in the habit of using had, in some way, come in contact with his skin, as the presence of lead was detected in the symptoms of his case. He said he had carried shot in his pocket, but this did not solve the enigma, and the doctors were perplexed; till at length the patient recollected that he had been in the habit of putting the shot in his mouth before loading. This cleared up the mystery. A washerwoman puzzled them in like manner; but in her case it was eventually shown that she had been in the habit of washing the linen and aprons of painters and glaziers. The dogs of Prince Albert, at Windsor, were lately affected with what was termed the "kennel lameness," which strongly resembled the painter's colic. It was found that the water which they drank was supplied through a long leaden pipe. That was removed, the animals recovered, and continue in health. In France some tea taken from the wreck of an English ship, the Rebecca,' was restored to colour which it had lost by a mixture of chromate of lead and plumbagine. In consequence of this, last November a number of scientific gentlemen analyzed sixty-four samples of teas which had been thus dealt with, and in which poisonous substances were supposed to exist. In their report they describe the manner in which the inquiry was conducted, and state: "All the samples gave, in these circumstances, a black, flocculent precipitate, sometimes scarcely perceptible, at other times, on the contrary, very considerable. Each of these precipitates was collected on a filter, carefully washed, dried, and then incinerated. "The teas which we examined may, from the nature of these precipitates, be divided in two series. In the first are those whose precipitates, after having been incinerated, left a residue, which, re-dissolved by a dilute acid-nitric acid, for example-furnished a liquor which, being endowed with only a very slightly acid reaction to litmus paper, did not give rise to the formation of a black precipitate when it was submitted to the action of a current of sulphuretted hydrogen. "The metal which is contained in these teas, and which hydrosulphate of soda thus precipitates under the form of black flocks, is iron; for these precipitates are soluble in weak acids, and their solution, submitted to the action of reagents, gives rise to the following phenomena: "With ferrocyanuret of potassium, a blue precipitate. "With sulphocyanuret of potassium, a blood-red coloration. "With tincture of galls, a black coloration. "With ammonia, a flocculent and yellowish precipitate. "With sulphate of soda, no sensible reaction, even after twenty-four hours' contact." By far the greater portion of the teas gave the above results. The others-those of the second series-gave black precipitates, and furnished "a liquor which, evaporated to dryness in order to drive off the excess of acid, leaves as a residue a saline mass, which is only partially soluble in pure distilled water; there remains a small quantity of a white powder, which becomes black under the influence of the alkaline hydro-sulphurets. The aqueous solution, submitted in its turn to the action of sulphuretted hydrogen, deposits a black precipitate. We every time collected this precipitate, in order to submit it to the following experiments : "We subjected a small quantity of it to the action of the blowpipe, and to the reduction fire, with borate of soda, in a small Le Bailiff's capsule. By this operation, when the quantity of sulphuret employed was sufficient, we always obtained metallic globules, quite visible to the naked eye or with the microscope. By continuing to heat before the blowpipe, but at the extre mity of the oxidizing flame, the metal disappeared, and we obtained an enamel which remained yellow so long as it was hot, but which became colourless on cooling. "This black precipitate, being redissolved in nitric acid, produced a liquor which, being neutralized as accurately as possible, and submitted to the action of the following reagents, gave rise to the phenomena which we now describe: "With sulphate of soda, a white precipitate, soluble in potassa, and turning black with the alkaline hydrosulphates. "With ammonia, a white flocculent precipitate. "With carbonate of potassa, a white precipitate. "With oxalate of ammonia, a white precipitate. "With bichromate of potassa, a yellow precipitate, insoluble in dilute acid, but soluble in potassa. "With iodide of potassa, a yellow precipitate, soluble in an excess of the reagent. "These experiments prove, in a positive manner, that the black precipitate obtained under the influence of sulphuretted hydrogen was sulphuret of lead." In conclusion the examiners gave it as their opinion that the continued use of these teas would cause symptoms resembling those which were known as the "painter's colic." The report was signed by B. Couillard, Eugene Marchand, and Paquier. Reviews. The Late-hour System Report of the Second Annual Meeting at Exeter hall, Jan. 23, 1844. Nisbett and Co. Tis report cannot but produce an important effect wherever it is seen. The time may come when men will look back with wonder that ever such a system as that now complained of should have been tolerated. We have indeed heard that there are some worthy persons who feel alarmed lest