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The porpess is the natural enemy and entire master of the cayman, so much so, indeed, that the natives enter the water without fear when the tonina (porpess) is in sight. It attacks the cayman wherever they meet. The cayman is driven into the water by other enemies, as the tiger; but it is made to scamper ashore by the porpess. The ideas of the ancients respecting the dolphin's attachment to man, seem to be in some measure realized in this species of delphinus. It is well known that they accompany ships to considerable distances, as does the shark, but with different motives. This is doubtless a distinct species from the common porpess or the D. Phocæna of naturalists, Phokaina of Aristotle. We even saw them in the Rio Maou and the Parima, whence they must make a journey of many hundred miles to reach the ocean.

Two caymans in combat make a dreadful noise, standing up chopping together their jaws, tumbling down, and thrashing the water with great violence.

An instance is related of an Indian caught by a cayman at the Lake of Marawareta, procuring his release by having the presence of mind to stab the cayman in the eyes with a knife, the water being shoal. This manœuvre is inculcated from their infancy. This, or a similar occurrence, is related by Humboldt while at Angostura.

At Metanza, the caymans are more shy than those of the Essequibo, and take to the water before one can approach them. These animals have become incomparably more bold and ravenous than formerly in the Oronooko, since the feasting they have had on human flesh during the carnage of the late war. Before that time they were scarcely dreaded, and up the Essequibo they would rarely attack a man, or endeavour to shun him, being, in those solitary retreats, quite unmolested. They were so numerous, that my travelling companion, Mr. Sertema, at the same time, and without changing place, stood and counted thirty caymans at a stagnant pool or lagune on the Repoononie, the animals lying just below the water, and their snouts projecting above it. Travelling, in 1811, in the vicinity of the Takotu with some Portuguese, we had several times occasion to swim across the smaller rivers and pools. To frighten away the caymans, we had only to throw ourselves into the water with violence, beat and cause a great splashing. Such experiment in the Oronooko would now be a very dangerous one, as they overthrow small corials, and instantly seize any person in the water.

The cayman, it is said, does not strike, ast generally supposed, with its tail, but with its head, and that suddenly and with tremendous force. The alligators do the same.

The cayman of Oronooko takes its prey both on land and in the water indifferently; but it can devour it only on land, as it cannot swallow under water without letting it in, such is the formation of the glottis. The larynx is provided with a valve which excludes the water by shutting over the orifices both of the sophagus and trachea. It cannot, however, bear long exposure to the sun.

The cayman swallows stones in considerable quantities. Some think this is to satisfy hunger; others to assist digestion; while others believe it arises from an instinctive faculty to render the body specifically heavier, and to enable the animal to sink in the water. I found, in a young cayman, two pieces of lead as well as stones. The harder pebble stones, of the agate and crystal kinds, are frequently found in the stomach.

In opening one to determine this fact, I found the stomach and intestines membranous; the former consisting of an extended canal, very thick in its coats and narrow, and having a small quantity of half digested animal and vegetable substances within it. Below this, in a large paunch or perhaps second stomach, were found 4 lb. or 5 lb. of pebble stones of various sizes, from that of a pea to that of a walnut.

Nothing else was found within it except a bit of indigested skin of some animal.

As to the incubation of the cayman, if any one stoops over the nest, places his ear close, and strikes over it,-if ready to come out, the young fry will be heard croaking. It is said the cayman takes this method of trial. The cayman waits about its eggs laid in the sand, places itself to the landward, and when the lit tle ones are rising from the ground, it devours all that run that way: the others go clear and find their way to the water.

The cayman is not known above the falls in the Rio Caroni, as the people there think from inability to ascend the falls; but this is a great misconception. This river, above the falls, is

quite unfit for its abode, being shallow, rapid,

and full of rocks. It seems rather strange, however, that they are not found in the river Pomeroon, which is very deep, still, and darkcoloured; but some of the natives have a fancy that they are deterred by the camuduors, the great water serpents, which inhabit this river, for these are inveterate enemies, and the deep black water of this river must give a decided advantage to the water serpent.

It is asserted that the animal buries itself in the mud, to pass the summer or dry weather, when the water of the lakes is drying up. Jose Yustre, however, says that the cayman and great serpents do not inter themselves in the ground, as represented by Humboldt; that they do not roar; and that the tiger always kills the cayman in combat, the latter being so inflexible that he cannot get a grasp of the tiger, who springs upon his back and gores the neck. He confirms the story that the cayman ever avoids the porpess.

A cayman was killed, in 1815, before the house of Mr. Loranda at Angostura: I examined and found it measured eleven feet. It

had a series of thin cartilaginous appendages on both sides of the back, extending to within 18 inches of the extremity of the tail. The head was long and narrow. It had soft crescent-shaped nostrils near the end of the snout. There were 19 teeth on one side of the upper jaw, 20 on the other, and 15 on each side the lower jaw. The two fore-teeth in the lower jaw projected through the upper. There were 5 toes on the fore feet; and 4 on the hind ones. Its colour was black, except the belly. Internally, there was a folding membrane, valve-like, before the gullet, but no tongue. This was a young female, and had small eggs the size of pistol bullets.

A Carib called it Acárou, or Acaàru, in his language.

