presents much that deserves warm commendation. Some of the articles, most ably written, communicate the results of profound reflection in a very attractive shape. The following reflections, enclosed as they are by a reference to facts, will be found very striking:

"The latitudes of ordinary places may differ from time to time in a greater or less degree from the inaccuracy of instruments, observations, or measurements; but it ought to create a suspicion to find the latitudes of observatories changing, where oversights have no possible chance to enter into such a simple problem as the determination of the latitude. Now, it is a noted fact, that every astronomer in Europe counts his observatory to be in a different latitude from that of any of his predecessors, if such have had a predecessor; even astronomers called Royal, in enlightened England and France, differ respecting the latitudes of their respective observatories given by their several predecessors, but their differences are sure to be saddled upon any cause except the true one-the actual change of the place with reference to the poles. These facts are so well known that it would be useless to give a list of the latitudes in which the several observatories have been said to stand.

"It would likewise be useless to state the different latitudes which have been given to the same remarkable places on coasts and elsewhere; these were changed without the slightest compunction, as time could not be spared for them to undergo the like cookery which the latitudes of observatories have undergone.

"Not only the change of the latitudes of objects and places show this change in the earth's axis; but, among many other observed facts, we may here mention the foundation of all our old churches, which were laid out due east and west, and due north and south, have shifted to comply with the right motion of the earth's axis, and that, too, in direct proportion to the dates of their standing. One of the most remarkable instances of this kind that has fallen under our notice, is that presented by the position of the city of Philadelphia, in the United States of America: the surveyors, under the direction of Wm. Penn, the founder, laid out Market street and Broad street, crossing each other at right angles, due east and west, and due north and south; but now they point in different directions, accommodating themselves to the universal law which is here, for the first time, shown to exist. Among other objects which can be submitted to actual measurement, may be mentioned sun-dials of long standing, especially horizontal ones, as they partake of this motion in a twofold manner that is, with respect to the elevation of the gnomon, and the gradual

change of the horizontal plane. Many instances of this kind are on record : sun-dials excavated from the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum do not now tell the hour in the latitudes in which they have been found; if any person would take the trouble to compare the time which such dials now show, with that time which they ought to show, they will find that the earth's axis must change in the manner which we have described. It may be supposed, because the bearings of natural objects, such as the tops of mountains, do not change in exact accordance with the motion of the earth's axis, like the foundation of churches and other structures of man, that such a law has not an equal influence over them: the fact is, that the rigidness of the materials of which they are composed, not only prevents them immediately yielding to this motion, but also leaves them elevated or depressed, either gradually or suddenly, above or below the rest of the surrounding matter."

The Gatherer.

The Organ of Judge Jefferies.-When the Benchers of the Temple, in the reign of Charles the Second, wanted an organ for their church, the two most eminent builders, Schmidt and Harris, were induced to enter into an animated rivalry, to ascertain which could produce the best instrument. The contention lasted long. Blow and Purcell showed the power of Schmidt's; M. Lully performed on Harris's organ. Both were admired; but it was doubtful which would carry the prize. At last the Lord Chief Justice (Jefferies) was empowered to set at rest the important question, and he decided in favour of Schmidt, and established the organ now heard in the Temple Church.

Of

The Panorama of Cologne.-Mr Burford's new effort is one of his best. Every object is beautifully distinct. The bold scenery in the vicinity of the city is happily depicted; the rich summer glow which rests on the whole scene, and the transparency of the water, are in good keeping. course all the buildings of any note are exactly portrayed, and we must not forget to add the animated and well employed figures introduced give the whole scene an air of reality, which greatly heightens the interest of the picture. Victor speaks of the rafts which were formerly seen on the Rhine as if they had ceased to move on its bosom. Mr Burford shows us that they are still used. They look considerable islands, and on these we are told many human beings pass nearly the whole of their lives.

Old Times. The fourth report of the deputy keeper of the public records, just laid before the House of Lords, contains an

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entry in the reign of Henry the Third, setting forth that "Nicholas de Brakendal, clerk, a scholar of Cambridge, imprisoned at Cambridge on a charge of homicide, ought lawfully to be tried before an Ecclesiastical Court, and praying that the said Nicholas may be given up for that purpose."

