countenance of all the inmates of the house. I felt myself intruding, and, after offering a few words of encouragement, retired. For three days the little sufferer, Mary Ann, lingered on, when she at length closed her eyes in the sleep of death, leaving in youthful innocence this vale of misery. I will not intrude upon the feelings of the parents, by attempting to describe the state of their minds: the father was distracted and bewildered, while the mother appeared more resigned, patiently submitting to the will of Him who rules the destinies of mortals.

The ways of God indeed are mysterious, and 66 past finding out:" this family had tasted their first bitter draught of anguish ; but, alas! they had others yet to taste. Mary Ann, the lovely Mary Ann, was buried; and, three weeks afterwards, I, with the sorrowful father, followed the remains of the third and last child to its long home. Yes, in three short weeks, three of the loveliest children I had ever beheld were "laid low in the dust." And now, I will not say the unhappy, (for her trust in her Redeemer enables her to bear against her weight of grief,) but the deprived mother, sits alone, unsurrounded by her little prattling family; and the anxious father is no longer interrupted by his toying daugh. ter teasing for kisses. Ah, parents! grieve not; though your loss be great, your anguish, too, be deep; for what must be your sorrow, in comparison with that of the aged parent, of whose history yours is the sequel! or what would have been your gain, had your lovely Mary Ann, now an immortal soul of happiness, been spared to die the death of the wretched Maria! You cannot see through the wondrous workings of God's providence, but know that "all things work together for good to them that serve him."

And you, O reader, if a parent, and perchance weeping over the remains of some darling idol, learn here to moderate your lamentations; for the Almighty is a jealous God, and will use what means he thinks fit, for teaching mortals that they are not immortal, and bringing them to acknowledge Him, as the fountain and giver of all good.

January 6, 1833.

GLEANINGS.

W. K. T.

Curious Sign.-The following is on a violin-maker's sign-board at Limerick :--New Villans mad here and old ones rippard, also new heads, ribs, backs, and bellys mad on the shortest notice. N. B. Choes mended, &c.-Pat O'Shegnassey.

Royalty rebuked.-Algernon Sidney, when in France, was hunting one day with the king. He was mounted on a fine English horse, the form and spirit of which

caught the king's eye. He received a message that he would be pleased to oblige the king with his horse, at his own price. He answered, that " he did not choose to part with him." The king, determined to have no denial, gave orders to tender him a sum of money, and to seize the horse; which being made known to Sidney, he instantly took a pistol, and shot him dead, saying, "that his horse was born a free creature, had served a free man, and should not be mastered by a king of slaves."

Curious Magnet.-Mr. Abraham, a manufacturer at Sheffield, possesses an artificial magnet, formed of 200 straight bars, capable of lifting 140lbs. also a famous orrery, made by Heath for the Emperor of Russia, which accurately revolves, by a turning winch, all the primaries and secondaries to Saturn. It contains above 400 wheels, and yet may be turned with the force of an ounce.

Filial Affection.-As two young men a short time since were returning home from an evening party between eleven and twelve o'clock, and passing by the church-yard of the parish of St. Mary Magdalene, in this city, they observed by the light of the moon, a person stretched out at full length upon a grave: supposing him one who had made too free with the 66 rosy god," and expecting from the iuclement state of the weather, that if he remained there long he would perish, they very humanely roused him, when he called out" Don't disturb me, lads, for I'm determined to spend the last night I have in Oxford, with my father and mother." The young men, still believing him to be under the influence of liquor, resolved if possible to ascertain the cause of his being in this dreary abode of death." They persevered, and discovered to their astonishment, that the man was a sailor, perfectly sober, and a son of the late Mr. Cowderoy, many years Superintendant of the Picture Gallery, in this University. He had been to sea, and for many years had not received intelligence respecting his family. As he was returning to his native place after a long voyage, he had made arrangements in his mind how he should dispose of his time, and promised himself that no inducement whatever should prevent him from spending his last night in Oxford with his father and mother. On his arrival here, he was grieved and disappointed at finding that his parents had long since" descended into the tomb of the Capulets." Having ascertained their burying-place, he scaled the iron paling of the church-yard, and chose this cool and singular way of performing his promise, and paying respect to those who were the authors of his existence.-Oxford Paper.

