189-Amen. T. H.-In the Hebrew language amen means true, faithful, certain. Employed at the end of a prayer, it means so be it; at the termination of a creed, so it is. It has been generally used in the Christian, and also the Jewish churches.

190-Anonymous Letters. T. T.-The writers of these missiles are great culprits and cowards. The sending of letters denouncing persons, or demanding money, or using threats, was made a felony by the 9th George 1., 1722. Several persons have been executed in England for sending threatening letters.

191-Whole Duty of Man. E. A. F.- Mr. William Chappell, afterwards Bishop Chappell, is one of the reputed authors of the work entitled the Whole Duty of Man; but there is considerable doubt as to the authorship, which has caused almost as much discussion in religious circles, as the authorship of the celebrated Letters of Junius produced in the political world.

192-Children. M. C.-Partiality of parents towards some of their children to the prejudice of others, is an error, often producing the most painful consequences. Of course parental affection will naturally fall chiefly upon dutiful offspring; but assuming the virtues of the children to be equal, partiality to either must be a great parental error, and in most cases will produce lamentable results. 193-Tight Lacing.-Maria G. advises her friends to avoid tight lacing by taking a pair of stays and lacing them up permanently at the back. Then cut out the busk in front, and place tapes on each side of where the busk was. Wear the stays by merely tying the tapes in front. This plan has been tried successfully by many ladies who are afraid to leave off stays suddenly, with the greatest success. 194.-Gray's Elegy. H. W.-The Magazine of Magazines, in 1751, published Gray's Elegy. The poet wished it to appear without his name, and the poet, in a letter addressed to his pupil Horace Walpole, says, speaking of the printer, Dodsley-" He must print it without any interval between the stanzas." The form, therefore, in which the elegy usually appears, is not that contemplated by the poet.

195-Knighthood. K.-The origin of the "Order of the Bath" originated in the custom of the Franks, who, when they conferred knighthood, bathed before they performed the ceremony, and from this habit came the title of the "Knights of the Bath." Henry IV. instituted a degree of knighthood of the Bath, and on his coronation in the Tower, he conferred the order upon forty-six esquires, who had watched the night before, and had bathed.

196-Amazons. M. A.-The Amazons are said to have been the descendants of Scythians inhabiting Cappa docia, when their husbands having made incursions, were all slain, being surprised in ambuscade by their enemies. Their widows, excited to action by the sorrows they underwent on account of their husbands, resolved to form a female state, and having firmly established themselves, they decreed that matrimony was a shameful servitude. They were constantly engaged in wars. They were conquered by Theseus, about 1231, B.C. 197-Bachelors. A. F.-Let him rest. Among the Romans, fines were frequently imposed upon unmarried men, and men of full age were obliged to marry. The Spartan women, at certain games, laid hold of old bachelors, dragged them round their altars, and inflicted on them various marks of disgrace. By 7th William III., 1695, a tax was laid upon bachelors of more than twenty-five years of age; it amounted to £12 10s, for a duke, and one shilling for a common person. Bachelors were subjected to a double tax on their male and female servants, in 1785.

198-Etiquette. E. F. F.-A letter addressed to two females in partnership, should be headed and concluded "Ladies;" the envelope should be directed "Mesdames," if both are married; "The Misses," if both are single; "Mrs. and Miss," should one only be married. -No one to whom cards are not sent, calis upon a bride. The first call upon a stranger being returned, sufficiently proves that the acquaintance is approved.-S. M. When strangers meet during a morning call, it is not a rule to introduce them. We prefer doing so, however.

199-Passages of Scripture. A. T. C.-We cannot undertake to pronounce opinions upon the correctness of translation, or the authenticity of certain texts which are the subjects of religious controversy. The arguments on any side would be too lengthy for our pages, and the discussion does not belong to the sphere which it is our ambition to fill. Moreover, it is not the part of a Family Friend to encourage the love of empty disputations, or vain babblings." Griesbach is considered a high authority with reference to the New Testament; many translations from his text may be purchased.

200 Black Book. H. T. H.-The title Black Book" is derived from a book kept in the English Monasteries, where details of the scandalous enormities practised in religious houses were entered for the inspection of visitors, under Henry VIII., in order to blacken them and hasten their dissolution. Hence the phrase I'd set you down in the Black Book." The modern Black Book is devoted to an exposure of Government abuses.ba 201-Black Beans. W. T. M.-The use of black beans as charms, we believe, prevails in some foreign countries, but we were not aware that they were used by gipsies, who usually make their charms of pieces of paper containing, writing (any nonsense), sewed up in little bags. The user of the black beans may possibly have been derived from the lemures of the Romans, the ceremonials by which it was imagined evil spirits were exorcised or appeased. What the beans had to do with the ceremonies is not known. The rites were said to have been instituted by Romulus on the death of his brother Remus, whom he bad slain. The faba, or bean, was the type of metempsychosis, 202-Lords Spiritual and Temporal. A.R.R. This term applies to the persons who sit in the House of Lords. The "Lords Spiritual" are the two archbishops and twenty-s four bishops of the English Church, and one archbishop and three bishops of the Irish Church. Before the Reformation, superiors, priors and abbots, sat in the House of Lords, and the Lords Spiritual" at that time often exceeded in number the " Lords Temporal," though they now form only about a thirteenth part. The "Lords Tem-, poral" are all the peers of England, of age and sane. mind, sixteen peers of Scotland, and twenty-eight of Ireland. The number of peers of Ireland and Scotland is fixed, but that of England is variable, depending upon the casualties of minorities, and the will of the Sovereign.

