Dr. Johnson thus defined wit-"A combination of dissimiliar images, or discovery of occult resemblances in things apparently unlike." CHESS.-Chess-play is a good and witty exercise of the mind, and fit for such as are idle, and have extravagant, impertinent thoughts, or troubled with cares; nothing better to divert their mind and alter their meditations: invented, some say by the general of an army in a famine to keep soldiers from mutiny: but if it proceed from over-much study, in such a case it may do more harm than good. It is a game too troublesome for some men's brains; too full of anxiety; all but as bad as study: besides, it is a testy, choleric game, and very offensive to him that loseth the mate. William the Conqueror, playing at chess with the prince of France (dauphine was not annexed to the crown in those days) losing his mate, knocked the chess-board about his pate; which was a cause afterwards of much enmity between them.-Burton. LYING IN BED. No piece of indolence hurts the health more than the modern custom of lying a-bed too long in a morning. This is the general practice in great towns. The inhabitants of cities seldom rise before eight or nine o'clock; but the morning is undoubtedly the best time for exercise, while the stomach is empty and the body refreshed with sleep. Besides, the morning air braces and strengthens the nerves, and in some measure answers the purposes of a cold bath.-Let any one, who has been accustomed to lie a-bed till eight or nine o'clock, rise by six or seven, spend a couple of hours in walking, riding, or any active diversion without doors, and he will find his spirits cheerful and serene throughout the day, his appetite keen, and his body braced and strengthened. Custom soon renders early rising agreeable, and nothing contributes more to the preservation of health. The inactive are continually complaining of pains in the stomach, flatulencies, indigestion, &c. These complaints, which pave the way to many others, are not to be removed by medicines: they can only be cured by a vigorous course of exercise, to which indeed they seldom fail to yield. It consists with observation, that all very old men have been early-risers. This is the only circumstance attending longevity to which I never knew an exception.-Buchan. SHADOW CATCHER.—I was present, some years ago, at the trial of a notorious obeah-man, driven on an estate in the parish of St. David, who, by the overwhelming influence he had acquired over the minds of his deluded victims, and the more potent means he had at command to accomplish his ends, had done great injury among the slaves on the property before it was discovered. One of the witnesses, a negro belonging to the same estate, was asked-"Do you know the prisoner to be an obeah-man ?"-" Ees, massa, shadow-catcher, true." "What do you mean by a shadow-catcher?"—" Him ha coffin, (a little coffin produced,) him set for catch dem shadow." shadow do you mean?""When him set obeah for summary,(some body,) him catch dem shadow and dem go dead;" and too surely they were soon dead, when he pretended to have caught their shadows, by whatever means it was effected.-Barclay's Slavery. "What MEDICAL SKILL IN THE EAST.-While my companions were trying this experiment, and wondering at the cause, I remained on the terrace conversing with Hajee Ibrahim. I noticed a small village about a mile distant, which seemed deserted. "Is that oppression?" said I. "No," said the Hajee, "worse." "Why," said I, "the Tûrkûmâns cannot have carried their inroads so near the town." "They could not have done the work so complete," said my friend, smiling. "Who has done it?" I asked. doctor," replied he; "a proper fellow, who acquired great reputation, and he deserved it, from the heirs of his patients at least. That village literally perished under his hands in five years. Now he is gone I know not where, but good luck attend him, so he comes not again to our neighbourhood." Sketchesof Persia. “A BANK OF FAITH.-An Indian servant of Sir Thomas Row's would needs go out one day to be married forsooth, and yet he had three wives at the same time, with a good stock of children, and but five shillings a month to maintain them all. This is drawing bills upon God Almighty without any warrant or encouragement to believe they will ever be paid.-Row's Account of the Mogul's Country, Harris's Voyages, edition 1705. THE NEGRO'S HEIR LOOM.