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the parish of Doddington :-The bridegroom set up a post perpendicular to the horizon, and placed across the top of it a slender piece of timber, moveable upon a spindle. At one end of this moveable piece was fastened a board, and at the other a bag of sand. The young men who attended the bride and bridegroom, being mounted on horseback, with each a staff in his hand, in the manner of a lance, ran at the board, as knights formerly did at each other in tournaments; and he that first broke the board with his staff, in his career, received some honorary prize; but this prize could not be obtained without some danger to the adventurer; for as the cross piece of timber, to one end of which the board was fastened, turned very freely upon its axis, a smart blow the upon board brought the bag of sand, which hung at the other end, round with proportionable violence, from which the rider generally received a smart stroke upon his back, neck, or head, and was sometimes unhorsed, to the great diversion of the spec

tators.

Preston Brook, July. 1829.

INDIAN JURISPRUDENCE.

S. S.

THE Cherokees, it is said, have established something like a judiciary system, and introduced into their society, many of the laws and usages of civilization. Some of their savage institutions are disappearing under the ameliorating influence of moral justice. Bigamy, we understand, is done away with, and prohibited by severe penalties. As a specimen of the manner in which they dispense justice in a case of trivial import, we relate the following anecdote, said to be authentic.

An Indian assaulted another, of which regular information was made. The judge ordered the sheriff to bring the parties before him. The sheriff went in pursuit of them, but returned without them. "Where are your prisoners?" said the judge. "I caught them," replied the sheriff.

"What

did you do with them?" "I gave the
defendant fifteen lashes." "What did you
do with the plaintiff?" "Gave him fifteen
too."-
"What with the informer, or wit-
ness?" "Why, I gave him twenty-five
lashes-for, had he held his tongue, there
would have been none of this fuss and
trouble." It would be well if all the dis-
pensations of justice could be so equally
and promptly understood.-Savanna Mu-

seum.

GLEANINGS.

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The word Strange.-From the letters in the word strange may be made the words, gnat, rat, nest, tan, ear, Gretna, art, stare, age, tears, anger, rage, stag, east, sage, grate, stage, nag, rate, gate, ten, near, neat, rent, tea, seat, star, rest, sent, grant, get, set.

The Tailor Bird.-This is one of the most interesting objects in the whole compass of natural history. The little architect is called the Tailor Bird, Tailor Wren, or Tailor Warbler, from the art with which it makes its nest, sewing some dry leaves to a green one at the extremity of a twig, and thus forming a hollow cone, which it afterwards lines. The Tailor Bird is only about three and a half inches in length, and weighs, it is said, three-sixteenths of an ounce; the plumage above is pale olive yellow; chin and throat yellow; breast and belly dusky white. It inhabits India, and particularly the island of Cey lon. The eggs are white, and not much larger than what are called ant's eggs. In constructing the nest, the beak performs the office of drilling in the leaves the necessary holes, and passing the fibres through them with the dexterity of a tailor. Even such parts in the rear as are not sufficiently firm are sewed in like mauner.

Horses killed in London.-It was lately stated before Sir Peter Laurie, by White, the horse slaughterer, that "six hundred horses were killed for dog's meat every week in the metropolis." Mr. Hicks, the salesman in Newgate market, on hearing the above, observed, that "this did not amount to one fourth part of the whole quantity consumed by the dogs and cats of London."

The Lion.-Two lions which have been for some time in the menagerie at the Jardin du Roi, have afforded an opportunity for verifying a curious fact mentioned in several old writers, but which modern authors have in general overlooked or denied; namely, that there is at the extremity of the lion's tail a small claw, concealed in the midst of the tuft of hair: it is a horny substance about two lines in length, and is in the form of a small cone bent a little upon itself. It adheres by its base to the skin alone, and not to the last vertebre, which is separated from it by a distance of about two lines. This small claw is found in both sexes. The commentators on Homer endeavoured to explain, by the presence of this claw, the singular circumstance mentioned in the Iliad, namely, that the lion alone, of all animals, moves his tail violently when he is irritated, and strikes his sides with it; they believe that the lion endeavoured to excite himself by pricking his flanks with the claw of his tail. Blumenbach ascertained the existence of this claw several years ago; but the work in which he published his observations is almost unknown to naturalists; and they would probably a long time remain unacquainted with the fact we have just mentioned, had not M. Deshays pointed it out, and induced those who particularly devoted themselves to such subjects, to make some inquiries into it. This claw is very easily detached from the skin, so that in general there is no trace of it in stuffed specimens.

