Tualtiaut Qtralithitraz.---Tfle 'Smyrna fetters of the 3d instant,
• t
• • announce that the plague had broken out at that place ; but was not ex- pected to make much progress, the season being far advanced. The novel precaution of quarantine has been adopted at Constantinople on this occasion ; on the 9th tilt. two English vessels, the Sarah Ann and Water Witch, which came up from Smyrna, were placed under this sa- nitary restraint.- "dire are all Reforiners now." THE MASKED FETa AT DAURY LANE TneArae.—If any one were in doubt of the dulness of the English people, of their " plentiful lack of 'wit" and animal spirits, let such sceptic go to a masquerade, and he will be convinced. A funeral is less tedious, for there solemnity is privileged ; balls arecold, formal affairs too, with the endless dark coats and grave faces of the men, which repress the more elastic spirits of the female part of the company ; and a fancy ball is yet more unendurable, for the gay dresses form a provoking contrast with the want of gayety in the wearers. But a masquerade, where disguises of the most absurd kind are worn with a stupidity which is almost ludicrous, is the place where the b vine qualities of John Bull are most prominently displayed. Until the wine makes the head lighter than the heels; all is " inexplicable dumb show " and silence; but then the genius of the climate develops itself, and black eyes are exchanged • for gross insults, and all is noise, riot, and vulgar licence, mirestrainedly decency, and unenliyened by wit or humour. The scene on Wednesday night was gay only in the decorations of the theatre, which were tasteful, being the same as on the night of the Fancy Ball ; but there was little taste displayed in the cos- tumes, and very barren fancy in the choice of characters. There was a cobler, a dustman, and Moll Flagon (all drunk, of course), a Turk or two, a Spaniard, a Chinese, several broom and flower girls, and sailors, male and female; an adult schoolboy and girl with hoops and skipping-ropes, mas- culine housemaids, and grooms not in disguise ; but the characters were but ill-supported, and there was no wit stirring. The " professional" vi- sitors did not much exert themselves, excepting a posture-rnaster ; and the whole was only a motley crowd. The greater number of visitors wore only dominos, though many were not even masked. There was some dancing going forward, and the Russian horn Band performed -several airs.
Cm.eitarer's Difortcn Brine—The order for the second reading of this bill was on Wednesday rather suddenly discharged ; and no other day was named.
SINGULAR BURYING-PLACE.—On the 25th June, as two boys were in
search of pigeons' nests among the wild basaltic cliffs and dens which surround the celebrated spar cave in Strathaird, Isle of Skye, they dis- covered on climbing the pinnacle of a rock a small cairn; built in the most regular and beautiful manner, in a corner. They lifted part of the stones, and found below a travelling trunk, covered with leather, and studded with brass nails. Astonished at their discovery, they descended and ran to communicate the tidings to their friends, without stopping to ascertain the contents of the trunk. In a few moments, a party was on • the spot, fully impressed with the idea that a treasure of no ordinary value
had fallen into their hands. The result was no less a source of disap- pointment than of horror. On opening the trunk the skeleton of a child presented itself ! At what period, or in what manner, the trunk was taken to the almost inaccessible spot Where it was found, is of course' unknown ; the ascent is too steep and rugged to permit any person to • carry up a burden of such magnitude.—:•Aberdeen Chronicle.
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