The daisy shining soft and fair

No more my heart of hearts entrances;
No more around me Earth has thrown
Her chain-Death is my remedy;
My friend has left me all alone-
I pine, I faint, I die!

Our readers will remember an article which appeared in the Journal last autumn, entitled, "A Chapter in the Life of a Poor Man," being, in fact, a passage in the actual history of William Thom, an Aberdeenshire weaver, who had attracted some notice by a few poetical effusions of merit. Any who felt interested in the unfictitious sorrows of this worthy individual, will be glad to learn that he is once more settled in comparative comfort at Inverury, in his original profession as a country weaver. From a batch of his late compositions which he has sent to us, we select the following as containing, we think, some fine strokes of natural feeling.

THE MITHERLESS BAIRN.

When a' ither bairnies are hush'd to their hame,
By aunty, or cousin, or frecky grand dame,
Wha' stan's last an' lonely, an' naebody carin'?
"Tis the puir doited loonie-the mitherless bairn!
The mitherless bairn gangs till his lane bed,
Nane covers his cauld back, or haps his bare head,
His wee hackit heelies are hard as the airn,
An' litheless* the lair o' the mitherless bairn!
Aneath his cauld brow sican dreams tremble there
O' hands that wont kindly to kaime his dark hair!
But mornin' brings clutches, a' reckless an' stern,
That lo'e na' the locks o' the mitherless bairn!
Her spirit that pass'd in yon hour of his birth,
Still watches his lone lorn wand'rings on earth,
Recording in heaven the blessings they earn,
Wha couthiliet deal wi' the mitherless bairn!
Oh! speak him na' harshly-he trembles the while,
He bends to your bidding, and blesses your smile!
In their dark hour o' anguish, the heartless shall learn
That God strikes the blow for the mitherless bairn!

Under this head, it may not be amiss to advert to a notice which has appeared with respect to a surviving sister of Burns. It appears in the form of an extract of a letter from Mr R. Chambers to Mr Thomas Carlyle-as follows:

"A sister of Burns, the last survivor of his father's family, still lives. She is now a widow at an advanced age, and resides at the village of Tranent, in Hadding tonshire, with two unmarried daughters, who endeavour to support her by the exercise of their needles. I lately paid her a visit, and found her a decentlooking old person, with a good deal of the poet's physiognomy, and particularly his fine dark eyes. The youngest of William Burns's children, she was twelve years old at the time when he died at Lochlea, a broken-spirited man. She was one of the household at Mossgiel during its occupancy by Robert and Gilbert Burns in succession, and she afterwards married a person named Begg, who, for ten years, conducted the business of Gilbert's farm of Dunning, on the estate of Sir Charles S. Monteith of Closeburn. Since the death of her husband, her sons being all removed from her, and unable to assist her, she has been dependent on her two daughters, who, though active and most respectable young women, are barely able to keep house for themselves and their venerable parent. In short, the Sister of Burns has fallen in the course of Providence into poverty, and her last years are threatened with those distresses, the dread of which is the theme of so many of her brother's verses. much affected on hearing her say that, having in her earliest years been witness of the troubles which lowered over her father's house, having afterwards partaken of the hardships at Mossgiel, having passed through a long married life in circumstances at no time easy, and being now reduced to absolute indigence, she felt as if she had walked side by side with Grief from her very childhood. One only alleviation of her fate has sprung from the fame of her brother, in the shape of the most trifling annual pittance from the Scottish Exchequer. She was lately a candidate for the benefit of a fund called the Craig-Crook Mortification [Anglice, endowment]; but her application, for the mean time, failed. I am satisfied, from rigid inquiries, that Mrs Begg and her two daughters are perfectly worthy persons, and that complaint would never have been heard from them, if the most self-devoting industry on the part of the young women were sufficient to keep their mother in comfort. The public is doubtless much taxed; but, on the other hand, some claims are sacred.

I was

The poems of Burns daily give delight to thousands, and will continue to do so for ages. His productions wax yearly in public esteem, as time passes on and brings no second Burns. The name of the Ayrshire bard has even been associated by some living writers with those of which England is proudest. While HE soars so high, to think of one so near and dear to him as a sister sinking into penury-hearing from a cold ingle-cheek the echoes of a nation's acclaim at every mention of the name she bears-she, the last of the real members of that group which, as a poetical picture, must live for ever in the 'Cotter's Saturday Night'-in short, the SISTER OF BURNS-to think of all this, I say, is more than I can suppose the public patiently enduring, burdened as it is."

Our readers will be glad to learn, that in consequence of this notice, Sir Charles S. Monteath, Mr Carlyle, and Mr John Wilson, 41 Regent Square, London, have undertaken to act as a committee to

superintend the collection and disposal of a fund for
the benefit of Mrs Begg, and that already some hand-
some tributes have been paid in, affording ground of
hope that a sufficiency will be obtained to procure
her a small annuity.

A FEW WEEKS ON THE CONTINENT.
NEUCHATEL.

FROM Friburg to Berne was a pleasant afternoon's
ride; and procuring the proper signature to our pass-
port, we set off in the morning for the most accessible
part of the French frontiers, by way of Neuchatel.
This is a route little pursued by tourists; and, indeed,
such is the discomfort which one is apt to encounter
in travelling through France, that not one in a
thousand among English tourists in Switzerland re-
turns home by any other path than that by which
he reached it-the Rhine, a water-way ever open,
commodious, and agreeable.

town there are some large beneficiary institutions, handsomely endowed, which provide relief, on a judicious scale, for those whom misfortune has reduced to poverty. Both from the town and neighbourhood there are considerable experts of wine of a good quality, printed cottons, and lace, all which, independently of the export of watches, yield considerable profit, and help largely to support the population.

The political position of the canton of Neuchatel is somewhat peculiar. Although a member of the Swiss republican confederacy, it is at the same time a province under the sovereign rule and protection of the king of Prussia. Formerly, it was a kind of feudal fief or principality belonging to the old French family of Longueville, which, becoming extinct in 1707, the king of Prussia, as nearest heir, was acknowledged as its superior, and his title was confirmed by the peace of Utrecht. Except for an interval, France under Napoleon, it has continued till the during which it was absorbed and half ruined by present day a principality of the king of Prussia, who does not appear to have been a hard master. In 1814, the reigning monarch gave it a constitutional charter, reserving his own sovereignty and the privilege of appointing the governor, the mayor, and 45 out of the 75 members composing the grand administraUnder the title of civil list, he also tive council. draws £3862 per annum, or nearly a fourth part of the revenue of the state; but, as some equivalent, the trade of the canton with Prussia is placed upon a liberal footing. In all other respects than those mentioned the canton of Neuchatel is politically independent; and since 1814, it has been a member of the Swiss confederacy.*

