dislike. The author was evidently a tolerably rich man, who went out to the Cape in the hope of living an easy life, with Regent Street at a few hours' distance. He was not the kind of man for the Cape, and it was not the country for him. They were not mutually suitable, and so they parted; but a few extracts will show the reason why. And first as to the author's farm, which had length and width sufficient, if it wanted depth: "On taking a survey of my location, I found my house a tolerable one, containing four rooms, provided with the usual mudfloors, not having the unusual luxury of reed ceilings; and my farm consisted of about 35,000 acres of mountain and plain, with the reputation of being one of the best in the district. The extent of my possession may appear, to English readers, enormous; but such farms are common in the colony. The property cost about £2,000, and is calculated to carry about 5,000 or 6,000 sheep, 400 head of oxen, and a troop of horses in ordinary seasons; but this district is, as well as most others in the colony, subject, although to a mitigated extent, to those terrible droughts which happen about once in seven years, and prevail for perhaps two or three years in succession; and on the occurrence of such a visitation, so great an amount of stock would overburthen the place, and probably some loss would be sustained by deaths, were the flocks and herds confined within the limits of such a territory. "This plain statement is made, perhaps, against my own interest; and I am afraid the fact will appear, poor in juxta-position with some of the magniloquent exaggerations we have seen published about the fertility of this colony. "Water is plentiful enough to allow of the cultivation of about sixteen acres of good soil, and exists permanently in four small springs at different points of the farm. This is a good supply here, and is in proportion with the other capabilities of the place. Having bought about 3000 sheep, mostly of the woolled kind, and some of them of good quality, including about thirty mixed merinos and English rams, for about 10s. a-head, 300 full-grown cattle, at nearly £2 each, and a few horses, I did my best to find competent herdsmen, and set to work as a stock farmer. Then leaving my place in charge of an Englishman I had taken out with me, I set off to bring up my family from Uitenhage. This I accomplished in about six weeks." Water, we think, may be found on Mr. Nicholson's farm by boring holes judiciously, as the Patriarchs found it in former times, and as the blacks of Australia tell the whites thereof that they may find it. The evil of farming is thus stated at page 65:— "In my opinion, the farmer who can annually increase his flock by one-fourth, or augment the value of it in an equal ratio, after deducting the number consumed for food, and the ordinary losses by sickness and other causes, may esteem himself fortunate in the extreme." Farmers who could live and add 25 per cent. to their stock annually, in this country, would consider that they had an excellent bargain. This gentleman thinks that goat breeding would pay better than sheep. "In spite of all that has been said on sheep farming and wool, I am inclined to think that in a colony like this, goats would answer the purpose of the settler much better as stock, in most situations, if properly attended to, and the utmost possible numbers kept. A good flock of goats may be purchased, as they run out, at about 2s. 6d. to 3s. per head. The skin of a full-grown goat generally sells for 1s. 6d. to 28.; the fat produced from each animal in good condition, is worth about as much, and the carcase remains on the profit side of the bargain. Those carcases not required for food, and for which a market could not be found, might be boiled down for tallow; and would, by that process, yield a large quantity of superior quality, which, from its hardness, bears a high price, and is susceptible of preservation for a great length of time, if necessary.” Then why not try goats? Better do anything than grumble and go idle. Mr. Nicholson says:— "After residing upon my farm some months; the total impossibility of obtaining the necessary domestic servants entailed such hardships upon my wife, that I resolved to establish her at Cape Town. Having consigned the management of my stock to my brother, and made the necessary travelling arrangements, we joyfully started for that delightful place." When he got there, he returned again— "To divide my time between domestic and farming duties as I best could." That is to say, between the farm and Cape Town, which incurred a journey of 800 miles. Even that did not suffice-for "Shortly after my return to the farm, I set out on a visit to the district of Colesberg, and the country across the Orange River; and, adopting the usual mode, I yoked fourteen stout oxen to my