there is something so singular in their appearance, that the most learned on the subject who have examined them have been as much puzzled with their persons as the descriptive character given by the lecturer.

Various Things from Various Sources.

YOUNG'S PATENT VESTA LAMP. Queen Street, Cheapside.-We have tested the Patent Vesta Lamp, and have every reason to be perfectly satisfied with the trial. It professes to gives a brilliant light equal to twelve wax candles at a very moderate rate of expense; these purposes are perfectly accomplished. Mr. Andrew Ure, M.D., says, "I am convinced the Patent Vesta Lamp of Mr. Young is not merely the best, but it is the only one hitherto made public which can be used with comfort in closed apartments. It was the first Spirit Lamp constructed on right principles, keeping in view the peculiar nature of Camphine Spirits, and being secured by a correct specification, leaves no room to expect another equally good. In this Lamp, the burner is completely insulated from the reservoir, by a ring of wood or other non-conducting material placed between them, and as no metallic tube passes down from the flames into the volatile spirits, they remain cold; whereas when such a tube passes down through the reservoir, for the admission of air to the inside of the flame (as in all other Argand Lamps), without being insulated from the flame, the spirits become 20 or 30 degrees hotter, so as to emit acrid and offensive fumes.

WHEATSTONE'S HARMONIUM. 20, Conduit-street, Regent-street.These instruments are now brought to the highest perfection by Messrs. Wheatstone and Co., Manufacturers, 20, Conduit-street, Regentstreet; they have the full compass of five octaves with a stop, and are noted for the fine and well sustained tone which can be produced by the player, either loud or soft according to taste. Messrs. Wheatstone and Co. obtained the prize medal for this instrument, which delighted every one who heard it at the Great Exhibition.

PITTAR'S PATENT POCKET UMBRELLA. Waddington and Son, Manufacturers, 1, Coleman-street, City. A very ingenious contrivance for carrying an umbrella in the pocket; they are manufactured to represent the usual form of umbrella, yet through a clever arrangement, shut up in a compact space for the pocket or carpet-bag, the whole occupying but little room; they also possess an advantage of being very strong and assurance against losses which is so often the case with the one in ordinary use.

THE IMPERFECTIONS OF GREATNESS.-The following, from Mr Ruskin's "Stones of Venice," should be inscribed in letters of gold on the exterior of our British Museum :-"The finer the nature the more flaws it will show through the clearness of it: and it is a law of

this universe, that the best things shall be seldomest seen in their best form. The wild grass grows well and strongly, one year with another; but the wheat is, according to the greater nobleness of its nature, liable to the bitterer blight. And, therefore, while in all things that we see, or do, we are to desire perfection, and strive for it, we are nevertheless not to set the meaner thing, in its narrow accomplishment above the nobler thing, in its mighty progress: not to esteem smooth minuteness above shattered majesty; not to prefer mean victory to honourable defeat: not to lower the level of our aim, that we may the more surely enjoy the complacency of success. But, above all, in our dealings with the souls of other men, we are to take care how we check, by severe requirement or narrow caution, efforts which might otherwise lead to a noble issue; and, still more, how we withhold our admiration from great excellences, because they are mingled with rough faults."

FIRE AT BALMORAL.-Yesterday week, one of the cottages occupied by the masons engaged at the new palace at Balmoral was discovered to be on fire, and being contiguous to the royal residence, the utmost alarm for a time prevailed. In a short time a number of men were on the spot, the royal family being not only present, but actively engaged in efforts to extinguish the flames. "We are assured by a spectator," says the Aberdeen Herald," that when a line of men was formed to convey water to the burning pile from the river, Prince Albert at once took a position, and continued working steadily throughout, shoulder to shoulder with a sturdy Highlandman. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred were also actively engaged, while her Majesty stood by the whole time and gave such directions as she thought would tend to assuage the fire, seemingly deeply interested by the efforts of the men to save their clothes and chests, in which many of them had considerable sums of money.' The fire is supposed to have originated by a spark getting among some brushwood in one of the cottages where a woman was baking, and as they were all five composed of timber, the flames were speedily beyond the power of control. No damage has been done to the new buildings.

FORTUNATE ESCAPE.--An occurrence lately took place at Linton Park, which nearly proved fatal to many lives. There is a reservoir in the course of construction in Linton Park, which is intended to receive, for the use of the mansion, the water from a very fine spring at Luddington. The men had completed two arches of ten feet span over the top, supported in the middle by a centre-arched wall. Several of them had gone below for the purpose of cementing the sides, when the foreman discovered a sinking, and gave instantaneous alarm, when every one from below hastened through the trap-door by which they descended as quickly as possible. The last man had but just got through when the arch gave way with a tremendous crash, and no less than 8,000 bricks, beside a hundred tons of earth, fell in. No blame is attributed to the engineer.

COVEY OF ADDERS.

-A few days since, as two men named Row

land and Packham, were stoat hunting in Pickwell Wood, near Cuckfield, the property of N. Borrer, Esq., one of the dogs was heard barking at some little distance. The men, after repeatedly calling the dog in vain, proceeded to the spot, and were surprised to see a great number of adders lying together. One of the men discharged both barrels of his gun at them, and to complete their destruction, set about them with hedge stakes. On counting them they found they had killed forty-eight, and two made their escape under the stem of a tree, making the extraordinary number of fifty.

THUNDERSTORM.-Derby and its neighbourhood were visited with a heavy storm on Saturday afternoon. The fine spire of Castle Donington Church was struck by the electric fluid, but without much injury being sustained.

INDIA RUBBER THREAD.-A parcel of thred, made of India rubber, and possessing remarkable elasticity and power of elongation, has recently been brought to this country from France. In the present tariff, comprising the new duties of the last session of Parliament, manufactures of caoutchouc are specially mentioned, and charged with the duty of 4d. per lb. weight, and this India rubber thread being considered to fall within the meaning of that rate of duty, it has been decided to be liable to 4d. per lb. on importation into this country, and directed to be charged accordingly.

LIGHTNING.-Georgetown (U.S.) was recently visited by a terrific thunder-shower. The house of the Rev. Mr. Russell was struck. The fluid descended the chimney, and burst through the fire-places into the rooms. There were seven persons in the house at the time, and Mrs. Russell was instantly killed. She was sitting in a rocking-chair, with a child in her arms, a considerable distance from the chimney. The child was unhurt. Two young men, sons of Mr. Russell, had their boots and stockings torn to shreds. One had his feet badly burned and blistered. The feet of the two youngest children were also burned. Miss Nelson had her shoes torn to fragments.

WASHING MADE AGREEABLE.-There is no washing (says Punch), after all, like gold-washing. It is the kind of washing that pays the best, and the only one that a gentleman can, with credit, put his hands

to.

THE SLAVE-TRADE IN RUSSIA.-The merchants of Bokhara come in great numbers to Kasan, where they readily purchase Tartar women, chiefly girls of twelve and thirteen, to take away with them.

A lady is now living, or was two months ago, in Williamsburg, state of South Carolina, by the name of Singleton, who is known to be in the one hundred and thirty-first year of her age! Her mental faculties are still unimpaired, and she retains all her senses except that of sight, of which she was deprived at the advanced age of ninety-nine by an attack of the measles.

The fact of the House sitting till so late an hour in the morning may, perhaps, account for there being so few rising men in Parliament.-Punch.

The only balls England should fight her battles with should be balls of cotton; the only shots, shot-silks.-Punch.

It is more honourable to the head, as well as to the heart, to be misled in our eagerness in the pursuit of truth, than to be safe from blundering by contempt of it.

Philosophical happiness is to want little and to enjoy much; vulgar happiness is to want much and enjoy little.

OMINOUS!-A railway company in the north of England has just contributed out of its funds 251. towards providing additional burialground in a town through which it passes.

A CONSTABULARY CON.-Why is a policeman like the conductor of an orchestra? Because he lays himself open to reproof for misconduct, unless he attends to his beat in time.

A "STRIKING" ANOMALY.-When a clock "strikes," the pendulum and all the machinery are busy at work.

In the domestic circle the Icelanders are a highly social people. Whenever a stranger calls at a house in Iceland, refreshments are at once brought on the table. He is offered wine and brandy, perhaps coffee, biscuits, cheese, &c.; and great interest is taken in the visit the foreigner has paid the far-off country.

THE NEW COMPULSORY VACCINATION ACT.-This act was passed on the 20th August, and it is directed that within six weeks parishes or unions, if needed, are to be divided into districts, for the purposes of vaccination, and places appointed, giving increased facilities for the vaccination of the poor. The six weeks will expire at the end of the present month.

The adherents to the doctrines of Mormonism increase rather than diminish in those districts of South Wales where they have established themselves, and of late they have received an accession of strength in several persons of middle class station. A well-known Welsh lecturer, named Robert Parry, better known by his appellation of "Robin Dhu," has recently joined the ranks of Mormonism, and is now holding forth to these deluded people.

A Dover paper states that Mr. Delasaux held an inquest on the body of a woman named Sarah Raneley, who had been killed by an express train passing over her. It appeared that the railway cuts through Staple Farm, occupied by Mr. Andrews, and that there is a crossing for the convenience of the workpeople. At a quarter

before three on Tuesday afternoon, when the express up-train was in sight, the deceased attempted to cross the line, but before she effected this she was struck by the engine, and the whole train passed over her, mangling her in a most frightful manner.

If spring put forth no blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, in autumn no fruit. So, if youth be trifled away without improvement, riper years will be contemptible, and old age miserable.

Almanac.-Births, Marriages, and Deaths.