Having proceeded formerly from Berne to Morat, and thence to Neuchatel, we now, for the sake of variety, adopted the somewhat circuitous route by Aarberg and Bienne, which, however, affords little scope for description. In this north-western quarter of Switzerland the scenery is on the whole dreary and tame; but everywhere we see the same orderly industry and neatness of arrangement which have distinguished more highly favoured districts. As we approach the Jura, much of the land is observed to be little better than an extensive morass, spreading between the lakes of Neuchatel and Bienne, which, in former times, had evidently been in much closer union. On the eastern shore of the Lake of Bienne, a sheet of water ten or twelve miles in length, the With a population of about 60,000 souls, this land is well enclosed and sectioned into the usual small mountain principality may be said to form a little agricultural possessions, while, on the western bank, world in itself-a perfect model of ingenious industhe Jura rises from the edge of the water in one long try, prosperity, and good management. The greater line of vine gardens, rising one above another to a part of the people are farmers of their own small height of several hundred feet. Lately, a road has been possessions, tradesmen, and mechanics; and here, cut along the base of the mountain; and by this, after as elsewhere in Switzerland, the grand object, ever paying a short visit to the town of Bienne, we pro- alluring industry onward, is the realising sufficient ceeded onward to Neuchatel. No steamer is employed wealth to purchase a small piece of ground and coton the lake; but a number of boats, impelled by oars tage. This universal taste scatters the population in or sails, seem to be employed both for fishing and all directions among the recesses of the Jura, and general intercourse. The principal feature of interest consequently prevents that pernicious clustering toand beauty of the lake at least that which has at-gether in towns which undermines public health and tracted the chief attention of tourists-is the Isle of morals. With an unsophisticated state of society, in St Pierre, or, as it is often named, Rousseau's Island, which all are equally concerned in preserving indivifrom having for a short time (1765) been a place of dual and general independence, the system of publie retreat for that remarkable enthusiast, who clung to finance and administration is on a footing so primitive it with passionate fondness. In the present day it is prettily wooded, with some open and cultured fields, and may be readily reached from a small port on the western shore of the lake, at which there appears to be a respectable inn for the accommodation of visitants. The town and Lake of Bienne, with the neighbouring country, are within the canton of Berne, and consequently form part of German Switzerland; but on reaching the southern extremity of the lake, we pass into the canton, or, properly speaking, the principality of Neuchatel, whose population uses the French tongue. A few miles farther on we arrive at the town of Neuchatel, which occupies a pleasant situation on a flattish piece of ground at the foot of the Jura, and close upon the lake to which it has imparted its name. Basking in the full blaze of the summer sun, with such a lake in front, and backed by the lofty range of the Jura, extending a length of at least forty miles in one uninterrupted series of vineyards, Neuchatel enjoys one of the finest situa. tions in Switzerland, and is the capital of one of its most thriving districts-albeit that that district is, to a certain extent, under the thraldom of a monarchy. On entering the town, which numbers about 6000 inhabitants, we perceive a striking difference of appearance from other Swiss cities. Many of the houses are

large and princely in aspect, and the French style of
architecture prevails throughout. Near the lake there
of fine whitish sandstone; and here is situated the
are some handsome new streets, the structures being
college, an educational institution of no mean reputa-
tion, and to which M. Agassis, the zealous geological
inquirer, is attached as a professor. The Hotel de
Ville, the seat of the civic and cantonal government,
is a large and handsome edifice in the Grecian style,
at a short distance from this newer portion of the
town. The structures in this quarter, however, are
less interesting than those in the higher part of the
city. On a prominent knoll, which commands an ex-
tensive view of the lake and the town beneath, is
perched the ancient castle, the acropolis to which the
population, in days of feudal strife, crowded for pro-
tection.

It consists of a few old edifices of great
strength, including a chapel, and the whole is sur-

rounded with a wall. One of the houses is the resi

dence of the governor of the province. We saw only
one or two soldiers, and the general air of the place
was that of desertion, impressing the visiter with the
in the district.
happy idea that the art military was in small request

The meaner parts of the town of Neuchatel, behind
the main thoroughfares, approached nearer in point
of squalor and dinginess to what one is accustomed to
in some of the large cities in Great Britain than any
thing we had seen in Switzerland; but we observed no
tokens of destitution, and I understand that the num-
ber of paupers is decreasing with the increasing trade
of the city and canton, and as time effaces the social
injuries produced by French domination. In the

as almost to appear Utopian. The state revenue, drawn principally from rents of domains, small quit-rents, tithes, forests, post-office, and turnpikes, amounted, in 1834, to L.16,679. This mighty sum was distributed as follows:-Entire expenses of administration, L.1966; pensions, L.224; justice, L.2394; war department, L.202; religion, L.836; education, L.445; public works, roads, police, expenses of confederation, &c., L.2400; and civil list of the king of Prussia, as already stated, L.3862; leaving a surplus in the exchequer of L.3500. Some things here are very deserving of remark. The people are governed without any thing like personal taxation; and supposing them to directly contribute what forms the state revenue, the exaction would amount to no more than 4s. 8d. for each individual

yearly, or about a tenth of the rate per head in Great Britain. Justice is administered on a scale of rational economy which would astonish the frequenters of Westminister Hall. A judge of the higher class is paid at the rate of 1s. 10d. for a four hours' sitting; a summons is 7d.; and the expense of a litigation is something under 68. So far is the cheap and quick administration of justice from promoting litigiousness, that the judges are often seen sitting unoccupied for a whole day. There are no stamps or patents.+ Protestant and Roman Catholic clergy are alike paid by the state, the highest salary of a clergyman being

.121; but they also depend on voluntary contribution is well attended to, and the state of public tions, and some have small glebes. Religious instrucWith respect to morals is considered to be good. secular education, it is obligatory on parents to send their children to school, and no person of middle age is found who cannot both read and write.

Let us now take a view of the country, and the nature of the people's employment and mode of living. Having sufficiently satisfied our curiosity in the town, we set off on our journey towards the French frontier, by a route which conducted us in a southerly slanting direction, up the face of the Jura, and through a

vourable to the Prussian connexion, their political principles I believe that the majority of the inhabitants are not fahaving a strong leaning to republicanism; and there is little doubt that, but for the military power of Prussia. ready to be tself. An effort at rebellion in 1830-31, was quelled by General called in if necessary, the canton would speedily dismonarchise Pfuel, with the assistance of the more aristocratic portion of the community. With whatever hereditary claims on the territory, it does seem hard that the fourth part of all the taxes raised should be handed over to a foreign prince.

