have understood, from what I thought good authority, that he was apprentice in a coal vessel, in the employ of Mr. Wilson at Whitehaven. It is told of him, that quarrelling with a fellow apprentice, he took an opportunity to anoint the lad's head with a tar brush, and then set it on fire. THE SENSE OF GOD. WHATEVER social ills may press us round, Thou, sense of God, exalting and profound, Tis thou to earth's sad children break'st the shock; Thou meet'st the poet on his lonely rock, Reveal'st Jehovah to his ardent gaze, And tunest his lips to confidence and praise. Grand thought of God! to which,midst pleasures vain, Our human weakness conscious turns again; These are the blessings thou to man hast given, And thus Religion links the earth to heaven. Who shall disown thee?-God withdrawn, a veil Shrouds the dim earth and yon bright heavens turn pale ; Laws-morals-virtue-prone to dust are hurl'd, An aimless system and an orphan world ! THE POTATOE. I am now going to offer some remarks on what is likely to be generally uppermost in the mind of an Irishman, as affording subsistence, not only to men, women, and children, but also to all those live appendages, pigs, dogs, horses, cattle, and poultry -the potatoe. If you should happen to be disposed to conjectural anticipation, you will perhaps think that I mean to propose, what national gratitude ought to have done long since, the erection of a statue to Sir Walter Raleigh, by whom the potatoe was first brought to this country, and presented to a nobleman, right worthy of being the dispenser of natural benefits, Richard, the first Earl of Cork. But no, I have no such intention. I question whether any important advantage was in the contemplation of the donor; and moreover, I doubt whether the culture would have been recommended by either of those great men, had they been able to predict the future and remote consequences of the gift. The great Earl of Cork, (as he is commonly called,) the munificent founder of many towns, as well as of an illustrious race, to whom the county of Cork has never ceased to owe those obligations which the rare union of virtue and ability so happily enables their possessor to bestow, certainly contemplated a different sort of subsistence than potatoe diet for his numerous tenantry. Could his lordship have foreseen that they would become almost the only food of the people; that they would supplant the use of bread, abolish the arts of culinary preparation, and by the extreme facility of providing a mere bellyful, promote idleness and vagabondism, and multiply an ever-growing propagation of paupers, he would, will venture to affirm, have been the very last man to advise or encourage the culture of potatoes. But let me not be considered as meaning to depreciate so extraordinary and valuable a root. 1 only lament the excessive use, or rather abuse, of one of the most useful vegetable gifts which the bounteous hand of the Almighty Creator has conferred upon mankind. Used as they are in the sister island, as an auxiliary to better food, their worth is inestimable; but constituting, as they do here, almost the sole food of the lower orders, the effect is as I have stated; and though the blame be not attributable to the article itself, yet is not the consequent wretchedness of its consumers the less deplorable. They are 'objectionable in another respect, as being only a supply for the current year; so that the superabundance of a favourable season will constitute nothing to the relief of a deficient. Hence the superfluity of subsistence among a potatoe-fed people in any given year, is but a superfluity waste, which does not afford the smallest security against a famine on the 324 ensuing. Every other species of sta ple food can be held over; and, therefore, for this, as well as other reasons, it should be one of the prime objects of all those, whose ability and wishes to promote the interests of the people go hand in hand, to ameliorate their style of living, and render them somewhat less dependent upon the fluctuating comforts of the potatoe system. NANCY DAWSON. A bird-catcher, wishing to increase his stock of bull-finches, took out his caged bird and his limed twigs, and placed them in such situation of hedge or gooseberry bush, as he judged favourable to success in the anxious sport of bird catching. It so happened that his own bird was a bird of education; such as is usually termed a piping bullfinch. In the first instance a few accidentally thrown out natural notes, or calls, had attracted three or four of his kindred feather, who had now taken their stations not far distant from the cage.