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THE MECHANIC'S ORACLE

nation the diameter of a very thick tree, lined with laths, and covered with a pointed roof, forms a belfrey, surmounted with an iron cross, which rises in a pictu resque manner from amidst the foliage, like that of an antique hermitage, above the woods that surround it. Over the entrance of the chapel we read this inscription:-Erigée par l'Abbé du Detroit, Curé l'Allouville, en l'année 1696. At certain periods of the year, the Chapel of the Oak is used for the ceremonies of worship. We cannot suppose the tree of Allouville to be less than from eight to nine hundred years old. Perhaps in its youth, it lent its shade to the companions of William, assembling for the conquest of England; perhaps, the Norman Troubadour returning from the first crusades, here sung more than once the exploits of Godfrey and Raymond to his astonished compatriots.

TRUTH.

Rien n'este beau que le vrai.

BOILEAU.

MAN runs after truth as the only nonrishment which can satisfy him; but like Tantalus, he sees it escape when he fancies it within his grasp. He seeks it every where; and every where in vain. He beholds ugliness and old age decked in the ornaments of youth and beauty; crying injustices in Courts of Equity; absurd fables in history; and gross errors in the systems of philosophy. They no longer cover with a light veil the nakedness of this lovely goddess; they muffle her in the most whimsical garments, the most uncouth disguises.

In truth, says my lawyer to me, you will lose your suit, for your cause is unjust. In truth, says the friend from whom I wanted to borrow money, I am ruined by my banker. In truth, says my mistress, I adore you. la truth, says the Minister, the state is poor, you must pay taxes. Nothing, however of all this is the truth. My lawyer wants more money than I can give him. My friend fears, if he lent me money, I would not repay him. My mistress is much in love with my presents. And the Minister intends to give pensions to his friends, at expense of my purse.This is truth! Yesterday I was invited to the house of the most celebrated Amphytrion of London. The table was covered with plate, exquisite dishes, delicious wines; but the silver was plated, the venison was mutton, the melons of Valencia came from the green-houses of Chelsea,

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and the Champaigne was ginger-beer. Moca coffee was announced; and it was made of Hunt's roasted corn.

Distrust appearances then, and seek for truth under their disguise.

BRUGNATELLI'S PROCESS FOR OBTAINING LEMON JUICE OF A STRONG QUALITY.

(From Annali di Chimia.)

several experiments, that the slimy subHAVING' observed, in the course of spontaneously from that acid, I ende stance in lemon juice separates itself voured to find out some method of preventing it from spoiling during the time necessary for its separation, in order that the acid should not acquire any bad properties which might render it unpleasant to the taste, or uncertain in its chemical effects.

I expressed in the common manner the juice of perfectly ripe lemons, and strained it through a piece of linen. In half an hour I strained it again, to free it from a little slimy matter which had settled at the bottom of the vessel. I then added to the juice a certain quantity of the strongest spirit of wine, and preserved the mixture for some days in a well-corked bottle. During that time there was a considerable deposit, which to all appearance was of a slimy nature, and which 1 separated by filtering paper. If the fluid was too thick to pass through the fitter, I diluted it again with spirit of wine. After this operation, the deposit remained on the paper, which was entirely covered with it, and I obtained, in the vessel placed below, the purest acid of lemons combined with spirit of wine.

If it be required to obtain the acid perfectly pure, nothing is necessary but to separate from it the spirit of wine, which can be best effected by evaporation. The acid of lemons assumes, after it has been freed from the spirit of wine and the moisture combined with it, a yellowish colour, and becomes so strong, that, by its taste, it might be considered as a mineral acid.

It is not necessary to evaporate the spirit of wine in a close vessel, if the experiment is made only on a small scale; nor is there any danger that in open vessels any of the acid will be lost, as it is too fixed to be volatilized by the same degree of heat at which spirit of wine evaporates. This acid has peculiar properties, which deserve farther examination.

LAUNCH OF

THE LARGE QUEBEC SHIP.