I gather the greater part of these particulars from the Report of Dr Bowring to Parliament. He observes, with respect to the administration of justice-" While, on the one hand, the cost to suitors is small, the cost to the public is no less so. In the disadministration of civil justice for 1834 amounted to 1121 francs of Neuchatel, or less than five-sixths of a farthing per individual;

trict of Valangin, consisting of 6104 souls, the expenses for the

yet there are 122 trusteeships of minors, lunatics, &c., committed

to the charge of civil tribunals. There are, on an average, 70 cases per annum, the average cost of which to the suitors was 47 batzen, being little more than 4s 6d. per suit.'

now advanced.

gorge among the mountains named the Val Travers. exercised no other trade or profession than those which | Genevese watches will be insured to be delivered in It was a fine autumnal morning as our vehicle slowly ascended this romantic path; and at every bend round being principally employed in cultivating an ungrate- 10 per cent. As formerly noticed, it is calculated that were strictly necessary to their daily wants, their time Paris at an advance of 5 per cent., and in London at the vine-clad knolls, we had an opportunity of catch-ful and unproductive soil. Our mountaineers were ing glimpses of the Lake of Neuchatel and a great frequently compelled, before the introduction of the into England. And why do they come by this indi10,000 watches are thus smuggled yearly from Geneva extent of country beyond, the horizon being bounded above-named industry, to seek for work during the rect and discreditable channel? Because England has by the rugged line of the Bernese alps burying their summer months among the people of the surround- hitherto imposed a custom-house duty of 25 per cent., white tops in a huge canopy of clouds. At length, ing country. They rejoined their families in the which, being 15 per cent. above the smuggler's prethe sight of this glorious scene was shut out; we had winter, being enabled, from their economical savings, mium of insurance, has been paid only to a very taken the last look of Switzerland, and our attention the moderateness of their wants, and the produce limited extent. The late proposition in Parliament to was called to the picturesque valley into which we had of a small portion of land, to supply themselves with reduce the duty to 10 per cent., will in all likelihood the necessaries of life. And it must be remarked, also, open the trade to fair dealers, and serve the important that the entire liberty which they enjoyed, united to ends of increasing the manufacture, benefiting the the absence of any description of taxation, greatly revenue, and serving the British public with an article tended to relieve the hardships of their lot. which they require. The question here naturally arises, How far the increased introduction of Swiss watches will injure the home trade? As is well known, the Swiss watches are small, delicate, and not by any means durable, and they are purchased only from their great neatness and cheapness. They will, therefore, as long as they continue of that character, not supersede the manufacture and use of the higher class of English watches. Should the fabricants of Geneva and Neuchatel, however, commence the making of a substantial species of goods at a correspondingly cheap rate, there can be little doubt of their soon having the whole watchmaking trade to themselves. They are untaxed, live in a simple manner, possess a finer taste, and, from their temperateness of living, have a greater delicacy of hand than the generality of English workmen; all which advantages give them a pre-eminence in a craft depending much on personal qualifications.

The Val Travers, as it opened upon us, came with unexpected beauty and grandeur; so much so, that it was agreed to be one of the finest sights we had seen in our excursion. Let the reader conceive a green and romantic valley, winding miles in length, and of great depth, between the bounding mountain steeps; while on its northern side, and at least five hundred feet from the bottom, a road, which we are now traversing, is cut out of the side of the hill. On the one hand are lofty crags, occasionally overhanging the pathway, as if about to fall; and on the other is a profound valley, down to the bottom of which we look with dizzy and wondering eyes. The lower parts of the vale are green, and beautifully dotted with trees, bushes, and here and there a cottage or hamlet with its mill, turned by a brook, which is seen sparkling in the sun's rays. Goats are feeding in patches on the hill sides, tended by children from the hamlet; and in a slip of meadow, by the side of the stream, the scene is enlivened by a cow or a few sheep. The day is fine, and all is impressed with the tranquillity of Nature in her mildest mood.

We are now in the heart of the mountains, but still rising in our course. The scene is gradually shifting as it were in a panorama. The country is becoming more bleak and pastoral. Still there is no lack of inhabitants. Detached cottages are seen at lesser or greater distances on the hill sides, and we pass through a small town with its inn, church, and other tokens of local consequence. At this town we stopped to dine and rest the horses, afterwards proceeding with all the leisure which the nature of the ascent demanded. Passing the village of Motiers Travers on our left, in the bottom of the vale, we make a curve to the right, into what may be called an upper valley with still more precipitous sides, and in which the road at one part goes through a tunnel in the enormous overhanging rock. Deep in the bottom of the defile, quietly reposes the ancient village of St Sulpice; and a little way above it is a very picturesque mill-house, whose wheel is observed to be turned by a stream issuing at a few yards' distance from the side of the mountain.

On emerging from the summit of the pass above St Sulpice, the highest point of the road is attained, and we are now in an open tract of country brown and dismal, but still, as before, in the possession of a people who live, thrive, and are apparently happy, at the height of three thousand feet above the level of the sea, and in the midst of what seems little better than a wilderness. Throughout our whole day's journey to this point, we saw on all sides evidences of that untiring industry which is the most remarkable feature in the character of the Swiss. At nearly every window in the humble cots by the wayside, or in the villages, are observed men working at their trade of watchmaking, or women busily engaged in the making of lace. In fact, we are now in the chief watchmaking district of Neuchatel, which extends from Verviers to Locle and La Chaux de Fonds-all places near the frontier of France, and therefore very well suited, in point of situation, for supplying materials for an active contraband traffic.

The existence of a great manufacture in cottages scattered over fifty miles of mountains, covered four or five months of the year with snows so deep as to imprison the inhabitants in their dwellings, is, I consider, a singular fact in social economy, and well worthy of our notice. M. Houriet, of Locle, presented Dr Bowring with an interesting account of the birth and growth of the watchmaking trade, from which I draw the following passages :

"As early as the seventeenth century, some workmen had constructed wooden clocks with weights, after the model of the parish clock, which was placed in the church of Locle in the year 1630. But no idea had as yet been conceived of making clocks with springs. It was only about the latter end of the same century that an inhabitant of these mountains, having returned from a long voyage, brought back with him a watch, an object which was till that time unknown in the country. Being obliged to have his watch repaired, he carried it to a mechanic named Richard, who had the reputation of being a skilful workman. Richard succeeded in repairing the watch; and having attentively examined its mechanism, conceived the idea of constructing a similar article. By dint of labour and perseverance he at length succeeded, though not without having had great difficulties to surmount; and he was compelled to construct all the different movements of the watch, and even to manufacture some ill-finished tools in order to assist him in his labours. When this undertaking was completed, it created a great sensation in the country, and excited the emulation of several men of genius to imitate the example of their fellow citizen; and thus, very fortunately, watchmaking was gradually introduced among our mountains, the inhabitants of which had hitherto

For a number of years, those who betook themselves to watchmaking were placed at a great disadvantage, by having to import their tools; but these they in time learned to inake and greatly to improve upon. In proportion as men embraced the profession of watchmaking, the art became more developed; several returned from Paris, where they had gone to perfect themselves, and contributed by their knowledge to advance the general skill. It is not more than eighty or ninety years since a few merchants began to collect together small parcels of watches, in order to sell them in foreign markets. The success which attended these speculations induced and encouraged the population of these countries to devote themselves still more to the production of articles of ready sale; so much so, that very nearly the whole population has, with a very few exceptions, embraced the watchmaking trade. Meanwhile the population has increased threefold, independently of the great number of workmen who are established in almost all the towns of Europe, in the United States of America, and even in the East Indies and China. It is from this period, also, that dates the change which has taken place in the country of Neuchatel, where, notwithstanding the barrenness of the soil and the severity of the climate, beautiful and wellbuilt villages are everywhere to be seen, connected by easy communications, together with a very considerable and industrious population, in the enjoyment, if not of great fortunes, at least of a happy and easy independence.