There is a large species of crocodile inhabiting the interior rivers, which is quite unknown to naturalists, and even to the littoral tribes of Indians; but all the inland tribes recognise it by a distinct name. The Macosi Indians call it Teri-teri-ou. They described it as having an appendage or extension of the skin along each side of the belly, and a forked or divided tail. It is said to grow near the size of the cayman of Oronooko; but to be less dangerous than it. Some Arowaks say the Teri-teri-ou is second in size, and inhabits deep waters. I should doubt the existence of this last, were it not that all the inland nations have a name for

it distinct from that of the cayman and alligator. The united testimony of so many tribes renders it certain that such an animal does exist.

Don Francisco Yustre, an intelligent Savanero, says there is another smaller species of baba, yellow, with short head, and nose turned up.

William and Johnson, two Arowak Indians, say there is a white kykoty; and both agree in representing it as about 13 inches long.

A Monthly Magazine is to be established by a number of Undergraduates of Harvard University, entitled, The Collegian; the first number to be issued on the 1st of February.

Literary Port Folio.

THE recent intelligence from Colombia cannot fail to excite a painful interest in relation to the proceedings of Bolivar, and we regret— deeply regret, to find in it so much to confirm the worst apprehensions of those who have hitherto continued incredulous of his reiterated professions of patriotism and disinterestedness-professions which have ever been at variance with his actions. However the contra

dictory statements, which from time to time have appeared in our papers relative to this extraordinary individual may haye contributed to keep up an uncertainty as to his real character in the minds of many of our countrymen, those who have been led to make a closer scrutiny into his conduct, have long since satisfied themselves that he is far from possessing the exalted qualities which have been so lavishly ascribed to him by his admirers, and that he was only waiting a favourable opportunity to act over, upon the petty theatre of Colombia,the part which his great archetype had so successfully performed on a grander stage. But though they could readily detect his ambitious designs under the flimsy disguise with which he thought to conceal them, they probably consoled themselves by the reflection that his unquestionable abilities and stern inflexibility of purpose, rendered him better qualified than any other, for the arduous task of governing a half civilized and disorganized people; and entertained too high an opinion of his prudence to suppose that he could be deluded by the "magic of a name," and when so fully possessed of the substance, to hazard all by grasp ing at the shadow of royalty.

The monarchical bias of his disposition, though it had shown itself in his addresses, his dislike of our countrymen and institutions, and on various other occasions previously to the promulgation of the celebrated constitution of Bolivia, has never been so openly avowed as in that curious document. The writer of these

remarks was in Lima about the period of its publication, when, of course, it was the subject of general discussion, and has repeatedly heard its author charged by those of the constitutional party with the daring design of consolidating both Perus and Colombia-perhaps all Spanish South America, into one grand government, the direction of which he was to his intention, the whole tenor of his conduct assume as perpetual president. That such was at that time and since has fully tended to prove. Under the new constitution, Sucre, one of his most devoted adherents, had been elected president for life of Bolivia: by intrigues with the deputies of Lower Peru, assembled at Lima, intimidating some, and per

suading others, he procured the extension of his own authority as Dictator, for another year, and ultimately the adoption of the Bolivian code, and his own appointment as perpetual president. These however were but secondary objects-Colombia, where his popularity

was unbounded, was to be made the foundation of his power, and in order to effect his purpose there, it was necessary to throw into confusion a country, which, under the able administration of Santander, was fast recovering from the disorganizing effects of the revolution-the Liberator would then interpose and settle affairs after his own liking.

The Constitutionalists openly charged him with instigating the insurrections, which about this time broke out in various parts of Colombia, and from some personal knowledge of the manner in which that of Guayaquil was effected, we have no doubt of the truth of the accusation. Admiral Illingrot or Ellinsworth, (formerly the captain of Lord Cochrane's brig, the Rose,) a gentleman high in the confidence of Bolivar, had been despatched by him from Lima to Guayaquil, some time before the news of the rebellion of Paez in Venezuela had reached that place, in order, doubtless, to take advantage of the excitement which that event would naturally occasion; through his management, a meeting of some of the principal persons, chiefly creatures of Bolivar, was called, and the proceedings in Venezuela were made

which cannot be so fully discussed, nor so elaborately treated in a newspaper, as their importance requires. It is frequently necessary to have a clear statement of the whole case at once, and this consideration alone shows the political importance of reviews and magazines. We trust, however, that the paramount value of literature and science to the United

States not only as a nation, but as a people need not be argued. We believe there are no advocates for ignorance and barbarity among us, and that not only is it an axiom that 'knowledge is power," but that it is also life and light.

66

While upon this subject we take the liberty to make a suggestion, (to which we shall hereafter return) that when the public debt shall have been paid off, it will perhaps be found to be the most useful, most general, most equitable, and least objectionable of all the plans

which can be devised for the use of the surplus revenue-to make the post office free.

Varieties.

from the city of New York to Missouri-with a view of uniting all the natural and artificial channels of communication in the intermediate distance. The railway will be about 1,000 miles long according to the estimate, and cost 15 millions of dollars. The essay is a very interesting one.

