dramatized so often as to have become perfectly tedious. The piece indeed, as a whole, will add nothing to Mr. Peake's reputation: it is not, in fact, a dramatic compositionthere is too much of the "Wit-snapper" about it. Strings of puns, good, bad, and

indifferent, are very well in their places; but the writer who would earn a lasting reputation must supply us with something better: they will do for the garnish, but are not substantial enough of themselves to furnish out the meal.

MARGATE HEALTH-HUNTING.

"Come to Margate," says Mrs. Abrahams, "there you will get a colour and an appetite,bless you." Well, down they all go. First they take a warm bath, then a cold bath-floundering about for an hour in the water -stay out sauntering about in the night air...poke themselves into crowded libraries and dancing-rooms-go to bed at break of day-and then come to town in a fever! Thus it has been lately with several; and we at present visit a case which has had a narrow escape from death-all brought on by health-hunting at Margate.-Let people, if they go to watering places for health, go to bed at ten o'clock-rise early,-immerse themselves in the water daily, and instantly leave it-live moderate-and mix with the amusements only at proper hours, and they will return with improved health and spirits; but Margate now a-days, since steam came into fashion, is the place to become an invalid.

LORD BYRON.

Lord Byron, like his predecessors Napoleon and Dr. Johnson, it appears has also had his Boswell, in the person of Captain Medwin, a cousin of the late Percy Bysshe Shelley. This gentleman, who we understand is distinguished for his literary attainments, went to Italy in the autumn of 1821 for the benefit of his health, and residing for a considerable period with Lord Byron at Pisa, on the most familiar terms, was in the daily habit of noting down his conversations for his own amusements, and to curious matter for private reference. He alleges, that although the various communications were made to him without any injunctions to sececry, they would not have been given to the world had it not been for the destruction of his Lordship's own memoirs, which he

considers to have been the inheritance of the public, and their suppression a serious loss.

AFRICAN LIONS.

The first number of the South African Journal, published at the Cape of Good Hope, contains some very interesting details respecting the Lions of that country. The writer says, that beyond the limits of the colony, they are accounted peculiarly fierce and dangerous, and he thinks Mr. Barrow's representation, that they are cowardly and treacherous, is a conclusion drawn from limited experience or inaccurate information. "The prodigious strength of this animal (he observes) does not appear to have been overrated. It is certain that he can drag the heaviest ox with ease a considerable way; and a horse, heifer, hartebeest, or lesser prey, he finds no difficulty in throwing over his shoulder and carrying off to any distance he may find convenient. I have myself witnessed an instance of a very young lion conveying a horse about a mile from the spot where he had killed it and a more extraordinary case has been mentioned to me on good authority, where a lion, having carried off a heifer of two years old, was followed on the track for five hours, above 30 English miles, by a party on horseback; and throughout the whole distance, the carcase of the heifer was only once or twice discovered to have touched the ground. The Bechuano Chief, old Peyshow (now in Cape Town) conversing with me a few days ago, said that the lion very seldom attacks man if unprovoked; but he will frequently approach within a few paces and survey him steadily; and sometimes he will attempt to get behind him, as if he could not stand his look, but was yet desirous of springing upon him unawares. If a person in such circum