England: Statistics.-The number of Episcopal and Dissenting congregations in England, are as follows: -Episcopal 9,983; Dissenting 6,422. Episcopal Missionary Societies.-Sums actually subscribed in the united kingdom for 1828-29: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (foreign objects) £9.208.9s. 5d. Society for Propagating the Gospel £6,239 103. 5d. Church Missionary Society £52,080 19s. 1d. Total of sums actually subscribed in the united kingdom for 1828-29, £67,528. 183. 11d. Dissenting Missionary Socities. Sums actually subscribed in the united kingdom for 1828 29: Wesleyan Methodists £41,846. 128. 10d. London Missionary Society, £37.207. Os. 6d. Particular Baptist Missionary Society £9.305 10s. 2d. General Baptist Missionary Society £1,651 1s. 6d. Total of sums actually subscribed in the united kingdom 1828-29, £90,010.5s.0d. Thus it appears that the members of the Church of England, whose ministers and parochial edifices are supported by general taxation, do not subscribe so much by £22.481 sterling per annum, towards the truly apostolical work of evangelizing the nations, as the members of the separate denominations, though they, besides their proportionate contributions to the support of the state religion, have to educate and maintain their own ministers, and erect at their own charge their various places of worship.

English Fogs.-The fogs of England have been at all times the complaint of foreigners. Gondomar, the Spanish Ambassador, on being asked by some person about returning to Spain, if he had any commands, replied, "Only my compliments to the sun, whom I have not seen since I came to England." Carraccioli, the Neapolitan Minister, used to say, that the only ripe fruit he had seen in England were roasted apples, and that he preferred the moon of Naples to the sun of England.

Spiders.-Spiders live and grow without food. Out of fifty spiders produced on the last day of August, and which were kept entirely without food, three lived to the 8th of February following, and even visibly increased in bulk. Was it from the effluvia arising from the dead bodies of their companions that they lived so long?-Other spiders were kept in glass vessels without food, from the 15th of July to the end of January. During that time they cast their skins more than once, as if they had been well fed.-Redi Generat. Insect.

Glorious Uncertainty of the Law.-The late Charles Gardyne, of Middleton, had an interesting law-suit, some time previous to his death, with the Tacksman of the tolls, and the road trustees here, on the doubtful question whether the vehicle in which he rode was a taxed cart or a chaise, a point which made an essential difference in the rate of toll. After the final decision of the supreme court, Mr. G. had the result painted in large legible characters on the back of the carriage as follows:-"A taxed cart by Act of Parliament. A taxed cart, by decision of the Sheriff of Forfarshire. A taxed cart, by decision of the Court of Session. A chaise, by a second division of the same court. Eight wise judges said it was a chaise, Six, not less wise, that it was a cart. It has been three years on its law journey, and at last has been obliged to stop for want of law grease.' Charles Gardyne Froick's taxed cart." Mr. G. rode in this vehicle on all necessary occasions, during the remainder of his life, and exhibited it at Perth once, during the circuit, at the George inn door, to the no small dismay of the judges, counsel, and agents, and amusement of the citizens.

Temptations of Servants.-Servants have, in common with the rest of the world, the vanities and desires natural to humanity; but while they administer to them in others, they are compelled to control them in themselves. Under such circumstances, they do not surely need the aggravation they often meet with from arrogance and irritability. Goaded humanity often bears much ere it falls from virtue; many and bitter are the pangs of hunger often felt before the hand is extended in au act of felony. Many a young and pretty girl tries the effect of a ribbon at her mistress's toilet, and sighs to think how little she can command to aid the beauty with which she seeks to charm her lover. Many living in families in which they enjoy plenty, have parents, sisters, brothers, perhaps children, wanting the common necessaries of life. None but stoics will deny that these are trials, trials of no common order, and, let it not be forgot. ten, of continual recurrence, the appealing want or woe, the temptations are perpetually present. What then, is there to assure virtue thus vibrating between contending impulses? What but kindness and consideration, which will twine stronger cords round the heart of the dependant, than suspicion and penalty ever fabricated to bind the delinquent?" M. L. G. (Mrs. Leman Grimstone.)"-Tatler.

