SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1857. [Written for The Press.] SABBATH DAY THOUGHTS—No. 1. TEE BEGGAR AND THE CHRISTIAN. , ,BY DAYID.PAtn, BROTyif. ■ *Twas high communion! and within tho gato Of a proud tomplo, dedioato to God, A beggar-stood—a wrotchod, way-worn man; Aged and siok, ragged and wo-bogone, Scathad by the storms of more than eighty years, Ahd atretohing forth his palsiod, shrivelled hand, to the solemn throng .Bound for the altar of the living God, ■■Foricharitable alma, There! there ho stood, > Itrthe mute eloquence of pining want, .Appealing to & brother Christian’s love/ ■Within tno portals of God’B holy house. Aud still he stood, and hundreds passed him by Gorgeously olad, and though devoutly bont, ' Flaunting in silks and'dccked with nodding plumes, BodiszenM out with flowers and rioh array ■ That might have put all quarters of the globe In contribution and rich rivalry! Not oxb in that bright throng—alas! not oxe, •Piously bent.in aaorificeto God, And meek commemoration or tho, blood Shod by'Almighty and Redeeming Grace, Bestowed a tear, a thought, a passing glance, On this poor, feeble, houseless, squalid wretch. •No liberal hand, moved by a feeling heart, - .Administered relief! All seemed to shrink From this sud’remnant of mortality, And oft, I feared, in the anxiety of warm devotion, That some proud pbarisOe/ipTanbied virtue, i Might trample down this humble publican, In eager haste to his master’s bidding. , Who that beholds a teaching Sb'enedike this On the Lord's day—a day of sacrifice — Of Christian hope— of Cknstian penitence — But scorns his nature ? Twenty thousand prayers, Empty and formal, selfish and Constrained, Could not remove the blur on Christian .virtue, Thus-publlcly—thus wantonly displayed, In the Lord’s house, the refage of HU flock, Against the very law that they profess— Against the example of Redeeming Love,' The sacred bulwark of the Christian’s faith. Why do you break the bread and dVlnk’iho wino, 'ln memory of the Cross and Calvary, And yot withold a miserable mito In your unbounded and superfluous wealth, ; From Lazarus—your kind, your kin, your brother? For suoh, at least, is your meek Saviour’s'orood, . As will bp found in the dcoreeg of God, Insbribod upon His book of final judgment By a Redeemer’s hand, and in his blood! Your offerings and your sacrifice are vain, 1 Vain all your faith, unsanotlfied by forms, Whilo thus vou trample o’er an outoast brother, And look with apathy on wrotchednoss Enough to melt a heathen into tears. How many of these Saints that join’d tho table, Drank of tho symbol wine, and broke tho bread ' In doar remembrance of tho Saviour’s body, Did it unworthily? Several incorrect statements having appeared ] in relation to the Great Eastern (now lying like a red whale in Mr'. Scott Russel’s yard, at Mill wall, and so frightening people that thoy cut across the river and take refhge, by scores, in the houses of Messrs. Heart and Quartermaine, who administer white-bait and iced punch with the most humane promptitude), Mr. Punch has been requested to publish the following information touching the arrangements on board the vessel s Captain Harrison, the captain who has been selected in contravention of all rules observed in the public service, the proprietors of the ship having engaged him for the vulgar reason that he was notoriously the best captain on the best line of steamers in the world, will merely attend to the comparatively unimportant duty of taking core of the vessel. But, as there are to be six hundred first-class passengers, other captains will be appointed.to administer to the domestic wants of the.floating colony. There will be a dining captain, with great carving powers, and a miraculous flow of after-dinner oratory; and thero will bo a flirtation captain, whose business it will bo to render the brief voyage still briefer to the ladies. The former .has been a Free Mason, who has eaten fcis way into all the honors of the craft, and'who will hold lodges m the maintop, where the prox imity of the fire from the chimneys will jbo. highly convenient lor heating the gridirons. The latter has been still more carefully selected, and is a gontleman wfiom his wife is about to divorce, under the hew law, for the incompati bility of his red hair with her notions of ele gance, and who, under the same law, will bo incapable of marrying again. Ho will, there fore, have been a family man, which makes him respectable, while, at the same time, his attentions can mean nothing. The.spiritual welfare of the ten thousanl in habitants of the vessel will be duly cared for. A very handsome church is being built on the afterdeck, and four chapels, for Methodists, Catholics, Baptists and Independent!, are being erected forward. A pretty rectory house and garden will be placed near tho wheel, but it is thought well that the voluntary qfstera should provide for tho dissenting teachers, though, in case of soa-sickncss during the services, tho ==== —— = ——— = —— : sea-beadles are ordered to attend everywhere (From JohnSandcmon’. AmericaninParia.] "ith basins, without regard to religloius fuilth *«Wa,x E of *aglxo M ax PARIS, •,. - y * * Eastern undertaking to be tho godfathers to I went with my Yankee companion last night to any addition made to tbs population during the the Grand Opora; and at the risk of being enor- * e , a stfrersmitb g*>cs out expressly to ' u raVthe nmv bo guile tho lazy twenty-four hours. They admit tho had gratis, on applfcshon to the boatswain. .. spectators to a French theatre ia .files of two be- The captain will acMS father to any young (or * tween high railings, and under the grim and beard- other) lady who m*y succeed, by dint of moon ed authority of the polioe, which prevents crowd- and Lord B*on, persuading a gentlc ingand disorder; and whoever wishes to go in, man to pay ler expenses for the rest of her life, not having a seat provided, “ makes tail,’ os they j Officer iB now growing whis hr 1 rsai^dbii^ hour, and soil outthoirplaoesat an advance tothe and demani atentions, on application from ‘ most tardy, so that you haVe always this resort to any nlamma Cottages for the honeymoon obtain a good enough seat. *-In approaching tho are being fIW up, larboard side, by Messrs, house persons will oaor you tiokets with great im- Jackson an Graham, and will have private portunity in the streets. With one of these which, teleeroDhß> the kitchen, nightingales, and by cheapening a-little, I got at double price,'l Life P ’wSf la Pievfvoila,h programme), Wcaihtfenuittiug, races will take place at These are two phrases—meaning only the analysis stated pe J^ s > a &d tho Great Eastern Derby and bill of the play, at two sous—whioh you will will bo in thn voyage. Once round hear croaked with the most obstreperous disoord the ves? being a third of a mile, the heats through the houso, in the intervals of tho nor- .sily arranged. A moveable Grand formaniie. to bring out Monsieur Aubor and Scribe, gtand pcing constructed by Messrs. Edgiug and the Donnas. It lsprobably f ea ' ton. /o stabling in the vessel will afford ac- SOD tho ow s aro permitted to nag infte njghj. to cojlini ation for any number of horses, and ltobo-'t lo Diable,”-*«•« Fanalise df la one ohe longhoata 'itself a large steamer) pi eU ' ■ can b-ngaged for trial gallops, and he sur y There was tho representation of grave yard and roun-1 with awning and ordered to cruise at resurrection; .and the ghosts, at least two hun- som 4stance, in order to insure privacy, drod, flocked oat of the ground inwhite frocks and qy Betting act not applying to tlio high silk stockings, and they squeaked and gibhmcd office where the odds will be given ' ‘ peS^etThe 0 f—fr S“Z Per “ n -ofthopLer. balletaoftheircountry,certainly,inamannervery Ob amusements Will be provided, and an creditable .to tho other world. And while these Af ican a “ e y and a skittle ground being ' waltzed and quad rilled, another sot were enter- gj.ted on the poop, and a square boiler being ' taining themselves witVolegant and fashionable fld up as a Casino, into which boiling water amusements; some were turning sumof seta upon a' y not be turned without such notice as may new grave ;'othorß ploying at whiafc “P o®* 0 ®* practicable. A theatre is in course of croc-1 n, and an Ehglish dramatic author will be! screech and skulked Into their graves; there was pi down m-the iiokl, with a safety lamp, to a flutter through the house, tho music announcing rnslate any French piece that may be tlu own somegreat event, and at length auddsta burst of iwn to him. , . . . ‘ i' acotiueations, Mademoiselle jCagUumetooir upon qi w 0 eminent Jew costumiers have connected '. aliehted''tKero'from some other sphere. ‘ aT0 J supply dresses, and when not engaged in I oapeotedm bo littlo pleased with this lady pheatrical pursuits, will be happy to till up their had board praises of her acoomplis’h- Afant evenings in being converted, onmoder-1 disappointed. Her exceedingite terms, by any passenger who may be going i -mi? ?, r «Hh i 5 movements, pauses anfr Wtndes tn thSrwiVesf oahn S " io * hls hemghted brethren. (Extra Attiosimplicity, chastity anAurt an ; t j- She has !l,ar B e for waning of tracts), A club room a power over the feelings wbionyoti wui btt unwil- 8 also being arranged, and candidates for the * , lingto concedo to her art. She VHI make yourireat Eastern Club had better send in their heart beat with joy: she will weepbyimes. Trade, moustacheß, political opin’*ons, traffo* 0 fristling, a short pipe, the habit of asking Seat ih that which lf c . Btions ’ Pu^ism ’ or a P U S Dolse > will still you will wish her a statute that aho may stand l ? e * , still always; or if she moves you will wish hor a stands will be placed at tno most con wavo of tho sea that sho may do nothing but that Vent parts of the ship, and tables of fare and “move still, still so, and own no other function.” Winces affixed. Incivility or overcharge Tomosho appeared last night to have filled up tho offender to the cat, but the illusion of tho play—to have shuffled flw will bo conducted in tho back vard of off this gross and qlumsy humanity, and to belonc t», * , 11 , coaauciea m 1110 Da ® ol to some more airy and spiritual world. . g I* I y[ lcre the loudest-throated fellow But my companion, who is a professor, and a without being'beard by the public, little ecolesmetical, and bred in that most undane- ".'liairs and perambulatorß will also be in ing country, New England, was scandalised at the Jl ai g> and omnibuses will convey the hum whole performance. Ho is of the old school, and various parts of the vessel. 5^ n . 0 n- ntn j tionBof th / at “g. o .. a ”<; doasnotnp- to the allow of the electric light scan tinea* of the indy’s wardrobe. 