ing its appearance less miserable and disgusting. The child was in consequence admitted into the hospital, where, under the most discouraging circumstances, an operation was planned and performed by its distinguished chief surgeon, Mr Ferrall. We are of course unable to give any professional detail of the proceeding, but, incredible as it may appear, all the natural deficiencies of feature were under this gentleman's skilful manage

ment supplied from the flesh of the adjacent parts, and

the infant, at the time to which we refer, when it was little more than a year old, already exhibited the appear ance of perfect health and of a well-formed face. When

the child was first seen by the parents after the decided success of the operation, it would, as we were assured, be quite impossible to describe the excessive joy of the poor mother, as on her knees she presented to the anxious

at least over it, and which were intended to bow down to the vessel at a very gentle slope, as the column descended to the vessel. On the 19th of June, at four in the morning, all was ready for the embarkment of the column. Ten capstans, placed on the transverse mole already spoken of, began, at a given signal, to act upon the massive freight; while sixty workmen were placed at the cables which aided in the operation, and also in keeping the ship in its place. The column was set in motion; every thing went on well and when, in a moment, an accident occurred which threw securely; it had just touched the sides of the vessel, all into consternation. The beams upon which the column rested in its passage, cracked; the alarmed workmen fled; and the column, breaking at once through the whole of the supporting beams, fell with a terrible crash among their fragments, having one the sea.

father the altered infant, now become a really well-look-end in the boat and the other sunk deep in the bed of

ing and comely child. Such, we repeat, are among the best and noblest triumphs of the profession."-Leinster Independent.

THE ALEXANDRINE COLUMN OF ST

PETERSBURGH.

THE Alexandrine Column, or monumental pillar erected by the Russian czar, Nicholas, in honour of his brother Alexander, is one of the most magnificent objects of its kind in modern times. Like the power and empire of Russia itself, the Alexandrine column is, in conception and execution, massive and colossal, and impressive to the mind and eye from mere material bulk. The various processes attending its erection form a very remarkable history, interesting from the difficulties, foreseen and unforeseen, which stood in the way, and which were successively overcome by the patience and skill of the architect and his assistants. The architect himself, M. de Montferrand, a Frenchman by birth, has left such a history behind him. We translate, for the entertainment of our readers, some of the most important passages in this narrative.

The Alexandrine Column is a monolithe, or formed of a single stone. It is a fine species of granite, capable of taking on a beautiful polish, and of a red colour, being also exceedingly durable. The column, which is circular, and sculptured, generally speaking, after the Doric style, measures twelve feet in its greatest diameter, and eighty-four feet in height. It is thus twelve feet higher than the obelisk of Luxor, one of the finest ancient erections of this character, and it weighs thrice as much as the same Egyptian pillar. The Alexandrine Column was cut from the quarries of Pytterlaxe, in the neighbourhood of St Petersburgh, in the year 1831. These quarries are situated no great way from the shores of the waters enveloping that region and the Russian capital. While the stone was in the course of being excavated, a vessel was also in preparation for the conveyance of its enormous mass from its native site to that chosen for it in St Petersburgh. This vessel was broad and flat-bottomed, one hundred and forty-seven feet long, and calculated to draw only about seven feet of water under a weight of two million six hundred thousand pounds, a weight considerably exceeding that of the monolithic shaft. With a greater draught, it could not have traversed the numerous shallows in the line of its intended course. On the 5th of June 1832, this vessel, in itself a work of huge bulk, was brought to anchor near to the quarries of Pytterlaxe.

It was some time before the architect and his work

men could look about them. When they did so, it was gratifying to discover that not one life had been lost, notwithstanding the numbers about the spot at the moment. Without delay, the superintendant of the embarkation commenced to remedy the evil. In consequence of the weight falling obliquely on it, the vessel was turned over sideways, and partly forced into the clayey bed of the sea. The whole power of the machinery was applied to raise the column to a fair and proper position on the vessel. The 400 fatigued labourers could not have accomplished this alone, but it chanced that some visitors of distinction had arrived from St Petersburgh to witness the operations, and diate assistance of 600 soldiers from a garrison near one of these took it upon him to order in the immethe spot. With this reinforcement, after forty-eight hours of almost incredible toil, the column was safely raised, and laid straight upon the vessel. The latter machine, to the delight of all, floated lightly and easily

with its burden.

On the 1st of July, after four days' slow sail in the Gulf of Finland, the vessel was safely towed into the required place in the harbour of St Petersburgh. The column and its vessel were now visited by immense crowds, the grandees and royal family of the country among the number. The next operation was to convey the stone to land. For this purpose, a new work of great strength, inclined in its shape, had to be constructed, into the particulars of which it is needless to enter. Suffice it to say, that on the 12th of July the debarkation of the monolithe took place. A great crowd had assembled to witness it. The emperor and empress appeared on the scene. The signal was given, and the importance of the operation may be guessed by the fact that all the workmen fell involuntarily and simultaneously on their knees before venturing on the task, and prayed for its success. Fourteen capstans were set in action to move the column, while six were devoted to the keeping of the vessel, otherwise bound also, in its place. The result was fortunate. Slowly, and amid profound silence, the column began to move, and in ten minutes, without accident, it was safely brought to a spot beneath the window of the palace, whence the empress had beheld the scene.

