66

anxious that the public should judge of its | the Funds, the twenty-fourth Report enters condition, rather from actual observation, at large, in consequence of a diminution in than from any representations of theirs. the income: and strongly urges on the Perhaps, no person, possessed of humane Members the necessity of increased exerand generous feelings, ever retired from a tions, in order to a continued extension of visit to their school, without wishing to tho Society's Missions; it having been gratify himself, by contributing to extend found, contrary to expectation, that the the means of remedying, what Dr. Johnson Missionaries derive little or no support has truly called,* One of the most from the places in which they reside; but desperate of human calamities." The that their claims on the Society augment Committee may promise, that such a visit in proportion as their families enlarge. will afford to all a high gratification. The charges of the present Missions, with the requisite contingencies, amounted, last year to three-fourths of the Society's income from ordinary sources: these must be considered permanent and even increasing charges; and will be augmented, besides, every year, by each new Mission. Limitations are, therefore, approaching, and that not slowly, to the extension of the Society's operations, unless prevented by a decrease in the expenditure of the existing Missions (which, for the reasons already stated, seems hardly to be expected, or by a renewed and progressive advance in the Society's income.

"The task of education," says an eloquent and powerful advocate for our Institution," is never, perhaps, more truly "delightful, than when this unfortunate, "though interesting class of persons, are "the subjects of it. They unite, in general, "to singular steadiness of application, the "greatest gentleness and docility, and "expressions of countenance, as cheering "as they are unequivocal, continually "declare the emotions of gratitude, with "which they receive instruction." "We "sce their happiness increasing with their "knowledge; and, when the sublimity of "nature is first unfolded to their opening "minds, and we mark the tear starting "into their eyes, we cannot but participate "in their noble pleasure, and rejoice, that

"such emotions can be their's."

While, therefore, we invite the friends of humanity to visit our Institution, we invite them to no repulsive or arduous duty. We invite them to a spectacle, from which they will retire with unmingled pleasure. And, while they yield to the impulse of that pleasurable feeling, and contribute, from their abundance, to enlarge the sphere of our exertions; it will be their noblest reward, to reflect, that they are adding to the numbers of useful citizens, of happy and intelligent men, and of heirs of a blessed immortality.

To this Report, and that by the Ladies Visitors, is added several amusing specimens of the Composition of several of the Children, since they have been taught writing, &c.

For some lines spoken by two of the pupils, with perfect correctness and good articulation; see the Poetry in page 985.

London Missionary Society.
After the most encouraging statements
of the progress of conversations in the
South Sea Islands, Malacca, Insular India,
Ceylon, Continental Surat, Mauritius,
South Africa, West Indies, British North
America, Irkutsa, &c. into the subject of

* Journey to the Hebrides.

Episcopacy in the Ionian Islands. munications sent home by Mr. Jowett, to Among the numerous important comthe Church Missionary Society, it appears that by a Greek letter forwarded to Lord Teignmouth from his Highness Baron Theotoky, that this person has made himself a Life Member of the British and Foreign Bible Society, by a donation of ten guineas. An Ionian Bible Society is therefore expected in due time, but just at present they are trying the wheels of their shop to each island. Formerly Cephelonia, new constitution. They are to have a biZante, and Ithaca, constituted one diocese; Paxo was attached to Corfu; Paxo is not and its population much smaller. much larger than some English parishes,

Liverpool School for the Blind.

This benevolent institution, which does honour to the inhabitants of Liverpool, was established by subscription, for the reception of poor blind persous, of all ages, who are well lodged, maintained, and instructed. In 1814, the number in this asylum wss 411. The building is spacious, forming a long parallelogram, containing the dormitories and rooms of instruction for the inmates; and in the where they are regularly employed. The rear of the house are several workshops, trades carried on consist of cloth and carpet-weaving, spinning, basket-making, &c. Such also as have a capacity for music are instructed in that science.

What wert thou then? A child most infantine, | Would rest, with looks entreating to abide,

Yet wandering far beyond that innocent age
In all but its sweet looks and mien divine;
Even then, methought, with the world's tyrant
rage

A patient warfare thy young heart,did wage,
When those soft eyes of scarcely conscious
thought,

Some tale, or thine own faucies would engage
To overflow with tears, or converse fraught
With passion, o'er their dephs its fleeting light
had wrought.

She moved upon this earth a shape of bright

ness,

To nourish some far desart; she did seem
Beside me, gathering beauty as she grew,
Like the bright shade of some immortal dream
Which walks, when tempest sleeps, the wave
of life's dark stream.

As mine own shadow was the child to me,
A second self, far dearer and more fair;
Which clothed in undissolving radiancy,
All those steep paths which langour and despair
Of human things had made so dark and bare,
But which I trod alone-nor, till bereft
Of friends, and overcome by lonely care,
Knew I what solace for that loss was left,
Though by a bitter wound my trusting heart
was cleft.