Yeast. The yeast prepared by the Hungarians will keep for a whole twelvemonth. During the summer season they boil a certain quantity of wheaten bran and hops in water. The decoction is not long in fermenting, and when this has taken place, they throw in a sufficient portion of bran to form the whole into a thick paste, which they work into balls that are afterwards dried by a slow heat. When wanted for use, they are broken, and boiling water is poured upon them; having stood a proper time, it is decanted, and in a fit state for leavening bread. The Romans prepared their yeast much in the same way: taking wine in a state of fermentation, and working up a given quantum of the flour of millet with it; the paste thus obtained was 'made into balls and dried. Sometimes the yeast, the leavened dough, or the dough itself, will become acid in summer, and acidulate the bread: this may be remedied by throwing some fingers-full of carbonate of magnesia into the yeast or paste. We are told by some chemists, that flour kneaded with water which has been saturated with carbonic acid, may be used in making bread without applying any fermentaceous matter. Others of the fraternity deny that such a process is effectual.Foreign Literary Gazette.

Animal Magnetism.-The professors of this art in Germany pretend to have discovered the means of plunging animals into magnetic sleep. A German paper mentions several real or pretended instances of

success.

The First European Visitors to Japan,-In the year 1542, three Portuguese seamen, Antonia de Mota, Francisco Reimoro, and Antonio Pexoto, deserted from the ship in which they were employed on the coast of Siam, and embarking in a Chinese_junk, sailed towards the east. Storms drove them to Japan, and they were the first Europeans who visited that celebrated empire. But in the same year Japan was visited by a Portuguese adventurer of great notoriety. -Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, vol. xi.

Generosity.-A living artist, whose name, from delicacy, we suppress, being a man of considerable merit and without patronage, had submitted three of his pictures to Sir Thomas Lawrence's inspection. He called one evening at Sir Thomas's house, anxious to gain his approbation, and, at the same time, to take them away. He sent up his name to the President, who followed the servant down stairs, put a paper, folded up, into the hand of the artist, saying, "I had left this, should you have called whilst I was from

home. I much admire your productions, and wish you every success.' The artist had only patience to get to the first lamp, when he was anxious to know what the paper contained, he unfolded it, and found within it a £30 note, which saved him from despair. -Times.

Cock-pit of a Man-of-War. Our readers have heard of the cockpit of a man-of-war, and may probably have seen this dark abode of future heroes. Captain Hall thus describes those with whom he found himself:-" Some of these lads had a turn for mechanics, some for navigation; others devoted much of their time to rigging and different branches of seamanship, their hands being constantly in the tar-bucket. A few applied themselves to reading and drawing; several desperate hands stuck resolutely to the flute; one or two thought of nothing but dress; and a few swore a pretty steady friendship to the grog bottle; while every now and then a sentimental youth deemed himself inspired, and wrote execrable verses, which we thought capital. By far the greater number of these promising young men have found graves, some on land, some in the deep sea."-Captain Basil Hall's Fragments.

Mysterious Sounds.-The wide-spread sail of a ship, rendered concave by a gentle breeze, is a good collector of sound. "It happened," says Dr. Arnott, "once on board a ship sailing along the coast of Brazil, far out of sight of land, that the persons walking on deck, when passing a particular spot, always heard very distinctly the sound of bells, varying as in human rejoicings. All on board came to listen, and were convinced but the phenomenon was most mysterious. Months afterwards, it was ascertained that at the time of observation, the bells of the city of St. Salvador, on the Brazilian coast, had been ringing on the occasion of a festival; their sound, therefore, favoured by a gentle wind, had travelled perhaps one hundred miles by smooth water, and had been brought to a focus by the sail, on the particular situation or deep where it was listened to." It appears from this, that a machine might be constructed, having the same relation to sound as a telescope has to sight.

Sea Cat.-The sea-cat is progressively disappearing from the shores of the Frith of Forth. It resembles the land cat in the head, is as well provided with a series of formidable rows of teeth as the shark, and is so fierce, that it will seize even a bar of iron, and hold on, till pulled out of the water. They have frequently been taken four feet in length, and when hauled into the boat, uniformly made at the fishermen, with outstretched jaws, and struggled till they were killed by numberless heavy blows. Unseemly as it is, the sea-cat, when skinned, cut up into thin slices, and properly fried, is as white as the turbot, and preferable to the taste. They are very seldom seen in the market in this city, and seldom bring above a halfpenny per pound.-Edinburgh Paper.