1 I was bora )„,?,v %lloon wili ascend once a week with farther south and could bettor boar it. an y quarter to which the wind may The art of dressing has beon carried often by tho ~e , o, ig* Further particulars will be pub ladies to a blaraeablo excess of quantity; so much h*m e <l , m time to time until the launch fco, that a groat wit said in his day, a woman was , “ the least part of herself.” Tnglioni’s gins, it is true, do not lie on this side of tho Category; she produced last evening nothing but heraeff—Made moiselle Taglioni in tho abstraot. Ovid would not have complained of hor. Jfor lower limbs wore a light silk, imitating nature with undistlnguisbable nicety, an£ her bosom a thin game which just re lieved the eye, as you hard seep a fine fleecy cloud hang upon the dazzling sun. Butthoroisnogentle man out of Now England who would not have grieved .to see her spoilt by villanous mantua makers. Sho did not, moreover, exceed what the courtesy of nations has permitted, and what is ne oea&ry to the proper exhibition of her art. ■They call this French opera, the '‘Academic Kopate de Mu.nque," also the " Fravcais.” in* contradistinction with tho » Italien;” finally the (fraud Opera, this latter name becousoithas a greater quantity of tliumlor and lightning, of pasteboard seas, of paper snow storms,and dragons, that spit flro; also a gorgeousnessqfwardrobo and scenery not equalled upon any theatre of Europo. It is cortain its "corps dc ballet ” can outdance all tho world pul; together. *, ■ ■ ’Marey'.'-how deficient we are in oiir country In .these elegant .accomplishments,' 'ln many things wo aro still in onr infancy, in dancing wo aro not - y&tborn. We*‘havo, it is true, our “balances, 1 ' and chasses, and lari'to-bacir. and our women do throw o groat doal of soul into, their littlo feet , —as on a “ birth-night, ’’ oir,ait “Eighth of Ja nnary ” : or the’ IJJto; —bnt the Owhd Opera, the Opera Francois, the Academic Royalo do Musique! Aki mafoiy e'est la line autre affaire!,, Ton have road, and so has everybody, of tho “dancing Oreeke,” of KChespis, Bo described by Herodotus, wbousodto danco on hie head;'his feet all tho while dandling,in-the air; of the “Oiidltanian . girls,” so sung by the plnaoreon; ofHylas, who danced,before Augustus; or tho “dancing Der- Ylsbea, wbodancoa ourShabers; ‘ of the .pautomimic dances, doscribod by Raynal, and tho Turkish Almas, by the f ‘ sweot alary Mon taguejl’and finally every one has hoard of the “Ag 6 of Voltaire, the King of Prussia, andVes tris”—rwell, all this is outdanoiid by Taglioni and tfie,Grand Opera. - f Ibis opera has scats for two thousand spectators, " besides an immense saloon (tvro hundred feet by fifty) where a groat number of fashicnables, to re iiove their eara from tho noise of the singing, pro menade themselves magnificently during tho whole evening, under tho light of brilliant lustres, and where the walls, walnscotted with mirrors, multi ply their numbers and ehnrms to infinity. I m&v .as well oontinue danoing through the test of this Vainly you hope to inorit Heaven’s blessing By trampling on its oreaturo3 or its iuws. Jho holiest sucrifice, tho richest inconse, Is that which issues from a contrite hoart, In doublo duty, both to Earth and Heaven. Paith without works is dead; and prayer itself, * Though you should kneel Away the altar stone, Is poor assurance of celestial hopo, Uiuoasthou “lov’st tuy neighbor as thyself.’ page. Dancing, you know, is a characteristic amuse* ment of the French, and you may suppose they ' bare accommodations to gratify their tosto to Us fuliestextont.- Theta elegant rotundas for dancing in nearly all the public gardens, as at M Trivoli,” ‘lWaxhatd’Eto, and the “Chaumioro do Mont 3 > a^tasse. ,, Besides thero are “Guinguottes" at every Bftrriereand in tho" Village Fotcs," which endure the wholo Summer; danomg is 1 theoLiof amusement; and public balUyo'omsnro distributed • through every quarter of-Paris, suited, to every one’s rank and fortune. The best society of Paris -go to the balls of Banelah’, Autcuil ond St. Cloud. The theatres, too, are converted into -ball-rooms, especially for the masquerades, from the beginning to the ond pf the Carnival. - I hired a cabriolet and driver the other night, • and went with, a lady from Now Orleans, to see the most famous of the “ Guiuguettes.” Here all ■' the little world seemed to me completely and rea sonably happy ; behaving With all the decency add dancing pdth almost the grace'of high life! We visited naif a dozen, paying only ton sous at each for admission. I must not tell you it was Sunday night; it is so difficult to keep Sunday all alone, and withontauy ono to help you; the clergy And & great deal of trouble to keep it themselves here, there is so little encouragement.. On Sunday only these places' are seen to ndyimtage. lam very fur from approving of dancing bn this day, if one can help it.' put-I huyeuodouht that in a city like Paris; the dancers are more .taken from the tavern and gin shops than from the.ciiurohcs. I do not approve, icithor, of the absolute denuncia tion this elegant amusement incurs front any of our religious classes in Amorisa. If human virtues are put tip at too high, a price no ono will bid for . them.-' ‘Not a Word u said against danclltg in tho Old orNoir Tcstnmoiit, and & great deal in favpr. .Miriam danend, you know howprettily; and DaVld , danced “ before the Lord with all bia might;” to be sure tho manner of his dancing was mot quit? so 1 commendable, according to the' fashion of our ' climates.'lf you will accept classical authority I ‘ will give .you pedantry yardessits la te.tr.. The . to dancing a celestial origin, .and ihoy admitted it oven amongstthe accomnlmbmehts /and <?f selr divinities. 1 The .Groces are represented almost always, in.the nthtade of s}£ Apollo, (he most of (he gods, and the god of'wisdom too, Is callod by s*in dar tho u dancer.” Indeed, I could show you, if I ploasod, that Jupiter himself sometimes took part in a cotillion, and on onb occasion, danced a gavofc. 1 . ; Ioould«howyou, too,thatEmminondas, amongst his rare qualities, is praised by Cornohus Ncpos for his skill in dancing; and that Thcraiatoolcs, in an evoning party at Athens, passed for a clown for refusing to take a sharo in il dance. But it is so foppish to quoto Greek and to bo talking to women about tho anojonts. Don tsay that dancing j 8 n o t a natural inclination, or I will sot all tho a&ragoa on you of tho Kooky Mountains; and I don’t know how many of tho dumb animals—espo eially the boars, who, even on tho South-sea Islands, whore they could not have any relations with the Academic Royalo deMusique, always ex press their extreme joy, Captain Cook says, by this aeroeable agitation of limbs. And if you won’t polievo all this, I will take you to see a Negro holiday on the Mississippi. Now this is enough about dancing; it is vory late and I must danoe off to bed. Punch on the Mammoth Steamship Great teilcourse with the. Chinese. First aijjg. the nations of Modern Europe to open conurciai relations with the Chinese were tho Portuh&Q f who dispatched a ship to Canton in the earlgcrt of the sixteenth century, theirs being tbe Vst European flag seen at Canton. They soon *er established a factory at Ninjgpo, and by tho 1560 had many trading ports and settlements <>ng tho coast. Undor their protoc* .tion, Chrlstiijty was introduced among the Chi nose, and mdffith much encouragement,.until a scries of disttofol measures drew upon them the indignation othe people, who rose upon them at Ningpj, and, i|a reported, destroyed upwards of elovon thousa\ Chinese Christians and oight hundred Portujese, and burned thirty-five ships. After this they fe re greatly restricted }n their trade. The r>tuguese, says the Providence ave *nt live embassies to tho Emperor of China, tho fir. being in 1517, a second about years after* third in 1607, and a fourth in 17W, which was to first one that roaohed Pekin. Nope of theso nro successful. Presents woro given and receive* but no commercial advanta ges wero gamed. year 1753 {mother was sent, which reachd Pokm». It was conducted and ended liko its prdeocssors; -*JI of them exhibit ing in a greater ir less degree, the spectacle of humiliating subnission of indepeDin n t nations, through tht(r enroyi, to a court which w>k plea* sure in arrogating and exalting itself on ink hom age it received, nud studiously avoiding all rtfor onento the real bisDcasof the embassy; that it might neither give nor deny anything Tho Spaniards ppetod a trade with China after they haa taken Manilaund *tho PhilHptdnes, in 1543.,, They sent an embassy to Pekin in 1580, but tho Chinese protendedpot tt> understand their ob ject, and sent tho party back to they wero iwprFsoiutd, - The .commerce botwoob Manilla and'China hat vinoe been carried on chiefly by (he ChineseJuho have emigrated in large numbers to ■the Phttlippiueß. The heavy taxes imposed upon tbeia bj, and the harsh treat ment they havo over receivod from the Spaniards, first led the Chinese government to retaliate on thorn, and establish' the systeri of espionage and restriction, which they bfterwirds extendod to all foreigners. Tho Butch first visited Mscaojn 1622, and were driven off. They then established thomsclvos on tho Pescadores; but a few years after, so greatly wore (he Chinese annoyed by the Dutoh, that thoy sent an army against them, and forced them to retire to Formosa. They extended thoir settle ments on this island, established Christianity, and erooted many churches and schools, but subse quently suspended their operations in this direc tion for fear of offendlog; the Japanese, whoso , trade they wished to secure. In 1645 tho Butch sent an embassy to Pekin, but as a mercantile speculation It availed nothing. Their presents were received, and othors! given in roturn. Tho envoys prostrated themselves before the omperor, and did everything in the way of hu miliation required of them. For all this the Dutoh obtained permission to send an embassy once iu eight years, and with it four ships to trade. Two years later the Chinese attacked tho Butch fort and seitletrients at Formosa with a large fleot and twenvy-fivo thousand men, and compelled tho gar rison to surrender,'with a loss of sixteen hundred men. In 1664 the Butch' sent another embassy to Pekin, which wag subjected to great, humilia tions, but gained no commercial advantages. No farther attempt'to obtain commercial advantages was made until 1704, when only a fresh harvest of insults and annoyances was reaped by the Butch envoys,.who,itis said, were "brought to tho capi taliike mulefttotors, and treated when there like befiganr.” , Eugiiah vessels first visited Macao in 1637, but owing to the intrigues of the Portuguese, they failed to accomplish , anything. Another effort to open trade in 1664 was defeated in a like manner. The English succeeded, hovf&Yert some years after in establishing tradingjpoats at Atnoy, and in 1684 gained a footing at Canton. Their trAdo was, during many years that followed) attended with groat difficulties, restrictions and extortions on the part of the Chinese, who treated nil foreign nations in,tpe most arrogant any annoying man ner. The rmo on whioh the Chinese proceeded in* its dealings with foreigners has boon thus trans lated 1 by Promare: '‘The barbarians are like beasts, and ndt to be ruled on the same principle as citizen?. ! ‘ "Were any ono to attempt controling them by'the. great maxims cf reason*, it would tend,to nothing but confusion.,' The anoiont Kings understood this; therefore to rule barbarians by misrule is the true and best way of ruling them." Othor embassies, were subsequently dispatched to Pekin by the English, one of which cost nearly »0, but nothing of importance was effected. , as is well known, the two nations came to »» ope# ruj)tufe ( a#i JSnglaml #Mh» •E v P Eifi LAPEL PHI A, Sft T U/R BAY, AUG U ST 1 , 185 7 . result ox the, opening of the five port? to foreign eomnleroe. It is to bo lihjioil that tho present attempt to obtain tho esWbliijbmOOt of more liberal oonuner : oial privileges from China, in which the prinoipal conmxorciai nations aro engaged, will result in plaoing intercourse with that nation on a footing much nearer tho comity of civilised nations than it now is. 4 LITERARY NOTICES. APPLETON’S ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK OP AME KIOAN. TRAVEL. By T. Addison Kiohabos ; ajth Maps, Pious of Cities, and Pictures of famous Places and Scenes, from original drauings. I vol. Hvu.