rily produce evil.

One of the members of Government, only a very short time since, said that monster trains were monster evils. He alluded to the immoral influence they produced on society. This was a sweeping condemnation, which cannot be borne out by facts. Excursions such as those above alluded to may occasionally unsettle some mind, and make it discontented with its present lot. That is not the fault of the means,but the man. Such an objection might be brought, and has been brought, against all other means which tend to morally elevate and socially advance the people. But I must admit that those trips and parties have tended to foster drinking habits and intemperance. Intem. perance has been the principal thing which has blotted their name and marred their utility. In the morning the men and women of the party look fresh and gay, in the evening many of them are tipsy and drunk. Hence arise differences, broils, fights, and accidents. I could mention a great number of instances where circumstances of the most calamitous character have arisen in connexion with excursion parties, through drinking. But after all, pleasure trips do not produce the drinking system. People from time immemorial have been accustomed to drink more than usual on holiday occasions. We foolishly make some kind of alcoholic liquor the medium through which we show hospitality and generousness of feeling. These liquors are deceptive; they invade the senses unawares, and sometimes undermine the will without giving notice.

There is something encouraging and delightful in seeing those parties going from town to country, and from country to town in our own land; but when we see them going from land to land, there is something about them of a higher social and historical importance. When we see Frenchmen in hundreds coming to England, and Englishmen going to France; when we see the railway and the steam engine made servants for international visits, and when such visits tend to the removal of misunderstandings between nations which have for ages been divided by war, we may then say that cheap excursion parties answer the noblest purpose.

Such a state of things has already commenced. It was begun by the Peace Reformers, who held a Peace Congress in Brussels in the latter part of 1848. It was followed up by several hundreds of the national guards of Paris, who came to London a short time after. Subsequent to that, hundreds of Englishmen have visited the French capital in a body, and were welcomed with all the honours which a courteous and an enthusiastic people could bestow. The national guard were treated in London, as if

149

Bonaparte never existed, and the English in France as if the names of Wellington and Waterloo were never uttered. These international excursion parties will increase and multiply. Foreigners will be flocking to our country, and our countrymen will be going in swarms to the great cities which stand on the banks of the Seine and the Rhine. By these means, men's minds will get enlightened, national prejudices will be worn away, unpleasant recollections oblivionized, international commerce will increase, and new social relationships based on mutual sympathy, and the highest reciprocal interests will spring into existence. Before such salutary influences, war and its associations must yield; and with war will perish many of the great obstacles which stand in the way of the improvement and happiness of our race.

It is not likely that cheap excursion parties will be confined even to crossing the Channel, and to visits to Germany, Belgium, and France. It is quite likely that we shall hear in the course of a short time, of cheap trips across the Atlantic. What a glorious sight to see 200 or 300 Americans riding over the waves of the great ocean on a holiday visit to England! or of 200 or 300 taking an autumn pleasure trip up the magnificent Hudson river! Neither, should I be surprised to hear by and bye of cheap trips to the Mediterranean, to Genoa, Rome, Venice, Alexandria, or Athens. Many more unlikely things than a Mediterranean excursion party have recently taken place. What a beautiful sight it would be to see a cargo of Englishmen leaving the Thames as a pleasure party bound to some of those old cities that saw their meridian glory, before England tasted the benefits of civilization. Only think of such a party, after having been knocked about in the Bay of Biscay, touching at Lisbon and then passing under the shadows of Gibraltar's Rock, then onwards spying the lands of Spain and Africa; then on the look-out for the isles which stud that glorious sea, and after having been freshened by the breeze, and inspired by the historical associations that cling so closely around almost every foot of land in that portion of the world, they spend a few days at Rome or Athens, and tread the ground which was once trodden by the Cæsars, or made everlastingly sacred by the presence of Socrates and Plato!

The secret of excursion parties is their cheapness, and cheapness is the result of association. I see in the principle of association, as applied merely to the transmission of persons from one part of the world of another, an important instrumentality to progress, and a fresh triumph of civilization.

EDITOR.

7

Curious.

HORSES FED ON FLESH.-The Gauls fed their oxen and horses with fish; and so did the Paconians, mentioned by Herodotus. Diomedes, king of Thrace, killed by Hercules, fed his mares with the flesh of miserable strangers, cut in pieces for the purpose, which made them so fierce and unmanageable, that they were obliged to be kept in stalls of brass, and tied up in iron chains.-Diodorus.

