which were the instruments of civilization and | er. Yesterday morning I discovered one bud refinement, become instruments of corruption which the leaves had till then hidden from me, and decay; enervating and depraving in the sec- and which was actually streaked with the beautiond instance, by the excess and universality of ful red of the flower confined in it; I carefully their cultivation, as certainly as they refined in opened and loosened it in the hope that the warm the first. They become agents of voluptuous- sun would help it to blow: my first thought this They excite the imagination; and the im- morning was of the pleasure I should have in agination thus excited, and no longer under the gathering my one precious bud for mamma— -but government of strict principle, becomes the most look at it now!" dangerous stimulant of the passions; promotes a too keen relish for pleasure, teaching how to multiply its sources, and inventing new and pernicious modes of artificial gratification."

Hannah More.

The withered discoloured petals to which the child thus directed my eye did indeed present but a melancholy appearance, and I now understood the cause of the looks of disappointment which had at first attracted my attention. I explained to the zealous little gardener the mischief which he had so unintentionally done by

WHAT BECOMES OF ALL THE CLEVER CHIL- removing the leaves and calyx with which nature

DREN?

During a visit to a friend in the country, I was enjoying a walk in his garden before breakfast on a delightful morning in June, when my attention was suddenly arrested by the pensive attitude of a little boy, the son of my host, whom I observed standing before a rose-bush, which he appeared to contemplate with much dissatisfaction. Children have always been to me a most interesting study; and yielding to a wish to discover what could have clouded the usually bright countenance of my little friend, I inquired what had attracted him to this particular rose-bush, which presented but a forlorn appearance when compared with its more blooming companions. He replied "This rose-bush is my own; papa gave it to me in the spring, and promised that no one else should touch it. I have taken great pains with it; and as it was covered with beautiful roses last summer, I hoped to have had many fine bouquets from it; but all my care and watching have been useless: I see I shall not have one

full-blown rose after all."

"And yet," said I, "it appears to be as healthy as any other bush in the garden: tell me what you have done for it, as you say it has cost you so much pains ?”

"After watching it for some time," he replied, "I discovered a very great number of small buds, but they were almost concealed by the leaves which grew so thickly; I therefore cleared away the greater part of these, and my little buds looked well. I now found, as I watched them, that though they grew larger every day, the green outside continued so hard, that I thought it impossible for the delicate rose-leaves to force their way out; I therefore picked them open; but the pale shrivelled blossoms which I found within never improved, but died one after anothJohnson defines Clever-dextrous, skillful, fit, and quotes Addison and Pope as authority. He however remarks that it is a low word, seldom used but in conversation or burlesque, and applied to anything a man likes." In England cleverness has latterly been used to express quickness of parts-while in this country it usually gives the idea of good nature.

had covered and enclosed the flower until all its beauties should be ready for full developement; had escaped his care, I left him full of hope that, and having pointed out to him some buds which by waiting patiently for nature to accomplish her own work, he might yet have a bouquet of his own roses to present to his mother.

this childish incident suggested an answer to the As I pursued my walk, it occurred to me that of all the clever children?" Too often, it is to be question asked by Dr. Johnson, "What becomes feared, are the precious human buds sacrificed to

tion of the roses which had been expected with the same mistaken zeal that led to the destrucso much pleasure by their little owner. Perhaps a few hints, suggested-not by fanciful theory, but by practical experience in the mental training of children-may help to rescue some little ones from the blighting influences to which they are too often exposed.

of every infant, during the earliest period of ex-
The laws by which the physical developement
istence, is regulated, seem to afford a striking
which the subsequent mental developement de-
lesson by the analogy they bear to those laws on
kind Providence, this lesson is made immediately
pends; and by the wise arrangement of an ever-
carried into practice. On the babe's first en-
to precede the period during which it should be
trance into the world, it must be fed only with
food suitable to its delicate organs of digestion;
on this depend its healthful growth, and like-
wise the gradual strengthening of these organs.
Its senses must at first be acted upon very gently;
too strong a light, or too loud a noise, may im-
pair its sight or hearing for life.

allowed to support the body before they have ac-
The little limbs of a young infant must not be
4.
quired firmness sufficient for that task, otherwise
they will become deformed, and the whole sys-
tem weakened; and last, not least, fresh and
pure air must be constantly inhaled by the lungs,
in order that they may supply vigor to the whole
frame. All enlightened parents are acquainted
with these laws of nature, and generally act on
them;
but when, owing to judicious manage-

