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eggs, every one of which must be hatched; yet, as even the brooding mother flits occasionally from the nest to pick a scanty meal, and then returns with double ardour to her task, so our indefatigable maiden seizes the hasty opportunity, whenever it occurs, if it be but for a moment, to steal out and exchange a word or a look with the youth of her choice, and feel as if there was something in life worth living for, to the poorest of its possessors: and so there is. Preliminaries are soon arranged, where being thrice asked at church is all the legal formality required: they are married, and she has a home of her own, such as it is; but she is charmed with being mistress of herself; and, heedless of the future, she and her husband are as well off as other folks, and, like them, their children are multiplied, and so are their troubles."

If the Servant Girl in London should be reprinted, we recommend the author to devote a whole chapter to dress, an excess of which is too fondly indulged among servants of every description, and is one of the blessings of factitious manufactures. More should also be said of savings banks, which have, doubtless, proved the mainstay of this restless age. And it would be as well if all reference to "noble articles" in certain magazines, as well as to the sagacity and benevolence of "celebrated" houses, were altogether eschewed, and left to the more honest discrimination of the public. Foreign words should also be avoided: "comestibles," which is employed here, rather than convey to a servant girl an idea of provisions, would put her in mind of a match or a spark!

MR. BUNN'S "STAGE."

[THE following amusing waifs and strays from this very attractive work, will, doubtless, be acceptable.]

Promising Elliston.

Sheridan called Elliston, the first time he saw him, "a promising young man.' It was on the occasion of Elliston's appearance in Charles Surface, at Drury Lane theatre. Sheridan sat in his box, Sam Spring, the box-keeper, standing behind him; and when Elliston, at the sale of the family pictures, said, "This is painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, after his best manner, and is esteemed a formidable likeness," Sheridan exclaimed, "Pooh! pooh! what does the fellow mean? I wrote in his "best manner, and not after it—a man can't paint AFTER HIS OWN MANNER-but he's a promising young man, Sam-promising young man." I had this from Spring's own lips.

Talleyrand.

A creditor, to whom the Prince was indebted in a heavy sum, waited upon him as he was setting off on his last departure liberty as to ask for his money, but merely for this country-not to take so great a to ascertain any time, however remote, when he might presume to ask for a part inquisitive intruder, was, of it. The diplomatist's only reply to the "Monsieur,

vous êtes bien curieux ;" and no one but

the diplomatist could have made such a reply. Fishing at Brocket.

July 20.-Went down to Brocket, on a fishing excursion, with that pleasant and gentlemanly brother of the rod, and patentee of chop-suppers, Mr. Duruset.

July 21.-Fishing all day, from cockcrow until sun-down. Is it not passing strange, that a man possessing so delightful a domain as Brocket, to sustain which he hath ample means, should consent to take upon himself the government of a country for which he hath No means? But Brocket is a fine place, and Byron, my Lord, hath been here, and poor Lady Caroline!! And then its waters have noble fish in them; and, it is too bad to abuse the man who allows you to pull them up; but, alas! &c. &c.

The Duke of Wellington.

A nobleman ventured, in a moment of conviviality at his Grace's table, to put this question to him: "Allow me to ask, as we are all here tiled, if you were not SURPRISED at Waterloo?" To which the Duke responded, "No-but I am now."

The Mysterious Packet.

On reaching the theatre, on Tuesday evening, March 12, 1839, I found on my desk a very small brown paper parcel, addressed "To A. Bun, Sqr.," looking very dirty and very suspicious, and weighing, wherewithal, sufficiently heavy as to increase such suspicion. The town had, at that moment, been partly astonished, and partly amused, by "Madame Vestris's infernal machine," and the narrow escape the party had who first opened it. Having no desire for any similar experiment, I hesitated in unfolding this mysterious packet, more particularly when my messenger described the dingy-looking fellow that left it at the stage-door, with an injunction that it was "to be delivered into Mr. Bunn's own hands." However, overcoming any apprehensions of gunpowder, and setting whatever of the combustible it might contain to the amount of a mere squib, I sent for my under-treasurer, and, in his presence, opened some half dozen pieces of paper, each tightly bound by