Once she was dear, now she was all I had

To love in human life-this playmate sweet,
This child of twelve years old-so she was
made

My sole associate, and her willing feet
Wandered with mine where earth and ocean

meet

Beyond th' aerial mountains whose vast cells
The unreposing billows ever beat,

Through forests wide and old, and lawny dells,
Where boughs of incense droop over the eme-
rald wells.

And warm and light I felt her clasping hand
When twin'd in mine; she followed where I

went,

Through the lone paths of our immortal land.
It had no waste, but some memorial lent
Which stung me to my toil-some monument
Vital with mind; then, Cythna by my side,
Until the bright and beaming day were spent,

Too earnest and too sweet ever to be denied.
And soon I could not have refused her-thus
For ever, day and night, we two were ne'er
Parted, but when brief sleep divided us;
And when the pauses of the lulling air
Of noon beside the sea, had made a lair
For her soothed senses, in my arms she slept,
And I kept watch over her slumbers there,
Amid her innocent rest by turns she smiled and
wept.

And in the murmur of her dreams was heard
Sometimes the name of Laon;-suddenly

She would arise, and like the secret bird
Whom sunset wakens, fill the shore and sky
With her sweet accents-a wild melody!
Hymns which my soul had woven to Freedo m
strong

The source of passion whence they rose, to be;
Triumphant strains, which, like a spirit's
tongue,

To the inchanted waves that child of glory sung.
Her white arms lifted through the shadowy

stream

Of her loose hair-oh, excellently great
Seemed to me then my purpose, the vast theme
Of those impassioned songs, when Cythna sate
After its tumult, her heart vibrating,
Amid the calm which rapture doth create
Her spirit o'er the ocean's floating state
From her deep eyes far wandering, on the wing
Of visions that were mine, beyond its utmost
spring.

LORD MELCOMBE (DODDINGTON)
TO DR. YOUNG,

Not long before his Lordship's death.
Kind companiou of my youth,
Lov'd for genius, worth and truth,
Take what friendship can impart,
Tribute of a feeling heart,
Take the Muse's latest spark,
Ere we drop into the dark.
He who parts and Virtue gave,
Bade thee look beyond the grave.
Genius soars, and Virtue guides
Where the love of God presides.
There's a gulf 'twixt Us and God;
Let the gloomy path be trod;
Why stand shiv'ring on the shore.
Why not boldly venture o'er?
Where unerring Virtue guides,
Let us brave the winds and tides,
Safe, through seas of doubts and fears,
Rides the bark which Virtue steers,

The Gatherer.

No. XX.

"I am but a gatherer, and dealer in other

men's stuff."

Criminal Complaisance.

A late English traveller visiting Philadelphia, and observing several prisoners at the bars of the lower room in the House of Correction, says, he enquired of an old German, what might generally be their of fences, "They had been," said he, "most of them speculating too much." It seemed hard thus to punish men for the ingenious use of their wits, so I begged a further explanation: they had been forging bank notes! This delicate definition reminded me of a farmer at Watertown, with whom we fell upon the subject of English deserters: "We don't want them here," said he, "they are too familiar by half." Now, though I could readily believe of these my countrymen, that bashfulness had no part in them, it seemed an odd ground of complaint for a Yankey; so I repeated, some thing wonderingly, 'Too familiar! "Aye," rejoined he," they steal every thing they can lay their hands upon !!"

Exalted Benevolence.

pach's. Schuppach directly turned away from his great company, to his old neighbour, and hearing that his wife was ill, set about preparing the necessary medicine for ber, without paying much attention to his more exalted guests, whose business he did not think so pressing. The marquis was now deprived of one subject of his wit, and therefore chose for his butt the old man, who was waiting while his neighbour Michael was preparing something for his old Mary. After many silly jokes on his long white beard, he offered a wager of twelve louis d'ors. that none of the ladies would kiss the old dirty looking fellow. The Russian princess hearing these words, made a sign to her attendant, who brought her a plate. The princess put twelve louis d'ors on it, and had it carried to the marquis, who of course could not decline adding twelve others. Then the fair Russian went up to the old peasant with the long beard, and said, "Permit me, venerable father, to salute you after the fashion of my country." Saying this, she embraced him, and gave him a kiss. She then presented him the gold which was on the plate, with these words, "Take this as a remembrance of me, and as a sign that the Russian girls think it their duty to honour old age."

Glorious War.

A writer in the Northern Star (No. 12.) has enumerated 210 battles fought in this country from the invasion of Julius Cæsar to the close of the Scotch Rebellion. In only 40 of these is the slaughter ascertained; but in those 40 batties were sacrificed no less than 580,000 human beings !" O what a glorious thing's a battle!"

Gas Lights.