44

that so many who, in early life have enjoyed ad-
vantages, have, on reaching manhood, found
themselves surpassed by others who have been
forced to struggle up unassisted, and in many
cases surrounded by apparent obstacles to their
rise. It is obvious that the point in which the
latter have the advantage, is the necessity, which
they find for exercising their own intellectual
powers at every step; and, moreover, for taking
each step firmly before they attempt the next;
which necessity, while it may retard the rapid
skimming over various subjects which is some-
times effected, gives new vigour continually to
the mind, and also leads to the habit of that 'in-
dustry and patient thought' to which the immor-
tal Newton attributed all he had done; while
at the same time a vivid pleasure is taken in the
acquirement of knowledge so obtained, beyond
any that can be conferred by reward or encour-
agement from others.

if

ment, their children emerge from babyhood in full enjoyment of all the animal organs, and with muscles and sinews growing firmer every day in consequence of the exercise which their little owners delight in giving them, is the same judicious management extended to the mind, of which the body, which has been so carefully nourished, is only the outer case? In too many cases it is not. Too often the tender mind is loaded with information which it has no power of assimilating, and which, consequently, cannot nourish it. The mental faculties, instead of being gradually exercised, are overwhelmed; parents who would check with displeasure the efforts of a nurse who should attempt to make their infant walk at too early a period, are ready to embrace any system of so-called education which offers to do the same violence to the intellect; forgetting that distortion of mind is at least as much to be dreaded as that of body, while the From these considerations, it appears that the motives held out to encourage the little victims are not calculated to produce a moral atmosphere most judicious system of education is that in conducive either to good or great mental attain- which the teacher rather directs the working of his pupil's mind than works for him; and it must be ments. Children are sometimes met withthough few and far between-whose minds seem recollected that such a system, compared with ready to drink in knowledge in whatever form or some others, will be slow, though sure, in produquantity it may be presented to them; and the cing the desired result. Every one familiar testimony of Dr. Combe, as well as of many with children must have observed with what apother judicious writers, proves the real state of parently fresh interest they will listen to the the brain in such cases, and also the general fate same tale repeated again and again. Now, of the poor little prodigies. Such children, how- time and repetition are necessary to impress on ever, are not the subject of these observations, of the young mind facts interesting in themselves, which the object is to plead for those promising they are surely more necessary when the information to be imparted is in itself dry and uninbuds which are closely encased in their "hard" but protecting covering; to plead for them es-teresting, as is the case with much that is repecially at that period when the "beautiful red quisite for children to learn. The system here streak" in other words, when, amid the recommended is one which requires patience thoughtless sports and simple studies of child- both on the part of parents and teachers; but hood, the intellect begins to develope itself, and patience so exereised would undoubtedly be reto seek nourishment from all that is presented warded by the results, one of which would be, to it. There exists at the period alluded to a that we should not so frequently see 'clever readiness in comparison, and a shrewdnes of ob- children' wane into very commonplace if not stuservation, which might be profitably employ- pid men.-Chambers' Journal. ed in the great work of education. And here it may be observed, that as to "educate" signifies to bring out, the term education can only be applied with propriety to a system which performs this work, and never to one which confines itself to laying on a surface-work of superficial information, unsupported by vigorous mental powers. Information may be acquired at any age, provided that the intellectual machinery has been kept in activity; whereas, if the latter has been allowed to rust and stiffen from disease, the efforts of the man-supposing him to have energy sufficient to make an effort to redress the wrongs done to the boy, will in That self-educated men are most cases be vain. generally the best educated is a trite remark; so trite, indeed, that it frequently falls on the ear without rousing attention to the apparent paradox which it contains; and yet there must be some reason well worthy of attention for the fact,

appears;

Imagine one

THE RAILWAY COMMITTEE.—“ of the lofty committee-rooms of the new Houses of Parliament, with two doors leading into it from the long corridor- one for the private use of the members of the committee, and any mem bers of the House who choose to drop in, and the other for the public. Imagine a long table running from the private doors in question, to one of the grand windows looking at the expanse of Father Thames, with space enough between the wall and the table for gentlemen to pass, and place five chairs at the table. Imagine these five chairs occupied by the five members, the chairman in the middle, with a desk before him; the others two and two on each side of him, but without desks. There is then a space of four or five yards, and then another long table, parallel to that at which the members are seated; and