An inclined plane was now to be made, to bring it up to the level of the spot, where its pedestal was erected, in the centre of a square; and 600 carpenPreparations on a vast scale had been previously ters addressed themselves to this task. The inclined made for the embarkation of the columnar shaft. A plane was 490 feet long, and 100 feet in breadth, and, mole or causeway had been carried into the sea to the at its greatest elevation, rose to thirty-five feet. The length of thirty fathoms, forming in itself a goodly same difficulty which obstructed the rolling of the pier, and requiring considerable labour. It was raised column to the water, impeded its progress up this plane. upon stakes, driven into the sea-bed, and consisted of This was the inequality in thickness, and it was always strong interlaced or crossing beams, the interspaces necessary, when the thick end of the column got in adof which were filled with stones. At the end of this vance, to make it pause and revolve upon itself till the mole, a transverse embankment was formed, and by lesser end was brought forward also. After a time, the the side of this, or rather inside of it, the vessel was inclination was safely surmounted, without any accident moored. It was necessary, however, first to deepen happening to the wood-work. Before the passage of the the channel by two feet, in order to admit of the free inclined plane, it ought to be mentioned, workmen, to passage of the vessel. On the transverse mole were the number of 150, were busied in giving the finish to placed the capstans by which the embarkation was to the figure of the column. When he had brought it be effected. By land, preparations on an equally large to the top of the plane, the architect then prepared a scale were made in the meantime. In order to ad- car for its transportation along the horizontal space vance the column from the spot where it had been which still lay between it and the proposed site. This formed, it was necessary to clear the intermediate car was in two pieces, and in all eighty-two feet long ground, about a hundred yards in extent, and very by eleven in breadth. It had seventy-two cast-iron rocky and uneven. The exploding, cutting, and smooth-wheels, and was composed of metal-bound beams. By ing required for this purpose, was in itself a great work. means of this machine, the column was securely moved When a pathway had thus been made, the stone was to the necessary spot. slowly raised by the action of eight powerful capstans, and propelled a little way, rolling over and over breadthways. The greater diameter of one end made this a difficult process, for the narrow end, rolling over less space, necessarily fell behind. A peculiar application of the capstans, with the assistance of strong iron wedges, was required to bring it forward to a straight line. After four hundred men had laboured at the task for fifteen days, without any intermission, the column was at length placed at the end of the mole, in a direction parallel with the sides of the vessel upon which it was to be lodged.

The column now lay transversely upon twenty-eight beams, thirty-five feet long, and two feet square, the end of which passed from the mole to the vessel, or

* As this is translated from the French, it is probable that the weights and measures mentioned are French, which differ a little from the British.

Perhaps the hardest task of all now commenced. This was the conception and erection of the great scaffolding by means of which this immense mass of stone was to be safely lodged on its pedestal, there to remain till time should work its fall. This scaffolding, we shall only say, was 154 feet high, and partly composed of mason-work, and partly of wood. The mason-work formed an inferior platform, and on this sixty capstans of great power were placed for the raising of the column. Each of these machines, with the appendages belonging to it, was first tried, and found to resist a weight of 60,000 pounds. The correspondent ropes were made by machinery, each rope containing 522 threads of hemp, so strong that every thread sustained singly a weight of 180 pounds. With such preparations, the placing of the column could not fail to be successful. Yet the architect took the precaution to try all his apparatus more fully, by raising the column twenty feet in the air, and then

replacing it, previously to the final attempt at fixing it in its site.

The architect, in the beginning of September, brought his work safely to a conclusion, placing it on its pedestal amid the acclamations of the Russian people. A statue was afterwards placed on the top of it, and the Alexandrine Column now stands in the northern capital, a credit to the nation and to its crectors. As a monolithic pillar, it has no equal among the erections of modern times.

LETTER OF AN AUSTRALIAN SETTLER.

ANY thing beyond common experiences which children see for the first time, never fails to make a permanent impression upon them. I [the reader must understand that one of the editors of this paper now speaks

in his proper person] can never forget the first time

I beheld a scientific instrument used. It was a theo

dolite belonging to a gentleman who was taking levels along the vale of Tweed, with a view to the construction of a railway between Glasgow and Berwick—a work which never was commenced. This was in the early days of railways, about the year 1810 or 1811, when they were not so readily entered upon as they are now. Mr K, a land-surveyor settled in Roxburghshire, had been employed to make the necessary surveys through Peeblesshire, and when he came, in the course of his operations, to the little sequestered town in which I spent my first years, he became acquainted with my father, who was then almost singular in the place for a love of science; a feeling which he early imparted to myself, along with much valuable instruction. At his request, our surveying friend erected his theodolite in the street, and explained its uses to my brother and myself, to our infinite pleasure, and with the effect of awakening in our minds a reverence for the instruments of exact science, and indelibly impressing upon us a pleasing recollection of the kind demonstrator himself."