Many of our readers are doubtless acquainted with the name of the Swiss doctor Michael Schuppach, of Lengnau, in the Emmenthal, who was highly celebrated, and much in vogue in the last century. He is mentioned by Archdeacon Coxe, in his Travels in Switzerland, who himself consulted him. There was a time when people of distinction and fortune came to him, Count Rumford was so dexterous and so particularly from France and Germany; frugal in his management of heat, that it and even from more distant countries; and was facetiously alleged he could have coninnumerable are the cures which he per- trived to cook his dinner with the warmth formed upon patients given up by the reof the smoke of his neighbour's chimney. gular physicians. There were once assem- Improbable and ludicrous as this might bled in Michael Schuppah's laboratory, a seem, it is, however, much less wonderful, great many distinguished persons from all than the production of the light, which now parts of the world; partly to consult him, gives lustre to our shops and streets, elicitand partly out of curiosity; and among themed from a vapour that is invisible, and that many French ladies and gentlemen, and a might have continued, as it used to be, unRussian prince, with his daughter, whose known and unsuspected, had not its fatal singular beauty altracted general attention. inflammations, accidentally occurring in A young French marquis attempted, for our mines, led to those inventions by which the amusement of the ladies, to display his its illuminating properties have been made wit on the miraculous Doctor; but the lat-subservient to comfort, and its dangerous ter, though not much acquainted with the French language, answered so pertinently, that the marquis had not the laugh on his side. Daring this conversation, there entered an old peasant, meanly dressed, with a snow white beard, a neighbour of SchupVOL, VIII, No. 48. Lit. Pan. N. S. Sept. 1.

powers completely subdued. The same substance that furnishes the mild and brilliant gas light of our metropolis, is no other than the noxious, awful fire damp of our coal-pits, the horrible explosions of which it has been the triumph of Sir Humphrey

2 N

different syllables which compose a word, and then the meaning of the whole word. They presently return, and, carrying on their preconcerted action, require the com

Davy's genius to prevent. This substance is the carbureted hydrogen gas of chemists, consisting of hydrogen and carbon, in the proportion of two parts of the former to one part of the latter, mixed with carbonic acid,pany to resolve their riddle. Thus, for inand probably formed by the action of water stance, on one occasion the word which upon coal. Wherever this fire damp was determined upon was Jumeaux. Some amounts to 1-12th of the bulk of common of the actors coming from their retirement, air present, it will be apt to explode with began to squeeze a lemon into a glass, calla candle. The after damp, of the same ing the attention of the company very par coal pits, in which the former is collected, ticularly to it by their action, thus repreis the carbonic acid gas of the chemists, senting Ju. Others came forwards imitatand has obtained its common name among ing the various maladies and misfortunes the pitmen from its exploding subsequently of life, thus acting the syllable meaux. to the other, in the subterraneous chambers, Then, finally, tottered into the circle an in consequence of its being heavier than Italian duke and a Prussian general, neiatmospheric air, and lying near the floor, ther less than six feet in height, dressed while the fire damp, from its specific light-in sheets, and leading strings ;-a fine ness occupies the highest space in the chamber of the mine. It is this carbonic The Purse in the Right Pocket. acid that, mixing with the gas furnished The late Duke of Cumberland, when at for our lights, corrodes the copper tubes Newmarket Races, just before the horses through which it passes, and renders it started, missed his pocket book, containing unfavourable to health in dwellings not some hundreds in Bank notes. When the sufficiently ventilated. Such inconveniknowing ones came about his Royal Highences, however, chiefly arise from negliness, and offered him several bets, he said, gence in the preparation of the gas. properly passed through lime-water, the gas is washed of its impure and noxious qualities, by the attraction and absorption on the part of the lime towards the carbonic acid gas.

Catholic Emblems.

If

The evening amusements in Germany are very various, and will sometimes almost fall under the dreaded denomination of puerile. Not content with requesting young ladies to recite verses, they will sometimes invert the natural order of things, and compel children to act plays, while grown people will play cross questions aud crooked answers, or standing in a circle, and holding a cord in their hands, pass a ring from one to the other, imposing it upon some one of the party, to discover in whose possession it is to be found. Acting riddles is a favourite game, and one which is well calculated to amuse those, who wisely resolve to be amused when they can. A certain portion of the company retire in an adjoining room, where they concert together how best to represent by action the

bouncing emblem of Jumeaux.

he had lost his money already, and could
not afford to venture any more that day.
The horse which the Duke intended to
back was distanced, so he consoled himself
that the loss of his pocket book was only
a temporary evil, as he should have paid
away as much, had he betted, to the
worthies of the turf. The race was no
sooner over, than a veteran half pay
officer presented his Royal Highness with
his pocket book, saying he found it near
the stand, but had not an opportunity
of approaching him before. The Duke
"I am glad it has
generously replied.
fallen into such good hands; keep it,
Had it not been for this accident, it would
have been by this time dispersed among
the black legs and knaves of Nermarket."
Gaelic Poetry.

The scene of the following fragment in laid in a distant part of the West Highlands. The Laird of Glenfiorich lay at the point of death; and his daughter, Ellen, the Lady of Lord Campbell Reoch (or the Red) was hastening to attend him. The port or landing-place nearest to the castle of Glenfiorich seems, at that time, to have been Allaudhu; although, at the present day, the only tokens that it was once the residence of man, are to be seen in the ivy-clad walls of a few roofless tenements, and the stunted remains of what might once have been tall and stately trees. The writer of this heard it sung, in Gaelic, to a slow and solemn air, by an interesting girl of that country; and having been