yond our conception, or powers of numbers. The human skin is perforated by a thousand holes in the space of a square inch. If, therefore, we estimate the surface of the body of a middle-sized man to be sixteen square feet, it must contain not fewer than 2,304,000 pores. These pores are the mouths of so many excretory vessels, which perform the important function in the animal economy of insensible perspiration. If a candle be lighted, it will then be visible above two miles round; and consequently were it placed two miles above the surface of the earth, it would fill with luminous particles a sphere whose diameter is four miles, and before it had lost any sensible part of its weight.* A quantity of vitriol being dissolved and mixed with 9,000 times as much water, will tinge the whole; consequently it will be divided into as many parts as there are visible portions of matter in that water. HISTORY OF THE BUONA- FROM NAPOLEON'S HISTORICAL MEMOIRS. The Buonapartes are of Tuscan origin. In the middle ages they figured as senators of the republics of Florence, San Miniato, Bologna, Sarzana, and Treviso; and as prelates attached to the courts of Rome. They were allied to the Medici, the Orsini, and Lomellini families. Several of them were engaged in the public affairs of their native states; whilst others employed themselves in literary pursuits at the period of the revival of letters in Italy. Giuseppe Buonaparte published one of the first regular comedies of that age, entitled The Widow; copies of which exist in the libraries of Italy, and in the royal library at Paris, where is also preserved the History of the siege of Rome, by the Constable de It is not, however, to be hence presumed that the space is filled with luminous rays, for rays of light travel 200,000 miles in a second, and 20 per second produce continuous vision. Hence if we divide the circumference, 12 miles, or 7,200,000 tenths of an inch, there will at one time be but 1,440 rays emanating from the candle, so as to produce distinct vision two miles distant in every tenth of an inch. Bourbon, of which Nicolo Buonaparte, a Roman prelate, is the author. In the fifteenth century, a younger branch of the Buonaparte family settled in Corsica. At the time of the campaign of Italy, there was no one left of all the Italian branches, but the Abbe Gregorio Buonaparte, Knight of St. Stephen, and Canon of San Miniato. He was an old man of great respectability and wealth. Napoleon, in his march on Leghorn, stopped at San Miniato, and was received with his whole staff at the house of his relation. Those who are well acquainted with the Italian language, know that it is opitional to write Buona or Bona. The members of the Buonaparte family have used both these modes of orthography indiscriminately: of two brothers it has happened that one has written his name with the u, and the other without it. It seems that the suppression of this letter was common in very ancient times. The Christian name of Napoleon has also been the subject of much discussion. It was usual in the Orsini and Lomellini families, from whom it was adopted by that of Buonaparte. The manner of writing it has been disputed in Italy. Some pretended that it was derived from the Greek, and signified Lion of the desert; others that it was derived from the Latin. The correct way of writing it, is Napoleone. This name is not found in the Roman calendar. From the searches made in the martyrologies at Rome, at the period of the Concordat, it appears that Saint Napoleone was a Greek martyr. Napoleon's great grandfather had three sons, Joseph, Napoleon and Lucien. The first of these left only one son, whose name was Charles; the second left only a daughter, named Elizabeth, who was married to the head of the Ornano family; the third was a priest, and died in 1791, aged eighty years; he was archdeacon of the chapter of Ajaccio. Charles, who thus became the only heir to his father, was the father of Napoleon. He was educated at Rome and Pisa, where he took his degree of Doctor of Laws. MUSICAL ANECDOTES. "The relative of a friend of mine,” observes Mr. Nathan in his Essay on the History and Theory of Music, "having been ordered to Devonshire for the benefit of his health, used frequently to ride out in the evening. One night as he passed a lone house, his attention was drawn towards it by sounds of such dulcet melody, that his heart became captive through his ears, and without seeing the fair siren, he was full fathom five' in love; he never rested till he obtained an introduction; his offers were accepted, and they were married. But, alas! for the waywardness of the human heart! But a short time elapsed, ere they parted, and for fifteen years were ignorant of each other's pursuits. Business called him into Scotland, when his ear, when least expected, caught the sound of that voice which had formerly made so deep an impression. The affection, which had slumbered so long, revived with fresh ardour; the hour of the evening, the similarity of situation, and the same melody, were coincidences that struck forcibly on