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in changing its direction, and when left, it immediately resumes its former position; it is not the same in stiffness from death; the limb, the direction of which has been changed, does not return to its former position.

"3. The stiffness which occurs in certain forms of Syncope, can never be confounded with cadaverous stiffness; for, in the former case, the stiffness takes place immediately after the commencement of the disease, and the trunk preserves a degree of warmth; whereas the cadaverous stiffness

is not observed until sometime after death, and when the heat of the body is no longer evident to the senses.

"If, from a cause which it is not always possible to foresee, the individual who has been thought dead for a long time, be cold and flexible, instead of offering a certain de gree of stiffness, and at the same time if no evidence of putrefaction has as yet display. ed itself, the body ought not to be buried hastily- Satius est adhiberi millies nimiam diligentiam, quam semel omitti necessari

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VARIETIES.

A curious mistake occurred lately at Dundee, relative to a proclamation of marriage-bans. The church warden, a married man, had, by mistake, written down his own name instead of the bridegroom's. The astonishment of the young couple may be easily conceived. The mistake will, however, be productive of no other evil than a week's delay.

LADY M. W. MONTAGU.

On passing through Rotterdam, this lady presented a manuscript copy of her Turkish Letters to the Rev. Mr. Sowden, the resident English clergyman; whose son, Capt. S. afterwards ascended in a balloon with Sheldon. A few years after, an English adventurer borrowed them for a day; and, by the aid of five or six amanuenses, copied the whole; and then, to teaze the minister Lord Bute, the writer's son-in-law, the whole were published, but with initials; and no work ever had an equal run.

Philip Thicknesse happened by some means to get possessed of other Letters, and, thinking to bargain with the minister, opened a negociation; but, trusting Lord B. with a personal inspection, some powerful footmen turned him into the street. He challenged Lord B. and published an appeal; but was contemned or laughed at.

Forty years after, Sir Richard Phillips seeing some Letters of Addison, Pope, and others, lying in the window of a cheesemonger, bought them for a few pence, and, on enquiring their source, he found that two or three sacks-full had been bought at the office of a deceased attorney, but that some had been recovered by one of his

clerks, a Mr. Silverlock, in Serjeant's Inn. The rest had been dispersed in wrapping up small quantities of butter and cheese! Sir Richard now hastened to Silverlock, who related that his employer had been solicitor to Mr. Wortley, Lady Mary's husband; and that, owing to young Montagu residing in Turkey, the family-papers had never been claimed; that he and his fellow clerks had filled the sacks from the dusty shelves, and sent them to the next cheesemonger; but that a few accidentally remained: on one of which seeing the name of Addison, he found that the others consisted of letters of Lady Mary, Mr. W., Lord Bute, Addison, Pope, &c. Shocked at what he had done, he endeavoured to recover the whole; but the greater part had been used, and others had been so mixed with various papers, that he abandoned the search, though the recent discovery proved that he had been too precipitate. Sir Richard now negociated with Silverlock, who modestly demanded a guinea a letter, for about 260 letters, and various papers. He, however offered him 200 guineas; which the lawyer accepting, Sir Richard instantly transferred the whole to a hackney-coach, and proceeded to the house of the Marquis of Bute, grandson of Lady Mary; and, unawed by the reputed pride of that nobleman, and by the fate of Thicknesse, obtained an interview. On his way he had picked out five or six very peculiar letters, and other family documents on presenting which as a gift, he was treated with great urbanity. A second interview completed an arrangement, by which the marquis agreed to combine his stock of similar

papers with that of Sir Richard, and then give the whole to the world, as the complete works of his illustrious grandmother, under the direction of an editor to be named by the marquis, and paid by the publisher. The editor did his duty poorly; but we were thus indebted for the recovery and publication of one of the most pleasing classics in our language, the "Letters and Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu."

Rossini, the fashionable Italian composer, has been at the point of death; and if a private letter says true, from indigestion, after a wager between him and his particular friend Paganini, the first violin in Italy. Rossini had wagered a large sum that he would eat for dinner six large fat lobsters. The composer gained his wager; but he was near losing it after all, and seemed to be about to depart, and, like Orpheus, charm the court of Pluto with his divine strains.

