servation of a traveller:-'It appears to me that the power and riches of these extraordinary districts remain yet to be fully developed. They exhibit an immense number of mighty steamengines, furnished by nature at no cost, and applicable to the production of an infinite variety of objects. In the progress of time this vast machinery of heat and force will probably become the moving central point of extensive manufacturing establishments. The steam which has been so ingeniously applied to the concentration and evaporation of the boracic acid, will probably hereafter, instead of wasting itself in the air, be employed to move huge engines, which will be directed to the infinite variety of production which engages the attention of the industrious artisans; and thus in course of time there can be little doubt that these lagoons, which were fled from as objects of danger and terror by uninstructed man, will gather round them a large intelligent population, and become sources of prosperity to innumerable individuals through countless generations.' Whoever has travelled through Tuscany, will everywhere have observed that the peasants live in better houses than they do anywhere else in Europe. Some one has said that nearly all their dwellings have been built within the last eighty years; an observation which in itself shows the substantial nature of their tenements, for where else will a peasant's house last so long? In the secluded mountain valleys, where agriculture supplies the employment of the industrious classes, you sometimes meet with very ancient cottages, built quite in the style of the middle ages, with an abundance of projections and recesses, all calculated to produce picturesqueness of effect. The modern houses, more particularly in the district of the lagoons, are constructed more with reference to comfort than show, the object being to secure as much room and air as possible. In most places a garden is attached to every dwelling; and where trees will grow, a large linden or chesnut stretches its large boughs lovingly about the corner and sometimes over the roof of the dwelling. Under this the peasant and his family sit to enjoy themselves on summer evenings. Not to be entirely idle, however, the father is usually engaged in weaving baskets, while the children amuse themselves with cleaning and preparing the twigs; the mother, often with a baby in her lap, applies herself to the reparation of the family wardrobe; and the whole group, especially when lighted up by the slanting rays of the setting sun, presents to the eye a picture not to be equalled by Dutch or Flemish school. In other respects the peasant of the lagoons aims at an inferior standard of luxury. His house is by far the finest portion of his possessions. The style of furniture, though comfortable, is inferior; and in the matters of dress and food the most primitive theories evidently prevail. Here, however, as in most other parts of Europe, we behold the extremities, as it were, of two systems-the one which is going out of date, and the one which is coming in. Much bigotry is no doubt often displayed in the attachment of some persons to old habits and customs, not otherwise valuable or respectable than from their mere antiquity; but in several parts of Italy, the advocates of novelty are seldom in possession of so much comfort as they who abide by the habits and customs of their forefathers. These for the most part are content with the coarse manufactures of the country, which, rough and uncouth in appearance, supply the requisite warmth, and are extremely enduring. On the other hand, the imported goods within the reach of the poor, though gay, and of brilliant colours, are too often of the most flimsy texture, and melt away from about the persons of the wearers almost like vapour. The two classes of peasants view each other with secret contempt; but the old fashion is rapidly dying out because it is old, while the new chiefly triumphs perhaps because it is new. A native, when questioned on the subject of the recent innovations, observed that the lower classes of the population would have the means of providing for their necessities if they were not so eager after luxuries. The females are given to expensive dress, which deprives them of the means of supplying themselves with more necessary articles. The gluttony of the artisans has become proverbial amongst us: what is not spent in finery in dress, is consumed in pampering the appetite. In consequence of the prosperity of the straw trade, which lasted from 1818 to 1825, luxury spread throughout the country; and it would excite a smile, were it not a subject for regret, to observe the country-folks in embroidered stockings and pumps, with large velvet bonnets trimmed with feathers and lace; but in their homes they, as well as the artisans in the town, are miserably off; and they who are even genteelly dressed when abroad, have rarely more than a miserable palliasse for a bed at home. Deprived of the advantages of the straw trade, the situation of the country-people, especially those of the mountainous parts, is very distressing. But this and similar causes operate much less on the population in the district of the lagoons than elsewhere; and indeed it may almost be said that these persons for the most part offer a striking contrast with their neighbours. Notwithstanding the nature of the vapours by which the air they breathe is impregnated, they are said, upon the whole, to be healthy and longlived; and their regularity of employment, the goodness of their wages, and their