I am tempted to mention these circumstances, in order to give the greater assurance of the genuineness of a very interesting letter, which it has been thought worth while to communicate to the public in this sheet. Having lost much capital in farming in his emigrated in 1824, with a native county, Mr Knumber of sons and daughters, to New South Wales, where, his scientific acquirements having recommended him to the friendship of the governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, he very quickly found himself settled in an agreeable and lucrative situation on the Emu Plains. The letter in question is one written by Mr Kat his settlement of Cardross, Goulburn, on the 5th of July 1839; the object of which was to acquaint one of his sons, who still resides in this country, with his present circumstances. It was of course not meant for publication; but as it possesses a general interest, as an account of the carcer and present situation of a prosperous emigrant, it is here, with the permission of his friends, laid before the public :

"We [Mr K and one of his sons named James] have been striving very hard for the last twelve years, and vesting what money we could realise in the purchase of land and live stock. We have now as much stock as is required for the foundation of a splendid fortune for those I leave behind; and in regard to land, we have abundance, and I only wish to obtain 850 acres more, to render my establishment on the sea-coast one of the most perfect in the colony: this must fetch a high price at auction, still it is worth double to me that it would be to any other purchaser.

Our different estates at present stand as follow:to wit, 1st, Cardross, where I now reside, contains 2000 acres, with 200 acres in cultivation; my grant.-2d, Cardross Grange, adjoining the above, contains 1000 acres, with 100 acres in cultivation; a purchase.--3d, Maxton on opposite side of Wolondilly, contains 2000 acres, with allen, adjoining on east, late Howey's, contains 960 acres, 200 acres in cultivation; grant to James.-4th, Strathwith 150 acres in cultivation; a purchase, 1000 guineas.5th, Raine Ville, on Fish River, near Bathurst, contains 2000 acres, with 200 acres in cultivation; a purchase.--6th, St Boswell's adjoining, and east from the last lot, contains 1221 acres, with 70 acres in cultivation; a purchase.-7th, Mount Jervis, on Jervis's Bay, twelve hours' sail from Sydney, contains 2560 acres; just commenced improvements. Total, 11,741 acres. On Cardross we have a post wind-mill, fine garden and vineyard of 2 acres, the scenery and surface soft and undulating, and 800 acres of rich land might be cultivated without removing

a tree.

James and the captain [another son] have been there I intend making Mount Jervis my principal residence. since February, busy in clearing and inclosing a fine park and policy of 150 acres, with vineyards and orangery of 5 acres, paddocks for tobacco, maize, hops, &c. &c., and laying the foundation of an observatory on the exact parallel of 35 degrees south latitude, and 150 degrees 50 minutes of longitude east from Greenwich. This estate commands thirty miles of sea-coast, namely, fifteen miles on the Pacific Ocean, and fifteen miles on Jervis's Bay,

which is perhaps the finest harbour in her majesty's do

age and ride in safety from every wind. The site of the minions, where the whole British navy may find anchormansion cannot be excelled in grandeur by any place I ever saw. There is a natural port, called Bunda by the natives, just under my windows, at a quarter of a mile's distance, where vessels of 200 tons anchor within a cable's length of the shore. The bay and coast abound with fish of every delicacy and variety-oysters, both rock

and mud, schnapper, mullet, bream, whiting, and a thou-reports of the Scottish parishes which were completed sand other varieties. You may often see half a dozen about fifty years ago, and are again in course of pubwhales spouting about in the bay in the calving season. lication, furnish excellent materials for such an inPart of my northern boundary is formed by an extensive quiry; and what are the changes which they exhibit and picturesque lagoon or lake, two and a half by one and In the first place, it may be observed, that since a half miles in extent, which abounds with wild geese, 1791 the wages of agricultural labour have undergone ducks, black swans, pelicans, &c. &c., swimming about in vast numbers, also plenty of mullet, perch, and bream. from 8d. to ls. per day was about the average summer a rise of from 50 to 100 per cent. At that period, Whatever we want for breakfast or dinner is brought in We have the wages of a country labourer, out of which he had to by the black fellows absolutely in loads. chief or king (Wagamy), and his two black queens or jins, provide himself with every thing. The summer wages always with us, who have their camp just beside us; he of the same class at present run from 1s. 6d. to 2s. can command us the services of a dozen more of his In some counties they are a little higher, and in tribe when they are wanted to shoot, fish, strip bark, or others a little lower, but these rates may be considered go in their canoes messages for many miles by sea; they a fair average. The wages of the manufacturing are the most faithful, gentle, and useful blacks I ever met classes are in general much higher than those of agriwith. King Wagamy has been a-whaling in the Pacific, culturists; and manufactures, which in 1791 were in has been at New Zealand, Hobart Town, and other places, their infancy, now employ a large portion of the popuand speaks English very correctly. They have their slops lation. The wages of tradesmen have also undergone and rations of flour, tobacco, tea, and sugar, served out to a similar rise. While the whole of our industrious them by us every day, and government furnishes each of classes are thus receiving much greater wages per day them a blanket every winter. Their value to us in catering, than their predecessors in 1791, their employment has fishing. &c., is worth double their rations. Their accuracy become much more constant, and the wages earned by in shooting and throwing the spear cannot be surpassed. They bring in a kangaroo for soup whenever wanted. each individual in the course of the year have risen in Wagamy is a most portly figure as he walks about armed a much higher proportion. No less remarkable an with his double-barrelled musket, shot belt, and powder improvement has taken place in the pecuniary circumflask, with my two noble kangaroo dogs Camp and stances of their employers. Many, in fact, of our most Tweedo following along, with the two jins carrying his respectable commercial men, have, much to their credit, tomahawk, boomurung, fishing lines, and spears; he has raised themselves from the humble rank of operative generally a bark canoe ready for launching in every creek tradesmen to the possession of splendid fortunes; and and inlet. the land rentals of the country have in many cases tripled and quadrupled, and scarcely any where less

