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four or five million miles of it, at which position the stone, supposing it to be partially vaporized, therefore enlarged, by the heat to which it is subjected in its near and frequent approaches to the sun, as is supposed of the comets, might be seen as a shooting star,' moving in the direction of the earth's movement on her axis. The earth, in her second subsequent revolution, will have passed the same crossing point two or three hundred thousand miles when the stone has arrived there in its twenty-first revolution;

so that this will be seen shooting in a direction contrary to that of the earth's rotation. Now, allowing for the deviations from a direct line to which the stone must be subject in its passage among the planets and asteroids, it might come so near the earth, in the second case especially, as to fall a meteorite into her embrace. Question: Whether we shall not be claimed as supporters of the Lunar Theory, notwithstanding our demonstrations of its falsity?

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Needles No. 18. Cast on 80 stitches, knit 24 rounds, 2 pearl and 2 plain alternately. Knit 43 plain rounds, or two inches in length, with a seam-stitch. Increase three stitches on second round (see page 9). Now do the intakes:

2 intakes with 6 rounds between each. 3 intakes with 7 rounds between each. 2 intakes with 8 rounds between each. the seam-and reduces the stocking to 69. Knit 14 This makes 14 intakes altogether-7 on each side of inches plain for length of ankle. Divide the stitches, placing 17 on each side of seam-stitch, and leaving 34 for front of the foot. Knit 23 rows for the heel, plain and pearl alternately, for I inch: then knit the top according to directions (see page 6) and pick up the stitches for the foot, till there are 24 on each side of the seam, 7 being for the gusset. When the gusset is done there ought to be 69 stitches on. Knit 2 together at back of foot to reduce it to an even number. Knit 33 rounds plain, or 1 inches in length. Knit the toe (see page 8) and cast off with 10 stitches on each side of the foot.

STOCKING KNITTERS' MANUAL.-(Edin- | task of knitting baby's stockings, or their own burg: Johnstone, Hunter, & Co.)- For the it may be; for equally distinct directions are benefit of our lady-readers, who may desire to given in both cases, and apropos, as we shall blend the useful art of stocking-knitting with not injure the writer's interest by quoting one the more elegant occupations of the work-table, at length (reference being necessary to some of we beg to introduce Mrs. George Cupple's the foregone pages), we copy one for an infant's little work, the directions in which are very stocking, knitted with merino wool: clearly given, and cannot fail to explain even to a learner all the mystery of shaping a stocking. There was a time in this country when young ladies learned to knit as a necessary branch of womanly education. The invention of the stocking loom, by "William Lee, of Calverton, in the county of Nottingham, gent," though unpatented for some time after its discovery, eventually introduced frame-work-knit stockings into general use, and hand-knitting took sanctuary in Ireland and the Channel-Islands, where it flourishes to this day, or ensconced itself in the ingle-nook, under the fosterage of sixty-years-old housewives, the pleasant and profitable industry of aged hands and failing eyes; for even the blind can be taught to knit, and find a pleasure in the rapid clicking of the needles and the growth of the soft work beneath their hands. As late as the days of Mrs. Delany, stocking-knitting engaged the attention of ladies of rank and fashion; and the embroidering of the gold or silver clocks on them is often referred to in Lady Llanover's amusing diary of that lady. In our own early days it lingered in many homes, and was (as we have said) the prerogative and special work of the aged. There was, and should be still, if justice were done to the art, a prejudice in favour of these home-made stockings, which in warmth and durability far excel the woven ones, and are, moreover, when worn-out or over-mended, capable of complete renovation; for the foot can be removed, the stitches taken up, and heel and gussets and toe reknitted. Nothing that we buy now can equal the hand-knit lambs'-wool socks of our childhood, that rendered cold feet impossible, and were in themselves a remedy for chilblains. The very sight of Mrs. Cupple's patterns are sufficient to make notable mothers long to set about the

There, though we confess to practical ignorance of the intakes, gussets, &c., it seems to us that we can see the little stocking grow and shape itself into the desired form as we read the simplywritten receipt; and to those who are conversant with the accomplishment of knitting the directions, which include patterns for every sized stocking, plain, ribbed, or rose-leaved, &c., will be most easily comprehended.

