10 JULY 1830, Page 10

brought to our office. On breaking it several buckies of

the usual size were found in the interior—not beside one another, but each having a separate apartment, if we may so speak, to itself. In one or two in- stances there was an aperture from the outside of the stone to where the buckies were located in the centre ; and, what adds to the singularity of the whole, is the fact, that the beds or places where the buckles were situated were so large or roomy that the latter moved about with the greatest ease on giving the stone the slightest shake, while the apertures leading to the buckies were too small to admit of their being taken out entire ! Query—How did these buckies originally find their way to so strange a situation ; and how long may they have remained in such lo- cation ? The stone in question would be well worthy the attention of geologists.—EIllirs Courier. [We hope Professor Jamieson will examine this wonderful production, and relieve the doubts of our contemporary touching the ingress and sojourn of thesepoor buckles. The stone itself is evidently of the trap family.] VULGARITY OF FOREIGN QUOTATIONS.—There is nothing to our eyes and ears more essentially vulgar, graceless, and ignorant, than the interlarding conversation or writing with foreign phrases, exotic words, and sounds, which, though harmonious among kindred sounds, become harsh, discordant, and disagreeable, when planted in the midst of a lan- guage with which they claim little affinity. The nasal tones of the French—the guttural of the Spanish—destroy, for example, the melody of an English sentence into which they may be introduced, and break up the chain of oral and rhythmical affinities which run through the whole speech of a people. In this respect, perhaps, public taste is improving, and good sense is beginning to put its veto upon that superficial pretence to the knowledge of foreign tongues, which shows itself in the slip-shod vanity of dragging in some un-English word on every possible occasion. It is not thus that literature is enriched, or languaged improved, but b y those quiet and promising studies which gather eloquence and truth in the fields of knowledge.—Foreign Quarterly Review.

QUEEN MARY'S BED.--A farmer of the name of Jackson, residing at Choulton Bridge, near Bishop's Castle, has in his possession the identical bedstead on which the beautiful and unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots, slept when in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury, at Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire. The head is a most elaborate piece of carving, on which are several female figures, angels, &c. ; all are in tolerable preservation, and well worth the attention of the curious.—Shrewsbury Chronicle.

NORTHERN LIGHTS.—Pauperism, popular education, and the Church, are the three subjects which, all over Europe, seem to have most effec- tually baffled the introduction of right laws for their regulation. The condition of England in this respect does not require to be stated. It is groaning under its popular ignorance—groaning under its poor—and groaning under its Church. The people of Scotland groan under neither. The law educates the people, provides for the poor, and maintains a working Clergy, without one single idle, or superfluous, or over paid clergyman.—Edinburgh Review.

CHRISTIAN SLAVES.—The Ironmongers' Company are now in pos- session of 104,0001., and 3,0001. per annum, accumulated in their hands from ancient donations intended to be applied for the redemption of Christian slaves on the Barbary coast. It is stated they cannot find ob.. jetty for the bounty From this fact it appears, that the French are about to put down Algiers just when it has ceased to be troublesome.

A PROVIDENT COUPLE.—In a garden belonging to Edward Clayton, Esq., Bamberbridge, two birds of the tom-tit species having found their way into a flower-pot by the aperture in the bottom, have made it their habitation during the time of incubation. A carpet is laid in an inclined direction over the whole area of fine fibrous moss ; at the summit is constructed a little nest in contact with the sides of the pot, the lining of which is a mixture of hair and feathers. When it was first discovered, there were six eggs in it, which weresoon augmented to ten ; and at this time there are the same number of young living birds, which will be on the wing in a few days.—Preston Chronicle.