-Some years ago, the boiler-men negroes on Huckenfield estate were overheard by the book-keeper discoursing on this subject, (the superiority of the whites,) and various opinions were given, till the question was thus set at rest by an old African:-"When God Almighty inake de world, him make two men, a nigger and a buckra; and him give them two box, and him tell dem for make dem choice. Nigger, (nigger greedy from time,) when him find one box heavy, him take it, and buckra take to'other; when dem open de box, buckra see pen, ink, and paper; nigger box full up with hoe and bill, and hoe and bill for nigger till this day."-Barclay's Slavery in the West Indies. PRICES OF SHARES IN THE PRINCIPAL CANALS, DOCKS, LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Mr. Kendall, Author of "Letters on Ireland and the Roman Catholic Question," and of "An Argument on Trial by Battle," is preparing for publication," Judicial Oaths in English Jurisprudence, their History and Law;" written with reference to the Question of administering an Oath upon the Gospel to unbelievers; and likewise to the Questions of the legal utility and Christian lawfulness of judicial swearing in general. The Work will also comprise a variety of legal, historical, and philological Annotations. In November will be published, elegantly embellished, and dedicated, by permission, to the Lord Bishop of London, The Omnipresence of the Deity; a Poem: designed to illustrate the Presence of God over the Works of Creation, and in Human Life. By Robert Montgomery. A New Monthly Magazine is announced, to commence on the first of January, 1828, called the British Magazine, of Literature, Religion, and Philosophy. It is said that it will occupy a middle ground, between the literary and religious worlds. In the press, an Elementary Treatise useful to Oriental students and travellers, entitled the Clavis Orientalis, or Lecture Card of the London Oriental Institution; containing on easy introduction to the principles of Oriental writing. Illustrated by fourteen copperplate engravings of the Persian characters, corrected by comparison with original drawings executed in India; to which will be prefixed a brief (lithographic) sketch of the Elements of Hindoostanee Grammar, by Mr. Sandford Arnot, of the above institution. It will be used as a text-book in the classes now opened there for the Hindoostanee and Persian languages, a knowledge of which is so important to gentlemen proceeding to British India. Preparing for publication, with a plan of the proposed town of Hygeia, and Map of the Vicinity of Cincinnati, a Sketch of a Journey through the Western States of North America, from new Orleans, by the Mississippi, Ohio, City of Cincinnati, and Falls of Niagara, to New York, in 1827. By W. Bullock, F.L.S. &c. &c. author of Travels in Mexico. With a description of the new and flourishing city of Cincinnati, by Messrs. B. Drake and E. D. Mansfield. 5s. In 2 vols. 18mo. with a portrait, price 7s. in boards; or a fine edition, in royal 18mo. 12s. Memoirs of Benvenuto Cellini; translated by Thomas Nugent. With introduction and sequel, including four letters of Cellini, not in previous editions. In 2 vols. 8vo. with portrait and numerous plates, a Pilgrimage from Italy to North America; including a Narrative of the Author's Discovery of the Sources of the Mississippi. By J. C. Beltrami, Esq. In 8vo. a Selection from various Italian Authors, commencing with the easier, and including the best examples of style. With a Double Translation, for the use of students on the Hamiltonian system. In 8vo. on the same plan, a Selection from various German authors. In 8vo. on the same plan, the Anabasis of Xenophon. In 18mo. the Traveller's Guide in Belgium, Italy, &c. With detailed estimates of the expense of some continental tours. Early in November will be published, the Beauties of Melody; a collection of the most Popular Airs, Duets, Glees, &c. of the best Authors, interspersed with the most favourite Irish Melodies; the words, poetry, symphonies, and accompaniments, entirely new. Arranged for the voice and pianoforte, by W. H. Plumstead, of the theatre royal, Drury Lane. The Clarendon Papers will be published in a few days, in 2 vols. 4to. They comprise the Correspondence of Henry, Earl of Clarendon, and Lawrence, Earl of Rochester; with the very curious Diary of Lord Clarendon from 1687 to 1690, containing minute particulars of the events attending the Revolution. They will be illustrated with portraits, (copied from the originals, by permission of the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon,) and other