the youthful draper, let loose from business so early as seven or eight o'clock, should in consequence be exposed to all the horrors of dissipation. They, however, do not point to the gentlemen employed in the Bank of England, or the clerks in the private banks, as furnishing living instances that such results must invariably follow being released from the cares of business at a moderately early hour. Detaining young men in shops till their eyes could no longer keep open would render them harmless, no doubt; but this is reducing the human being to the level of the ass. The industrious fleas are kept out of mischief by the proprietor of the cruel and stupid exhibition in which they are found; but will it be seriously contended that from the happy effects there witnessed the draper ought to continue a prisoner? The report before us will effectually demolish all such sophistry. We shall only give, in a touch-and-go way, a sentence or two from the principal speeches to accomplish this. Mr Moore, the seconder of the first resolution, remarked "I am, from my personal habits through life, attached to iudustrious pursuits, and despise any person, I may use even so strong an expression, who will not apply himself usefully and assiduously to the pursuit in which he has been trained. (Hear, hear.) With every prejudice, however, from early tuition, early example, and early habits, in favour of close application to business, I cannot shut my eyes to the fact, that it is quite possible to overstrain the exertions of working people, both beyond that which is good for them, and beyond that which is advantageous to the public." Mr E. Tennant, M.P., the chairman, declared with much energetic feeling "I cannot persuade myself that it can be known in the midst of the luxuries which prevail in this great metropolis-the metropolis, not only of England, but I may add, of the world-and amidst all those professions and pursuits which directly minister to them, I cannot persuade myself that it can be known that there exists a system which for fifteen hours, ay, for seventeen hours in the twenty-four, inflicts incarceration and confinement upon thousands and thousands of the youth of London-confinement fraught with monotonous and unintellectual toil mined on commencing to close at seven "On the first of November last I detero'clock, and to continue it for the winter; and to this hour I can confidently assert, that I have had no cause to regret it. The effects upon my young men have been of the most beneficial character-promoting their health -their moral and intellectual improvement." Mr Foskey observed "If I am directed in search of those young men who possess the most healthful frames, the best cultivated minds, and the purest morals, I ask, are they to be found in those houses which have the latest hours? (Cries of no, no.') What, sir! to find health where it is banished-intellectual attainments where the mind's powers are fettered and crushed, and good morals where the mind is kept in ignorance-where the physical powers are so jaded, and the intellectual so weak, that we are told it often requires the stimulating drink of a tavern to raise the exhausted frame, and revive the fainting spirit! to find the best young men, even for their employers, where the very life-blood is drained from the frame! Impossible! to find such blessings resulting from, or fostered by this system, as well might I reasonably expect to find summer's fruits growing in luxuriance, mid flowers blooming on the margin of Asphalte's winter's desolation, or earth's loveliest deadly lake!" Dr Reed told the meeting "This is not the cause of one individual, or of any peculiar party-as has been justly observed by your chairman; it is a cause which affects every class-every condition of society. That which relates to the health of the moral, the intellectual, and the physical powers, must come home to every profession; for, although over anxiety and over exertion may produce more distressing effects in one case than in another, still, to a certain extent, the great mass of human beings are sufferers from the same evils; it is, therefore, not only the cause of this country, but of the whole globe." 188 The Rev. J. Cumming pleasantly illustrated the case by saying "There is one accused and inculpated vagabond, who has long infested every town and city of England, Ireland, and Scotland, and prospered as society progressed, about whose guilt there can be no difference of opinion. This fellow has visited every shop in the kingdom, and left in it the proofs of his power; he has preyed upon the morals, the happiness, the health, the bright prospects of millions; and I am perfectly sure that this evening it will not be necessary for me to urge many arguments to carry your judgments, and to convince this most intelligent, experienced, and competent jury, to bring in one unanimous verdict of GUILTY. And if this 'Late-hour System,' for that is the name of the criminal to which I refer-if this Late-hour System shall be adjudged by the jury to be guilty, my friend, the Rev. Mr Hughes, who is about to address you, will, I am confident, read a suitable funeral service over him; I pledge myself that I will preach his funeral sermon with great satisfaction; and I feel perfectly