If sad thoughts it could beguile,
I would sing, as oft of yore,
And revive those tones awhile,
Which have soothed my heart before;
But, alas! my voice, my lute,
Both with grief are hoarse and mute!
All the pleasant words I spoke,

Are extinct and passed away;
Lo! the spell of song is broke,

And no sweetness marks my lay.
Those who once have heard me sing,
Full of youth, and hope, and joy,
Pity now the falt'ring string,

Which but echoes my annoy;
Lost my voice and sad my lute,
Both in sorrow hoarse and mute.

Lovers utter painted words,

Fresh and fair their language glows,
Pleasure eloquence affords,

And each thought with spirit flows;
Thus I warbled once-but past
Is the time I sang so well,
All my skill is ebbing fast,

And no more my numbers swell;
When I tune my feeble lute,
Every note is harsh or mute.

A FEATHERED REPORTER. REMINISCENCES OF A PARROT. A GENTLEMAN of fortune named Aveline, residing at Camberwell, has now in his possession a most extraordinary parrot, to which he attaches great value, and for which he would take no sum of money that liberal curiosity might offer. It is not that he thinks the bird gifted with reason denied to the rest of his race, but memory most retentive and correct, it certainly possesses. Add to that, it is supposed to be forty or fifty years old, may have had many masters, and has certainly witnessed many scenes the actors in which little imagined that their speeches would be reported at a distant day, verbatim, by the unheeded prisoner who was the involuntary witness of their "sayings and doings."

Yet such is the fact; and as many of the conversations which the unconscious utterer repeats from day to day must certainly have occurred more than a year ago, it is not certain that the lapse of time at all effaces what the creature has once learned, and therefore what took place ten, twenty, or thirty years ago, may, for aught that is at present known to the contrary, come as trippingly off the parrot's tongue as that which it only heard yesterday.

The bird was bought on the 12th July, 1842, having been advertised in the 'Times' newspaper. From the 12th of July to the 31st of December she only repeated common sentences.

From the 1st January, 1843, every new sentence has been daily put down. Her style was thought to improve in March last; but about the 22nd of April there was a marked difference between what she

uttered, and what had previously been heard from her.

Many parts of the Church Catechism, the Marriage Service, the Christening Service, the Lord's Prayer, in French and English, have been at various times correctly repeated; but what may be regarded as more curious, are the dialogues which she furnishes, and, as we are informed, with varieties of intonation not unlike to those heard at a theatre in what is called

66

a patter song." We quote one of them. The Mr and Mrs Wimbleton, as well as the other parties named, are at present wholly unknown to Mr Aveline:

"Here's a letter from Mr Wimbleton,Mr and Mrs Wimbleton present their compliments to Mr and Mrs Robinson, and beg their acceptance of a glass chandelier, which they request they will see if it is perfect-Tell the man to bring it into the dining-room, and to be very careful.(Mind that none of you touch this parrot.)

-Bless me, this is a fifty-guinea concern! How very handsome and liberal of Mr Wimbleton!-Yes, it is all right.-Here is half a crown for you.'-' Thank you, sir.'

"Do you think it would be more polite to write, or to go and thank Mr Wimbleton?' 'Oh, I think we had better write.' -Mr and Mrs Robinson present their very best compliments to Mr and Mrs Wimbleton, and beg them to accept their warmest thanks for their very elegant present of a glass chandelier; and according to their request, have examined it, and found every iota perfect.'-'Don't you think it will do?' Very well; I suppose as well as you can do it.' Well, if you

think you can do it better, try.' 'It was only my fun, Julia; get the sealing-wax.— To Mrs Wimbleton, No. 12 Castle street, Portman square.'