203-Milton. T. D.-The lives of Milton are many, and good annotators upon his text their name is legion. One biographer eulogises his poetry only, and considers his prose writing and political life unworthy of the hard; another lauds his political life and prose writing, and argues that these, and not his poetry, entitle him to the regard of posterity. We believe that the old adage, "In medias res tutissimus ibis," (the middle way is the safest), applies in this case, and that the true criticism on Milton is yet to be written. Todd's Life of Milton is the most replete with detail; but taking all things into consideration, we prefer Egerton Brydge's edition of the poems, in six small volumes, and St. John's edition of the prose works. The latter has been published at a low price by Mr. Bohn, whose efforts to bring standard literature within reach of the people, entitles him to honourable mention after Knight and Chambers.

204-Relationships, &c.-Belinda inquires what nearness of connexion authorizes the calling a gentleman by his christian name, with or without the addition of "cousin." For instance, whether my first cousin may be simply Tom, my second more formally Thomas, my third Cousin Tom, my fourth Mr. Thomas. Also, in what degree of relationship it is permissible to promenade alone with him, or to take a ride in his drag.-It is very evident that no general rules can be laid down. Cousins and cousinships differ as widely as do men and women; and between the first, second, and other degrees of this relationship, it would be impossible to lay down lines of demarcation such as our correspondent seeks. Indeed, if many of our readers would exercise discretion for themselves in cases in which they must necessarily be the best judges, they would save themselves and us much trouble arising out of questions upon which we can have no advice to give.

205 Wallflower or Gilliflower? B.-There has been a curious confusion with respect to the clove-pink and the wallflower. The former belongs to the natural order Caryophylle, the latter to Cruciferæ. The clove-pink (not the cultivated double-flower of the garden) grows upon old walls and ruins, as at Norwich, and on the castles of Deal, Sandown, and Rochester, flowering in July: hence it was said to be a "wall-flower," and a "July-flower. Chaucer calls it "clove gilofre," or "clove gilliflower." Thus the clove-pink, Dianthus cryophyllus, came to be named "gilliflower" (July flower), and "wallflower." The true wallflower belongs to the same tribe of plants as the stock, mustard, cress, &c., which have their petals arranged in the form of a cross, and hence named Crucifera, (cross bearers.) It grows on old walls, and begins flowering in April, having a delicious scent. It has been improperly called "gilliflower," and "sweet-william," neither of which it resembles.

206-Beer, Ale, Porter, A. T. T.-Various drugs are used in the preparation of these liquors, which by some are the more prized in proportion to their intoxicating effect. One of the most harmless deviations from the

usual recipes for brewing neer is the substitution of quassia chips for hops; indeed we consider the infusion of quassia less soporific than that of hops. The use of the berries of the coculus indicus, however, is a much more. serious but a more common mode of adulteration. The berries, which are sma!! and round, may sometimes be found in the lees in the barrels. The time is not far distant. when the obsolete charge of Bacon at the Verge will cease to be obsolete or inappropriate:-"You shall inquire," said he, "whether brewers and bakers keep their assize: and whether as well, they as butchers, inn-holders, and victuallers, do sell that which is wholesome, and at reasonable prices," &c.

207-Astronomy.-Sir-Permit me to correct an error in p. 7 of Appendix, par. 89, into which you seem to have been led by a mistake in one of Chambers' "Papers for the People." There is no such planet as Diana yet found, and the writer has mistaken it for Metis, or vice versa. The following is the correct list:

In a former Number of the Family Friend, Appendix, p. 2, par. 11, it is stated that the chemical storm glass must be hermetically sealed. Were it hermetically sealed, there would be no action whatever, because the atmosphere would be excluded entirely. Evaporation is unavoidable. -I have the honour to he, Sir, Yours obediently, David P. Thomson, Gt. George Street, Liverpool.-Our information was not derived from Chambers' Papers for the People," but from documents lately read before the Royal Society. At present we have no opportunity of referring to them.