Canada is now supposed to have a population of about 750,000 souls. Large tracts of land on the St. Lawrence belong to the priest hood, on which three sects are established200 curates and missionaries; the Protestant viz: the Roman Catholic, with 2 bishops and Episcopal with one bishop and 30 inferior clergymen, and the kirk of Scotland, with about 10 ministers. No other than of these sects can celebrate marriages, &c. It is computed

Grand Project-Col. De Witt Clinton, ena pretext for inviting him to assume the dic-gineer, has published a project of a railway tatorship, and overthrow the constitution which he had solemnly sworn to preserve inviolate for the prescribed term of ten years. What followed is yet fresh in the memory of most of our readers-the counter-revolution in Peru, and the appointment of the excellent La Mar as president of that republic, effectually checked his views in that quarter; and in Colombia, some individuals of the constitutional party, unable openly to make head against his superior power and address, engaged in a desperate attempt upon his life, from which he very narrowly escaped. The patriotic Santander was accused of being concerned in the conspiracy-with what justice we are unable to determine-and by commuting the sentence of death passed upon him, into banishment for life, the Liberator managed to make a show of magnanimity, while at the same time he rid himself of his most formidable antagonist. Since that event he has been enabled to advance more uniformly towards his object, and if our recent intelligence be true, it would seem that he had at length resolved to throw off the mask altogether.

that not more than one out of five of the whole population can read. In 1828, when sir James Mackintosh presented the Canadian petition for a redress of grievances-of the 87,000 signatures 78,000 were signed with a cross or mark.

Canada is rapidly improving, but its growth has been slow compared with that of the western part of New York, the State of Ohio, &c.

The Ruling Passion.-It is related in a recent biography of Lambert, the astronomer, of Mulhausen, that on being asked how he liked an opera at Berlin, to which he had been taken by some of his friends, he replied, that he had not seen it as he had been occupied during the entire evening in calculating the refraction of light from the lustre.

DRAWN FOR A SOLDIER.

[From Hood's Comic Annual.]

A bill is before Congress to reduce the postage on other periodicals, to the rate assessed upon newspapers, and we hope that all the newspapers throughout the United States who wish to promote the interests of literature and "I was once-for a few hours only-in the science, will give it their immediate and hearty militia. I suspect I was in part answerable for support. Our literature arises generally to my own mishap. There is a story in Joe Miller of a man, who, being pressed to serve his meet the immediate occasion. The host of Majesty on another element, pleaded his polite newspapers already published is sufficient evi- breeding to the gang, as a good ground of exdence of the prevalence of this habit. But al-emption; but was told, that the crew being a set of unmannerly dogs, a Chesterfield was the though they form the arteries and veins of our very character they wanted. The militiamen system, by which our political strength is main- acted, I presume, on the same principle. Their tained and increased, and every man in the customary schedule was forwarded to me, at Brighton, to fill up; and in a moment of incaucommunity may know what is doing by his retious hilarity-induced, perhaps, by the abpresentatives, yet there are many questions sence of all business or employment, except

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pleasure-I wrote myself down in the descriptive column as Quite a gentleman.' The consequence followed immediately. A precept, addressed by the High Constable of Westminster to the Low ditto of the parish of St. M***, and indorsed with my name, informed me that it had turned up in that involuntary lottery, the ballot. At sight of the orderly, who thought proper to deliver the document into no other hands than mine, my mother-in-law cried, and my wife fainted on the spot. They had no notion of any distinctions in military servicea soldier was a soldier-and they imagined that, on the very morrow, I might be ordered abroad to a fresh Waterloo. They were unfortunately ignorant of that benevolent provision, which absolves the militia from going out of the kingdom-'except in case of an invasion.' In vain I represented that we were 'locals;' they had heard of local diseases, and thought there might be wounds of the same description. In vain I explained that we were not troops of the line;-they could see nothing to choose between being shot in a line, or in any other figure. I told them, next, that I was not obliged to serve myself;'-but they answered, 'twas so much the harder I should be obliged to serve any one else.' My being sent abroad, they said would be the death of them; for they had witnessed at Ramsgate, the embarkation of the Walcheren expedition, and too well remembered the misery of the soldiers' wives at seeing their husbands in transports! I told them that, at the very worst, if I should be sent abroad, there was no reason why I should not return again;-but they both declared, they never did, and never would believe in those Returns of the killed and wounded.' The discussion was in this stage when it was interrupted by another loud single knock at the door, a report equal in its effects on us to that of the memorable cannon-shot at Brussels; and before we could recover ourselves, a strapping serjeant entered the parlour with a huge bow, or rather rain-bow, of partycoloured ribands in his cap. said, to offer a substitute for me; but I was preHe came, he vented from reply by the indignant females asking him in the same breath, Who and what did he think could be a substitute for a son and a husband?' The poor serjeant looked foolish enough at this turn; but he was still more abashed when the two anxious ladies began to cross-examine him on the length of his services abroad, and the number of his wounds, the campaigns of the militia-man having been confined doubtless to Hounslow, and his bodily marks militant to the three stripes on his sleeve. Parrying these awkward questions, he endeavoured to prevail upon me to see the proposed proxy, a fine young fellow, he assured me, of unusual stature; but I told him it was quite an indifferent point with me whether he was 6-feet-2 or 2-feet-6,-in short, whether he was as tall as the flag, or under the standard.' The truth is, I reflected that it was a time of profound peace; that a civil war, or an invasion, was very unlikely; and as for an occasional drill, that I could make shift, like Lavater, to right-(write)-about-face. Accordingly I declined seeing the substitute, and dismissed the serjeant with a note to the War-Secretary to this purport: That I considered myself drawn; and expected therefore to be well quarter'd. That, under the circumstances of the country, it would probably be unnecessary for militiamento be mustered;' but that if his Majesty did call me out,' I hoped I should give him satisfaction.' The females were far from being pleased with this billet. They talked a great deal of moral suicide, wilful murder, and seeking the bubble reputation in the cannon's mouth; but I shall ever think that I took the proper course, for, after the lapse of a few hours, two more of the General's red-coats, or Genera! postmen, brought me a large packet sealed with the War-Office seal, and superscribed Henry Hardinge;' by which I was officially absolved from serving on horse, or on foot, or on both together, then and there

