rush with great velocity, in order to produce wind."

"A very general error prevails upon this subject," replied his father; "the rate of motion has been greatly exaggerated. In a brisk gale, even, the wind does not travel with such velocity, but that it may be easily traced by the eye; and the sailor is able to watch its progress by the ripple which it produces on the sea."

"Has, then, the rate of its motion ever been estimated?" asked Louisa.

"When its velocity is about two miles per hour, it is only just perceptible. In a high wind, the air travels thirty or forty miles in the same period. In a storm, its rate has been computed as being from sixty to eighty miles. It has, also, been ascertained, by experiment, that the air, as it rushes from a pair of blacksmith's bellows, has not a velocity above that of five and forty miles in the hour."

"At what rate, should you think the air travelled this morning, when we flew our kite?” enquired Louisa.

"I should think at about five miles an hour, for it was a pleasant but gentle breeze."

A SHORT DISCOURSE.

ITS FLIGHT.

JACK.-A TOY CONSTRUCTED ON THE SAME PRINCIPLE. THE BOW AND ARROW.AR CHERY. A DISCOVERY WHICH GREATLY DISCONCERTS THE VICAR.

MR. TWADDLETON, on his arrival at the lodge, on the following morning, informed the family that he had just received a letter from the major; who, he said, was at Holding's hotel, in Dover Street, anxiously waiting to complete his purchase of Osterley Park.

"It is very extraordinary," replied Mr. Seymour, "that the major should have taken possession of the mansion before the execution of the necessary deeds: but what can occasion all this delay?"

"Between ourselves, Mr. Seymour, Wilcox has far too great an influence over the major and his affairs. I see clearly, from the tenor of his letter, that the delays and difficulties have not originated with the agents of the worthy knight Sir Thomas. As to the policy of the major taking possession of the house, I know that he was enabled to do so with perfect security, by virtue of an agreement, to which I was a witness, that, should any insurmountable legal difficulty about the title arise, he should be considered as a tenant at a certain rent that was mutually agreed upon."

“Well; I am, at all events, glad to find that we are not likely to lose the major as a neighbour."

Mrs. Seymour now entered the room, holding in her hand a letter which she had just received from Miss Villers. "Isabella comes to us next

Monday."

"Your account of that young lady," observed

the vicar, "has greatly prepossessed me in her favour; I only hope that she is not too blue."

"I care not how blue the stockings of a lady may be," said Mr. Seymour, "provided her petticoats be long enough to hide them;' and from my knowledge of Miss Villers, I can assure you, exalted as are her attainments, they are so veiled by feminine delicacy and reserve, that they may insidiously win, but will never extort our homage."

"Ay, ay," exclaimed the vicar; "I perfectly agree with you in your idea of feminine perfection short tongues, and long petticoats, Mr. Seymour - but where are my little playmates ?"

"I left Tom and Fanny on the terrace, a short time since,” replied Mr. Seymour, "very busily engaged in the game of shuttlecock and battledoor."

"The shuttlecock is an ancient sport," observed Mr. Twaddleton. "It is represented in a manuscript as far back as the fourteenth century; and it became a fashionable game amongst grown persons in the reign of James the First." "It is a very healthy pastime," said Mr. Seymour, and, in my opinion, is admirably

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calculated for females; for, it expands the chest, while it creates a graceful pliancy of the limbs."

"I entirely agree with you; it is the only

game with which I am acquainted, in which muscular exercise is gained without compromising gracefulness. But see, here come the two young rogues."

"Papa," exclaimed Tom, "I have been considering whether there is any philosophy in the game of shuttlecock."

"There are two circumstances connected with its flight," replied his father, "which certainly will admit of explanation upon scientific principles; and I should much like to hear whether you can apply them for that purpose. The first is its spinning motion in the air; the second, the regularity with which its base of cork always presents itself to the battledoor; so that, after you have struck it, it turns round, and arrives at your sister's battledoor in a position to be again struck by her, and sent back to you."

"I perfectly understand what you mean; but I really am not able to explain the motions to which you allude," said Tom.

"The revolution of the shuttlecock, about its axis, entirely depends upon the impulse of