208-Buried Alive. E. R. D.-There are many cases on record which go to prove that persons have been buried alive. M. Orfila, in a report presented by him to the government of France, adduces the following incident:In October, 1837, M. Deschamps, an inhabitant of La Guillotière, at Lyons, died after a short indisposition. His funeral was ordered to take place the next day, when the priests, vergers, bearers, and undertakers attended, At the moment when they were about to nail down the lid of the coffin, the corpse rose in its shroud, sat upright, and asked for something to eat." It is stated that M. Deschamps was restored to health. Several similar cases are recorded in the numbers of the Annales d'Hygiene. A well authenticated case will also be found in the Journal des Debats for February 21, 1843. Mr. Edwin Chadwick alludes to a similar case which occurred in this country. E. R. D. will now perceive that there is a necessity for a medical certificate of actual death from a qualified practitioner, and a necessity for some interval between apparent death and the rites of burial.

209-The Death-Watch. E. B. Superstitions have been associated with various insects from the earliest times, and in all countries. The death's-head moth has been regarded as an unwelcome omen to the homes visited by it; and the noise of the death-watch has been affirmed to "click the hour of death." Swift ridicules this absurd superstition in the following manner :

"A wood worm

That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form, With teeth or with claws it will bite, it will scratch, And chamber-maids christen this worm a death-watch,Because, like a watch, it will always cry click, Then woe be to those in the house that are sick! For, sure as a gun, they will give up the ghost, If the maggot cries click, when it scratches the post. But a kettle of scalding hot water injected, Infallibly cures the timber affected: The omen is broken, the danger is over, The maggot will die, and the sick will recover! " The noise is produced by a species of small beetle, of the timber-boring genus, Anobium. In the spring these insects commence their ticking, as a call to each other. They beat with their heads, and though they are very "head-strong," they are less so (in the com-" mon acceptation of the term) than the people

210-Dandelion. H. B.-The name is derived from the French "Dent de lion," or "lion's tooth," from the likeness supposed to be observed between the canine tooth of the lord of the forest, and the strap-shaped florets of the dandelion, or from the tooth-like margins of the leaves. The flower is peculiarly sensitive to atmospheric changes. In spring the leaves are used as salad, and in France the blanched leaves are eaten with bread and butter, The root dried and roasted makes excellent chicory, and resembles coffee in no slight degree. Our Medical Referee is of opinion that it is much more wholesome.

211-Rute of Travelling. T. W. S.-On all railways the distances are pointed out by white posts, erected every quarter of a mile, and the rate of speed can be easily ascertained by noting how many seconds elapse between any two of these posts. If the train is moving at the rate of thirty miles an hour, a quarter of a mile, or the interval between two of the posts, will be gone over in thirty seconds. At the rate of twenty-five miles an hour, the quarter would be travelled in thirty-six seconds; at twenty miles, forty-five seconds; at fifteen miles, sixty seconds, or one minute, and so on. The speed of a train should not be estimated, however, by the observation upon one quarter of a mile only.

212-Riding.-Sir,-I trust you will not deem me troublesome in addressing to you a few remarks on your Answer respecting "Riding." (132.) Having had instructions from the first masters, and being constantly in the habit of riding with those who are well versed in all the etiquette of the art, I feel confident in assuring your inquirer A. G. that a gentleman's proper place in accompanying a lady in an airing on horseback, is on her right, and not her left side. Being on her right, he saves both himself and the lady from numerous unpleasant occur rences:-1st. He is prevented from coming constantly in contact with the lady's stirrup-foot, an awkwardness which he could otherwise scarcely avoid. 2nd. If the roads are wet, he is prevented splashing her all over with mud. 3rd. In taking a leap, or in a windy day, he does not run the risk of entangling and tearing her habit with his spur, should he wear them. A lady's seat on horseback ought always to be so completely "square" that she is not only able to control her horse with perfect ease, but also able with ease and grace to talk to the gentleman on her right. From what I have said I hope you will own, Mr. Editor, that I am on the right side of this question; hut should I have failed to convince you, my worst wish is, that I may never have the pain of seeing you riding with a lady; and above all, that you may never be companion of mine in my equestrian exercises! I remain, truly yours, M. M.-The reply to the question referred to was written by our "Sub," a worthy and remarkably gallant man, who has performed an enormous amount of courtesy to the fair sex, both on horseback and a-foot! For our own part, we quite coincide with M. M.'s views, and we profess to be no less courteous and gallant than our worthy co-worker, our "Sub." Happy are we to think that "for opinion's sake" we shall not he deprived of the pleasure of a ride with M. M. whenever the state of our acquaintance may rightfully permit it. And as we sometimes ride in company with our worthy "Sub," we will plead for him that he may occupy, according to his views, the left side, leaving ourself to the right. M. M. will thus he doubly escorted, and will, we hope, have no reason to think ill of the manner in which we perform our Friendly offices,

QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

8-Rose Leaves. A. S.-The rose leaves, and as many varieties besides as can be procured, are to be put upon a wicker tray of some sort, and exposed to a current of dry air; or covered with paper, and exposed to the sun until dry. The sooner they dry, the better. Then add the following to about each pint of the flower leaves:-Powdered orris root 2 oz., pimento berries oz., cascarilla bark oz.. musk 2 grains, otto roses 2 drops, oil of cloves two drops; mix.-E. W.

