when such was publicly asserted, and as His giant genius has done much more, perhaps, than any man living for Phy sical Science, and much is owing to him for his improvements in thermometers; but no thermometer of his or other man's invention denotes atmospherical variations better than his most rubicund strawberry nose does the cheer both as to kind and quantity in which he indulges his giant appetite. Of his personal appearance, anything but to be proud of, he is most prodigiously vain-his caroty red hair he dies with nitrate of silver, the fore locks are black, those on the crown of the head a most splendid purple, and those at the back hang in their own luxurious sunny colour. Much however is due to him, on the score of his talents, no man living has a more clear calculating and Mathematical head, and he clothes the tedium of scientifie detail, in language so forcible and expressive, as to take much away from its uninteresting character. The discovery of his talents is a curious tale. A minister riding in the country, heard behind a hedge a person demonstrating a problem; on peeping over, he saw a boy with a patch of wet mud before him, on which he had described a problem: after having worked it, he drew the palm of his hand over its surface, described another problem, aud in like manner worked that. This boy is now John Leslie, professor of natural philosophy. THE ADVENT. In the last days of Advent, the Calabrian minstrels enter Rome, and are to be seen in every street, saluting the shrines of the Virgin Mother with their wild music, under the traditional notion of soothing her until the time of her infant's birth at the approaching Christmas. Just before Christmas, the minstrels descend from the mountains of Naples and Rome, in order to play before the pictures of the Virgin and Child, which are placed in various parts of every Italian town. Christmas Carols are now fast travelling out of notice and use; they are scarcely known to many_but as matter of legendary record. Carol is considered to be derived from cantare, to sing, and rola, an interjection of joy; such is Bourne's derivation in Brand's Antiquities. The song of the Angels on the birth of the Saviour is the first Christmas Carol. There used to be upwards of one hundred different carols printed annually. DESCENDANTS OF JOAN. D'ARC. By letters patent of Charles VII., confirmed by Henry II. and Louis XIII., the brothers of Joan d'Arc, and all their posterity, male aud female, were ennobled. At the present moment M. Gauttier, a young and learned orientalist, and Madame de Chuntereyne, the wife of a counsellor at the Court of Cassation, have proved their descent in the female line from Pierre d'Arc, one of the brothers of the heroine of Orleans; and the court has registered the letters patent, in confirmation of their claim. Anecdotiana. LEGAL PATHOS. Not long since, an eminent lawyer of Ohio, closed a pathetic harangue to a jury, in the following strain :-"And earth in darkness; all nature lay wrapt now the shades of night had shrouded the in solemn thought, when these defendant ruffians came rushing like a mighty torrent from the hills down to the abode of separated the weeping mother from her peace, broke open the plaintiff's door, screeching infant, and took away my client's rifles, gentlemen of the jury, for which we charge only fifteen dollars." . ORIGINAL ANECDOTE OF NAPOLEON. When the route of the Simplon was near model of the undertaking, and employed an completed, M. Ceard, the engineer, made a Italian to prepare a cast in plaster of the model, to send to Paris, for the inspection of Napoleon. The Italian contrived to make a duplicate, unknown to M. Ceard, which was sent to the Emperor of Russia. As soon as this became known to Interior, entreating that he would repreM. Ceard, he wrote to the Minister of the sent the fact of the model having been surreptitiously obtained, and sent to the Emperor Alexander. the excuse being made to him, said,— Napoleon, upon "Tell Ceard not to be uneasy about it; if Alexander has the model, I have the Simplon." Diary and Chronology. Friday, January 1, 1830. The Circumcision. New Year's Day.-St. Faine of Ireland.-Sun rises 5m after 8Sets 55m after 5. A familiar adage says of to-day: Whether the weather be snow or raine We are sure to see the flower of St. Faine; Rain comes but seldome, and often snowe, The plant Laurestine Viburnum Tinus, is called the shrub of St. Faine, from its blowing on the day of her commemoration. It is a custom with the modern Jews on New Year's Day to sound the horn. to invite the people to hearken with humility and attention to the judgments of God, and to thank him for his favour and support during the year which has just ended. this festival lasts two days, and all the people in the synagogue are to pray with a loud voice and in a humbler posture than usual. Jan. 1, 1589.-Time's Telescope for the present year tells us that, on this day, Sir Francis Drake presented Queen Elizabeth with a fan made of white and red feathers, with a gold handle, enamelled with a half-moon of mother-o'-pearl, garnished with sparks of diamonds, and a few seed-pearls on one side, having her majesty's picture within it: and on the other side was a device with a crown over it, Saturday, Jan. 2. St. Concordius, Mar. -Moon's 1st Quar. 34m. after m. 2 Jan. 2, 1727.