after. And why, I know not-unless his Majesty doubted the handsomeness of discharging me in particular, without letting off the rest; -but so it was, that in a short time afterwards there issued a proclamation, by which the services of all militiamen were for the present dispensed with, and we were left to pursue our several avocations, of course, all the lighter in our spirits for being disembodied."

Singular Circumstance-Mr. Lowe, a gentleman who has been deaf and dumb from his infancy, will, we understand, be called to the bar by the Society of the Middle Temple. He has had a good legal education, and is considered very clever as a conveyancer.

Ingenious Spy.-It was customary with Marshal Bassompiere, when any of his soldiers were brought before him for heinous offences, to say to them, "Brother, you or I will certainly be hanged;" which was a sufficient denunciation of their fate. A spy, who was discovered in his camp, was addressed in this language; and next day, as the wretch was about to be led to the gallows, he pressed earnestly to speak with the Marshal, alleging that he had somewhat of importance to communicate. The Marshal being made acquainted with his request, said, in his rough manner, "It is always the way of these rascals; they pretend some frivolous story, merely to reprieve themselves for a few moments; however, bring the dog hither." Being introduced, the Marshal asked him what he had to say? "Why, my lord," said the culprit," when I first had the honour of your conversation, you were pleased to say, that either you or I should be hanged; now I am come to know whether it is your pleasure to be so, because, if you won't, I must; that's all." The Marshal was so pleased with the fellow's humour, that he ordered him to be released.

Old Stories over again-Bubb Doddington was very lethargic. Falling asleep, one day, after dinner, with Sir Richard Temple and Lord Cobham, the latter reproached Doddington with his drowsiness. Doddington denied having been asleep; and to prove he had not, offered to repeat all Lord Cobham had been saying. Cobham challenged him to do so. Doddington repeated a story; and Lord Cobham owned he had been telling it. "Well," said Doddington, "and yet I did not hear a word of it; but I went to sleep, because I knew that about this time of day you would tell that story."

An Impatient Dog-A gentleman required the loan of a pointer dog from a friend, was informed by him that the dog would behave very well so long as he could kill his birds; but if he frequently missed them, it would run home and leave them. The dog was sent, and the following day was fixed for trial, but unfortunately, his new master was a remarkably bad shot. Bird after bird rose and was fired at, but still pursued its flight untouched by the leaden showers that fell around it, till at last the pointer became careless, and often missed his game; but, as if seemingly willing to give one chance more to his luckless master, he made a dead start at a fern-bush, with his nose pointed downwards, the fore-foot bent, and his tail straight and steady. In this masterly position he remained firm till the sportsman was close to his tail, with both barrels cocked, then moving steadily forward for a few paces, he at last stood still near a bunch of heather, the tail expressing the anxiety of the mind, by moving regularly backwards and forwards, when out sprang an old black cock. Bang, bang, went both barrels, but, alas! the proud bird of the heath still soared in the air unhurt. The patience of the dog was now exhausted, and, instead of crouching at the feet of his master, till he reloaded, he turned boldly round, placed his tail close between his legs, gave one howl, long and loud, and off he

set and stopped not till within sight of the kennel door.

Some very interesting experiments took place on the Baltimore and Ohio rail road on Monday last, and have been continued during the week. A large number of persons have attended to witness them, of whom many were distinguished strangers. Among the experiments, we notice these

One horse, with the same apparent ease that he would have drawn a gig over a smooth and hard road, moved two of Winans' cars, laden with forty-one persons, at the rate of between ten and eleven miles an hour. The distance travelled, out and in, was about 5 miles..

But vain their skill,
And vain their sword,
Had not the Lord
Upheld them still.

Peace to that holy ground!
That consecrated spot:

The first our fathers found
Where tyrants troubled not.
We'll sound abroad,
Where'er we roam,
The Pilgrim's home,

The Pilgrim's God!

Fishes in the London Clay.-The remains of fishes are frequently found in the London clay, Another horse drew 25 persons, on a carin various degrees of preservation; not only riage of another construction, to the end of are the numerous teeth of cartilaginous fishes the rails and back, in a lively trot. A second found here in their figures, triangular, conical, trip was made with the same horse, carriage single pointed, tricuspidated, tridentated, lanand load, at the rate of 12 miles an hour. A ceolated, &c., and from more than an inch in single horse then drew two carriages and fifty-length to very small sizes; but others, belongfive persons, nine miles an hour; a third carriage was attached, and the whole, loaded with eighty-four men and women, and the horse performed the trip with the same case and velocity.

Another carriage with seven persons, was rapidly driven by a winch, worked by two of them. Two dogs, attached to a car, trotted off with a load of six persons. Those who have not seen, can hardly believe such things; but they are true.