-There they stood, eyeing Bully in his citadel, with doubt and curiosity. And now, they were beginning to move inch by inch, hop by hop, toward him, and to the fatal twigs : again they became stationary, and attentive. It was in this eager and suspended moment, that the piping bullfinch suddenly struck up the old country dance of Nancy Dawson.-Away flew every astounded bullfinch as fast as wings could move, in such alarm and confusion as bullfinches could feel, and they only can venture to describe. FRENCH BOMBAST. Sterne exemplifies the French tendency to conversational bombast of expression by the asseveration of his barber; who protested to him, that the curls of his wig would stand though he plunged them in the ocean." As if, quietly observes the sentimentalist, I should pull on my boots and post to the shores of the Atlantic, for the purpose of trying the experiment! An English hair-dresser would have contented himself with suggesting a dip in a bucket. This habit of exaggeration adduced to account for their characterin their common-life language has been istic meagreness of diction in verse: as if having exhausted their force of expression, they had nothing left. At Covent Garden, May 27, a sportive drama, in three acts, and entitled "Charles the Second, or the Merry Monarch," was produced at this theatre with entire success. Miss M. Tree NEW DRAMA-BY J. HOWARD PAYNE. played archly and sweetly; and in two songs, as well as a duet with Duruset, did justice to some of the most beautiful words we have lately heard introduced for theatrical music, which we subjoin: SONG. OH, not when other eyes may read My heart upon my cheek Oh, not when other ears can hear, Dare I of love to speak : But when the stars rise from the sea, Oh, then I think of thee, dear love! When o'er the olives of the dell The silent moonlight falls, And upon the rose the dew Hangs scented coronals, And buds close on the chesnut-tree, Oh, then I think of thee, dear love! Ob, then I think of thee, DUET. LOVE, one day, essayed to gain Fond hearts never should despair; Thrice beautiful!-alas! that here Not in the pictured halls, Will young Love dwell; (Lond. Lit. Gaz.) THE SICILIAN DWARF. IAM sure my readers will be very glad to hear that I have accommodated matters with my fair friend, Miss Crachami. Feeling for the mortification under which I must be labouring, in consequence of her jilting me, she had even the condescension to visit me in person. My delight and gratitude, of course, may be understood by per sons of fine sensibilities, like my own. I can only say I can say no more, Well, we had a pleasant chat together; and I found my little lady, like all other ladies, much more agreeable in private than in public. She was lively and interesting; sat upon a small tea-caddy with infinite grace, and listened to music with evident pleasure, beating time with her tiny foot, and waving her head just as any boarding-school Miss in her upper teens, and conscious of the beauty of her movements, would do. Being desirous of proposing certain delicate measures, I took great pains to make a favourable impression on her heart, and had the happiness to succeed: the consequence of which is, that besides retaining a ring (see below) as the proof of her affection, I О am enabled to mention, without betraying confidence, or impugning the female character, what those measures actually were. First, then, I found that the real height of Miss Crachami is nineteen inches and a half; her weight five pounds; the length of her foot (Cinderella was a nobody!) three inches and one-eighth; and the length of her fore-finger (she would not give me the wedding one) one inch and seven-eighths!!! Having thus gone my lengths, I was allowed to go my rounds; and they follow: Round the head, twelve inches three-eighths; round the waist, eleven inches and a quarter; round the neck, (only think of taking such a creature round the neck !) five inches and three-eighths; round the ancle, three inches and a quarter; and round the wrist, two inthes and seven-sixteenths !! ments of this most extraordinary bu- LONDON. One of the very worst forms in which London presents itself, even to a Londoner, is that of the inn, hotel, xenodocheion, khan, or caravansera, to which, (if he have no househeld gods of his own,) he must repair on his ar rival. What then must a Frenchman, or a native of Southern Europe, think of a similar reception ?