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To such a pitch was the wantonness of cruelty carried by this outcast from humanity, that he had jesters in attendance when executions were going on, to entertain him with their jokes as the work of torture proceeded. These, though favourites, were sometimes the victims of his caprice. They were of various ranks, and Prince Gvosdef is named as one of them. One of his jests, unhappily for him, gave offence, and in consequence boiling soup was poured on his head. He attempted to retire from the table, when Ivan stuck him with his knife, and he fell bleeding to the ground. A physician, named Arnolph, was then called, to whom the Czar, with an affectation of pity, said,-"Save, save my good servant; I have jested with him a little too hard." "So hard," replied the doctor, "that I can do nothing for him." With blasphemous servility, he added, "God only, and your majesty, can restore him to life, for the prince has ceased to breathe." Ivan laughed at the event, called the deceased a dog, and in a few moments seemed to have wholly forgotten what had occurred.

It ought not to be concealed, that the atrocities of the wretched despot were probably, in some instances, prompted and invited by the approbation with which they seemed to be witnessed. The slaves, who owned his sway, not merely acquiesced in his deeds of blood as necessary, but pretended to applaud them as

"The gay, graceful, frolicksome freak of the free, Which nor law could restrain nor religion control;" and even gratitude was expressed by some of the sufferers. The voyvod of Staritza, Boris Titof, bowing to the ground before him, Ivan exclaimed, "God save thee, dear Voyvod, thou deservest a lasting mark of favour." Saying this he cut off one of the voyvod's ears. No shrinking, no manifestation of pain was exhibited by Titof. He thanked the Czar for his gracious favour, and wished him a long and glorious reign.

(To be concluded next week.)

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whether the two systems are alike, although we believe this to be the only method by which it could be carried out. In Herr Döbler's arrangement the candles were placed in different parts of the stage; some suspended from the ceiling, and others on tables, the stage being in darkness, on entering which he fired a pistol,* and at the same instant the candles were all ignited.

The candles employed in this experiment must have their wicks all of the same height, each having been previously lighted, for the purpose of carbonizing the cotton, and then carefully extinguished, and the black or charred parts of the wicks dipped in spirits of turpentine: the candles being arranged in the position above described, must have a slight slip of board so placed as to be on a level with the tips of the wicks, and at the distance of half an inch from them; on this board must be nailed a series of wires, in the shape of the letter V, and arranged along the one edge of the board, so that the leg of each V may stand opposite a candle wick, the distance between the legs being about the one-sixteenth part of an inch, as in the following bird's-eye view; the dots answering to the tips of the candles, and the letters the position of the wires on the

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board. Between these openings, when the experiment is to be carried out, must be placed a small pinch of percussion pow der,† and in any convenient position, out of sight of the spectators, an assistant must have a small electrical machine with a Leyden jar of about two quarts capacity, from the outside coating of which a wire passes to the one end of the board, and a corresponding wire from the other end, being connected with the jointed discharging rod: when all the arrangements are thus made, and the jar charged, the assistant, on the concerted signal, discharges the jar; the electricity, passing between the wires, ignites the percussion powder, the flame of which communicates to the candles. If a row of gas jets be substituted for the candles, the percussion powder may be dispensed with, as the gas may be ignited by the mere spark, as practised by Dr Bachhoffner, at the Polytechnic Institution.

Note. If the candles are arranged in different parts of the room and not in one

This, of course, is not essential to the experiment, but very important to the deception, as the noise of the report covers the discharge of the Leyden jar.

+ Composed of one part of finely-pulverized sulphuret of antimony, and two parts of finely-powdered chlorate of potass; they must be ground separately, and afterwards gently mixed with a feather on a sheet of paper; without this caution it is likely to explode.

line, care must be taken to arrange the wires so as to have but one commencement and termination; it matters little how they are placed as long as this is attended to, the object being, of course, to transmit the electric fluid through the whole line of wire.

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LIFE'S BANQUET OVER.
(For the Mirror.)