By

Sierra Leone.-The mortality amongst the Europeans at this ill-fated colony continued up to the last departure from thence to an alarming extent. the ship Maria, lately arrived at Plymouth, we learn, that the number of deaths had frightfully increased, and that the season was more than usually unhealthy and unfavourable. The crew of that vessel were all taken ill; several were conveyed on shore by order of the captain, so that they might receive better comforts and attendance, but, although every assistance was rendered, most of the unfortunate men died in a few days, and were buried in the English churchyard. It has been found necessary by the owners and captains of ships in England, destined for Sierra Leone, to increase the number of hands one third, and in some vessels one half, but it is now difficult to procure men even at double wages, so great and general is the fear of that pestilential climate. Morning Paper.

Some Things at which all are Offended.-All are of fended, when people, instead of coming to meeting at the time appointed, are continually dropping in as best suits their own convenience. All are offended, when any one hawks and coughs, and scrapes his feet, in time of worship. All are offended, when a man makes a long prayer. All are offended, when a map, instead of praying for what he wants, prays for the prosperity of Noah's Ark, or the downfall of Babel. All are offended, when a man, instead of breathing out his desires to God in prayer, preaches to Christians and the impenitent. All are offended, when a man declines leading in prayer, without a good excuse. All are offended, when a leader of a meeting is half an hour finding a chapter or hymn. All are offended, when they see a man eating tobacco.

Worth remembering.-When Agesilaus heard any persons praised or censured, he remarked, that it was as necessary to know the characters of the speakers, as the characters of those who were the subjects of their opinions.

The Grave of White Men.--The annual expense of Sierra Leone amounts to £63,280, 15s, exclusive of nearly £8,000, more for the minor establishments of Fernando Po, and the forts on the Gold Coast. The whole cost of our apparatus for putting down the slave-trade, the only effect of which has been to entail on these wretched victims a "middle passage' of tenfold horror compared with what they suffered before we interfered to better their condition, is about £400,000 per annum; while the prospect of civilizing Africa is as distant as ever.

Singular Effect of Tetanus.-When the muscles of the face are affected with tetanic spasms, (observed Mr. Lawrence, in a recent surgical lecture,) the features are drawn, independently of the will of the patient, into peculiar forms, and very frequently a kind of grin is produced by their action, which has been called by the old writers risus sardonicus. It is a kind of movement of the features into the position they assume in grinning or laughing; but it is merely consequent on the spasmodic affections of the muscles of the face, so that there is the appearance of laughter, independently of the state of mind that should accompany it.

Longevity.-Lately the widow Bagot died near Kiltormor, county Galway, at the extraordinary age of 120 years, in the full possession of all her faculties. She retained to her last moments a wonderful taste for music, and a powerful remembrance of ancient Irish songs. On the day previous to her death she sung several beautiful airs for her great great grandchild, with a clear and firm voice. Her remains were followed to the grave by a large train descended from herself-her children, grand-children, great grandchildren, and great great grand-children.-London Christian Adv.

Literary Notices.

Just Published.

Part XXV. Baines's History of Lancashire. Part XLVIII. National Portrait Gallery:-The Earl of Munster; Sir James Mackintosh; and the Earl of Shaftesbury.

Select Library, Vol. VIII.; being Vol. II. of Carne's Lives of Eminent Missionaries, comprising Zeisberger. Vanderkemp and Kicherer, Buchanan, Jens Haven, Mrs. Judson, Brainerd, Milne; and others.

The Private Life of our Lord Jesus Christ, considered as an Example to all his Disciples, and a Demonstration of his Mission. By Thomas Williams, Author of the Age of Infidelity, Editor of the Cottage Bible, &c. &c.

Christianity considered of, as Founded on the Nature, Reality, and Eternal Fitness of Things. Mrs. Kerruish.

By

Essays for Encouragement and Consolation. By John Sheppard.

Supplications suggested by Each Chapter in the Gospel. By the Rev. George Rose, B.A. Edinburgh Cabinet Library, No. 10.

A Familiar Illustration of the Principles of Christian Duty. By James Abbott.

Meditation with Self-examination, for Every Day in the Year.

Anecdotes, Interpositions of Providence, Scripture Topography, &c. By the Rev. John Young.

Scripture Memorials, &c. By the Rev. J. Young. Lardner's Cyclopedia, No. 39.

Llewellin, or the Disasters of the Welsh Harp, a Poem. By John Jones.