Raising the Wind.- Bibb, the original Jeremy Diddler, met Morton the dramatist one day, after the successful performance of one of the latter's plays, and concluding that a prosperous author must have plenty of cash, ventured to ask the loan of a crown. Morton assured him that he had no more silver than 3s. 6d. Bibb readily accepted that, but said, on parting, "Remember, I intended to borrow a crown, so you owe me ls. 6d."

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Lady Montague's Letters.-The Margravine of Anspach says in her Memoirs,' says Lady Bute, the daughter of Lady Mary Wortley Montague "sent me a very polite message on hearing that I had said the cloven foot of the pedant was plainly to be perceived in the printed letters of her mother; that some things might be hers, but I was sure most of the letters were composed by men. Her ladyship, upon her introduction to me, said, that she had always had a high opinion of my sense, and what I had observed respecting her mother's letters confirmed it. She then told me that Mr Walpole and two other wits, friends of his, joined in a trio to divert themselves at the expense of the credulity of the English public, by composing those letters."

Soldiers not firm Friends.-Military peo ple, from having travelled much, and seen much, unless they are very stupid indeed, are sure to be agreeable companions, but look not for friends among them. The very movement in which they are continually kept, renders them facile to receive new impressions, and easily forgetful of old ones.

Cutting through the Isthmus of Panama. The long-contemplated achievement of science, the cutting through this isthmus, is likely, at no distant day to be attempted. M. Guizot lately read to the French Chamber of Deputies a letter from Baron Humboldt in favour of the plan. From a document forwarded to the Academy of Sciences by Mr Warden, an American citizen, it appears that the cutting necessary to unite the two seas, by means of the three rivers, Vino Tinto, Bernardino, and Farren, is but twelve and a half miles in length. The fall will be regulated by four double locks of 45 mètres long. The canal will be altogether 49 miles in extent, 43 mètres 50 centimètres wide at the surface, 17 mètres 50 centimètres at the bottom, and having a depth of 6 mètres 50 centimètres. It will be navigable for vessels of from 1,000

to 1,400 tons burthen. All the materials necessary for the construction of the cana are found on the soil which it has to traverse; and the total cost has been estimated at 2,778,615 dollars, including the price of four steam-boats, and two iron bridges, 46 mètres long, and opening for the passage of ships.

Knowledge of Costume.-Among the blun. ders committed by Breughell, the Dutch painter, not the least curious was that in his picture of the 'Eastern Magi,' where he has drawn the Indian king with boots and spurs, and in his hand the model of a Dutch 74, as a present to the holy child.

Poisoning Whales.-At the Paris Academy of Science a paper was read from M. Ackermann on the means of killing whales. He suggests there should be introduced into the harpoon, by means of a hollow tube, a quantity of prussic acid, which, being set free by the blow of the harpoon, would flow into the wound. A trial of his plan has been made in the bay of Valparaiso. The whale did not die immediately, but lived an hour, but, from the first, was so weakened by the poison, that the pursuit was not attended with danger.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Several correspondents whose scientific inquiries reDuels and Duellists next week.

main unanswered will be attended to next week.

A feeble

Memnon's communication is inadmissible. translation of that which has appeared more than once in an English dress, can have no value for the readers of the 'Mirror.' That which delights his ignorance would not be endured by their intelligence.

To the question of J. S. we reply-Iron cannot be welded, or plates or bars made to adhere permanently, unless the heat applied is equal to 60 degrees of Wedgwood's pyrometer, or to 8,877 of Fahrenheit. The fire must be clear, and a little silex, or fine sand, sprinkled over the parts to be welded, to keep their surface from the atmosphere, and to serve as a flux. Cast steel must not be heated so much, as it would be fused, and run from under the hammer when struck.

Silenus, to discover the quantity of spirit in wine, ale, or other liquors, must take eight parts of the liquid to be examined; add one pint of concentrated solution of sub-acetate of lead; a dense precipitate will ensuc; shake the mixture for some minutes. He must then pour it upon a filter. Collect the filtered fluid, and it will contain the spirit and water of the wine together, with any portion of the sub-acetate of lead that may have been added in access. Add to this, in small quantities at a timewarm and dried (by heat) pure sub-carbonate of potash. The spirit contained in the fluid will be then separated from the water, forming a distinct stratum floating upon the alkaline solution made by the sub-carbonate of potash and the water in the wine or ale. The experiment should be made in a long glass vessel or tube. By this method he may always detect the intoxicating properties of the liquids, and ascertain if they are from spirit or from drugs.