convinced that our chairman will write legibly and distinctly, without compunction, without regret, on his tomb-stone, Hic jacet,' and rise again to infest society, I hope he never will." Mr Hall said 6 "Assistants of drapers! you are not only fighting your own battles-you are fighting the battles of thousands and hundreds of thousands who are equally oppressed, but not equally capable of protecting themselves." The Rev. H. Hughes, vindicating the course taken, told the meeting "I am quite sure that we are not met here to-night for the purpose of encouraging a spirit of idleness in those who are employed; because, while we do most uncompromisingly uphold the maxim, 'a fair day's wages for a fair day's work,' yet, at the same time, we equally uphold the maxim that wherever a fair day's wages are bestowed, the master who bestows them has a right to expect his compensation in a fair day's work. (Hear, hear.) Then, sir, what is it, in one single word, for which we are assembled this evening? I at once reply that it is justice-justice for a large and oppressed class of our fellow creatures." More, much more, might be quoted to the same effect; but really we think much more need not be said. Local Historian's Table Book. By M. A. Richardson. Smith, Compton street, Soho. (Second notice.) WE have already given a description of this laborious work, but we now add a few extracts to show how diversified, how useful, and how entertaining these volumes must prove :— "1715. The Rev. George Walker, vicar of Stockton, shortly after he came to reside there, was called upon to inter a poor person. When they came to the grave, the attendants were preparing to take the body out of the shell, or coffin, which contained it. He inquired what they were doing, and was informed, that the same coffin was used for the funerals of the poor, and that this was intended to serve again. He insisted on its being put into the ground with the body; and from that time took care to prevent the repetition of such an act of indecency."— Brewster. "March 6. Tuesday night, a remarkable aurora borealis was seen in the sky, which is said to have been interpreted by the jacobite party as an omen of God's displeasure against the ruling powers for beheading the rebel lords: a pleasant countryman, by an equally justifiable interpretation, is said to have declared, that it was an illumination, and public rejoicing in the heavens for the The comdefeat of King George's enemies.' ment of the latter seemed most consonant both to the letter and the spirit of the phenomenon. Some melancholy fanatics fancied, however, that they saw in this novel appearance men without their heads. A popular notion prevailed at that time, and is scarcely now eradicated among the peasants in the neighbourhood, that on the beheading of Earl of Derwentwater, who had a most amiable private character, Dilston brook, that passes by the place where his seat stood, near Hexham, in Northumberland, ran with blood."-Brand. "James, Earl of Derwentwater, was beheaded on Tower hill, Feb. 24, 1716. April 10th, Mr Forster escaped from Newgate, and the next day a reward of 1,000l. was offered for his apprehension, but he reached the continent in safety. Of all the victims who perished in this rash enterprise, none fell more lamented than the young and generous Earl of Derwentwater. It is generally supposed that the unfortunate earl's last request, that of burial with his ancestors, was refused; and that the body was interred in the churchyard of St Giles, Holborn. However, either a sham burial took place, or the corpse was afterwards removed, for it was certainly carried secretly by his friends, resting by day and travelling only by night, into Northumberland, and deposited with the remains of his father in the chapel at Dilston. Tradition still points out Whitesmocks, near the city of Durham, as one of the places where the corpse rested, thus avoiding that city. In consequence of much conjecture having arisen with respect to the earl's body being at Dilston, search was made a few years ago, and the coffin broken open, when the body was found, after the lapse of a century, in a complete state of preservation. It was easily recognized by the suture round the neck, by the appearance of youth, and by the regularity of the features. The teeth were all perfect, but several of them were drawn by a blacksmith, and sold for half-a-crown a piece; at the same time portions of the coffin were taken away by the curious. In consequence of these ravages the vault was soon after closed up. The Earl of Derwentwater was an amiable youth; brave, open, generous, and humane. His fate drew tears from the spectators, and was a great misfortune to the district in which he lived. He gave bread to multitudes of people whom he employed on his estate; the poor, the widow, and the orphan, rejoiced in his bounty. The earl had such assurance given him of life by his friends, that he was under some surprise on being brought to execution. He left a paper behind him asserting the justice of the cause he died in. Charles Radcliffe, brother to the earl, who had also been in the rebellion, was arraigned at the exchequer bar at Westminster, May 8, 1716, for high treason, and pleaded not guilty. On the 18th of the same