SCIENCE MADE EASY.

LECTURES TO THE WORKING-CLASSES

The above is the title of a letter addressed by Thomas Twining, Esq., to the Secretary of the Labourers' Friend Society, in reference to hel

lectures written to explain and illustrate the "Science of Common Life," exemplified in the diagrams, models, specimens, &c., collected in this gentleman's Economic Museum, at Twickenham, to which the attention of our readers was repeatedly called at the period of its foundation. We are glad to learn from this letter, which is well worthy the attention of all who have the improvement of the working classes at heart, that this museum, "intended to illustrate the application of science to daily life," has proved a step in the right direction; and that a series of lectures, "prepared on the same principles, and intended to propagate at a distance the instruction it is designed to impart," have been listened to, and received with real interest by the class for whose special advantage the museum has been founded and the lectures written. The scope of instruction included in the lectures, as well as in the museum, is best described in Mr. Twining's own words:

other schools, are lamentably deficient in the art of applying the information and precepts contained in them to the ordering and management of their own homes and income. As a means to this end, and as supplementing the intention of Mr. Twining's Museum of Domestic Economy at Twickenham, or rather of extending its service, the series of five popular lectures have been written, to which we referred at the commencement of this notice. For the benefit of others who are endeavouring to improve the condition of the working-classes-and desire to advantage themselves of these lectures-we may add that, unless an institution can afford to undertake some portion of the expenses without inconvenience, Mr. Twining will take charge of everything except placards and advertisements, only desiring the prospect of a workingclass audience of not less than 300 persons, in a suitable meeting-place. Programmes containing a full syllabus are provided, and the lectures are constantly kept in type; so that an alteration of the title-page, and change of date, is I include, under Domestic Economy, the study of all that is necessary to prepare them for any all that constitutes a comfortable home, and of every place in which they may be required. The lecappropriate resource that may contribute to life's tures comprise, first, an introductory explanarational enjoyment; whilst under Sanitary Economy tion of the scope and importance of domestic I comprise public and personal hygiene: that is to and sanitary economy, or the science of comsay, all those practical applications of science, by mon life, and of the necessity for preparatory which good health may be maintained, indifferent knowledge of the elementary sciences, on the health may be improved, accidents and injuries application of which it is founded; secondly, a may be avoided, and suffering of any kind may be alleviated. Now domestic economy (or the science continuation of the foregoing, including the of comfort) and sanitary economy (or the science of mechanical forces in their application to daily health) are so intimately connected-so consonant in life; thirdly, practical notions of aerostatics, their principles, and so interwoven in their practice-hydrostatics, and acoustics; fourthly, light and that it is indispensable to treat them as one science, heat; fifthly, elementary outlines of chemisthe Science of Common Life, in order to teach, in a try. satisfactory way, how dwellings should be constructed and internally arranged to promote health and comfort; what Reason has to say on the article of dress; what principles preside over the selection and preparation of food; how one may distinguish things which are genuine, wholesome, substantial, durable, and really cheap, from those which are cheap only in appearance, &c., &c.

Great aims these, and as wise as they are beneficent; for we think with the writer that "it is high time energetic steps were taken to secure to the British mechanic advantages in the way of scientific and technical instruction equal to those enjoyed by his continental brethren, and thus enable him to sustain, in spite of the high price of the necessaries of life in this country, and of the free importation of foreign manufacturing products, a creditable and remunerative competition." This appears the more practicable, since (as is stated) there are few trades in which the action of scientific principles has not prepared the minds of the working men to receive and appreciate instruction when offered-a hopeful condition that may, in time, be extended to their wives and daughters, who, notwithstand ing the many elementary books on household economics, thrown broadcast in national and

The best proof, perhaps, of how earnestly and thoughtfully these lectures are received, may be gathered from the fact that, at the Workingman's Club, established by Miss Adeline Cooper, in Old Pye-street, Westminster, one of these lectures (that on "Light and Heat") was read to an audience chiefly made up of costermongers. It had been thought that the audience would not be equal to more than one scientific lecture; but, after hearing it, the men wished the whole series should be given, and the one previously read repeated in its place. The lectures have also been read at the hall at the Lambeth Baths to a mixed audience, which amounted to 800 on the first evening, and increased to 1,300 on the last.