— pp. 413. D. Appleton tp Co., Now York. Go whore you may, on tho Continent of Europe, every third American anil English tourist may ho noticed as carrying with him,' (as“ guide, counsellor, and ftiend,”) one of the admirable, red-covered Hand-books of Travel, which Mr. Murray, the I.ondon publisher, has got out for the public benefit—and his own. Railwayism has much facilitated foreign tra vel, which would be greatly increased if foreign potentates would abolish the inquisitorial nui-. sauce of the passport system. Murray’s Hand books are of recent growth. For many years, the only guide to European travel was a dumpy volume, by Mrs. Starke, of which, iinporfoct as it was, a vast number were sold. Murray had the copyright, and improved the work. Finally, ho got up a separate book for eacli country, employing men of experience, ability and knowledge, to make tours, and throw their information and observation into a suitable form. The result has been tho production of a series of valuable, standard, and generally reliable books. What Murray has thus done for Europe, the Appletons, publishers in New York, have done, and more than done, for the United States and British America. Mr. T. Addison Richards uses the pen and pencil with equal -facility; and has been assisted, in the pictorial and descriptive portions of his “ Illustrated Hand-book of American Travel,” by several of hia brother-artists and brother-authors. There are about one hundred wood engravings, from original drawings by eminent artists, and a great many maps, (some of them on a large scale;) with plans'of cities, and the lines of railway transit. In .this, the book materially differs from Murray’s celebrated woi'k.'i, which do not contain illustrations. Paper, typo, and printing are good. The volume contains as much as is usually put into double the extent. Even in tho binding, the travellers’ convenience is cured for, for the cover, though stiff, is so flexible,, that tho book may be put into the pocket without fear of its being injured. Thoro is a good index, and half a dozen blank pages are reserved at the end for travellers to pencil down notes of any errors and omissions thhe may discover, and of any new facts of in terest, such memoranda to he sent to the publishers, to be used in future editions. The plan of this book is plain. Commenc ing with British North America, (it treats of Can_da, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia j) it proceeds along the shores of tho Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, takes in the central and western States, crosses tho Isthmus to tho Puoific seaboard, traverses California, and winds up with Oregon, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, New Mexico, and the Indian territory. Every place with which any historical associa tion is connected is thus included and de scribed. Natural curiosities, and whatever may Interest the lovers of art and science aro gracelhUy glanced at—sometimes the descrip tion is minute—generally graphic. Skeleton tours are sketched, so that tho traveller is spared the trouble of framing them for himself, and can regulate their extent by his means and time. To show the comparative space devoted to each subject, we may state that the description of Pennsylvania occupies seventeen pages, equal to thirty-four in an ordinary volume. Philadelphia is described at some length, with views of the State House and tho Fairwount Water Works. There are also views of Valley Forge, Pittsburgh, the Juniata, and the Susquehanna, witli a plan of Philadelphia, and twp State maps with the railway routes. Tho greater pait of this book has been writ ten by Mr. Richards, from personal observa tion. He acknowledges his obligations to Messrs. Ayres, T. D. Lowther, and W. P. Smith, for the accounts of California, St. Au gustine, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and has judiciously availed himself of tho la bors of previous tourists. A strong relish for the beauties of nature is evident throughout the hook, and, with all temptations to run into that enthusiastic mode of expression called high-fahitin’, Mr. Richards has suc ceeded, for the most part, in preserving a graceful flow of language, very pleasant to the reader. One of the most delightftil passages in tlie hook is an account of tho author’s visit to the residence of Simms, the ominent Southern romancist and poet. The besetting weakness of a New Yorker is to speak of “ Georoe P. Morris —the poet,” and Mr. Richards yields to it! Punch, it may be recollected, used to glorify (in a different manner) “tho poet Bunn.” This is a matter of opinion, how ever, and Mr. Richards may think Morris superior to Anacreon, if he pleases. One, and only one instance, of. had. taste wahayo noted in this book. Describing a breakfast at ti.s Virginia Springs, Mr. Richards says:— “From the above articles you may make a breakfast good enough for a king—if such an anin}al must live better than others of his species.” It strikes us that king or peasant is not more nor less of an “ animal” tlian tho author himself. This Hand-book, view it as you pleaso, is an astonishing production. One mind has framed it, throughout, thereby giving it a degree of unity rarely to be found in what may bo called composite productions. We have already fouud it useftil, in our 6wn not very wide range of travel, and certainly it will be the best two dollars’ worth that a tourist can carry witli him. LITTLE DOBRIT. We have received from our neighbor, T. B. Peterson, his two-volumo illustrated re-print of“ Little Dorrit.” It contains forty engrav ings, and has tho advantage of combining clear type, good paper, ncufc binding, and low price. Scarcely equal, as a whole, to some of Dic kens’s earlier works, still, thisis such as none but himself could havewritten. The action is rather melo-dramatic at times, but his charac ters are original, natural, and well-developed. Mr. Peterson has several editions, at all prices and in all sizes, of this and every other work by tho same author. MAGAZINE DAY. The principle of antagonism between this country and England is curiously illustrated by the fact that while our Magazine literature shows every appearance of vitality, it has fallen into comparative decadence in England. Blackwood's Magazine continues the oven tenor ofits way—living chiefly on its former reputation, and occasionally proving, by a particularly brilliant article, that some of the old spirit was remaining. Since the conclu sion of« My Novel,” it has principally lived upon serial stories, by various hands, —such as Hailey’s “Lady Lee’s Widowhood,” Mrs. Ouphant’s “ Zaidee” and “ The Athelings,” and so on. It has now commenced another novel by Bulwer, which will probably con tinue a piece de resistance for the next two years. The Dublin University Magazine, little known in this country, comes next to Black wood, across the water. Despite its Tory po litics, it lias great merits, and has been especi ally strong on Irish literature, poetry, bi ography, and antiquities. Through this me dium, also, several of tho popular Actions of Cnani.Es Levee (“ Harry Lorrequer”) havo been presented to the public. In London, at present, tliore are only two readable magazines-^- Household Words, nomi • nally conducted by Dickens, who does little Wore than receive the pro Ats, and the Na tional edited by two play-writer.-, Jno. Saunders and Wkrtlani> Marston. Both are issued weekly, and both are low priced. A f»e-simile edition of Household Words is pub lished in Now York, (by Miller & Curtis,) and a,-pears sooner than nn ordinary reprint, in constqucnco of early proof-sheets being transmitted from London. Tho popular story, “ The Dead Secret,” by Wilkie Collins, which lias rim through a score of papers in this country, appeared in this work. Tho New Monthly Magazine, which was something while edited by Campbell, the poet, some thirty years ago, and subsequently was conducted by Bulweu, S. Carter Hall, (tho original of Pecksniff, in “ Martin Chuz zlewlt,”) Thomas Hood, Theodore Hook, and Haebison Ainsworth, lias now become the property of tho last named author, and would bo tlie dullest of all vegetating periodi ■cals, were it not that Ainsworth’s Magazine equals it. Mr. Ainsworth is grout on the “ annexation ”of Mugnzincs. no conducted Bentley’s Miscellany, after it had boon aban doned by Dickens, the original editor, and purchased the copyright a few years ago. His threo magazines arc tile dullest of the dull. Fraser’s Magazine, which was once the most devil-may-care, rollicking, scholastic, libellous, personal, Tory, and eccontric of periodicals, when Dr. Maihnn and his merry men wrote for it, is now dull and decent. It is jolid, re spectable and slow. Mr. Kinoslet’s early prose works appeared in it, and gave it re newed popularity for a time. Rather out of the route of ordinary maga zinism (if wo may coin a word) is the immor tal Gentleman's, founded more than a century ago by EdwAbd Cave, and the receptacle of Dr. Samuel Johnson's earliest compositions. It is devoted to antiquities, biography, and literature. Such, excluding the quarterly reviews, are the leading periodicals of pur English neigh bors. Household Worth and Blackwood’s Ma gazine are reprinted here, (the latter by Leo nard, Scott & Co., of Now York;) but tlie / pream of all tho periodicals—weekly, monthly and quarterly—appears, week aftor week, in a Boston journal, book-size, low-priced, neatly printed, and well editod, entitled Littell’s Liv ing tYe have few periodicals proportionably with the greater nupiber of readers in tills country. Thoy are almost exclusively pub lished in Philadelphia and New York, though there arc magazines at Cincinnati and Chicago, the Metropolitan in’ Baltimore, and the South ern Literary Messenger in Richmond,’Virginia. Fire} among New VoA pwgagine? in point of ago is tho Knickerbocker, which has nearly completed its twenty-fifth year, by fur the greater part of that life-time under the editor ship of Lewis Gaylord Clark, an undoubted humorist, whoso “ Editor’s Table” Is stamped with a -peculiar and pleasant, individuality. Nearly every author of repute in the country has contributed to “ Old Knick,” which is exclusively made up of original articles. By far the greatest circulation ever obtained by any periodical, in any country, is that ac quired by Harper's Magazine. The actual issue is stated to be 170,000 copies—a trifle less than the circulation of the Weekly Tri bune, and considerably less than what wo in tend shall be tho ultimate circulation of our own Weekly Press. It was