--The soi-disant coffee-room, stalled off like a stable, with its two or three miserable candles, its sanded floor, its phalanx of empty decanters, and wine-glasses full of tooth-picks and wafers, its solitude and its silence! To such a place was I obliged to betake myself, after a first and a long absence, which had cancelled abundance of national prejudices, and impaired the power of accommodating to the habits I was about to resume. The newspapers, those polyglott versions of the infinitely diversified events, accidents, crimes, punishThese are, bona fide, the measurements, and contingencies of an enor - mous metropolis, for a single day, were single knocks I say nothing-ex uno the only resource. But their interest disce omnes-there is no eloquence in was lost to me, and after listening them. The postman and the taxa-while to the ticking of the dial, and gatherer's knock of office, expresses making many a fretful glance at the the impatience of authority very incoffee-house system of Naples, Venice, telligibly; and the knock domestic, and Paris, I abruptly summoned the your own knock, makes everybody chambermaid, and followed her to the I hope glad, and stirs up the spaniel cell to which she had destined me for from the hearth-rug. I have not leithe night. One advantage, indeed, sure to notice the interesting associathere was in this ambitious apartment, tion of bell and knockers into one that if a fire should take place in the compound instrument of considerably better frequented floors of this im- increased power, but at some future mense barrack, "ourselves" and the time I may probably favour the world pigeons would probably be the longest with a small volume, entitled, “ Tuptologia" (Keraunologia would be better still,) with plates of the various kinds of knockers, and directions for their use. In fashionable streets, (sit obiter dictum,) the knockers ought to be of silver, the only objection to which is, that (notwithstanding the marvellous effects of education) they would occasionally be stolen. survivors. KNOCKERS. It was in London that I began to attend to the harmony and expressiveness of the various knockings or pulsations of which a street-door is susceptible. I shall say a word or two on this subject, as there are no knockers across the Channel." Quanquam animus meminisse horret-incipiam."-These instruments, like mortars, are made of bronze or cast iron; and as they are of various calibres, they can, of course, project sound to various distances. A discharge of this kind in Grosvenor square, when the wind is favourable, will frequently startle the deer in the Park, ruffle the water of the Serpentine, & vibrate in the alcoves of Kensington. I also conceive that there is already room, even in the present imperfect "state of the science," for distinguish ing the different kinds of performance on this instrument, by an adequate no menclature. I would divide knocks, for the present, into, 1. Hesitating or submissive. These are usually performed by thin pale-looking persons with folded papers in their hands." Could I speak for a moment to the lady?" 2. Importunate or expostulating, performed by tradesmen." Did you tell Mr. A. I called twice last week? When will he be at home?" 3. Confident or friendly." Well, John, is your master at home ?" 4. Alarming or fashionable. These are preceded by the short sharp stop of a carriage, generally of the barouche kind, and are followed by the sound of many feet in kid slippers on the staircase. Of MISCELLANEOUS COMFORTS. In order to complete the little sketch that I proposed to give of the impressions which a return to London makes upon the senses, I now add a few miscellaneous remarks. The climate and atmosphere of London is not only extremely salutary and contributive to the longevity of blind men, and other mendicants, but it is astonishingly favourable to that of fish, which, however deprived of their natural element, remain alive for a very considerable time. Cod, soles, and flounders, in London, are always "alive!" and living sprats are vended in myriads! The tenacity of life of some of these animals is so obstinate, that there is reason to believe they continue to live for several days together. It might be interesting to mark the tail of a particular individual, in order to learn how long he continues in this state of disagreeable existence. Salmon and herring, I observe, are only announced as being fresh, that is, recently dead. I looked out of my window one day on a basket of lobsters, which the proprietor declared to be