Now for our live stock. We have 1000 head of horned cattle, depasturing on land rented from government at Boorowy, about 150 miles west from this; 150 head at home here; 350 head at Jervis's Bay; being 1500 head in all, of cows, heifers, bullocks, and steers of a fine breed. One of my grass-fed bullocks, Strawberry, five years old, was slaughtered at Sydney in 1835, and weighed 1470 pounds, sinking the offal. His picture, in oil, was drawn by Mr Hippkiss, and presented by your brother William to a gentleman in Van Diemen's Land.

Our sheep stock at the different stations amounts in whole to 5500, all Merinoes and fine woolled. My last clip, 14,000 pounds, sold in Sydney at is. 8d. per pound, and brought me L.1166, payable in three and six months after delivery. Our cattle profits bring nearly as much more. We employ 20 shepherds and watchmen, 3 overseers, 3 gardeners, 15 farming men, 1 blacksmith, I carpenter and wheelwright, 2 brick-layers, 2 grooms, and 2 house-servants, being 49 in all; of whom 7 are free, and the remainder prisoners or ticket-of-leave holders. The expenses are enormous, besides what we lose by pilfering and stealing; but the annual female increase of our sheep, horns, and horned stock, which we never sell, helps well. Each man has a weekly ration of 9 pounds of beef or mutton, 10 pounds of flour, a quarter of a pound of tea, 2 pounds of sugar, 1 ounce of tobacco, and 2 ounces of soap, with two full suits of slops every year. Thank God, we have got on hitherto without ever allowing ourselves to borrow or run into debt, and we have L.1000 vested in bank shares, which yield a dividend ycarly of 163 per cent."

Such have been the felicitous consequences attending the step which Mr K--was induced to take about fifteen years before the date of his letter. It only remains that we caution our readers against receiving the history of this gentleman as any thing more than a single fact. He has been prosperous; but we do not know how far he may have been so in consequence of his own particular talents and cast of mind, of his family circumstances, or of good fortune. Similar prosperity might befall others; but it cannot be expected to be the fate of all.

than doubled.

If we look again at the articles of necessary consumption which must be purchased, we find the present average price of oatmeal, potatoes, and wheat, little if at all different from their prices in 1791; every article of dress is both much cheaper and much better; and many foreign products, which at that period were within the reach of few, are no longer esteemed luxuries, but so much reduced in price as to be enjoyed by all; yet, with these low prices, our merchants and manufacturers have made their fortunes, and our farmers, notwithstanding the high rents and high wages paid by them, and the comparatively low prices which they receive, are in much better pecuniary circumstances than in 1791. So much for the food and clothing of the population at these two periods.

The rents paid for lodging do not admit of being compared in the same way, the accommodation being entirely different. But we can be at no loss to perceive that in this respect even a more wonderful change has taken place for the better. We have before our eyes some of the town-houses occupied, at the former period, by people of the highest distinction; these houses are now possessed by persons in a very humble rank, not a few of them by beggars; while, in the same towns, families in very moderate circumstances are in possession of houses greatly superior to what they ever were. The country-houses of the higher orders have been either entirely built or altogether renovated within that period. In many counties new steadings have been erected almost on every farm, superior to the former mansions of the proprietors; and the accommodation of the cottars, though still very inferior to what we could wish, is now greatly better than most of the farm-houses of that period. There can be no doubt, then, that all classes are now infinitely better fed, clothed, and lodged, than the population of 1791. The consequences are apparent in their improved health. Ague and many other complaints then prevalent have either NATIONAL ADVANCEMENT BY A PROPER disappeared or become greatly mitigated, and there is USE OF MEANS. scarcely a parish which does not lay claim to great salubrity of climate, and adduce in proof the longevity morals and religion have advanced along with these of its inhabitants. Many of the reporters state that physical improvements, and almost all declare that in these respects their flocks are deserving of commendation. Indeed, the solemn stillness of a Scottish Sabbath, and the almost total absence of military from the country, would attest the high moral and religious character of the nation to a stranger unacquainted with the language.