I have tried the following receipt for a length of time, and have not once found it to fail:-Take of rose leaves dried in the shade, or at a distance of about four feet from the fire-one pound; cloves, caraway seeds, and allspice, of each one oz.; orris root 4 oz: pound these ingredients in a mortar, then add lb. of salt, mix well together, and put into the vases as much as you wish.-W. W. 9-Powdered Butter. C. R.-The term "powdered " simply means slightly salted, and is applied to salted beef,

Scotch phrase is powdered beef, &c.-C.

213-Marriage.

A. M.-A lady's linen, made just before marriage, should be marked with her maiden name. 214-Births and Burials. W.-In the year 1840 there were 30,387 christenings, and 26,774 burials.

215-Quotation. Q. E. The passage. "Honour is a mere escutcheon," occurs in Shakspere's Henry IV.

216-Air. A. S.-The atmospheric air is composed of 79 parts of nitrogen, 20 of oxygen, and I of carbonic acid gas.

217-Piano-forte. T. T. T.-The piano is stated to have been invented in London by Zumpi, a German residing in London, about 1766.

218-Esop's Fables. H. W.-These are believed to be a compilation of fables before and subsequently to sop's time, conjointly with those written by himself. 219-Divine Service. A. T.-It is proper when the text has been found, and the Bible delivered to one person, for him to pass it to others in the same pew.

220-Chess. G. R.-A pawn advancing two squares, and in doing so passing the check of an opposing pawn, may be taken en passant.-See Walker's Chess Made Easy. 221-Divorce. R. S.-To obtain a divorce, costs, we believe, £300, or more. We doubt whether the grounds of action quoted by R. 8. would be sufficient. Try again "the law of kindness."

222-Charter of Liberties. F. A.-Henry the Third subscribed the great Charter of Liberties on the 11th of February, 1225. It was witnessed by thirteen bishops, twenty abbots, and thirty-two earls and barons.

223-Yeast.-A. G., speaking of one of our receipts for yeast, says, "it is worth any money." Perhaps A. G. will be kind enough to specify the particular receipt (the page) to which he refers, as we have given several.

224-Walking. H. B.-Captain Barclay performed his celebrated wager-to walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 successive hours, each mile within each hour, July 10, 1809. The feat occupied every hour (less eight) of forty-two days and nights, without intermission.

225-Printing Rollers. A. S.-To prevent these from becoming hard, and cracking, when out of use, they may be daubed with hog's lard, which may be scraped off when the rollers are wanted for use. The same lard will do repeatedly.

226-Actresses. B. P.-Actresses were unknown to the stage among the ancients. Men, or eunuchs, performed the female parts. The first encouragement of actresses is attributed to Charles II., but prior to this the queen of James I. had performed at court.

227-The Muses. A. Y. P.-The muse Calliope was the president of eloquence and heroic poetry. She is pourtrayed with a trumpet in her right hand, and volumes in the other, as narrator of those deeds of glory which were supposed to be recorded by her sister Clio.

228 Life. H. M-The duration of life of various animals may be thus stated:-ass, 33; cat, 10; cow, 23; dog, 14 to 25; goat, 8; goose, 28; horse, 8 to 32; man, 40 to 45; mule, 18; ox, 20; parrots, 30 to 100; pigeon, 8; ram, 15; raven, 100, sheep, 10; swine, 25; turtles, 50

to 200.

229-Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge. X. M.This society was projected by Dr. Birkbeck, upon a suggestion of Sir Richard Philips. It was mentioned to Lord Brougham in 1825. The original idea was merely that of a fund for vending or giving away tracts, like the Religious Tract Society.

230-Plute.-R. F. Z. states that the receipt for cleaning plate, p. 145, vol ii., proved, upon trial, to be positively detrimental. The receipt was contributed by K., and inserted upon the faith of his recommendation. We have had no other complaint, and think it likely that R. F. Z. committed some error.

231-Cod-liver Oil. R. O. B.-The least offensive method of taking cod-liver oil is to place it in a tea-spoon, and sprinkle a little salt over it. This question has been repeatedly asked; we therefore dosed ourselves experimentally, for the benefit of our friends. To our palate, taken in this way, it was not at all disagreeable.

232-Churity. C. R.-The acts of charity alluded to by our correspondent, are worthy of the highest condemnation; and the friend who ridicules her because she interests herself on behalf of the poor, and makes simple gifts to them, according to her means, is an acquaintance whose attempted induences should be disregarded.

