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of fine fruit for several succeeding years. Compte Lelieur was of opinion that it would be useful to select a certain number of plants of each of the best varieties after forcing, and to plant them in the open border, to ascertain which kinds will produce a second crop; and then a good plan, before turning them out of the pot, is to withhold water for a short time, in order that they might afterwards be excited into a new growth by repeated waterings. The writer also observed that the temperature of pine stoves was too warm for strawberries, when first placed in heat to bring them forward; that the flowers of these plants, particularly of those kinds which throw out abundance of foliage before blooming, should be brought on gradually. Thus, for instance, the Elton is barren, while Keen's seedling succeeds in a rather high temperature, provided the house is kept cool until the fruit is set.-Mr Pepys exhibited two lupines, one planted on the 26th of April, when weighing 2.6 grains, in soil composed (in 100 parts) of silica, 75; alumina, 15; and carbonate of lime, 10; it was then watered with 3oz. 5drs. of distilled water, and afterwards with oz. of the same, every day; on the 30th of July it was in a dying state, and weighed 42.5 grains. The other, planted on the 8th of May, in peat and loam, and weighing 2-6 grains, was watered in the usual way, and weighed, on the 30th of July, 192-5 grains. Both plants were grown in glass pots. The experiment was made to ascertain how far it is possible to make plants grow without those elementary substances usually considered as forming their food.-From the garden of the society were four plants of the common hydrangea, each of which had been treated in a different manner, to find out, if possible, what ingredient it was in the soil that changed the flowers from pink to blue. No. 1, treated in the usual way, was by far the most healthy plant, and bore pink flowers; 2, to which oz. of phosphate of iron had been administered, was evidently in an unhealthy condition, the flowers being pink, small, and having with the leaves a yellowish tint; 3, treated with oz. of caustic potash, bore small and pale pink flowers; while 4, to which oz. of alum had been given, produced blue flowers-the dose had, however, been too strong, as was shown by the weak condition of the plant and the small size of the flowers; neverthless it proved that alum will produce the desired effect.

DOCTOR SPURGIN'S PATENT. THE machine invented for hoisting bricks, mortar, water, or other materials employed in building, and adapted to the unloading ships and warehousing of goods, which has now been successfully brought into use, is of the form represented in the accompany ing engraving.

The main part of the machine rests upon the ground (fig. A). The second part of it is a trestle, which may be placed upon the scaffolding of the bricklayers (fig. B); in the upper part of which is a wheel which corresponds perpendicularly with

another wheel (fig. C), attached to the principal body of the machine, resting on the ground. The wheel C is put in motion by one or several men, who turn the handle (fig. D) by which the chain operates its rotation.

The workmen attach

their hods, full of materials, as at fig. B, and others detach them (fig. F), to carry them to the bricklayers. The empty hods are attached to the chain as at fig. G, and they are detached as at fig. H. The chain may be lengthened and shortened as necessary. When a story is added to the scaffolding, the trestle is placed upon the new story, and the chain lengthened as required. The figures I, K, L, are accessaries used for hoisting the materials, viz., I for the broken bricks; K for the water; and L for the pieces of stone for windows, chimneys, &c.

From what has been stated it will be seen the effect of this invention is to relieve the workman from the most toilsome part of his labour by doing away with the practice of ascending the ladder, and to prevent the accidents arising from this practice. By means of it building operations will be carried on with much greater expedition than heretofore, and it will considerably diminish the cost of such works.

The hods are fastened to the chain at the rate of three in a minute; each hod contains 16 bricks (or the same weight in other materials), equal to 48 bricks a minute, 2,880 an hour, or 28,800 in ten hours, the average of a day's work.

If the hods are placed more closely to each other on the chain, four can be affixed in a minute, 3,840 in the hour, 38,400 in the day.

If, instead of hods with their handles, baskets be used, the amount raised will double the above, as the handles necessarily occupy much space.

Whatever the height of the building, the results will be the same, and without increasing the number of workmen necessary to fasten the hods, &c., and unfasten them at the top of the scaffolding. Where the height, however, is greater, the number of men working the machine must be increased.

When the hods are once fixed the same quantity of materials can be raised, and in the same time, to 100 as to 10 feet.

