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ing out from its thin covering all the while, yet lies, in some sense, concealed, until the light and revelation of science are thrown upon it; then it bursts out, and strikes us with exquisite force and beauty.

"As our knowledge of nature and her laws has increased, so has our understanding of many passages in the Bible been improved. The Psalmist called the earth the 'Round World; yet for ages it was the most damnable heresy for Christian men to say the world was round; and, finally, sailors circumnavigated the globe, proved the Bible to be right, and saved Christian men of science from the stake.

"Canst thou tell the sweet influence of the Pleiades? Astronomers of the present day, if they have not answered this question, have thrown so much light upon it as to show that, if ever it be answered by men, we must consult the science of astronomy. It has been recently all but proven, *that the earth and sun, with their splendid retinue of comets, satellites, and planets, are all in motion around some point or center of attraction inconceivably remote, and that that point is in the direction of the star Alcyone, one of the Pleiades! Who but an astronomer, then, could tell their 'sweet influences ?" "And as for the general system of atmospherical circulation, which I have been so long endeavoring to describe, the Bible tells it all in a single sentence: "The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to its circuits.' (Eccles. 1: 6.).. Have I not, therefore, very good grounds for the opinion, that the wind in her circuits,' though apparently to us never so wayward, is as obedient to law, and as subservient to order, as were the morning stars, when they 'sang together ?" "

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*This is not the opinion of Astronomers. It is a speculation of M. Mædler, a German Astronomer. The central point referred to is situated between the stars and u Herculis, at a quarter of the apparent distance of these stars from Herculis. See this

Among the nations that sent representatives to the Brussels Conference, and agreed to cooperate with the United States in carrying on an uniform system of observations at sea, our own country stood conspicuous, and we are glad to say that a Meteorological Department was added to the Board of Trade, and placed under the able superintendence of Rear-Admiral Fitzroy, for the purpose of carrying on this important undertaking. The Board has already issued several valuable works;* and when we consider the vast extent of the shipping interest of Great Britain, its numerous vessels of war and of commerce, we have no doubt that a body of facts will be collected respecting the currents, winds, and hurricanes of the ocean, which, while it will improve the art of navigation, and add to our knowledge of the physical geography of the terraqueous globe, will also give additional security to the life and property so largely exposed to the abnormal influences of the elements. There is no branch of administration of more value to the state than that which has been so recently intrusted to the Board of Trade; and we trust that the ephemeral governments, to which English interests seem destined to be committed, will not forget, in their struggles for in their struggles for power, that a permanent reputation may be gained by those peaceful achievements which contribute to the happiness of society and the wealth of nations. We do not now ask them, as we have often done in these pages, to take an interest in those abstract sciences which sooner or later find a social and practical application. They have hitherto failed to appreciate what we unwillingly think seems above their comprehension, and we must wait in patience till a better education shall place the statesmen and senators of another generation on a level with the advisers of foreign princes, who have endowed the sciences and the arts as the most enduring sources of national greatness.

These publications are enumerated in the list

Journal, vol. iv., p. 232, vol. vi., p. 241, and vol. viii., of works placed at the head of this article.

p. 532.

From the Leisure Hour.

GLIMPSES OF ROYAL LIFE AT LUCKNOW.

In a previous paper we gave some illustrations of the freaks of the despotism so recently extinguished by British authority at Lucknow; but there is a terrible counterpart to the picture there presented. The caprice that sets up and aggrandizes, can with equal facility cast down and despoil. If the beggar, by a royal word, can be exalted and ennobled, the noble on the other hand may by the same means be abased, stripped, and beggared. As we have cited examples of the former, it may not be amiss to exhibit a signal instance of the latter.

The unfortunate hero of this episode of royal life was Rajah Buktawir Singh, nominally the general of his Majesty's forces, but actually chief officer of police; for, the real command of the Oude troops being vested in the Company's Resident, very little more service was required of Buktawir than to attend upon processions and court pageants, which are of such frequent occurrence in the East. "The general" was accustomed to be present at almost all the private royal parties and entertainments, on which occasions-the king being very fond of practical joking and boyish pranks-he, in common with the other favorites, both European and native, would fool his Majesty "to the top of his bent." Buffoonery, however, is a perilous game to play at with an irresponsible despot, however much he may, for a season, seem to forget his royal prerogative, and conceal the iron talons of tryranny beneath the pleasant amenities of the banqueting-room; and so Buktawir at length found to his cost.