B.

AND Weeps the man of many years,
With chilling dread and burning tears,
Because he now discerns,

That at no distant period hence,

He "to that bourne must hasten whence
No traveller returns."

Life is a treat. A mighty arm
Spreads over it a matchless charm ;

But taken the repast,
While yet the cup of joy we drain,
Shall folly venture to complain,
It can't for ever last?

If after happy seasons spent

› Clouds lower, shall we feel discontent That life is on the lees;

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66

As well at dinner after fish,
And fowl, and many a sumptuous dish,
Might we be shocked at cheese.

Our gracious Host may claim at least,
To end when he thinks fit the feast.
Life's entertainment o'er,

Let us, content with good or bad,
Be thankful for what we have had,

And wisely crave no more.

That youth, and strength, and health are
gone,

But proves we with our task get on:
Man's progress is decay.

He falls to rise again. "Tis well;
Good Mr Sexton ring the bell,
Come, Death, and take away.

66

T.

MEDITATIONS OF BONAPARTE. THE late William Huntington, the farfamed preacher, professed to delight in a dish of dead-men's brains," or, in other words, to possess himself of the serious thoughts of those who were on earth no more. His taste in this respect we share. The solemn reflections of distinguished individuals who are in the tomb have in them a something that rivets our attention and inspires a thrilling interest which the most eloquent contemporary could scarcely awaken. We feel it a privilege to be enabled to look as it were into the inward mind of such a man as Napoleon Bonaparte, and to find him musing, like Hamlet, on that mysterious state of being which was then his, and from which he has long been dismissed. He thus expresses himself:

"Man is fond of the marvellous; it has for him irresistible fascinations; he is ever ready to abandon that which is near at hand to run after that which is fabricated for him. He voluntarily lends himself to his own delusions. The truth is, that everything about us is a

wonder. There is nothing which can be pro-
perly called a phenomenon. Everything in
nature is a phenomenon. My existence is a
phenomenon. The wood that is put in the
fire-place, and warms me, is a phenomenon;
that candle there, which gives me light, is a
phenomenon. All the first causes-my un-
derstanding, my faculties-are phenomena;
for they all exist, and we cannot define them.
I take leave of you here, and, lo! I am at
Paris, entering my box at the Opera. I bow
to the audience; I hear the acclamations; I
see the performers; listen to the music.
But if I can bound over the distance from St
Helena, why should I not bound over the
distance of centuries? Why should I not see
the future as well as the past? Why should
the one be more extraordinary, more won-
derful, than the other? The only reason is,
that it does not exist. This is the argument
which will always annihilate, without the
possibility of reply, all visionary wonders.
All these quacks deal in very ingenious spe-
culations; their reasoning may be just and
seductive; but their conclusions are false,
because they are unsupported by facts."

His thoughts on Mesmerism run thus:"Mesmer and Mesmerism have never recovered from the blow dealt at them by Bailly's report, in the name of the Academy of Sciences. Mesmer produced effects upon a person, by magnetizing him to his face, yet the same person, magnetized behind, without his knowing it, experienced no effect whatever. It was, therefore, on his part, an error of the imagination, a debility of the senses; it was the act of the somnabule, who at night runs along the roof without danger because he is not afraid, but who would break his neck in the day because his senses would confound him."

Having attacked the quack Puységur, on somnabulism, at one of his public audiences, and by his bitter sarcasm closed any attempt at a defence of his hobby, he says, speaking of phrenology :

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"I behaved in the same manner to Gall, and contributed very much to the discredit of his theory. Corvisart was his principal follower. He, and all who resemble him, had a great attachment to materialism, which was calculated to strengthen their theory and influence. But nature is not so barren. Were she so clumsy as to make herself known by external forms, we should go to work more promptly, and acquire a greater degree of knowledge. Her secrets are more subtle, more delicate, more evanescent, and have hitherto escaped the most minute researches. We find a great genius in a little hunchback, and a man with a fine commanding person turns out to be a stupid fellow. A big head, with a large brain, is sometimes destitute of a single idea, while a small brain is found to possess a vast understanding. And observe the imbecility of Gall. He attributes to certain protuberances propensities and crimes, which are not inherent in nature, which arise solely from society and the compact of mankind. What becomes of the protuberance denoting thievery where there is no property to steal; of that indicating drunkenness