The Official Glory of the Son of God, &c. By John Jefferson.

Observations on a recent Criticism in the Edinburgh Review. By Thomas Chalmers, D.D. &c.

Jesus Christ the Only Divine Object of Praise, a Sermon. By Manoah Sibly.

Thoughts on the Humanity of Christ. By George Royds Birch, Esq.

A Companion for the Season of Maternal Solicitude, containing Hints for the Nursery. By Thos. Searle." A Brand plucked from the Burning.

Introductory Lecture delivered in the Mechanics' Institution, Glasgow. By John C. Colquhoun, Esq. Another Reform Bill.

Elijah. Bv the Author of Balaam and Modern Fanaticism Unveiled.

Fulton and Knight's Dictionary of the English Language.

First Lines of Natural Philosophy, &c. By Robt. Mudin.

A Sermon in Commemoration of Sir Thos. Gresham. By the Rev. W. M. Blencowe, M.A.

A Sunday School Catechism. By the Rev. Edw. James Phipps.

Fourteenth Report of the Bengal Auxiliary Society. Fourth Report of the Calcutta Christian Tract Society.

Report from the Select Committee on the Extinction of Slavery throughout the British Dominions. The Ninth Report of the Calcutta School Book Society's Proceedings.

Family Classical Library, No. 38. Homer. Unequal Taxation the chief Cause of the Misery now suffering by the Industrious and Middle Classes. By James Richardson.

Time's Telescope for 1833.

Pictures of Private Life. By Sarah Stickney. The Cabinet Annual Register, and Historical, Political, Biographical, and Miscellaneous Chronicle for 1833.

An Introduction to the Study of English Botany, with a Glossary of Terms. By Geo. Bancks, F.L.S.

In One Volume, 8vo. pp. 584. closely printed, The Report in Full from the Select Committee of the House of Commons, on the Extinction of Slavery throughout the British Dominions. With a Copious Index.

Beginning January 1st, No. I. to X of The Weekly Visitor, price one halfpenny each. Also, Parts I. and II. containing Five Weekly Numbers, stitched in a neat Wrapper, price threepence each.-Religious Tract Society.

In the Press.

Cruden's Concordance of the New Testament, containing every Name and Text of the great editionthe size, 4 by 2 inches; the weight, about two ounces. The New Testament (with coloured Maps, &c.) and Cruden's Concordance, one volume.

Schmidt's Greek Concordance of the New Testament, by Greenfield, and Cruden's Concordance, in one beautiful volume.

The Genuine Epistles of the Apostolical FathersSt. Clement, St. Polycarp, St. Ignatius, and St. Barnabas; the Shepherd of Hermas, and the Martyrdoms of St. Ignatius and St. Polycarp, written by those who were present at their sufferings: being, together with the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, a complete collection of the most primitive antiquity, for about one hundred and fifty years after Christ.

Dictionary of Practical Medicine. By J. Copland, M.D. &c. 8vo. Part II.

Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics. By A. T. Thomson, M.D. &c. 8vo. Vol. II.

Introduction to Geology. By Robert Bakewell. 8vo. 4th edition, greatly enlarged, with numerous plates and cuts.

Geology of the South-east of England. By G. Mantell, Esq. F.R.S. L.S. G.S. &c. 8vo. with Plates. Mary of Burgundy; or, the Revolt of Ghent. By the Author of Richelieu, Henry Masterton, &c. 3 vols. post 8vo,

Dr. Arnott's Elements of Physics, or Natural Philosophy; written for universal use, in plain or nontechnical language. 5th edition. Vol. I. and II. Pt. I.

Lives of English Female Worthies. By Mrs. John Sandford. 12mo. Vol. I., containing Lady Jane Grey, Mrs. Colonel Hutchinson, and Lady Rachel Russell.

History of the Reformation. By J. A. Roebuck, Esq. M.P.

The Second Volume of The Record of Providence. By the Rev. J. Young.

Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of the Rev. William Lavers, late of Honiton. By I. S. Elliott, With a Portrait.

Tables of the Weight of square, round, and flat Wrought-Iron, from the smallest to the largest size ever used. By J. O. York, Civil Engineer.

Erratum.-In page 87, containing lines on the death of Mr. Watson, for "Mammon's lyre" read "Mem non's lyre."