month, he was, after a short trial, found guilty, and on the 11th of December, he made his escape out of Newgate. He was taken at sea returning to assist in the rebellion of 1745, and beheaded on the 8th of December, 1746. As before stated, Holy Island was seized for the Pretender by two men only, who planned and performed the following desperate exploit: 'One Lancelot Errington, a man of an ancient and respectable family in Northumberland, and of a bold and enterprising spirit, entered into a conspiracy for seizing this castle for the Pretender, in which, it is said, he was promised assistance, not only by Mr Forster, the rebel general, then in arms, but also by the masters of several French privateers. At this time, the garrison consisted of a sergeant, a corporal, and ten or twelve men only. In order to put this scheme into execution, being well known in that country, he went to the castle, and after some discourse with the sergeant, invited him and the rest of the men, who were not immediately on duty, to partake of a treat on board of the ship of which he was master, then lying in the harbour; this being unsuspectedly accepted of, he so well plied his guests with brandy, that they were soon incapable of any opposition. These men being thus secured, he made some pretence for going on shore, and, with Mark Errington, his nephew, returning again to the castle, they knocked down the sentinel, surprised and turned out an old gunner, the corporal, and two other soldiers, being the remainder of the garrison, and shutting the gates, hoisted the Pretender's colours as a signal of their success, anxiously expecting the promised succour. No reinforcement coming, but, en the contrary, a party of the king's troops arriving from Berwick, they were obliged to retreat over the walls of the castle, among the rocks, hoping to conceal themselves under the sea-weeds till it was dark, and then, by swimming to the main land, to make their escape. But the tide rising, they were obliged to swim, when the soldiers firing at Lancelot as he was climbing up a rock, wounded him in the thigh. Thus disabled, he and his nephew were taken and conveyed to Berwick gaol, where they continued till his wound was cured. During this time, he had dug a burrow quite under the foundations of the prison, depositing the earth taken out in an old oven. Through this burrow he and his nephew, with divers other prisoners, escaped; but most of the latter were soon after taken. The two Erringtons, however, had the good fortune to make their way to the Tweed side, where they found the custom-house boat; they rowed themselves over, and afterwards turned it adrift. From thence they pursued their journey to Bamborough castle, near which they were concealed nine days in a pea-stack, a relation, who resided in the castle, supplying them with provisions. At length, travelling in the night by secret paths, they reached Gateshead house, near Newcastle, where they were secreted till they secured a passage from Sunderland to France. A reward of 500l. was now offered to any one who would apprehend them; notwithstanding which, Lancelot was so daring as soon after to come into England, and even to visit some of his friends in Newgate. After the suppression of the rebellion, when everything was quiet, he and his nephew took the benefit of the general pardon, and returned to Newcastle, where he died about the year 1746, as it is said, of grief, at the victory of Culloden." Patten's Rebellion. Surtees, &c. "The beginning of the year (1760) at a sale of furniture, at Winlaton, near Newcastle, a woman bought a very large old bureau for 4s. 6d., being considered nothing better than lumber. After the sale, she with some difficulty prevailed on a nailor, her neighbour, to assist her in removing it; he, in forcing it open by the middle, discovered some papers and loose gold; told her of it, and made it fast again; got more help, and took it away whole. In getting it out, one of the papers fell, and the gold jingling, was taken notice of by one of the assistants, but the nailor saying it was only a bag with a few nails he had put out of his pocket, he was believed. After getting it home and dismissing the assistants, the purchaser and her friend, the nailor, went to work and took it to pieces, and were paid for their trouble with several purses and papers of gold to a considerable amount. She gave the nailor five papers untold, which enabled him to pay his debts and purchase a house and shop to work in, which amounted to upwards of 2007., and was told by the woman to apply to her if he wanted more; but he was satisfied, and looked upon it as a particular piece of providence, being deep in debt and out of credit, with a sick wife and a small family. It was remarkable that this old piece of furniture was recollected to have passed through several sales during the preceding forty years; that none of the gold was of a later coinage than James II, and that it was in the possession of an opulent family in the neighbourhood of Newcastle in the year 1715." "May 23. About ten o'clock at night, some company went into Mr Pinkney's, a publican, in the Bigg market, Newcastle, when words arose between them and Ewan Macdonald, a recruit in General Guise's regiment of Highlanders, then