Receipt to destroy Vermin on Cattle, and to cure the Mange-Put into an earthen vessel four ounces of flour of sulphur, and a pound weight of nut oil; place the vessel upon a moderate fire, and stir the mixture with a piece of wood, until part of the flour of sulphur is dissolved, and the oil has acquired a reddish-brown colour; then remove it from off the fire, and before it is entirely cold, add four ounces

of essence of turpentine; then stir it again until it is incorporated. This preparation is neither expensive nor complicated; and when used, is merely put upon the parts infested with a feather.-Bibliotheque Physico-Economique.

Destruction of Vermin by Steam.-The plan of steam. ing vessels for the purpose of killing vermin and insects, and more particularly the white ant, is coming into use in India. The Comet, steam boat, was hauled alongside a merchant vessel, and by means of apparatus prepared for the occasion, her steam was applied to that purpose in this vessel for several hours; the object was most completely attained.

The Jaculator Fish of Java.-James Mitchell, Esq. surgeon, who gives an account of these extraordinary animals in the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, for June, 1828, found them in the possession of a Javanese chief. The first was placed in a small circular pond, from the centre of which projected a pole upwards of two feet in height. At the top of this pole were inserted small pieces of wood, sharppointed, and on each of these were placed insects of

the beetle tribe.

When all had become tranquil after the placing of the beetles by the slaves, the fish came out of their holes, and swam round about the pond. One of them came to the surface of the water, rested

109

Gleanings.-Literary Notices.

there, and, after steadily fixing his eyes for some time on an insect, it discharged from its mouth a small quantity of watery fluid, with such force and precision of sim, as to force it off the twig into the water, and in an instant swallowed it. After this, another fish came, and performed a similar feat, and was followed by the others, till they had secured all the insects. I observed, that if a fish failed in bring. ing down its prey at the first shot, it swam round the pond till it came opposite the same object, and fired again. In one instance I observed one of these animals return three times to the attack, before it secured its prey; but in general, they seemed to be very expert gunners, bringing down their prey at the first shot. This fish, in a state of nature, frequents the shores and sides of the sea and rivers in search of food. When it spies a fly sitting on the plants that grow on shallow water, it swims on to the distance of from four, five, or six feet from them, and then with surprising dexterity it ejects out of its tubular mouth a single drop of water, which never fails to strike the fly into the sea, where it soon becomes its prey-Blackwood's Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.

Sting of Bees.-Aqua ammonia is stated to counteract the effects of the bites of insects, and the stings of bees, wasps, &c., and to have been applied with success even to the bites of venomous serpents.

Curious Calculation.-If grains of wheat are put on the 64 squares of a chess board, in the following order, viz. one on the first square, two on the second, four on the third, and the number continued doubling till the sixty-four squares were covered, it would require the enormous quantity of seven hundred and twenty thousand, five hundred and seventy five million, nine hundred and forty thousand, three hundred and seventy-nine loads, two bushels, one gallon, one pint, and a fraction, allowing ten thousand grains to fill a pint.

Traffic in Human Bones.-A ship laden with bones, from Hamburg, arrived at Lossiemouth on the 25th of Oct. 1829, the property of an agriculturalist of Morayshire, and intended for manure. The master of the vessel states that the bones were collected from the plains and marshes of Leipsic, and are part of the remains of the thousands of the brave men who fell in the sanguinary battles fought betwixt France and the Allies, in October, 1813. What a commentary is this upon military glory!" and how true is the exclamation of the poet, To what base uses we may return, Horatio!"

Substitute for Quinine.-A very valuable addition is Dow making to the materia medica by the foreign chemists, though we believe that it has not yet found its way to England. It consists in the use of variolaria as a substitute for quinine. This species of lichen grows in abundance on the bark of the beech tree in mountainous districts; and from experiments, we believe first tried by M. Casebeer, it is proved to have the same febrifuge qualities as the Peruvian bark.