constant residence on the same spot, with many other causes, combine to render them one of the most thriv ing sections of the Tuscan population. It must, nevertheless, be admitted, that we want several data for correctly appreciating their condition, and these could only be supplied by one who should remain a long time among them. The, sure that his trowsers were well strapped down ; owners and conductors of the works are too much and, as if our nerves were jesting, a strange absorbed by the love of gain to pay much atten- sensation would every now and then be felt, tion to the state of the labourers, who, as in most resembling the twining of a small snake about other parts of Italy, lead a retired life, and are re- the legs. Just before leaving the house a great served and shy of communicating with strangers. dor beetle which had flown in, attracted by the On ordinary topics they will converse with light, struck with some force against our right you freely enough, but the moment you allude ear; startled indeed we were, for at the moment to their domestic concerns, they shrink into our impression was that it was some member of themselves, and decline entering into explana- the Happy Family around us, who had favored us tions. This, however, they usually do in the with a mark of his attention. most civil manner, affecting stupidity, and carefully avoiding the least appearance of rudeness. Even in the neighbouring towns and villages, the labourers of the lagoons are little known; and the produce of their manufacture, though exported to France and England, attracts little notice to the country itself, except among those who are engaged in its production. This will account for the very little that is popularly known of the borax lagoons of Tuscany, or of the race of peasants by whom they are rendered profitable.-Chambers' Journal. SNAKES AND SERPENT CHARMERS. A singular circumstance occurred not long since at the Gardens, showing the mouse at times has the best of it. A litter of rattle-snakes was born in the gardens-curious little active things without rattles-hiding under stones, or coiling together in complicated knots with their clustering heads resembling Medusa's locks. It came to pass that a mouse was put into the cage for the breakfast of the mamma, but she not being hungry took no notice. The poor mouse gradually became accustomed to its strange companions, and would appear to have been pressed by hunger, for it actually nibbled away the greater part of the jaw of one of the little rattle-snakes, so that it died! perhaps the first instance of such a turning of the tables. An interesting fact was proved by this, namely, that these reptiles when young are quite defenceless, and do not acquire either the power of injuring others, or of using their rattles until their adolescence. In feeding the larger serpents, the Boas and Pythons, some care is necessary lest such an accident should occur as that which befell Mr. Cops, of the Lion Office in the Tower, some years ago. Mr. Cops was holding a fowl to the head of the largest of five snakes which were then kept there; the snake was changing its skin, consequently, being nearly blind (for the skin of the eye is changed with the rest) it darted at the fowl but missed it, and seized the keeper by the left thumb, coiling round his arm and neck in a moment, and fixing itself by its tail to one of the posts of its cage, thus giving itself greater power. Mr. Cops who was alone, did not lose his presence of mind and immediately attempted to relieve himself from the violent constriction by getting at the serpent's head; but the serpent had so knotted itself upon its own head, that Mr. Cops could not reach it, and had thrown himself upon the floor in order to grapple, with greater success with his formidable opponent, when fortunately two other keepers came in and rushed to the rescue. The struggle even then was severe, but at length they succeeded in breaking the teeth of the serpent, and relieving Mr. Cops from his perilous situation; two broken teeth were extracted from the thumb; the wounds soon healed, and no further inconvenience followed. Still more severe was the contest which took place between a negro herdsman, belonging to Mr. Abson, for many years Governor of Fort William, on the coast of Africa. This man was seized by a huge Python while passing through a wood. The serpent fixed its fangs in his thigh, During the time we were looking at these but in attempting to throw himself round his creatures, all sorts of odd noises were heard; a body, fortunately became entangled with a tree, strange scratching against the glass would be and the man being thus preserved from a audible; 'twas the Carnivorous Lizard endeav-state of compression which would have inoring to inform us that it was a fast day with stantly rendered him powerless, had presence him, entirely contrary to his inclination. A of mind enough to cut with a large knife which sharp hiss would startle us from another quarter, and we stepped back involuntarily as the lantern revealed the inflated hood and threatening action of an angry cobra. Then a rattle-snake would take umbrage, and sounding an alarm, would make a stroke against the glass, intended for our person. The fixed gaze, too, from the brilliant eyes of the huge Pythons was more fascinating than pleasant, and the scene, taking it all together, more exciting than agreeable. Each of the spectators involuntarily stooped to make he carried about with him, deep gashes in the neck and throat of his antagonist, thereby killing him, and