Among the experiments on Tuesday, was one made by a car fitted with a sail. Though the breeze was gentle, six persons were carried in it at a rapid rate. The experiment af forded much amusement to the spectators, and went to show that, with a large sail and a fresh breeze, carriages may be propelled with great velocity.

Hymns, sung at the Celebration in New York,
of the Landing of the Pilgrims, by the New
England Society, the 22d inst.
Tune-Old Hundred.
Wild was the day, the wintry sea

Moaned sadly on New England's strand,
When first, the thoughtful and the free,
Our fathers, trod the desert land.

They little thought how pure a light

In time should gather round that day;
How love should keep their memory bright,
How wide a realm their sons should sway.
Green are their bays-but greener still
Shall round their spreading fame be wreathed;
And regions now untrod, shall thrill

With reverence when their names
breathed;

Till when the sun, with softer fires,

Looks on the vast Pacific's sleep,
The children of the Pilgrim Sires
This hallowed day, like us, shall keep.

are

The following was sung at the close of the ex

ercises.

With joy I heard them say
When roving far abroad,
On this their landing day,
We'll praise the Pilgrim's God.
I knew the cry,
I'll join the song,
Thy courts we'll throng,
O thou Most High!
This day let all awake,
And sing the mighty deed,
Who, first, for Zion's sake,
O'er raging oceans fled.
Had not our God
Preserved that flock,
Safe on the rock
They ne'er had trod.

At once their temples rose,
Our schools were founded then,
Nor could their mightiest foes
Withstand those gallant men:

ing to spinous fishes, varying considerably in their forms and sizes, are found still affixed in their bony sockets. The skeletons of some of these fishes still remain, but so fixed in their hardened matrix as to be very difficultly separable.

The teeth are most referrible to different species of the genus squalus, and are spokenof, by former writers, under the different appellations, Plectronites, Rostrago, &c. The bony tongue and palates of different species of the genus Raia, particularly of Raia pastinacea, are also found completely mineralized in this formation.

Alpine Flowers.-A little above the point where timber disappears, a region of extraordinary beauty commences-intervals of soil of some extent covered with low creeping matted Alpine plants of astonishing brilliancy of colouring. Deep blue prevails; and the penstimon erianthera, the agnilegin cærulea, and other plants, were more intensely coloured than in lower situations. May it not be that the deep blue sky, the atmosphere being for the most part clear and unclouded, influences the colours of this Alpine Flora?

Books and Journals received this week, and to which we are indebted for part of this num

ber:

Asiatic Journal-Monthly Review-BijouNew Monthly Magazine-Museum of Foreign Literature and Science-Edinburgh Philosophical Journal-Niles' Register.

SPIRIT OF THE ANNUALS FOR 1830,

In press, and will speedily be published by E. Litttell, & Brother, Chestnut Street.

This work will consist of selections, in prose and verse, of the most important articles, literary and religious, from all the English annuals for 1830.

MUSEUM OF FOREIGN LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

Its contents are thrice as great as those of ordinary periodical works, and it is composed of choice pieces from the Foreign Journals of the highest character; a partial list of which is given below.

Edinburgh, Quarterly, Westminster, Retrospective, British, Monthly, and Eclectic Reviews; New Monthly, Blackwood's, London, Edinburgh, Monthly, European, Ladies', and Pocket Magazines; British Critic, Literary Gazette, Ackerman's Repository, La Belle Assemblee, London Journal of Science, Literature, and Arts; Brewster's Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, &c. &c. &c.

As a Review of the Literature of the day-an interesting and instructive Magazine-an amusing Miscellany, and a Repository of Essays on all subjects by the first authors of the age, it is believed to possess the strongest claims to patronage.

It commenced in 1822:-a new series began with 1826. The January number of the Museum, now nearly ready for publication, will be embellished with a beautifully engraved plate.

Wishing to render this work still more deserving of the extensive patronage it has received, the publishers have determined to prefix a plate to each successive number, and this will be continued, so long as the circulation of the work will warrant the increased expense.

The Museum is published monthly, at g6 per annum, payable in advance. E. LITTELL & BROTHER, Chestnut Street.

No. 3.

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21,

THE LITERARY PORT FOLIO Is published every Thursday by E. Littell & Brother, and on this day it is punctually delivered to subscribers in Philadelphia and New York, and sent off by mail to subscribers in the country.

It contains eight printed pages in each number, and four handsome engravings every year. The price is Two Dollars and a Half a year, payable in advance.

It is intended that this journal shall contain such a variety of matter as may make it acceptable to ladies as well as to gentlemen; to the young as well as to the old. While we shall take care that nothing be admitted which would render the work unfit for any of these classes, we shall endeavour to procure for it sufficient ability to entitle it to the attention of all of them. To these ends we have secured an abundant supply of all foreign and domestic journals and new books-and we ask the assistance of all who are qualified to instruct or amuse the public. Upon this assistance we depend in a great degree for our hopes of success, for however the abundant stores to which we have access, may enable us to supply matter highly interesting to our readers, we think it of even more importance to give them something peculiarly adapted to the present time and circumstances; something from home.