Thus, in defiance of the difficulties which it was necessary to overcome, in spite of the obstacles which were opposed to the introduction of the produce of our industry into other countries, and notwithstanding the prohibitions which enfeebled its development, it has at length attained a prodigious extension. It may be further remarked, that, from the upper valleys of Neuchatel, where it originated, it has spread from east to west into the valleys of the Jura, and into the cantons of Berne and Vaud; and, further, that all these populations form at present a single and united manufactory, whose centre and principal focus is in the mountains of Neuchatel.

If our watches have attained a certain reputation of superiority, it is in a great measure to be attributed to the independence of our workmen, and to the advantage which they have derived from a careful and studied execution of the several articles intrusted to their respective and particular talents. Indeed, on the one hand, each artisan working at home, and for whomsoever pays him the best price, and, on the other, the merchant having an interest to encourage by paying the best prices to those who furnish him with the best materials and work, a kind of emulation is naturally excited among the workmen to obtain a preference and an advantage. Perhaps, also, the spirit which is generally diffused among the inhabitants of mountainous countries, added to the habits and customs of our workmen, who are at the same time landed proprietors, have not a little contributed to the development of talent amongst our population. Living simply, and in the bosom of their families, occupied entirely (with the exception of a few agricultural cases) in the labours of their art, and not being exposed to those temptations which exist in corrupt large societies, it is very natural that they should be more assiduous and more desirous of attaining perfection in their art; and the more so still, as they derive a greater benefit from it; their reputation and their interest are equally engaged."

It is very pleasing to know that the watchmaking trade of Neuchatel continues to prosper, in spite of all the restrictions of surrounding states. In 1834, the number of watches manufactured annually in the canton was about 120,000, of which 35,000 were of gold, and the rest of silver. When to this we add the watches manufactured in the adjoining canton of Geneva, an idea may be obtained of the magnitude of this flourishing branch of trade. It is extremely probable that not fewer than 300,000 watches are exported annually from Geneva and Neuchatel. The greater proportion are necessarily smuggled out of the country, in consequence of the heavy duties or positive prohibitions of France, Austria, and other nations, through which they must go to find an outlet to America, England, Turkey, and countries still more remote. All attempts to stop this underhand traffic have signally failed. At one time, when the French authorities fell upon the plan of seizing every Genevese watch they found in the shops of Paris, the manufacturers at Geneva simply eluded their rapacity by smuggling a part of each watch to Paris to be stamped, then smuggling them back again, and finally smuggling them a second time into France completed and in a condition for sale. At present,

All this time our caleche has been moving over a high moorish district, passing every few minutes the cottage of a watchmaker, whose nimble fingers are seen plying his vocation. Jean, our driver, suddenly draws up; we are in front of the French custom-house, and what takes place will furnish material for the beginning of our next article.

AN EAST INDIAN ANECDOTE. IT may be necessary to inform the reader that the drink called toddy, one of the strongest and most intoxicating liquors in India, consists of the sap of the cocoa-tree. The process of obtaining the liquor is simple. The toddy-collector leaves his dwelling after sunset; and seeking the thickest cocoa woods, climbs up, and cuts notches in the bark of such trees as seem likely to yield the most juice. Under each notch he affixes a small jar to receive the liquid, which, if drank instantly, is one of the mildest beverages possible, but if left during a few days to ferment in the sun, becomes the most ardent spirit known.

An incident connected with a person who followed the profession of a toddy-collector happened whilst I was in the country, the details of which are shortly as follows:-The individual in question had left his cottage, which was situated in a cinnamon grove in the island of Ceylon, little more than half an hour, when a native pedlar called there to exhibit his tempting wares, and to solicit a lodging for the night. The collector's wife, whose whole soul was wrapped up in the idea of finery, was delighted to let him in. Her baugles and joiys, which had hitherto been the pride of her life, were now eclipsed, and she sighed with envy as she saw all her former notions of grandeur fade before the contents of the wanderer's pack. Not daring, however, to purchase without her husband's approval, she was glad to allow the pedlar to rest himself on the bench beneath the door-porchan ornament common to Ceylon cottages-in the hope of her husband's return by the morning.

After depositing his valuable knapsack beneath his head, the pedlar fell into a slumber, from which he was aroused by hearing a door creak-his sleep being, like that of most of his tribe, so light, that the slightest noise was calculated to disturb it. On opening his eyes, he beheld his hostess with her head protruding through the cottage door, attentively watching her guest. On seeing him stir, she made a short apology for thus awaking him, and retired. The itinerant vender took it into his head, however, that all was not right; so, after a short time, he again affected to sleep, indulging in one of those dozes when outward objects are visible, though indistinctly seen, by the weary watcher. In about an hour after, by the strong shadow afforded from an unclouded moon, the poor man saw some object approaching cautiously from the opposite direction. He supposed it to be the collector returning to his home; but, on looking up, to his dismay he perceived the woman stealthily drawing near with a long cocoa-knife in her hand. In an instant he was on his legs to confront her. She appeared somewhat startled, but declared that she had been in the woods seeking her husband, and that the knife she held was for the purpose of cutting down some jars left by him in the vicinity. The suspecting pedlar much doubted her story, but affecting to believe it, he saw her quietly re-enter the cottage and shut the door. No sooner was she within, however, than the traveller instantly climbed a tall tree, and took up his abode Here he had been seated for amidst the branches. some time, when he beheld the toddy-collector calmly returning home laden with his utensils, which he carried in a small sack over his shoulder. Worn out apparently with his exertions, and tempted by the beauty of the night, when he came to his door he paused for a short time; and sitting down on the bench lately occupied by the native merchant, he

seemed to fall into a train of deep thought. Presently, as if disinclined to enter the house, he made a sort of pillow of his well-filled bag, and covering his face, as is usual throughout the East, with his cummerbund, he fell fast asleep.

