enabled only to catch occasional glances of the preacher's face, through the bows, or among the blossoms of the intervening hats. The sleeves en gigot-how unutterably preposterous, and vexatiously ridiculous are these detestable abominations. Oh! that Solomon's seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines had once gone to court in them! It would have required a palace half as large as all Palestine; and the monarch would have given us another chapter upon "vanity and vexation of spirit." Look into our churches. Sleeves en gigot, two feet in circumference, enclosing little beautiful, slender, ivory arms, of four or five inches ! We know not wherewith to liken them. Their shoulders and arms appear as huge and unnatural as though they were afflicted with elephantiasis, and they hang to the body like the copper conductors from the cap to the worm of a still, gradually tapering down, though not becoming "beautifully less." What with their hats, and sleeves, and hoops, and buckram, and foundation muslins, three ladies now make a pew full. We have no objection to a lady's encasing herself in a frock pattern of seven and forty yards, provided their husbands or fathers can pay for them, and provided also, that they will roll themselves up like so many silkworms. But to have seen seven-and-forty yards befrilled and beruffed, and expanded almost to explosion, is asking a little too much. Here ends our first lecture, and we hope it will be taken as it is meant. Should any fair brow darken upon us with a frown, however, or any bright eye emit a spark of indignation, we can only tell them the story of the boy, his mother and the gun. When the boy was first summoned to the trainband, his mother fitted

him out with all a courageous mother's pride, and charged him to demean himself like a man. When on parade, however, although he loaded his piece at the order, his heart failed him at the word "fire." But every order to " prime and load" was obeyed through the day. On returning to his mother, she questioned him so closely as to his prowess, that the truth came out. Like the Spartan mother, her charge on presenting the shield would have been "with it or on it." Indignant, therefore, at the recreant conduct of her chickenhearted son, she seized the musket of which he was so unworthy, and fired it off herself. As may be supposed, the musket being overloaded, it kicked her over as flat as a flounder. As she attempted to rise, her hopeful son exclaimed"Lie still, lie still, mother: there are twelve more to come yet!"New York Commercial Advertiser.

DATE TREES OF EGYPT.

A ripe Egyp

The whole country near Alexandria is a desert, interspersed here and there with a few plantations of palm-trees. The dates hung from these trees in such large and tempting clusters, although not quite ripe, that we climed to the tops of some of them, and carried away with us large branches, with their fruit. In this manner dates are sometimes sent, with the branches, as presents to Constantinople. tian date, although a delicious fruit, is never refreshing to the palate It suits the Turks, who are fond of sweatmeats of all kinds and its flavour is not unlike that of the conserved green citron which is brought from Madeira. The largest plantation occurred about half-way between Alexandria and Aboukir, the trees here were very lofty, and, from the singular formation of their bark, we found is as easy to ascend

to the top of these trees as to climb the steps of a ladder. Wherever the date-tree is found in these dreary deserts, it not only presents a supply of salutary food for men and camels, but Nature has so wonderfully contrived the plant that its first offering is accessible to man alone; and the mere circumstance of its presence, in all seasons of the year, is a never-failing indication of fresh water near its roots. Botanists describe the trunk of the date-tree as full of rugged knots; but the fact is, that it is full of cavities, the vestiges of its decayed leaves, which have within them an horizontal surface, flat and even, exactly adapted to the reception of the human feet and hands; and it is impossible to view them without believing that he, who in the beginning fashioned" every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed" as "meat for man," has here manifested one among the innumerable proofs of his beneficent design. The extensive importance of the date-tree is one of the most curious subjects to which a traveller can direct his attention. A considerable part of the inhabitants of Egypt, of Arabia, and Persia, subsist almost entirely upon its fruit. They boast also of its medicinal virtues. Their camels feed upon the date-stones. From the leaves they make couches, baskets, bags, mats, and brushes; from the branches, cages for their poultry, and fences for their gardens; from the fibres of the boughs, thread, ropes, and rigging; from the sap is prepared a spirituous liquor; and the body of the tree furnishes fuel; it is even said, that from one variety of the palm-tree, the Phænix farinifera meal has been extracted, which is found among the fibres of the trunk, and has been used for food.-Modern Travels in Africa.

ETYMOLOGIES.

CALF OF THE LEG.-It must be sufficiently evident that this prominence of the leg can have no reference or affinity to the young family of the cow. It is most probably a corruption of some word bearing a resemblance in sound, but of very different meaning. Other nations have explained the word they have adopted, to denote this protuberant part of the leg. The Greeks have termed it the belly of the leg. The French cafl it the leg, le gras de jamb. In these there is an obvious meaning, as I am inclined to think exists in all words. In referring to Cooper's Latin Dictionary, this word is spelt Caulfe, and is evidently of identical origin with the German Kolbe, which signifies a protuberance. Thus the chemical vessel which we term a retort, and which bellies out, the Germans denominate Kolbe. Dr. Johnson has been satisfied, and has incorporated it with the cow's offspring. Its real meaning will now appear to be the protuberance of the leg..

BULRUSH.-Dr. Johnson says, "from bull and rush.” It should be noted, that I quote from an Irish edition of his dictionary. That this word, like the preceding calf, is a corruption from resemblance of sound, there can be little doubt. At what period of our language this corruption took place I am unable to state. The AngloSaxon, from whence our language is mainly derived, called it by a very natural name, the Pool-rush, as it is usually found growing in pools of water. The term they employed was Pul-sper, or Poolspear.

The following is from a private letter just received from Constantinople: "The countenance of Mahmoud is deeply sunburned, but the expression of his features is animated and agreeable. His long, arched eyebrows, his large coal-black eyes, beard, and mustachios, and the noble air of his head, produce a striking effect on the first sight of him, and correspond precisely with one's notions of an oriental despot. He is not tall, but his broad shoulders, open expanse of chest, and nervous and wellformed arms, give an idea of great physical strength. He has lately, adopted several points of the European costume; but gloves he finds very inconvenient, and never wears them. Spurs, too, though he uses them occasionally in riding, he does not approve of. He calls them a devilish invention, only fit to be adopted by persons who are anxious to break their necks. He rides a great deal on horseback; and, except on grand occasions of ceremony, and on Fridays, when he goes to the Mosque, he always uses an European saddle. He has a riding master, named Calosso, an Italian, who is a great favourite with him, and who instructs all his troops.

Dr. West, of Magdalen, better known as Jenny West, the same who provided in his will for the

building of a temple to a heathen goddess, and endowed it sufficiently for a light to be kept burning every night in the shrine, was in the habit of taking a daily promenade in the Magdalen Meadows. The grass happening to be unusually long, and nearly ready for the scythe, not only annoyed this worthy in his present daily walk, but with the anticipation of the clamours of the hay-makers. Having remarked to a dairyman how troublesome the grass was, the former replied, My cows, Sir, would soon eat it down for you.' "You don't say so, my good friend," was the rejoinder. "Pray, how long would they be about it?"-" Why, sir, thirty cows would eat it off in a fortnight."-" Then, my good man, put in sixty, and get rid of it in a week, and I will give you twenty pounds." The grass disappeared in the time.

66

We have now before us a plan and elevation of the new theatre, &c., projected by Mr. Lanza, and proposed to be erected at Battle Bridge. It is intended that the establishment be called the Royal Panarmonicon, to consist of a Public Theatre, a sort of a private Academic Theatre for Practice and Study, a Panorama, and a set of Assembly, Concert, Exhibition and Reading Rooms,-the whole situated in a spacious garden, with fountains, walks, &c. It is also proposed to connect a Dramatic School of Study with the establishment,the building, however, to be apart from the above. The elevation, which is before us, shows a very handsome building, of two stories, consisting of a centre and wings, on a rusticated basement, surmounted by columns of the Corinthian order, and topped by a balustrade, ornamented with urns, statues, &c.,

and a central dome. We do not possess any means of knowing whether this undertaking is likely to be carried into effect.

The History of the Prussian Monarchy, from the death of Frederick. the First, by Manso, was lately translated into French, and published anonymously, although attributed by the translator to a Prussian political character. A German bookseller, ignorant of the existence of Manso's work, and mistaking the French for an original, has actually had it re-translated into German.

THE DUCHESS D'ANGOULEME.

Upon a very important occasion, when Louis XVIII. had withdrawn to reflect in his closet, and had given the most particular orders to the guard that he was not to be interrupted, even by Madame," the Duchess of Angouleme is said to have presented herself according to her custom at the door of the Cabinet, and demanded admission: the guard remonstrated, but the Duchess was determined, and on the soldier crossing his arms to prevent her entrance, she coolly boxed his ears, and forced her way into the presence of the King. The Duchess complained to the Monarch that the guard had committed a most disloyal offence, in opposing with arms a member of the royal family. To appease the feelings of the Princess, the soldier was punished with three days' imprisonment-and for doing his duty, rewarded by the King, upon his release, by being promoted to a company.

Original Poetry.

TO ISABELLA.

Ah! soon, sweet girl, that hour will come
When I must say Farewell!
But oh the pain that thought creates
I cannot, cannot tell.

Yet tho' I leave thy happy roof,
My heart will linger there;

For there's no other place contains
A maid so kind, so fair.

And tho' I leave thee, Bella, dear! Then let thy beauteous cheek still wear 'Tis only for a while :

Its wonted roseate smile.

"Twill tend to lull thy William's fears,
And soothe his irksome grief;-
Yes, 'mid his varied cares will prove
A source of fond relief.

Yet oh! forgive me-nor do thou
My wav'ring faith reprove!
If, ere we part, I ask from thee
A token of thy love.

For here I vow. by yon high heav'n,
And earth's deep silent cave,
No change his heart shall know till death,
Has laid it in the grave.

And with Affection's bond we'll seal
Our mutual pledge of bliss :-
The liquid-shall a warm tear be;
The autograph-a kiss.
Camberwell, Aug. 1829.

TO E-V-,

AN UNFORTUNATE.

Oh! marvel not this tearful eye
Meets not as wont that glance of thine,
Or that this deep convulsive sigh

The greeting checks of olden time!
For now, that guilty Passion's zeal

Hath vanish'd with thy spoiler's care. That heart how chang'd, thy words reveal, While sin and lust are revelling there. And though a soft and roseate hue Spreads o'er thy beauteous features now, Yet are the blushes fled which threw A charm unequall'd on their glow. When Love unhallow'd o'er thine heart Creep'd slowly, follow'd by Despair, Joy after joy it view'd depart,

And left for aye-Grief, Discord, there! Just as the flood, which sweepeth o'er,

In wrath, the rose encircled bow'r, Subsiding, leaves upon the shore

-In sadness, ruins of its power.

Since peace, or joy, are rarely thine,
I would not give thy bosom pain,
Yet a more dreaded ere than mine

Pursues thee thro' each path of shame.
And there are hours, nor wine, nor mirth,
Reflexion's wide controul shall sway,
When not a joy, or friend, on earth,
Can bid those scenes of guilt decay!'

G.H.P

OF

IN

THE good citizens of Manheim had already retired lo rest; the shops, the ornament and glory of the town, were all shut; and the streets, although but a few hours ago crowded with the motley group of which the wayfarers of the main street of that very busy little city is usually composed, were not quite silent and deserted, save when the clear shrill pipe of the watchman, or the devious reelings of a late reveller "gave the world assurance of a man." As yet, No. 175.-3d. S..

however, all the business of the day was not quite transacted; some of the most considerable taverns still harboured in their hospitable breasts a few choice spirits, who, not so enamoured of the delights of home as the more peaceful and domestic citizens, yet lingered over the parting cup, maugre the entreaties of mine host, that they would become invisible ere the inflexible captain of the town-guard should make his unwelcome appearance at the head of his stalwart myrmidons, and conclude the scene by accommodating the boisterers to an uncomfortable lodging within the dreary