-Born on this day at Westerham, near Seven Oaks, Kent, the gallant, but unfortunate General Wolfe, who was killed at Quebec. Sunday, Jan. 3. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. Lessons for the Day. 41 chap Isaiah, Morn.-43 chap. Isaiah Evening. Our saint is regarded as the patroness of the city of Paris, where a well known St Gregory, Bishop of Langres -High Water 8m after 9 Morn.-49m after 9 Aftern. Jan. 4, 1724. This day records the resignation of the crown of Spain by Philip V. to his son, He retired from the toils of Government to his palace of St. Ildefonso. It is not a little remarkable that within the short space of eighty years, no less than four sovereigns abdicated their throne :-viz. Christiana II, of Sweden, in 1654; Casimir, king of Poland, in 1667; Philip, king of Spain, in 1724, and Amadeus, king of Sardinia, in 1730. Tuesday, Jan. 5. St. Telesphorus, died A. D. 152. Jan. 5, 1476.-Anniversary of the defeat and death of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, in a battle fought on the eve of the Epiphany, with the duke of Lorrain, in the vicinity of Nancy, The overthrow of this haughty and powerful prince was occasioned by the implicit faith he placed in the hordes of mercenaries, or free soldiers, he had engaged to do battle with him, under their leader the treacherous Comte de Campo-bache, who during the night left his renowned employer, and passed his men over to the enemy. Philip de Comines, says, "that the duke of Bur gundy was killed by a body of the soldiery, who stript him in the throng, not knowing who he was." Sir W. Scott in his Anne of Geierstein, has finely characterised the Bold Duke and the rude period in which he lived, although he has taken great license with the history of the period. Wednesday, Jan. 6. The Epiphany.-High Water 11h 41m Morn.-Oh I'm Aftern. On the Epiphany or manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, the Eastern Magi were guided by the star to pay homage to their Saviour. It takes its name from their coming on that day, which was the twelfth after the nativity. Thursday, Jan. 7. St. Cedd, bishop of London.-Sun rises Om after 8 Morn-sets Om after 4 Aftern. Jan 7, 1558.-On this day Calais became once more subject to France; strange as it may appear, the English had retained possession of it for more than two centuries previous to the time of losing the possession of it. Friday, Jan. 8. St. Pega of England-High Water 6m after 1-29m after 1. Jan. 8, 1642.-On this day expired Galileo the celebrated astronomer, who was unquestion. ably one of the greatest men that ever lived, the following curious particulars is related of him. "A pump more than thirty-two feet in height having chanced to be erected in Florence, where he lived, the philosopher finding the water would not rise as usual to its top, set himself immediately to endeavour to account for the unexpected phenomenon; and, after examining the case, came to the conclusion, that Nature abhorred a vacuum, but for the first two and thirty feet only. Vols. I. II. III. and IV. being completed, may be had together or separate; price of the four Vols, Extra Boards, 1l. 10s. As many of the Nos. and early Parts are nearly out of print, persons desirous of completing their sets of this work, had better make early application, to prevent delay. Illustrated Article. THE FOUR FUGITIVES. A TALE OF 1658. THE storm which had long threatened, burst forth about midnight with astonishing fury, and loud peals of thunder roused from their dog-like slumbers the three inmates of a miserable hut, which then stood on a cliff jutting over the sea, near to the inconsiderable little village of Brighthelmstone. The walls of this hut were formed of mud, and a partition of similar material divided the interior into two unequal parts in the largest of the two a few flickering embers yet blazed on the rude hearth, while on a block of wood, serving for a table, stood an expiring lamp, from which occasionally a fitful blaze would spring, and light with sudden glare, surrounding objects. By its aid might be discovered little that every fisher's cabin might not boast of possessing; no article of furniture adorned the hut, save an old high-back'd chair; strings of dried fish decorated the roof; a bench fastened 2-VOL. V. B to the wall on one side the hearth, supplied the place of chairs. Immediately opposite the resting-place, was the door which afforded egress to the inmates, and between that and the hearth was a decayed and broken casement, before which was hung a piece of old and dirty sail-cloth : a doorway led into the other chamber, and a shelf on which was displayed a few drinking cups, completed the miserable aspect of the place. Seated on the chair, which was placed before the hearth, and gazing on the dying embers with a vacant stare, sat a young man attired in tattered and mean habili ments; his skin, always dark, when seen by the uncertain light which the hut afforded, appeared almost to approach a Moorish tint; his eyes, likewise dark, were large and penetrating; now abounding with deep thought, and then anon flashing with glee, as though their owner was one on whom the frowns of Dame Fortune had fallen in no trifling degree, but who possessed spirits of so mercurial a character, that the severest misfortune would descend upon him lightly; as though