RECENT IRISH BULL

AN Irish gentleman, ordering a new pair of shoes a few days since, remarked to Crispin, that "the last pair had not served him so long as usual, but he supposed it was owing to having had a great deal of walking on his hands of late!"

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SUNSET.

Over Heanton Hills, in glory bright,

And varied beauty, see the Sun
Now leaves this half the world in night,
His goodly race of labour run.
Those clouds that once obscur'd his course,
And dull'd the splendour of each ray,
With added lustre now enforce

His glory in declining day.
So o'er the good man's path are found
Calamity's dark clouds to low'r;
So shall reflection beam around

The glory of his dying hour.
So the good Christian course shall cease
(Midst splendid hope) its stormy way→→
The weary spirit sink in peace,

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THE launch of this immense vessel, the largest ever built since the days of Noah, took place on the morning of Wednesday, the 28th of July, at thirtyfive minutes past seven o'clock. Her length on deck is 324 feet, breadth of beam 50 feet, and depth of hold 30 feet; her model is also as extraordinary as her dimensions, being precisely that of a Canadian batteau, that is, perfectly flatbottomed and wall-sided, the stem and stern post nearly or altogether perpendicular, and both ends sharp alike, without any fulness, as is the case in the bows and sterns of ships of the usual construction. So that her floor may be compared to a parallelogram, with an acute equicrural triangle at either extremity. Her tonnage, by register, is 3,690 tons, but she is thought to be capable of carrying at least 6,000 tons freight; and but for the massy beams which connext ber side timbers, she would probably freight 7,000 tons. She is to be loaded with timber; and it is expected will prove sufficiently manageable, but will not probably perform more than one voyage. Every precaution has, however, been taken for the safety and comfort of those who are to navigate her: her cabin and a safety-room being prepared, that, A should the vessel by any means become water-logged, the crew would endure but little inconvenience. This ponderous mass was put in motion with as much facility as any smaller vessel, and slid majestically into the St. Lawrence. The length of the ways was somewhat less than 600 feet, and precisely one minute elapsed between the period when she moved, and that of her reaching the water. Her ways were much scorched by the friction; and so great a smoke arose, that distant spectators imagined some accident to have taken place. Three of her four masts were standing, that is, the first and second main-masts, and her try-sail mast. The sheers were also up for stepping the foremast, and her bowsprit was in: compared with the bulk of the hull, they looked like jury spars: her mainsail is not larger than that of a small 74. As soon as she lost way, she was taken in tow by three steam-boats, and conducted to the Montmorenci Channel, where she dropped her anchor, which is not larger than that of a first-rate ship of war; the weight is 78 cwt. 2 qrs.

And rise, but to eternal day!

Heanton, near Barnstaple, near Devonshire

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CRUMBS OF COMFORT TO THE
PATAGONIAN RACE.

You grieve that Bill is grown so tall,
And say you scarcely know him;
That should be in distress e'er fall
As a giant he might show him.
What troubles you, great joy gives me,
For my heart must be churled,
If I were not right glad to see

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My friend "rise in the world." QUIZ,
CLEARING SHOWER, IN THE TRUE
SENSE OF THE WORD,

Sald Jack, that heavy pelting shower,
Which seemed a deluge for an hour,
Has made a clearance in the air,-
Now we shall have some weather fair.
Why, yes, said Tim, that's true I vow,
There is a clearance made just now,
For sure as Church stands under steeple,
The rain has cleared the "streets of people."
QUIZ.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
J.T. S. will find a place in an early
Number.

A Correspondent and Well-wisher is informed the Epitaph has before appeared in the PORTFOLIO:--we are sorry he has taken the trouble of copying it for a reinsertion.

"Tales of To-day," will be inserted. X.'s communication we are compelled to reject.

We will avail ourselves of Mary's hint.

We hope our excellent correspondent M. has not forgotten us.

T. N. shall have an answer inour next. C. V. and L. S. are simpletous ;---their Dramatic Sketch is worse than nonsense.

LONDON:-WILLIAM CHARLTON WRIGHT, 65, Paternoster Row, and may be had of all Booksellers and Newsinen.

[SEARS, Printer, 45, Gutter I ane.