his heart; repentant, and trembling with emotion, he rushed into the apartment where she was, and, renouncing his errors, implored her forgiveness; a reconciliation followed, and the renewal of their affection was permanent and unabated." "The story of Stradella, composer to the Opera at Venice, whom Purcell is reported to have taken for his model, is too well known to need narrating in full. On Stradella's flight with the fair Hortensia, they took refuge in Rome: The noble Venetian, with whom she had resided while taking lessons of Stradella, enraged at their perfidy, hired assassins to destroy them. For some time the bravos'search was unavailing; but at length they discovered that Stradella was to give an Oratorio of his own composition at the church of San Giovanni Laterano. Thither they repaired, with the determination of assassinating both him and his mistress as they left the church; but the beauty of the music, joined to the expressive manner of Stradella's singing, caused Compassion to enter where she had never been before, and Murder, melted by music, forsook her prey: Following Stradella from the church, the bravos confessed their errand, and the miracle his performances had caused." ORIGIN OF THE WORD LADY. The term lady (which Johnson negligently derives from the Saxon) was sometimes bestowed on women of fortune, even before their husbands had received any title which could confer distinction upon them. The cause is stated to have been this:-It was formerly the custom for the affluent to live constantly at their manor-houses in the country, where, once a week, or oftener, the Lady of the Manor used to distribute with her own hands a certain quantity of bread. She was hence denominated by those who shared her bounty,eff-day, which, in Saxon, signifies the bread giver. A gradual corruption in the mode of pronouncing this word has produced the modern Lady; and, perhaps, from this hospitable custom arose the practice universally existing, that ladies serve the meat at their own tables. THE OLDEST OIL PAINTING The oldest picture in England is the portrait of Chaucer, who died in 1402, and which was probably painted in the low countries about twenty years before his death. It was discovered in a lumber garret in the house in which Cromwell was born, at Huntingdon, by Sir Richard Phillips, in 1802, and has since been in his possession: The celebrated collector, Count Truchsess, conceived that it was first painted in water-colours, and oiled afterwards for preservation; and he certified that the name Chaucer, in the back-ground, was laid on with the painting. The next portrait, in point of antiquity, is that of King Henry IV. who began his reign in 1400, and is the property of the earl of Oxford, and kept at Hampton Court, in Herefordshire: ABSENCE OF MIND. The Rev. George Harvest, author of an elaborate Treatise on Subscription to Articles of Faith, and a volume of excellent sermons, was a most extraordinary character. A friend and he walking together in the Temple-gardens one evening, previous to the meeting of the club called the Beef-steak Club, in Ivy-lane, to which they were going, and to which Smollett, Johnson, and others belonged, Mr. Harvest picked up a small pebble, of so odd a make, that he said he would present it to Lord Bute, who was an eminent virtuoso. After they had walked some time, his friend asked him what o'clock it was to which, pulling out his watch, he answered, that they had seven minutes good: Accordingly they took a turn or two more, when, to his friend's astonishment, he threw his watch into the Thames, and with great sedateness put the pebble into his fob: Mr. Harvest being once in company with Mr. Onslow in a boat, began to read a favourite Greek author with such strange theatrical gestures, that his wig fell into the water, and so impatient was he to get it, that he jumped into the river to fetch it out, and was with difficulty fished out himself. When Lord Sandwich was canvassing the university of Cambridge for the chancellorship, Mr. Harvest, who had been his schoolfellow at Eaton, went down to give him his vote. Being at dinner there in a large company, he suddenly said—" Apropos ! whence do you, my Lord, derive your nickname of Jemmy Twitcher?" Why," answered his lordship, "from some foolish fellow." "No," replied Harvest," it is not from some, but every body calls you so." On which his lordship, to end the disagreeable conversation, put a large slice of pudding on his plate, which effectually stopped his mouth for that time. On another occasion, having accompanied the same nobleman to Calais, they walked on the ramparts. Musing on some abstract proposition, Harvest lost his company; and as he could not speak French, he was at a loss to find his way to the inn; but recollecting that the sign was the Silver Lion, he put a shilling in his mouth, and set himself in the attitude of a lion rampant. After exciting much admiration, he was led back to the inn by a soldier, who thought he was a maniac escaped from his keepers. Having to preach before the clergy at a visitation, he