established some years ago, nnd the original ilea was to make it up principally by “ pickings and stealings” from foreign periodicals. Very soon, the con ductors got out of this, and at present, by fur the greater portion of Hamr is not only wholly original, but of excellent quality. It has several illustrated articles in each number. A series of this description nns lately been re-published in a splendid octaro, as “ Virginia Illustrated,” by a very able aristand agreeable writer, and its miscellaneous contents aro ge nerally entertaining and instructive. Putnam's Magazine, comirenced in 1853, has bad ebbs and flows of succjss. Originally, it was illustrated, but, after a time, this was changed. Several pleasant Hoks have been made out of articles which Hist appeared in Putnam —among them, “ The Potiphar Pa pers,” which would bo admirable if the reader, in skimming over them, wasrkt reminded of a certain pre-existant Tiiaokebay, the fact being that Mr. Curtis is quite cloverenough to have been wholly original. Tho has lately passed into now hands, (Mr. Curtis himself being now one of its publishers,) and has improved very greatly by the transition. It has gone back to illustration, also, and bids fair to be attractive in this liie, os well as in the literary. Chit-chat abait books and authors, at home and abroad, is an agreeable feature in this work. The United States conducted by Seda Smith, who is re-publishing Major Jaqk Downing’s Letters, illustrated and annotated, lias greatly improved of late, ard is enriched with numerous illustrations—a few of which, however, have done yeomauta service in other works. Tho National , Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, and Mrs. Stephens'-Monthly may also he favorably mentioned as veil-conducted periodicals. In Philadelphia the oldest of the magazines is Godey's Lady's Book, now ii its 55th half yearly volume—neatly printel, handsomely illustrated, graced with song tnd story, and largely devoted to the edification of the fe male world, by the fullest and latest details (With engravings) of foreign and domestic fashions. It lias much that is useful as well as entertaining, and enjoys a grjat circulation. It is edited by Mrs. Uaie and Ir. Godey. Peterson's Ladies' National Magazine, yet in its teens, contains more litemture and less fashion than tho Lady's Book. It is rich in romantic fiction, and is plentifully studded with poetical pieces. It octasionally has translations from the French. It is edited by Mr. Charles J. Peterson and Mrs. Stephens. After many vicissitudes, Grahem's Magazine has sprung into renewed youth (like Milton’s eagle), under the skilful editorship of Mr. Charles J. Leland, a scholar who is not a mure bookworm, a traveller who has used life opportunities wisely. He contributes largely to tho Magazine, and tho traces of a graceful mind aro evident upon its pages. There are engravings on steel and wood, and a glimpse at the fashions, —but, better than those, just criricism, playful gossip, and n clear under current of philosophy run through tho work. The Lady's Home Magazine , edited by T. S. Arthur and Virginia F. Townsend, has a multitude of readers, wo dare say. It has variety, as well as ability, und is conducted with tact and talent. Like its neighbors, it has colored fashion-plates, besides engravings on stool and wood. (And here we must say, parenthetically, that for the most part, the wood-cuts in the Philadelphia are not nearly so good, in execution and working, as those in the New York periodicals, and impressions from used-up steel-plates might be dispensed with.) To this may be added that Boston, at last, is going to have a periodical of its own. . The Wise Men of the East intend to call it tho Northern Magazine (to mark its sectional cha racter ?) It is to contain a certain amount of “ copy” taken from foreign publications, nnd it will be issued by Phillips, Sampson & Co. Boston certainly ought to havo a Magazine of her own, and we shall welcome tho interesting infant. Here concluding this rapid summary, we must very briefly notice the Magazines of tho month into which we enter this day. THE KNICKERBOCKER. A well-engraved portrait of Donald G. Mitchell (“Ik Marvel,”) from tho Knickerbocker Gallery, graces tho new numbor of this father of tho Amo rioan Magazines. There is a continuation of tho very attractive papers, by F. S. Cowens, called “A Month with tho Blue 1 Noses;” a furthor por tion, with two illustrations, of Henry J. Brent’s terost, by a new contributor, called “Tho Cotton Jenny,” with a variety of miscellaneous matter, worth perusal. But Mr attraction in the periodi cal, which all Its rivals havo endeavored to imi tate, is that agreeable melange, the “Editor’s Table.” This month it concludes with a graphio account of the oponing of tho Ohio and Mississippi Railroad from Cincinnati to St. Louis, written by Mr. 8. Hueston, publisher of tho Mngizino. HARPER’S MAGAZINE. The artist-author who assumes the name of Porto-Crayon, opens with an illustrated article on North Carolina, giving a lively account, with sketches of scenery anu the processes of working in tho gold mines in that rich district. Another Interesting paper is upon “Wheat and its Associa tions,” by T. B. Thorpo, who exhausts the subject. Some of tho landscape illustrations, by Dopier, are charming views. Mr. Abbott's “States-Genoral” wo pass by ns a thrieo-told tale. Different and better is a lively skotch, with amusing wood-cuts, of “A Jaunt in Java.” A Chapter is good—though Popo’s couplet on Lady Montaguo, however “truculent and mordaoious,” Issoarcoly decent. Thoro is the intensity of actual lifo in the story of “Alix Thuriot Thorne;” thoro is an nnaobromsm also: the heroine speaks as having been married “soven long gray years ago,” and, before that marriage, of having “listened to the ripple of Gottschalk’B renal Angora.” Now, as Gottschalk did not return from Europo earlier than 1853, it is cloar that, if “soven long gray years” really did elapse since then, wo must now be in tho year 1800. In the Editor’s Table is a thought ful comment upou Heroism; the foreign gossip of tho Easy Chair is entertaining; and the Drawer has several anecdotes not published before. Many of our readers, no doubt, havo hoaxd a popular tunc, and some may huve danced to- it. Here is Col. T. B. Thorpe’s account of the ORIGIN OP “POP GOES TUB WXABEL.” Hardy as wheat is, it it subject to many diseases, nnd also suffers from insects. The weevil is quite familiar. Its young is supposed to be deposited in the ears of wheat, which they loave about August end go into the ground, where it is probable tbeyremalu during the winter in the pupa state, and become tiles the next season, whon the wheat is in bloom. “Pop goes tho weasel” Is an expression on every one’s tongue, yet few understand the origin oi the saying. By giving its his tory, wo may also learn something of the habits of tho weevil. According to tradltjjn,” a famous Methodist preacher, by tho name of Graven, was once preaching in the heart of Virginia, whui ha spoko ns follows: “Here are present & great irsipr profcHsors of religion, who are slock, fat and good looting, yet some thing is the matter vflth you. Low ;ou have neon wheat which was plump, rouqd, md pod-looking to tho eye, but when you weighed it you fmnd that it was only forty-five or perhaps forty-ejght pounds to the bushel, when it should ho, If a prirao article, sixty or slxty-threp pouuds. Take a kernel of this wheat bo tween your thumb and finger, hold It up to the light and squeeze it, aud ‘pop goes the weevil.* Now, you good-looking professors of religion, yoi are plump nnd round, but jou only weigh forty-fivoor forty-six pounds to the bushel. What is tho mattirf Ah, when yon are taken between the thumb of the Jaw aud the fore finger of the gospel; ‘Pop goes your ” PUTNAM’S MONTHLY. Illustrated articles coramonee thbtfagazino also. Thero is a pictorial paper on LakeGoorgo; a hotel sketch, in which a “detective” is dtvorly brought in; Sohamyl andhisHarom,and arniher. Wo havo an idea that Mr. Grabbed Night VithMemnon is not original, and we know that it i& not good. A Torch-Hunt in Tenpcsaee, an Irfrh Highwayman, Two Incidents of Travel, and Thd Last Poet, are ex ceedingly good. But tho very host part of tho num ber is ontitled Editorial Notes, containing reviews of books, an immqnso fund of literary news and ohit chat, and views also of tho forld of daily life, passing before the wrltor's eye. This is the beat number of Putnam yet published. GRAHAM S MAGAZINE. Under the able editorship of Mr. Chaiij.hs Lk land, the literary character of tins Magazine bus greatly improved. Wo can scarcely say as muoli tor tho majority of tho wood cuts, wMoh are so indifferently printed that the do.’ioaoy of tho finer lines is destroyed. Wo alludfcio tho illustrations of two well written articles, ttoso ofi Madumo do Muintcnon and Joiephino of FAnce. By the way, tho writor goems to liavo a social dislike to tho Widdw Scarron, who, with nil her faults, was not quite so black us he pnintshor- Thero aresovornl interesting stories hero, aud a lively nccount (by Mr. Reed) of tho Election for Par liament iu Eugland. Well iufitfiiud as Mr. Reed evidently iu, though ho soroewUU undor-oatiiuates the ooat, it is atrango that ho ihould have mndo Free Trade tho paramount qiwtion of 1847, Sir Robort Peel having granted itiomo time boforo. Two pleasant, gossippy papors h«o are oditoriul— "Our Curiosities" aud "Ktsy falk." llore are collected and preserved, like fowls strung on gold thread, a variety of notobilia wtrthy of preserva tion. Among them in a Germanized and illustrated ballad, sotting prthtke story of "Dor Freifiohutz.” This is amV ant quaint libretto, very profitable to laugh ortr. GODEY’S LADY’S BOOh,. Groat would bo thodismiy, injonnand country —but particularly in the rural districts, whero the varieties and fluctuations >f ferial© fashions are moro read of than seen—il by‘any chance, the Lady's Jiooi wore to ha mspaaled, oven for a month. For, to the world of wameu, it is a veri tablo guide and friend, towing them what is worn, and how to make uproar it;, giving them heaps of valuable domoaD receipts; touching them several of tho usefuUm well’as tho orna inontal arta; and adding, b orown all, a fair va riety of poetry and story-Aliug. The Lessons on Drawing, aud tiro ohaper on the Birds of tho Poets, are tho bo3t papon It tho present number. Without giving distinoivs natiues of Peterson's Ladies' National Magisim and Arthur's Lady *« Jlome Magazine, we n»y briofly say, at present, that the current numbo* are, at least, abovo par. Thoy do not go so largqV into the subjects of dross and fashion as The h&y'* Booh dooa. Their li terature, original andsolocted, is a decided im provement on what -to bo the staple of suoh works only a few yea's ago. The Panorama o’ Life and Literature, (pub lished by E I.ITTF.