of the superabundance enjoyed by men, who obtain for greater cunning the name of cleverness

If the weather it likely to become rainy, windy, or in other respects disagreeable, spiders fix the terminating filaments, on which the whole web is suspended, unusually short. If the terminating filaments are made uncommonly long, the weather will be serene, and continue so, at least for ten or twelve days. If spider de totally indolent, rain generally succeeds; though their activity during rain is certain proof that it will be only of short duration, and followed by fair and constant weather. Spiders usually make some alterations in their webs every twenty-four hours; if these changes take place between the hours of six and seven in the evening, they indicate a clear and pleasant night.

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Your Friend

WILLIAM HONZ

Yet still, amid the spreading gloom,
Resplendent glow the western waves
That roll o'er Neptune's coral caves

A zone of light on evening's dome.
On this lone summit let me rest,

And view the forms to fancy dear,
"Till on the ocean's darkened breast,
The stars of evening tremble clear;
Or the moon's pale orb appear,

Throwing her light of radiance wide,
Far o'er the lightly curling tide.
No sounds o'er silence now prevail,

Save of the murm'ring brook below,
Or sailor's song borne on the gale,

Or oar at distance striking slow. So sweet, so tranquil, may my evening ray, Set to this world-and rise in future day.

FLORAL DIRECTORY

Yellow Lupin. Lupinus flavus Dedicated to St. James.

July 12.

phyllum.

Sts. Nabor and Felix, Martyrs, a. D. 304.

In the "Poems" of Mr. Gent, there
are some lines of tranquillizing ten-
dency.
To Mary.
Oh! is there not in infant smiles
A witching power, a cheering ray,
A charm that every care beguiles,
And bids the weary soul be gay?

There surely is-for thou hast been
Child of my heart, my peaceful dove,
Gladd'ning life's sad and checquered scene,
An emblem of the peace above.

Now all is calm and dark and still, And bright the beam the moonlight throws

On ocean wave, and gentle rill,

And on thy slumb'ring cheek of rose.

And may no care disturb that breast,
Nor sorrow dim that brow serene;
And may thy latest years be blest
As thy sweet infancy has been.

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

WARMTH.

The heat of the season, unless patiently endured, has a tendency to inflame the mind, and render it irritable. On some infants its effects are visible in their restlessness and peevishness. Parents, and those who have the care of childhood, must now watch themselves as well as their offspring.

A father's voice in threat'ning tone
The storm of rage revealing,
His flashing eye and angry frown,
Would rouse a kindred feeling.

When grief his heart is reading? And who unmov'd can see the tear,

A parent's cheek descending.
Oh, yes! a child may brave the heat,
A father's rage confessing,
But, ah! how sweet his smile to meet,
And, oh! how dear his blessing!

Then let me shun with shrinking fear,
The thought of not conceding,
I could not bear affection's tear,
When parent's lips were pleading.

The Cross Bill. (Loxia curvirostra.) In July, 1821, at West Feiton, in Shrop shire, this rare and beautiful bird was seen, in a flight of about eighteen or twenty, alighting on the tops of pine trees and larch; the cone of which it opens with adroit neatness, holding it in one claw, like a parrot, and picking out the seeds. They were of various colours, brown, green, yellow, and crimson, and some entirely of the most lovely rose colour; hanging and climbing in fanciful attitudes, and much resembling a group of small paroquets. Their unusual note, somewhat like the quick chirp of linnets, but much louder, first attracted attention. The observer had repeated opportunities of viewing them to the greatest advantage, by means of a small telescope. They also eat excrescent knobs, or the insects formed therein by the cynips, at the ends of the young spruce branches. These birds are natives of Germany and the Pyrenees, and are very rarely seen in England. It was remarked, that the same mandible of the bill crossed on the right side in some birds, and on the left in others.*

FLORAL DIRectory.

Red Lupin. Lupinus perennis. Dedicated to St. Bonaventure.

Shrewsbury Chronicle.

The Bastile of Paris, the great state prison of France, was stormed and destroyed by the populace on the 14th of July, 1789. This extraordinary event took place during the sitting of the national assembly convened by Louis XVI. under great exigency. The French government at that time afforded no security to life or property. Persons offensive to the state were arrested under arbitrary warrants, called Lettres de Cachet, consigned to the lungeons of the Bastile, remained there without trial, often for life, and someimes perished from neglect, or the cruelties incident to imprisonment in the for

tress.

Hexameters, in Annual Anthology, vol. ii.

Louis XVI. was surrounded by advisers, who insisted on the maintenance of the royal prerogative, in opposition to the growing and loudly expressed desires of the most intelligent men in France, for an administration of public affairs, and the formation of a government, on principles of acknowledged right and justice. The king refused to yield; and, to crush the popular power, and overawe the na tional assembly in its deliberations, troops were ordered to approach Paris. At this juncture the assembly addressed the king, praying the removal of the troops; be refused, the troops prepared Paris, the people flew to arms, the Bastile

to enter