stances attempts either to fight or fly, he incurs the most imminent peril; but if he has sufficient presence of mind coolly to confront him, without appearance of either terror or aggression, the animal will in almost every instance after a little space, retire. The overmastering effect of the human eye upon the lion has been frequently mentioned, tho' much doubted by travellers; but, from my own inquiries among lion-hunters, I am perfectly satisfied of the fact; and an anecdote related to me a few days ago by Major Mackintosh, proves that this fascinating effect is not restricted to the lion. An Officer in India, well known to my informant, having chanced to ramble into a jungle, suddenly encountered a Royal Tyger. The rencounter appeared equally unexpected on both sides, and both parties made a dead halt, earnestly gazing on each other. The gentleman had no fire-arms, and was aware that a sword would be no effective defence in a struggle for life with such an antagonist. But he had heard that even the Bengal tyger might be sometimes checked by looking him firmly in the face. He did so. In a few minutes, the tyger, which appeared prepared to make his final spring, grew disturbed-slunk aside-and attempted to creep round upon him behind. The Officer turned constantly upon the tyger, which still continued to shrink from his glance; but darting into the thicket, and again issuing forth at a different quarter, it persevered for above half an hour in this attempt to catch him by surprize; till at last it fairly yielded the contest, and left the gentleman to pursue his pleasure walk. The direction he now took, as may be easily believed, was straight to the tents to double quick time."-After relating several terrific stories of encounters with lions, the writer concludes his article with one, not quite so fearful, related by Lucas Van Vuuren, a Vee Boor, his neighbour at the Bavian's river :"Lucas was riding across the open plains about daybreak, and observing a Lion at a distance, he endeavoured to avoid him by making a circuit. Lucas soon perceived that he was not dis

:

posed to let him pass without further parlance, and that he was rapidly approaching to the encounter, and being without his roer (rifle) and otherwise little inclined to any closer acquaintance, he turned off at right angles

laid the sambok freely to his horse's flank, and gallopped for life. The horse was fagged, and bore a heavy man on his back; the lion was fresh, and furious with hunger, and came down upon him like a thunderbolt ! In a few seconds he overtook Lucas, and springing up behind him, brought horse and man in an instant to the ground. Luckily the boor was unhurt, and the lion was too eager in worrying the horse to pay any immediate attention to the rider. Hardly knowing himself how he escaped, he contrived to scrambled out of the fray, and made a clean pair of heels of it till he reached the nearest house. Lucas, who gave me the details of this adventure himself, made no observations on it as being any way remarkable, except in the circumstance of the lion's audacity in pursuing a "Christian man" without provocation in open day! But what chiefly vexed him in the affair was the loss of the saddle. He returned next day with a party of friends to take vengeance on his feline foe; but both the lion and saddle had disappeared, and nothing could be found but the horse's clean-picked bones. Lucas said, he could have excused the schelm for killing the horse, as he had allowed himself to get away, but the felonious abstraction of the saddle (for which, as Lucas gravely observed, he could have no possible use) raised his spleen mightily, and called down a shower of curses whenever he told the story of this hairbreadth escape.”

EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON.

Our correspondent at Leeds has forwarded to us the following account of one of the most extraordinary phenomena of which we remember to have seen an account in

England:-"On Thursday last, the 2d inst. at Haworth, five miles south of Keighley, in the West Riding of York, and on the borders of Lancashire, about six o'clock in the evening, a part of the highlands on the Stanbury-moor opened into a chasm, and sunk to the depth of six yards, in some places exhibiting a ragged appearance, and forming two principal cavities-the one was about 200 yards, and the other not less

From

than 600 yards in circumference. these hollows issued 2 immense volumes of muddy water, and uniting at a distance of upwards of 100 yards from their sources, constituted, for about two hours, an overwhelming flood from 40 to 50 (sometimes 70) yards in width, and seldom less than four yards in depth. This dark slimy mixture of mud and water followed the course of a rivulet, overflowing its banks for 20 or 30 yards on each side, and to the distance of seven or eight miles from the immediate irruption; all this way there is deposited a black moorish substance, varying from eight to 36 inches in depth, and mixed occasionally with sand and rocky fragments, pieces of timber, and uprooted trees, which had been borne along by the impetuous torrent. This heavy and powerful stream broke dowu one solid stone bridge, made breaches in two others, clogged up and stopped several mills, laid flat and destroyed several whole fields of corn, and overthrew to the foundation several hedges and walls. In its course it entered the houses, floating the furniture about, to the astonishment and terror of the inhabitants. At the time of the irruption the clouds were copper-coloured,and lowering ; the atmosphere was strongly electric, and unusually close and sultry. There was at the same time loud and frequent thunder, with much zigzag lightnings, peculiarly flaring and vivid. The whole is conjectured by the neighbours to be caused by some subterraneous commotion, the most considerable as to its results that has taken place in the kingdom for many generations. The river Aire, at Leeds, presented the effects of this phenomenon last Friday afternoon: the water that came down the river was in such a polluted state as to have poisoned great quantities of fish; and the water continuing in much the same turbid state, has become entirely useless for culinary purposes as well as for dyers, &c.