*., of Burton,) i» u monthly ot noariy ono himil«l and fifty pages double column, Bvo., contining tit, best articles ™ nil subjects in tho lcuing toreijn periodicals. In the August number, ,o crack paper s that on the Atlnntlo Ocean, fom tho lust Edinburgh Review, tun} has p«QiiliM.nterest nov, whoa tho great ex- periment of uniting two hemispheres by that elec tric chain of thought, tho submarine telegraph, U about being made. Tho Now York ropublicatiou of Household Words, covoring all tho numbers issued in Juno, is a duplioato of the London issue, at about half the London price. NEWS OF LITERATURE k ART. Tho Lifo and Remains of Douglas Jerrold is announced in London, by his son, W. Blanchard Jerrold, who succeeds him in the editorship of Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper. Tho last new novel, by G. P- R. James, (commencing, as usual, with two horsemen,) is "Leouoro D’Orco,” and gives ns a good sketch of diaries VIIL, of France, with glimpses of Chevalier Bayard and C®sar Bor gia. It lias been republished by Harpers, of New York, who have also brought out Georgo Sorrow’s “ Romany Rye,” (ft strange book, but well written,) and announce “The Athe lings,” by Mrs. Oliphant, the wife of an artist in London, Scottish by blood and birth, niul very pretty and petite. Alexander Smith’s new book wilt be called “City Poems.” He has lately married a bonny Scottish lassie, and is provided for with ,£3OO a year, for life, as Secretary to the Uni versity of Edinburgh. Tennyson has completed a further portion, complete in itself, of liis great poem on tho Morte D'drthur. It is not sufficient for a volume, so he intends keeping it until ho has written something elso. A richly illustrated edition of Tennyson has just appeared, and Campbell’s “Gertrude of Wyoming” is to be produced with like adornments. Dr. Pusey announces a polemical work on tho Real Presence; Mr. Maguire, editor of an Irish paper, (tho Cork Examiner ,) announces a volume on Rome; and Sir James Alexander promises “Passages in the Life of a Soldier.” Tho North British Review, lately suspended, is to re-appear this day (August 1) under new management. Blackwood's Magazine devotes over 1G pages to Lieut. A. W. Habersham's recently pub lished book, « My Last Cruise; or, Where We Went and What we Saw.” After lamenting that modern books of voyages do not appear to possess that richness, raciness and variety which were so characteristic in the narratives of tho oarly navigators, the reviewer exclaims, to all such book-writers, “ Now here is an Ame rican—stand forth, Lieut. Habersham, of the United States Navy!—who may servo as a pattern to moat of you.” It describes him as “ a thorough sailor, bold, active and energetic, with a certain spice of tho dare-devil in his composition, which renders him excellent com pany;” especially lauds him for being free from humbug, and says « he describes well, because ho does not strain after effect, but keeps ri gidly to what is before him; and his humor, though racy, is free from the slightest touch of coarseness.” To this opinion of the venerable Christopher North, we (of The Press) have to add that the present desire for information about China and Japan, cannot be better satisfied than by a careful perusal of Lieut. Habersham’s account of his explorations of both countries. Lieut. Habersham is now stationed in the Navy Yard, in this city. A new Life of Thomas Jefferson is being prepared by Dr. Henry S. Randall, of New York, formerly Secretary of State. It will fill two large Bvo volumes. Mr. Randall lias ac cumulated a vast quantity of materiel, much in Jefferson’s own handwriting, and including private memoranda covering fifty years. He also has hundreds of Jefferson’s letters, in cluding his family correspondence written to his two daughters, from their childhood down to the death of the youngest, Mrs. Eppes. Besides this, he has copious reminiscences of Jefferson from various competent persons. Mason & Brothers, of New York, announce, in blue and gold, “Fresh Leaves” by Fanny Fern; “Tho Life and Times of Aaron Burr,” by James Parton, the said Fanny’s husband; “Tho Jubilee,” a new collection of Church Music,” by W. B. Bradbury; and a reprint of Victor Schcelchcr’s “Life of Handel,” Wiley & Halstcd, of New York, announce “Nothing to Do,” illustrated, as a reply to “Nothing to Wear.” This is intended to cut at good-for-nothing young gentlemen. The next regular New York trade sale, under the direction of the Publishers’ Association, will commence on Tuesday, September Bth. Childs & Peterson, of Philadelphia, aro pro paring tho Explorations of Col. Fremont, to bo illustrated in the beautifhl stylo of Kane’s Arctic Narrative. Bayard Taylor was last heard of from Lon don, having returned from his tour in Norway. His next journey will be into tho region of matrimony, when he revisits home. J. S. Rcdfleld, of New York, announces a superbly illustrated edition of Poe’s Poems; Chapman’s American Drawing Book, complete in one volume; a new romance by W. Gil more Simms; two new works by Dr. Trench, Dean of Westminster; Poetical Remains of W. M. Praed, edited, with a memoir, by tho Rev. John Moultrie and Derwent Coleridge; Neele’s Romance of English History; The Poets and Poetry of Scotland and Ireland, the 'KifS^ot^^S^iligto^^VnMf^n^troificrton^ty M. Guizot; and Parley’s Outline Illustrations of “Rip Van Winkle,” and the “Legend of Sleepy Follow.” The Irish News, (Mr. Meagher’s paper,) an nounces as about to appear in Cork, a new magazine, to be called tho Irish Literary Ga zette. It is to appear at four cents a number, and its main features will be Irish stories by Irish writers, reviews of Irish literature, sketches of Irish scenery, essays, &c. There are now published in Ireland tho Dublin Review, originally commenced under tho auspices of O’Connell, and now mainly supported by and supporting Cardinal Wise man; tho Irish Quarterly Review, which has latterly been enlarged, and is doing well; the Dublin University Magazine, able in its literary and decidedly Tory in its political articles; and tho Irish Metropolitan Magazine , com menced in March, as a liberal organ, and con taining occasional papers of value and inte rest. The Irish American has commenced tho publication of Irish poetry, in the original type, with translations. This type was cast expressly for this purpose, and is the only Irish font in this country. It has a handsome appearance, and looks like a cross between Greek and German. The Appletons, of New York, are now pre paring for publication tho following library works; Lowes’ Biographical History of Phi losophy, 1 vol., 8vo.; Buckle’s History of Civilization in England, 2 vols.; The Encyclo pedia of American Eloquence, by Frank Mooro, 2 vols., 8vo.; Benton’s Abridgment of the Congressional Debates, vol. 4 to 15, In largo 8vo.; The Life and Public Services of Judge Iredell, 2 vols., 8vo.; Leisure Labors, by the Hon. Joseph B. Cobb, of Miss.; Tho New American Encyclopedia, 15 vols., large 8vo.; Household Poetry, by C. A. Dana, Esq., (a most beautiful work); Appleton’s Railroad Library, No. 1; Punch’s Pocket Book, illus trated, and beautifully printed; Burton’s Cy clopaedia of Wit and Humor, with six hundred neat and spirited engravings, 1 large vol.; A new library edition of Scott’s Poetical Works, 1 vol.; A now library edition of Burn’s Poeti cal Works, 1 vol.; A new library edition of Milton’s Pootical Works, 1 vol.; Alice Neal’s new Juvenile—“A Place for Everything nnd Everything in its Place,” 1 neat vol., illus trated. Among tho Appleton’s works preparing for the Christmas holidays arc, World-Noted Women, edited by lira. Cowden Clark, with seventeen steel plate engravings; Pen and Poncil, by Mrs. Balmanno, with exquisite engravings; a new Christmas Annual, with fine steel engravings; Bryant's Poems, illus trated by tho most eminent English artists; Campbell’s Gertrude of Wyoming; Bloom field's Farmer’s Boy, and Bums’ Poems, tl luutmU'd by Birkefc Foster and others; The Shakspeare Gallery of iVi en graved; Tennyson’s Poems, illustrated by the best English artists; The Republican Court in tho days of Washington, a new edition, en larged and improved, and with additional por traits; Reynard tho Fox, with a motrical English translation, and exquisite engravings; Tim Dresden Gallery, the Munich Gallery, find the Berlin Gallery, each in one handsome volume, 4to, with sixty engravings. The widow of Ilugh Miller, whoso unceasing labors in tho cause of science overthrew a strong mind and shattered a herculean frame, receives a pension from Government of £7O peraimum. Rctsch, whose marvellous illustrations of the German poets threatened at one time to call forth copyists and caricaturist* enough to over run art with exaggerated outline, is dead, lie had reached tho ago of 77. Tho Chateau de la Sourer du Loiret, where Bolingbroke resided during his disgrace, and where Voltaire read to thereat statesman the manuscript of his “ Hcuriale," is now for sale. The Empress of tho French has bought M. Geromo’s picture of the “Duel after the Ball,” lately on viow at tho French Exhibition at Pall-mall, for 16,000 f. Gen. Anthony Wayie, the noble Pennsyl vanian of the Revolution, at the storming of Stony Point, was struct in the head by a mus ket ball, and fell to the ground, but rising to his knee, he cried, bclhving that he was mor tally wounded, “ Carry me forward and let me die in the fort!” He was borne within the fortification by his men; but he was destined to live, and served his country many years longer. Ho hold a command in tho army until tho close of the struggle, when the Legis lature of Georgia presented him with a valu able farm, and he retired to private life. Ho was a member of tho Pennsylvania Convention which ratified tho Constitution of the United States in 1787. In 1792 he was placed in command of tho army with the Indians, and gained a brilliant victory at the battle of tho Miamis, August 20, 1794. He died while en gaged in active military duty at Paresque Isle, and was burled on the shores of Lake Erie. The Paris Pay* says that the Imaum of Muscat and of Zanzibar, who recontly Ruccoodftt his father, has remonstrated against tho English hav ing taken possession of tho island of Penni, R the entrance of tho Red Sea. It is woll known that the property of this island has been long el&imcd both by the Imaum and by the Shah of Porsia, and that these two sovereigns had, In a csrt&in ntr, divided the awniwtl pwsmswb. COMMUNICA TIONS. [For The Press,] FREE MASONRY. The institutions of a eouutrv arc eminently worthy of consideration, as denoting or influencing the prevailing characteristics of the people. In a country like ours, one can scarcely comprehend the character of tho people without understanding its which, independent of tho govern ment and its avowed objects, are established by popular will. If these institutions nro native, they fho peculiar tendency of the mind oi the locality in which they originate. If they ®xptic, they oan be introduced only hy a favor able disposition of general sentiment. If they abide, it is because they have found or created a gene ral state of feeling consistent with tho principles on which they are established. We peed scarcely say that in a country where Thuggism could exist for any considerable time, there must have existed or been created a state of feeling quite at variance with what is usually de nominated Christian civilization Where the “holy Vheme” was fully operative, there musthavO been feltand deplored ail übseneo of general scourity, and a failure of the great ob jects of a political government. Tho resorts of a peoplo in.time of any difficulty, more frequently