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

It was seen in the remarkable career of Louis XI, that a mirthful disposition is not incompatible with savage cruelty.

The youth of our Henry V and George IV, was not more full of careless frolic than was that of Louis while Dauphin. He quarrelled with his father, Charles VII, and fled to Philippe, Duke of Burgundy, who gave him a cordial reception and a royal establishment near Brussels, with an allowance of 2,500 louvres per month.

"Louis," says the historian, "remained there till the death of his father, enjoying the pleasures of the chase, and those of the table, with convivial companions. There, he was best esteemed who best recounted tales of gallantry, and he who furnished the most luscious story was most welcome. The Count de Charolais, the bastard of Burgundy, and the sieurs De Vienne, De Dagoine, De Thianges, De Rothelin, De Lannoy, De Crequi, contributed their share to these sportive narratives; and at times the grand duke himself joined the revellers. A collection of the histories recited in these meetings was made and published under the title of 'The Hundred Novels.

While he was in voluntary exile Louis and the Count de Charolais, were boon companions. This did not prevent their becoming bitter enemies after Louis had ascended the throne. De Charolais was brave and violent, and in several instances he prevailed over the craft of the French King. His temper often broke out, and on one occasion, when he was offended, he told the ambassador of Louis, that "he would make his master repent his conduct before a year had expired." He afterwards advanced to Charenton, near Paris, with his army. Louis then resolved to go to his camp, trusting to the honour of the Count. There he greeted De Charolais as an old friend, affecting the utmost frankness and familiarity. Their interview opened thus: Brother, I see now that you are a gentleman and of the family of France."

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Why so?" inquired the Count. "Because when I lately sent my ambassador to Lisle, to wait on your father, and that old fool Morvilier (the French ambassador) talked so saucily to you, you sent me word by the Archbishop of Narbonne, who is a gentleman, that I should repent what had been said before the year was out, and, by Heaven, you have been as good as your word, ere your time has expired. I like a man of business. It is with such people that I would treat."

This meeting led to negotiations which terminated in the treaty of 1465.

Louis affected great simplicity of dress. On one occasion, when it had been arranged that he should hold an interview with the King of Castile, at St John de Luz, Philip de Comines says-" Our King wore a short coat, as ill-made as possible; sometimes he wore very coarse cloth, and he did so particularly there. His hat was old, and differed from the hats of everybody else, from its being ornamented with an image of lead in front.”

War between France and Burgundy was frequently renewed. The success which had attended the visit above described, paid by Louis to the Count de Charolais, induced him to repeat it under somewhat similar circumstances, when the latter had become the Duke of Burgundy, and was at Peronne. It was discovered by the Duke that the King, while seeking him as a friend, had sent two ambassadors to Liege to stir up the people of that place against him. Proof being obtained that Louis was acting a double part, the Duke made him a prisoner in the castle of Peronne, and set a guard over him, nor would he release him till Louis had subscribed such a treaty as he was pleased to dictate. This failure of the King in that coaxing, or, as it could now be called, humbugging, system of diplomacy, on which he valued himself, was the subject of great mirth among the Parisians. The word "Peronne became a standing joke, and parrots and starlings were taught to repeat it in derision of the King. This satirical humour so exasperated Louis, that he sent officers through the city to wring the necks of all the birds which had been trained to repeat that fatal name.

In the gravest matters he could sometimes jest. He would indulge in playful conceits while contemplating the sorrows of a victim shut up in an iron cage which had been contrived for his gratification; or when dooming a prisoner to die,

"Why I can smile and murder while I smile,"

might have been his motto. Writing to the Constable de St Pol, whom he was about to bring to the scaffold, he, with great apparent kindness, thus expressed himself "I want a good head like yours;" he then turned round and facetiously remarked to those who were near him, that he had only said "he wanted the Constable's head; he was indifferent about the rest of him."

Sometimes the cold-blooded jocularity of the King was answered in a like spirit by those who had to treat with him in important affairs. Having proposed to the Emperor that they should seize on the territory of the Duke of Burgundy, and divide it between them, his ambassadors were told this story :-"Three jovial companions having run up a score at a tavern which they were not prepared to pay, agreed to settle the matter by killing a