Eclipses, &c. in 1830.-There will be six eclipses during the next year, viz. four of the sun and two of the moon. The first will be of the sun, Feb. 23. and will be an invisible one. The second will be of the moon on the 9th of March, and will also be invisible. The third happens on March 24th, of the sun, also invisible here. On August 18th there will be another eclipse of the sun, also invisible here. On September 2d, there will be a total eclipse of the moon, beginning 8h. 49m. 478. p. m.; and September 7th, another invisible eclipse of the sun.

Mourning.-The Greeks wear mourning, especially if it be for a husband, wife, or child, never less than three years, not unfrequently for seven.

Erasmus's Greek Testament.-Thorp, the bookseller. has recently been purchasing for the Archbishop of Canterbury a great variety of literary treasures, among which he has bought for his grace, Erasmus's far famed Greek Testament, on vellum, printed at Basil, in 1519, in which edition Erasmus omitted the celebrated verse in St. John's Epistles, respecting the three heavenly witnesses. The archbishop has given £140 for this literary curiosity. It was actually bought some years since for £30.

Gigantic Stature.-There is at present, said to be living at Pitua, in Sweden, a young man nineteen years of age, who is nine feet five inches in height. At the age of eight years he was five feet four inches high. He is about to travel through Europe to exhibit himself.

Uncultivated Lands in England and Wales -Brecknock, 80,000 acres; Cardigan, 80,000; Carmarthen, 60,000; Carnarvon, 60,000; Cornwall, 190,000; Cumberland, 150,000; Derby, 100,000; Devonshire, 300,000; Durham, 100,000; Glamorganshire, 60,000; Lancashire, 200,000: Lincoln, 180,000; Montgomery, 100,000; Northumberland, 160,000: Sussex, 170,000; Westmoreland, 110.000; Wilts, 200.000; Yorkshire, 600,000. In Scotland, the number of acres is 5,652,000; and in Ireland, 4,247,990. Of these lands,

110

it is stated, that about two thirds are convertible into arable, gardens, meadows, and pasture; and one-third fit for planting young trees, and the future procuration of turf, peat, &c. for fuel. The unprofitable land in the united kingdom, comprehending the surface occupied by roads, lakes, rivers, canals, &c. towns and villages, farm-yards, quarries, cliffs, stony places, woods, &c. amounts to 15,301,994 acres.

Symptoms. In the youth of a state, arms do flourish; in the middle ages of a state, learning; and then both of them together; in the declining age of a state, mechanical arts and merchandise.- Bacon.

Horrible Relation.-The Demerara Chronicle, of the 5th of September, 1829, contains a most appalling statement current there:-About May last, a Dutch sloop of war fell in with a ship of the Isle of Saba, which, having no papers to show, was taken possession of. Soon after, a schooner, strongly armed and manned, appeared, and, hailing the Dutch vessel, claimed the ship as her prize, pretending to be a Buenos Ayres privateer; but upon examining her commission, it was found to have expired long since, and she was also taken possession of, and, with the ship, carried into Saba: but the authorities there being incompetent to decide, both were ultimately taken to Surinam for adjudication. The ship proved to have come from Brazil, on a slavery voyage to the coasts of Africa, and a few days afterwards was captured by the schooner. The crew that left Brazil with her are missing, and the pirate gave a very unsatisfactory account of them. From one of the crew of the schooner, however, it transpired that these unfortu nates had been put into a boat, fired at, and sunk. The ship was condemned at Surinam as having a slave cargo on board, amongst which was a number of hogsheads of pork, which was publicly sold, and when opened by the purchasers, were found to contain human carcasses, cut up into pieces, and salted amongst the pork. On many parts of these was traced that species of tatooing used by the seamen on their bodies. It was not known whether the human flesh was mixed up at first with the pork, or whether it was the work of the pirate. From the dilatory mode of Dutch law, it was feared these monsters would escape, as bribery was so usual, and bore so potent a sway at Surinam.

Literary Notices.

Just Published.

No. IX. of the National Portrait Gallery, exhibits beautiful and correct Likenesses of his late Majesty George the Third-Admiral Lord Keith-and the Right Hon. Spencer Perceval; and possesses the additional interest of wood engravings, illustrative of the scene of his awful death by the hand of the assassin Bellingham.