The king and his attendants had one day been witnessing some of the customary conflicts between wild animals, when, wearied with the monotony of the brutal sport, they retired from the arena to a small refectory near by, where they refreshed themselves with iced claret and biscuits. His Majesty happened to be in quite a jocular vein, and, accommodating themselves to his hilarious mood, his

courtiers laughed at his witless sallies. Judging by outward appearances, there were no signs of a storm on the horizon. All was clear, serene, and radiant. Presently the king, who was attired in European costume, rose to leave the refectory. When pleased, he was addicted to the habit of thrusting his hand into his hat, and twirling it round on the point of his thumb-a most unroyal proceeding, as it strikes us. In the plenitude of his fun, he did so on the present occasion. Whether the hat was composed of bad material, or the crown had sustained injury by frequent similar rough usage, we are unable to determine; but, whatever the cause, in the course of its rotations the monarch's thumb broke through the crown. Highly amused at the incident, he turned gayly round to his courtiers and exhibited the phenomenon, expecting them to laugh at it, which they of course most dutifully did. Buktawir, however, not content with merely laughing, under a frolicsome impulse cried out, in Hindostani - the double entendre being equally apt in both that and the English tongue-"There's a hole in your Majesty's crown."

The king's countenance underwent a swift change as he heard this innocent but unadvised remark. The joyous hilarity of the previous moment vanished at once, and a threatening frown brooded over his brow. With an awful flash in his keen black eyes, he turned to one of the European attendants who happened to be nearest to him, and exclaimed, in a voice husky with rage: "Did you hear the traitor ?"

"I did, your Majesty," was the beginning of the reply; but before there was time to utter more, he was shouting out to the captain of the body-guard, "Take that man into custody forthwith!" adding, to the Prime Minister: "Go, Rooshun, and take off his head."

It was a moment of appalling consternation. The king had absolute power of life and death over all the natives not in

the service of the Company; and such was his despotism, that any attempt to thwart his rage at the moment would probably have increased its intensity. The captain of the body-guard-a European officer-and the Prime Minister, both advanced to Buktawir, who stood with bent head and hands extended before him palm to palm, in the ordinary attitude of obedience. He said not a word. "The command of the Refuge of the World shall be obeyed," said the Prime Minister, who, though on friendly terms with the fallen man, showed no reluctance towards his office.

"Buktawir is my prisoner," exclaimed the captain, leading him off, and giving his European associates, as he went out, a meaning look, which said: "Perform your part; I shall perform mine for the wretched man."

"What would the king of England do to the man who insulted him thus ?" asked Nussir, fiercely dashing his hat on the ground and stamping on it, as Buktawir was led out.

"His Majesty would have him arrested, as your Majesty has done," was the reply of one of the Europeans; "and, after trial, he would be dealt with as might be decided."

"So shall I do," he exclaimed, continuing his advance towards the door slowly, and quite forgetful that the order had already been given for his execution.

"I shall inform Rooshun of your Majesty's commands," said the attendant, bowing and starting off, glad of even so slender a pretext for arresting the doom of the unfortunate jester till the king's wrath had time to cool. The transient reprieve was made known to those who were conducting him to his doom; and in the mean time all hopes of his deliverance depended upon the success of the efforts which might be made to interest the British Resident in his behalf. His power, it was well known, if invoked, would avail to shield the life of the fallen functionary, although his property might not escape confiscation. The task of securing the friendly interposition of the Resident was intrusted to the captain of the body-guard. That gentleman, however, when apprised of the circumstances of the case, did not see how he could interfere, since the alleged traitor was in no way amenable to the Company. He promised, nevertheless, to exercise his influence for the protection

of the innocent members of Buktawir's family, who would inevitably be all involved in his degradation and ruin.

In the mean time, the European attendants of the king, on leaving the palace, paid a visit of condolence to the unhappy culprit. They found him thrust into a mean out-house, formerly in the occupation of a low-caste menial, guarded by two native sentries. The only furniture in this wretched hovel consisted of a rough native bedstead, raised on four short legs, and destitute of mat or mattress. All the costly garments and equipments of the disgraced chief had been stripped off him, and, with the exception of a scanty cloth which engirded his loins, he was naked. The interview was a very affecting and touching one, and afforded a terrible exemplification of the evils of despotism. Though protesting his complete innocence of any traitorous intents, he expressed a conviction that he should die, and was chiefly solicitous about his wives, his children, and his aged, bed-ridden father, who were all obnoxious to torture and death. With heart-rending earnestness did he plead for the kind offices of his visitors on their behalf, and assurances to that effect were given, amidst tears of grief excited by the tragic spectacle.