Lone RADNOR.-.." It is impossible to be in Salisbury without bearing this nobleman spoken of in terms of high admiration amongst the far.. mers, in consequence of his having followed to the very letter the advice given by me before the Committee of the House of Lords on the Game Laws—namely, having turned off all his gamekeepers, dispersed his preserves, and made his farmers the preservers of the game that they breed and rear on the farms that they occupy. But the noble proprietor of Downton has set a noble example as a landlord. Farmer Maton rents a large farm of his at Downton, at 1,200/. a year rent. When the far- mer took his last half-year's rent (6001.), and laid it on the table before his Lordship, he took the 4001., and returned the farmer 2001. This was an abatement worthy of notice, and worthy to be noticed, not only for its intrinsic merit, but as an act worthy to be imitated by others, who are much richer than Lord Radnor."—Mr. Hunt's Letter to the Morn- ing Herald. IMPROVENENT IN THE BREED OF MURDERERS.—A fellow was guil- lotined at Toulon the other day, for the murder and robbery of a poor old woman. He died with great coolness, having previously received the consolations of religion. The correspondent of the Morning Herald, noticing the criminal's behaviour, observes, that in that respect there is " a growing improvement among persons of this horrid class." WILD MUSTARD (IMPORT ANT).—" An opinion, we are aware, has long prevailed, that it is impossible to root wild mustard out r •' at, besides what springs up, a relay of seed lurks in the croo -0 and can only be destroyed by lime profusely used during the pr per season. B this, we apprehend, is a gross mistake ; and we can m w state ...0 the weed we speak of can be completely eradicated, without w juring the crop, at the expense of 7s. 6d. per acre."—Dumfries Courier. M'KAY, THE PUGILIST.—Alexander M'Kay, who lost his life in consequence of the late prize-fight, had been a porter at Glasgow, and was as remarkable for his extreme good nature as for his prodigious strength. He was by birth a West Highlander ; and it may be worth telling, that, by his mother, who was the illegitimate daughter of a Highland gentleman, he carried in his veins the blood of the celebrated Lochiel, whose part in the insurrection of 1740 was so conspicuous. Sandy, according to the report of our informant, was leas calculated for prize-fighting by mind than body. Like all Highlanders, he could fight when his blood was up, and that. well ; but he was not qualified to exert - himself with the cool deliberate precision which is necessary in the ring. We are told that he was quite conscious of this deficiency, and expressed 'himself doubtful of success in the fight with Byrne, upwards of a month ago. He then placed his sole hope of victory on the chance of getting Byrne pressed against the ropes, or of exerting his prodigious muscular powers in such a way in wrestling with his antagonist, as to incapacitate him from continuing the fight. He at one time had nearly succeeded in this object, when the second of his opponent, by a shameful act of un- fairness, pulled him back by the band of the drawers so as to neutralize his temporary advantage.---:Eiliaburgh Observer.

PREACHING OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.—In the course of the proceedings at the anni-Versery of the Manchester Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society, on Monday last, a singular fact was men- tioned—that of the conversion of " a sinner from the error of his ways," by the preaching of the Duke of Wellington ! When his Grace was in India, he dined regularly with a young officer of the name of Sands, then Fort-Major of Calcutta, who had. imbibed infidel principles. At one of the messes Sands took oceasi .11 to avow his infidelity, which gave offence to Colonel Wellesley, who reprehended the-officer for his conduct. He said it was highly improper and disgraceful in a young man to treat with contempt the Christian religion, and recommended the infidel to read Paley's Christian Evidences. Sands listened with attention to Colonel Wellesley's reproof, and complied with his request by reading the above. 'named book, from which he derived so much satisfaction, that he became a sincere Christian.—Sheffield AN INSPIRED PHMOSOPHER.—Mr. W. Martin, brother of the celebrated Jonathan Martin, delivered two lectures, last week, at the sign of the White Dog, in Stonegate, on what he calls natural philosophy. His knowledge of the science on which he professes to lecture he ascribed to revelation from Heaven.—York Herald.

CORBETT AND THE DECAY OF THE DRAMA.—The political leo- turer touched lately on the decay of the drama. He scouts the idea that monopoly has aught to do with it, as the prosperous and dull sea- sons have happened under the same influence. He says want of money is the cause. But he forgets that the rich, who are spending their money on other pleasures, have forsaken the drama. The dandylions, who used to figure at the theatres, now spend their Saturday nights at the Opera, and there spend the " half-prices" of several nights formerly devoted to the Theatres. The truth is, there is a "play-going" class, limited like other classes, though reinforced, now and then, by the steady domestic people, who visit the theatres, once in a twelvemonth, for an occasional treat. Both these classes frequent the Opera more than they formerly did. But, above all, the taste of the public, gene- rally, has changed—it is more intellectual and reading, and given to ruralities in the suburbs—the people of the town flocking daily, in those huge caravans, the omnibuses, to a distance from town which forbids an indulgence in its pleasures. The Theatres must go after them, as they will not come after the Theatres. Hence, Monopoly, which Cobbett scouts, is a main cause of the decay. It were better for actors, managers, and all, that playhouses should spread abroad, as the shops of butchers and bakers are allowed to do.

Nsteeow ESCAPE.—A farmer in Lincolnshire a few days ago took off the barrel of his gun, having previously removed the percussion cap, with a view to clean it. He rested the breech on the grate, and putting the mouth of the barrel to his own, blew into it, to clear the touch-hole. Most fortunately, an ignited grain of powder alarmed him while so em- ployed, and he dashed down the gun—it was loaded ! Had he kept it to his face for a moment longer, he must have been shot dead on the spot, with the added infamy of having committed suicide.

STOCK-JOBBING AND CARRIER PIGEONS.—Three thousand pigeons are said to be kept at Paris, belonging to stock jobbers at Amsterdam, for the purpose of conveying the state of the French funds to that city. They are transported in baskets to Paris, by servants who are conti- nually on the road to keep the number complete.

TnaNsidorroxs.—The post-office people, who supply the Daily Papers with their French translations, sometimes make curious mistakes. The following paragraph appeared, a few days ago, under the head of Paris :—" Colonel Fitzelarence, natural son of the Duke of Clarence, is at this moment in Paris, having come from Toulon, where he assisted at the embarkation of our expedition." The French was °it it assista- " where he was present." The idea of Colonel Fitzclarence assisting the French to embark is a high one !