waggon, which was well provided with Cape flour, sugar, and salt, and a supply of arms and ammunition, wherewith to attack the game." This gentleman could not succeed, because he did not attend to his business, and had never learned, or had forgotten, the couplet "He that by the plough would thrive, POLITICAL REGISTER. to THE days of the session are numbered, and drawing near a close. With the exception of the Navigation Law bill, nothing has been done. Mr. Labouchere has introduced some measures remove several of the objections which existed against the repeal of the Navigation Laws-some of those exclusive burdens on the shipping interest,|| for even naming which we were denounced as Tories. So Mr. Labouchere must be a Tory, for endeavouring to remove them-an unsuccessful Tory, because he will not complete his work in the present session—an inconsistent Tory, for he has pressed one section of a great measure far before its supporters-and a dishonest Tory, because he has left the burden without its guerdon, the gif, to pull down the shipowners, without the gaff, to keep them up; but an improving Tory, as at length, in the last watches of a dark session, light || seems breaking on his obscured and, on this matter, opaque mind, leading him to acknowledge, if he cannot accomplish, what is right. All the Scotch bills have been rejected; and we notice with pleasure the determination displayed by Mr. Hume, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Lockhart, and other Scottish members, to prevent in future that gross negligence towards Scotch business on which we had reason in last Number to animadvert. A bill has been introduced to simplify the investment of ecclesiastical property in congregations-a measure that no party can oppose, and that was wanted on account of a numerous body in society. The Marriage Affinities Bill, which has occupied so much of the time of both houses in past sessions, has been again withdrawn, after the Lord-Advocate had made himself unnecessarily unpopular by 66 insisting upon, and carrying, its extension to Scot- the most hideous districts of Glasgow; and females land, where it is opposed by the people, as it is 'scour" and "sweep" busily now who seldom folalso opposed by very nearly all classes in Ireland. lowed either household avocation before. In course The measure appears to us likely to produce more of years we may get forward in sanatory measures inconvenience to parties suffering under the great- || without a Parliament. est domestic calamity than it can ever help them, Financial reform has been so much before the even on the showing of its zealous advocates, and,|| public for six months that we notice two motions therefore, it should not certainly be pressed on on the subject, both by members of the country Scotland and Ireland where it is not sought-where party. Mr. Henley moved a reduction of 10 per cent. it is almost universally opposed. in the salaries of all officials who did not hold paThe Ministry may take their white-bait dinner tent offices. He based his argument on the asserwith great glee and satisfaction, but next morn- tion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and other ing they will surely review the labours of the year members, that the cost of living had been in late with some compunction. They have their offices years so much reduced. He was defeated by a secured to them for the next six months, excepting small majority, and his motion was most inconmost untoward accidents. They have reached sistently opposed by men who should rather have another August, and its happy repose-not in dig- || sought to amend it. The plan of reduction, it was nity, but in safety; yet all the measures which || said, for a numerous class of officials, would have they should have carried are delayed, excepting || reduced incomes already too low. That feature was that one regarding the ocean, which, however it easily removed, and should have been cut away may ultimately prove-good or bad-in itself, was without the rejection of the measure. The reduenot a favourite with some members of the Cabinet. tion of small salaries is certainly not a measure that The Irish and Scotch towns are to be left for we would commend, and many of the payments in another year without the Health Promotive Act Government offices are already too limited; but for want of which so many lives are said to be lost these facts should not shield large payments from annually, that we might as well be fighting two or a fair reduction, unless we are to be told that the three battles of Acs as those combats with the pes-value of corn, of provisions of tropical produce, and tilence of various forms in which we are perpetually engaged. The failure of these bills is altogether disgraceful to the Administration, or to the Legislature. The House of Commons has to account for