999

This occurred on the 19th of last month. On the 20th the creature mentioned the Wimbletons again, and then brought forward a junior member of the family, who is thus introduced:

"Here is a letter from Georgy: I do think it is his writing. Oh dear! there is a black seal; what's the matter now? However, he begins in high glee.-' My dear papa and mamma,-I have the pleasure to announce to you that we break up next Saturday, the 20th instant. I shall be delighted to find myself once more at home again, and have the pleasure of kissing you all. I hope you will find that I have made progress in every branch of my studies; and at any time when I find myself at all idle, I always think how grieved you would be, and also try to think what pleasure it would give you to see that I have got good marks. I will keep you in suspense no longer, but may say the reason why I put a black seal was because I have got no red wax, and Dick Nelson,

"Do you know, Fanny, when I was at a drawing-room, my garter dropped off while I was dancing with a gentleman; and the gentleman said, you have dropped one of your keepsakes, Miss Julia Robinson;' and I felt the colour rush into my face. So I picked it up and put it into my pocket, for I could not leave the room just then, because we were in the middle of a dance; and before it was finished my stocking dropped over my shoe, and I thought I should have dropped too. To my great disappointment, when I got up stairs I found the clasp was off and gone. I did not know what to do, for I could not go down stairs, as my stocking was down; so I rang the bell, and asked the servant to sew my stocking to my petticoat."

The following singular conversation was lately repeated:

"What a beautiful sermon Mr Dale preached last Sunday! It was in the 12th chapter of Matthew and the 40th verse, For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

The text was found correctly repeated, word for word, when compared with the Bible.

The parrot has evidently been, and indeed is now, the property of a medical man. Her recollections of the sweets of an accoucheur's life are rich. We give them by way of finale :

"Who's there?' 'Mrs Jones wants you, if you please, sir.' 'Very well, I'll come directly-What a bother it is! I don't believe it; I have not been in bed half an hour, and I went to see her the very last thing. She is so fidgety, and the nurse is as bad. I declare I'll have "accoucheur" scrubbed off my door, if they go on in that manner. -Well, I've been, and Mrs Jones no more wants me than you do, my dear; I'm sure she's in no need of me for these five or six hours. I'll make them pay for it prettily, calling me out of my bed when there is no occasion."" The bird, it may not be improper to mention, will not talk before strangers, nor even in a common way in the presence of Mr Aveline. Two highly intelligent young ladies, the eldest twelve years of age, are her confidants. Their character, as well as the nature of the conversations reported by the parrot, forbid suspicion of any

GEORGE THE THIRD, THE LATE LORD SYDENHAM, AND MR PITT. MR POULETT SCROPE gives an amusing incident in the life of his late brother. King George the Third saw him at Weymouth, and became so fond of him, he being not quite four years of age, that he insisted on a daily visit from him, often watched at the window for his arrival, ran down himself to open the door to let him in, and carried him about in his arms to show all that could amuse the child, in the very ordinary lodging-house then occupied by the royal party, and especially the suppers laid out for the children's balls, which their majesties frequently gave for the amusement of their young favourites. On one occasion, the king being on the pierhead, about to embark in the royal yacht upon one of his sailing trips, and having the child in his arms, he turned round to Mr Pitt, who was in attendance at his elbow, and exclaimed, "Is not this a fine boy, Pitt? Fine boy, isn't he? Take him in your arms, Pitt; take him in your arms charming child, isn't he?" Then suiting the action to the word, he made the stiff and solemn premier, weighed down as he seemed to be with cares of state, dandle and kiss the pretty boy, and carry him some minutes in his arms, albeit strange and unused to such a burden. Pitt little thought, no doubt, that the infant he was required to nurse would, at no very distant time, have the offer of the same high official post which he then occupied, the Chancellorship of the Exchequer.

ON DRAWING.-(ART. III.) HAVING, in the two preceding articles on this subject, briefly explained the utility of the various systems of drawing, and afterwards pointed out the methods to acquire the practice of perspective and artistic drawing, it will be unnecessary to enlarge on the advantages that must accrue to those who are enabled to comprehend the principles and to practise an art which has hitherto been, and is likely to be, more than ever employed in executing designs of the great variety of structures suited to the wants and tastes of the pre

sent generation, of their external and internal decorations, of their requisite fittings and ornaments; and above all, in illustrating the numerous and valuable records of the literary and scientific minds which have been engaged in different pursuits, so that others might benefit by their labours.