Of late years building in England has been carried on to an extent formerly unknown; and houses are now, for the most part, raised to four or five stories, where two or three used to be the height. The consequence is, the labour of the men employed in conveying the materials for the building has become much more severe than it was, and their strength often becomes unequal to the task imposed. In such cases the value of the machine will be duly appreciated.

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AMATEUR'S GARDEN FOR
AUGUST.

ONE of the first things to be attended to now is sowing mignonette for blooming in pots through the winter and spring. It is a plant rather difficult to manage in low and damp situations. To insure success the pots must be clean, and well drained; the compost used should consist of three parts good mellow sandy loam, to which one part of decomposed leaf mould may be added. Fill the pots quite full of soil so as not to allow much room for subsiding. The plants must not be allowed to become crowded in the pots; six plants is sufficient in a 48-sized pot. Through the winter the proper treatment is to secure them against frost-to keep the soil moderately moist, but not wet-and to give them all the air possible at favourable times. A few small plants, potted now from the open borders, will bloom in November; those sown now will succeed them in January, and a few more pots sown towards the end of the month will give a succession as long as bloom is wanted in pots in the spring.

The plants to which attention is first required in the way of propagation for another season are those of a delicate habit, and which are consequently difficult to keep through the winter. Among these may be noticed the different kinds of Nierembérgia, as N. intermédia, calycina, grácilis, and filicaulis. The first is the most delicate, and rarely to be met with in greenhouses, much less in flower-gardens, but it makes an excellent bed, and those who possess a plant will do well to propa

gate from it. N. calycina is also scarce, but it is not so difficult to manage as the preceding. Bouvárdia tryphilla and angustifolia or splendens,-for I believe they are both the same,-are plants which make beautiful beds in ordinary seasons, though in the present one they have by no means done well. B. angustifólia is the best both in constitution and colour of flower, but both will now strike freely in sand in a little heat, and, if gradually dried off before the winter, will make nice plants for turning out next season. Another favourite plant is Lantana Sellowi, which also requires to be propagated early, so as to get the plants well established in small pots before winter. Lotus Jacobus, with its yellow variety, and the lovely little L. microphyllus, with its pale orange flowers, are plants which make excellent beds, but require very kind treatment in the winter; and, as an old plant which is admirably adapted for drooping over the sides of a basket or vase, or even for making an excellent bed late in the season, may be mentioned Myoporum débile; it blooms freely in the autumn, and is not readily injured by cold weather. These are all good plants, which hitherto have not been so cultivated as their merits entitle them to.

Of pelargoniums a large quantity of the scarlets should be got out as quickly as possible. The best of these for beds are Smith's emperor, the shrubland, Frogmore, Brighton hero, globe scarlet, and a prostrate-growing scarlet, which in some places is called the huntsman, but which is scarcely known in the neighbourhood of London. Ingram's and Cooper's scarlets are two dwarf kinds of good habit, the latter with a slight tinge of black in the upper petals. These are the cream of the scarlets at the present time, but there are several seedlings which will probably displace some of them next year. There are, moreover, many pencilled varieties which make good beds, and to which I shall next week allude.-Gardeners' Chronicle.

JOHN YOUNG'S CASE.

REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO THE EXECUTIONER.

Most of the unfortunate beings whom law dooms to die, however they may confess the justice of their sentence, would gladly escape the execution of it. Those who scrupled not to take another's life, have often a great dread of laying down their own. But, notwithstanding this, very few, being convinced of the hopelessness of their case, think of attempting a struggle with the constituted authorities when the fatal day arrives. Such an effort they feel must be vain, and the pain of an additional defeat would only add to the bitterness of death.

There have, however, been some instances in which the sufferer has resisted till the last. A sad and extraordinary scene was presented in Edinburgh, December 19, 1750. A sergeant in Lord Ancram's regiment of foot had been doomed to die for vending false notes of the Royal Bank of Scotland. He bitterly repined at his fate, considering the crime not deserving of death, and that others implicated in it were more guilty than he, whose lives nevertheless were spared.