denote their ability* to appreciate an extensive evil than their ability to devise a remedy. The existence and operatidn of the attempt at a remedy, nevertheless, will sometimes open the eyes of the public to tho naturo of the evil, by tho very bad eharactcr of th&Temcely proposed; thon both tho remedy and tho evil-find t correction. But social evils suggest often appropriate re medies, and tho necessities of man frequently lead him to adopt measures, remedial or preventive, which exist with the circumstances they are in tended to effect, and sometimes, by the excellence of their character, survive the disease which they have cured. This can bo hopel for only when the remedy is founded on tho true principles of popular liberty, and has the power of operating beyond any mere local inconvenienco. Religion, whether that specially of the New, or that which has its laws alono in the Old Testament, is an institution which it is not now our intention to discuss, as that U of divine origin, and our business is with human institutions, for human and humane purposes, No institution of that character, even in tni3 coun try, is of an older date than Free Masonry. None has had so deep-soated, so intense and so wide an operution; and as it has existed so long, and effected so much, as, indeed, antagonism to tne institution has been made an element of political organization of even a national character, we feel that a few lines devoted to the subject of “Free Masonry” would not bo OUt of place at the commencement of a paper which, though politioal in its character, b* intended to disouss whatever is of general interest, and to be at least the exponent, if not the author, of sentiments that affect the feolings and interest of every citizen. And the conductors of a news paper In these days must be able to say, and to prove the truth of the sayings by his works: “Nihil a me huuianum alienum puto.” We do not purpose to present a history of Free Masonry; that would require volumes, even if the well-established traditions were only noticed; but in socking tho origin of an order whoso existence, is for centuries marked by no public demonstration, ■ and of whose proceedings there could bo no record, ono would soon bo lost iu clouds of speculation. The history of tho order in this country is already in print; and though much might bo added, and some statements corrected, yet tne space which we aro allowed i'ero would admit of neither an ab stract of the record nor a notice of the minor errors. When masons first came to this country it is im possible to tell. When they were organized into a generally reoognised body it is more easy to de termine, us wo know that early in tho last century grand lodges existed. The difficulty of travelling, tho want of tho means of communication, tho pe culiar character of the various classes of people in this countrv, render it easy, because it was per sonally as well as socially beneficial, to dissemi nate Free Masonry; and hence, with little of pro clamation, members of tho order were found iu all classes, from the mo3t exalted in social life end social refinement, to tho half clad and wholly un civilized savngG of the forest, i The progress of population, tho extent of now settlement*, and the consequent multiplication of intercourse augmented tho number of free maeonß, . while generally it may be said all those circum stances tended to diminish the necessity for tho pfc j sioal bestowments of tho order. Previous to tho elose of tho first quarter of the present century Freo Masonry seemod to bo in a most nourishing condition, though a retrospect en ables us now to seo that its prosperity was bused rather on the number of its members than on the . operation of Us principles; and tho affair which led to tho absenco of Air. Morgan, and tho scenes whioh resulted thorofrom, Bhowed how insinjore i were tho professions of many of the order, and how > weak wore their attachments, when a littlo profit or a little sooial distinction in politioalconsequeno* attraoted them away. Tho terrible convulsion of that period ebook masonry to its foundation; we say to, not at or in its foundations. Thousands who had joined the order wore as ignorant of its character as vero tho uninitiated, und many of them beoamo truly alarmod and fled; and here and there a Judas w»s i seen making his forty pieces of money by betrayol. It is true that the betrayal was in as bad filth to those who ©neouruged and rewarded the trea chery as it was to tho Dotrayed. Butall servodto augment excitement; and one result was thitimst of tho lodges in this State gave up their obarters; some disgracefully loft charter and furniture to rhe rabble, while othors ■="re kept togothor by tho de voted power of two * threo momoera who assem bled to mourn over the desolation of their bclored order, and to keop alive ou their altar the linger ing spark of masonic feeling and vitality which , told of other fires. At that time, such was tho zeal of opponents, and such and so much worse was tho confirmatory sontimont of some nasons, and many who pretended to be friends, that any, human institute, save masonry, mus&ftavefallen; j and nothing but the inherent spirit of true bene-1 volenoo, amL a, holy resolution ip the' feV that . iUa. t>rdcr and rtafqtfd tmr I constitutional rights could havo kept FreoMasory from annihilation. A part of that persecution ad suffering came from tho plethoric condition of te lodges—the rash, sudden admission of mombet Two or threo seemod bv their exertions to mail tain what two or three hundred would havo eitht willingly destroyed or havo carelessly or indiffe rontly left to destruction. SVo allude tothatcir i oumstanco to show bow in this country, perhaps li other countries, minority parties in politics art ready to augment their number by the adoption ot factions, and to identify with their own principles tho heresies of the excommunicated—heresies which, without regard to the advantage from the number of thoso who profess them, they would re pudiate with scorn ns contaminating and odious. It is true in all political schism, that a littlo success is necessary to tho destruction of its orga nization; and tho triumphs of thoso who opposed Free Masonry and persecuted Freo Masons, threw upon them the rcsi>onsibilitics of office, whioh they hud sought; and us the cares and temptation of office wore above their ability to sustain or resist, they fell. Public loss and public disgrace, conse quent upon tbeir triumphs, were forgotten in the benefits resulting from tholr defeat. riinoo that time Free Masonry has been recover ing whut aho lost, and adding to all former pros perity. Under admirable administration, it is re markably successful in this State, while through out tho whole countiyitis flourishing and doing good. Whut is to be feared at the prosent time, is what ciyiscd the extent of the evil thirty years ago—too groat accession to numbers, and 100 littlo atteutiou to discipline and instruction. Though rnanv of the oiroumstances that called for tho establishment of Free Masonry have ceased, and sooial life is almost every whoro different, yot Free Masonry having been founded on the great want of the human heart, and supplied with means to gratify that heart, will survive all circum stances that belong to life, becauso it is adapted to all circumstances in which human beings can bo ' pluood; and its charities, if not required, as once they wore, in a physical form, ure just as operative, just as characteristic, just as useful in tne moral exhibition and influence. It is sometimes as good to make possessions useful, by supplying means and motives for enjoyment, as it is to furnish the eleemosynary aid towards physical comfort: And the smilo of recognition in tho midst of savage men and strange scenes, is as gratifying as tue obelus that solicitation extorts from the opulent. While social affection exists, and is worth culti vating. Free Masonry is likely to flourish; and we hold it as an e> idenco of the extent of that affec tion, that lodges are founded and uro operative in almost every seetion of our country, especially in our own Stato And while wo wish to show tho success which comes from tho cureful exercise of authority und the administration of tho great moral interests of tho cruft, wo wish happiness und render honor to thoso who are entrusted with the great work of directing an institution that has trom the remotest poriods oxercised beneficial in fluence on all who haio boon admitted to its se cret* and enjoyments. We havo spoken of masonry as an institution of our country. It is, of courso, an institution of al most all couutries; but here in this country it has been remurkable for success, and whiloinull coun tries it is doing its work of good, it if perhaps iu this country rnoro extensively operative, in conse queupo of the general equality or citizens, realizing on*; of tho happy ideas of Masonry, and thus as sisting in its establishment and perpetuation. It uiuy, at somo iuture time, be worth while, after seeing and comparing tho iuflaence of our W’ido-spread domain upon tho habits of the people, uud tne value which exposure in border regions gives to Free Masonry, to inquire what is the effect of the semi-solitary and tho half nomodio life of our border country upon thq character of our people, how far it influence* the spirit of indepen dence that characterizes our people, and how far a self dopcndonco which is strengthened ami ex ercised and sometimes begotten by the isolated condition of the bordereitizun, influences his moral sense, and particularly how it affects his views of religious dependence; what effect it has to teach him to respect laws in projsirtion to their beneficial in fluence on his immediate interest, and how it ge nerates in him an impatience of all authority iu religious creeds. Tno subject selected, connected with that which is tho theme of theso remarks, as regarded in rela tion to general morals and religious dependence, is worthy consideration. [For the Press.] LEIIIGII COUNTV There is an old saying floating up and down the world, to tho effect that “ Nature ever pack* her choicest jewels in the smallest possible space " and it is one whioh is very truo when appliod to thnt portion of the State which is known (whero it i< known at nil) as “Little Lehigh.” Littlo sho cer tainly is, so little, indeed, that she is regularly neglected in the apportionment bills, and always forgotten in the distribution of offices by the State and National Administrations. 