The ma

233-Aturums. J. B.-We have tried the "Portable Alarums," and find them answer very well. chinery is very simple, and, we believe, unlikely to get out of repair. To those who, like ourselves, require an occasional rousing at an unusual hour, these little matin noisemakers are a boon. We know of no preference for any * particular maker.

234-Flirting. F. C.-Conduct unbecoming the true modesty of woman, and particularly a frivolous and coquettish demeanour towards the male sex, comes under this denomination. It is an error in conduct against which ladies should rigidly guard. Few things will more surely and rapidly lower the lady who practises it in the estimation of all who surround her.

235-Manners. J. M.-Reading a paper held by a stranger in a railway train is, to say the least of it, anything but a piece of good manners. The habit of overlooking papers held in the hand of another, might display itself under circumstances of a more objectionable character-as, for instance, the perusal of a letter. Far better, politely ask to be favoured with the paper.

236-Electric Eel. T. W. P.-The torpedo has been found to decompose water into its constituent elements. The under surface is stated to be the negative pole, or positive electricity; the upper, the positive pole, or negative electricity. The singular feature in the powers of the electric eel is that the shocks which it can communicate appear to depend upon the will of the creature.

When

237-Amber. T. C. B.-Amber is a mineral substance, white or yellow. Its oil is used in eau de lace. rubbed, it becomes negatively electric, like sealing-wax. It is a vegetable gum; but some have considered it as honey converted into bitumen. Some pieces contain flies, and other insects of extinct species; and these are preserved as curiosities of great value.

238-Oxy-hydrogen light. S.-This brilliant light is produced by burning a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases upon a cylinder of lime. Any chemical work will supply instruction for making the gases. The machinery calculated to produce a powerful and steady light will be found expensive. We have a very complete oxy-hydrogen apparatus, which the inquirer may see, whenever he finds it convenient to call upon us.

239-Arurat. J. A. H.-The Mount Ararat is remarkabe for its aspect, height, and traditions. It is 17,000 feet above the level of the sea, and 10,000 feet above the level of the land. The resting of the Ark has never been at tributed to any other mountain by local traditions. It appears to have been of volcanic origin; for a cavity resembling a crater is visible, and pumice-stone abounds on and around the mountain. Priests resident upon the spot show the exact point upon which the ark of Noah, or Xfsuthrus,

rested.

240-Courtship. F. R.-Upon all occasions when a gentleman begins to pay addresses to a young lady, it is proper that the parents of the latter should seek an opportunity of questioning the former upon the nature of his intentions. Yet this should not be done prematurely; and when done; the inquiries should be tempered by the greatest kindness and delicacy. A daughter should ever look up to her parents as her best earthly hope and trust, prior to marriage, and if she confide in her parents, keeping no secrets from them, they will well understand when her suitor may be questioned with propriety.

241-The Lead Tree.-Sir.-I have tried your receipt for making this tree (161) with the zinc wire, but without success; but I had before tried it with a small piece of metallic zine, with complete satisfaction, and also have tried it since: and, on making inquiry why the wire falled, was told that what is called zinc wire, is merely a compound of solder and other materials, with a very small proportion of zinc. The piece of zinc used should be the size of a small hean, and should be suspended from the cork by a thread, so as to hang in the centre of the bottle. Yours respectfully, Puer.

242-4 Domestic Hint.-Dear Mr. Editor,-The effusions of the "Minor Poets" have afforded me infinite amusement, particularly the one by J. J. M. I think it would be well, through the medium of your friendly pages, to offer a better system of domestic management than to be "preparing to make the bed " after tea, as good housewives generally complete those operations in the morning. To make the bread" would have rhymed equally well, and would have been quite in accordance with the arrangements of some families, who do prepare their bread over night, in order that it may be ready to bake in the morning. -A. A.-Our correspondent breathes the right spirit. Poets should be teachers. Altogether, J. J. M.'s lines upon "Evening" were a most drowsy production.]

243-Spectacles. L. T.-There can be no doubt that in many cases the sight is injured by the use of defective and ill-adapted spectacles. Those marked up at cheap prices, are made from the refuse glasses of the opticians," and are often the work of boys and girls. It frequently happens, therefore, that the price, though nominally low, is really high. In some cases, however, the higher price is caused by the difference in the mounting, not in the

glasses; the latter may be worth about 2s. per pair, the rest is for the frame. We know of an instance in which a wholesale dealer disposed of a lot of spectacles, for which he received £80, the highest price being 44d. per pair! They were intended for exportation. The only security in this important matter, is to deal with a respectable and oidestablished house.