A fashionable Doctor lately informed his friends in a large company, that he had been passing eight days in the country. "Yes, (said one of the party,) it has been announced in one the Journals."-"Ah! (said the doctor, stretching his neck very importantly,) pray in what terms?"-" In what terms? why, as well as I can remember, in the following: There were last week seventy-seven interments less than the week before."" The doctor's neck was seen suddenly to shrink down, till his head nearly touched his shoulders; and shortly after he was missed from the saloon, to the no small diversion of the company.

SUCCESSFUL FRAUD.

In the reign of George the Second a bookseller, in a western city, sold a lottery ticket to a farmer, which, in a few days, the bookseller learnt was drawn a prize of 20,000l. The farmer called to enquire the fate of his ticket, but the bookseller professing ignorance, told him, if he would leave the ticket, it should be sent to London to be compared; which the farmer supposing to be the usual course, complied with, by sending the ticket; but lest it might be lost, entered the number in

his pocket-book. The bookseller received the 20,000l. ; and, when he next saw the farmer, told him, he was unfortunate, for his ticket had proved a blank. "Aye," said the farmer, "that's my usual luck," and went off scratching his head. The bookseller, possessed of such a capital, instantly commenced a Newspaper in the place of his own residence, turned part of his shop into a banking bouse, and became conspicuous by his numerous enterprizes. The farmer, however, in three or four years after, went to London; and, in sauntering through the streets, saw a lottery-office, "Now, egad," said he, "I'll enquire myself about my ticket ;" and, on shewing the number, the clerk instantly recollected it was the twenty thousand of the year, and of this he convinced him by his books. The farmer, as may be supposed, lost no time in paying an unwelcome visit to the now purse-proud tradesman, who, unable to dispute the matter, confessed his delinquency, and paid the farmer his twenty thousand pounds, the interest, and a compliment for hushmoney. In the meantime, however, he had turned this adventitious capital to good account, and, maintaining his credit, contrived to establish a great fortune. His crafty spirit proved, however, at length fatal to him, for, having discounted a bill for 25 or 30,000l. by giving his own bill at two months for it, and taking a discount as though he had paid money, he was prosecuted under the Usury Laws; and, as he found nothing could release him from the triple penalties, but death, rather than suffer such a loss for the benefit of his prosecutors, he committed suicide.

A NOT UPRIGHT JUDGE. An idle lad who lack'd employ,

Was full of wanton tricks, And playing with another boy,

At throwing stones and bricks.

Judge R, by age a little bent,

Rode by and felt some dread; For one large brickbat scarcely went An inch above his head.

"You bear me, lad, I hope no grudge,

My blood you might have spill'd; Were I (said he) an upright judge, I surely had been kill'd."

At the desolate island of Ascension, in the Atlantic, between Africa and Brazil, there is a peculiar crevice in a large rock, termed The Sailor's Post Office, in which the crews of vessels passing to India, or returning, leave such letters as they wish to send back, and which are punctually taken to their destination by the next ship that passes in a contrary way.

Lorenzo de Medicis being asked who are the greatest fools in the world, replied, "Those surely, who put themselves in a passion with fools."

Good Marching-A publication has recently appeared in Paris, called, "Remarks on the French Infantry." The author seems to be strongly impressed with the truth of Marshal Saxe's maxim, "that the art of war lies in the legs." Among other anecdotes, he mentions that a great General having asked a young Colonel whether his regiment marched well, and having received for answer, that all the inspecting officers declared that its manœuvres were admirable, observed, "You misunderstand me; when I ask if a regiment marches well, I mean, can it march at the rate of three leagues an hour ?"

A more elegant compliment was perhaps never paid even in the peculiar land of po

liteness, than that involved in the reply of the celebrated Mercier, to the modest author of a very affecting tragedy, who begged he would tell him what faults he observed in the work. "How could I see any faults? My spectacles were always too wet for me to discern them."

It appears that the number of steam en gines at present in action in this country may be reckoned at 10,000; and one with another each may be estimated to be equal in power to 20 horses; that each horse will do the work of six men, and that consequently the acting powers of our steam engines are equal in effect to 200,000 horses, or 1,200,000 men.

There are in England ninety-seven canals, and five in Scotland and Ireland, exclusive of those not exceeding five miles in length. The total length of these canals is 26824 miles; or 2471 in England, 1494 in Scotland, and 694 in Ireland. The expense of these has been thirty millions, and many of them have increased in value from fif teen to twenty times their original cost. In these canals, there are forty-eight tunnels, of which forty measure thirty-two miles. The first canal, which was cut in 1755, was the project of the Duke of Bridgewater and the celebrated engineer Brindley, who completed it in 1759, and thus solved the contest relative to the utility of canals.

SONG OF THE CHILDREN OE ISRAEL AFTER THE PASSAGE UP
THE RED SEA.

An imitation of Lord Byron's Downfal of Sennacherib,

Our slavery is finish'd, our labour is done,
Our tasks are relinquish'd, our march is begun :
The arm of the Lord has divided the sea,
And Judah has conquer'd, and Israel is free!

"Why stay ye the fast going chariots? and why
Is the far floating banner uplifted on high?
Quick, quick! let the corselet your bosoms embrace,
And harness the courser and hasten the chase.

Thus Pharaoh has spoke in the storm of his pride,
And roll'd on our footsteps his numberless tide:
The falchions are bright in the hands of the foe,
Their quivers are rattling, and bent is each bow,

As the clouds of the tempest which gloomily frown,
That wide spreading band in the evening comes down ;
As the thunder-cloud bursts at the Sun's piercing ray,
That band on the morrow shall vanish away.

Proud Boaster of Egypt! be silent and mourn;
Weep, Daughter of Memphis, thy banner is torn;

In the temples of Isis be wailing and wo,

For the mighty are fallen, and the Princes laid low.

Their Chieftains are fall'n, though their bows were still bent;
Their legions have sunk, though their shafts were unspent ;
The horse and his rider are whelm'd in the sea,
And Judah hath cònquer'd, and Israel is free!

June 7, 1823.

J. F. H.

SPIRIT

OF THE

ENGLISH MAGAZINES.

BOSTON, NOVEMBER 1, 1823.

THE HERMIT ABROAD.

(Literary Gaz.)

FEMALE ECONOMY.

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YOU OU have no reason to complain you, I am convinced that you are right' of my expensiveness,' said la (here he sighed ;) I only regret my belle Eugénie to her fond but confound- small means, and see that a young man ed husband; no lady in Paris goes so should not venture upon matrimony simply dressed as myself; no cache- without an ample fortune; a pretty womires of a thousand or two thousand man, (Eugenia smiled) must be dresscrowns value (her husband looked af- ed at least neatly, and it is not a trifle frighted!) no ball dresses to last but which can afford even that style in these one night; no lace veils, the price of extravagant times; they, not thou, which would pay a year's rent; nor sweet one, are to blame, nor should I do I even, like the Countess of Clari- have offered a word of complaint did on, require a pair of silk shoes and two I not find myself terribly in arrear this pair of gloves daily; shoes once a week last half year, and could I account for suffice for my unambitious dress, and the deficit in any way but by the nucan make a pair of gloves do twice; merous bills of dress-makers, merbesides I do not ruin you either by the chandes de modes,shoemakers,laundresjeweller's bill or the change of the fur- ses, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, (Eugeniture of our house yearly, or oftener; nia smiled contemptuously.) Twentyfour times a week satisfies me of public one gowns in a year!!!' continued he. places; I never gamble, and my ordi-Ay,' replied Eugenia, at a paltry nary attire is a gown of coloured cot- twelve or twenty francs each.' The ton or muslin à l'Anglaise, and a making, Eugenia, perhaps two Napolewhite one when more dressed; one hat ons each, (Auguste's colour increasor bonnet lasts me eight or ten days; ed;) the getting up, or washing,' added in short, Auguste, you know not how he, five or six francs each (he elevat-. to appreciate a good and saving wife ed his eye-brows,) to be worn,'-' On(here she panted, and he looked fond ;) ly once, you simpleton.'- And,' oband it is a pity that you have not Ma- served he, then you scarcely dare to dame Grandpre for your wife, who sit down for fear of discomposing flotwould spend your small fortune for tans, volans, falls, flounces, and falbafans and feathers only (a pause)- las. What of that? Why nothdo something worse to you besides! ing; then again, twenty-four francs for He rubbed his forehead. a pocket-handkerchief, and the cartloads of fichus and linen which go to your blanchisseuse, with whom you