-a saint who was supposed on that festival to
favour his votaries with a peep into the Book
of Fate. For it was the popular belief in those
days, that if a person should keep watch to-
wards midnight beside the church, the appari-
tions of all those of the parish who were to be
taken by death before the next anniversary,
would be seen entering the porch. The yeo-
man, like his neighbours, believed most de-
voutly in this superstition-and in the very mo-
ment that he breathed the unseemly aspiration
aforesaid, it occurred to him that the even was
at hand, when, by observing the rite of St.
Mark, he night know to a certainty whether
this unchristian wish was to be one of those
that bear fruit. Accordingly, a little before
midnight he stole quietly out of the house, and
in something of a sexton-like spirit set forth
on his way to the church. In the mean time
the dame called to mind the same ceremonial;
and having the like motive for curiosity with
her husband, she also put on her cloak and
calash, and set out, though by a different path,
on the same errand. The night of the saint
was as dark and chill as the mysteries he was
supposed to reveal, the moon throwing but a
short occasional glance, as the sluggish masses
of cloud were driven slowly across her face.
Thus it fell out that our two adventurers were
quite unconscious of being in company, till
a sudden glimpse of moonlight showed them to
each other, only a few yards apart; both,

Communications should be addressed to “ E. Littell for
the Literary Port Folio," and subscriptions will be
thankfully received by E. Littell & Brother, corner of
Chestnut and Seventh streets, Philadelphia.
Subscriptions are also received by Thomas C. Clarke, through a natural panic, as pale as ghosts, and
S. W. corner of Chestnut and Seventh streets.

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ST. MARK'S EVE.

1830.

tient host with regard to an unwelcome guest,
showing scarcely a bare civility while in ex-
pectation of his stay, but overloading him with
hospitality when made certain of his departure.
In this manner they went on for some six
months, and though without any addition of
love between them, and as much selfishness as
ever, yet living in a subservience to the com-
forts and inclinations of each other, some-
times not to be found even amongst couples of
sincerer affections. There were as many
causes for quarrel as ever, but every day it be-
came less worth while to quarrel; so letting
bygones be bygones, they were indifferent to
the present, and thought only of the future,
considering each other (to adopt a common
phrase)" as good as dead." Ten months wore
away, and the farmer's birth-day arrived in its
turn. The dame, who had passed an uncom-
fortable night, having dreamt, in truth, that
she did not much like herself in mourning, sa-
luted him as soon as the day dawned, and with
a sigh wished him many years to come. The
farmer repaid her in kind, the sigh included;
his own visions having been of the painful
sort, for he had dreamt of having a headach
from wearing a black hatband, and the malady
still clung to him when awake. The whole
inorning was spent in silent meditation and
melancholy on both sides, and when dinner
came, although the most favourite dishes were
upon the table, they could not eat. The far-
mer, resting his elbows upon the board, with
his face between his hands, gazed wistfully on
his wife,-scooping her eyes, as it were, out of
their sockets, stripping the flesh off her cheeks,
and in fancy converting her whole head into a
mere caput mortuum. The dame, leaning
back in her arm-chair, regarded the yeoman
quite as ruefully,-by the same process of
imagination, picking his sturdy bones, and
bleaching his ruddy visage to the complexion
of a plaster cast. Their minds travelling in
the same direction, and at an equal rate, ar-
rived together at the same reflection; but the
farmer was the first to give it utterance:
"Thee'd be miss'd, dame, if thee were to die!"
The dame started. Although she had nothing
but death at that moment before her eyes, she
was far from dreaming of her own exit, and at
this rebound of her thoughts against herself,
she felt as if an extra-cold coflin-plate had been
suddenly nailed on her chest: recovering, how-
ever, from the first shock, her thoughts flowed
into their old channel, and she retorted in the
same spirit:-"I wish, master, thee may live
so long as 1!" The farmer, in his own mind,
wished to live rather longer: for, at the ut-

both making eagerly towards the church porch.
Much as they had just wished for this vision,
they could not help quaking and stopping on
the spot, as if turned to a pair of tombstones,
and in this position the dark again threw a
sudden curtain over them, and they disappear
ed from each other. It will be supposed the
two came only to one conclusion, each con-
ceiving that St. Mark had marked the other
to himself. With this comfortable knowledge,
the widow and widower elect hied home again
by the roads they came; and as their custom
was to sit apart after a quarrel, they repaired,
each ignorant of the other's excursion, to se-
parate chambers. By and by, being called to
supper, instead of sulking as aforetime, they
came down together, each being secretly in the
best humour, though mutually suspected of the
worst; and among other things on the table,
there was a calf's sweet-bread, being one of
those very dainties that had often set them to-
gether by the ears. The dame looked and
longed, but she refrained from its appropria-
tion, thinking within herself that she could
give up sweetbreads for one year and the
farmer made a similar reflection. After push-most, he considered that his wife's bill of mor-
ing the dish to and fro several times, by a com-
mon impulse they divided the treat; and then,
having supped, they retired amicably to rest,
whereas, until then, they had never gone to
bed without falling out. The truth was, cach
looked upon the other as being already in the
church-yard mould, or quite " moulded to their
wish." On the morrow, which happened to
be the dame's birth-day, the farmer was the
first to wake, and knowing what he knew, and
having besides but just roused himself out of a
dream strictly confirmatory of the late vigil,
he did not scruple to salute his wife, and wish