244-Coal. C. B.-There are many persons who still believe that coals are to be found at Blackheath, but that the seeking for them is forbidden, because the Newcastle coal trade educates so many men for the naval service. Geologists, however, have ascertained that the great coal field of England crosses the island in a diagonal direction. the south boundary line extending from near the mouth of the Humber to the south part of the Bristol Channel on the west coast; and the north boundary line extending from the south side of the river Tay, westward by the south side of the Ochil mountains to the neighbourhood of Dumbarton. The area is about two hundred and sixty miles in length, and on an average one hundred and fifty in width. No coal fieid of any importance has been discovered north or south of the lines indicated, with one exception, viz., the coal field of Brora, in Sutherlandshire. The other patches of coal strata have been found to be very thin, and of such inferior quality as not to repay the outlay of digging. 245-Cure for Burns.-Sir, I send you the following, which you are at liberty to use in any way you please:Some years since, in the north of Ireland, a poor woman, who was using an ironing box and heaters, had put a fresh heater in the box, and, according to a most foolish habit, raised the box near her cheek to ascertain the heat: the box not being properly fastened, the heater fell into her bosom, she wearing a wrap dress, and muslin neckerchief. To alleviate the agony thus caused, she seized a quart bottle standing on the mantelshelf, supposing it to contain some liquid, and poured it over the burned parts. The bottle was, fortunately, full of black ink, and it immediately stopped the burning. I have since frequently used black ink as a cure for burns, and always found it successful; and just having applied it to a little girl, living in the house, who had burnt her hand with the candle, I thought I would send it to you for publication, if you think proper. Yours, respectfully, John A. Trenouth, 2, Silver Street, Charles Street, Old Gravel Lane.

246-Invention:-Soyer's Stove.-L. T. The heat of this stove is derived from the inflamed gas of naphtha or other spirit, driven by its own expansion upon the base of any cooking utensil. Its construction may be better understood from the following diagram:

G

Η

object was descried by one of the seamen, making for the ship; the wind was high at the time, accompanied with rain. The above-named object made several attempts to alight on the mainmast, but was driven back by the gusts of wind which blew at intervals; at last it approached the mizen-mast top, and was seen to dart into some canvas which was reefed there. One of the crew immediately ascended. On being secured, it emitted a shrill noise, which could be distinctly heard on deck. On examination it was found to be a moth, and bore the form of a skuil, and was at once recognised as the death's-head moth. The fact of this insect being taken on the mighty Atlantic ocean, nearly 1300 miles from the nearest land, shows at once the enormous power which it has on the wing. It had evidently braved the wind and waves until it could find a resting-place. The moth is now in my cabinet, and is one of the finest specimens I have seen. I have no doubt it is a British one, and was driven off the English or Irish coasts during the very heavy south and south-east winds which prevailed during the whole of last month.Yours truly, Alfred Frost, New King Street, Hull, Oct. 23, 1850."

248-Storm Glass.-We have heard from several correspondents inquiries respecting the storm glass, (188, Appendix, vol. ii.) The difficulties experienced by some of our friends arise, we think, from the impurity of the ingredients employed. The following communication may assist the inquirers :-"Dear Sir, I was struck the other day with the very simple and ingenious method of making the chemical storm glass. Following your advice closely, I used two drachms of camphor, half a drachm of nitre, half a drachm of muriate of ammonia, and four ounces of proof spirit; the effect produced was a clear, colourless liquid, without any sediment. I then, observing that you had doubted the quantity of the spirit recommended by your correspondent, without altering the proportion of the other ingredients, added the same quantity of nitre, sal ammoniac and camphor; the result is perfectly satisfac factory, and answers the purpose of indicating the approach of a storm capitally. I subjoin what I consider a better way of making it :-Dissolve half an ounce of camphor in two ounces of rectified spirit; then, in a separate vessel, dissolve one drachm each of nitrate of potash, and muriate of ammonia, in distilled or rain water, and filter the solution. The muriate of ammonia frequently contains small quantities of iron, which, unless removed by filtration, will cause a brown sediment: then mix the two solutions in a long eau de Cologne bottle, and tie the top over with bladder. Puncture the bladder with a pin, and the instrument is complete. I think the above receipt will be found to succeed perfectly, and as the little weather-glass is very useful and economical, I shall be obliged by your inserting it. Yours respectfully, F. E. P., Bath."[We have found that these glasses are much affected by temperature. The crystals in our own all disappeared during the hot weather, and have again returned now that colder weather has set in. The glasses sold by opticians are hermetically sealed, to prevent the evaporation of the spirits.]