And although, individually and na tionally, we are each deeply indebted to the united talent of our surveyors, en gineers, architects, artists, and sculptors, and also to our persevering and industrious artisans, who have so fully carried out the designs of those placed over them, for the many personal and public conveniences which we in this free country are permitted to enjoy; yet all these comforts and advantages sink into insignificance when compared with the pleasures to be derived from devoting a portion of time to acquiring the principles of the art of drawing; for it will be remembered that before any person can with advantage enter on such a pursuit, he must have passed through the stages of childhood and youth; that state in which we are all expected to act and to think according as we are ordered by our elders or instructors, and in many instances without being allowed to know why or wherefore.

Individuals, therefore, by commencing to study the principles of drawing, enter into a channel which must, when properly arranged, lead them to exercise, strengthen, and improve their faculties in such a manner as will afford them true pleasure, satisfaction, and mental enjoyment. Whilst directing their attention to objects which exist, and on considering that their representations are in all cases to be either executed according to some predetermined law, or by an acquired habit, they will be led to apply the abstract and sublime principles of the science of geometry, in order to investigate, and eventually to determine, the best methods to be employed in the practice of executing representations of any of the tangible or visible objects which are scattered in every direction, at home, abroad, beneath, above; by this means they must acquire those habits which will enable them to enter on any other pursuit with greater pleasure than they could otherwise do.

Minds thus prepared, and gifted with bodily and legal powers to act, ought to prove themselves benefactors to all amongst whom they may have to move, or be appointed to guide, direct, or rule, whether in connexion with the theological, judicial, military, naval, manufacturing, or commercial classes of their own or of other Countries. Further, by practising any branch of the art, they will be compelled to exert their faculties and powers of observation in order to determine various particulars relating to the objects which

they purpose to represent; and in this pursuit they will learn habits of patience, perseverance, and of attention to the matter in hand; habits which will almost invariably ever after be effectively applied under all circumstances, in whatever station they may choose, or be appointed to occupy.

Having then acquired a knowledge of the principles and practice of drawing, they will be fully prepared to turn their attention to those illustrated records of literature and science which they have hitherto been incompetent to comprehend. Letters, words, and figures, they previously knew how to apply, and now that they have unravelled the use and construction of the invaluable system of signs, representations of objects, they may, if agreeable to their feelings and pursuits, at once proceed to gain that information of the generality of those arts and sciences so freely communicated to us in the writings of our best authors.

Here we must, as we have in the former articles (for want of space), curtail, if not end, the present series on drawing, yet not without expressing a hope that our correspondent, Mr J. Smith, will favour us, ere long, with one or two practical expositions of the methods to be employed in depicting scenes from nature, and which we shall feel happy to illustrate with suitable pictorial views, hoping that, in the meantime, our readers will give this series of articles that attention which they deserve.

We cannot close our notice of this subject without directing the student's attention to the pamphlet which we have been induced to notice in the former articles, in which they will find the science as well as the principles of the art of drawing clearly and explicitly developed further, they will there see reference to the standard practical works from which details of some of the methods of drawing formerly alluded to may be obtained.

We need not recommend our correspondent to the especial notice of amateurs, artists, surveyors, architects, engineers, and officers of the army and navy. Those who are desirous of acquiring the practice of any or of all the systems of drawing, may advantageously avail themselves of his services, seeing that he, as a practical engineer and architect, can readily and pleasantly communicate, assisted by the original and beautiful series of models and drawings with which he is provided, more valuable knowledge in one hour than an individual, aided by books alone, could acquire by years of labour.

ENGLISH GROWN COTTON.

Since Draycott's cotton, judges own,
For many uses good enough,
Let none presume, though English grown,
To tell the world it is all stuff.

almost 7,000,000,000f. France has already been bankrupt six times, viz. :-Under Sully, who deducted the interest formerly paid on the capital; at the end of Louis XIV's reign, under Desmaret, who paid neither capital nor interest; at the fall of the "système Law," under Lepelletier; under the Abbe Terrai, who did not pay the assignments; during the revolution, after the creation of 45,000,000 of mortgages; lastly in 1799, by the reduction of two thirds of the debt.