FOLLOWERS OF JOANNA SOUTHCOTE. On Saturday week, an application was made for an officer to protect a house near Whitehall, at the back of the County-terrace, New Kent-road When he got there, he discovered the windows were broken, and the neighbourhood had been greatly disturbed by a crowd of persons who had assembled round the house a few days before. The cause of the crowd assembling was reported to be owing to some ceremonies which were carrying on by the followers of Joanna Southcote; and it was alleged by the spectators, that an old woman was then lying in state to personate the prophetess (Joanna) and that several wax dles were disposed about the room. old Lady who had thus undertaken to perform the part of a corpse, had so well executed her task, that it was almost doubtful, on the first glance, whether she was or was not a corpse. Prayers were offered up by a sort of High Priest of the prophetess. While this was being carried on, the crowd

can

The

on the outside were very noisy. However, nothing serious occurred, and the ceremony was completed. Another day a pig was killed and placed in a coffin; it was then carried to Norwood, where it was burnt. The ashes were collected and preserved, and a portion of them was folded up in paper, and given to the believers. The animal was accompanied to the place where it was burnt by a considerable party, some armed with sabres. The house, in which the ceremony of lying in state was performed, on being inspected, betrayed that apprehensions had been entertained by the occupiers, that it might possibly be entered by the Police, for it was completely stripped of all the paraphernalia of Office, not a book nor a vestige of the ceremony having been left behiud.

LONGEVITY.

The ex

In the commune of Esladens, Upper Garonne,there died on the 22d ult. a man of the name of Stephen Baque, who was upwards of 124 years of age, He was born on the 16th of January, 1700. For the last sixty years, he constantly traversed the Pyrenees, collecting medicinal herbs, and living on the charity of the peasantry. cess of alms which his extraordinary reputation for sanctity obtained, he distributed among the poor; and, relying on general benevolence, he repeatedly refused the succours even of Government. His grotesque dress excited surprise, and his piety commanded respect wherever he went. His memory, which continued unimpaired to the last, was so strong as to enable him to recognize his friends after 50 or 60 years of absence, and recount to youngsters of 80, the occurrences which took place in the days of their grandfathers.

LITERARY NOVELTIES.

It is whispered about, that the author of try in the press; consisting of one princi"Pleasures of Hope" has a volume of Poepal, and several minor poems.

The author of the "Stories of Old Daniel," &c. &c. has a new work in the press, entitled "The Sisters of Nansfield, a Tale for young Women."

Mr. Boaden's Life of Mr. Kemble is now

THE heather bell it bloomit fair,
And featly waved aboon the Dee;
The heather bell shall bloom nae mair-
Its sweets are wallowit on the lea.

My ain true luve was winsome and gay,
And bonnie and sheen as the sun at noon :

My true luve will nae more be sae

The lang grass whistles her corse aboon.

Banchorie's fairest flower is gaen!

She sleeps beneath yon willow tree :

And slumber wi' her, ilka ane,

The joys whilk budded ance for me.

Nae mair wi' canty heart I ride

The muir, the glen, and the braid heath ower, And blithely prove what fae daur bride

The welcome keen o' a Scot's claymore.

The sparkling e'e that my welcome sang,
The heart sae couthie she prest me tee,
The tongue
that sae sweetly my stay ca'd lang→→
O they slumber beneath the willow tree.