"THE devil choke thee with un!"-as Master Giles the yeoman said this, he banged down a hand, in size and colour like a ham, on the old fashioned oak table;-"I do say the devil choke thee with un!" The dame made no reply-she was choking with passion and a fowl's liver-the original cause of the dispute. A great deal has been said and sung of the advantage of congenial tastes amongst married people; but true it is, the variances of our Kentish couple arose from this very coincidence in gusto. They were both fond of the little delicacy in question; but the dame had managed to secure the morsel for herself, and this was sufficient to cause a storm of very high words-which, properly understood, signifies very low language. Their meal-times seldom passed over without some contention of the sort, as sure as the knives and forks clashed, so did they-being in fact equally greedy and disagreedy-and when they did pick a quarrel, they picked it to the bone. It was reported, that on some occasions they had not even contented themselves with hard speech-her many happy returns of the day. The wife, es, but that they had come to scuffling-he taking to boxing, and she to pinching-though in a far less amicable manner than is practised by the takers of snuff. On the present differerce, however, they were satisfied with "wish-sleep. She took care, however, to give the ing each other dead with all their hearts"and there seemed little doubt of the sincerity of the aspiration, on looking at their malignant faces, for they made a horrible picture in this frame of mind. Now it happened that this quarrel took place on the morning of St. Mark,

who knew as much as he, very readily wished
him the same, having in truth but just rubbed
out of her eyes the pattern of a widow's bon-
net, that had been submitted to her in her

fowl's liver at dinner to the doom'd man, con-
sidering that when he was dead and gone, she
could have them, if she pleased, seven days in
the week; and the farmer, on his part, took
care to help her to many tid-bits. Their feel-
ing towards each other was that of an impa-

tality had but two months to run. The calcu-
lation made him sorrowful; during the last
few months she had consulted his appetite,
bent to his humour, and dove-tailed her own
inclinations into his, in a manner that could
never be supplied; and he thought of her, if
not in the language, at least in the spirit of the
lady in Lalla Rookh—

"I never taught a bright gazelle,
To watch me with its dark black eye,
But when it came to know me well,
And love me, it was sure to die!"

His wife, from being at first useful to him, bad
become agreeable, and at last dear; and as he
contemplated her approaching fate, he could
not help thinking out audibly," that he should
be a lonesome man when she was gone." The
dame, this time, heard the survivorship fore-
boded without starting: but she marvelled
much at what she thought the infatuation of a
doom'd man. So perfect was her faith in the
infallibility of St. Mark, that she had even
seen the symptoms of mortal disease, as pal-
pable as plague spots, on the devoted yeoman.

Giving his body up, therefore, for lost, a strong sense of duty persuaded her, that it was imperative on her, as a Christian, to warn the unsuspecting farmer of his dissolution. Accordingly, with a solemnity adapted to the subject, a tenderness of recent growth, and a mementomori face, she broached the matter in the following question-"Master, how bee'st?" "As hearty, dame, as a buck,"-the dame shook her head," and I wish thee the like," at which he shook his head himself. A dead silence ensued:-the farmer was as unprepared as ever. There is a great fancy for breaking the truth, by dropping it gently,-an experiment which has never answered any more than with Ironstone China. The dame felt this, and thinking it better to throw the news at her husband at once, she told him, in as many words, that he was a dead man. It was now the yeoman's turn to be staggered. By a parallel course of reasoning, he had just wrought himself up to a similar disclosure, and the dame's death-warrant was just ready upon his tongue, when he met with his own despatch, signed, sealed, and delivered. Conscience instantly pointed out the oracle from which she had derived the omen, and he turned as pale as "the pale of society" the colourless complexion of late hours. St. Martin had numbered his years; and the remainder days seemed discounted by St. Thomas. Like a criminal cast to die, he doubted if the die was cast, and appealed to his wife:-" Thee hast watch'd, dame, at the church porch, then ?" "Ay, master." "And thee didst see me spirituously?" "In the brown wrap, with the boot hose. Thee were coming to the church, by Fairthorn Gap; in the while I were coming by the Holly Hedge." For a minute the farmer paused-but the next, he burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter,-peal after peal-and each higher than the last, according to the hysterical gamut of the hyæna. The poor woman had but one explanation for this phenomenon-she thought it a delirium-a lightning before death, and was beginning to wring her hands, and lament, when she was checked by the merry yeoman;-" Dame, thee bee'st a fool. It was I myself thee seed at the church porch. I seed thee too,-with a notice to quit upon thy face-but, thanks to God, thee beest a-living, and that is more than I cared to say of thee this day ten-month!" The dame made no answer. Her heart was too full to speak, but throwing her arms round her husband, she showed that she shared in his sentiment. And from that hour, by practising a careful abstinence from offence, or a temperate sufferance of its appearance, they became the most united couple in the country,-but it must be said, that their comfort was not complete till they had seen each other, in safety, over the perilous anniversary of St. Mark's Eve.-Hood's Comic Annual.

From the National Gazette.

Dans l'ombre de mon ctre

Je cherche a reconaitre

Ce qu'autrefois je fus.- Ducis.

YEARS! vanished years! by all that ye withheld,

Your glorious promises and broken trust, Passions and soaring hopes now crushed and quell'd,

By this recurring languor and disgust, Which sickens o'er my life, I bid you rise, With your forgotten dreams and sympathies. Shadow and radiance, mournfulness and glee, Thoughts which like sunbeams coloured o'er my fate,

Till one by one, as blossoms from the tree, They passed, and left me changed and desolate;

Words which were breathed from lips that now are cold,

And forms this world may never more behold,

Are thronging on my soul; and oh 'tis meet, Now that night's solitude, and stillness reigns,

When life is stript of every gay deceit,

And truth or harsh reality remains, That these undying memories should impart Their sad yet awful wisdom to the heart!