In less than another hour the door of the cottage was noiselessly opened, and the woman again appeared. She approached her husband, listened for a few moments to ascertain that he slept, and then stepping back a pace, raised her arm, and with her whole force, at one blow drove the knife right through her wretched partner's heart. For an instant only she seemed shocked at what she had done; then recovering herself, she attempted to withdraw the knife, which, having gone completely through her victim, had buried its sharp and fine point in the bench. After a severe exertion, she succeeded, but not without breaking off the point of the cocoa-splitter, which remained fixed in the wood. The woman's anxiety now to obtain the spoil, for which she had thus periled soul and body, appeared almost infernal. She seemed to grin in ecstacy at the deed she had done, and pant for the ill-gotten gain she had thus made her own. Exultingly she dragged what she conceived to be the pack of jewels from beneath the head of the corpse, when the movement drew from her victim's face the cloth that had covered it, and the savage murderess beheld the well-known lineaments of her own husband's countenance. She gave a sudden scream, and threw down the sack; then, with frantic cries, rushed from the cottage, and sought a shelter in the neighbouring The horror-stricken witness feared to move. If he

woods.

descended, he might meet the murderess, who would doubtless revenge her dreadful mistake on the unarmed man, or, by possibility, he might become mixed up in the business; so he determined not to leave his place of refuge until morning. He therefore kept his position, staring, in spite of himself, at the dreadful object beneath him, in a sort of waking dream, till he was suddenly aroused by seeing the woman, accompanied by several persons (evidently officers of justice), approach the hut.

They examined the corpse; they searched the house, and began to take down their notes in writing, when the pedlar, anxious to seek their protection, by a sudden stir of the branches succeeded in attracting their

attention.

In an instant a gun was pointed at him, and he was commanded to descend. The poor man willingly clambered down, when, to his horror and surprise, he was instantly seized and bound, at the instigation of the woman, who, with frantic gestures, declared that she recognised in him the assassin of her adored husband.

The wretched prisoner was immediately brought to trial, and, despite of his declarations of innocence, condemned to death, the woman's statement being clear and probable. She affirmed that the pedlar had come to their house and sought shelter for the night-a boon her husband had unhesitatingly accorded; that the two men had a severe dispute about the price of some trinkets, when her husband, in a fit of passion, thrust the itinerant merchant out of his house, who, it seemed, had not gone far, for soon after, the toddycollector feeling warm and uncomfortable from the debate he had held and the liquor he had drunk, had gone to lie down. A slight noise, however, awoke his wife, who distinctly saw the wicked traveller stab her husband through the heart; that she then, without uttering any cry, from fear of instant annihilation herself, stole from the back-door, and rushed into the town for assistance, and had happily succeeded in arresting the assassin before he had time to escape. This account seemed so plausible, that scarcely any one in the court doubted the prisoner's guilt. In the first place, what motive could the wretched widow, who was well known to have been warmly attached to her husband, have to invent a falsehood? word, a thousand arguments were brought forward to satisfy the jury of the guilt of the unhappy prisoner. Only one person present doubted the whole story; and that, fortunately for the innocent man, was the enlightened judge before whom the case was tried. He felt assured of the truth of the defendant's statement, yet he had no means of upsetting the strong testimony of the woman. The jury returned a verdict of "guilty" without a moment's hesitation; but still the judge was not satisfied, and afterwards declared, that one of the most awful moments of his life was that when he found himself compelled to pass sentence of death on the unhappy prisoner. He, how ever, had one power, that of reprieve, and he exercised it, by delaying the execution of the culprit for fifteen days.

In a

The very instant that he left the court, a sudden thought struck him. He directly sent for the bench on which the murder was said to have taken place, had it closely examined, and discovered that the point of a sharp instrument was lodged in it. This he had carefully extracted, and found it to be the end of a cocoa-nut knife, which of course further strengthened the judge's suspicions, and he sent a fresh reprieve to the prisoner. He then caused the road leading from the cottage of the deceased to the town to be closely searched and ransacked. His efforts happily succeeded. Close to the edge of a half-dried tank, the weapon was found: it was rusted with blood, had lost its point, and bore on its handle the name of the murdered man.

The woman, without receiving any previous notice,
was seized, and the knife suddenly produced before
her. The sight at once turned the current of her feel-
ings: she fell upon her knees; confessed the whole;
declaring that the temptation had been too great for
her, but that God had determined she should not
escape, since he had brought up the knife from the
bottom of a tank into which she had thrown it; and
all she now prayed for was instant death.
Two days afterwards she underwent her just sen-
tence, while the poor pedlar was released from his
ignominious confinement.

NOTES OF A RESIDENCE IN THE BUSH.
FOURTH ARTICLE. BY A LADY.
ANECDOTES OF THE COUNTRY-MODE OF LIVING-
REMOVAL TO MELBOURNE.

WE were visited one day by a very large party of
natives; I am sure there were a hundred of them. I
happened to be alone in the hut. Some of the men

came into it and examined all they saw very atten-
tively, especially the pictures we had hanging on the
walls. They were much taken with a likeness of my
mother, and laughed heartily at some black profiles;
they said they were "black leubras." I told them to
leave the hut, but they would not; and one, a very
tall fellow, took the liberty of sitting down beside
me on the sofa.

I did not much like being alone

had lost all the sheep-he could tell nothing about them. Every one, except Agnes and I, went out immediately to look for them in different directions. It came on a dreadful night of rain, thunder, and lightning, and was very dark; the men returned one by one, and no sheep were to be seen. I was sitting in, no very comfortable state in the hut, and taking a look at the door every five minutes, although it was so dark that I could not see a yard before me. Little Agnes was in bed, as I thought fast asleep, but she called to me, and said, if I would allow her to stand at the window she would tell me when they were coming. I put her on a seat at the window, where she had not stood long, listening very attentively, till she told me they would soon be here, for she heard them far away. I thought she was talking nonsense, as I could hear nothing, neither could any of the men; but Agnes still said she heard them coming, and she was right, for in a few minutes my husband sent to tell me they were all safe in the yards. He and one of the men had found them in a hollow about a mile from home; but our next alarm was for James, who was still absent. My husband fired off several pistols, that he might know all were found if he was still looking for them; and we put a light in the window to guide him. He came in about twelve o'clock, but would scarcely own he had lost himself, although we knew very well he had; however, we all enjoyed our supper and a good blazing log fire, and were very thankful we had the sheep safe.