some half dozen pieces of string, and mouth, to board the enemy. Doyle likewise

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I began to think that this was the contribution of some eccentric supporter of Drury Lane, anxious to reward its manager's exertions, yet, with a rooted modesty,

anxious to conceal his name: but such an occurrence was so totally without precedent, that I gave up that conjecture in utter hopelessness. Then I bethought me of more than one performer who had literally robbed me to such an extent; and pondered over the probability of this being a return thereof, arising out of a touch of conscience; but, as what little consciences most of them have got, are very seldom touched, I abandoned that surmise with even a greater degree of despair than I first of all entertained it. By whom it was sent, or for whom it was sent, I am totally unable to tell: it was added to the general receipt of the exchequer, for the benefit of all those having any claim on it; though the chances are it was forwarded for my own individual advantage. The donor is hereby thanked, be he or she, whoever he or she may; and I can only say, if many more such had made their appearance, the disasters of Drury Lane theatre would have been obviated, or provided against.

Obituary.

DIED, at Stoke, Devon, aged eighty-four, Mr. William Doyle, late a superannuated boatswain of Her Majesty's navy. This venerable man was, we believe, the last survivor of the companions of Captain Cook. Doyle entered the navy when young, and, in 1776, sailed from Devonport with Cook, in the Resolution, joined by Captain Clerke, in the Discovery, on the third and last voyage of the great circumnavigator. Doyle was coxswain of the boat at Owhyhee, Sandwich Islands, when Captain Cook was killed, on February 14, 1777; and he was accustomed to narrate a vivid recollection of the details of the unfortunate affray with the natives. Doyle was, also, boatswain of the Blanche, in her desperate fight with the Pique, in the West Indies, where her gallant commander, Captain Faulkner, lost his life, and his brave first lieutenant, now Admiral Watkins, swam, with his sword in his

served in the Atlas, in which ship he lost the sight of his right eye, and the other was afterwards injured in his service in the Magnificent. He was wrecked in the Crocodile, and was eight hours in the water, but, by his exertions, saved the lives of several persons, at Salcombe Sands, among whom were Lady Berkeley and her three children. He subsequently served in the Bienfaisant, and was pensioned from that ship in 1800, on account of his blindness; and, in the hope of regaining his sight by the air of the west, he settled at Devonport, where he remained till the time of his death. Doyle was a man of somewhat rare attainments for his station. He was boatswain in the ship which conveyed Sir William Jones to India, in 1783; who, perceiving Doyle to possess an aptitude for learning, took much notice of him, and had him taught mathematics. He appears to have been the delight of his neighbours at Devonport, to whom he was accustomed to relate many extraordinary adventures of his life. On one occasion, while with Captain Cook, he accompanied a party on shore; but, on their return to the ship, Doyle was missing, and his shipmates, after every possible search, gave him up as lost, and there was some reason to fear, from the habits of the natives, that he had been murdered. Some time after, he was seen strolling on the beach, and on his being brought off to the ship, he resembled, in appearance, a native chief. He then related that, having strayed from his companions, he fell into the hands of the natives, and was carried off by them; but, fortunately, finding favour in the eyes of one of the daughters of the chief, his life was spared. He was tattooed as one of the "royal family," and lived happily enough for some days, until he saw three prisoners taken and roasted for a feast! (This may be suspected to be an embellishment of the old tar's, as stories of cannibalism, we hope, for the credit of humanity, often are.) This circumstance convinced Doyle that his safety might not be very lasting, and he contrived to escape. Doyle used also to relate that, once, while on a foreign station, having unfortunately remained on shore, after orders to return to the ship, too late for the last boat, he determined to swim to his ship, commanded by Captain Holloway; but, by some mishap, he mistook her, and got on board the Pegasus, then commanded by the Duke of Clarence. Doyle was ordered to be flogged; but all hands were so surprised at his ornamented body, that he was turned ashore, and next morning the matter was explained to the Duke, who ever after befriended Doyle.

