nine o'clock_we saw a ship standing to us from the Roads; they had seen the flame on shore, and sent out vessels in all directions to our relief; and here certainly came a Minister of Providence, in the character of a Minister of the Gospel; for the first person I recognized was one of our Missionaries. They gave us a bucket of water, and we took the Captain on board as a pilot. The wind, however, was adverse, and we could not reach the shore, and took to the ship, where we got some refreshment, and shelter from the sun. By this time Sophia was quite exhausted, fainting continually. About two o'clock we landed safe and sound, and no words of mine can do justice to the expression of feeling, sympathy, and kindness with which we were hailed by every one. If any proof had been wanting that my administration had been satisfactory, here we had it unequivocally from all; there was not a dry eye; and as we drove back to our former home, loud was the cry of "God be praised!" "But enough; and I will only add, that we are now greatly recovered, in good spirts, and busy at work in getting ready-made clothes for present use. We went to bed at three in the afternoon, and I did not awaken till six this morning. Sophia had nearly as sound a sleep, and with the exception of a bruise or two, and a little pain in the bones from fatigue, we have nothing to complain of. "The property which I have lost, on the most moderate estimate, cannot be less than 20,000l. I might almost say 30,000l. But the loss which I have to regret beyond all, is my papers and drawings; all my papers, of every description, including my notes and observations, with memoirs and collections, sufficient for a full and ample history, not only of Sumatra, but of Borneo, and every other Island in these Seas; my intended account of the Establishment of Sincapore; the history of my own Administration; grammars, dictionaries, and vocabularies; and last, not least, a grand map of Sumatra, on which I had been employed since my first arrival here, and on which, for the last six months, I had bestowed almost my whole undivided attention; this, however, was not allall my collections in natural history, and my splendid collection of drawings, upwards of a thousand, in number, with all the valuable papers and notes of my friends Arnold and Jack; to conclude, I will merely notice, that there was scarcely an unknown animal, bird, beast, or fish, or an interesting plant, which we had not on board. A living tapir, a new species of tiger, splendid pheasants, &c. &c. all domesticated for the voyage, We were, in short, in this respect, a perfect Noah's Ark. All, all, has perished; but, thank God, our lives have been spared, and we do not repine. "Our plan is to get another ship as soon as possible, and I think you may still expect us in July. There is a chance of a ship called the Lady Flora touching here on her way home, and there is a small ship in the Roads, which may be converted into a packet, and take us home, as I have a Captain and crew at command." THE SCOTCH NOVELS. In Captain Medwin's "Conversations with Lord Byron," the following conversation is interesting, as being almost decisive of the question as to the author of the Scottish novels. "I never travel," says Lord Byron, "without Scott's novels, they are a perfect library in themselves: a perfect literary treasure. I could read them once a year with new pleasure." I asked him if he was certain about the novels being Sir Walter Scott's? "Scott as much as owned himself the author of Waverley to me at Murray's shop. I was talking to him about that novel, and lamented that its author had not carried back the story nearer to the time of the Revolution. Scott, entirely off his guard, said, "Ay, I ought to have done so, but,"-there he stopped. It was in vain to attempt to correct himself; he looked confused, and relieved his embarrassment by a precipitate retreat.-He spoiled the fame of his poetry by his superior prose. He has such extent and versatility of powers in writing, that, should his novels ever tire the public, which is not like ly, he will apply himself to something else, and succeed as well." EFFECT OF OXYGEN ON GLOW-WORMS. It is an interesting experiment (says Mr. Parke) to place a glow-worm within a jar of oxygen gas in a dark room. The insect will shine with much greater brilliancy than it does in atmospheric air. As the luminous appearance depends on the will of the animal, this experiment probably affords an instance of the stimulus which this gas gives to the animal system. A GLACIER MELTED BY HOT WATER. Mention has been already made by us of the labours directed by M. Venetz, engineer of the bridges and roads of the department of the Valais, to accomplish the