THE following valuable paper is extracted from a pamphlet recently published (Blackwood, Edinburgh) under the title of the Ninth Annual Report of the Proceedings of the Glenkens Society for Improving the Condition of the Working Classes." The Glenkens Society, to which we have already oftener than once made reference, is one of truly philanthropic character, and it has the merit, too rarely allied with benevolence, of doing good by right methods, its great aim being to direct and encourage the humbler classes to do good to themselves, and that simply by making a proper use of the means which Providence has placed within their power. The report is the composition of Mr Grierson of Garroch, the society's secretary, to whom it does great credit :

"All are agreed regarding the leading points in physical science. They have been ascertained by diligent observation and careful experiment, and no room has been left for doubt. But if we turn from these subjects to the investigations which have been undertaken with the view of improving the condition of the mass of mankind, nothing can be more striking than the contrast. Here philosophers of the highest name have arrived at conclusions directly at variance with one another, and in some instances not a little astounding to the common sense of plain men. Is there no rule, then, to direct us in this matter? We see different communities, in circumstances apparently altogether similar, possessed of very different degrees of comfort; and we see differences equally great in the situation of the inhabitants of the same country at different periods of their history. May the probable causes of these differences not be discovered, and suggest what ought to be sought and what avoided, and may the actual truth not be ascertained in this as in other matters, by experiment? The statistical

as it was in 1791; the materials which it contains are the same. The sole difference consists in the uses, to which they are applied. In the first place, the present generation possess much more intelligence; education is both more general and better conducted, and parish libraries, and private collections of the best authors, every where afford the means of obtaining information on all subjects. This enlargement of mind has led to better arrangements in every department of business; banishing superstition, it has diffused more correct views of the solemn truths and duties of religion, and it has withdrawn our countrymen from the gross and expensive indulgences of former times, to cheaper and more refined recreations. In the second place, our tradesmen have become much more dexterous at their different occupations. They are not only more rapid, but they are enabled to execute works to which their predecessors were altogether unequal. In the third place, they are more industrious; many no doubt are still subject to indolent habits, but, generally speaking, there is much less time now thrown away in absolute idleness than at the former period. To all this must be added, that our countrymen have not been wanting in economy. The capital of the country has very much increased. It is from the savings of individuals that this increase has arisen, and the growth of Savings' Banks is a proof that these economical habits reach to a very humble class.

These causes combined are quite sufficient in our opinion to account for the very great increase which has taken place in the produce of the country, and the general comforts of its inhabitants. With the machinery furnished by the skill, dexterity, and industry of modern tradesmen, from the capital thus accumulated, one man is enabled to throw off as much cotton thread as two hundred could produce sixty years ago. Wearing, bleaching, printing, have made similar progress. Hence the low price of all kinds of cotton fabrics, and hence, too, the multitude supported by that branch of manufacture. The same may be said of all our other manufactures. Agricultural machinery may not be as yet quite so perfect, but the improvement of all the arts connected with agriculture has been very great, and the works which have been executed in that period have been wonderful. Great part of the land has been divided and fenced-much of what was waste has been reclaimed the best implements of husbandry in the world have been introduced-ploughing has been brought to perfection-the proper succession of crops has been carefully studied, and in the opinion of Mr Dudgeon, since 1784, by a mere change in the rotation, the produce has in many places been increased tenfold

almost universally the thrashing-machine has superseded the imperfect and expensive mode of separating the grain by hand-labour-and, finally, the live stock of the country has completely changed its character. As we are indebted for all this to the improved intelligence, dexterity, industry, and increased capital of our countrymen, so are we also for our improved lodging, and improved means of transit by common roads, steam-boats, and railroads, which have made it an easy matter for districts the most remote to exchange their surplus produce, and to command the luxuries of the most distant climes.

If the remarkable improvement which has taken place in the circumstances of the great body of the people is sufficiently accounted for by their improved use of the materials afforded by Providence, we believe that the misery which is still to be found in some districts may, with equal certainty, be traced to the neglect or misuse of means quite as well adapted to the supply of their wants, and many have little idea to what extent this negligence prevails.