disengaging himself from his frightful situation. He never afterwards, however, recovered the use of the limb, which had sustained considerable injury from the fangs and mere force of the jaws, and for many years limped about the fort a living example of the prowess of these fearful serpents. The true Boas, it is to be observed are restricted to America, the name Python being given to the large serpents of Africa and India. It is, this bone is only attached to the skull by ligarelated by Pliny that the army of Regulus was ments, susceptible of extraordinary extension. alarmed by a huge serpent, one hundred and The process by which these serpents take and twenty-three feet in length. This account is swallow their prey has been so graphically doubtful; but there is a well-authenticated in- described in the second volume of the "Zoologistance of the destruction of a snake above sixty- cal Journal," by that very able naturalist and two feet long, while in the act of coiling itself graceful writer, W. J. Broderip, Esq., F. R. S., round the body of a man. The snakes at the that we shall transcribe it, being able, from gardens will generally be found coiled and twined frequent occular demonstrations, to vouch for its together, in large clusters probably for the sake correctness. A large black rabbit was introof warmth. Dr. Carpenter knew an instance induced into the cage of a Boa Constrictor of great which no less than thirteen hundred of our Eng-size: "The snake was down and motionless in lish harmless snakes were found in an old lime a moment. There he lay like a log without a kiln! The battue which ensued can better be symptom of life, save that which glared in the imagined than described. small bright eye twinkling in his depressed head. The rabbit appeared to take no notice of him, but presently began to walk about the cage. The snake suddenly but almost imperceptibly, turned his head according to the rabbit's movements, as if to keep the object within the range of his eye. At length the rabbit, totally unconscious of his situation, approached the ambushed head. The snake dashed at him like lightning. There was a blow-a scream-and instantly the victim was locked in the coils of the serpent. This was done almost too rapidly for the eye to follow; at one instant the snake was motionless-the next he was one congerie of coils round his prey. He had seized the rabbit by the neck just under the ear, and was evidently exerting the strongest pressure round the thorax of the quadruped; thereby preventing the expansion of the chest, and at the same time depriving the anterior extremities of motion. The rabbit The cobras, and puff-adders, and some of the other highly-venomous serpents are principally found in rocky and sandy places, and very dangerous they are. Mr. Gould, the eminent ornithologist, had a narrow escape of his life when in the interior of Australia: there is a serpent found in those arid wastes, whose bite is fatal in an incredibly short time, and it springs at an object with great force. Mr. Gould was a little in advance of bis party, when suddenly a native who was with him screamed out, "Oh, massa! dere big snake!" Mr. Gould started, and putting his foot in a hole nearly fell to the ground. At that instant the snake made its spring, and had it not been for his stumble would have struck him in the face; as it was, it passed over his head, and it was shot before it could do any further mischief. It was a large snake, of the most venemous sort, and the natives gathered round the sportsman, anxiously inquir-never cried after the first seizure; he lay with ing if it had bitten him? Finding it had not, all said they thought he was "good for dead," when they saw the reptile spring. The expression "sting," used repeatedly by Shakespeare, as applied to snakes, is altogether incorrect; the tongue has nothing to do with the infliction of injury. Serpents bite, and the difference between the harmless and venemous serpents generally is simply this: the mouths of the harmless snakes and the whole tribe of boas are provided with sharp teeth, but no fangs; their bite, therefore, is innocuous; the poisonous serpents on the other hand, have two poisonfangs attached to the upper jaw which lie flat upon the roof of the mouth when not in use, and are concealed by a fold of the skin. In each fang is a tube which opens near the point of the tooth by a fissure; when the creature is irritated, the fangs are at once erected. The poison bag is placed beneath the muscles which act on the lower jaw, so that when the fangs are struck into the victim, the poison is injected with much force to the very bottom of the wound. But how do Boa Constrictors swallow goats and antelopes, and other large animals whole? The process is very simple; the lower jaw is not united to the upper, but is hung to a long stalk-shaped bone, on which it is moveable, and his hind legs stretched out, still breathing with difficulty, as could be seen by the motion of his flanks. Presently he made one desperate struggle with his hind legs; but the snake cautiously applied another coil with such dexterity as completely to manacle the lower extremities, and in about eight minutes the rabbit was dead. The snake then gradually and carefully uncoiled himself; and finding that his victim moved not, opened his mouth let go his hold, and placed his head opposite the fore-part of the rabbit. The boa, generally, I have observed, begins with the head, but in this instance, the serpent having begun with the fore-legs was longer in gorging his prey than usual, and