The Portfolio,

Comprising

I. THE FLOWERS OF LITERATURE. II. THE SPIRIT OF THE MAGAZINES.
III. THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND ART.

IV. THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN, AND DOMESTIC GUIDE.
V. THE MECHANICS' ORACLE.

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THE DIORAMA.

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IN the general improvement of the PORTFOLIO, and the extension of its character for elegant amusement and solid usefulness, we have projected a series of popular descriptions of the most attractive and meritorious public exhibitions of the metropolis; in which we shall present, not merely an account of the external features of the subject, but an entire developement and explanation of the scientific means by which their effects are produced. We are perfectly aware of all the arguments which bear on the subject of this laying open, what is, in most cases, conducted with an air of profundity and mysterious secrecy; and we proceed in our task, in the full couviction, that the measure, fairly and honestly acted upon to the extent of our means and ability, will be eventually as useful to the true interest of science, as it will be productive to us of an honourable share of public approval.

Descriptive Account of the Pictures. 1. VIEW OF BREST HARBOUR. The view of this animated and beautiful scene is taken from a spot called the Rose battery, from its position on a rock so termed from its great resemblance to that flower. The Rose battery is at the entrance and on the right of the harbour.

The general idea of the DIORAMA, is the exhibition of two highly wrought scenic pictures, of unusually large dimensions, of places and circumstances of some peculiar interest. The paint ings are viewed from a fixed distance, and through an opening of considerable size, but of somewhat smaller dimensions than the limits of the picture itself, which being without frame or visible boundary, has under favourable circumstances the effect of the prototype rather than the copy. The spectators, for about 300 of whom we compute there is commodious accommodation, are placed in a semicircular theatre of about 60 feet in diameter, and of corresponding height certainly of more elegant design, and of more chaste style in its decorations even than any of our metropolitan arrangements of that class. This part of the building, which we may term its central portion, is constructed upon, and is easily moveable about a fixed centre; while the pictures themselves are fixed, and completely detached. A simple mechanical contrivance (with the particular description of which we shall conclude this article) produces at short intervals so much of a slow circular motion to the central portion, as brings the spectator alternately in front of each picture.

This sketch of the purely mechanical arrangements of the exhibition, we hope will suffice to embody a general comprehension of the effect. Of its details

hereafter.

The gate on the left of the picture with reference to our transcript, is the entrance to a battery which cominands the whole eastern side of the roads, and with some other batteries of great weight, renders the mouth of the harbour as nearly inaccessible to an hostile squadron as art can effect such a provision,

The large tower on the right of the painting is called the Magdalen tower, and is part of an ancient castle which, under the additions of modern fortifications, serves to assist the general defences on the sea-side of the harbour. The old castle extends in the picture to the second distance, and may be considered to terminate at the projecting rectangular wharf or platform, on which is erected a mast of large dimensions. and admirable simplicity for the purThis is an arrangement of great power poses of masting and unmasting ships of form we are informed a line-of-battle war of the largest size. From this platship may be completely masted within

an hour.

third distance of the picture.
The general view of the town fills the

is the telegraph of St. Louis's tower,
The first lofty building on the right,
and is in communication with Paris.
Next onwards is seen a building of less
elevation; this is the hospital for the
reception of the sick and wounded of
the navy.

itself, is a fountain of considerable size Below this, and standing on the quay and importance.

left, is the harbour clock. The buildThe high building next on the ing seen above it is occupied by the drawing academies, the public library, the offices of the naval town-major, and those of the harbour works.

Further to the left of the painting, and beyond its centre, and the groupe of shipping which occupies it, is a construction, under which ships of the building having a roof of semicircular first class are continually in progress.

factories of the blacksmiths, locksmiths, Next beyond the building are seen the and sailmakers' departments.

man of war of the first class of the line, The shipping of the groupe are, one masts; the Duc d'Angoulême, a large cut down, and rigged with temporary three-decker fully rigged; and Duguay Trouin, a heavy 74-gun ship.

the

THE ISLE OF WIGHT.

THE ISLE OF WIGHT.

