position, compared with toast, of infrequent occurrence; but which, being compounded of as many noxious and heterogeneous things as were contained in the Box of Pandora, I would suggest, should in future be called a Pandoroid.

The sorceresses, in preparing the Pandoroids, use many magical incantations;

"Double, double,

Toil and trouble;"

and then furnish the outside with a meretricious medley, mistaken by the credulous and simple for ornament, but which is in reality a close imitation of the Obi practices of African enchanters, from whom it was borrowed.

There are thirteen principal ingredients in these compositions, each of which, though harmless, or even nutritious when alone, becomes extremely virulent in these combinations. If other proofs of this were wanting, it would be sufficient to consider the difference between those people whose nuptials are celebrated with this inauspicious compound, and those of the poorer classes of the community. These latter, whose weddings are perpetrated with only a little innocent gingerbread, consider marriage merely as a state for getting and rearing progeny. Alas! how different from those above them.

As soon as the Pandoroid is devoured (which, from the quantities made, occupies the efforts of months) but sometimes before, its effects are fatally witnessed! The sugar was only a covering to the carbonized surface; the eating of which discovers itself in

the honied terms of " my sweet," and "my dear," that faintly conceal the crusty humour beneath. Then too the brandy, which was amalgamated in the mixture, shows itself in the unruly spirit of the infuriated husband; while the eggs, which, if the course of nature had not been interrupted, would have produced chickens, create in the wife such a disposition to pecking, that her mate often becomes completely henpecked. The citron, too, is at once an emblem and provocative of the green eyed monster, Jealousy! Let every husband beware how he tastes it.

To enlarge further would be superfluous, though the subject might be "pursued through more ample illustrations;" since no one can think lightly of this preparation, by whom it has ever been eaten.

MEMOIR ON

THE PURRING OF CATS.

From the Anthology, May, 1809.

THE great obscurity in which this most interesting faculty of certain animals has been hitherto involved, has, doubtless, arisen from the invincible difficulties which must confound every inquirer in the first outset of his researches into the subject. Penetrated, however, with its importance, and disregarding all obstacles, when the object is to enlighten society, I resolutely attempted to surmount this difficulty; and after the most patient and laborious investigations, I had the inexpressible felicity of attaining à complete insight into this mysterious habit; and it would be selfish in me now to regret the time and exertions I have employed in prosecuting to a complete developement this hitherto almost unassayed, and most intricate inquiry.

The novelty as well as the importance of the subject, and the great variety of interesting facts, which have occurred in the course of my meditations on the economies of cats, will induce me to prepare a

very elaborate memoir, in which the gradual progress and successful termination of my labours will be minutely detailed, and many interesting anccdotes recorded for the satisfaction of the admirers of the feline species. But in the mean time I shall, in the most concise manner possible, and without any pretensions to ornament of style, state the points most worthy of notice, and an explanation of the manner in which this peculiar sound is produced; and this will give some notions about the manner in which I have conducted the examination.

1. Very important conclusions may be drawn from the manner in which this operation is expressed in different languages; and the facts resulting from it are very intimately connected with the philosophical history of nations. Lest it should savour however of pedantry, and the affectation of too great a display of learning, I shall not here inquire into the terms employed in the ancient and modern oriental languages, the indigenous tongues of America, the Russian, Turkish, &c. &c. but confine myself at present to the Latin, the Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch, French and English idioms; and these will be sufficient to shew the very interesting relations, connected with this part of the subject. Purring is expressed in Latin by felium blandientium sonitum edere; in Portuguese, by fazer hum sonido obtriso como fazem os gatos e leopardos, quando lhes farem festa; in Italian, by mugiolare or mugolare, the same word being appropriated to express the lowing of foxen; in Spanish, by maullar de alegria, como el gato; in German, by schnurren and swirnen; in Dutch, by

ronking, which also signifies to snore, and spinnen, which is to fret; in French, by filer, or faire le rouet. It will immediately strike every reader with disgust, that the stagnant, amphibious character of the Dutch language should have confounded this amiable modulation of sound, with the horrible trick of snoring, and the pitiful practice of fretting; while the very imperfect state of society in Italy, is no less evident from their blending in the same expression this sweet modulation of voice in the domestic cat, with the noisy, powerful bellowing of oxen. The Romans too, notwithstanding the boasted purity of their writers, had no single expression for this faculty; which is another proof that though powerful, they were, compared with some modern nations, barbarous ; and corroborates the celebrated Mr. Gibbon's remark on the superiority of modern times, when he says that the great multiplication of glass and linen, procures more comfort to a modern English gentleman, than the massive sideboard of plate, and the plunder of a province, could afford to a luxurious proconsul.

Cleanliness and quiet are two of the principal ingredients of comfort, and in these the cat delights. Wherever then these are found (and where a man's house is his castle, and his fireside his home, they always will be found) the cat will be their companion; and by thus forming a part of fireside society, her significant intonation of contentment will be most frequently heard, and of course the most expressive and appropriate term will be adopted to express it. From whence it follows, that the nation who express this best, are the most secure in their