'Dear Eugenia !' cried her contrite partner, 'never more will I reproach 12

ATHENEUM VOL. 14,

6

"Take her all in all,”

she cost poor Auguste a pretty round sum annually; the very simple gown lasted a very short time, and was soon worn and washed out; it might have been said of these dresses,

quarrel every week, as also with your on each hand, instead of being in the ironing woman, who alleges that one unbending armour of sixteen circles of those cheap dresses takes her a composed of all the gems, and set in a whole day to get up.'-To be sure' most expensive style; she preferred and a whole day for you to wear,' flowers to jewelled tiaras and to birds ironically cried the suffering husband. of paradise, to ostrich and other proud "Why surely you would have me go and nodding plumes; she was not ruiclean!' tauntingly added madame. nous in perfumes, baths, waiting-wo'Well, love,' concluded Auguste, I men, boudoir furniture, and boxes at have no objection, but it certainly the theatre, and yetcleans out my coffers.'- Why did you marry then ?-True, darling, I was wrong, but we will go on quietly as long as we can.'- How seldom do I require silks and crapes!' observed the lady, or new jewels, or costly entertainments at home, or- Here he tried to stop her, but the female tongue is not thus suddenly controlled,- do I, like our neighbour, break your rest by late hours? No, dove. Or break your heart by flirting with the men?' No, dear. Or-Kiss me, my dear Eugenia, you shall have it all your own way, try to be as economical as you can. Nobody can be more saving,' answered she. Her husband resumed, 'Don't be out of temper, I will go out and try to borrow a thousand crowns upon my country-house, and (he looked fondly) I only regret that I'm not richer.'-Stuff," exclaimed his wife; and (saluting him tenderly) if thou. dost borrow the money, thou wilt buy me an amazone (or riding habit,) and let me get that great bargain of lace; recollect that it is only second-hand, and will be sold at a third of its value-- Comme tu voudras, meekly replied the fortunate husband. They embraced, exchanged the adieus of the eyes, and parted. The husband proceeded to a Jew's, and his fond spouse went out to purchase an embroidered trimming cheap and simple, as she styled it. How different from lace or artificial flowers. Happy Auguste, to have such a moderate wife!

With this scene in my view (for I happened to be present at it,) I began to reflect on the subject deliberately. Eugenia's style of dress was truly 'simplex munditiis; she had not a dozen of ornamental combs worn in turn in her glossy hair; her fingers moved gracefully with only two rings

"Materiem superabat opus ;" for these light articles of humble price were corded and festooned, trimmed and ornamented up to such a pitch, that the matter was the least of the affair, and the manner all. To purchase such a piece for a gown was a trifle, but before it was fitted to the elastic form which was to grace it, the bill swelled to a most fearful yet impercep tible expense. Suppose, for instance, a printed cotton or muslin of fifteen francs, what a bagatelle; but then, to trimming twenty-five, making ditto, ditto; three washings eighteen francs, and it then was only fit for the femme de chambre. These little articles too, so often repeated, must have a little effect on the revenue of the happy man who has to pay for them. For cheapness and simplicity, a man might as well purchase a bed of straw, and, when bought, adorn it with a cambric covering, and overhang it daily with a chintz pattern curtain.

But far be it from me to deprive the fair sex of their neat and humble toilet! my intention is merely to convince the marrying swain that the provisions necessary for a wife are many. When a man has got his bride to support, he must not forget the milliner, the mantua-maker, the florist, the jeweller, the attendant, nor even the clearstarcher and blanchisseuse, who will aid madam in making head against him (no pun or improper allusion is made to the front, and much less an affront;) and whilst the splendid, highborn dame's claims come en gros, he

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