destruction of the ice, which covers the Dranse. Last autumn there remained only 292 feet. The work has re-commenced this summer; but the avalanches which have fallen from the upper glacier, during the winter, have so filled the breaches which were made last year in the lower glacier, that at the beginning of June the Dranse was covered again to an extent of more than 1,000 feet. During the course of the same month the work was considerably impeded by avalanches, which fell every instant, and even on the 8th July, a great part of the pipes were covered with a huge mass of ice. In placing some new ones at the commencement of the month of August, they discovered some remains of the last, at more than thirty feet deep. It is truly a war against nature that they carry on; scarcely have they been overcome on one point ere they attack another; and when M. Venetz cannot reach the glacier by falls of water, he dams up and makes the Dranse overflow itself, in order to undermine it at the foot. It is thus that he is continually impeded by a thousand foreseen and unforeseen obstacles. Unfortunately, to this is added the most distressing circumstance of all, that of an illness brought on by the excess of his fatigues, and from which he is scarcely recovered at this moment. But hopes still, in spite of all, to free the Dranse entirely this year.he whole mass of the glacier is already reduced about one half of its cubic bulk. Ten currents of water at present fall upon it; and by means of a breach effected in its centre, the spectator may observe at a glance, by the enormous height which still remains, the incredible effect which these little water-falls have produced. M. Venetz is unable to comprehend how he had the courage to begin undertaking the destruction of this glacier, but he now assures himself of success. THE MASON AND HIS SON. The following fact occurred at Clag enfort, in Carinthia, when the French army occupied that town. The thunder had much injured the point of the very high steeple of the principal Church; and a mason and his son were employed to repair it. A crowd of inhabitants assembled at the place to witness this perilous operation. The father, a man of fifty years of age, still vigorous and active, ascended first; his son followed him; they almost reached the summit; the spectators tremblingly counted their steps, when they saw the son suddenly loose hold of the ladder and fall to the ground. A cry of terror arose. All crowded towards the unfortunate man who lay shattered upon the pavement without a sign of life. In the meantime the father continued to ascend, performed his task, descended with sang froid, and appeared with a melancholy but composed air before the spec tators, who immediately surrounded him. All endeavoured to console him; but they soon learned with horror that the fall of his son was not accidental, for that he himself had precipitated him from the top of the steeple. "Heavens!" exclaimed they, "is it possible. What fury !"what madness!” "Listen to me," replied the father, without emotion :— "In our trade there are certain rules and customs. The oldest and most experienced ventures into danger the first; the younger follows. Accord ing as one ladder is secured by cords another is raised, which is at first fastened at the bottom to the top part of the other. Then the eldest ascends this ladder which is only steadied at the bottom; and assisted by his com panion, who supplies him with cord, -saved me, as you see. Now tell me, you who call me a monster, if I had killed myself at the same time, who would have supported his unfortunate wife and children, who henceforward have nothing to look for but my labours? To die for him would perhaps have been the duty of a father; but to die along with him without any utility, is, I believe, what neither religion nor justice require.” During some moments a profound silence reigned throughout the assembled crowd; but the clamours re-commenced; the mason was arrested, and delivered over to the tribunals. He there displayed the same firmness he had shown before the people. The Judges, like the multitude, could not resist a first impulse of horror; but,upon reflecting on the situation in which he was placed, and the motive he had assigned for his conduct, they acknow ledged that his reasoning, however horrific, was just, and exhibited a presence of mind to which, though with shuddering, they could not refuse their admiration. THE LOGAN SHAKING STONE. Lieutenant Goldsmith and his crew have commenced the arduous and dangerous at tempt to replace the Logan-stone. Lieut. G. seems quite confident of success, and has landed the requisite implements. The Logan-stone is estimated to weigh 70 tons, and the purchases provided for