'Whether this arises from the modesty of her citizens, or their want of merit, T will not stop to inquire, hut it is certainly true that inevery thing wind ought to make a people happy at home and respected abroad, she stands in tho very front rank of inlaid counties. The eldest daughter of old Northampton, she has well nigh outgrown her mother, and stands byhersido to-day equal in everything that i<* worth iegarding, except perhaps politioul prefer ment. In politics tho same—in majorities her rival— she is in this particular woll worthy her *• mater nal ancestor, while in general intelligence, in dustry, wealth and beauty she is second to none in tho State Look a; ker Boil—every luilo of it is loaded with the richest agricultural products. Her farmers aroniasteraof tho art. and their organized asso ciation oneafthe best in the Commonwealth. Look atlwr soil—rich to tho centre with every varioty of nineral, from zino to iron, with slate, fire-clay ana porcelain in abundanoo, from which tho kilns nnl furnaces which groan and smoke along the Leligh, from Mauch Chunk to the De laware, deriv) the supplies by which they live. See herbroid and pleusant waters —her gushing silver springs, her clear cold trout streams, and her counties* peasant della and quiet cooks lying between the lofty hills, that plena tha clouds, not mere barren cliffs—but clothed with verdure to their summits. Pass through the heart of the land, and mark her numerous thriving villages, her well-kept farms, with hams that are an hundred feet in length, (and fall at that.) Note the absence of ovory thing like poverty or want—tho oheorful, earnest industry of her people—tho honest and contented faces that aro met with every where— her well-ordered roads —her numerous and' well built bridges that span every stream and rivulet within her borders, and you will agree with me in all that I have said. Would you eoe one of the most thriving towns intheStato? Visit Allentown, (her soatof ju 3 . tiee.) which has been for some time past running up from one to three hundred houses per annum, and has nono untenanted —with its lofty location, free from all malaria—its broad avenues lined with well-built, capacious houses—with its two academios and twenty public schools, training up the young, aud its eight newspaper establish ments, carrying to every home instruction for the old—watered in evory part from one of the clear est, coldest springs that ever gushed from rock or hill, and lighted with gas (the result of private enterprise) equal to thel>est. Would you Know how iron can be made when attempted in the right place? Go to the Allentown works—to Catasaqua —to Hogncndagra and the Lehigh furnace, where from ten to fifteen hundred tons of metal cun be made per week, and where one-sixth of all that the country makes is pro duced. Would you see bow human ingenuity and skill can t ran sftjnn one of the roughest of our native rocks into g nc3 t articles of luxury? Visit Statington.whenco hundreds of thousands of school and roofing slates are sent every year, and the costliest marbles of the world are so closely ijni tated as to defy dotection, and where every thing that is made of stune for ornament or use, is pro duced in a style of unsurpassable elegance and beauty from an article so rough, and uncomely as slate. Would vou see tho most remarkable viaduct that is to be found in the land? Visit the Low throup iron bridge on the Catasaqua Railroad, a combination of cast and wrought iron, whioh the. engineer has pQisod ninetyTlefefc in the air, on slendet iron columns, reachm ,-jjpm hill to bill, a distance of over eleven iumdira feet,.making the longest, most ttrial, hovel and beautiful iron structure iu America; or that humbler but still re markable viaduct connecting the lower and upper wards of Allentown, with its nineteen lofty and substantial arches, nearly a thousand feet in length —the longest stone bridge in the State. Or if you prefer to look on nature's wonders, go to the famous u Prospect Rock,” where bigb above the rest of the world can “ hear the thunder talk and see tho lightnings flash from cloud w .cloud,” when tho storm-spirit is abroad; or when the air is clear your eyes can wander at will over hundreds of miles of land cultivated and lovely as tho sun ever shone on. These sights and scenes are all in Lehigh, and within three hours ride of Philadelphia, unknown to her pleasure-seeking citizens, who annually wander off into other States in search of the “ pic* turesque and beautiful.” This should not, must not, will not be the case much longer. The railroads that are stretching their iron arms over all the land will introduce our metropolitan pleasure-seekers to our own beau ties, and when that time does come round, they will find a full share of it in little Lehigh. W. \TEMS OF FOREIGN NEWS. Tho Emperor and Empress of the French are about paying a private visit to Queen Victoria, at hor marine residence, in the Isle of Wight. It is denied that they meant to visit the Art Exhibi tion in Manchester. No wonder, for that city b a hundred times more smoky than Pittsburgh, and almost as dirty as New York. In September, Queen Victoria would pay a return visit to Fon tainblcau. Yet, two months ago, Lord Palmerston stated in the House of Commons thav the Queen had “no pleasure” in receiving Napoleon and Eugenie on a former occasion, that her doing so was a distasteful act of duty, and that she disliked tho expense. Tho Prince of Wales, travelling incognito, has visited the battle-field of Waterloo, and then proceeded on his journey to Germany. Tho first act of the nev Parliament, which has just taken effect, was the granting an annuity of B,OQOf. a year to the Princess Royal, to com mence on her approaching marriage. The sum of 70,000/. was also voted tc her out of the publio money, as an outfit. It is believed in Beilin, that January 18 of next year has boon definitely fixed on for the nup tials of tho Princess Royal cf England and Prince Frederick William. Originally the Prince's own birth-day, Octobor 18 *f this yoar, was selected il»r the event, probably by the Prince himself, and subsequently the Princess’s birth-day, November 21, that being the day cn which she will complete her seventeenth year. The reason for this further postponement of the carriage is said to he the impossibility of completing the palace now being prepared for the reception of the Princess before the beginning of next year. According to a letter from the Hague, the Queen-Mother of Holand is shortly to proceed to London, a marriage being projected between the Prince of Orange and the Princess Alice of Eng land. The future wife of the King of Portugal is the Princess Elizabeth Amelia Eugenia, Duchess of Bavaria, born on tho 24th of December, 1837. Sho is the daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph. Tho King of Portugal will thus become the bro ther-in-law of the Emperor of Austria, who mar ried the eldest daughter of the Duke. It has beon announced to the Senate at Madrid tbit the Queen of Spain is enciente. No one has openly asked—Who is the pspa? A Parliamentary return has just been pub lished, giving the names, owners, date of build, port,- length, breadth, tonnage, and horse-power of every steam-vessel registered in the United ‘ Kingdom up to the Ist cf-J»tiuary last. The total numhor is 1,669, and the total tonnage, exclusive of engine-room, is 383.598. An Exhibition of Manufactures is now open in Warsaw. It occupies seven saloons in the Go vernment Palace, and proves that manufactures in Poland are in an advanced slate. Another Circassian victory is reported, and 1000 Russians are said to have been killed. % A letter from Hong Kong states that Sir ohn Bowring and M. Be Bourcoulon, the French linister, were to leave Singapore at the beginning f the summer, to meet Lord Elgin and Baron G ros. o important operations wore to be undertaken ifore the arrival of the Ambassadors of the two g>at Powers. At the latest date, Lord Elgin had aivod at Singapore. Vdvices from Naples state that there has ju&bccn discovered in the island of Ischia a large mb of rock-salt, which maybe worked at a very dififc cost, and bo made a considerable article of expiation. L Pays ci ntradicts the statement respect ing n insurrectional movement having taken plaedn Sicily. Lehrs from Boulogne say that the Pope had bin very badly received in that town, in con sequent of certain liberties requested by the popular not having been granted. The Papal proccssn was received with groans and hisses. At Ravina, tho municipal authorities presented an addrs which was the opposite to satisfactory. All Ifnbardy is in consternation about the eilkworulisease, which is -destroying the richest and mostlentihil crop in that province. There are many>roprietors who will not get silk enough to pay ha the cost of cultivation. There wo been fanatical outrages at Tunis, in whioh. Jew has been slaughtered for blas pheming hhommeduoism. The RU'ian Minister of War has authorized the of the Commissariat to proceed to Paris, at thr own expense, in order to study the French lanfag e , and the organization of the mili tary admiiur&*\ons of France. Several of them have just themselves of the permission. The editor of the Movimento y cf Genoa, has b>n condemned to a fortnight’s im prisonment a* a fine of SUOL, for an insulting artiolo on Naifoon 111. A hundredclectric clocks are about to be established in ‘russets. The municipal authori ties have acuuaitod the inhabitants of some of the streets that tnc Ires will run along the top of their houses, and callipon them to allow the workmen to make the nectrary arrangements. The colossal unnon, ordered by the English Go\ eminent, durag the Eastern war, of M. Mou tigny, of Brussels has been despatched from that capital to Woeltfch, whero it will shortly be tried. It is louduuat the breech, and is of gigan tic dimensions. The aufeWitittf of the Province of Lower Austria have refusod periaisiion to establish matri monial ngenoies at Vienna. A letter from Chamouni, quoted by GaUig~ Haiti'* Messenger* says that on the morning of Juno 28, a young Frenchman, whose name is not given, set out to asconi Mont Blanc, and in the aftonoon of the 29th, succeeded in reaching the summitof the mountain ', he afterwards defended in safety. Both the nsetpt and descent were diffi cult, owing to tho uuanthf of snow on the moun tain, and to the blowing of a high wind. This ascent is tho first evermadein the month of June; the earliest on record hitherto having been tho Bth July. Between 1540 and 1856, a period of 316 years, 317 divorce acts a vinculo matrimonii were passed in Scotland. Darin; the last decennium. 99 decrees of divorce had betn granted at the suit of husbands, and 75 at the Sait of wives, making a total of 174 Tho estates of James SaAlier, the Irish de faulter. have been sold in the Incumbered Estates Court, at tho suit of the officialmanagcr for wind ing up tho affairs of the Tipp«rary Bank. The sale wna most successful, and is t striking proof of the surprising increase within a ew brief years of the value of land in Ireland. Tie gross total was 2(1,600/. on a nominal rental of something over 1,200/. a year The immense estates of JohuSad lier are not to be put up for aale intil November next. They are valued at betwom 250,000/. and 300,000/ The British Association for ‘ho Advance ment of Soionco will hold their mxt meeting at l)uidin. commencing on August 26, ,nder the Pre sidency of tho llev. 11. Lloyd, D. D The authorities along tho French frontiers have received strict instructions not to admit in future any foreigner into Francewso cannot prove that he lias pecuniary means at bis disposal, and that ho is certain of obtaining wort. The Customs duties in Livctpool for the year 1856-57, were 3,837.679/. 