A THREE-CYLINDER MARINE STEAM-ENGINE.-The J steam-yacht built in England, for II Hami Pacha, is fitted with engines of a perfectly new construction, known as "Scott Russell's Patent Three-cylinder Engine," the success of which improvement is most marked. The perfect ease with which all parts of the machinery worked was admired by the engineers connected with the marine steam-engines who were on board, when the trial-trip was lately made. Though small, and of a nominal one hundred and fifty horse power, they work up to nine hundred horse power, with a consumption of twenty-one hundred weight of coal per hour, or rather two and a half pounds of fuel per horse power per hour. The advantage of three cylinders is the much greater uniformity of force and motion given out than where one or two cylinders only are employed. The disadvantage hitherto has been the multiplication of parts by three separate engines. This has been entirely removed by the present arrangement, in which a single crank and eccentric do all the work of three separate engines, and so combine with uniformity and economy of power simplicity and compactness. THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND APOLLYON.— Some years since, the Duke was sitting at his library table, when the door opened, and without any announcement in stalked a figure of singularly ill omen. "Who are you?" asked the Duke in his short dry manner, looking up without the least change of countenance upon the intruder. "I am Apollyon." "What do you want?" "I am sent to kill you." Kill me-very odd." "I am Apollyon, and I must put you to death." "Bliged to do it to-day ?" "I am not told the day or the hour, but I must do my mission." "Very inconvenient-very busy-great many letters to write-call again and write me word-I'll be ready for you." And the Duke went on with his correspondence. The maniac, appalled probably by the stern, immovable old man, backed out of the room, and in half an hour was safe in Bedlam. POPPING THE QUESTION CANDIDLY. Simioni Wangkavou, wishing to bring the object of his affection to decision, addressed these homely remarks to her, in the hearing of several other persons: "I do not wish to have you because you are a good-looking woman; that you are not. But a woman is like a necklace of flowers-pleasant to the eye and grateful to the smell; but such a necklace does not long continue attractive; beautiful as it is one day, the next it fades and loses its scent. Yet a pretty necklace tempts one to ask for it, but, if refused, no one will often repeat his request. If you love me, I love you: but if not, neither do I love you: only let it be a settled thing."- Williams's Feejee Islands. MEMORIAL FROM THE TIMBERS OF THE VICTORY. A table has been made of the original timbers of the old Victory, by the joiners of Portsmouth Dockyard. No wood has been employed but that which was in the ship at the battle of Trafalgar. The table is eighteen feet long, ten feet wide, and three feet one inch high, supported on six massive, handsomely-turned legs. It is destined as a present to the Junior United Service Club, PallAll the models of the ships engaged in the ever-memorable action are to be placed upon the table. mall. PAPER CONSUMPTION.-Books have multiplied to such an extent in our country that it now takes seven hundred and fifty paper-mills with two thousand engines in constant operation, to supply the printers, who work day and night, endeavoring to keep their engagements with publishers. These tireless mills produced two hundred and seventy million pounds of paper the past year, which immense supply has sold for about $27,000,000. A pound and a quarter of rags are required for a pound of paper, and three hundred and forty million pounds were therefore consumed in this way last year. The cost of manufacturing a twelvemonth's supply of paper for the United States, aside from labor and rags, is computed at $4,000,000. THE BED-CHAMBER OF MARIE DE MEDICIS.-The splendid apartment in the Palace of the Luxembourg, at Paris, known as the Chambre à Coucher de Marie de Medicis, is about to be restored. The superb wood-carving of the frames, panels, etc., has become worm-eaten, and the restoration will require great care and nicety. The decay of the wood-work would of course involve the loss eventually of the beautiful arabesques and decorative paintings of the period which cover the walls and ceilings of this sumptuous so-called bed-chamber. Our readers will less celebrated artists than Rubens, Philip de Clamremember that these paintings were executed by no pagne, and Nicholas Poussin. ORIGIN OF THE TITLES OF PEERS.