pleasure to survey the fine collection of minerals and fossils-the beautiful amalachite and the giant mammoth-masses of native gold, which almost led one to doubt of the preciousness of the metal asbestos fabricated into gloves, which the guide quaintly remarked had only to be thrown into the fire to be cleaned-pebbles containing water, trees containing bones, and petrified wood richly encrusted with amethysts.

All these are the productions of Siberia, and after having surveyed them, as well as plans of the mines and machinery, we were finally conducted through a considerable extent of Model Mines, running under the neighbouring play-ground to the extent of nearly half a mile, and intended to illustrate the strata and general relative positions of the mineral kingdom. It appears that all the mines of Siberia are worked by convict labour, and round the walls of the Museum there are suspended views of many of the chief towns of that district, and these I must say appear quite equal to the other towns of Russia; and, to an imagination tutored to expect nothing in Siberia but rocks, chains, misery, and snow, the appearance of comfortable towns and agreeable verdure created a feeling of surprise. The government of Russia does not, like that of England, send their malefactors to a climate better than their own. The exiles of respectability do not generally labour in the mines, and they form a very large society in Tobolsk, much superior, indeed, to that of any of the other provincial towns of Russia. Advantage has lately been taken of the visit of the Prince Royal to Siberia, to extend an act of grace to a large portion of the political exiles of 1826, who are thereby permitted

to return to Russia and reside on their estates in the country, though not in the capitals.

The monuments to Peter the Great, and the late Emperor Alexander, are among the chief ornaments of St Petersburg. The size of the single rock on which the former is placed has been so often described, that the effect of the reality unfortunately becomes one of disappointment, and part of it has been chiselled away in a manner that might well have been dispensed with. Instead, likewise, of being raised up so that its full size might be visible, and the greatest effect produced, it is rather sunk into the ground.

Of the spirited equestrian bronze statue itself, it is scarcely possible to speak in too high terms.

The pillar in honour of Alexander is a beautiful piece of red granite, upwards of eighty feet high, which being raised on a pedestal, the height alone may be supposed to place it far beyond the reach of ordinary criticism.

SILVERING CAST IRON.

BY MAJOR JEWREINOFF, AS PRACTISED AT
ST PETERSBURG.

THE liquid for silvering is prepared in the
following manner :-Cyanide of potassium,
prepared according to Liebig's method, is
introduced into a stoppered vessel, and
freshly-prepared pure chloride of silver,
still in a moist state, added; the whole
being covered with water and shaken vio-
lently for some time at the ordinary tem-
perature. An excess of chloride of silver
is taken, and should a small quantity of it
remain undissolved, a few pieces more of
the cyanide are added after some time,
taking care, however, to avoid having an
excess of the latter salt, but always a small
quantity of undissolved chloride at the
bottom of the vessel. This last circum-
stance is important, because when the
liquor contains too much free cyanide of
potassium it is easily decomposed, and
moreover does not silver so well; before
employing it, it is filtered, and is thus
rendered perfectly clear, iron and a little
chloride of silver remaining on the filter.
I effect the plating by means of a galvanic
pair of plates, consisting of zinc and a coke
cylinder, which are separated from each
other by means of an earthen diaphragm.
The pair are placed in a glass vessel contain-
ing dilute sulphuric acid, and dilute nitric
acid is conveyed into the earthen diaphragm.
The cleansed cast-iron object is immersed
in the silver solution, and connected with
the zinc pole by means of a conducting
wire, and a platinum plate immersed in
the liquid at some distance from the object
to be silvered, and connected with the coke
cylinder. A plate of cast iron, of four
square inches surface, is generally com-
pletely plated in thirty minutes.—Bulletin
de St Petersbourg.

TIGER-KILLING.-The following method of destroying tigers is said to be common in Persia and the north of Hindostan :"A large semi-spherical cage is provided, made of strong bamboos or other efficient materials woven together, but leaving intervals throughout of about three or four inches broad. Under this cover, which is fastened to the ground by means of pickets, in some place where tigers abound, a man, provided with two or three short strong spears, takes post at night. Being accompanied by a dog, which gives the alarm, or by a goat, which by its agitation answers the same purpose, the adventurer wraps himself up in his quilt, and very composedly goes to sleep, in full confidence of his safety. When a tiger comes, and perhaps, after smelling all around, begins to rear against the cage, the man stabs him with one of the spears through the interstices of the wicker-work, and rarely fails of destroying the beast."— Oriental Sports.

Arms. Ar., on a saltier az., a bezant.

Crest. A lion's head, erased, ppr., collared, gu., thereon a bezant.

Supporters. Dexter, a lion, rampant, guardant, or, collared, gu., charged with a bezant; sinister, a stag, ppr., attired and unguled, or, collared as the lion. Motto. "Nec cupias, nec metuas." "Neither desire nor fear."

THE NOBLE HOUSE OF
HARDWICKE.

THE first person of note in this family was Simon Yorke, of Dover, merchant, a man of large property. He died in 1682, leaving two sons, the elder of whom, Philip, was a solicitor at Dover, who married Elizabeth, the daughter and heir of Edward Gibbon, Esq. of Westcliffe, county of Kent. That gentleman had a brother named Mathew, who was ancestor to the historian Gibbon. Mr Yorke dying, June 18, 1721, left an only son, Philip Yorke, by whom the family became ennobled. He devoted himself to the study of the law. His talents and assiduity caused him to prove eminently successful. In 1720, being then but twenty-nine years of age, he became Solicitor-General, and Attorney-General four years afterwards. In that high situation he remained till November, 23, 1733, when he was elevated to the bench and peerage, as Lord Chief Justice of England, by the title of Baron Hardwicke of Hardwicke. In 1736-7 he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, and advanced, April 2, 1754, to a Viscounty by the title of Viscount Royston and Earl of Hardwicke. His Lordship was appointed, in 1746, Lord High Steward of England for the trials of the Earls of Kilmarnock and Cromartie, and for those of the Lords Lovat and Balmerino. He was one of the Lords Justices for the administration of the government during the King's absence in 1740, 1748, and 1752, and was unanimously chosen High Steward of the University of Cambridge in 1749. His Lordship had five sons and two daughters, and, dying, was succeeded by his eldest son, Philip, who, dying in 1793, was succeeded in his titles by his nephew of the same name, the son of Charles, the second son of the first Earl, who was also an eminent lawyer. He reached the highest honours of the profession, and, having gained the woolsack, died suddenly, June 20, 1770, at the moment a patent was being made out for conferring upon him the title of Baron Morden.

On the death of Philip, the third Earl,

he was succeeded by the present wearer of the title, Charles Philip Yorke, who was born April 2, 1799. His Lordship married, October 4, 1833, Susan, sixth daughter of Lord Ravensworth.

ACCOUNTS AND DISBURSEMENTS

IN THE TIME OF EDWARD IV. To contrast the payments of the present day with those of former periods is often amusing and useful. Those of Piers Courteys, in the time of King Edward IV, deserve to be noted. He was keeper of the great wardrobe. In the Harleian MSS. No. 4,780, the following appear to have oc20th of Edward IV. curred from April 18th to Michaelmas,

By the King's writ, to John Bishop of Ely, treasurer, &c. &c., we find that prelate, and some other persons named, were auditors of Courtey's accounts, and paid his wages, and those of his assistants.

"And also xl shillings yearly for the pension of the psone of Seynt Androwe, at Baynardes Castelle in London, in recompens of certayne oblacions, obvencions, emoliments, and other dutes to him due out of oure seid gret wardrobe, by reason of his said chyrch and benefice of the old graunte of the Prynce of ryght noble memory King Edward the Third."

Courteys had the care of the liveries of the brotherhoods of St George and the Garter, the robes of the King, Queen, their children, lords, ladies, and knights of St George and the Garter, and the prelates His salary was 100l. per of those orders. annum; William Misterton, clerk, received 1s. per diem; William Dunhan and Wil

liam Hall, yeomen, tailors, 6d. each; and Thomas Stanes, "portitour,"* 4d.

John Easter, skinner, 10%. per annum; Richard Huntingdon and Thomas Dancast, clerks, "attending early and late," 60s.

At one time Courteys delivered, for the King's own use, a long gown of cloth of lined with green satin; a double of blue gold, blue upon satin "emaylled," † and

satin, lined with Holland cloth; a demygown of tawney velvet, lined with blue damask, &c. &c.

He received within the period abovenamed, 1,1741. 5s. 2d. for the use of his office; 3381. 15s. 6d. were appropriated to the purchase of velvets, satins, damask, and other silks, from Piers de Vraulx, of Montpelier; 487. 18s. 4d. for 279 ounces of spangles and "wat floures," at 3s.6d. per oz.; 1027. for cloth of gold tissue, white and green; and of the "vittaill" money of the staple of Calais, 2601.

We find the following memorandum: "Purchased eight fox skins at 7d. each; and boggy* legs, for powderings, at 2s. per hundred; white lamb skins, at 14s. per hundred."

The velvets were from 8s. to 16s. per yard; the black cloths of gold, 40s.; velvet upon velvet, and white tissue cloth of gold, 40s.; cloth of gold, broached upon satin, 24s.; and cloth of silver, in the same manner, at the same price.

Damask, 8s. per yard; satins, 6s., 10s., 128.; camlets, 30s. a piece; sarsnets, from 4s. to 4s. 2d.

Paid "William Shuckburg, for four counterpoints, whereof one, of arras, with imagery, without silk; one other, of green ' verdours' with trees; one other, of white, with a scripture, &c. &c." These articles show the difference between our cotton counterpanes, and patchworks, and those of our ancestors.

Feather beds with bolsters were then bought for 16s. 8d. for our sovereign Lord the King.

We read of

"Two pair shoon of Spanyssh leder, double soled, and not lyned, price the peire, 16d.; for eight pair of sloppes, lyned with blue velvet, of the King's own store, of blue, green, and black leather, 18d. per pair; leathe' patyns, 12d. per pair."

For seven pair of "botews" of black leather, above the knee, 4s. a pair; black leather boots, 6s. 8d.; coloured Spanish, 8s.; a pair of long spurs, parcel gilt, 6s.; hats, 1s. a piece; ostrich feathers, 10s. each; gilt nails, 4d. per hundred.

Tailors were employed within the wardrobe; twenty-six of whom are charged as working 160 days at 6d. per day each; fourteen skinners, 299 days, at 6d. each.

The next is remarkable:"Paid to Rauff Underwod, wyredrawer, for 111lb. and a q'rton of wyre of iren, for to hang with verdours against the grete bay window, in the Queen's old chambre, in the wardrobe, towarde the dragon, &c." The ambassadors of France lodged there at this period, "in Mr Sutton's place."

t "For washing of ii pair of shets, of ii breds; and viii pair of shets, everich of iii

* Skins of the legs.

breds, after the King's departing from the grete wardrobe, in the moneth of Juyll, the xx yeare of his most noble reigne, for every pair washing, iiid.

"For xxx burdons of rushes at d'vers tymes, when the King's hignesse and goode grace rested and abode at his said grete wardrobe."

Three dozen and nine pounds of candles consumed during this visit, at one penny per pound.

For making a gown and a hood of the livery of the Garter for the Duke de Ferrar, 8s.; and a mantle of blue velvet, garnished with a rich garter of "ruddle" (red), 6s.

MONARCHS OF ENGLAND AND
FRANCE.

GREAT attention is at present excited
in England, as well as in France, by
the visit Queen Victoria has been
pleased to pay the King of the French.
The journalists on the other side of the
water generally express a rational satisfac-
tion at the prospect that the friendly rela-
tions which now subsist between the two
countries may be strengthened and im-
proved by Royal greetings, but some of
them are absurd enough to affect alarm
lest Louis Philippe and his ministers should
requite the compliment paid to them by
giving up important commercial points.
They need not frighten themselves, such
consequences do not often follow the meet-
ings of crowned heads.

After reading the newspaper accounts of the reception given to our Queen, it may gratify the reader to have an opportunity of comparing them with what was formerly witnessed when an English monarch paid a visit to a king of France.

In 1475 a meeting having been appointed to take place at Amiens, between Edward the Fourth of England and Louis the Eleventh, the latter sent, as a present to the former, on his way, three hundred cart loads of the best wines of France, and, says De Comines, "I think the carts made as great an appearance as the whole army." The two nations were not then at peace, but a truce had been concluded, and taking advantage of this, many English went into the town, where, according to the writer just quoted, they behaved imprudently, with little regard to their prince's honour. Louis had ordered two large tables to be placed on each side of the street, at the entrance from the town gate, which were covered with a variety of nice dishes, and all sorts of food proper to relish their wine, of which there was great plenty. Abundance of servants wearing the king's livery were in attendance to wait on them, but the narrator slily remarks, " Not a drop of wine did they call for." At each of the tables the king had placed five or six jolly

Other portions of the organic matter of the plants, such as gluten and albumen, contain, in addition to carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, a small amount of nitrogen.

In looking over the foregoing tables, we perceive that much as lignin, gum, sugar, and starch differ from each other in appearance and properties, yet they are almost identical in their constitution. The same elements, also, combine to form many fluids, such as alcohol, vinegar, &c. The elements oxygen and hydrogen are most probably united in all these compounds in the form of water; therefore, when speaking of sugar, we may term it a compound of carbon and water.

In our next paper we shall treat of the constituents of the plants in their separate