this table is for the gentlemen of the bar, parli-, committee. Mountains are to be hewn down, amentary agents, attorneys, railway directors, rocks blasted, rivers spanned, valleys elevated and others interested in the group of bills before by mound or viaduct; harbours are to be excathe committee. Behind the chairs placed for vated, and towns are to be built. Every species these various parties, is a wooden rail, and at of jobbing and manoeuvring must be carefully the outside of the railing is another space for by- watched. Selfishness of course predominates in standers, idlers, witnesses, and any other person the promoters of railway bills. I mean, they who pleases to be there, and is willing to keep are anxious to secure the greatest possible divisilence, and observe what is going on. Spread dends with the lowest amount of capital. The enormous plans on the walls of the room, which ablest sophists at the bar are employed to mistify a witty friend of mine called railway cartoons, the committee; and while the promoters wish to and you have a tolerably correct idea of a railway convey to the judges that they are desirous, in committee-room. their railway bills, to consult the convenience and comfort of the public both rich and poor, they are contemplating how they can best rivet the chains of some enormous and grasping monopoly."

Harle's Career in the Commons.

weaknesses of the church, without at the same It is not safe to dwell upon the failings and time dwelling upon the resources and goodness of God. In the exercise of humble faith we must connect the greatness of the remedy with the virulence of the disease, otherwise we shall promote the plans of our great enemy by falling into a repining and censorious spirit; a state of mind which is equally injurious to ourselves and offensive to our heavenly Father.-Upton.

SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.

"To enable you to estimate the interest and variety of the panorama which passes before the eyes of one of these committees, consider for a moment, the evidence adduced for and against the London and York, or any other similarly great line. The inquiry extends to the number and condition of the inhabitants of a district, the trade and habits of particular towns, the nature and quality of their manufactures, the fertility of this region, and the barrenness of that, nay, so minute are the inquiries, that you have frequently to hear evidence on the beauty of a garden, and the varied landscape visible from the window of some bitter and opposing country gentleman. You hear statements as to shipping, and carriage of all descriptions; and I have heard speeches from counsel, and tables and disquisitions from witnesses, as to our trade with India and the Baltic, with the United States and the Mediterranean; quarries laid bare to the The sub-marine telegraph between England and light of day, and wonders told of coal, iron, stone, France has not been in working order since the the like to which was never heard before. Or- first successful experiments were made. The chards of fruit are touched with a glowing pencil, wire has sustained injury from the sunken rocks and fertile lands for corn and meadow are des-off Cape Griner, about 200 yards from the shore, cribed with an enthusiasm which the poet never reached. This is really no highly-coloured picture of the doings of a railway committee; and you may place the utmost reliance upon me when I tell you, that an intelligent member of such a committee, although he may never have seen the country through which a line of railway passes, on which he sits in judgment, yet, so eloquent, picturesque, and vivid are the speeches of counsel -so clear and large are the plans, and the statements and descriptions of the witnesses and partisans so warm, vigorous, and minute, that before he is done with the railway bill, he knows the country with which it may be connected as well as if he had been in it and hunted over it every day of his existence.

"The duties of a railway committee are, in point of fact, fearfully important. The five members are a jury-not, it is true, with a case of life and death before them-but they are called upon to decide against rival claimants for the possession of a given country; and the future destiny of large towns and great communities is of ten placed in their hands. Thousands, and sometimes millions of money, are to be expended on the works contemplated by the bill before the

and Mr. Brett and the directors of the company intend to remove the wire to a point nearer Calais, where the coast is favorable, and to sink six permament wires across the channel, in order to have a constant communication kept up in case of accident. The directors say that the practicability of printing communications from coast to coast in a moment of time having been established beyond the possibility of a doubt, there is no ground for discouragement, and the difficulty now met with (by no means unexpected) will only stimulate to additional exertions, and secure the full completion of an enterprise, the first effects of which must be to unite in bonds of common interest England and France.

Mr. Jacob Brett, who has the credit of succesfully eatablishing the submarine telegraph, is likely to be robbed of a small share of the fame he now enjoys, for a Mr. Daniel Warren, an Englishman, claims the merit of originating the scheme of talking across the oceans! Mr. Warren says that he addressed a letter to the Admiralty, on the subject of a submarine telegraph, in August, 1844, just six years ago, in which he proposed to effect communication with the most distant parts of the globe, by means of electri

city-he proposed to carry wires, not only across | he was about to appear.
the Channel, but across the Atlantic, and the
Mediterranean, and even to make a connecting
link between England and China! But like all
great geniuses he was only laughed at and ridi-
culed as "a visionary Utopiast, for broaching
such absurd ideas!" He submitted his specifi-
cation or modus operandi, to the public, six years
ago, and he now claims the honor of being the
first person who publicly proclaimed the possibil-
ity and practibility of effecting a submarine elec-
tric communication.-N. Am. and U. S. Gaz.