These facts speak loudly for the interest of the lectures, and of the desire of the people to benefit by them, and entirely bears out the opinion expressed by the author of the letter before us, "that there are, in our working population, sterling qualities of great promise-germs of thoughtful improvement, which only want judicious fostering and disinterested guidance, to produce results of infinite value for their physical and social welfare-I might add, also for their industrial position, as compared with that of the working populations of other manufacturing and commercial countries."

LIST OF PETITIONS PRESENTED TO PARLIA-
MENT FOR THE ENFRANCHISEMENT OF
QUALIFIED WOMEN.

On March the 28th, a petition praying that the suffrage might be granted to unmarried women and widows, duly qualified in all respects except that of sex, was presented by the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce. The petition was signed by 3, 559 persons of all classes. We observe among the printed list of persons who signed, the names of 1 Dean, 5 Professors, 26 Fellows of Colleges at Oxford and Cambridge, of whom 11 are Clergymen, 16 Clergymen not Fellows, 6 Queen's Counsels, and 11 Physicians. There are also the names of several landed proprietors, and of a considerable number of literary and professional women. The great bulk of signatures are those of married women and of unmarried ones who are not householders. The signatures of this petition were collected by the London Ladies' Franchise Committee.

A petition to the same effect was presented at the same time from Dumfries signed by 34 per

sons.

On the 5th of April, a petition praying that the suffrage should be granted to qualified women, was presented by Mr. J. Stuart Mill, to which 3,161 signatures, collected by the Manchester Committee, were attached.

prietors of considerable landed property; others are the freeholders of much more than to the value of 40s. Among the householders, some pay high rents for leasehold houses; others maintain themselves by their intelligence and industry, as shopkeepers, &c.

On the 11th of April the Edinburgh petition received the signatures of 8 Professors, 18 was presented, and we are informed that it Ministers, 14 Lawyers, 10 Officers, 10 Physicians, 2 Artists, a few landed proprietors and farmers, a good many influential citizens, and 800 ladies possessing the property qualification, amounting in all to 2,849 signatures.

On the same day Mr. Mill presented a second petition from Manchester, signed by 246 women fulfilling all the conditions required by law from Parliamentary electors, praying for the electoral franchise. Also a supplementary petition, signed by men and unqualified women, praying for the admission of women to the franchise on the same conditions as men. The total number of signatures attached to the various petitions from Manchester is 4,200, about

half of which are those of women.

Among the names of the gentlemen we find 43 Fellows of Colleges, 4 University Dignitaries other than Fellows, 24 Clergymen of the Church of England, 5 Dissenting Ministers, 4 Physicians and Surgeons, and 2 Barristers.

A petition was presented at the same time by the Right Hon. Russell Gurney, signed by A petition for the same object was also pre1,605 unmarried women and widows possessing sented on the 11th of April by Mr. Walgrave the legal qualifications of an elector, who prayed Leslie, M.P. for Hastings, from Mr. Heywood that they might be admitted to the franchise. and others, but we do not know the number of These signatures had been collected from dif-signatures attached to it. The total number of ferent parts of the Kingdom, 757 were sent through the Edinburgh Franchise Committee, 655 through the London Committee, and 193 through the Manchester Committee. Some of the ladies who signed this petition are the pro

signatures attached to petitions presented up to April 13th was 12,247 (not counting the petition from Hastings), and it was believed that more were in the course of preparation.-Supplement, Englishwoman's Review.

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