in consequence of the difficulty presented by the awkward position of the rabbit, the dilatation and secretion of lubricating mucus were excessive. The serpent first got the fore-legs into his mouth; he then coiled himself round the rabbit, and appeared to draw out the dead body through his folds; he then began to dilate his jaws, and holding the rabbit firmly in a coil, as a point of resistance, appeared to exercise at intervals the whole of his anterior muscles in protruding his stretched jaws and lubricated mouth and throat, at first against, and soon after upon and over his prey. When the prey was completely engulfed, the ser pent lay for a few minutes with his dislocated gums still dripping with the mucus which had lubricated the parts, and at this time he looked quite sufficiently disgusting. He then stretched out his neck, and at the same moment the muscles seemed to push the prey further downward. After a few efforts to replace the parts, the jaws appeared much the same as they did previous to the monstrous repast."-Bentley's Mis. ANECDOTE OF DR. CHALMERS. While Dr. Chalmers was very busily engaged one forenoon in his study, a man entered, who at once propitiated him, under the provocation of an unexpected interruption, by telling him that he called under great distress of mind. "Sit down, Sir; be good enough to be seated," said Dr. Chalmers, turning eagerly and full of interest from his writing table. The visitor explained to him that he was troubled with doubts about the Divine origin of the Christian religion; and being kindly questioned as to what these were, he gave among others what is said in the Bible about Melchisedeck being without father and without mother, &c. Patiently and anxiously Dr. Chalmers sought to clear away each successive difficulty as it was stated. Expressing himself as if greatly relieved in mind, and imagining that he had gained his end-" Doctor," said the visitor, "I am in great want of a little money at present, and perhaps you could help me in that way." At once the object of his visit was seen. A perfect tornado of indignation burst upon the deceiver, driving him in very quick retreat from the study to the street-door, these words escaping among others" not a penny, Sir! not a penny! It's too bad! it is too bad! And to haul in your hypocrisy on the shoulders of Melchisedeck!" and Reminiscence of Fulton's first steam voyage the reception of his first passage money. Some twenty years since, I formed a travelling acquaintance, upon a steamboat on the Hudson river, with a gentleman, who on that occasion, related to me some incidents of the first voyage of Fulton, to Albany, in his steamboat, the Clermont, which I have never met with elsewhere. The gentleman's name I have lost; but I urged him, at the time, to publish what he related; which, however, so far as I know, he has never done. I chanced, said my narrator, to be at Albany on business, when Fulton arrived there in his unheard of craft, which every body felt so much interest in seeing. Being ready to leave, and hearing that this craft was to return to New York, I repaired on board and inquired for Mr. Fulton. I was referred to the cabin, and I there found a plain, gentlemanly man, wholly alone, and engaged in writing. Mr. Fulton, I presume. Do you return to New York with this boat? You can take your chance with us, sir. I inquired the amount to be paid, and after a moment's hesitation, a sum, I think six dollars, was named. The amount, in coin, I laid in his open hand, and with an eye fixed upon it he remained so long motionless, that I supposed there might be a miscount, and said to him, is that right, sir? This roused him as from a kind of revery, and as he looked up at me, the big tear was brimming in his eye, and his voice faltered as he said, excuse me, sir; but memory was busy as I contemplated this, the first pecuniary reward I have ever received for all my exertions in adapting steam to navigation. I would gladly commemorate the occasion over a bottle of wine with you,* but really I am too poor, even for that, just now; yet I trust we may meet again, when this will not be so. Some four years after this, when the Clermont had been greatly improved and two new boats made, making Fulton's fleet three boats regularly plying between New York and Albany, I took passage in one of these for the latter city. : The cabin in that day, was below and as I walked its length to and fro, I saw I was very closely observed by one I supposed a stranger. Soon, however, I recalled the features of Mr. Fulton; but without disclosing this, I continued my walk and waited the result. At length, in passing his seat our eyes met, when he sprang to his feet, and eagerly seizing my hand, exclaimed, I knew it must be you, for your features have never escaped me; and although I am still far from rich, yet I may venture that bottle, now. It was ordered; and during its discussion Mr. F. ran rapidly but vividly over his experience of the world's coldness, and sneers, and of the hopes, fears, disappointments and difficulties, that were scattered through his whole career of discovery, up to the very point of his final, crowning triumph, at which he so fully felt he had at last arrived. And in reviewing all these, said he, I have again and again recalled the occasion and the incident of our first interview at Albany; and never have I done so without its renewing in my mind the vivid emotion it originally caused. That seemed, and still does seem, to me the turning point in my destiny-the dividing lines between light and darkness, in my career upon earth; for it was the first actual recognition of my usefulness to my fellow men. Such then were the events coupled with the very dawn of steam navigation-a dawn so recent as to be still recollected by many-and such as Fulton there related them were the early appreciations, by the world, of a discovery which This, we suppose, was before Temperance Societies were as active and efficient as they are now. has invaded all waters, causing a revolution in navigation which has almost literally brought the very ends of the earth in contact.