WILL SALTPETRE EXPLODE?

At the castle he presented himself on the following day, and was received by the tall magnificent footmen in scarlet liveries, one or two of whom stood on each landing, and, silent as mutes, but more gorgeous, pointed their fingers in the direction he was to take. Following up the grand stair case, the course this line of brilliant finger-posts pointed out, he entered one ante-room, where he was received by some high officer, and mutely directed to another, and at length found himself in one where some gentlemen similarly attired as himself, were waiting in a group. He had little trouble, as soon as he had composed his senses, after the unusual scene through The joint special Committee of our City Coun- which he had passed, in perceiving that they, cils, in their efforts to obtain a solution of this like himself were invited to dinner; and he question, put themselves in communication with presently recognized one of them, an eminent Alfred Du Pont, of Wilmington, Del., who re- historian, with whom he had been acquainted. plies at some length. The gist of his answer Here they remained conversing for a few minis-That saltpetre is a non-combustible sub-utes, when suddenly the folding doors at one end stance, but one of the most powerful supporters of the room were thrown open, and, preceded of combustion. That mixture of saltpetre and coal, or saltpetre and sulphur, in large masses, will explode; but that saltpetre alone, in whatever quantity, will not. That, in connection with coal, or charred wood, or shell-lac, rosin, pitch, tar, &c., &c., it will explode; and that saccharine substances will, when mixed with large quantities of saltpetre, form an explosive compound. Sulphur, however, is the most potent combustible agent, in combination with saltpetre, from the ease with which it is melted and becomes mixed with the saltpetre, until the mass has acquired sufficient heat to explode; and that the force of explosion is greatly enhanced by the admixture of charred bagging, timbers, &c.

Evening Bulletin.

A DINNER AT THE PALACE.

The Bristol Times gives the following description of a dinner in the presence of Royalty, the accuracy of which it vouches:"M

an officer of much intelligence, and associated in a work of much interest, connected with the ancient Scripture History of India, arrived a short time since in this country, and his arrival, together with some observations on the work in which he was engaged, appeared in the London papers. A few days after, he was surprised to receive at his hotel, through the Lord Chamberlain, an invitation, or, perhaps, we should rather call it a command, to dine at the Palace at Windsor-an honor which surprised him, as he was only just arrived from India, and had never been presented at Court. He determined, of course, to comply with the august and agreeable command, and as the invitation intimated he was to come in Court dress, or words tantamount to that, he proceeded to his tailor, who fitted him out in the usual adornment, befitting him for the high company amongst whom

by the Grand Chamberlain with his rod of office, her Majesty, leaning on Prince Albert, appeared, and, without pausing to take any notice of her guests, passed quite through the room in whichthey were, and out through corresponding doors which led to the dining or banqueting room on the other side; the company, amongst whom was M— -, falling in the rear, and silently following. They took their seats, Prince Albert next to her Majesty, and the other guests down the table, which was not large, as the dinner party was a limited one. There was no general conversation-the guests spoke in subdued tones to each other, her Majesty spoke to none, and the Prince only let fall a few words to some one near him, until at length the few words gradually grew fewer. This, however, was not so awkward as a silent dinner party might seem under other circumstances, as the magnificent band of the Coldstream Guards, in an adjoining apartment, were playing the finest airs. Nevertheless, it was a chilling scene, and as soup, fish, and flesh were handed round by the tall fellows' in crimson, some, no doubt, thought they would prefer, as a general rule, less grandeur and more cordiality.

Dinner concluded, her Majesty remained a short time, then arose, and, again preceded by the officers of State, returned to the drawing room-as I suppose we may call it-never hav ing spoken all the time to her company. The Prince's mood however, became more hearty as soon as her Majesty had left, and he led in a general and lively conversation on antiquarian subjects, in which he displayed large reading and great intelligence. While they were thus pleasantly and intellectually engaged, it was announced that her Majesty expected their presence to coffee, and they proceeded to the drawing-room, where the Queen, with her ladies in waiting, was. Here matters again relapsed into the same splendid state silence as in the early part of the din

ner.