Stretching out his arm, the wretched man put into the hand of one of the party a signet-ring, containing a large emerald, saying: "I have preserved this one jewel; they have taken all the rest. Should my family come to want-should they only lose their property, and be otherwise uninjured-perhaps you will sell this for them. Do, kind Englishmen ; but do try and save them from torture and disgrace, and the blessings of the widows and orphans will be yours."

At a later period in the day, the European sympathizers learned that the kinsfolk of Buktawir had been seized and stripped, and thrust into the same degrading prisons; and finding that a period of half an hour existed before their presence was required by the king, they, at the risk of incurring the royal wrath, spent the interval in administering solace and comfort to those cowering and sorrowful creatures.

At the council, held that evening, every voice was loudly raised for the exercise of clemency. The nawab had been thoroughly frightened by the Resident's declaration that he should hold him re

sponsible for any injury that might befall the innocent family of the rajah. The Company might permit the king to slay here and there; but the slaughter of a whole family in cold blood, or the torture of delicate women and children in groups, was more than they would allow. Such atrocities might come to the ears of Europe, and tarnish the Company's honorable name. It did not, therefore, suit either the convenience of the Prime Minister or the prospects of the European barber to be brought into collision with the Resident on this question. The king was accordingly prevailed on, by the cautious diplomacy of his attendants, to commute the sentence of death into that of perpetual banishment, imprisonment in an iron cage, and confiscation of property. On the following day the prisoner was to take his departure.

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But the fury of the king was not fully appeased by this decision. "He must be disgraced," exclaimed the tyrant, as rajah never was disgraced before. Let his turban and dress be brought-his sword and his pistols."

The mandate was obeyed. According to Hindoo ideas, an indignity offered to the turban is the same as if offered to the owner of it. A man acting as a sort of house-scavenger was ordered into the presence, where he defiled the poor rajah's head-piece with hearty good-will, to the king's great satisfaction. Next came the sword, which was broken into a hundred pieces by a sturdy blacksmith, introduced for the purpose. Then followed the pistols. The son of Vulcan was about to smash them in like manner, when he had the precaution to look if they were loaded. They were loaded, sure enough. The king observed the hesitation, suspected the cause, and vehemently asked if they were loaded. On being answered in the affirmative, he exclaimed passionately: "Said I not well, the man was a traitor of the worst stamp? How say you now, gentlemen, was this an unpremeditated matter? You hear, the scoundrel's pistols are loaded!"

"It was part of his duty as a general to have his pistols loaded to defend your Majesty," said the tutor firmly.

Not satisfied with this explanation, the captain of the body-guard was summoned to decide the serious question. "Captain," said the king, as he entered, "was it the duty of Rajah Buktawir Singh (that

was) to wear his pistols loaded or unloaded ?"

The answer was awaited in breathless expectation, since on it a life probably depended. The captain, however, at a glance saw how matters stood, and wishing well to the degraded general, he replied unhesitatingly: "It is unquestionably the duty of the commander-in-chief and the general of your Majesty's forces to be prepared for any sudden danger that might assail your Majesty. Their pistols would be useless unloaded."

The king was satisfied, and so this new peril passed away. Next day, immured in a large wild-beast cage, the prisoner departed northwards, the members of his family following in a melancholy train. The interference of the dreaded Resident, however, had done much to mitigate the severity of their treatment. Thus the East-India Company, with all its imperfections, has long been, among the natives of that vast country, "a terror to evildoers, and a praise to them that do well."

But there is a sequel to this tragic story so thoroughly oriental, that it deserves a passing notice. Buktawir was gone, and there seemed not the slightest chance of his ever seeing Lucknow again. A simple incident occurred, however, which recalled him to the mind of the sovereign, and led to his restoration to his forfeited dignities and honors. The event happened in this wise.