The apparatus consists of two parts, the first to produce the flame, the second to direct and apply the heat. A is a metallic reservoir of spirits of wine or naphtha, made tight by the screwed stopper H, so that no vapour can escape, except by the tube C. The heat of the spirit lamp B being applied, the naphtha in A is boiled or converted into vapour, which expanding with great force, rushes along the tube C, and is ignited at the moment of its escape from the aperture by the spirit lamp D, whose flame is carried along by the blast, and driven in considerable volume into the trumpet-like opening E in the vessel F, which is merely a stand upon which to place any article to be exposed to the heat at G. The ignited vapour entering at E is confined in a sort of copper throat, over the wide end of which is placed a perforated copper plate G, which becomes intensely heated.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

13-Cranberries. An excellent cranberry preserve may be made by adding three-quarters of a pound of loaf sugar to a pound of fruit; boil the cranberries twenty minutes, then add the sugar, and boil twenty minutes more. For hours' boiling would certainly harden the fruit, and S. S. will find the above method answer best for all kinds of jam; being at the same time more expeditious and economical.-C. J. B.

This fruit should be kept in water until required for use -river water is the best; it should then first be boiled in very little water, in an iron or tin saucepan, about ten minutes; then smashed or broken in the saucepan with a wooden pestle, made of any hard wood; the bottom of this pestle should be an inch and a half in diameter if required for pies. Sugar is now mixed with it, and the pie is made in the usual way. If required for cheese of preserve, proceed in the usual way-strain off the juice, evaporate to the consistency required, and pourinto shapes or jars.-D.

10-Honey. E. Put the honey-comb into a large sheet of good writing-paper, paste the edges together so as to form a bag, and hang it up in a dry place.-A. G. Honey-comb may be kept fresh and good for a year, by lid to make it tight, and set in a cool place. Severa combs may be placed one above the other. They must be kept whole as possible.

249-Mamma. F. F. S.-Mamma is properly spelt as here printed.

250-Cardinal Wolsey. F. E. F.-The cardinal died at Leicester, on his road to London, on the 29th of October, 1530. He was at the time of his death, under arrest, upon the charge of high treason. 251-Litharge.

W. W.-This substance, an ingredient in some of the hair-dyes published by the Friend, is the protoxide of lead, and is well known by chemists under the name of litharge.

252-Jeremy Taylor. O. S.-This deservedly popular author was the son of a barber at Cambridge. He was born in 1613. He was patronised by Laud, but upon the destruction of his party, fled into Wales. He died in Lisbon, in 1667.

253-Honey Soap.-Sir,-I have tried your receipt for Honey Soap (p. 110, vol. ii. and App. 190, vol. ii.), and found it excellent; but a friend of mine recommended the addition of a quarter lb. of palm oil, which I tried, and after using the soap, and hard water, for nearly six weeks, my hands were as soft and smooth as when I have been using soft water. Your obedient Servant, S. J. O.

254-Heraldry. C. M. C.-A person may be prevented hy the Herald's Office from using arms to which they are not entitled. But the laws of heraldry are become so obsolete that they are seldom enforced. More than one-half of the persons employing armorial bearings, would be found, upon examination, to have no title to them.

255-Cleaning Plate. As R. F. Z. has failed in the use of the Receipt, p. 145, vol. ii. I would ask him to try the undermentioned, which I constantly use myself, and being myself a servant, I can answer for its success. It will require some little labour for the first time or two, but when it has been thoroughly got up to the mark, I have found it retain its appearance longer than by any other method:-Cream of tartar, half an ounce; alkalized mercury, half an ounce; best whiting, half a pound. The whiting must be dried, and then powdered as fine as possible the other ingredients are then to be thoroughly mixed, by passing them through a sieve once or twice. Be particular as to the exact quantities.-H. W. T. We have heard "Hooper's Patent Plate Powder" strongly recommended.

256-Language.-Dear Sir,-Is it improper, in familiar conversation, to use the abbreviations, "can't," "won't," "don't," "I'm," &c. &c.? A learned pedagogue in this part of the country insists that his pupils shall refrain from them. My brothers think their rightful liberty hereby abridged; and as I have been accustomed to indulge the practice, and have also observed it in the conversation of those I have considered correct speakers, I shall feel greatly obliged by your informing me if you deem it admissible in good society.-Yours, very respectfully, Janet. -We see no objection to the abbreviations referred to. They involve no absolute violation of grammatical rules, whilst they serve to expedite utterance, and are, in fact, to the tongue what phonography, or short hand, is to the fingers. Nevertheless, some taste should be exercised in the use of such abbreviations, some of which carry with them a vulgarity of sound-such as, "ar'n't," &c. They should, therefore, never be employed to the detriment of that neatness of speech which it is so desirable for all persons to preserve.

257-Hair. Sir-I forward for your readers a recipe for the growth of the hair, knowing it to be a good one, and that it has been tried and found to answer. I had it from an eminent physician; but I have been deterred from using it because one of the conditions is to keep the hair short, as well as to wash it with salt and water, I wish to know whether the shortness of the hair is necessary, and also whether washing it in salt and water has any, and what injurious effects? The following is the recipe:-one punce of beef marrow, three drachms of tincture of cantharides, one drachm of powdered cinnamon; mix. To be well brushed into the hair night and morning, the head being first washed with salt and water; the hair to be kept short.-G. C. J.-The washing with salt and water(there should be about a table-spoonful of salt to a quart of water)-should only occur before the first application of the pomade. The shortness of the hair is not indispensable, but aids the effect of the pomade, which we have ourselves known to be used with good effect. We believe that it originated with M. Dupuytren, the French physician.