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"Lavater, with his physical and moral relations. Our credulity lies in the defect of our nature. It is inherent in us to wish for the acquisition of positive ideas, when we ought, on the contrary, to be carefully on our guard against them. We scarcely look at a man's features before we undertake to ascertain his character. We should be wise enough to repel the idea and to neutralize those deceitful appearances. I was robbed by a person who had grey eyes, and from that moment am I never to look at grey eyes without the idea of the fear of being robbed? It was a weapon that wounded me, and of that I am apprehensive wherever I see it, but was it the grey eyes that robbed me? Reason and experience, and I have been enabled to derive great benefit from both, prove, that all those external signs are so many lies; that we cannot be too strictly on our guard against them, and that the only true way of appreciating and gaining a thorough knowledge of mankind is by trying and associating with

them."

Although Bonaparte may not have believed in any one of the above, it is strange that so comprehensive a mind should not have been more cautious in his observations. His reasoning on the marvellous is good, and as he properly expresses himself, "Everything in nature is a phenomenon;" yet still, when we come to matter which can be reduced to facts, upon which we can reason and show cause, we need not take it for granted (because we may ont have studied the science) that all must rest in error. That there is a considerable deal of truth in phrenology is easily proved, and as easily understood by any persons who will take the trouble to listen, but unfortunately, many persons condemn unheard that which they do not instantly comprehend. Every new science has to labour against prejudice, which is one of the greatest obstacles inventions and discoveries have to surmount. It is difficult enough to create and bring to maturity any new theory, without having to encounter unreasoning prejudice.

Evidence which is before every reflecting mind can easily be adduced to show that phrenology is not a mere phantasy. God never creates or wills without Nature herself being peculiarly adapted for its intended purpose. In the lower animals their peculiar attention to the duties allotted them is called instinct. Now this instinct is caused by a singular formation of the brain. Man is the only animal that has any quantity of brain situated before the ear, that situated behind being the animal organ, and that before the intellec

tual, with some exceptions. In mentioning a few of the organs which are strongly developed, and which will not require an anatomist to discover the truth, let that of courage be the first, and that of timidity be put in conjunction with it, to show the opposite quality.

Courage is found in the lion, tiger, and bull-dog, and timidity in the hare, rabbit, and spaniel these few animals are sufficient for the purpose. In the former the brain, situated behind the ears, causes a great projection of the bone at those points, and the ears must of consequence project at almost right angles with the head; which is found to be the case with the head of the brutal Emperor Nero, from all the authenticated busts made at the time, when phrenology was not known. The contrary is seen in the hare, &c.. for in those animals there is no projection in the bone as above, for want of the brain in those parts, so that the ears may be brought together at the back of the skull. In birds of song the skull is found to possess a larger portion of brain in the situation of the organ of tune, and those parts of the head are perfectly flat in the birds without song. The same protuberance is found on the foreheads of our great musicians, and is seen very prominently in their portraits, viz., Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, &c.

The beaver, the swallow, and all those animals which take great pains in constructing their nests, have the organ of construction largely developed; but we cannot find that organ in the sparrow, the cat, or dog, or in any creature which does not construct. This organ in man is only found in great architects, or in those who have considerable powers of construction in any matters. The instances that might be adduced are numerous, but the above are sufficient to prove the fact, leaving the reader to search for further information. That the science has fallen into hands of over-zealous persons, who have foolishly come to erroneous conclusions, is true; but that does not overthrow known facts, and one thing is certain, that the beautiful arrangements of a great Creator were not made without a good reason in all his works.