A general dearth occurred throughout Oude. The scarcity caused a serious enhancement in the prices of every staple article of food, with the invariable concomitant-great distress and discontent in Lucknow. The bazaar-owners were loudly accused by the poor of having produced an artificial scarceness, and riots occurred in consequence. Whenever the king made his appearance in public, petitions against the speculators were thrown into his howdah, or offered to him when he was on horseback, by kneeling sufferers. These complaints of popular grievances at length became so annoying to his Majesty, that he almost ceased his visits to the city. This unsatisfactory state of things continued long after the ostensible cause had passed away. A year of plenty came, but still want and discontent continued, and the king was bored beyond endurance with the memorials of starving families and outraged property. One day, at the

for a gold mohur? Certainly, my lord. Fifteen rupees, eleven annas, and four pie, four annas, eight pie dustooree. Some people charge five annas, but I only four, and eight pie. Bad times, as you say, Baboo."

durbar, he said to his courtiers: "There "There's nothing doing now. Change is evidently something wrong; I never knew discontent continue so long in Lucknow before." The nawab obscurely hinted at the failure of the crops; but his Majesty was not satisfied with the explanation, and invited the opinion of the tutor. The reply of this attendant was to the effect that there must be some mismanagement in the bazaars or markets, which required royal investigation.

The sovereign's love of novelty and adventure was excited by the remark, and he answered: "I quite agree with you, master; let us go this very evening and inquire into it. Let us all go in disguise, as the Caliph used to do in Bagdad. I will go with you; it will be both useful and agreeable." The transformation was speedily effected, and the courtly adventurers started on their romantic errand, without having any definite idea, however, what they were about to do.

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Reaching the places of eastern concourse, on we went," says the narrator, "through the oily, steaming crowd, redolent of unsavory odors. Fierce rajpoots and patans, with their tulwars and shields jingling by their sides and on their backs, elbowed us and scowled. Well-bearded Mussulmans, pious, devout, observed, as we passed, it was no place for sahibs. Sleek Hindoos smiled, and tempted us with their wares, flattering us, in affected humility, with their words. At length we drew near a money-changer's, where there was more room. His coins lay scattered in little heaps over the large trays, that served as tables. He sat on his bended legs, after the manner of money-changers in the East and tailors in the West. Two sturdy attendants lounged near by." A merchant of some consequence approached the money-changer, and, exchanging greetings with the newcomer, said: "Another attack on the ricestores this morning, Mhadub."

"Bad times, bad times!" replied Mhadub, shaking his head gloomily, as he looked towards the disguised king and courtiers. The king looked significantly round as he heard the reply; and, anxious to catch more, he lingered at a neighboring stall, examining some article, while his companions subjected some swords to a critical scrutiny.

"Very hard, very hard, indeed; it wasn't so in times past," went on the dealer in coins, shaking his head again.

"It wasn't so when Rajah Buktawir was the king's minister. He kept the bazaars in order," said the merchant.

The king started on hearing this remark, and, advancing nearer to the speakers, he continued to listen with increased eagerness.

"He did, Baboo, he did," rejoined the money-changer. "Rajah Buktawir kept the bazaars in order, as you say. Bad times, bad times!"

The king had heard enough. Perhaps his conscience was touched; at all events he returned to the palace in a reflecting mood. The idea that had been put into his head worked there, and in two months from that date the expatriated functionary was in his old place at court, and continued for years to be higher than before in his sovereign's favor. His bitter experiences of the caprices of unbridled power had probably made him a wiser if not a sadder man.

It certainly can be no matter for lamentation that the supremacy of the British authority in Oude should have extinguished the practice of such freaks of arbitrariness as we have just narrated. Such facts as these ought to be seriously weighed in forming our judgment of the propriety or impropriety of the annexation of that disorganized kingdom to the British dominions.

Since the commencement of the present fearful conflict in Oude, we have heard a great deal about the fierce and turbulent character of the population of that province, and much of the wild ferocity lately displayed there has, by some writers, been ascribed to the feelings of exasperation aroused by the suppression of the native government. It would appear, however, from many passages in the work before us, that society in and around Lucknow has for many years past been steeped in disaffection, and large numbers of the natives have been ever ready for the perpetration of deeds of violence and rapine. At a time when attempts are made to excite sympathy for the deposed dynasty, it may not be amiss to give an example of the disloyal style of treatment on one occasion inflicted

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