A SHARK STORY.-While the bark Annabella, Mr. John Paterson commander, was on her passage home from Trinidad to Clyde, on her last voyage, she was one day going through the

water at the rate of about three knots an hour, with a light wind, when a shark was observed following the vessel. The shark-hook was immediately called for, baited with a piece of pork and thrown over the side, when the shark at once seized hold of it, and was hooked. As is usual in such cases, a bowling-hitch was passed round the body of the shark by the mate, to secure it. While in the act of doing so, the mate, Mr. Dow, now commander of the same vessel, lost his balance, fell overboord, and caught hold of the back of the shark-thus both shark and man hung suspended by the rope. The master, seeing the imminent danger to which his mate was exposed, sprang overboard, taking hold of a rope in one hand, and grasping the mate by the other. At the moment in the struggle, the shark got clear of the hook, but before it had time to turn itself on its back, as it is under the necessity of doing before it can seize its prey, the master and mate were both drawn on deck by those on board. When the mate reached the deck he was pale as death, and almost speechless.-Glasgow Chronicle.

A

DEATH BY SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.-The following extraordinary occurrence is related in the Gazette de Tribuneaux:- A few days ago, in a tavern near the barriere de l'Etoile, a journeyman painter, named Xavier C, well known for his intemperate habits, while drinking with some comrades, laid a wager that he would eat a lighted candle. His bet was taken, and scarcely had he introduced the flaming candle into his mouth when he uttered a slight cry, and fell powerless to the ground. bluish flame was seen to flicker about his lips, and, on an attempt being made to render him assistance, the bye-standers were horrorstruck to find that he was burning internally. At the end of half an hour his head and the upper part of his chest were reduced to charcoal. Two medical men were called in, and declared that Xavier had fallen a victim to spontaneous combustion. This conflagration of the human frame is frightfully rapid in its progress; bones, skin, and muscles, all are devoured, consumed, and reduced to ashes. A handful of dust on the spot where the victim fell is all that remains.'

MOUNT LEBANON.-Assaad Yokoob Kayat, a native Syrian, in a speech at Exeter Hall, (May 16th, 1838,) remarked that he had lately visited Mount Lebanon, where he found the people as Jarge as giants, and very strong and active. They lived almost entirely on dates, and drank only water, and there were many among them 100 and 110 yeare of age. - Fruits and Farinacea.

Comical.

Terry Brent, fourteen months since, started for California, to dig a 'forten' for himself and Biddy. The following is extracted from his letter, dated January 8th.

St. Fransiskay.

BIDDY DARLIN.-I've been to the mines, bad luck to 'em; for sivin weeks, Biddy Acushla, I sarched the bowels of terry firmer for goold, ing on an empty stomick, not a rap of anything an all I got was dissentery, by reason ov workto ate for brick fast-the same for dinner-ditto for supper, an all the time throwing up mud and wather, which is mighty wakenin to the insides. Pitaytees was a dollar a lb., and no mate to be had but gristly bares, which is tuff customers in cow'd weather-The craythurs-I mane the gristly bares, cums down from the mountins with their arms intinded as if they would bid ye welkim, but the moment theyre foreninst ye, they grab ye-the traythors, and squaze the brith of life out if ye. Somehow the boys that went out in the same ship wid me, found goold galore, but niver as much as the vally of a wedding ring did Terry get for his trouble.

The wimen are the culer ov a dirty copper kittle, and have mighty few dry goods on their backs. Youl find it stated in the papers, Biddy, that the diggers are finding goold in quarts. Biddy, I never seed a lump ov goold yet that would fill a gill measure."

Dandies to make a greater show,

Wear coats stuck out with pad and puffing, But that you know is apropos

For what's a goose without the stuffing. NIGGER DEMUS.-A Nigger preacher very recently selected the visit of Nicodemus as the foundation of his observations. " My bred'ren" said he, " dere was in old times a great many preachers on de 'arth, who went about among de people. Many of dem was white preachers, such as Peter, James, and John. Dere was also a great many coloured preachers, and the greatest among dem all was Nigger Demus!"-New York Fuzzyguzzy.

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"Madam," said a snarling son of Esculapius, if women were admitted to paradise, their tongues would make it a purgatory."-" And some physicians if allowed to practise there," retorted the lady, "would soon make it a desert."

THE CAUSE OF IRELAND'S DISTRESS. To find out the cause of old Ireland's distress, The nobs of the nation are puzzling their wigs; But the cattle-show leads us to hazard this guess: The peasants are starving to fatten the pigs. While landlord has prizes at Dublin to win.

What matter potatoes and rubbish like that? Poor people of course must expect to get thin, When the farmer's obliged to make cattle so fat.

This explains the strange stories recorded with stress,

In The Times and all the papers you touch, While men die of hunger produced by distress, The pigs and the calves die of eating too much.-Punch.