We often killed kangaroos; they are very palatable, particularly the tail, which makes excellent soup, much like what is called hare soup. My friend Willy Hamilton declared he never ate better soup at any dinner party at home. I sometimes made cakes, which were much admired by the visiters at our hut; and it was a fixed rule always to have a large pudding on Sunday, as we were sure to have some of our neighbours with us to dinner. We had an old man who made so good a pudding that we had it wide. We often gave the receipt for it, but no one every Sunday for six months; and many came to eat of this mess, the fame of which had spread far and made it so well as old Williams.

with these gentry, so I rose to go to the door to call
some one, but my tall friend took hold of my arm and
made me sit down again; on which I cried out suffi-
ciently loud to alarm my husband, who was building
a hut behind. He came in and turned them all out,
but they still kept hanging about the station for some
time. My husband took his gun and shot some white
parrots, which were flying in an immense flock over-
and thrust them into some hot ashes, where they had
head. Some of the natives ran and picked them up,
lighted a fire, without even taking the feathers off.
They were soon cooked in this way, and I believe ate My husband or my brother read a sermon on Sun-
very well. I had often seen black Tom cook parrots day; indeed, we kept up the form of a religious service
and cockatoos in this manner. The natives will eat as near as we could. Generally all our servants joined
any thing that comes in their way. I saw a woman
us; but if they did not feel inclined of themselves to
then begin to eat it, giving her baby a piece of We had many letters from home, which were a great
take a piece of sheep-skin, singe the wool off, and come, it was in vain to try to persuade them. I have
sometimes seen our neighbours' servants come in also.
it also; much to my surprise, they actually ate a large pleasure to us. We had also received a large box,
piece of the skin. All these natives left us before sun- containing a spinning-wheel and many very useful
down, and went to Mr Baillie's, where they were things, from my mother. She would, certainly, have
always allowed to remain as long as they chose. He been pleased had she seen us unpacking it, and exa-
was too kind to them, and gave them great encourage-mining every thing in it; it made me think of days
ment in his own hut. We always expected to hear gone by, when we were children at the opening of a
of some mischief there. At last one of them threw New-Year's box. I am sure we were quite as happy.
a spear at the groom, which stuck in his arm; it gave We received soon after this a box of preserves, and
him great pain, and he went to the settlement to con- some other articles, from the same kind hand, aud
sult a doctor. In many instances, the undue severities they were highly valued, as we could get nothing of
of the settlers lead to reprisals from the natives, who that kind at Port Philip. Little or no fruit was yet
are apt to inflict vengeance in a very indiscriminate to be met with in the colony; but in our garden we
manner.
had some young gooseberry, currant, and raspberry
bushes, from which we hoped soon to have some pro-
duce. We had also a row or two of strawberry plants.

At this time I had a pleasant visit from Mrs Gibson and her brother; they were on their way to a new station about fifteen miles beyond us. I was delighted to have the privilege of talking to a lady again; it was more than a year since I had seen one; and my little girl had not words to express her delight and astonishment. The sight of a "white leubra," as she called her, seemed for a time to take away her speech; but she soon began to question her very closely as to where she came from, and whether there were any more like her in her country. I am sure Agnes dreamed of her all night, for she often spoke of the beautiful lady in her sleep; and the moment she was dressed in the morning, she went to look again at her. Mrs Gibson was much amused at Agnes's admiration. I did all I could to persuade her to remain some time with us, and allow her brother to go on, and have some place comfortable for her to go to, but she would not. Some time after this, Mrs Gibson's courage was well tried. She had occasion to go a journey on horseback, and not knowing the road, she took a native with her as guide. When they were at some distance from home, the man wanted her to dismount, and, indeed, tried to pull her off her horse. He did not know she had a pistol with her; but she pulled one out and presented it at him, telling him that unless he walked on before the horse and showed her the proper way to go, she would shoot him. Had she appeared at all afraid, most likely he would have killed her; but her courage saved her, and she arrived safely at her journey's end.

When all the gentlemen were from home, one of the shepherds came to my hut door to tell me that in counting over his sheep, as they came out of the yard, he missed twenty-five. He was a stupid old man; so I asked the stock-keeper to get his horse and ride over the run; but he proposed driving the sheep over the same ground they had gone the previous day, in hope that the lost ones might join the flock. This was done; and when the sheep were again put into the yard, they were found all right. We had many alarms about losing sheep; but, except the time they were taken by the natives, we always found them. One night it had become dark, and there was no appearance of the sheep coming home. At last the shepherd arrived in a great fright, and said he

On New-Year's Day 1841, some of our neighbours came to dine with us. I was very anxious to have either a wild goose or turkey, but none of the shepherds could see one to shoot for me, so I had determined to have a parrot-pie instead; but on NewYear's morning, while we were at breakfast, two turkeys were seen flying over our hut, one of which was immediately brought down. I must describe our New-Year's dinner, to show what good things we had in the bush. We had kangaroo soup, roasted turkey well stuffed, a boiled leg of mutton, a parrotpie, potatoes, and green peas; next, a plum-pudding and strawberry-tart, with plenty of cream. dined at two o'clock, a late dinner for us, as twelve is the general hour; and at supper or tea, we had currant-bun, and a large bowl of curds and cream. We spent a very happy day, although it was exceedingly hot; the thermometer was nearly 100 in the shade. Our friends rode home to their own stations that evening; it is very pleasant riding at night after a hot day.

We

All the stations near us commenced their poultryyards from our stock. We got 12s. and 15s. a-pair for hens, which was the Melbourne price. Had we been nearer town, we might have made a great deal by our poultry. Eggs are also very dear in town, sometimes Ss. and 10s. a dozen. I was much annoyed by the hawks carrying off the young chickens. We lost a great many in this way, as we had not a proper house to put them into; but the gentlemen always promised to build one when they had nothing of more importance to do. They rather slighted the poultry, although they were very glad to get the eggs to breakfast, as well as a nice fat fowl to dinner. We never fed the poultry; they picked up for themselves, except when I now and then threw them a little corn to keep them about the huts. They roosted on a large tree behind our hut. I was astonished to see how soon the hen begins to teach her chickens to roost. I have seen one take her chickens up to roost in the tree when they were little bigger than sparrows, and scarcely a feather in their wings. I used often to admire the hen's patience in teaching her family to mount the tree; it took her a long time

Elliot on the left, and the Hon. Captain Dundas on the right, the former being looked on in China as the seat of honour. Mr Grey, a young midshipman of her Majesty's ship Herald, son of the late Bishop of Hereford, had accompanied his captain; and Keshen took the lad and placed him at his side, commencing a series of questions relative to the boy. Captain Elliot mentioned that Mr Grey was nephew of the late prime minister, at which Keshen seemed pleased, and inquired his age. On being informed that he was only fifteen, he remarked, that one so young would be much better employed at home in learning his books than in learning the use of his sword. A desultory conversation then ensued, during which servants entered with refreshments, which were served in a variety of cups, of all shapes and sizes, made of the most delicate and transparent china; this was followed by tea a la Chinoise. After this, Keshen said that he had ordered breakfast to be prepared, which being ready, he begged we would partake of it, and immediately bowed out Captain Elliot and all by whom he was attended. On retiring, we were shown into the tent we had first entered, and found four tables set out, each capable of accommodating six persons, which made up the exact number of the party. I regret having been unable to procure a copy of the bill of fare on this occasion, while, to endeavour to describe the various dishes would require the talent of a Ude, and many of them would not tend to elevate the Chinese gastronomic art in the estimation of my readers; suffice it to say, that most of them were excessively fine. Among others, I would particularly recall to pleasing recollection the partridge soup and pheasant breast sandwiches, as also the preserves and dessert, which were delicious. In addition to the usual European, we had a weak Chinese wine, heated, and handed round in small cups, the attendants pressing us frequently to drink, and seeming to think that a glass of something was necessary to assist our masticating labours. Having eaten as much as I felt inclined to partake of, I endeavoured to effect a retreat, but was stopped by a servant who spoke a little English, and to my horror was informed by him that breakfast was not half over. Unwillingly I followed him again to the table, where I found, to my surprise, a course of at least two dozen different dishes set out, among which was the celebrated bird's-nest and shark's-fin soup. Having at length finished breakfast, we adjourned to the open air, and found that Keshen