much misspent time that the Government ||placed in abeyance, and we sincerely wish that the cannot remedy; but a little activity in saving life was, on the soundest principles of radical reform, || more desirable than in saving freight. Economy is commendable, wherever it can honestly be accomplished; but mercy is still better. A reduction of one shilling in freight per ton or per cwt. is worth having; but the extension of a life, and the postponement of a burial, is a greater gain. If disease and monopoly stand both in the way, and cannot both be reduced in one session, strike at the major evil. The Legislature either believe or disbelieve the evidence afforded to them on the sanatory state of towns, and their remedies. If they believe, they are guilty for inaction; if they disbelieve, why did they promulgate fearful dreams as facts? We do not attempt to explain the apathy on this topic. of all other articles of consumpt, all other productions of industry, are to fall, but high salaries are to be maintained. All organic reforms have, for the season, been gentlemen who take so much interest in financial reform would exert themselves now to give the productive classes a more potent voice in the Legislature. They will admit that for some years past all our legislation has immediately affected the interests and the price of labour. They should not exclude the working classes from the decision of these cases in future; but they help to exclude them who withhold their promised aid from any movement in their favour. The aid of the financial reformers was promised to this cause, and it has not yet been zealously afforded; and never will, until they begin at the close of one session to prepare for the next. Great changes in colonial affairs are probably soon to be developed; and hereafter, statesmen would find their position more comfortable if they have consulted all classes of the nation regarding the disposal of their property, instead of merely continuing a faction legislating in the name of the people whom they scarcely represent, giving away property without consent of the owners, which they may subsequently be inclined to resent. A number of gentlemen in Glasgow have adopted a scheme for supplanting the Health of Towns Bill in the most hideous localities, that promises to be eminently successful. They offer prizes to the dwellers in some of their wynds who shall keep the cleanest houses, stairs, and passages during a fixed period. The premiums vary from 5s. to 20s. in The Queen and the Royal family are to take Ireeach case, and being thus very numerous, they ||land on their way from Osborne House to Balmoral exert a great influence within a small district. The Castle. They will visit Cork, remain for some scheme originated, we believe, with Mr. Stow, time at Dublin, stop for a day or two in Belfast who is well known for his educational works by|| Lough, and cross from thence to Clyde. They will many who may be ignorant of his interest in pass through Glasgow, and probably remain there one of the most extensive woollen manufactories for a short time, on their way to the Dee. We of Scotland-furnishing an example of the great have not yet heard that her Majesty will visit Edbenefits that a man in a large business may accom-inburgh during the present year, and that, we be plish for his fellow-men. The project has excitedlieve, is not expected in the northern capital. a mania for whitewashing and cleaning in one of We wish, however, that some Scottish membera would inquire into the disposal of the funds belonging to the woods and forests, the crown titles, and other little odds and ends belonging to Scotland, that, if possible, her Majesty's oldest house in Scotland might be put in somewhat better order in the event of the royal party revisiting Edinburgh. These royal visits are well-timed, and we trust that they afford the same pleasure to the visitors which they confer on many of the Queen's subjects. We are not sorry to hear of a deservedly popular monarch residing in Dublin for a week, or even for a month; and we are mistaken if the Queen do not experience a welcome in Ireland that will take her back again to, hitherto, the most unfortunate, but, assuredly, not the least interesting portion of her empire. The foreign intelligence of the month is mournful in the extreme, with the exception of the hope || of peace held out to the brave Danes, and their victory at Fredericia, dearly bought by the death of their gallant leader, General Rye, and so many of his followers. The French have disgraced themselves absolutely in Rome, by adopting measures of a severer character to repress freedom than the Austrian General had ventured to propose. The days of the French Republic are, we believe, nearly closed, unless the people be again willing to encounter an armed force for the purpose of saving