quartered in that town; from words they came to blows, which caused some of the company to leave the room, but Macdonald followed them out, laid hold on one Mr Robert Parker, a cooper, in the entry of the house, and wickedly stabbed him in the neck with a knife, in so desperate a man ner that he died immediately. When he returned to the house he abused several, and broke another man's arm. A file of musqueteers was sent for, who conducted the murderer to the guard-house, where he was confined till next day, when he was committed to Newgate. The coroner's inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder. September 28th, Ewan Macdonald was executed on the town moor, Newcastle, pursuant to his sentence at the assizes. This most unfortunate young man, who was only nineteen years of age, appeared all the time of his confinement deeply affected with a true sense of his guilt, and regretted much the murdered person, whom he declared to have taken no part in the quarrel between him and another man named Parker, and who was also a cooper; but at the gallows his behaviour in endeavouring to throw the executioner from off the ladder, was unbecoming one just on the brink of eternity; however, as it was generally and justly believed that he had been grossly irritated to the perpetration of the crime for which he suffered, his unhappy end was pitied by every one. His body was taken to the Surgeons' hall,* with a Danish army, and had seized upon King Ethelred's kingdom. King Ethelred had departed from the country, and had gone south to Valland. The same autumn that King Olaf came to England, it happened that King Swend died suddenly in the night in his bed; and it is said by Englishmen that Edmund the Saint killed him, in the same way that the holy Mercurius had killed the apostate Julian. When Ethelred, the king of the English, heard this in Flanders, he returned directly to England; and no sooner was he come back, than he sent an invitation to all the men who would enter into his pay, to join him in recovering the country. Then many people flocked to him; and among others came King Olaf with a great troop of Northmen to his aid. They steered first to London, and sailed into the Thames with their fleet; but the Danes had a castle within. On the other side of the river is a great trading place, which is called Sudrviki [Southwark]. There the Danes had raised a great work, dug large ditches, and within had built a bulwark of stone, timber, and turf, where they had stationed a strong army. King Ethelred ordered a great assault: but the Danes defended themselves bravely, and King Ethelred could make nothing of it. Between the castle and Southwark there was a bridge, so broad that two waggons could pass each other apon it. On the bridge were raised barricades, both towers and wooden parapets, in the direction of the river, which were nearly breast high; and under the bridge were piles driven into the bottom of the river. Now when the attack was made the troops stood on the bridge everywhere, and defended themselves. King Ethelred was very anxious to get possession of the bridge, and he called together all the chiefs to consult how they should get the bridge broken down. Then said King Olaf he would attempt to lay his fleet along side of it, if the other ships would do the same. It was then determined in this THE TRIUMPH OF ETHELRED, OR council that they should lay their war and there dissected." "June 30. Died at Bath, John Bacon, of Northumberland, Esq., F.R.S. and F.S.A., and governor of Bethlehem and Bridewell hospitals, to the former of which he gave, a short time before his death, 1007. in South Sea annuities, to begin a foundation for the support of incurables, for whom there was no provision. A few hours before his death, he desired his friends to put him in his coffin with his best wig on his head, a ruffled shirt, and stone buttons in the sleeves, a small ring on his finger, a laced waistcoat, and a plain coat, with black velvet breeches, a new pair of pumps with stone buckles, and a clean pair of white stockings; that he might be privately interred in the abbey church; and that his servants might support his pall in their liveries, all which was performed." "September 2. The new style was adopted in Great Britain, by which the day immediately succeeding was called the 13th of that month." THE FALL OF LONDON BRIDGE. THE Chronicle of the Kings of Norway,' as translated from the Icelandic of Snorro Sturleson, gives an animated sketch of some of the wars of England. Not the least singular is the following: : "Swend Forked Beard was in England *"It was said that after the body was taken to the Surgeons' hall, and placed ready for dissection, that the surgeons were called to attend a case at the Infirmary, who, on their return, found Macdonald so far recovered as to be sitting up; he immediately begged for mercy, hut a young surgeon, not wishing to be disappointed of the dissection, seized a wooden mall with which he deprived him of life. It was further reported, as the just vengeance of God, that this young man was soon after killed in the stable by his own horse. They used to show a mall at the Surgeons' hall as the identical one used by the surgeon." King forces under the bridge; and each made |