that which would bow another 112 with misery to the earth, would but with him serve to vary life with some slight portion of seriousness. His features were so strongly marked as to approach coarseness in their expression; but a certain air of nobleness in his appearance, as though his spirit scorned the clothes which prudence commanded him to wear, proclaimed him elevated far above that rank which at the first glance would have been assigned him. His dark hair, curling in wild confusion over his shoulders, announced him to be one of those Cavaliers who were at that unfortunate period forced by stern fate to adopt almost incredible disguises to escape the barbarous warfare of their fanatical and victorious adversaries. A second person reclined at full length on the bench, and displayed a stout, short, square-built figure, whose garb showed his occupation to be that of a fisherman, and whose sleepy, passionless eye and features, announced his Dutch parentage; this was Hans Molken, the owner of the hovel; while, at a trifling distance from the other two, lying stretched on the floor, and muffled up in a large cloak, re clined the manly figure of a person of middle age. The fire-watcher had dropped his eyelids; loud snoring testified the profound repose Hans Molken enjoyed, and he who lay on the floor was buried in slumber, when the sudden bursting of the storm aroused them. "Richard! to arms!" shouted the young man, addressing his startled companion, and springing from his seat; a second burst of thunder passed over their heads, and distinctly might the waves be heard, lashing with angry power the base of the cliff. side, mutter ́" Der deyvil!" and sleep again. "Loud roared the spirit of the storm," mighty gusts of wind swept o'er the steep, but sheltered by a rising rock from their violence, the little hut remained safe from all danger of destruction. Bright flashes of lightning played across the horizon, and when the wind paused in its wild career, torrents of rain descended. Suddenly the young man bent forward with convulsive motion, and then, starting from his seat, he uttered in the loudest whisper possible, "Richard! Richard! arouse thee, this cursed lamp," " and he dashed it to the ground," has betrayed us." "How now, my lord?-I hear nothing," sleepily answered he who reposed on the ground. "Then arouse thy drowsy ears, and listen well.-There! Didst not hear it then ? They come-they come-out with thy trusty blade, good Richard, let us not die like children!" The person addressed had started from his recumbent position, and listened attentively. "Good sir, your ears deceive you; 'tis not the sound of pursuers, but the cry of some bewildered traveller that comes borne on the blast." "A traveller, Richard? What should a traveller on a barren cliff like this at midnight? A feint, sir, a mere feint to draw us forth. Confusion on this vile disguise, which forced me to discard my trusty sword." At that moment the wind having sunk to a mere whisper, a loud and anguished cry for help distinctly reached the ears of all. "My life on't, there's no disguise in that,"exclaimed Richard; "there's agony in the very sound," and he hastened towards the door. "How!" shouted the Cavalier, "would you betray me?-sacrifice me for a stranger?" Richard looked at him reproachfully, yet hesitated. man, "Der dey vil!" exclaimed the Dutch"would'st pause and suffer him to die? Shall we not be three to one?" he added contemptuously, as he rushed from the hut. "Follow him, an ve think it no deception, follow him in the name of Heaven!" Richard waited no second bidding, but vanished instantly. Few moments elapsed, ere the Dutchman and his companion re-entered the hut, accompanied by a stranger; he was a man of athletic yet finely formed figure, as near as might be judged from a person enveloped in the folds of a large cloak; on his head he wore a broad-brimmed hat, with drooping feathers, which partly concealed his features, and in his arms he bore a slight female figure, closely enwrapped likewise in a large roquelaire. The Cavalier advanced and tendered his services, but the arm of the stranger waved him away; the latter advanced to the hearth, and seated his fainting companion in the chair; in the act of stooping, the hat she wore fell off, and although rich clusters of ringlets fell over her neck and shoulders, enough might be discovered to prove her countenance was bewitchingly beautiful. The discovery of her face produced a great variety of feelings in the breast of the Cavalier; his colour came and went with astonishing rapidity, and the look with which he turned to survey again the person of her companion, betrayed the mingled feelings which swelled his bosom. His agitation, however, passed away unnoticed: the Dutchman proceeded to open a cupboard, which would have defied the scrutiny of any supervisor, and drew a bottle of Nantz from it, which he handed to the stranger. "A thousand thanks, good fellow," he cried, "I will repay you for this kindness. But prithee, have you any place in which this lady can repose for a short period? Your hospitality shall not go unrewarded." "There is yonder room,' "answered Hans, in his best English, "but it has no better bed than straw." The stranger had knelt by the side of the chair which supported the lady, who now seemed somewhat recovered from her |