Lavater, whom Bonaparte so severely condemns, has brought forward the secondary symptoms, if they may so be called, for it is by the action of the mind that the muscles of the face are constantly brought into certain forms, and this on the same principle as a gymnastic exercise of the limbs will enlarge those muscles in frequent use, so the face partakes of that general character of the mind. Lavater goes into follies which he should have avoided. Such is most frequently the case with one who brings forward a new theory.

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Arms. Ar., a saltier; sa., on a chief of the first, three pallets of the second. Crest. A buck's head, erased, ppr.

Supporters. Two heads, ppr.

Motto. "Je suis pret."

"I am ready."

THE NOBLE HOUSE OF FARNHAM.

In

WHEN James the Sixth of Scotland was looking up to the English crown, to secure an interest for him in this kingdom while Elizabeth still lived, he sent to London the Reverend Robert Maxwell, son of John Maxwell, Esq., of Calderwood. This gentleman was subsequently made Dean of Armagh, which appointment he held for the remainder of his life. He was succeeded by his eldest son of the same name, who was also in holy orders, and who became a Doctor of Divinity in the University of Dublin. Before the rebellion of 1641, he was rector of Tynam, in the Diocese of Armagh, and archdeacon of Down. 1643 he was consecrated Bishop of Kilmore, and in 1661 the episcopal see of Ardagh was granted to him, to hold in commendam with that of Kilmore. He married Margaret, the daughter of the Right Reverend Henry Echlin, Lord Bishop of Down and Connor, by whom he had three sons, of whom John, the eldest, succeeded him on his death in 1672. This gentle man died without issue in 1713, and was succeeded by his nephew, Robert, the son of his next brother James. Robert, in 1737, was succeeded by his cousin, John Maxwell, Esq., the son of Henry, the younger brother of James, above mentioned. John Maxwell represented the County of Cavan in Parliament, from 1727, till May 6, 1758, when he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland, by the title of Baron Farnham, of Farnham, County of Cavan. He married, in 1719, Judith, the daughter of James Barry, Esq., of Newton Barry, in the County of Wexford, by whom he had a family. On his decease, August 6, 1759, he was succeeded by his eldest son Robert, who was created a Viscount in 1761, and Earl of Farnham in 1763. He married, December 27, 1759, Henrietta, Countess Dowager of Stafford, only daughter of Phillip D. Cantillon, Esq., by whom he had one daughter; and afterwards Sarah, only daughter of Pole Cosby, Esq., of Strabelly Hall, Queen's County. died November 11, 1779, when the honours

conferred on himself expired with him, and the originally barony devolved on his brother, Henry, the third Baron, who became Viscount Farnham in 1780, and Earl of Farnham, June 20, 1785. He was married twice; first in 1751 to Margaret, second daughter and co-heir of Robert King, Esq., of Drewstown, in the county of Meath, by whom he had a son and two daughters. He died in 1800, and was succeeded by his only son John James, the second Earl, who dying without issue July 23, 1823, the earldom expired, and the barony reverted to his kinsman, John Maxwell Barry, who was descended from Henry, the third son of the first Lord. He was a Privy Councillor, Colonel of the Cavan Militia, and a representative Peer. He died September 20, 1838, and was succeeded by his brother, the Reverend William Maxwell. This gentleman married, September 5, 1798, Lady Ann Butler, eldest daughter of Henry Thomas, second Earl of Carrick, by whom he had a numerous family. Within a month after his accession to the title his lordship died, in October 1838, and was succeeded by his eldest son, the present Peer, who was born August 9, 1799; and married, December 3, 1828, Ann Frances Esther, youngest daughter of Thomas, Lord de Spencer. His lordship formerly represented the county of Cavan in Parliament.

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ON METALLO-CHROMES, AND ANION DEPOSITS GENERALLY.

BY CHARLES V. WALKER, ESQ., EDITOR OF THE ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE,' &c.

(Continued from page 296.)