He firmly resolved not to surrender himself to the hangman. Though he had no longer a hope of pardon, as he had been sentenced to die between two and four o'clock in the afternoon, it will be seen he conceived an idea that if he could baffle the officers of justice till the latter hour had struck, his object would be gained, and they would not dare then to conduct him to the scaffold. How to get through those two important hours became the unhappy man's care. The accounts of the time thus detail what occurred on the day fixed for his punishment ::

"The magistrates appointed to witness the ceremony assembled about two o'clock at the prison door, accompanied by the proper officers, the guard, and a multitude of spectators. They, attended by two clergymen, went to the prisoner, and having read over to him the sentence, asked his objections to the same. Young answered, that he had none; but observing that the sentence appointed the execution to be performed betwixt two and four in the afternoon, that suggested a thought to him, that if he preserved his life till past four, the magistrates could not execute him. He desired leave to retire a short time with the two reverend ministers, for ghostly consolation, which being granted, he went with them to the iron room, where he had been confined since sentence; and after talking with them he begged they would allow him to spend a few minutes in private devotion; which seeming reasonable, they withdrew, and he ushered the clergymen to the outer door of his apartment, which shutting behind them, he retired to the inner room, the iron door of which he immediately bolted.

"The officers of justice, after waiting some time, surprised at his delay, endeavoured to open his door, which, to their great surprise, they found bolted: they knocked and desired him to come out. No,' said he,' in this place I am resolved to defend my life to the utmost of my power.' The door was attempted to be forced, but it being of iron, in vain were the most violent endeavours used for that purpose. The lord provost was sent for. The city clock was stopped, and surprise and expectation appeared in every face. A considerable time being spent to no pur

pose in forcing the door, that attempt was given over, and the only possible method of getting in was found to be by breaking up the floor of the room over the prisoner, which was in about two hours effected. A passage being opened a gun was presented in order to terrify him, and compel him to open the door: this had not the desired effect; for he said, as he lived, so he desired to die, like a soldier. The man who had the gun, being a little remiss, Young, making a leap up, laid hold of the muzzle, and pulled it down, threatening to shoot the first man that dared to enter; but the gun was unloaded, which prevented such a catastrophe. Rewards were offered to such of the city guards as would seize him; and, after several refusing, one had the courage to go down, whom Young welcomed with a violent blow on the breast from the butt end of his gun, that laid him on the ground. Had Young been armed with a sword or a bayonet, it is likely the fate of the first adventurer would have stopped the attempts of the second; but he having only an empty musket, and the passage being wide, three or four more jumped in at once, and, after a violent struggle, overpowered and bound the unhappy victim; who still refusing to walk, the door was opened, and he was dragged headlong down stairs, in a most deplorable condition. When brought out he asked if it was yet four o'clock (as indeed it then was); but being answered, that he should be hanged were it past eight, he immediately composed himself to suffer that so much dreaded death. Still he refused being accessary to his own murder (as he was pleased to term it) by walking, as usual, to the place of execution; he was therefore forced into a cart, where, the hangman sitting by him holding the end of the rope, which was immediately put about his neck, he was in this manner dragged to the Grass-market, amidst thousands of amazed spectators; where again refusing to ascend the scaffold, he was carried up by the guard, and after about fifteen minutes, being near half an hour past four, and just almost dark, he was hanged by the neck till he was dead.

"The poor man had served in the army many years with reputation; was beloved by his officers, being never before convicted of the least offence."

Not the least singular part of this remarkable narrative is the incident of the city clock being stopped, as if that would save the point of law and arrest the march of time.

Tight Lacing.-A learned Doctor, referring to tight lacing, avers that it is a public benefit, inasmuch as it kills all the foolish girls and leaves the wise ones to grow up to be women.

Reviews.

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at present.)-And Lord Rusborough to be made a Viscount.12 (Not agreed to.) "The following persons to have pensions

Correspondence of John, fourth Duke of during pleasure, for the sums set against

Bedford. Vol. II.

In the letters contained in this volume we find but moderate entertainment. They offer a good deal that every one knows, and not a little of what few would care to know. Meanness and corruption in connexion with state affairs are unfortunately neither novel nor obsolete. The manner in which Irish business was transacted in the last century will perhaps be read with some interest, it being borne in mind that at the time referred to, eighty or ninety years ago, Ireland had that blessing of all blessings, a parliament of her own:

"May 24.-As things are circumstanced business may be easily carried on next sessions; but the leading people must have douceurs, a great many of which I must at a proper time lay before his Majesty, by these means he may do what he pleases with that country. The Princess of Hesse may have her pension of 5,000l.; but other things of the like nature must be given in Ireland. Pensions to the amount of above 5,000l. per annum have been extinguished since my going to Ireland.