The reports from the Lewis [an island of the in general indescribably filthy. There is only an Hebrides] state that the huts of the peasantry are annual sweeping of their houses. The people and

cattle are under the same roof, and on the same area. Very few of the country dwellings have a single pane of glass. There is one hole in the roof to allow the excess of smoke to escape, and another on the top of the wall; the latter at night, or during a storm through the day, being stopped with a wisp. * * Wood is so quantity to make a good roof. ** scarce and so dear that it cannot be had in sufficient The roofs have no eaves. The thatch in general is made of stubble or potato stalks, which are spread on the scanty wooden roof, and bound by heather or straw ropes, which again are at each side of the roof fastened by stones, called anchors, resting on the top of the broad wall. On this wall it is no unusual sight to see sheep and calves feeding, and making a short passage into the byre through the roof. The doors of the houses are so low, that whoever would gain admittance must humble himself, and continue in that posture till he reach the fire, which is always in the middle of the floor, and very often he must grope his way, or be led by the hand. From the slightness of the wooden rafters, much straw or stubble cannot be laid for thatch, but just sufficient to exclude the daylight. The thatch is not expected at first to keep out much rain until it is properly saturated with soot, but to compensate for this defect, the inmates are practical chemists; they keep plenty of peats on the fire; the interior is soon filled with smoke; the smoke and increasing heat repel the rain, for a great proportion of what falls on the roof is returned to the atmosphere by evaporation. These houses after a smart shower appear like so many salt-pans or brew-houses in operation.'

This account is said to apply very generally to the

BATTLE SCENES.

THE following is an account given by Major Bevan, in his work, "Thirty Years in India," of a scene which occurred at the conclusion of a battle in which he was engaged:"Near midnight, when about to retire to rest, an order was received from the commander-in-chief to detach an officer and one hundred pioneers for the purpose of collecting the wounded, and also such arms and accoutrements as could be found on the field of battle. This severe duty devolved upon me, as the other officers were all laid up from the fatigue they had undergone throughout the day. Several palanquins belonging to the headquarters and staff were kindly sent to bring in the wounded, as none of the public dooly boys could be procured, they having dispersed in search of plunder.

The scenes of woe and misery I experienced during this dark and dismal night, in my progress over the field of battle amidst the carnage of the day, will never be effaced from my memory.

The groans and screams of the wounded and dying constantly struck my ear, as also the piteous wailings of the wives, daughters, fathers, or sons of those who had fallen, or the cries of others in search of their missing relatives. With these heart-rending sounds were often mixed the wild execrations of the dying, who were attempting to repel the marauders who came for the purpose of plunder and rapine.

We found many bodies of our own soldiers in a perfect state of nudity, which plainly evinced they had not escaped those indignities offered to the dead and dying by the profligate followers of a camp.

Our enemies were treated in the same manner; the wretches who wandered over the field in search of plunder spared neither friend nor foe when there was a prospect of booty. We rescued a considerable number of the wounded from this lonely death, the most terrible to the imagination; but several of them had fallen victims to the cowardly assassins or the inclemency of the weather before we could afford them rescue or relief. The ground was soft clay, which had been saturated by the heavy rains and trodden into a quagmire by the passing and repassing of men, animals, and carriages; a misty, drizzl ing rain fell incessantly, and these circumstances rendered our toil exceedingly difficult and tedious. We had to wait a considerable time for the return of the palanquins from the field-hospital, whither our wounded were conveyed, so that the morning dawned ere our task was completed.

The scenes which I witnessed in the hospital were scarcely less harrowing to the feelings than those in the field. Dr A. and the rest of the medical staff employed all that skill and energy could suggest for the relief of the sufferers. I saw them perform several very difficult operations and amputations, and especially one on Licutenant H., whose knee was severely shattered. He sustained the operation with unflinching courage, but expired soon after it had been completed. Few, indeed, of those who had received gunshot wounds survived, for the fractures they had suffered were generally so extensive as to bring on lock-jaw. Many young aspirants for military fame, dazzled by the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war,' would have their ardour sadly damped by witnessing the scenes on the field and in the hospital of Mahedpoore."

Captain Patterson of the 50th, or Queen's Own regiment, presents in his " Adventures" a description of what came under his observation during the war in the Peninsula, which is equally affecting. As the narration of such incidents may be of use in creating a just horror of war, we here offer it for the perusal of the reader :"Soon after nightfall, and when the clash of arms was no longer heard, an interment of the dead took place, and many a poor fellow, who had a few hours before been full of life and strength, was now deposited in his narrow bed. The remains of Major Stanhope were lowered to the grave by his brother officers and comrades, with their sashes. He had worn this day a suit of new uniform, and a pair of bright silver epaulets; in which, with his military cloak around him, upon the same hour as his lamented chief, he was consigned to an honourable tomb. While we were engaged in the performance of this melancholy duty, the Honourable Captain Stanhope of the Guards, aide-de-camp to Sir John Moore, rode up, directed by the torch-light, to the mournful group. was the first intimation which he received of his brave relation's fate. Dismounting, and overcome with grief, he took a last farewell; and having obtained his ring, together with a lock of hair, he tore himself hastily away from the heart-rending scene.

It

On our march across this ground, an incident occurred which made a deep impression on the minds of those who happened to be present at the time. Across the pathway, and on either side, men and officers were lying; and one of the latter was extended on his face among the heath and brushwood, so close to where we passed, that Major Malcolm Mackenzie of the 70th, prompted as it were by intuition, suddenly dismounted to ascertain who was the individual. Stooping to observe the features, that were partly concealed by the long broom, he started back with grief and consternation, on perceiving that the young soldier, who had thus fallen an early victim, was his brother, Lieutenant Colin Mackenzie, of the same regiment.