258-Miss or Misses.-Sir-H. J. B. says (37) that the word Miss" is not an adjective. Let him parse the fol lowing sentence, and tell us what part of speech Miss is:I saw Miss Brown." Now, it there be a number of persons all of one family at a partysay of the name of Ward, and an order be brought to the drawing-room for Miss Ward

to go down, would Mr. or Mrs. Ward go? No. Miss Ward would certainly go down. If the person said-Ward, or one of the Wards, is wanted, which would go downt Neither would know, simply through omitting the word which acts as an adjective. If an adjective is a word which qualifies a noun, Mr., Mrs., and Miss, must be adjectives. They are distinctive titles, showing the sort, or giving the noun a quality. All titles, if examined closely, will be seen to be adjectives, which sort of speech generally ad-" mits of comparison; but there are exceptions, as full, chief, &c., among which Miss must be classed. All given names partake of the nature of adjectives, as George, Henry, &c., being words given to distinguish one from another of the same name.-Yours truly, J. M., British. School, Colne, Lancashire,

259-Indigestion.-An advertisement appearing in some of the papers, offering to send, in return for a stamp,. an infallible cure for indigestion, and the address of the advertiser being a reverend gentleman, of Hull, who offers the cure professedly as a matter of philanthrophy, can you acquaint me whether the matter is a reality, or a cheat?-B. R.-The following is the cure advertised by the " Rev. Isaac Howard, Hull: "-Compound spirits of ammonia, half an ounce; valerian root, half an ounce; gentian root, half an ounce. Macerate the above in a pint of hot water for two hours, then strain and add carbo-) nate of soda, quarter of an ounce. Take two tablespoonfuis three times a day for one week. Extract of gentian," one drachm; oxyde of bismuth, half a drachm; divide into eighteen pills. Take one night and morning same time as the mixture. While taking the above, the diet should consist of the lightest food, such as eggs, muttonchops, rice pudding, arrow-root, tapioca, tea, &c.; but on no account should coffee be taken. Dried pea meal made in the same way as gruel, taken regularly every alternate morning, sweetened to suit the palate, will effectually prevent a recurrence of dyspepsia in any form, it being essentially the same as the article sold under the name of. the Revalanta Arabica Food.-There is nothing new, or remarkable in the above, except that the assertion that dried pea meal is essentially the same as the article sold under the name of Revalenta Arabica Food, is a positive error. (See article Ervalenta, Revalenta, or Oriental Farina, p. 235, vol. i.) The receipts are lithographed, as is also a letter accompanying them, which we print below: "Hull, November, 1850.-Dear Sir,-After suffering severely from indigestion for twenty-five years, the annexed is the only remedy from which I have obtained a permanent benefit. I got the prescription from a physician in the East, and, on my return to England, being anxious to make it extensively known, with the pecuniary assistance of a few of the members of my congregation, I have advertised it as far as the means at my disposal would permit; however, from the immense number of poor people, whose applications are unaccompanied with either stamp or envelope for the answer, I find that the cost of advertising, stationery, printing, and postage, is pressing very heavily upon my limited resources, it has just occurred to me that a person of your probable position in life might, under the circumstances, be disposed to aid me in my object: should you be so inclined, you can do so by remitting a few post-office stamps by return of post, as I have now a great number of letters to send off, all of which I have to pay the postage. In consequence of my advanced age, I am almost unequal to the task of carrying out my purpose, as the merely directing the envelopes occupies me a considerable portion of each day, which fatigues me greatly and leaves me little inclined for other writing; however, should you require any further information at any time that I can afford, I will not fail to do so promptly, -I am, dear Sir, very faithfully yours, Isaac Howard." -We think the matter a piece of refined trickery.

260-Stop Thief.-George Cruikshank has raised the cry of Stop Thief" by a four-penny pamphlet, in which, by letter-press and wood engravings, he endeavours to explain the means adopted by housebreakers to effect entry into the houses of their victims. Mr. Cruikshank says that he does not publish these statements for any other purpose than that of showing how society may be secured against depredation; to allay, in fact, all cause for fear, instead of creating alarm; and to give such a feeling of se curity, that even nervous persons may lay down their heads upon their pillows at night without apprehension of damage to their property, or violence to their persons," a very good object; yet one that, in our opinion will be but little assisted by the publication of the pamphlet in consideration. The following psssage, in illustration, will explain the reason we have for this distrust: Many honest people will be quite as much startled when I tell them that the locks, bolts, chains, and bars to their doors, and the