He was severely wounded on several occasions, but his nearest escape was in an affray with a party of Primitive Methodists, who were expounding their doctrines during a revel at Stoke, when the boatswain received two severe wounds in the head.Abridged from the Devonport Telegraph.

Varieties.

Queen Adelaide's new Church of St. Paul, (engraved in the Literary World, No. 39,) is rising in beauty over the quarantine harbour at Malta, one of the most graceful elevations which that picturesque city can boast of. It has now advanced, under the hands of Mr. Lancashire, as high as the tops of the windows, and gives pleasing promise of what it will be, when completed. The material employed in the structure, is a fine sandstone, of dazzling purity. Since it has been brought to light, orders have been received for its export to Athens, Smyrna, and Constantinople; and five or six large vessels are at present engaged in conveying it thither at a freight of two dollars a ton, as a very superior building material, not only for the substance of houses, decorated façades, &c., (being very easily wrought,) but as paving stones for floors, above stairs as well as below, to supersede the tiles and ordinary flags hitherto employed in those towns. This stone splits readily, and, when freshly used, can be cut with facility into the desired shape. The Maltese form floors, of a pleasing, cool, and neat appearance, with it, which they preserve from stains by a very simple application at the outset-allowing it to imbibe a slight superficial coat of olive oil. This completely preserves the colour, and, (on the principle of the

vinous stains; so that it retains its character of decus et tutamen until fairly worn out.-Private Correspondence; Times.

Pleasant Virtue.-If good people would but make goodness agreeable, and smile instead of frown in their virtue, how many would they win to their cause.-Usher.

Overburthened Memory.-Remember that even Atlas was weary. Have as much reason as a camel, to rise when thou hast thy full load. Memory is like a purse, if it be over full that it cannot shut, all will drop out.-Fuller.

On the 11th. inst. in Duke-street, Westminster, in his seventieth year, John Rickman, Esq., the second clerk at the table of the House of Commons. Mr. Rickman was of liberal education, and enjoyed the society of some of the first scholars and ablest men of the day, amongst whom Southey may be named as an instance. He was the author of the prefaces and arrangements of the Population Abstracts and Returns (1831,) and of various other valuable parliamentary and statistical documents; in which labours he rendered those matters readable, and even attractive, which were, apparently, of the driest and most uninviting character. As an instance of Mr. lithographic process,) excludes all watery and Rickman's powers of application, it is related that, after the returns of the census of 1831, so intent was he upon his prefatory Abstracts, or results, that, for six weeks or two months previous to their completion, he was accustomed to work at them till each morning he heard the Abbey chimes strike three. Prior to his appointment to the table of the House of Commons, Mr. Rickman was private secretary to Mr. Abbott, when that gentleman was Secretary of State for Ireland, in the year 1801. Upon the elevation of Mr. Abbott to the peerage, as Baron Colchester, in 1817, Mr. Rickman prepared and printed, for private circulation only, the different addresses of the Speaker on delivering the thanks or reprimands of the House, preceded by an interesting preface. He also prepared, for the Committee on Parliamentary Printing, a biographical sketch of Luke Hansard, the father of Parliamentary Printing. Mr. Rickman was likewise the author of the Life of Telford, the engineer, which is prefixed to the splendid account of his works. Mr. Rickman was a relative of Clio Rickman, "but he was at no pains to make that fact known." He had closely attended to his duties till within six weeks of his death, which was caused by a swelling or gathering in the neck: his sufferings were great, but he died with firmness and resignation. His salary was £2,000 a year, as fixed by the Treasury, on the revision of the officers' duties. He will be succeeded by Mr. W. Ley, heretofore third clerk, and brother of Mr. John Ley, the first, or rather, "clerk at the Table," who, it being a patent place, has the appointment of the third clerk.-Abridged from the Morning

Herald.