A party of the officers of the 50th, who were collected in a knot discussing the affairs of the eventful day, were quickly seen by those marksmen, who, from behind the rocks, despatched with deadly aim a few rifle missiles, each with its billet; and the balls were so faithful to their errand, that the congress was soon dissolved, some of the members being sent to that bourne from which no traveller returns,' and the remainder wounded. Among those who fell on this occasion, was Lieutenant Hugh Birchall, of the fourth battalion company, which he had commanded for some time. Having fallen ill, he was in his bed at Elisonda when the battle commenced; and hearing the noise of musketry, he thought that some

LINES

ON HARVEY'S PICTURE OF THE COVENANTERS WORSHIPPING, AMONG THE HILLS OF SCOTLAND.

[BY S. C. HALL.]

It came from out the silent glen
The mingled prayer of armed men ;
Their swords in sheath for one calm day,
"And let us worship God," they say.
They met--in fear, but not of man;
In hope---but not of human aid;
In faith--that dreads no mortal ban;
In trust-mid perils undismayed.
As wearied travellers seek the brook,
They ask refreshment from "the Book!"
The fountain gives them strength for strife,
And Freedom will be bought with life.
No Temple made by human hands
Is that in which the Pastor stands;
Around him mighty mountains rise,
Pillars to yon vast roof, the skies;
But Freedom consecrates the glen;
And girlhood, boyhood, age, and youth,
Utter or breathe a stern " Amen"

To words that Reason stamps with Truth;
For God and Nature bade them be
All--like their free forefathers---free;
Such message yon good Pastor brings---
A message from the King of kings!
Say, grandsire---thou should'st know it best...
Say, matron, with the babe at breast;
Say, girlthy lover still is near---
Can Patriot-passion banish fear?

Old man, what councils thy grey hairs?
Mother, what dost thou tell thy son?
Boy, knowest thou what thy father dares?
Girl, say how must thy heart be won?
ALL answer, with a shout and sigh,
"Go strike for freedom---do or die!
Nor let your children's children name
Old Scotland's mountain-men with shame!"
Thanks, Painter, for a lesson taught!
Thanks for a pictur'd store of thought!
Thus ART works out her great design,
Shapes the rough ore of Nature's mine;
Gives Beauty a perpetual youth;

Bids Virtue teach and never tire;
Shows that a halo shines round Truth;
Tells what to shun and what desire;
And makes EXAMPLE bear to ages---
More forceful than a thousand pages---
Of good or ill, a painted story

To warn froin shame or win for glory.
From the Art-Union.

AFFECTATION IN ENGLISH MANNERS.

The following remarks on the love of affectation and show in English fashionable life, are made by Count de Melfert, in his "Impressions of England :”—

"If, in order to attain pleasure and really to enjoy it, it was only necessary to make continual sacrifices of time and money, then the English would be the gayest people in the world-the people who best know how to amuse themselves. The persons in different classes who thus run after pleasure, are indeed innumerable in England; it is like a determination, a continual desire, a real entétement. Let it cost what it may, gaiety must be had: but, through all these efforts, the coldness and reflectiveness of the national character always pierce; and one might almost suspect that this undeviating constancy only arises from the impossibility of ever attaining the desired end. In the highest, as well as in the least distinguished society, I have always received the same impression: there exists always in every reunion a restraint, an indifference too marked (particularly towards those who do not form the same clique, and in that case it goes so far as to become rudeness); there is a want of general ease and of general amiability, and this only becomes the more apparent from one's seeing all the trouble which has been taken that every one should be gay, very gay, and very much amused; which, alas! happens but rarely, not to say never.

THREE BAD HABITS. There are three weaknesses in our habits which are very common, and which have a very prejudicial influence on our welfare. The first is giving way to the ease or indulgence of the moment, instead of doing at once what ought to be done. This practice almost diminishes the beneficial effects of our actions, and often leads us to abstain from action altogether; as, for instance, if at this season of the year there is a gleam of sunshine, of which we feel we ought to take advantage, but we have not the resolution to leave at the moment a comfortable seat or an attractive occupation, we miss the most favourable opportunity, and, perhaps, at last justify ourselves in remaining indoors on the ground that the time for exercise is past. One evil attendant upon the habit of procrastination is, that it produces a certain dissatisfaction of the mind which impedes and deranges the animal functions, and tends to prevent the attainment of a high state of health. A perception of what is right, followed by a promptness of execution, would render the way of life perfectly smooth. Children should be told to do nothing but what is reasonable, but they should be taught to do what they are told at once. The habit will stand them instead all their lives. The second weakness is, when we have made a good resolution, and have partially failed in executing it, we are very apt to abandon it altogether. For instance, if a person who has been accustomed to rise at ten, resolves to rise at six, and after a few successful attempts happens to sleep till seven, there is great danger that he will relapse into his former habit, or probably even go beyond it, and lie till noon. It is the same with resolutions as to economy or temperance, or any thing else; if we cannot do all we intended, or make one slip, we are apt to give up entirely. Now, what we should aim at is, always to do the best we can under existing circumstances; and then our progress, with the exception of slight interruptions, would be continual. The third and last weakness to which I allude, is the practice of cating and drinking things because they are on the table, and especially when they are to be paid for. How seldom it happens that two men leave a few glasses of wine in a decanter at a coffee-house, though they have both had enough! and the consequence of not doing so is frequently to order a fresh supply; but, at any rate, even the first small excess is pernicious. Excess, however slight, either in solids or liquids, deranges the powers of digestion, and of course diminishes the full benefit of any meal. A very small quantity will cause the difference between spending the remainder of the day profitably or agreeably, and in indolence and dissipation.The Original.