provided himself with three sermons for the purpose. Some wags of his brethren, to whom he mentioned the circumstance, contrived to get the sermons from his pocket, and having separated the leaves, sewed them all up without any regard to order. The doctor began his sermon, but soon lost the thread of his discourse; he became confused, but still went on, and actually preached out, first the archdeacon and clergy, next the churchwardens, and lastly the whole congregation; nor would he have concluded, if the sexton had not informed him that all the pews were empty. ON THE CHOOSING OF A WIFE. FROM THE WORKS OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH. "The next and greatest care ought to bee in the choice of a wife, and the onely danger therein is beauty, by which all men in all ages, wise and foolish, have been betrayed. And though I know it vaine to use reasons or arguments, to dissuade thee from being captivated therewith, there being few or none that ever resisted that witcherie; yet I cannot omit to warne thee, as of other things, which may bee thy ruine and destruction. For the present time, it is true, that every man preferres his fantasie in that appetite before all other worldly desires, leaving the care of honour, credit, and safety in respect thereof: but remember that though these affections doe not last, yet the bond of marriage endureth to the end of thy life; and therefore better to be borne withall in a mistress, than in a wife, for when thy humour shall change, thou art still free to chuse again (if thou give thyself that vaine liberty). "Remember, secondly, that if thou marry for beauty, thou bindest thyselfe for all thy life to that, which perchance will neither last nor please thee one yeere, and when thou hast it, it will be to thee of no price at all; for the desire dyeth when it is attained, and affection perisheth when it is satisfied. Remember when thou wert a sucking child, that then thou didst love thy nurse, and that thou wert fond of her; after a while thou didst love thy dry nurse, and didst forget the other; after that thou didst also despise her, so will it be with thee in thy liking in elder yeeres; and therefore, though thou canst not forbeare to love, yet forbeare to linke, and after awhile thou shalt finde an alteration in thyselfe, and see another farre more pleasing than the first, second, or third love: yet I wish thee, above all the rest, have care thou dost not marry an uncomely woman for any respect; for comeliness in children is riches, if nothing else be left them. And if thou have care of thy race of horses and other beasts, value the shape and comeliness of thy children before alliances or riches; have care, therefore, of both together, for if thou have a faire wife and a poore one, if thine owne estate bee not great, assure thyself that love abideth not with want; for she is thy companion of plenty and honour, for I never yet knew a poore woman, exceed ing faire, that was not made disho..est by one or other in the end. This Bersheba taught her son Solomon.Favour is deceitful, beauty is vanity; she sayth further, that a wise woman overseeth the waies of her household, and eateth not the bread of idlenesse. Have therefore evermore care, that thou be beloved of thy wife, rather than thyselfe besotted on her, and thou shalt judge of her love by these two observations: first, if thou perceive that she have care of thy estate, and exercise herself therein; the other, if she study to please thee, and be sweet unto thee in conversation. BIOGRAPHY. WILLIAM HOGARTH. This immortal artist was born in London, on the 10th of November, 1697. At a very early period, he discovered a great predilection for the arts, and having access to a neighbouring painter, he embraced every possible opportu. nity of making drawings. After being some time at school, where he paid more attention in studying the curious sculptures in the spelling-books, than the eight parts of speech, he was put apprentice to Mr. Ellis Gamble, who kept a silversmith's shop in Cranbourn Alley, Leicester-square, there to learn the art of silver plate engraving. The first token he gave of his turn for the satirical, was while yet an apprentice, when upon a Sunday afternoon he made an excursion to Highgate, with some of his companions, who took shelter and refreshment in a public house at the moment of a violent dis pute on politics between two thirsty pedestrians: this dispute led to blows, and a great confusion: our young artist seized his pencil, and drew the group of figures from the life with such variety and truth of character, as evades all description. The instant he became master of his own time, he determined to qualify himself for engraving on copper; and in this, he readily got employment, such as frontispieces to books, and prints to Hudibras. From the ill-treatment which his father, who was an author, had received from the hands of the booksellers, made him resolve to be his own publisher: but here he had to encounter a monopoly of printsellers, equally mean and destructive to the ingenious; for the