lifting are equal to 120 tons,which,from the nature of the rock, must be placed on a plank scaffolding to be erected around its summit: hence the attempt is considered full of risk; but the going cautiously to work. It is only three feet from its original site. adventurers have declared their intention of MEDALS FOUND IN FRANCE. The excavations for antiquities at Famars were resumed on the 23d of August in the orchard of the chateau. The most interesting discoveries made in these buildings were, a small statue of Minerva in bronze, clasps of the same metal very well executed,and two ivory combs of curious workmanship. On the 25th of September, a very precious discovery crowned the labors with a degree of success beyond the most sanguine hopes: At the foot of the main wall which encloses the Hypocausta, discovered in 1813, there were found two bronze vases filled with silver medals. The first of a round form, and covered with a bronze patrea, contained 3,920: the second, of a more elliptical shape, and furnished with a handle, contained 2,658 : and 3,377 were found in a third vase of an elegant form, and which was preserved whole. The total number of silver medals is 9,955. These coins, which were in excellent preservation, are from the age of Augustus to that of Constantius. A considerable number, especially the more recent, are as brilliant as if they had just come from the mint. It would be difficult to fix at present the value of this treasure; we can however state that several reverses, mentioned as rare by Mionnet and other authors, are in great numbers. This is considered to be the most important discovery of the kind made in the department of the north. To the above interesting notice we subjoin the following, extracted from the Petites Affiches de Valenciennes of Saturday, the 9th October : A second important discovery has just taken place at Famars, at the moment when the shareholders of the excavations spontaneously doubled their shares. On the 7th of October, four vases of terra cotta, filled with silver Roman medals, were discovered at six paces distance from those found before, and at the foot of the same wall. The first contained 1,065, the second 1,923, the third 1,412: these three vases were of red earth, with only one handle; the fourth, a very large one of an orbicular form, contained alone 5,115 medals; total 9,515; which added to the 9,955 found on the 25th of September, makes the astonishing number of 19,470 silver medals found at Famars in less than a fortnight. What hopes for the future! One of the red vases is perfectly whole. The medals of the last discovery are larger than those of the first; they are all radiated heads; among them are the effigies of Balbinus, Pupienus, Gordianus Pius, Philippus senior and junior, Oracillia, Severa, Trajanus Decius, Herunnia Etruscilla, Hostilianus, Trebonianus Gallus, Volusianus, arinus, and others, with a great variety of different reverses.— The partakers in the excavations at Famars are informed that the distribution of the lots of medals will take place next week. SPECIMENS OF A PATENT POCKET DIO- "These lost the sense their learning to display, Damme!-An expletive of style, used to fill up vacancies of matter, and therefore of perpetual occurrence in the conversations of the high and low vulgar. Dandy.-A fool who is vain of being the lay-figure of some fashionable tailor, and thinks the wealth of his wardrobe will conceal the poverty of his ideas; though, like his long-eared brother in the lion's skin, he is betray ed as soon as he opens his mouth. Dangler.-An androgynous insect that flutters about ladies' toilettes, and buzzes impertinently in their ears. Day and Martin.-See "Handwriting on the wall." Debt, National.-Mortgaging the property of our posterity that we may be better enabled to destroy our contemporaries. Debates. An useless wagging of tongues where the noses have been already counted. Delay. See Chancery court. make responsible for all our crimes and follies; a Necessity which we set down for invincible when we have no wish to strive against it. Dice.-Playthings which the Devil sets in motion when he wants a new supply of knaves, beggars and suicides. Diplomatist-A privileged cheat, hired to undermine, overreach, and circumvent his opponent, and rewarded with court dignities in proportion as he is deficient in all the moral ones. Dinner. A meal taken at supper. time; formerly considered as a means of enjoying society, and therefore mod. erate in expence and frequent in occurrence; now given to display yourself, not to see your friends, and inhospitably rare because it is foolishly ex travagant, Discipline, military.