Anecdote.-During the minority of Lewis XV, when the Duke of Orleans was Regent of France, a Count d'Orme, related to the Emperor as well as to the Regent, killed a Jew stock-jobber in Paris, and stole his actions. He was apprehended, convicted, and condemned to death. The princes and nobility interceded to have the sentence mitigated, and to strengthen their remonstrances in favour of the Count, they told the Regent that his blood ran in the veins of this nobleman. The Regent told them, that when he had bad blood he always had it drawn from him; and ordered him to be executed the next day, which was Good Friday, fearing, as an express had been sent to the Emperor, that his imperial Majesty might ask his life by the return of the messenger, who was soon expected.

Modern Inventions Revivals of Old Discoveries. Some of the methods of destroying the shipping of an enemy, lately brought before the public, it will be seen from the following, are more than a century old:-" Two of the Marquis of Worcester's Century of Inventions: Art. 9. An engine portable in one's pocket, which may be carried and fastened in the inside of the greatest ship, which at an appointed minute, though a week after, shall irrecoverably sink the ship. 10. A way from a mile off to dive and fasten such pocketengine to any ship, so as punctually to work the same effect, either for time or immediate execution."

Arrowroot Pudding (Soufflé). Three table-spoonsful of arrowroot to half a pint of milk, and one ounce of butter mixed in with it. To be boiled till thick, stirring it all the time. Two ounces of loaf sugar, half a dozen bitter almonds, four eggs, the yolks and whites beat separate. Mix the sugar, almonds, yolks of eggs, with the milk, &c., and add lastly the whites of eggs beat to a froth. Twenty minutes, or half an hour, to bake it.- —Arrowroot Mange.Take three table-spoonsful of arrowroot, with a little milk to mix it. A pint of milk put on the fire, with eight bitter almonds chopped fine, or bruised, and two laurel leaves, and three to four ounces of loaf sugar. Pour the boiling milk on the arrowroot, stirring it well, and give the whole a boil up till it thickens. It must

be turned into a mould. To be made the night before required. It should look like blanc mange.-Gardeners' Chronicle.

Salmon. They are occasionally, though rarely, killed in Britain of the weight of forty and even fifty pounds. In the comparatively unfished rivers of Scandinavia, although large salmon are much more frequent, the largest we ever heard of was an English fish, which came into the possession of Mr Groves, of Bond street. It was a female, and weighed eighty-three pounds. In the year 1841, Mr Young marked a few spawned salmon along with his grilse, employing, as a distinctive mark, copper wire instead of brass. One of these, weighing twelve pounds, was marked on the 4th of March, and was re-captured, on returning from the sea, on the 10th of July, weighing eighteen pounds.-Blackwood's Magazine.

A Nun's Wish.-Southey, in his Omniana,' relates the following:-"When I was last at a nun made her escape from the Irish nunnery. The first thing for which she inquired, when she reached the house in which she was to be secreted, was a looking-glass. She had entered the convent when only five years old, and from that time had never seen her own face."

A Persian philosopher being asked by what method he had acquired so much knowledge, answered, "By not being prevented by shame from asking questions when I was ignorant."

Of 100 parts into which the surface of the earth may be divided, Europe contains 7, Africa 21, Continental Asia 33, New Holland, &c. 8, South America 15, North America 16.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The article on Shakspeare cannot appear. It is rather late in the day to tell the British public that his name is celebrated, and his works inimitable.

Several suggestions from old correspondents are kindly acknowledged, though it may be impossible to act upon them for a time, in consequence, as the playbills say, of "the necessary arrangements for forthcoming novelties."

The notice of "The Bell" has been mislaid. We hope shortly to recover it.

"The Moon-seeker" has never appeared in English before. It has been translated expressly for the 'Mirror.'

"The best publication to send a work on Harbours to" we hesitate to name, as we do not know the merits or the tastes of all our contemporaries. After the 'Mirror,' perhaps the Naval and Military Gazette' may be advantageously tried.

MORTIMER, Adelaide Street, Trafalgar Square; LONDON: Published by CUNNINGHAM and and Sold by all Booksellers and Newsmen. Printed by C. REYNELL, 16 Little Pulteney street, and at the Royal Polytechnic Institution.