first plate he published, called the Taste of the Town, in which the reigning follies were lashed, had no sooner began to have a run, than copies of it were sold in the print-shops at halfprice; while the original prints were returned to Hogarth; so that he was obliged to sell the plate for what these pirates pleased to give him. Owing to these circumstances, until he was near thirty he could do little more than maintain himself. About this time he gained the heart and hand of Miss Thornhill, daughter of Sir James Thornhill, an union neither sanctioned by her father, nor accompanied with a fortune. He then employed himself in painting small family pieces, and commenced historical painter; but finding it not encouraged, he returned to engraving from his own designs, yet occasionally taking portraits as large as life; and to prove his powers and to vindicate his fame, he painted the admirable portrait of Captain Coram, and presented it to the Foundling Hospital. His next performance was the portrait of Mr. Garrick in Richard the Third, for which he received two hundred pounds, a greater sum than was ever received by an English artist for a single portrait. In addition to the high and sounding title of counsellor and honorary member of the Imperial Academy at Augsbourg, conferred upon Hogarth in the German diploma, he was, on the 6th June, 1757, still further dignified,by being appointed Sir Thomas Laurence's charge for a whole length portrait is seven hundred guineas; and Reynolds used to have twenty-five guineas for a one hundred and twenty for a head. Sir Joshua head. Serjeant Painter, and entered on the duties of his office on the 15th of the following July, at a salary of ten pounds per annum, payable quarterly! Finding his health in a declining state, Hogarth had some years before purchased a small house at Chiswick. To this place he retired during the summer months, but a mind so active could never rust in idleness; and he employed the last years of his life in re-touching, and superintending some repairs and alterations in his plates. From Chiswick, he, on the 25th October, 1764, returned to Leicester-square; and though weak and languid, retained his usual flow of spirits; but being on the same night suddenly ill, died of an anuerism. His remains were removed to his family vault at Chiswick, where a plain but neat pyramidical monument is erected to his memory, on the front of which, in basso-relievo, is the common mask, laurel wreath, rest-stick, palette, pencils, a book inscribed Analysis of Beauty, and the following admirable lines, by his friend Mr. Garrick: Farewell, great painter of mankind, Who reach'd the noblest point of art; Whose pictur'd morals charm the mind, And through the eye correct the heart. Charm of the solitude I love, I view, and hence, instructed, learn, Howell, in his Letters, 1678, says"The Spaniards call Tobacco the holy herb, in regard to the various virtues it hath. If moderately taken, 'tis good for many things; it helps digestion, taken awhile after meat; it makes one void rheum; a leaf or two being steept over-night in a little white wine is a vomit that never fails in its operation. It is a good companion to one that converseth with dead men, for if one hath been poring long upon a book, or is toil'd with the pen, and stupified with study, it quick'neth him, and dispels those clouds, that usually o'ersets the brain. The smoke of Tobacco is one of the wholesomest scents that is, against all contagious airs, for it o'ermasters all other smells; as King James, they say, found true, when being once a hunting, a shower of rain drove him into a pig-stye for shelter, when he caused a pipe full to be taken on purpose, Tobacco cannot endure a spider or a flea, or such like vermin. It is good to cure the mange in dogs. It is also good to fortify and preserve the eye-sight, the smoke being let in round about the balls of the eyes once a-week, and frees or them of all rheum, and "plumb-tree gum, such as in old men's eyes." Being taken into the stomach, it will heat and cleanse it. The Spaniards, Irish, and French take it in powder, smutchin, and it thus mightily refreshes the brain. In Barbary, and other parts of Africa, it is wonderful what a small pill of tobacco will do; for those who use it, ride post through the sandy deserts, where they meet not with any thing eatable for days together; they put the tobacco under the tongue, which affords them perpetual moisture, and takes off the edge of the appetite for some days." Some say tobacco takes its name from its being first discovered in 1520, near Tobasco, in the Gulf of Mexico. Others say, it is named from Tobago, one of our West India Islands, whence it was first brought to England in 1585, by Sir Francis Drake, the great circumnavigator, and that Sir Walter Raleigh taught the English how to smoke it. It is said that snuff-taking is a preventive of apoplexy, it being difficult to find a case where a confirmed snuff-taker died of apoplexy. Formerly, they used to take snuff with a quill, and not with the fingers, as is the present custom. |