While he feasted all the great,

Had not forgot the small,

having provided a good and substantial breakfast for the marines and band. During the time occupied at breakfast, Keshen was employed in examining the arms of the marines and the instruments of the band. Nor was his curiosity confined solely to the weapons of defence used by the privates, for he sent to me to request to be allowed to examine my sword. Whilst unclasping its belt to comply with this request, I was amused by the exclamation, See also my sword!" which proceeded from my neighbour, Captain Rosamel, who, when informed of what was passing, detached his own sword from his side, and insisted upon its also being subjected to the inspection of our curious host; thereby exhibiting a striking instance of his correct appreciation of the balance of power, so much esteemed in Europe. While wandering about, we walked into a house, which, to our surprise, we found tenanted by the Hong merchants, who, being habited in full court dresses made of silk, richly embroidered, formed a very pleasing addition to the pageant. They were headed by Howqua, the senior Hong merchant, an old man of seventy-two, possessed of enormous wealth; and who, if report speaks correctly, was squeezed for the expenses of this day's entertainment. In China, where the mandarins retain their appointments for three years only, the general policy of these officers is to squeeze or extort as much as they can from the people under their rule-a procedure they have recourse to in consequence of the low scale of their official salary. Nor is it to be wondered at that by this means they not unfrequently amass enormous wealth. On our return to the tents, Keshen expressed a wish to inspect the marines. They were accordingly drawn up, and marched past, put through the manual and platoon, with some other simple manoeuvres, and as Keshen came down in front, to open order, and presented arms. All this would have been

perfect, had not a row of unfortunate Chinese soldiers been drawn up close in the rear, who stood looking on with great gravity, totally ignorant of the nature of the movement: consequently, as each rear rank man stepped back, he trod on the toes of a Chinaman, who, of course, commenced jumping up, thereby producing an effect something similar to the keys in the interior of a piano. Keshen was much struck by the appearance of our men, whom he seemed to suppose were padded, for he felt their arms and chests; and even to the innate pride and self-sufficiency of a Chinese mandarin, the contrast between our men and his own body guard (who, although not deficient in height, were miserable objects) must have been striking. Shortly after this, we took leave of Keshen, and returned to the steamer, leaving Captain Elliot with the commissioner to arrange public affairs.

THE ROMANCE OF LIFE.

law to follow as soon as he should have prepared for
their comfortable reception. They accordingly left this
country some time afterwards for America. In the
meantime, among the settlers over whom the young
divine's charge extended, was a comfortable farmer, also
named S., who made inquiries after the history of the
minister's wife and her mother, and expressed an anxious
desire to see them on their arrival. They did arrive safe;
and on reaching the minister's habitation, Mr S. was
sent for to be introduced. Judge of the surprise of all,
when, on the entry of Mr S., the newly-arrived females
found in him the long-lost husband and father! Having
been unable to trace his family in England after a pro-
tracted absence, he had returned to America, where, by
a singular coincidence, both he and they found those
they had given up as lost. The parties, we are glad to
say, are now living comfortably and happily in the New
World.-Edinburgh paper.

CONTAGION AND QUARANTINE.

[From the Medical Gazette.]

WE marvel much at the tone and temper with which this
controversy has been too generally conducted. A certain
class of pathologists has imbibed a sort of instinctive
horror at the notion of contagion. They have considered
it as beneath the dignity of a scientific man to acknow-
ledge such an influence. They have reasoned as if there
were some confession of intellectual superiority attached
to the holding of such an opinion, and an emancipation
from vulgar prejudices in the avowal of anti-contagious
notions. Such men would, we sincerely believe, experience
a sense of shame in acknowledging the doctrine of infec-
tious agency. That such feelings as these do exist widely
throughout the world, more, perhaps, on the continent
than here, we are well convinced, and it is hard to account
for such a circumstance. There seems nothing, per se,
very revolting to common sense in the notion that the
secretions of the body, in certain disorders, throw off
emanations which, received into the lungs, and impreg-
nating the blood of another person, should produce in him
a like disease. Yet the great aim and object of certain
parties has been to disavow such a principle, wherever,
by any ingenuity, it was possible to adopt some other
explanation; never to admit such a doctrine except as a
last resort in ætiological difficulty, and then to throw all
possible discredit upon it.

The doctrine of a contagious and infectious quality is
conceded to small-pox and measles by almost all patho-
logists, a large proportion of whom are ready to extend
the same attributes to scarlet fever and hooping-cough.
Very many draw their line of demarcation here, and, like
Falstaff with his ragged regiment, refuse to march a step
farther with the contagionists. A certain number, how-
ever, are content to include typhus fever, puerperal peri-
tonitis, and the Egyptian plague, in the category of con-
tagious maladies. From this point the non-contents have
it pretty much their own way. The doctrine of a con-
tagious quality inherent in the morbid secretions of
cholera, of yellow fever, of erysipelas, and of influenza,
makes some of them perfectly frantic, while the suggestion
that perhaps the secretions may be similarly endowed in
cases of phthisis pulmonalis, croup, or dysentery, is met
with a look of ineffable contempt, mixed with pity.

It has always appeared to us that the doctrine of contagion and infection has been viewed by medical writers in too isolated a manner; that to arrive at correct conclusions on the subject, capable of any wide application in nature, we should commence with the simplest form of diseased secretion capable of communication from one individual to another of the same species, and trace the doctrine up to the more aggravated forms of disease. Entertaining these general impressions on the subject of contagion and infection, as applicable to various acute diseases where the secretions of the body are palpably affected, it cannot be a matter of surprise that we are strenuous supporters of the contagious nature of the Turkish plague. If ever a disease existed, calculated, a priori, to throw off contagious emanations, this is it. It is a peracute form of fever of most malignant character, rapidly affecting the nervous and circulating systems, and curiously altering the coagulable and other qualities of

the blood.

To be effective, the subject must be taken up as a measure of international policy, and carried out with entire acquiescence on the part of all the chief Mediterranean powers.

TRAITS OF ENGLAND.