The hand that softly smoothed my bree,

The pouting lip that a kiss wad hae,
The looks sae fond that were a' to me-
Nae mair shall sweetly my toils repay.
My claymore I unbelt, and my basnet unbrace,
And a' the glories o' war forswear ;

I sought my reward in my Marian's face-
It yields it not now, and I seek't nae mair.

Below, my Marian,-hush thee, my maiden-
Saft and sweet may thy slumbers be!

I the? e'en come hither, with fresh flowers laden,
And strew them under the willow tree.

Yet I'll mind thee, too-glances like thine,
Ever roving thus o'er the bright sky,

As in search of some lover divine,

Would be wiser if pointed less high. Aud man, though a rude ark he be,

Hath a treasure, hath a treasure in his breast, Which if once he can make woman see,

Oh! she'll have it, oh! she'll have it ere she rest Then may I not, &c.

"A LACK a-day," exclaimed aunt Deborah, on throwing down the newspaper, which she had been reading, "what will folks come to at last? I declare, my poor brain is all in a whirly-gig at the number of advertisements that are here before me; why there's not such a thing as an old woman to be met with in London. I've made a pretty kettle of fish of my matters; all my clothes, bought only two or three years ago, are antiquated. I am told that I must not wear an article of my wardrobe; my jewels must be reset, my hair must be hidden, my eye-brows must be coloured. and I must be wholly transmogrified, and all this to please my two giddy nieces, who look to inheriting my fortune, and who say that they would be ashamed of me if I went out as discreetly and respectably dressed as I used to do when I visited our neighbour the rich squire, or the mayor of our county town. Then again, how to choose amongst all these ornaments for the person, and these infallible cures for old age? Here (putting on her spectacles and taking up the paper) here we have a Kalydor, the meaning of which I don't understand, which is to beautify the plainest face, there a bloom to restore the spring tint to features, of which autumn had long ago taken leave. In another long advertisement we find oils to make a plentiful crop grow upon a sterile forehead, and bear's grease to produce hair where gone ever grew before. One puff assures us that a single dose of some revivifying cordial will impart the spark of youth to old age; another challenges all the world to make a wig like what the advertiser recommends to the public; here a whole column explains the nature of a dye, which will impart the fine jet hue of the raven to an iron-gray grandmother; there something brief, but impressive, en

courages an old maid with spare locks, greasy and straight as a pound of candles, to try Mr. Superexcellent's curling fluid, which will bestow on her nut-brown curls as thick and well formed as those of her poodle dog; self-adjusting corsets invite on one hand; a more improved model of stays invite on the other; the one is to combine ease and proportion; and to give ease to stiff rheumatism and deformity; the other is to supply the deficiences of nature, and to convert the straits of Toolong* into the harbour of breast, changing a thin neck of mutton to the plump bosom of a pigeon; then again, Circassian dews, and Bayadere tooth powders, vegetable teeth, and ivory imperceptibles, induce those whom age, accident, or decrepitude, has deprived of their grinders, or whose breath is not that of the violet, to empty their purses in order to be able to smile in spite of their teeth, and to sigh out spicy gales under the noses of admiring beaux. Every grandam expects now to be a Minor de L'Enclos, as the respectable powdered gentlemen of old times now vapour about in auburn peruques, cossacks, and whale-boned body clothes. Alas! alas! our youth is now too experienced, and old age is no longer reverend and honourable." Thus spoke aunt Deborah, when the French dress-maker appeared with a variety of dresses for her use. "Oh law," cried the old lady, "I should be starved with cold in that spider-web concern, with a taffetas slip under it, why it is only fit for a girl of thirteen ; frocks and slips indeed for the wrong side of sixty!" "Oh! milady, dat's nutting," replied Mademoiselle. "Nutting indeed; why this is a mere net to catch butterflies in." "Very well, catch what you like." "Yes, catch and catch can," said aunty; "but surely my madcap neices must have sent me this in order to laugh at me,