institutions from which they have derived little advantage as yet, and the disadvantage of a considerably increased expenditure and debt. Between Austria and Sardinia another war is threatened-in this instance, as in former cases, we must admit, by the wrong dealing of the Sardinians, who are not likely to be thrice spared by the Austrian Marshal, Radetzsky. The southern German Republicans are put down in blood by Prussian bayonets. The King of Prussia has again recovered his lost confidence ; and tends rather towards Austria and Russia than anything very liberal. The Hungarians are fighting desperately with their terrible adversaries; but although several severe battles have been fought, and a terrible loss of life has been incurred, we know little of the details. The issue of this tremendous conflict can scarcely be doubtful, unless some power interfere in favour of the Magyars, or an insurrection arise in Poland. The last was their best hope, and it appears to be desperate. The German Republicans are beaten down. The French Government is unwilling to hazard a war, or has objects to serve inconsistent with a war for Magyar freedom. WAS EARTH NOT MADE FOR JOY? EARTH, with smiling verdure clad, Stor'd with all that maketh glad, Luscious fruits and odorous flowers, Mantling woods, and shady bowers, Clothed in beauties rare and rifeEarth was never made for strife. Flowing streams, unruffled lakes, Swelling oceans, as ye roll Will ye, as in days of yore, Or whilst stretch'd from land to land, Cease the angry cannon's roar, Insects wing your sunny way, Answer me, ye feathered throng, Tell me, do your untaught strains Palms that shade the desert land, ALFRED SELOC. OBITUARY NOTICES FOR JULY. EX-PRESIDENT POLK. lar Methodist minister of the place, his warm, personal, and political friend, and that he had promised him that, when he did embrace Christianity, he (Rev. Mr. M'Ferren) should baptise him. He therefore sent for Rev. Dr. Edgar, made known his obligation, expressed his intention to be baptised by his friend the Methodist minister, and accordingly was so consecrated." He appears to have been a pradent, pains-taking, regular-living, and systematic man, with a fitness and aplication for public business, well calculated for the high and important trusts it was his fortune to hold in the administration of his country's affairs. Andrew Jackson stated, in 1844, that he had known James Knox Polk from his boyhood, and that "a citizen more exemplary in his moral deportment, more punctual and exact in business, more energetic and manly in the expression of his opinions, and more patriotic, does not live." Mr. Polk died worth about 100,000 dollars, the bulk of which is settled upon his widow. It appears that his fatal illness was induced by over-exertion while arranging the details of his spacious mansion, and more directly by the labour of placing the books in his large library. On his death being announced, the President of the United States ordered suitable naval and military honours to be paid to his memory, and, as a mark of respect to the deceased, the executive mansion, and the several departments at Washington, to be placed in mourning, and all business to be suspended for a day. JOHN WILSON, ESQ. The last accounts from Canada bring the melancholy tidings of the death of John Wilson, Esq., the celebrated vocalist. He died at Quebec on the 9th July, of cholera, after only three hours' illness, brought on by wet or fatigue while on a fishing excur sion. He had given three entertainments in Quebec, and was advertised for a fourth on the evening of the day on which he died. Accompanied by two of his daughters, who assisted him professionally, he went out to America in the fall of last year, and his reception in every place where he had publicly appeared, was marked by the same enthusiasm which ever characterised his musical performances. Indeed, his success was so great in this his last professional tour in America, that we are informed he was enabled to send home £6,000 since he went out. At his residence, Nashville, Tennessee, of severe diarrhea, on the 15th of June, JAMES KNOX POLK, the late President of the United States. He was the eleventh that held that office, and he died about three months after his term had expired. He was the youngest man ever inaugurated as President-being only 49 years and four months old when he took office. He was descended from a Scotch family, who emigrated first to Ulster, and subsequently from the north of Ireland to America. The original family name was Pollock, which became abbreviated to Polk. His connexions were members of the old revolutionary party, who had aided and favoured independence before and during the war of 1776. He was born in Mecklenburgh county, North Carolina, November 2, 1795, and at the time of his decease, was in his 54th year. It