-Communicated to Buffalo Commercial. FRIENDS' REVIEW. PHILADELPHIA, TENTH MONTH 19, 1850. INDIANA YEARLY MEETING.-By letters received from Indiana, we are able to give the following information respecting that Yearly Meeting, hoping to give further particulars next week. Indiana Yearly Meeting commenced on the 3d inst., and was large; many not being able to obtain seats in the meetings for business. The Ministers in attendance from other Yearly Meetings, were Benjamin Seebohm and Robert Lindsay from England, John D. Lang from Maine, Nathan C. Hoag from Vermont, and Rebecca Updegraff from Ohio. A proposition came up from Blue River, White Lick, Western and Union Quarterly Meetings, to divide the Yearly Meeting, and establish a new one at Whitelick, composed of those Quarterly Meetings, to be called Western Indiana Yearly Meeting, and to be held the 2d day following the 2d First day in the 10th month of each year. The subject was referred to a large committee of men and women who are to report next year. An application was made for the opening of a new Quarterly Meeting, to be called Concord. An address prepared by the Meeting for Sufferings was adopted, recommending a plan for the regulation of libraries and the more effectual diffusion of books and tracts throughout the Yearly Meeting. Committees are to be appointed in all the Monthly Meetings for the effectual carrying out of the plan. It appeared from the reports of the Quarterly Meetings on the subject of education, that 8484 children of a suitable age to go to school belong to the Yearly Meeting. More than 4000 of these attend Friends schools and only 9 receive no instruction. The proceedings of the African Committee were of a character evincing much interest and perseveOne free negro had been rescued from slavery in Texas, the incurred amounting to upwards of $600. rance. expenses A correspondent has furnished a brief notice of an association of Friends in England, for the purpose of improvement in the theory and practice of teaching. So many topics are included under the head of education, and the theories on the subject have been so various and so diverse, that any well arranged effort to collect the results of experience and bring them to bear upon the methods of instruction which are pursued in our schools, must be productive of good. We are accustomed to speak of our own religious society as having led the way in social and moral improvement, nor can it be questioned that there is much in our views of Christian truth which tends to this result. Yet we should not forget that while truth is unchangeable in its nature, it is progressive and expansive in its effects. That we have contributed to the diffusion of a juster estimate of the value of the education which is acquired at schools, and promoted milder and more rational views of the mode of maintaining their discipline, is, we think, true; yet there is some danger that while comparing ourselves with ourselves we may overrate our own progress, and fail to benefit by those modifications in the methods of imparting instruction, which experience and the efforts of able men in other fields of labor have suggested and carried out. Nor are we secured from the introduction of crude experiments and useless innovations, by secluding ourselves from investigation and discussion. Hasty changes and much diversity of practice would probably have been avoided by a more extensive acquaintance with the experience of others. We have perhaps too seldom considered teaching as an art to be studied, and be made familiar by careful practice upon the best models; and the day will probably come when schools for the training of teachers will be deemed an essential feature in our plans of education. In the mean time there is much that is improving, to be gathered from a careful examination of the published experience of others. Were those engaged in the business of education, and others who are interested in the subject, frequently to meet for a comparison of sentiment and to encourage each here, as in England, much benefit might arise. other in self-preparation, it seems probable that There would, indeed, seem to be many reasons why such associations of Friends might be peculiarly desirable in our wide spread country, and perhaps not the least beneficial result would be to check the tendency to the hasty adoption of new plans, and the introduction into our lower schools of too great a variety of branches of study. The judicious adaptation of studies to the age of the pupil, and the gradual development of his faculties; the occupation of time and the formation of habits of application by such employments as are fitted to his capacities, are subjects of great interest which might well be considered at length, and which will be found to have a more important bearing upon his discipline of a school and the moral training of youth, than is generally supposed. The article upon school discipline which our correspondent has selected, is well worthy of thoughtful perusal. |