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"To propose the following persons to be made peers:-The Chancellor, if his Majesty shall please to make an augmentation of 500Z. per annum to his salary, to be created a Baron.1-Sir Arthur Gore, a Viscount.2 Sir Maurice Crosbie, a Baron.3-John Lysaght Sen, a Baron.4-William Annesley, Esq., a Baron.5-James Stopford, Esq., a Baron.6 (Agreed to.)-Lord Viscount Castlecomer, to be made an Earl.7-Lord Tullamore to be made an Earl.8 (Not the present family.) Lady Athenry to be made a Countess.9 (Agreed to.)-Likewise Mr Cole10 and Mr Mason's 11 request to be made Barons. (Not

(1) Created Baron Bowes of Clonlyon.

(2) Member of parliament for the borough Donegal, created Baron Saunders and Viscount Sudley of Castle Gore, in the county of Mayo, and in 1762, Earl of Arran, in the county of Galway, on the recommendation of the Earl of Kildare.

(3) Member for the county of Kerry, created Baron of Branden, county of Kerry; on the recommendation of the Earl of Shannon.

(4) Member for the borough of Charleville, created Baron Lisle of Mountnorth.

(5) Member for the borough of Middleton, created Baron Annesley of Castle Wellan.

(6) Member for the borough of Lethard, created Baron of Courtown, county of Wexford.

(7) John Wandesford, Viscount Castlecomer, created Earl of Wandesford.

(8) Charles Moore, second Lord Tullamore, advanced to the dignity of Earl of Charleville.

(9) Dowager Baroness, created Countess of Brandon, county of Kilkenny.

(10) John Cole, Esq., member for Inniskillen. In the Duke's private Diary this note: "Mr Cole, member for I., was with me to lay in his pretensions for the title of Ranelagh, which he said was promised to be recommended to the King by the Duke of Devonshire." "I gave no promise but to lay his pretensions before the King,"-created in 1760, Baron Mount Florence of Fermanagh.

(11) Most probably Aland Mason, Esq., member for the county of Waterford.

their respective names:—

Countess of Drogheda
Mrs Gore and her daughters.
Guy More, Esq.

John Blennerhassett, Esq.
James Hussey, Esq.

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The Hon. Mrs. Walsingham Hon. William Molesworth and Anne his wife, in addition to their pension

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The following anecdote reflects great honour upon Lord Temple. It shows that he made a determined effort to save an unquestionably brave man from being unjustly sacrificed:

"I cannot forbear telling you Lord Temple pressed him some days ago very strongly for a pardon for Mr Byng; his Majesty persevered, and told his lordship flatly he thought him guilty of cowardice in the action, and therefore could not break his word they had forced him to give to his people-to pardon no delinquents. His lordship walked up to his nose, and, sans autre cérémonie, said, What shall you think if he dies courageously? His Majesty stifled his anger, and made him no reply. I think I never heard of such insolence."

The robbery of Mrs Hodges is so extraordinary that we know not how to believe it. Townsend, the Bow-street officer, used to suppose that many of the alleged daring robberies were committed in a very quiet way by the loose companions of those who complained of having been despoiled. We know nothing against the character of the lady just mentioned, but if she had been would have surmised from a story like the open to suspicion we know what many following:

"Though it is eleven o'clock, I must tell you of the most curious of all robberies that was committed last night. A Mrs Hodges, of Hanover square, got into her coach at the playhouse, and from under the seat of the coach, as it was going along, up jumps a thief, and with a pistol in his hand demands her money and jewels, and orders her, upon pain of instant death, to stop her coach at a certain place and let him out, and wish him good night, all which she complied with, and he carried off a thousand pounds' worth of her jewels."

Miscellaneous.

MR CARSON'S PATENT SALTING MACHINE. This is one of the simplest and, perhaps, the most useful little invention that has for years come within our obserVation. The instrument is only 103 inches in length, and 3 in breadth, and is capable

(12) Joseph Leeson, First Earl of Miltown; advanced to the Viscounty of Rusborough, 1760.

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