Stage Propriety.-The following anecdote shews to what nicety our Continental neighbours carry stage effect. At Vienna, Madame Handel Schütz had just been playing Maria Stuart, and complained to Schröder of exhaustion. "The poetry of the piece," observed the latter, "is certainly calculated to excite one's feelings very strongly." "Oh !" replied Schütz," it is not the words that have fatigued me; but I was obliged to remain, throughout that long scene, fixed in the attitude in which Vandyke has painted the Queen."

A Puzzle.-Von Raumer notes: "At Grätz, the

handsomest object I saw, was the maid who waited

on us at the inn; to enter into conversation with her was a matter of some difficulty; not so much on account of the difference between our age, as of the much greater difference between her German and mine."

Advantages of Early Training.-The following dialogue is reported to have passed at the Queen's County Assizes, between a medical witness and a barrister. Mr. Hayes, (the barrister :) "If a person lying on wet straw were deprived of all the comforts or necessaries of life, would it not hasten death?" Dr. Edge: "That would greatly depend on whether they had been accustomed to them." Mr. Hayes: "Do you mean to tell us that if a person lived in a horsepond, it would not be injurious to him?" Edge: "I think not, if he had lived for sixty or seventy years in it.'

Dr.

The Sailor and the Actress.-"When I was a poor girl," said the Duchess of St. Albans, "working very hard for my thirty shillings a week, I went down to Liverpool during the holidays, where I was always kindly received. I was to perform in a new piece, something like those pretty little affecting dramas

they get up now at our minor theatres; and in my character I represented a poor, friendless, orphan

girl, reduced to the most wretched poverty. A heartless tradesman prosecutes the sad heroine for a heavy debt, and insists on putting her in prison, unless some one will be bail for her. The girl replies, 'Then I have no hope, I have not a friend in the world.' 'What! will no one be bail for you, to save you from prison? asks the stern creditor. "I have told you I have not a friend on earth,' was my reply. But just as I was uttering the words, I saw a sailor in the upper gallery springing over the railing, letting himself down from one tier to another, until he bounded clear over the orchestra and footlights, and placed himself beside me in a moment: "Yes you shall have one friend at least, my poor young woman,' said he, with the greatest expression in his honest, sunburnt countenance, 'I will go bail for you to any amount. And as for you, (turning to the frightened actor,) if you don't bear a hand and shift your moorings, you lubber, it will be worse for you when I come athwart your bows." Every creature in the house rose; the uproar was perfectly indescribable; peals of laughter, screams of terror, cheers from his tawny messmates in the gallery; preparatory scrapings of violins from the orchestra; and, amidst the universal din, there stood the unconscious cause of it, sheltering me, 'the poor distressed young woman,' and breathing defiance and destruction against any mimic persecutor. He was only persuaded to relinquish his care of me by the manager's pretending to arrive and rescue me, with a profusion of theatrical bank notes."

Scott Monument, at Edinburgh.-(Engraved in the Literary World, No. 1.)-The foundation-stone of this interesting memorial was laid, with Masonic honours, on Saturday last, in Prince's street Gardens, opposite St. David's-street. The statue will be executed by Mr. Steell, for £2,000; and the cost of the whole memorial will be £12,200; towards which, the sum of £9,500 has been collected. It should be explained, that by this increased expenditure, the dimensions of the building will be materially increased.

Lighthouses.-The number of lighthouses of the British islands alone was, in 1836, about 200.Official List.

Oddity. A publican at Highgate Hill advertises as the attractions of his house: "A glass of really good old ale. Pic-nic and other parties accommodated. The cemetery and surrounding truly grand scenery render it a delightful rural spot. N. B. Pure Glenlivet whisky," &c.

Suicides in July.-It appears from inquiries instituted, that in the course of last month, no fewer than sixty cases of self-destruction occurred in London and its suburbs; of which twenty were by poison, twelve by throat-cutting, five by shooting, and the remainder by cases of hanging and drowning.-Times.