engravings. The noble author of Matilda, which a season or two since attracted so much attention, is about to publish another Tale of the day, entitled Yes and No. Angelo's Reminiscences are in the press, and will very speedily appear, consisting of the Memoirs of the elder Angelo, his Friends and Connexions, from his first arrival in England in 1750; and continued by his son, Henry Angelo, to the present time. The two Angelos had the honour of attending professionally, nine members of the royal family, and almost all the persons of rank in the kingdom, for nearly eighty years successively. Lady Morgan's new Irish Tale, entitled the O'Briens and the O'Flaherty's, is just on the eve of publication. It embraces events which prepared the Rebellion, and accomplished the Union. An octavo edition of the curious and valuable Memoirs of Pepys, is nearly ready for publication. Vicissitudes in the Life of a Scottish Soldier, written by himself, will soon appear, and will contain some curious particulars of the Peninsular War, not to be found in works of more pretension on the subject. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage of the United Kingdom is nearly ready. The new edition has been very considerably enlarged and improved, from communications of the first authority. It will comprehend the latest alterations in the names of the baronets, and the titles and creations of the new peers, with the convenience of an alphabetical arrangement. The celebrated author of The Spy, The Pilot, &c. has in the press a new work called the Red Rover. It is said to be another Tale of the Sea. Allan Cunningham's new Romance, Sir Michael Scott, is expected to appear in a few days. The admired author of Granby, who has been residing abroad for the last two years, has also nearly ready for publication a new novel, to be called Herbert Lacy. Whitehall, or George IV. Mr. George Cruikshank is now engaged in designing and etching a series of about thirty subjects, to illustrate Punch and Judy as it is performed in the streets, which will be published about Christmas, with a history and dialogue of the performance. In the press, Sylvia, or the May Queen, a lyrical drama. By George Darley, Esq. WORKS LATELY PUBLISHED. Diseases Connected with Indigestion; with a Commentary on the Principal Ailments of Children; by Dr. Uwins. Chronicles of the Canongate, by the author of Waverley, &c. two vols. post 8vo.Tale 1st, The Highland Widow.- Tale 2d, The Two Drovers.-Tale 3d, The Surgeon's Daughter. The Romance of History, by Mr. Henry Neele, the poet. It consists of Tales founded on fact, and illustrative of the romantic annals of each reign, from the Norman Conquest to the Restoration. 3 vols. 1l. 11s. 6d. A System of Popular Trigonometry, both Plane and Spherical; with Popular Treatises on Logarithms, and the application of Algebra to Geometry. By George Darley, Esq. 3s. 6d. forming the third volume of the Scientific Library. The Literary Souvenir, by Alaric A. Watts, embellished with 15 engravings. 12s. On the first November, price 1s. the Enigmatical Entertainer, and Mathematical Associate for 1828. Ackermann's Forget Me Not for 1828: consisting of more than eighty compositions in verse and prose, by the most popular writers of the day, of both sexes; and the embellishments comprise thirteen highly finished engravings, from pictures by H. Howard, R.A.; H. Thomson, R.A.; R. Westall, R.A.; T. Stothard, R.A.; R. Smirke, R.A.; H. Corbould; J. Martin; J. Stephanoff; S. Prout; M. W. Sharpe; S. Owen; H. Richter; and T. Uwins, with a beautiful embossed presentation plate. 125. A fourth and carefully revised edition of the Outlines of Modern Midwifery; by Dr. Conquest. Hope Leslie, or Early Times in the Massachusetts. By the Author of Redwood, A New England Tale, &c. Introductory Report to the Code of Prison Discipline, explanatory of the principles on which the Code is founded. Being part of the system of Penal Laws prepared for the State of Louisiana. By Edward Livingston. The Bijoa, with original articles and beautiful engravings. The Keepsake, with original literary contributions and highly embellished engravings. The Forms of Morning and Evening Prayer, according to the Use of the United Church of England and Ireland; together with the Psalms of David, and the Second Lessons, as they are appointed to be said every Day in the Year; to which are added, the First Lessons. With Notes. The First Volume containing the Morning, and the Second Volume the Evening Form. 2 vols. 12mo. 185. |