appears that his branch of the family had resided in Maryland, in Pennsylvania, and in North Carolina, before removing to Tennessee. His father, who is said to be still alive, removed to the latter state in 1800, when his son, James, was in his eleventh year. He was a farmer, and it is said, also acted as a surveyor; and, with his family, had to toil hard for a living in the valley of the Duck River, then a wilderness. James Polk was the eldest of ten children. After acquiring the rudiments of education in a school near his home, he was sent to the University of North Carolina, where he gained high honours. He left college with the reputation of being a good mathematical and classical scholar. In 1819, he began to study the law with the celebrated Felix Grundy, of Nashville. In 1820, he was admitted a member of the bar of Tennessee, and soon got into practice. He served as clerk to the Tennessee Legislature; was next a member for Maury, his place of residence; and, in 1825, in his thirtieth year, he was elected to Congress, of which he was fourteen years a member. He was twice Speaker of the House of Representatives, having been chosen in December, 1835, and again in September 1837. At the close of the session of 1837, he received a vote of thanks for his impartiality as Speaker. He was a ready debater, delivered long and animated speeches, and was one of the few hard-working legislators of his day. He had been once governor of his state, previous to his election to the Presidency. His term of office was distinguished by the annexation of Texas, the Mexican war, and the addition of Mr. Wilson, who will long be remembered as the Scottish California to the territories of the States. Mr. Bancroft, the minstrel, was born in Edinburgh, where he had many warm and American minister to the British Court, in his circular to the attached friends. He was in early life brought up to the proConsuls and Vice-Consuls of the United States in this country. fession of a printer, and worked as a compositor. He was subon occasion of Mr. Polk's demise, says :-"He defined, estab- || sequently a reader in Mr. Ballantyne's establishment, where he lished, and extended the boundaries of his country. He planted read the proofs of the Waverley Novels-being, it is said, one of the laws of the American Union on the shores of the Pacific. the few who were in the secret of Sir Walter Scott being the His influence and his counsels tended to organise the national author. He officiated for some time as precentor in one treasury on the principle of the constitution, and to apply the of the Edinburgh churches, and had reached manhood rule of freedom to navigation, trade, and industry." He always before he seriously thought of cultivating the musical acted with the Democratic and Pro-Slavery party, and in suppowers with which he was so richly endowed. With port of their views and policy was straightforward and thorough- a voice of the finest quality, he possessed the most exquisite natagoing. In his intercourse with the public, he is described as ral taste, and he improved both by the most assiduous and earnest having been affable and courteous; and in private he is said to study and cultivation. He made his first appearance on the stage have been unostentatious in his manners, and temperate and do- as Massaniello, in the Edinburgh Theatre. His success was so mestic in his habits. Upwards of 24 years since he married the striking that he was soon called to London, and on the boards of daughter of Mr. Joel Childers, a merchant of Rutherford county, || the principal metropolitan theatres he laid the foundation of that Tennessee, but he had no children. His personal character was fame which he afterwards so fully acquired. For a considerable irreproachable. The New York Tribune says that he was a mem- time he took the lead in the English Opera. In 1839, he sung ber of the Presbyterian Church, and so regular and devout in in the operatic pieces of Drury Lane. It was soon after this early life that, during the four years he was at college he never that, abandoning the stage, he commenced those musical enteronce missed prayers. A Nashville correspondent of the New York tainments in which he soon became so popular. They consisted Herald, however, gives some details of the closing scenes entirely of Scotch songs, in which he was the sole performer, of his life, which leave a painful impression of his re- varied with descriptive remarks and appropriate anecdotes, illusligious views during the greater part of his career. He trative of the various pieces introduced. They were eminently states that, seven days before his death, "Mr. Polk sent for successful. His "Nicht wi' Burns," and his " Adventures of Rev. Dr. Edgar, of the Presbyterian Church, desiring to be bap- Prince Charlie," were treats of no ordinary kind. He was the tised