The waste of horse labour in England is prodigious. In and five, are engaged. In one small field we observed ploughing, never less than three horses, and often four four ploughs at work, two of which were drawn by four horses, and the other two by three each! Thus fourteen plish what a Scottish farmer would have done better, in horses, four men, and four boys, were employed to accomlittle more time, with two horses and a single man. In another field we observed a team of six horses drawing a harrowing machine! No good reason can be given for this excessive waste of animal power: the English farmer plods on as his fathers did before him; and to all remonstrances he returns, what we found to be the universal answer, "Lord bless you, sir, it will never do to distress the horses." The "turn out" along the roads is imposing the horses are yoked a la tundem, in a row, and the ploughman stalks loftily along, in his smock frock and half boots, cracking his huge whip by the side of the horses, while a boy leads them in front. Another peculiarity in some of these midland districts is the quantity of land still cultivated in the common field style, or run rig, as it used to be termed in Scotland by several tenants or small proprietors. Each has his own number of furrows, separated from that of his neighbour by a strip of green sward, and the appearance of the fields divided in this way, with walks between the rigs, is singular enough. We say nothing of the loss of ground: the farmer never thinks of arranging with his neighbours to alter the system, because he says they must cultivate the lands in that way till there is an act of Parliament to enclose them. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the fields around Kenilworth and Warwick. They are well cultivated, and enclosed by neat hawthorn hedges and elm trees. Around Stratford-on-Avon there is the same rich appearance; but, proceeding on to Oxford, more barren land and more careless farming are apparent. From inquiries of a farmer, we learned that on rich soils in Warwickshire they take three successive white crops after one-year-old grass: first, oats; second, wheat; third, barley; then two green or clearing crops, namely, beans or peas, and afterwards turnips. The turnips are pulled, cleaned, and cut, and then given to the sheep and cattle. The "woolly people" eat them from troughs placed in folds; and by shifting the latter from time to time the ground is manured. The crop after the turnips is generally wheat, and is laid down with grass. We were struck with the number of bean fields along the sides of the public roads. Beans are considered a better clearing crop than turnips; they are hoed four or five times in the season, and are excellent food for fattening hogs. The value of land is very unequal: in one place it rents at 16s. per acre, and in a mile or two at 458. There is undoubtedly a greater air of comfort about them all than in our northern region, though there is far less display of scientific skill or prudent economy. The condition of the labourer is about the same as in Scotland, or rather better. Wages run from 10s. to 12s. a-week; but where there is a family, the difference in the price of bread from that of oat-meal will be equal to the difference in amount of wages.-Inverness Courier.

all was easy.

INDIAN MODE OF TRAINING HORSES. of subduing and taming the wild horses of the western According to Mr Catlin, the Indians possess the knack states, by covering the eyes and breathing into the nostrils. Since this remarkable practice was made known in England, it has been tried on various vicious horses, A person and, as we understand, with perfect success. connected with a dragoon regiment writes to inform us every one to tame, and it had the desired effect. In a that the attempt was made on a horse which it baffled late newspaper, it was mentioned that the process had been tried by Mr Ellis in Yorkshire, and with singular success. "One of the animals experimented on was remarkably headstrong, and apt to rear and kick with his fore feet, rendering it extremely difficult to get at his head, which was only effected by climbing a tree to which the filly was tied, and leaning over as far as was practicable. The moment one nostril had been breathed into nagement of a horse, coaxed it, and rubbed its face, •W. who is very skilful in the maand breathed from time to time into the nostrils, while the horse offered no resistance. In about ten minutes he declared his conviction that the horse was subdued; and he then unfastened it, and, to the great and evident astonishment of the owner (who had been trying all the While we thus acknowledge our firm belief in the conmorning in vain to gain a mastery over it), led it quietly tagious qualities of the secretions that form in persons labouring under Turkish plague, and our equally strong field, with no one else near, he quietly walked up to the away with a loose halter. Stopping in the middle of the conviction that the clothes, and bedding, and bed fur-horse, placed his arm over one eye, and his hand over the niture of plague patients may sometimes harbour such diseased secretions, and renew the disorder after a certain interval, either in the same or in a distant locality, we are perfectly ready to admit that the quarantine laws, as now administered in the Mediterranean, are framed upon very mistaken views of the laws of pestilential contagion. The shortness of the incubative stage is not considered. The almost total impossibility that merchandise could be packed by persons in a condition calculated to throw off contagious emanations, seems utterly neglected. The

One argument of the anti-contagionist party is, that plague is not found to spread on the European Continent, though commercial intercourse with Egypt augments annually. Historical facts, however, are opposed to this statement. Plague spread at Marseilles in 1720, at Moscow in 1770, at Malta in 1813, and in the Ionian Islands in 1818.

left out of consideration.

Some short time ago, in one of the villages on the Firth of Forth, lived a lady whose husband had long before practical inference deducible from the fact that the crew gone to sea; and never having heard from him for some years, she believed him to have been dead. At the time exceeding ten days, appears an element in the calculations of a merchant ship remains free from disease for a period her husband went to sea, Mrs S. lived in a town in Eng-of quarantine law-givers wholly and most unaccountably land; but after giving up hopes of his return, she removed with her only daughter to her native country, Scotland. In the course of years, a probationer of the Church of Scotland came to officiate as a missionary in the parish, and formed an attachment for Miss S. Seeing no immediate prospect of obtaining a church at home, he resolved on transferring himself to one of our American colonies, and received an appointment there from a be the same in steam and sailing vessels, appears a wanton colonial missionary society. Having been united to Miss trifling with valuable time. No isolated measures for the S., he took his departure, leaving his wife and mother-in-reform of quarantine laws, however, can be of any avail.

other, and breathed into the nostrils. It was pleasing to
observe how agreeable this operation appeared to be to
the horse, who put up his nose to receive the 'puff. In
stable-yard, where he examined the fore feet, and then
this manner he led the horse through all the fields to the
the hind feet of the horse, who offered no resistance;
but while he was examining the hind feet, bent his neck
round, and kept nosing his back. He next buckled on a
surcingle, and then a saddle, and finally bitted the horse
with a rope. The horse did not offer the slightest resist-
into this at present incomprehensible means of training
ance, nor did it flinch in the least degree."
We hope veterinary professors will make inquiries
horses, and give the world the benefit of their labours.

LONDON: Published, with permission of the proprietors, by W. S. ORR, Paternoster Row.

We earnestly hope that the British government will be
induced to take some efficient steps towards the reform
of the quarantine regulations now in force throughout the
Mediterranean. That the period of sanatory surveillance
might be lessened in all cases, with perfect safety, we
entertain not the smallest doubt. That the period should publishers or their agents; also, any odd numbers to complete

Printed by Bradbury and Evans, Whitefriars. Complete sets of the Journal are always to be had from the Persons requiring their volumes bound along with titlepages and contents, have only to give them into the hands of any bookseller, with orders to that effect.

sets.