-That subordination which is maintained upon the Continent by the hope of distinction, in England by the fear of the cat-onine-tails. Disguise. That which we all wear on our hearts, and many of us on our faces. NEW WORKS. Stanhope's Greece in 1823-24, 8vo. 13. -Medwin's Conversations of Lord Byron, 2d edit. 8vo. 18s.-Edmeston's Patmos, and other Poems, 12mo. 3s.-Kavanagh's Wanderings of Lucan and Dinah, 8vo. 10s 6dBlossoms at Christmas, 12s-Friendship's Offering for 1825, 12s; proofs, 18s-Chand ler's Life of Johnson, 8vo. 63.-Amusements of Western Heath, 2 vols. 18mo. 4s-Tales of the Vicarage, 18mo. 2s.-London Scenes, 18mo. 6s.-Vocal Repository, 18me. 2s. 6d. The Literary Box, 18mo. 3s. 6d.—Turner's System of Medico-chirurgical Education, Svo. 12s.-Bampfield of Diseases of the Spine, 8vo. 10s. 6d. Sisson's Historic Sketch of the Parish Church of Wakefield, small 4to. 15s.-Daniel Wilson's Sermons and Tracts, 2 vols. 8vo. 28s The Memoirs of the celebrated Madame de Geulis, on which we believe she has been occupied for many years, are about to be published in 4 vols. 8vo. A more interesting work could scarcely be announced. The second Series of " Highways and Byways," now passing rapidly through the press, is to consist of 3 volumes in 8vo. each containing one Tale. The scenes of the stories are placed in the Pyrenees, Versailles, and Normandy; and the heroine of one of them is the ill fated Marie Antoiuette, the late Queen of France. Rothelan, a Romance of the English Histories, by the Author of "Annals of the Parish," &c. has appeared. OF THE ENGLISH MAGAZINES. No. 10.] BOSTON, FEB. 15, 1825. [VOL. 2. N.S. MODE OF HUNTING THE BADGER, JAGUAR, And OTTER in SOUTH AMERICA. THE BADGER. HUNTING this useful animal forms a source of amusement and emolument to the Indians of Bocca Montana Albarregas, and most tribes that inhabit the higher regions of the Cordilleras, from Coro to Cumana. As there are no stated periods for taking it, although in the months of August, September, and October it is certainly fattest, they continue to search for it the whole year round, unless during the breeding season, when the flesh is rank and lean, and the lard or butter, manteca, rancid. In making their hunting dispositions, they form parties of seven or eight, or more. When the tribe is numerous, they will sometimes take five, six, or seven miles in a sweep over the country and such is their dexterity and address in taking these animals, that they will nearly clear it for five or six years of badgers, notwithstanding all the obstruction of brushwood, cover, &c. &c. In these excursions they are accompanied by a number of women and boys, whose business it is to build temporary huts, cook, collect fruits, and lastly, to cure what badger hams and gammons the men catch: this is no sinecure, and although they rest during the night, the day ushers them in more labour than comes to the hunters' share. When they arrive at the badgers' haunts, generally in high situations, contiguous to rocks, for the purpose of burrowing when hard pressed, they soon discover his traces by the manner in which he scrapes for pistachios and other oblong nuts, the names of which I forget. They then search the rock 47 ATHENEUM VOL. 2. 2d series. until they find the burrow, and also under the projecting roots of large trees, the hollows of which afford them shelter. When the burrows are in trees, they seldom give themselves the trouble of erecting pitfalls for them, as their curs kill and drag them out, or else they' dig them out. When the burrows are in the rocks, they set to work to erect pitfalls, or traps, in the building of which they display a regularity and system that would do credit to an European mason. As the falls are four feet by four in height and breadth, the flags with which they are built are so closely set, as to prevent the creature introducing his paw-nails between them, for his strength is such that he would raise a stone of two or three hundred weight. As the badger's family generally consists of seven or eight, the hunters set as many of those pitfalls in their way as will intercept them, one by one, in making their passage to their burrows, and frequently one in the mouth of the burrow, provided it is large enough, covering them with turf, earth, and leaves over little twigs. As soon as they have made a sufficient number, with incredible labour and perseverance, using no other implements than their hatchets and stone-hammers, the covering-flag is placed over; at the back of this they place a quantity of rubbish, so as to give weight to its fall, and plant bushes so artfully as to deceive a stranger, forming a lane, through which the creature must necessarily pass to his burrow. Then one or two ascend the trees or highest rock, to give notice of the badger's approach; while another |