In our last we laid down the fundamental law that the contact of three heterogeneous bodies, one of which must needs be a liquid, availed in the production of certain changes in one or other of the bodies employed; and we alluded to the develop ment of some kind of power by this threefold association. There are well-established, and indeed very familiar cases, in which this power has been shown to occur on the mutual contact of two bodies; but in no case are we aware of the power being so continued as to produce such effects as we have now occasion to examine unless the place of the third body is in some way supplied. The common substitution for this body is motion. We mention this in order that the young electrician may not take it on erroneous notion respecting the conditions under which the power is developed. And we now pass away from the consideration of the cases in which motion is one element of the mystic three, as they do not much concern the present matter, to describe a more methodical groupment of the essential threes, and to analyze the place and circumstances of the several attendant changes which occur among the respective elements.

Group we the elements as we please, select we them as best we may, we can devise no effective combination which does not exhibit a change in at least two of the substances employed. The simplest cases are the best for illustration, and one such we select.

We were about to say take a piece of pure zinc; but as this is not very easily obtained, take a piece of common zinc, wash it in water rendered acid with oil of vitriol or sulphuric acid, and then rub it well over with mercury, till it is thoroughly amalgamated; allow the superfluous mercury to drain off, and the zinc thus prepared will act the part of pure zinc, for reasons which it is not needful to explain now. Take a piece, say a square inch, of unprepared zinc, and place it in a wine glass with water containing, perhaps, onetenth sulphuric acid; a brisk effervescence will immediately occur, and a copious liberation of gas will be observed; as this gas will burn, on the application of a light, we know it to be hydrogen; the gas is liberated in bubbles at every part of the surface of the zinc, and the zinc is soon destroyed. If the prepared zinc, or pure zinc, should it be at hand, be now placed in a second wine glass, with another portion of the same acid solution, all will be tran

quil, no copious evolution of gas will occur, and the zinc remains sound and intact.*

But if a platinum wire be immersed in the liquid, until one end of it touches the zinc, a stream of hydrogen will instantly be liberated from the whole of the immense

part of the platinum wire, and the zinc, at which no gas will be liberated, will be ob served to be as before gradually evaded and destroyed. Here, then, is a case of regular groupment, in which certain changes occur, to wit, the production of hydrogen gas, and the consumption of the metal zinc. A superficial observer might link these changes together as cause and effect; and might, perhaps, imagine that, like as beef is made by the consumption of fodder, so is hydrogen gas by the consumption of zinc. Beef, however, is made of the fodder; hydrogen is not made of the zinc, being, as most, perhaps all of our readers know, a simple body, a thing of itself, having no ultimate elements.

of the zinc ? and whence comes the hydroThe questions then arise, what becomes gen?

The right understanding of the solutions of these questions will form a very good foundation stone to chemistry, and the further expositions will be the clue to Electro-chemistry.

Supposing the experiment to have been so nicely managed that exactly thirty-two grains of zinc had been destroyed. We use the term grains for convenience; it might be thirty-two times any other weight. The zinc and platinum are now to be removed, and the liquid is to be placed under such circumstances as to undergo evaporation, which is most conveniently done by placing it in a shallow dish over a spirit lamp. After a considerable diminution in bulk has occurred, the residue is placed aside to cool; when a series of transparent crystals will make their appearance. These crystals at once explain what has become of the zinc; it has combined, in fact, with the things about it, and has formed a certain quantity of sulphate of

zinc.

It has not combined, however, at random; it has taken to itself out of the solution a just equivalent of the materials necessary to form with it the salt in question, and no more. On weighing it, it will be found to be exactly 143 grains. The metal, therefore, has taken to itself 111 grains out of the acid liquid.

It would be out of place to describe here the means by which the salt can be analyzed, so as to find of what the 111 grains consist; suffice it here to mention its composition, in illustration of the beautiful order which subsists. Sulphate of zinc in crystals consists of oxide of zinc, sulphuric acid, and water.

Now, 32 grains of zinc require 8 grains

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