-Duke is derived from the Latin word dux, a leader. Marquis: this mand of the marches, as the boundaries between title was conferred upon those who held the comEngland and Wales, and England and Scotland, were called, when those countries were hostile to Earl is a title derived from the Saxon this nation. word eorl, noble. The earl formerly had the gov ernment of a shire. After the Conquest, earls were called counts, and from their shires have taken the name of counties. Viscount, or Vice comes, was the deputy of the earl. Baron: the title of baron is the oldest in point of antiquity, although the lowest in point of rank, of any order of nobility.-How We are Governed: by Albany Fonblanque. FRESCOES AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.-Mr. E. M. Ward, R.A., has completed his third panel in fresco of the eight in the Commons' corridor to be occupied by some historic subject. The first panel on the left-hand side after entering the door is occupied by the fresco of " Alice Leslie concealing the Fugitives after the Battle of Sedgemore." The second subject represents "The Execution of Montrose;" the third, just finished, represents "The Last Sleep of Argyll previous to his Execution." The subject is probably familiar to many, the oil study for the fresco having been a favorite picture in the Exhibition of the Royal Academy for 1854, and an engraving of it having appeared in the London Illustrated News. "TAKE CARE OF THY MONEY."-Paley, whose mind was so remarkably expert, was particularly clumsy in body. "I was never a good horseman,' he used to say of himself, "and when I followed my father on a pony of my own, on my first journey to Cambridge, I fell off seven times. My father, on hearing a thump, would turn his head half-aside, and say. Take care of thy money, lad, take care of thy money,' as if I myself were of no consequence !" A mer of the First Edition of Burns Poema sale & Editors for £3 11: the origins. printed as Ellimarock in 1794, was recently sold at boding and was bought by Mr. Stevenson, of Lidiabags, the antiquarian bookseller. Is announcing a fite to be held on the occasion of the Bors Centenary, at the Crystal Palace, co January 20th 1659 the Directors of that institution offer a prize of Fity Guineas for the best poem on the subject the copy-rigns to remain in the bands of the Company. CHRISTIAN DUTIES.-The Christian has when alone, his thoughts to watch; in the family, his temper; in company, his tongue. It will be bis endeavor to Mastrate his devotions in the morning by his actions during the day. "What thick you of our Ibrary? the attendance! ACTIONS AND WORDS-Actions speak more forci kea reunat eigia tuousand persona a monit, actu- 'Ely than words; they are the test of character. ywave to that last year at the Bri-! Like fruit upon the tree, they show the nature of 1. Mart-tiny-ure wound to ninety-six the man; while motives, like the sap, are hidden vurmus. Tok year as we are fortunate enough from our view. to have a gract & £29.00 to expend, and a wing lavy via fra a accitional reading rom misty bing The Duke of Waldrorox is advertising in the Inat, papera for a portion of the Correspondence of the late Lake, Heptember, 1969, to April, 1807, wid to be missing, and necessary to the completion of the Happiemental Dispatches. His Grace beLeved that the papers were deposited somewhere in Dublin during his secretaryship in 1807. TASKER ENERGY-The fabulous edifice proposed by a Yankee from Vermont no longer seems an impossibility. "Build the establishment according to my plan," said he: "Drive a sheep in at one end, and he shall immediately come out at the other, four quarters of lamb, a felt hat, a leather apron, and a quarto Bible." ANCIENT PRICES.-Four hundred years ago, a single book of gossiping fiction was sold before the palace-gate in the French capital for fifteen hundred dollars. The same amount of matter contained in this expensive volume, Mr. Harper now supplies for twenty-five cents. WHEN twenty-five thousand copies of Mr. Macaulay's two recent volumes went flying all abroad from Paternoster Row, no less than five thousand reams of paper, six tons of pasteboard, and seven thousand yards of calico were swallowed up. DURING a recent trial there was a large number of ladies present, who caused a gentle murmuring all the while. The usher called out repeatedly. "Silence!" when the Judge mildly said: “Mr. Usher, don't you know better than to call silence when ladies are in court!" DEATHLESSNESS OF WHAT IS GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL.-There is nothing innocent or good that dies, and is forgotten. An infant, a prattling child. dying in its cradle, will live again in the better thoughts of those who loved it. FROM the small hollow of the dice-box arise fear, rage, convulsion, tears, oaths, blasphemies-as many evils as ever flew from the box of Pandora; and not even hope remains behind. It is a constant inquiry: "When does Mr. Thackeray intend to publish his Lectures on the Georges?" WHAT does a young lady resemble whose acquaintances pass her in silence and without notice? -A cut-lass. A YOUNG carpenter having been told that "the course of true love never did run smooth," took his plane under his arm when he went courting. ANY feeling that takes a man away from his home is a traitor to the household. SIR ROBERT BRUCE COTTON, He tened to the schemes of other disaffected men for altering the line of succession to the crown; but the charge on which he who, sitting sidewise in his chair, was tried and convicted in 1603 of being seems in the group to be talking with a traitor in the pay of Spain, was unprov- Shakspeare, was an eminent English aned and unfounded. He was sentenced to tiquary, descended from an ancient family death, and his property was confiscated; -was born January 22, 1570. He was but James kept him close prisoner in the educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, Tower for twelve years, during which where he took the degree of B.A. in 1585. time he wrote his great work, the History His taste for antiquarian studies induced of the World. In 1615 James released him to repair to London, where he behim, and permitted him to sail on an ex- came a member of a society of learned pedition to Guiana. This enterprise men attached to similar pursuits. proved disastrous, and on Raleigh's re- soon distinguished himself as a diligent turn home he was arrested, and James collector of records, charters, and instruresolved to put him to death under the ments of all kinds relating to the history old sentence of treason that had been of his country. The dissolution of monpassed on him in 1603. There can be no asteries, half a century before, had thrown doubt that James was mainly led to com- so many manuscripts of every description mit this disgraceful act by his desire to into private hands, that Mr. Cotton enwin the favor of the Spanish court, which joyed peculiar advantages in forming his never had forgotten the services that collection. In 1600 he accompanied CamRaleigh had done for England against den, the historian, to Carlisle, who aeSpain, and now clamored loudly for the knowledges himself not a little obliged to blood of the English hero. Sir Walter him for the assistance he received from was beheaded on the twenty-eighth Octo-him in carrying on and completing his ber, 1618, in the sixty-sixth year of his Britannia. The same year Cotton wrote age. The versatility of the genius of A Brief Abstract of the Question of this great man is almost unparalleled. He Precedency between England and Spain. was an excellent classical scholar, and well This was occasioned by Queen Elizabeth read in metaphysics and divinity, besides desiring the thoughts of the Society of being generally conversant with the liter- Antiquaries already mentioned upon that ature of his own and other modern coun- point, and is still extant in the Cottonian tries. His prose writings are eloquent library. He was afterwards employed by and vigorous; and he was the author of King James to vindicate the conduct of several poems, small in length, but great Mary, Queen of Scots, from the supposed in beauty. He was eminent in the me- misrepresentations of Buchanan and Thuchanical arts; and was the originator of anus. What he drew up on this subject many important improvements in ship- is thought to be interwoven in Camden's building. He was a daring navigator and Annals of Queen Elizabeth, or else printexplorer of new countries; and he was ed at the end of Camden's Epistles. In unwearied in his zeal for extending the 1616 the King ordered him to examine commerce, and for creating the colonial whether the Papists, whose numbers then power of England. He was a sage, as made the nation uneasy, ought by the well as a bold captain by sea and by land; laws of the land to be put to death, or to he was a skillful (though not always a be imprisoned. This task he performed successful) politician; and he was pre- with great learning, and produced upon eminent in all personal accomplishments that occasion twenty-four arguments, and courtly graces. He was also a liberal which were published afterwards, in 1672. promoter of intellectual energy and em- He was also employed by the House of inence in others; and he was the patron Commons when the match between Prince and personal friend of many of the most Charles and the Infanta of Spain was in distinguished writers who adorned that agitation, to show, by a short examination bright epoch of English literature. of the treaties between England and the House of Austria, the unfaithfulness and insincerity of the latter, and to prove that in all their transactions they aimed at nothing but universal monarchy. early as 1615 Sir Robert Cotton's inti P.S. Our Raleigh, N. C., and Virginia friends will look on the face and form of this renowned man with peculiar interest, interwoven with their history as his name is and his deeds. As have of his youth represent him as having studied both at Oxford and Cambridge; and it is certain that, in one way or another, he had obtained a good education, and was especially a ripe and exact Latin scholar. He can not have been much older than twenty, when, like so many men of genius in the latter part of Elizabeth's reign, he attached himself to the theaters. He became an actor, but was a bad one; and his life was chiefly spent in play-writing, amidst the fluctuations of success incident to that pursuit, and the alternations of poverty with something little better, which made up the history of almost every one of our old dramatists. But his fame stood very high in his own time. In the most brilliant period of Shakspeare's career, Ben Jonson was the only man who contested the palm with him; and in the whole history of the old English drama none but Beaumont and Fletcher come nearer, or so near, to the excellence of the great master. He is vigorous, not graceful, a skillful and reflective artist, rather than an impulsive or macy with Carr, Earl of Somerset, laid him under suspicion with the court of having some knowledge of the circumstances of Sir Thomas Overbury's death. He was even committed to the custody of an alderman of London; nor although nothing could be proved against him, was he released from this confinement till the end of five months. Being a member of the first Parliament of Charles I., Sir Robert Cotton joined in complaining of the grievance which the nation was said in 1628 to groan under; but he was always for mild remedies, and zealous for the honor and safety of the king. In the next year an occurrence took place, the consequences of which shortened his days. He died at his house in Westminster, May 6, 1631. A short time before his death he requested Sir Henry Spelman to signify to the Lord Privy Seal, and the rest of the Lords of the Council, that their so long detaining of his books from him, without rendering any reason for the same, had been the cause of his mortal malady. From this, as well as other circumstances, it appears that his library was never re-imaginative poet; but there is great force stored to his possession. He was buried on the south side of the church of Connington, where a suitable monument was erected to his memory. REV. JOHN DONNE was an English poet and theologian of his time. He was born in 1578, and died in 1631. SAMUEL DANIEL, whose face is indistinctly seen behind the whose face is indistinctly seen behind the chair of Shakspeare, was the poet-laureate to Queen Elizabeth. He was also the author of a history of England down to the reign of Edward III. He was born in 1562, and died in 1617. BENJAMIN JONSON. BEN JONSON who appears sitting near to Shakspeare, was nearest to him in talent of any man of that age. He was born at Westminster in 1573. His father, a Scotsman by descent, dying in his boyhood, the widow married a bricklayer; and Ben Jonson is said to have been taken from Westminster school and obliged to work at his step-father's trade. We read also of his having enlisted as a soldier, and served in the Low Countries. On the other hand, the obscure accounts we in his comic pictures of character, and striking pomp of eloquence in his tragic dialogue. In 1598 he exhibited his first successful piece, the prose comedy of Every Man in his Humor; after several other plays, his dignified tragedy of Sejanus appeared in 1603; Volpone, a comedy in blank verse, abounding both in eloquence and poetry, was played in 1605; in 1609 came The Silent Woman, a comedy constructed with great regularity and admirable skill; and the roll of his good plays was closed in 1610, by the lively and energetic comedy The Alche laureate. But his later years were spent mist. In 1619 he was appointed poetin poverty; and his natural gloominess of temper was aggravated both by the failure of his popularity and by ill-health. He died in 1637, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His uncompleted Sad Shepherd, a pastoral drama, and many of his lyrics, show a delicacy both of poetical feeling and of diction, beyond any thing that appears in his other works; and his learning, especially in philology, is proved by several prose dissertations. LORD FRANCIS BACON. This eminent nobleman and renowned philosopher appears in the print sitting at |