12s. being an in crease on those of the previous yeai of 159.570/. A Parliamentary return, just printed, shows that tho quantity of cheese imported into the Uni ted Kingdom in 1856 was 349,010 o*t. from differ ent parts of Europe; 66,000 cut. from the United Statos. and 90 cwt. from the British colonios— making a total of 406,000 cwt. The failures in Melboune, Australia, for four years, Teach 2.827.000/. The composition paid averaged 6jd. in the pound. Some idea of the enormois amount of cor respondence carried on betwetn Eugland and her Intfian empire, may be gathered from tho fact that the Indian mail from London last consisted of 133 boxes, each box weighing on an avorage nearly 28 pounds. The Turkish officer* tvho have been in Liego for some time past studying the manufac ture of arms have, it is said, received orders to quit Belgium, in consequence of the diplomatic diffi* culty that has taken place between that country and tho Sublime Porte. Races have been held at the “ Sweet Waters of Europe,” near Constantinople. Mr. Stamp!, Jr-? won the first prize, and the horse ho rode was English. The second prist w»9 adjudged to ft bum belonging to Lord SnUTFonn j>z RBDctiyrs; it wa3 ridden by a groom of his Lordship*?. 1 Tho Port of Sebastopol Is now almost en tirely abandoned, as it is less advantageous for commerce than that of Kamiosch, and is only frequented by a very few fishermen, who sell their cargoes to persons who hawk fish about tha interior. According to accounts received from Persia, the export ol silver has been forbidden iu that kingdom. The Emperor and Empress of Russia are travelling in Germany. They preserved their in cognito in Hamburgh, Hanover, and Gottengen, and would meet the Dowager Empress at Kissen gen. The Emperor is travelling under the incog vito of Count Vos Babodixskx, and is accompa nied by a suite of more than two hundred persons, including the servants The Grand Dakt-M'CBiEL, wqo accompanies the Emperor, is the youngest son of the late Emperor Nicholas. He is now on a matrimonial excursion, being engaged to a risier of the Grand Duke of Baden. Their nuptials will take place at Carlsruhe in the course of the ensu ing month. Ihc Grand Duke Constaxtixe under takes the supreme conduct of Stale anairs in tho absence of th® Emperor. It j a itated that he trill, in the course of the summer, make a trip to the Caucasus. nod on that occasion inspect the flotilla in the Caspian Sea. It appears from the vague accounts from Delhi, that the insurgents have sacked the Delhi Bank, and obtained .£150,000 in specie. The Delhi Bank is a respectable joint-stock establishment, which was founded about fourteen years ago with a paid up capital of £lBO,OOO. It has agencies in London. Calcutta, Bombay. Madras, and Cawn pore. Its manager was Mr. George Beresford, (who was saved), and the deputy-manager and accountant were also Earope&ns. It is assamed that whatever specie loss the bank may have sus tained, will he regarded as a claim upon the Go vernment. Prince Gortschakoff, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, is shortly expected in the Ans trian capital. His visit is attributed to a com mencement of more friendly relations between the Court* of St. Petersburg and Vienna, the feat act of which would be a treaty of commerce. George Strphenson, the Father oi Railroad*. Though mainly an engineer, he was also a daring thinker on many scientific questions; and there was scarcely a subject of specula tion, or a department of recondite science, on which he had not employed his faculties in such a way as to have formed large and ori ginal views. At Drayton the conversation often turned upon such topics, and Mr. Ste phenson freely joined in it. On one occasion, an animated discussion took place between himself and Dr. Buckland on one of his favor ite theories as to the formation of coal. But tho result was, that Dr. Buckland, a much greater master of tongue-fence than Stephen son, completely silenced him. Next morning before breakfast, when he wm. walking in the grounds deeply pondering, Sir William Fol lett came np and asked him what he was thinking about 1 “ Why, Sir William, I am thinking over that argument I had with Buck land last night. I blow lam right, and that if I had only the-command of words which ho lias, I'd have beaten him.” “Let me know all about it,” said Sir William, « and I’ll see what I can do for you.” The two sat down in an arbor, where the astute lawyer imub. himself thoroughly acquainted with the points of the case; entering into it with all the zeal of an advocate about to plead the dearest in terests of his client. After he had mastered the subject, Sir William rose np, rubbing his hands with glee, and said, “Now I am ready for him.” Sir Robert Peel was made ac quainted with the plot, and adroitly introduced the subject of the controversy after dinner. The result was, that in the argument which followed, the man of science was overcome by the man of law; and Sir Wn.m« Follxtt had at all points the mastery over Dr. BrcK land. “What do you soy, Mr Stephenson?” asked Sir Robert, laughing. “Why,” said ho, “ 1 will only sav this, that of all the powers above aud under the earth, there seems to me to be no power so gveat as the gift of gab.” One day, at dinner, during the same visit, a scientific lady asked him the question, “ Mr. Stephenson, what do yon consider the most powerful force in nature 1” “ O!” said he, in a gallant spirit, “I will soon answer that ques •ion: it is the eye of a woman for the man who loves her; for if a woman look with affec tion on a young man; and he should go to the uttermost ends of the earth, the recoilectioD of that look will bring him hack: there is no other force in nature that could do that.” One Sunday, when the party had just returned from church, they were standing together on the terrace near the hall, and observed in the dis tance a railway train dashing along, throwing behind it a long line of whits steam. “ Now, Buckland,” said Mr. Stephenson, “ I have a poser for yon. Can you tell me what is tho power that is driving that train ?” “ Well,” said the other, “ I suppose it is one of your big engines.” “ Bnt what drives the engine?” “O, very likely a canny Newcastle driver.” “ What do you say to the light of the sun?” “ How can that be ?” asked the doctor. “It is nothing else,” said the engineer; “it is light bottled np in the earth for tens of thou sands of years,—light, absorbed by plants and vegetables, being neoessary for the condensa tion of carbon during the process of their growth, if it be not carbon in anotter form,- and now, after being buried in the earth f long ages in fields of coal, that latent light' again brought forth and liberated, made to work, as in that locomotive, for great human purposes.” The idea was certainly a most striking and original one; like a flash of light it illuminated in an instant an entire field of science.— Life of Geo. Stephenson. SONG OF THE HOOPS. Sailing down the crowded street;-' Scraping every one they meet, * With a rushing whirlwind sound, • Muffled belles around abound. Hoop! hoop! hoop f What a vast, expansive swoop! Hoops of whalebone, short and crisp, Hoops of wire, thin as a wisp; Hoops of brass,’thirteen yards long. Hoops of steel, confirm'd and strong; Hoops of rubber, soft and slick. Hoops of roping, bungling thick ; Hoops of lampwiok, cord, and leather. Hoops that languish in wet weather; Hoops that spread out silken skirts, Hanging off frovt^ silly fiirts. Sweeping off the public lands, Turning over apple-stands; Felling children to the ground. As they flaunt and whirl around. Hoop! hoop! hoop! What a vast expansive swoop! Jolly hoops, that wriggle round, Sober hoops, that sway profound; Springy hoops, that shake and wag. Broken hoops, that droop and drag; Monster hoops, all overgrown, Junior hoops, of smaller bone; Hoops that ravish lovers eyes, Hoops that rend their breasts with size; Hoops that ebook their feeble legs, Like a crowd of giant kegs. What gallant ships! what swelling sails! How they Tesist opposing gales! With what a full, relentless waft. They overwhelm each smaller craft 1 Hoop! hoop! hoop! What a vast, expansive swoop! Harpers Magazine THE.3CUMfbO-flrst discovered gold in Cal ifornia; has become a poor man and homeless. The papers announce the sale of Hock Farm, the home of Gen. Sutter, on Feather river, under the Sheriff’s hammer. This was the last of the magnificent domain, which, at one time, was the property of General Sutter, in California. His generous unsuspecting nature was not sufficient to cope with the shrewdness of lawyers and speculators, when his lands became of value; and so they have all been wrested from him, much of them, by what, in the parlance of trade, would be called “legit imate transactions;” much by bare-faced fraud, says the Alta newspaper. Ex-Presidext Yaw Burex.—The now very aged, but yet scarcely venerable Van Buren, was at Mr.’ Marcy’s funeral, with his old bright, healthy look, and smiling as ewaifernot solemn even in the presence of solemnity seems impossibleforhis ever happy face. He docs not show over sixty, and his hair is no whiter than it has been for twenty-five years. He walked in vigor from the capital after the ceremonies were over, to take the cars at the river for his home in Kinderhook. To-day he looks younger even ex-Presidem Pierce, with whom, side by side, hcentered the assem bly chamber.— New York'Express. Impertinent is stated that President Buchanan is greatly annoyed by tho receipt of innumerable letters addre>sed him, soliciting money on all sorts of pretexts in sums from $2O to $3,000. He lately KvL ived a letter from a young man in Virginia, with the modest request for the sum of $9OO, stating that he was very poor, and greatly in love w ith a young lady to whom he was engaged, and who he was bound to marry, but that he could not do so without the assistance of a loan of $9OO, and he appealed to the President, as the father of the republic, to assist him in his distress! Many letters of the same ridiculous character are received, exciting the mirth of the President, but which of course, receive no notice. Mormon Newspapers.—The Mormons, be side their papers published in Utah, have “ The Mormon.” published in the city of New York, “ The Western Standard,” San Fran cisco, California, « The Millenhl Star,” Liv erpool, England, «Zi( q’s Trumpet,” Wales, “The Scandinavian Star,” Copenhagen, Den mark, “Zion's Watchman,” Australia, and “The Truthteller,” Geneva, Switzerland.— They have missionaries in France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Gibraltar, Cape of Good Hope, East Indies and China, lu the towns of Erie and Veteran, in Chemung county, New York, they hare a regular church, with an elder or minister, who claims a mirac ulous power of healing the sick by imposition of hand*, casting out devils, &c., &c. Pbevention op Hydrophobia.—A Saxon ranger, now 82 years old, and not willing to take tb« secret to his grave, publishes the following re medy for the bite of mad dogs, which he success fully applied to man and beast daring 25 years: The wound most immediately be washed out with warm vinegar or lukewarm water', and wiped dry; after which pour a few drops of mineral muriauo acid into the wound, mineral acid dissolving tha poisonous foAm,and so preventing the sad effect. Where no muriatic acid can be had, the wound in the meantime mast be washed out with a strong solution of saltwater, and the acid pwaitd mUjr.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers