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Algiers. The 'Moniteur Algérien' announces the discovery at Orleanville, in preparing the foundations for some new buildings, of the ruins of an old Christian church. On the porch was found an inscription in Latin, of which the following is a translation:-"Here reposes our father Reparatus, bishop, of sacred memory, who for eight years and eleven months performed the sacerdotal functions, and who has passed before us in peace, the 11th of the Calends of August, in the 436th year of the birth of Jesus Christ."

Attack on an Alligator.-We entered the wood, and presently one of our party, who was ahead, cried out, "There's a mugger!" I looked in the direction in which he pointed, and saw an alligator, about seven feet long, basking under a tree. I viewed it with interest, as it was the first I had seen alive, but with some degree of apprehension. My companion, to whom it was not a novelty, sprung from his horse, and threw a heavy stone at it, which sounded on its side as if it had struck a piece of timber; it gave a groan, and began to waddle sluggishly away towards the tank, showing no inclination whatever to resent the affront.-Allen.

The Savoy Chapel.-This ancient chapel, the property of the Crown, and maintained by the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster, is now undergoing a complete restoration at the expense of her Majesty. The architectural department has been intrusted to Mr Sydney Smirke, who has restored a very beautiful altar screen, originally designed by Sir Reginald Bray, in the time of Henry VII. The old carved roof, which consists partly of emblems of the Plantagenets in succession down to the last of the Tudors, and partly of dedevices emblematic of our Saviour's passion, has been renovated and emblazoned under the superintendence of Mr Willement. The chapel, according to Pennant, was restored and royally endowed by Henry VII, under his will, dated 1508. This endowment is still kept up, the incumbent receiving an annual fee by Royal warrant. The chapel will be re-opened on the 29th inst.

Chinese Music. According to Père Amiot, an ancient instrument among the Chinese called the Kin was constructed with the "belly curved to represent the heavens; the back level to represent the earth; with a dragon eight inches from the bridge, to represent the eight points of the winds; four inches of neck to represent the four seasons of the year; five strings to represent the five planets and the five elements; and its total length fixed at seven feet two inches, to represent the universality of things." The Chinese have a specific number of airs for great occasions, which are never varied. They have their

court airs, as "God save our great Fum Hi;' airs to excite virtue, a kind of "Chinamen, strike home,' and airs to inspire true concord and national felicity, being probably Confucius's Boys,' and 'Croppies lie down.' During the late hostilities the English introduced among them 'Oh dear, what can the matter be!"

Receipt for making Every Day Happy.When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one to a fellow creature. It is easily done; a left off garment to the man who needs it, a kind word to the sorrowful, an encouraging expression to the striving; trifles in themselves light as air will do it, at least for the twenty-four hours; and if you are young depend upon it it will tell you when you are old; and if you are old rest assured it will send you gently and happily down the stream of human time to eternity. By the most simple arithmetical sum, look at the result. You send one person-only one - happily through the day-that is 365 in the course of the year; and supposing you live forty years only after you commence the course of medicine, you have made 14,600 human beings happy, at all events for a time-and this is supposing no relation or friend partakes of the feeling and extends the good.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"G., Kensington," and "V., Highgate."- We are sorry the delivery of the 'Mirror' is so irregular; but an order given to any respectable bookseller or newsman will remedy the evil.

"A. B."-Spermaceti is taken from a whale, which differs from the common whale by having a bunch on its back. The oily mass from which it is made is found in a large triangular cavity, about 5 feet deep and 10 or 12 feet long, which fills nearly the whole of the head, save a space left for the brain. The oil is separated from the spermaceti by putting it into bags and letting it drip away. It is brought to England in barrels, and has a yellow unctuous appearance. A moderate-sized whale will produce about 12 barrels. It is afterwards purified in this country.

The communication of "Caractacus" has been lost sight of. We have hoped from time to time to act on his suggestion, but have not yet had the opportunity.

"Paul" asks, What is a season? A season used to mean a whole spring or summer; sometimes a whole autumn and winter. Now it is understood, in theatrical circles, to mean anything that a shuffling manager pleases. "'Tis something, nothing." We may have two seasons in a month, or twenty-four seasons in a year.

"W. P." would be justified in "thrashing" the mean betrayer he describes, but looking to the probable consequence of his thus seeking justice in a land of law, we should say he had better leave him "To Heaven,

And to those thorns that in his bosom lodge."

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.

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Original Communications.

SOCIAL DOINGS IN CHINA. A NEW and most important chapter in the history of mankind has been opened to us by the late war with the Celestial Empire. Instead of continuing, as they were for centuries, wrapped up in arrogant notions of their own measureless superiority, and treating all Englishmen as barbarians hardly entitled to be regarded as fellow mortals, the Chinese now meet us on terms of equality. To the terror inspired by our arms, the most cordial good will appears to have succeeded. No longer do they tremble to hear of the advance of the British, no more are Chinese parents seen putting their offspring and themselves to death, that they may not encounter ¡the greater horrors of falling into the hands of the English invaders; they now look up to us as friends, as superiors, and are too happy to adopt our ideas and usages.

The free intercourse which must soon take place between the two empires will make us intimately acquainted with many of their peculiarities, of which we have heretofore had but imperfect information. With us their former stately reserve is fast wearing off. A letter from Hong Kong, published within the last week, gives an entertaining picture of a late festival. The writer says:

"At about five o'clock in the afternoon the British officers met at the Government house in full dress (thermometer 100), all the troops, officials, and public being present to witness the ratification of the treaty of peace, which was done in great form, under salutes from the forts and ships. The Chinese did not seem to care about it. When dinner came we sat down in white jackets, about fifty. The Commissioners appeared quite at their ease. They drank an enormous quantity of wine; chatted, laughed, and finished every glass, turning it over to show that it was empty, and helping themselves from the decanters. Old Keying, the Chief Commissioner, must have taken 50 large glasses of wine at least. When dinner was removed the Queen and Emperor of China were drunk in one toast, with three times three. We then drank to Keying's health, who would not be done out of his glass, but drank too. He then gave us a Chinese songsuch noises. What do you think of the Emperor's uncle singing a song? After this he called upon the Governor, Sir H. Pottinger, who gave us an English song; Wang, the second Commissioner, gave us another Chinese one, and called on another Englishman, and then the old Tartar General, whose performance surpasses all description: such a collection of noises I never heard before. He then called on

Lord Saltoun, who gave us a jolly song, when old Keying commenced again: and so passed the evening till near 11 o'clock, the old fellow taking wine enough for six at least, and, walking off pretty steady."

Sir Henry and Lord Saltoun had no occasion to teach the Emperor's uncle "to drink deep ere he departed."

He

A letter from Sir Henry Pottinger mentions other facts of interest connected with the same entertainment. When the Commissioners met in the drawing-room, the attention of Keying rested on the miniature portraits of the members of Sir Henry's family; and the Chinese grandee preferred the singular request, that he might be allowed to adopt the eldest son of the English Envoy as his own. pressed his suit (which was at first evaded by Sir Henry) with great earnestness; and on Sir Henry saying, "the education of the youth must first be attended to," he begged, when that should be completed, that he might be sent out to him in China. In the meantime he desired to retain his portrait and that of Lady Pottinger, which he held up to his head, an act which in China is deemed a mark of great honour. He further gave the British Plenipotentiary the state dress which he wore, and which he informed him had been given to his father by the Emperor Kien Long, who reigned in China half a century ago. A sword, presented to him by Sir Henry, Keying received with great marks of satisfaction. He immediately wore it by his side, and could not be induced to put it away during the whole of the festive scene in which he acted so conspicuous a part.

Hitherto they have been very jealous of permitting their ladies to roam. A female was exhibited in London, fifteen or twenty years ago, who stated that she had got away from her native country, China, by stealth, and if she were to return, her flight would be punished with death. Her feet were as small as those of an infant, and her finger nails, which were said never to have been cut, were nearly a foot long, and in form resembled a marrow spoon. Possibly, since in politics China at length recognises the jus gentium, in other affairs a more liberal course will be pursued, and Celestial beauties may not disdain to visit England. Their attire is stated to be very rich and fanciful. Peacocks' feathers, worn on the head, are among the auxiliaries to their charms.

The cuts which embellish our present number give correct representations of Chinese costume in high life. From these it will be seen that glyphography can present figures as effectively as buildings. Several artists of eminence have taken up the new process, and are now labouring on their own designs.

AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.

LETTER V.

Not only are changes continually taking place on the surface of the earth, for the purpose of renewing the expended soils, and supplying food for succeeding races of vegetable beings, but also in the air above and around us most important changes are constantly going on to the same end. These natural operations are so simple in their order, so mighty in their results, so unchanging in their combinations, that no one, however dead to the harmonious beauties of creation, can contemplate them without admiration and astonishment. In Nature's great laboratory there is no useless expenditure of material; and where man, in the blindness of ignorance, once saw but contingencies, or the production of useless, or even deleterious compounds, chemistry has already taught him that even in the fulfilment of the most ordinary duties of the animal economy, in the involuntary process even of respiration itself, there is an end and aim to be accomplished beyond the mere wants of the animal thus breathing; nay, the very wants which may be considered artificial, and which teach us to warm our habitations and our persons by means of fires, are rendered subservient by nature to a great and wise purpose.

In order that these various changes may be understood, we shall proceed to the consideration of the chemical constitution of atmospheric air.

The air we breathe is composed essentially of only two gases, the other bodies found there being accidental products and impurities. The constituents of air are nitrogen and oxygen. Every hundred parts of dry air contain seventy-nine parts of nitrogen and twenty-one of oxygen. This latter element is the only vital portion of air, the only supporter of animal life. In fact, the negative state of nitrogen, as a supporter of vitality, is well pointed out by the name given to it by many of the continental chemists, who term it azote, from a, privative, and (wn, life. However, we must not forget to state that although it will not, in its separate state, support respiration, or its kindred process of combustion, yet it serves an important end, as a diluter of the stimulating element oxygen, thus rendering it much more adapted to the ordinary wants of the animal economy.

Let us now proceed to consider the changes which take place in the atmosphere during respiration, especially in reference to the production of the food of plants.

When an animal inspires, a quantity of atmospheric air is taken into the lungs; but as the nitrogen of the air is not required, it is taught instinctively to reject

that portion and retain merely the oxygen. This element, remarkable for the facility with which it unites with other bodies, combines electively with the carbon of the human body, thus producing the compound called carbonic acid, and also with hydrogen, to form the vapour of water. These products are expelled from the mouth, in an invisible form, but may be detected in a most simple and satisfactory manner. That water is given off from the lungs may be proved by breathing on a piece of cold glass, which is dimmed by it. On a cold frosty morning the vapour is condensed by the atmosphere, and we see the fluid pouring off in immense quantities from the mouth of man, and of the inferior animals. That carbonic acid is also a product of respiration may be readily proved by breathing through a tube into lime-water. The presence of carbonic acid renders the fluid milky, owing to the formation of carbonate of lime. The quantity of this substance, so fruitful a source of nutriment to plants, which is given off from the lungs, is immense. A healthy man gives off, in twenty-four hours, no less than forty thousand cubic inches; and as this gas is composed of carbon or charcoal and oxygen, in the proportion of six of the former to sixteen of the latter, we find that upwards of eleven ounces of pure charcoal are daily expelled by the mouth. It has been calculated that even so small a bird as a pigeon gives off at least ninety-six grains of charcoal in the same period of time.

During combustion, accompanied by flame, exactly the same changes occur, and the same products are given off.

Carbonic acid is the product of all burning bodies containing carbon, whether those bodies be of animal or vegetable origin; and as this gas is very poisonous to animals, we may at once perceive the imprudence of allowing combustion to proceed in confined apartments. This is especially the case when the fuel is charcoal; for then the production of the mephitic vapours is so rapid as soon to produce death. How often have we read of suicidal and accidental death from this cause!

Again, water is the invariable product of combustion, accompanied by flame; for the presence of flame is indicative of hydrogen, which element during its combustion always combines with oxygen to form water; hence the term signifies, "to generate water."

The water thus formed during combus tion and respiration, as well as by evapo-> ration, and the decomposition of organic matter, ascends into the atmosphere, there to remain until again required for ferti lizing purposes. Thus the air, even on the brightest and sunniest day, contains

at least one per cent.; that is, every hundred gallons of air contain at least one gallon of watery vapour. Changes of temperature, or electrical changes, cause condensation to ensue; the fluid passes from its gaseous condition to the state of clouds, which consist of vesicles, or envelopes of water containing air, resembling soap bubbles, except in bulk; and eventually further condensation of the watery vapour results in the fall of rain, or dew, or snow, as the case may be, and thus it becomes an important agent in the forma tion of soils, in the solution of salts, about to be absorbed by the plant, and in rendering up to the vegetable two of its most important elements, oxygen and hydrogen.

The carbonic acid, also the product of combustion, respiration, &c., and which, if allowed to remain in the atmosphere, would soon render it irrespirable, is soon decomposed by vegetables, and its carbon absorbed; or it is taken up in solution by the descending rain, and carried into the earth, to be applied to the root of the plant, or to the formation of the various carbonates.

But the air is not only decomposed during the foregoing processes, but even the winged lightning, as it plays among the overhanging clouds, is also an instrument in the formation of new combinations of the atmospheric elements, for the sake of the vegetable world. We speak advisedly when we say "for the sake of the vegetable world;" for the care of the Creator is over all his works, and every portion of organised life lives and has its being in accordance with his great provisional laws. It is also a pleasing reflection that the electric fluid, so terrible in its career, should travel as the messenger of that Being who has, even in this phenomenon, a merciful purpose to serve.

The changes produced by lightning in the air are the following: the watery vapour is decomposed, and is resolved into its constituent elements, oxygen and hydrogen. The elementary portions of the air itself are also separated; while the same mighty agent which thus decomposes, acts as well as a "promoting affinity," or "attraction," and new and important compounds are formed. Thus the nitrogen combines with oxygen to form nitric acid, a compound of

Nitrogen 14, or one atom; and

Nitric Acid.

Oxygen 40, or five atoms. At the same time ammonia is formed by the union of nitrogen with the hydrogen of the decomposed water; thus— Nitrogen 14, or one atom; and

Hydrogen 3, or 3 atoms.

}

Ammonia.

The nitric acid then combines with the nascent ammonia, and the salt called ni

trate of ammonia is formed, which, being taken up in solution by the rain water, is conveyed to the plant, to enrich and invigorate it. Thus, in the tropics, where thunder-storms are frequent and violent, vegetation is infinitely more luxuriant than elsewhere; while the soils abound with the "nitrates" formed by these various atmospheric changes.

In a series of experiments performed at the Royal Polytechnic Institution some time ago, Dr Ryan distinctly found nitrate of ammonia in jars of air, impregnated with watery vapour, and through which a quick succession of electric sparks from the colossal machine had been allowed to pass. These experiments, performed at the suggestion of Mr Johnston, the celebrated agricultural chemist, sufficiently pointed out the uses of lightning, and the changes produced by it.

MARCH OF COMFORT.-WATER

FLANNEL.

"A FRIEND put into my hand the other day," writes a correspondent of the 'Athenæum,' 66 a yard or two of what seemed a coarse kind of flannel, grey on one side, greenish on the other, and a full quarter of an inch thick, which had been thrown up by the river Trent, and washed ashore in vast sheets. It was pronounced to be a manufactured article, and so it was, but by the hand of Nature. It brought to mind a similar production, of which some acres had been discovered in Berkshire about three years since, when it was said that clothing had been made from it by the country people, who took it for a sort of cotton wadding, fallen from Heaven.

This substance, when handled, is harsh to the touch, although composed of finest threads. To the naked eye it presents no character by which it may be known from any coarse and loosely woven cloth. The microscope reveals its nature. It is then found to consist of myriads of jointed threads, whose joints are compressed alternately sideways and vertically; they are here and there transparent, but for the most part opaque, and rough to the eye. The white side is more opaque than the other, and more unexaminable; but if a little muriatic acid be added to the water in which the fragments of water flannel float, copious bubbles of air appear, which are much increased in quantity by the application of the heat of a spirit lamp. By degrees they disappear. They were bubbles of carbonic acid, extricated by the action of the muriatic acid on a coating of carbonate of lime, with which the plant is more or less completely invested. If, after this operation, the threads are again examined, the contents of the joints become visible; in the green parts of the flannel they are filled with an irregular mass of green mat

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