Owen's Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ. (R. T. Society.) 18mo,

Elementary Steps to Geography and Astronomy. By Ingram Cobbin, M.A.

The Child's Prayer Book. By the same Author. On the Establishment of Temperance Societies. By the Rev. J. Smith.

Letters on Missions. By William Swan, Missionary in Siberia.

A Funeral Discourse, with a brief Memoir of the late Mrs. Wilson, of Denmark hill, widow of the late Capt. Wilson, of the Duff, by the Rev. G. Clayton. The Omnipotence of the Deity; a Poem. By the Rev. J. Young, Author of Scripture Balances, &c. &c. 1 Vol. 8vo.

The Constitution of Friendly Societies, upon Legal and Scientific Principles.

A Posthumous Volume by the late Alexander Balfour, Author of "Campbell," "Contemplation and other Poems," "Characters omitted in Crabbe's Parish Register," entitled "Weeds and Wildflowers," and prefaced by a Biographical Sketch of the Author. Oliver Cromwell; a Poem; in three books. The New Scheme of Evangelical Religion. Writings of the Rev. Thomas Becon, Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, &c.

An Essay on the uses of Salt for the purposes of Agriculture, &c. By Cuthbert William Johnson. An Introductory Treatise on the Nature and Properties of Light, and Optical Instruments. By W. M. Higgins.

1829; a Poem. By W. Cox, Author of "The Opening of the Sixth Seal."

A Glance at London, Brussels, and Paris.

The Scrap-Book's Address, or a Title's Petition, in Verse; handsomely engraved, and curiously arranged, for a Lady's Album.

In the Press.

The Etymological Spelling-Book; being an Introduction to the Spelling, Pronunciation, and Derivation of the English Language: containing, besides, several other important improvements. By H. Butter.

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A Poem, in four Cantos, entitled Prayer. By Frederick Edwards.

The Elegy of Life, a Poem.

Memorials of Practical Piety, as exemplified in the Lives of Miss Marianne Beuzeville, and Mrs. Bridget Byles. By their sister, Esther Copley, Author of Cottage Comforts, &c.

The Proverbs of Solomon, a new Latin Class-Book, arranged under distinct Heads, and placed in parallel lines with our Intermediate Latin Version, consisting of the Nominatives, First Persons, and other roots of the Nouns, Verbs, &c.

A View of the Scripture Revelations concerning a Future State. By a Country Pastor.

The Fourth Part of Rickards' India. "The Revenue Systems of India under the East India Company's Government, as tending to perpetuate the degraded condition of the Natives."

"A Father's Leisure Hours, inscribed to his Children, principally intended to direct the Attention to Religious and Social Duties."

A Journal of Occurrences and Events, during a residence of nearly Forty Years in the East Indies; to be illustrated with 100 Plates. By Colonel Welsh. The Sixth and concluding Part of Capt. Grindlay's Views in India, which will contain, with the usual number of Plates, a general Index to the whole Series.

A Novel, by Mrs. Bray, entitled, "Fitz of FitzFord," founded on a popular and interesting Legend of Devonshire. To be comprised in Three Volumes.

112

By the Rev. Rich. Warner, F.A.S.L. a Volume of Literary Recollections and Biographical Sketches; also, The Portfolio of the Martyr Student, containing Albert, The Apostate, The Roman Lovers, Aram, &c.

Mr. Bucke's Epic Drama of Julio Romano, or the display of the Passions, on the claims of Dramatic Writers; Remarks on the present State of the Stage, &c. &c.

The Mutual Recognition and Exalted Felicity of Departed Saints, in Letters to a deceased Friend. By Robert Meek.

Valence, the Dreamer; a Poem. By John Phillips, M.A.

The Penseé; a selection of original Poetry. By A Young Lady.

Scripture Sketches, with other Poems and Hymns. By the Rev. Thomas Greenwood, of Trin. Coll. Cambridge.

Domestic Duties on Christian Principles. 1 Vol. foolscap.

Claverston, or the Infidel's Visit. 18mo.

Sermons, Doctrinal and Practical. By C. Townsend, Perpetual Curate of West Bromwich, and Rector of Calstone, Wilts.

A Charge delivered to the Clergy, at the Visitation held in the Cathedral Church at Calcutta, June 14th, 1828. By the late Rt. Rev. John Thomas James, D.D. Lord Bishop of Calcutta. With a Memoir of the time the Bishop lived in India, by Edward James, M. A. Prebendary of Winchester, and Examining Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of the Diocese.

Explanatory

The Anabasis of Xenophon, with
English Notes, Examination Questions, &c. by F.
C. Belfour, M. A.

COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT, LONDON, 26TH DECEMBER, 1829.

IN offering to our readers a few remarks, on the state of trade and commerce, as usual at the termination the year; we should have been glad to congratulate them on the prosperous aspect of affairs; but, on directing our view either to the manufacturing, trading, or agricultural interests, we see little to cheer us. True it is, that there is an energy in the British character capable of surmounting the most formidable difficulties, and an elasticity in British commerce, which has often risen the higher after a temporary pressure.

But the present year has been one of no ordinary character, occasioned by the burthen of taxation, with diminished resources-arising partly from the alteration in our currency, and partly from other causes of an adventitious nature, yet powerfully concurring to depress every branch of industry. By the alteration in the currency, the fund-holder alone has been benefited; and we may be told, that it is needful to have a healthy currency.-This would be incontrovertible, provided we had been disbur thened of our debt, and favoured with a trade in corn, only restricted by such a fixed rate of duty, equitable equally to the grower and consumer. To this we think it must come; the land-holder will then bear his proportionate share in the burthen.

The disturbances among the new States of South America have doubtless operated much against our manufacturers, in preventing both sales and returns, and thus have tended to augment the embarrassments of the times, yet they seem now to be subsiding, and the contending parties appear desirous of returning to the peaceful habits of industry; while those states, formerly under Spanish dominion, now relieved from any apprehension of molestation by the mother country, will turn their views to England, where they can get their wants supplied, their funds placed in security, and which offers to them an asylum whenever a removal may be necessary.

The North American States have largely participated in the distress which has pervaded these kingdoms-increased, as it has been, by the imposition of a Tariff, which has failed to foster native industry, and been a fruitful source of internal disagreement. A renovation or modification of this

measure does not seem improbable, and the effects in this country will be beneficial.

The prices of all articles, whether of home product, or of colonial or foreign import, rule extremely low, and in general they may be estimated under the rates current before the war in 1793. This remark applies to the various descriptions of metals, copper, tin, lead, and iron-of the latter article it may be said, it is the creation of the last thirty years-and renders this country nearly independent of foreign supply.

Amongst the articles of colonial produce, sugar, which forms a prominent feature-may now be denominated a necessary. The last average price in the Gazette was 25s. 8d. per cwt. exclusive of the duty. The medium price of coffee may be rated at 6d per pound, exclusive of the duty,-of black pepper 3d, also free of duty.

The consumption of cotton wool is going on progressively, and in Lancashire alone, about 12,000 packages are forwarded weekly to the mills. A great proportion of this is made into twist, which finds its way even to the East Indies and China-and also supplies the manufacturers of Europe. The home manufactures of cotton and woollen are now at so low a rate, that it may almost raise a doubt, if machinery has done this country a service. It however gives us a pre-eminence, and we are not afraid of foreign competition, provided our artisans could be furnished with the necessaries of life at a moderate rate. We rank among those who are the advocates of free trade, and, so far as the silk and glove trade are concerned, we find that the fears of its opposers have been groundless. An approximation to it in the corn trade would benefit every branch, not excepting the agriculturist, and do more to conciliate America and the northern powers of Europe than any other measure we know.

We look forward to the approaching session of parliament, to do something for the amelioration of our commerce,- and we are sanguine enough to expect, that Government will either direct its views to relieve the burthens, or adopt such measures as will enable us better to bear them.---The lowest point of depression we hope has been passed, and we trust that the ensuing year will be distinguished by a return of those times, when the humble artisan may have bread to the full, and the enterprise of the merchant be rewarded in a commensurate degree.

LONDON: PRINTED AT THE CAXTON PRESS, BY II. FISHER, SON, AND CO.

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Nivell.

Eng by W. Hott, from a Drawing by Aival. &

London Pablished by the Proprietor at the Argyll Rooms Dec 26 18 29.

FISHER SON & CO 14 30.

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