TRAVELLING IN AMERICA.

He who is of the silver fork school, will not find much comfort out of the American cities and large towns. There are no neat quiet little inns, as in England. It is all the "rough and tumble" system, and when you stop at humble inns, you must expect to eat peas with a twopronged fork, and to sit down to meals with people whose exterior is any thing but agreeable, to attend upon yourself, and to sleep in a room in which there are three or four beds (I have slept in one with nearly twenty), most of them carrying double, even if you do not have a companion in your own.

A New York friend of mine travelling in an extra with his family, told me that at a western inn he had particularly requested that he might not have a bedfellow, and was promised that he should not. On his retiring, he found his bed already occupied, and he went down to the landlady, and expostulated. "Well," replied she, "it's only your own driver; I thought you would'nt mind him!" Another gentleman told me, that having arrived at a place called Snake's Hollow, on the Mississippi, the bed was made on the kitchen floor, and the whole family and travellers, amounting in all to seventeen, of all ages and both sexes, turned into the same bed together. Of course this must be expected in a new country, and is a source of amusement rather than of annoyance, Marryat's Diary.

NITRIC ACID IN RAIN WATER.

In the celebrated French scientific periodical, the "Annales de Chimie," there was published some years ago an account of some interesting experiments made by M. Leibig on rain water, with the view of ascertaining its various impurities. Among other foreign matters a perceptible quantity of nitric acid, combined with lime or ammonia, was found in all the specimens of rain water collected during storms. The saine was the case with regard to snow and hail. Small traces of iron, mangaOne might add, on the subject of the fashionable circles, nese, and muriate of soda, are generally found in rain that the principal thing is not precisely to enjoy per- water during thunder-storms. The formation of the sonally, but to have it believed that you do so; that nitric acid in rain water is referred by M. Leibig to the every body should know or think you do so, this is the agency of the electric fluid in passing through the atmoimportant thing. There is not a brilliant party in Lon-sphere. It is well known that nitric acid and common air don, or at one of the magnificent country seats, or at the are composed of the same elemental gases, oxygen and mansion of a man of fashion, which is not immediately nitrogen-but of course they are combined in different detailed in the newspapers; even the great dinners are proportions in the two different substances. described. After a royal drawing-room, the name and toilet of each lady who appeared is mentioned, one after another; ribands, laces, feathers, diamonds, pearls, even to the kind of silk or satin of which the dress was composed, how it was trimmed, with the technical and scientific expressions in French of the Parisian marchandes des modes-all is printed in the papers, and sometimes fills two or three of their enormous pages: if the occasion be a fancy or masked ball (where no masks are worn), then the dress of the gentlemen shares the same publicity, even to the form and colour of their inexpressibles; every thing being thus exhibited to the face of day, placed under the public eye, and detailed to attract the attention of the millions-even of those who, banished to the Indies, receive and devour the English papers. There must exist then, I think, more vanity and show, prepared for public effect, than for the pleasure of the moment; besides, it is absolutely de rigueur in the supreme bon ton to have an air of indolence, satiety, and nonchalance, which implies that all this is not enough, that show and magnificence are so habitual that they are become quite fatiguing."

In Number 413 of the Journal, published December 28th last, appeared a paragraph quoted from a newspaper, and entitled "Railway Compensations," referring to the Directors of the Lunatic Asylum of Glasgow. We have been satisfied by documentary evidence, that the statements made in that paragraph are not correct; and we have therefore to express our regret for having added to their publicity.

We may at the same time state, that we some time ago, and with the best intentions, copied a paragraph from a London newspaper, purporting to describe some remarkable cures in deafness, performed by a doctor of medicine whose name was mentioned, and which we are now satisfied had been originally put in circulation as a quackish puff. The very vile practice of which nearly all newspapers are guilty, of inserting paid puffs, renders it extremely difficult to know what is true from what is false, in our public prints. In future, we shall endeavour to be more cautious in quoting any piece of information from them which appears worthy of a wider circulation than their pages afford.

LONDON: Published, with permission of the proprietors, by W.S. ORR, Paternoster Row; and sold by all booksellers and newsmen.-Printed by Bradbury and Evans, Whitefriars.