Ancient Musical Instrument.-The Welsh shepherd, in some districts, still retains his pib-gorn, or pastoral pipe. His dress was, formerly, remarkable: a crook, covered with characters intelligible only to himself, a conic cap made of rushes, and loose jacket. These, with ria ro, or cry, were necessary to the completion of the character of the Cambrian shepherd.

Bethnal Green New Churches.-The parish of Bethnal Green has a population of 70,000 souls, with church accommodation for scarely 5,000 persons. It is, therefore, proposed to divide this populous parish into ten additional districts, and to provide each with a church, a resident minister, and schools. This is as it should be; for religion and education must ever go hand-in-hand. The expense of this provision will be £75,000; towards which, (including grants,) has been raised £48,363; leaving a deficiency of nearly £27,000; towards which, a large sum has been contributed. In the list occurs the following entry: "From one who would gladly have been present at the laying of the first stone of the first of the new churches, per the Rev. G. B. Hayley, £500."

Turkish Schools.-The only schools where the European system of education was introduced by the late Sultan to a considerable extent, were those at Dolma Baghtcheh and Scutari, in the vicinity of Constantinople. In each of these are school-rooms upon the Lancasterian plan, and lecture-rooms. With the school at Dolma Baghtcheh are connected a printing and lithographic press, an hospital, and bookbindery. European maps, with the names rewritten in Turkish characters, are suspended on the walls; and the apartments are furnished with globes, orreries, and most of the ordinary apparatus for instruction.-Southgate's Travels.

Bude Light.-Since the introduction of the Bude Light into the Trinity light-houses, the insurance on steamers on the voyage to Scotland, which used formerly to be at the rate of seven shillings per cent., has been reduced to five shillings, and, in some instances, to three shillings and nine-pence.

A Double.-The following formula, by which the Persians seek to avoid the imputation of calling Ali divine, savours strongly of the impiety which they would avoid :

I do not believe that Ali is God,

Nor do I believe he is far from God.

Primitive Culture.-At Trebizond, so rude is the agriculture, that the plough is made of two or three pieces of wood. In this case, a piece of timber, pointed at one end, forms the share; in the other end, an upright stake stands for the handle; and from near their point of junction runs a third piece over the share, which serves for the shaft. The share penetrates the earth only a few inches.Southgate's Travels.

Dried Mulberries, warmed in honey, are a delicious Turkish dish.

Temperature, on Sunday, August 2, at Hampstead, on the verge of the hill, at a point above Jack Straw's Castle highest point of the thermometer, in the sun, 123°; Aug. 3, 130°; Aug. 4, 124°; Aug. 5, 121o; Aug. 6, 1290 On Monday, the 10th, the highest point, in the shade, was 93°.

London and Birmingham Railway.-The total expenditure, to June 30 last, was £5,698,375; the actual parliamentary capital being £5,500,000. To meet any surplus, however, the Company is entitled to raise £250,000.

Railway Returns.-The following are the returns of the undernamed railways, during one week of the present month :

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1,207 3 9

5,570 19

960 14 3 6

London and Greenwich London and Croydon........ Liverpool and Manchester... London and South Western... 7,626 5 4 Abridged from the Railway Times. The Nelson Column is to be erected, as originally proposed, in Trafalgar Square; but it will not be so high, by thirty feet, as first contemplated. Bailey is engaged upon the statue, of Portland stone, for 1,000 guineas. Lough is to execute the lions for the pedestal.

Fall of Paris.-When the Allied Army entered Paris-what a day of triumph!-the Royal Regiment, leading the way, struck up. "the Fall of Paris." An order was immediately given to put a stop to it, and, on being desired to play a Scotch air, they changed it to " Croppies lie down."-United

Service Journal.

LONDON: Published by GEORGE BERGER, Holywell Street, Strand. Printed by WHITEHEAD & Co. 76, Fleet Street, where all Communications for the Editor may be addressed.

A JOURNAL OF POPULAR INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT. CONDUCTED BY JOHN TIMBS, ELEVEN YEARS EDITOR OF "THE MIRROR."

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