Earth has its ruins ;-in the lonely waste

Lie the strong shaft and column overthrown, Temple and mouldering tower, where darkly traced

We read the woe of nations that are gone;The Mind hath hers, these lingering thoughts -which seem

Like the wild phantoms of a troubled dream. I own their solemn influence, for they yield My soul immortal longings to disperse The cloud by which its nature is concealed;

It may not be, doomed by a heavy curse The lore which most we need yet never gain. To strive for knowledge of itself in vain, Then let us live with this stern truth imprest, That joy and sadness, darker hours and day, All that at present wins or wounds the breast, Shall pass, like that which has been, to decay;

We dwell amidst illusion, and should be Nerved for our fate, when wisdom can foresee. F. T. E.

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COMFORTS OF EMIGRATION.

Squampash Flatts, 9th November, 1827. vidence, safe and well, and in the finest coun"DEAR BROTHER,-Here we are, thank Protry you ever saw. At this moment I have before me the sublime expanse of Squampash Flatts the majestic Mudiboo winding through the midst-with the magnificent range of the Squab mountains in the distance. But the prospect is impossible to describe in a letter!

might as well attempt a panorama in a pillbox! We have fixed our settlement on the left bank of the river. In crossing the rapids we lost most of our heavy baggage and all our iron work; but by great good fortune we saved Mrs. Paisley's grand piano and the children's toys. Our infant city consists of three log-huts and one of clay, which, however, on the second day, fell into the ground landlords. We have now built it up again: and, all things considered, are as comfortable as we could expect,and have christened our settlement New London, in compliment to the old metropolis. We have one of the log-houses to ourselves-or at least shall have when we have built a new hog-sty. We burnt down the first one in making a bonfire to keep off the wild beasts, and for the present the pigs are in the parlour. As yet our rooms are rather usefully than elegantly furnished. We have gutted the Grand Upright, and it makes a convenient cupboard; the chairs were obliged to blaze at our bivou

acs, but thank Heaven we have never leisure to sit down, and so do not miss them. My boys are contented, and will be well when they have got over some awkward accidents, in lopping and felling. Mrs. P. grumbles a little, but it is her custom to lament most when she is in the midst of comforts. She complains of solitude, and says she could enjoy the very stiffest of stiff visits. The first time we lighted a fire in our new abode, a large serpent came down the chimney, which I looked upon as a good omen. However, as Mrs. P. is not partial to snakes, and the heat is supposed to attract those reptiles, we have dispensed with fires ever since. As for wild beasts, we hear them howling and roaring round the fence every night from dusk till daylight, but we have only been inconvenienced by one lion. The first time he came, in order to get rid of the brute peaceably, we turned out an old ewe, with which he was well satisfied;-but ever since he comes to us as regular as clock-work for his mutton; and if we do not soon contrive to cut his acquaintance, we shall hardly have a sheep in the flock. It would have been easy to shoot him, being well provided with muskets; but Barnaby mistook our remnant of gunpowder for onion seed, and sowed it all in the kitchen garden. We did try to trap him into a pit-fall; but after twice catching Mrs. P., and every one of the children in turn, it was given up. They are now, however, perfectly at ease about the animal, for they never stir out of doors at all; and, to make them quite comfortable, I have blocked up all the windows and barricaded the door. We have lost only one of our number since we came; namely, Diggory, the market-gardener, from Glasgow, who went out one morning to botanise, and never came back. I am much surprised at his absconding, as he had nothing but a spade to go off with. Chippendale, the carpenter, was sent after him, but did not return; and Gregory, the smith, has been out after them these two days. I have just despatched Mudge, the herdsman, to look for all three, and hope he will soon give a good account of them, as they are the most useful men in the whole settlement, and, in fact, indispensable to its existence. The river Mudiboo is deep and rapid, and said to swarm with alligators, though I have heard but of three being seen at one time, and none of those above eighteen feet long; this, however, is immaterial, as we do not use the river fluid, which is thick and dirty, but draw all our water from natural wells and tanks. Poisonous springs are rather common, but are easily distinguished by containing no fish or living animal. Those, however, which swarm with frogs, toads, newts, efts, &c. are harmless, and may be safely used for culinary purposes. In short, I know of no drawback but one, which I am sanguine, may be got over hereafter, and do earnestly hope and advise, if things are no better in England than when I left, you, and as many as you can persuade, will sell off all, and come over to this African Paradise. The drawback I speak off is this: although I have never seen any one of the creatures, it is too certain that the mountains are inhabited by a race of monkeys, whose cunning and mischievous talents exceed even the most incredible stories of their tribe. No human art or vigilance seems of avail; we have planned ambuscades, and watched night after night, but no attempt has been made; yet the moment the guard was relaxed, we were stripped without mercy. I am convinced they must have had spies night and day on our motions, yet so secretly and cautiously, that no glimpse of one has yet been seen by any of our people. Our last crop was cut and carried off with the precision of an English harvesting. Our spirit stores-(you will be amazed to hear that these creatures pick locks with the dexterity of London burglars)-have been broken open and ransacked, though half the establishment were on the watch; and the brutes have been off to their mountains, five miles distant, without even the dogs giving an alarm. Í

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