Coffee was handed round, and each guest, a maintenance by their own industry. It was not mutely sipped his cup, regarding Majesty, if one quite four weeks ago when I saw her thus employmight so speak, from a distance. While M.- ed. She is now sitting upon a couple of her own was wondering when the signal to depart would eggs; and thus fulfilling the primeval injunction, be given, the Grand Chamberlain advanced, and "Let fowl multiply in the earth.” — Ulster informed him that her Majesty had given orders Republican. that he should be presented; he therefore, came forward to where her Majesty was seated in the same room, and, with as much form as though he had not met her at dinner; he knelt, and touched with his lips the hand that was offered, and, this ceremony gone through, again retired fully expecting that this was the end of a stately but a somewhat stupid day.

MARINE SALINOMETER-A VALUABLE INVENTION.-We were shown a few days since, says the Baltimore Clipper, at the brass foundry of Wm. Peters, Esq., Pratt street near the bridge, an apparatus which has recently been invented by Mr. Wm. Sewell, of Portsmouth, Va., called the "Marine Salinometer," designed to indicate at all times the exact degree of saltness in the boilers of sea going steamers. It is well known that sea water contains a certain quantity of salt in proportion of 1 lb. of salt to 32 or 33 lbs. of water, and that when used to generate steam this salt is left in the boiler, as all the water evaporated is fresh. The salt, if left in the

But it was not so; for a quarter of an hour subsequently he was informed that her Majesty, who retired to a kind of recess, about as deep as an embayed window, wished to converse with him. He accordingly presented himself before his Sovereign, who no longer in formal state, immediately entered with vivacity and intelligence into conversation on the particular and interest-boiler, it is equally well known, would soon work ing, and in many respects learned, subject in which he had been engaged, showing in all her inquiries and observations a well-stored, clear, and cultivated mind. When her Majesty had conversed for some time, and sufficiently in formed herself, she rose, and Mtired, and soon after he and the other guests departed.

re

its destruction.-Hence the necessity which exists of blowing out, at intervals, a portion of the partly saturated water from the boilers of steam vessels at sea, or plying on salt water. One of the greatest difficulties which an engineer on a sea going steamer has to contend with, is that of maintaining the water in his boiler at a uniform density. As water will not hold in so"This, to us, appears strange; but, if her Ma- lution more than a certain quantity of salt, it is jesty had not the prerogative of speaking and necessary, to prevent its deposit in the boiler being spoken to only when she wished, the multi-in the form of scales, to keep the water at a giv tude of her company and receptions would be laborious and wearisome."

A CURIOUS FACT IN NATURAL HISTORY.

Mr. Reuben Nichols, long a resident in this community, who keeps a few doves, had a pair that were nurturing a couple of young ones. By some casualty, the mother got into a barrel of water, and was drowned, or was so seriously injured that she soon died; I say by some casualty, because there is no evidence that she, having become weary of life, seriously contemplated suicide. The curious part of the story remains to be told. The bereaved mate seems not to have wasted time in needless lamentations over the sad loss to himself and little ones, but to have judiciously resolved to do what he could by way of repairing the desolation in the domestic circle.

He very

soon provided a new mate for himself, and a new mother for his children, who immediately took upon herself the responsibilities of her new position, and faithfully brooded over and fed those little objects of her assumed charge; and daily she might be seen, and was seen by myself and others, assiduously caring for them, lovingly cooing over them, and opening her mouth to let them take food fro her crop. These duties she faithfully performed till the young ones were old enough to shift for themselves, and procure

en degree of saltness, by blowing off a portion of the salt water. In vessels not supplied with Salinometers, or some such indicator, the engineers are compelled to blow off at random-sometimes not enough, and at others too much. In one extreme, the salt accumulates in the boiler to its great injury, and in the other case, a great loss of fuel is caused. To remedy this difficulty, this Salinometer is intended.

"Habits are of slow growth and begin at an early period of our life, and therefore it is of the greatest importance that we pay particular attention to the rising race. It is an easy matter to turn the rippling stream in any way you please, but very difficult to change the course of the wide, deep, rapid river"-Russom's Contrast.

THE TWO BEES.

One summer's morning fresh and sunny,
After a month of cloudless weather,
To gather in their choicest honey

A pair of bees set forth together;
Two loyal knaves as e er was seen
Of the same good and gracious queen.
They'd not gone far when in the air

They met a wand'ring odor sweet,
Which led them to a garden fair-

A cottage garden, plain and neat ;
Where poor but lib'ral hands had set
Some charming beds of mignonette.