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placency, as if sensible that a white stone steeple, and a village of white stone cottages, backed by the towering honour of the New forest, possess some advantages over deserted ruins, however picturesque.

"THE Isle of Wight" is a large title for paper which ought to be confined to the notice of "a" watering place; bat' insomuch as we know not ourselves what are the names of the different hills and In almost less time than I can write head-lands, and landmarks, that seem to it, we have arrived at the cold, uncomfortfill-up nearly one-half of the horizon, as able-looking, but extensive mansion of we sail down Southampton water; we' Sir Arthur Paget. And from this estate, cannot select “A” watering place, at the woods and groves of the Netley side present, out of many others, the appella-begin to decline and fade away, till at tions of which, even, are unknown to us. Very certain we are that this steam-boat, the Medina, with the aid of her engine, her paddles, and her sails, glides, or rather flies, along at a delightful rate; and that Captain Knight is the best behaved, and the most obliging of all possible captains of passage vessels.

"And pray, sir, whose is that delightful villa, on the left, with its viranda-front -its latticed casements--that clustering woodbine and those green elastic-turfed lawns, encircled by elms, acacia, and beech trees?"-"That is the residence of Mr. Chamberlaine, the generous representative in Parliament of the ancient town and county of Southampton. The elegantly-shafted supports of the gas lights, which I heard you admiring in the High-street, and the lamps themselves,' were presented by him to his consti

taents."

Que is never in so good a humour for relishing an act of spiritual munificence, as when the briny waters are dancing around one in a thousand fantastic forms, and the white and eddying foam is hissing and circling about in wild and boisterous festivity, that seems to be exactly emblematical of an exhaustless profusion. Mr. Chamberlaine's generosity was praised with a fervour and sincerity that would have extremely gratified him, had he been present.

But the sun breaks forth through the louring clouds, and the sea, the beach, the boats, the white sails in the distant channel, and the sparkling windows of the mansions on the neighbouring shore, all are glowing and glittering in his yellow light. Every object in a moment seems, as it were, in holiday; save only the solemn groves and the grey-cold ruins of the venerable Netley. They just peep out of their verdant concealment, as silent, as mournful, and as little kindred to the world around them, as the barefooted monks who once chaunted in their narrow aisles, or pensively sauntered through their solitary cloisters. Nearly opposite, the modern church of Hythe looks over the water on these monastic relics with a kind of decent self-com.

last they totally disappear; and a bold' sandy point, extending far into the sea, announces to you that the East Channel now commences; and that here the water of Southampton empties itself. On the other shore, a similar point is terminated by the low and lonely tower called Calshot Castle. Before it extends the long range of the English Channel, breaking on the coasts of Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent; on its right, the Isle of Wight; behind it the Western Channel, reaching to the Land's End.

But we have rounded Calshot Castle," and the breeze freshens, and the sea rises; the captain rubs his hands-his men look cheerily and the psssengers begin to feel that there are other qualms in the world, besides those of conscience.

We now approach the Isle of Wight" sufficiently near to observe the beautiful bay and harbour, which are formed by East and West Cowes. On the west an irregular town, built on a declivity, a handsome marine parade, a small fort, and a large modern house, called the Castle; on the east, hanging woods that reach down to the very verge of the sea, at high-water mark; two very pretty castles, and a small dock-yard. The harbour assumes the form of a triangle; of which the custom-house, at East Cowes, is the apex, and a line drawn from Lord Henry Seymour's bathing-house to the little fort already spoken of, would form the base. Innumerable pleasure yachts, packets that ply between the Island and Southampton, Guernsey, Jersey, Portsmouth, Plymouth, the Isle of Man, &c. provide the materials for a picture which is always moving and animated; and this sea view is wonderfully embellished by the variety of foliage which decks the hills that bound it.

The town itself is small, narrow and ill-built, and not very populous; yet it has three or four libraries, containing a few ill-assorted novels. Moir's catalogue, in particular, is replete with the worst productions of the Minerva Press. By the bye, the people at Moir's must find lodgings' letting much more profitable than library-making; they are not very modest

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