8

Notices to Correspondents, &c

Editor's address: 16, Hardinge-streei, Islington. PRIZE POEM ON HOME.-From the first, our intimation to offer a prize for the best poem on Home has been hailed with almost uni

versal satisfaction. We received between eighty and ninety competing manuscripts. Among the lot were good, bad, and indifferent. On account of the many very good poems, the adjudicators, (the Editor of the Family Friend, Mr. Edmund Fry, and the Rev. J. B. Talbot) had considerable difficulty in deciding which was the best. After some time it was the opinion of two against one, that the poem bearing the motto of Si me lyricis ratibus inseris Sublimi feriam sidera vertice was the best. This, on opening the envelope which accompained the manuscript, was found to be written by John William Fletcher, 189, High-street, BishopWearmouth, Sunderland. We wish all the competitors distinctly to understand that every manuscript sent us, with the exception of two or three, which did not contain more than twenty or thirty lines each, were laid before and read by the adjudicators. We desire to return our warmest thanks to the many persons who felt sufficiently interested in the matter to become competitors. Every one could not gain the prize, but no one, we think, could try without gaining pleasure and profit from the required intellectual exercise.

AUTOGRAPHS.-As we expected, the page of autographs which appeared in the last number, has met with general approval. With the present number we give another page, which, we have no doubt, will be regarded with equal satisfaction. The autographs which appeared in the last impression were those of living men, the ones which enrich the present impression are those of the illustrions dead.

PORTRAITS.-In our first number we intimated our intention to occasionally give portraits of celebrated individuals. With the present number, it will be seen that we have given that of the Earl of Carlisle. We are making arrangements to give others with future numbers. We hope to have the pleasure of giving the portrait of Mrs. C. Balfour with

our next.

The prizes for the best essay on Elocution Classes, and for the best descriptive poem were awarded to the successful competitors in the large Hall of the Whittington Club, on the 20th ult. The prize for the best Essay was awarded to Mr. J. Patisson; and the prize for the best poem was awarded to Mr. E. Copping. The Essay will appear in our next number. It is an exceedingly good one, and reflects great credit on the writer. All members of elocution classes, and all cultivators of the beautiful and useful art of elocution, should procure Mr. Patisson's Essay. They will find in it a fund of reflection and useful suggestions, elegantly and strongly expressed.

We have only space to say that we have received "The way to Live," by Ultra; "How to make Home Happy," by Plastic; "Shrouds," by Edwin Paxton Hood, author of the "Age and its Architects;" "Science and Religion,"

by J. S. Hibberd; "Ideas relating to Ireland," by Matthew Lynch; "A Charade," by W. R.; "Lines for Good;" "The Orange Flowers," by G. R. Twinn; "An Echo," by Amelia Knight; "Childhood," and "The Blind Boy." by Henry Mence; "The Time will come when You must Trust Him," by C. M. A. Cowper; "The World's Treatment of its Reformers," by Col. Johnson; "The Two Concerts," by Harriette; "Moderation," by John Allan; "The Poet in Search of a Publisher," and 'Valedictory Stanza," by H. J. Daniel; "Extracts from Emerson," by J. B., Windsor; "Energies are Slumbering," by Robert Fisher; "The Brother and Sister," a Tale, by Miss E. M. Jones; "Education," by a schoolmaster; "The Power of the Pen," by Publicola the Younger; "Queries concerning the Church," by Isaac Pennington; "Sonnet," by Jeffries B. Collingwood, LL.D.; "Emigration and its Evils," by the author of "Who should and who should not Emigrate;" "The Pauper," by Joseph Brindle; "Thoughts on Reading," by the Rev. P. J. Wright; "Congregational Tea Parties," by Pro Bono Publico; "A Startling Objection calmly looked at," by the Hon. Sec. of the London Phonetic Society; "The Criminal and the Law," by Richard Bedingfield, author of "Madeline;" "May," by Minna; "The Usher," by John Allen, Pontefract, &c., &c.

We have also reeeived several questions and answers, and passages for translation, for the Student's Column.

A large number of correspondents, who have been kind enough to send suggestions, hint improvements, and express their wishes for our success, have our thanks.

A. B. C.-Though we cannot undertake to return the unsuccessful Tales and Essays, they may be had by calling at the office of The Public Good."

We are unable to answer a great many queries, and to insert several notices of books, in the present number, for want of room.

All books for review, and advertisements, to be sent in future to the Editor, "Public Good" office, 20, Paternoster Row.

"The Butterfly," "Sonnet on Progress," will, in all likelihood, appear in the supplementary number.

We have not, in this place, noticed several communications, as their writers have not in confidence sent us their names and addresses.

J. K., Nottingham-Yes; each impress on of "The Public Good" being stereotyped, either or all the back numbers may be had at any time.

We this month insert a column of couplets, which our intelligent readers will see we have chiefly selected from well-known authors. In future numbers we should be happy to insert original couplets, which our many intelligent contributors may send us. Composing couplets will be found to be a very interesting, intellectual pastime.

Mr. Copping's Prize Poem, (which is a good one) "The Great Unbidden," will appear in the supplementary number.

For particulars of the Prize Tale and Prize Essay see April number.

Controversial Page in our next.