alive; a peculiar species, I presume, for they were of that fine coral colour which this animal usually assumes when boiled. In the early spring, among many pose-advantage to passers by from little elegant local customs, this is one: that attitude--especially with black That as you take a morning walk in coats--Lamp-lighters-alarm occathe green park, you meet several young sioned by their thuribulum-benevowomen, who extend a bunch of match- lent provision for cats and dogs-bares to the immediate vicinity of your rows containing ditto on the pavement Rose, with as much confidence as if provocative of appetite-Jews ready they were primroses. These flowers to strip you to the skin, or clothe you of Brimstone are the first vernal pro- at any price-or cram your pockets ductions of the Flora Londinensis; with open pen-knives and oranges they are not presented quite in so win- (bad neighbours) on your own terms. ning a way as the violets, that are White horse cellar, elevement of young thrown at you in the palais royal; women (struggling in vain, to go to but I have no doubt that the bouquet, Fulham,) to Hammersmith or Brenton the whole, is a wholesome one, and ford. very probably useful as a prophylactic. To persons of classical mind, this offering of matches, "Sulfura cum tædis," will suggest the Lustrations of the ancients; though to others, of an irritable fibre, or uneasy conscience, I should be apprehensive that it might excite disagreeable reflections. Giovanni, scene last. Vide Often, too, when you are most in a harry, you will attend the passage of the same procession (a train of coal waggons, six in number, with six borses each!) in long diagonal from the end of the Haymarket, to Marybone Street, cutting off parties of light and heavy armed, impetuously facing each other. These at Weeks's museum, and Those at Eggs' the gun-makers-I have seen a great many maneuvres practised on those occasions, but the coal waggons have always the best of it. Such are the Trivial hinderances to the pedestrian in London. On such an ample theme it is difficult to desist; but troppo e troppo; I shall just run over the heads of my notes, and have done.-Walk into the city more pleasant than formerly-pavements wider -houses down-more coming-(multa cecidere cadentque) whole of city more healthy than formerly-ruddy nurserymaids (id genus omne interesting) and fine children-young cockneys grow taller-College of Physicians, removal of-how connected with foregoing remarks-cause or consequence?-interesting question, but delicate-Bakers great admirers of the fine arts, stand at print shops-position of their Basket on those occasions-thrown on the back like the clypeus of a hero in re NEW WORKS IN MAY. The Witch-Finder, a Romance, by the author of "The Lollards," &c. 3 vols. 12mo, 1s-Ourika, a Tale, from the French of the Duchess de Duras, 12mo. 3s.-Idwal, a Poem, with Notes, 8vo. 8s. 6d.-Rushton's Poems, 8vo. 6s.—Boxiana, vol. iv. 8vo. 18s. Mornings at Bow-street, 8vo. 10s. 6d. ; proofs, 15s.-Beckford's Biographical Memoirs of extraordinary Painters, 12mo. 56. Lanfear's Letters to Young Ladies, f. cap. 8vo. 4s. 6d-Westall's Illustrations of Southey's Roderick, prints, 10s. 6d. ; proofs, 18.; India proofs, 11. 4s-Vignettes of Optics, 8vo. 8s.-Life of Gilbert Earl, Esq. Derbyshire, post 8vo. 5s. 6d.-Coddington's post 8vo. 8s.-Moore's Life of the Rev. John Wesley, vol. i. 8vo. 10s. 6d.-Mill's History of Mexico, 8vo. 10s. 6d.-Mementos of a Tour through France, &c 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 4s. -Steel's Notes on the War in Spain, crown 8vo. 9s.-Kerr'sVoyages, vol. xviii. 8vo. 14s. Boyle's Advice to Settlers in Tropical Cli mates, 12mo. 2s. 6d.-Wilkinson's Tours to Corbaux on the National Debt, 4to. 12s.the British Mountains, post 8vo. 8s. 6d.Faber's Difficulties of Infidelity, 8vo. 7s.--. Benson's Sermons, Part ii. 8vo. 6s.-Wade's Observations on Fever, 8vo. 4s.-Ventouillac's French Classics, vol. v. and vi. containing Charles XII. 8s.-Gilchrist's Etymologic Interpreter, Part i. 8vo. 8s--Dictionary of Quotations, Part ii. (blank verse,) 12mo. 7s. MR. BELZONI. Died, at Gato, near Benin in Africa,on the 3d of December, Mr. G. Belzoni, so well known for his Egyptian Tombs. He was so far on his way into the interior, endeavouring to reach Houssa, when a dysentery put an end to his valuable life. He was buried at Gato the day after his decease, and a board with the following inscription was placed over his grave. "Here lie the remains of Who was attacked with dysentery at Benin |