by him. He said to him, expressively-Sir, if I had sus- first to originate this new species of musical performances, and be pected, twenty years ago, that I should have come to my death- has been worthily followed in them by Mr. Templeton. He debed unprepared, it would have made me a wretched man; I anı voted himself to the study of our national music, and to Wilsan about to die, and have not made preparation-I have not even belongs the high distinction of causing the songs of Scotland to been baptised. Tell me, sir, can there be any ground for a man be admired and appreciated wherever they are heard. For pathos thus situated to hope?' The conversation fatiguing Mr. Polk and expression in singing the beautiful melodies of his native land, too much for him to be then baptised, it was postponed, to take he had no superior. He particularly excelled in the plaintiveand unplace next evening; but, in the interval, the ex-president recol- adorned lays of Scotland. No one, who has heard him warble a lected that, when he was governor, and lived here, he had held simple Scotch ballad will ever forget the effect of his truthfal many arguments with Rev. Mr. M'Ferren, the talented and popu-and touching execution, In airs of a humorous cast, he equally maintained the national character, and showed a skill and pawkiness entirely his own. On the Queen's visit to Scotland, in 1842, while at Taymouth Castle, where Wilson delighted the Court with his melodies, Her Majesty, it will be remembered, paid him the high compliment of requesting him to sing "O, wae's me for Prince Charlie!" While his sweet yet powerful voice, and perfect mastery of music, attracted crowded audiences to his entertainments, his mild and unassuming manners, and kindly disposition, procured for him, wherever he went, hosts of friends. His countrymen were justly proud of their national songster. On his last visit to Edinburgh, his admirers, in his native city, took an opportunity of publicly testifying their high estimation of his powers, by presenting him with an exquisite bust of himself, by Mr. Steele, the eminent sculptor. His friends in Glasgow, about seven years ago, gave him a public dinner, in the Black Bull Inn of that city. Mr. Wilson was about fifty years of age. He has left a widow, with two sons, and three daughters. An interesting and well written account of the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, which had been visited by him, appeared recently in the Daily Mail, and other papers, from his pen. HORACE SMITH, ESQ. At Tunbridge Wells, on the 12th of July, HORACE SMITH, Esq., author of "Brambletyte House," and other novels, and one of the authors of "Rejected Addresses," in the 70th year of his age. He was the son of Mr. Robert Smith, an eminent legal practitioner in London, and solicitor to the Board of Ordnance; and the brother of Mr. James Smith, the joint author of "Rejected Addresses," who died in December, 1839, aged 65. That celebrated work appeared in 1812, and proved one of the luckiest hits" of the day. It had its origin in the following circumstance. The committee of management of Drury Lane Theatre had advertised for a poetical address, to be spoken on the opening of the new theatre, built on the site of the old one that was burnt. The addresses sent in were very numerous, but none of them were considered good enough. In this dilemma, Lord Byron was applied to, and readily furnished the address which was delivered. A casual hint from Mr. Ward, the secretary to the theatre, suggested to the witty brothers, James and Horace Smith, the composition of a series of humorous addresses, professedly by the principal poets of the day. The writing of the pieces occupied them six weeks, and the volume was ready by the opening of the theatre. The success of the work, like the work itself, is one of the "Curiosities of Literature." The copyright, which had been originally offered to Mr. Murray, the publisher, for £20, was purchased by that gentleman, in 1819, after the sixteenth edition, for £131. The pieces furnished by James Smith, the elder brother, consisted of imitations of Wordsworth, Cobbet, Southey, Coleridge, and Crabbe, with a few travesties. Horace Smith's contributions were imitations of Walter Scott, Thomas Moore, Lord Byron, Monk Lewis, W. T. Fitzgerald, "the small beer poet," Dr. Johnson, and others. Lord Byron thought the "Rejected Addresses" by far the best thing of the kind since the Rolliad, and the imitations not at all inferior to the famous ones of Hawkins Browne. In 1813 appeared another series of poetical satires and imitations, entitled "Horace in London," also the joint production of James and Horace Smith. These parodies had been previously contributed to the Monthly Mirror, but in the year stated were collected and published separately. Mr. Horace Smith afterwards distinguished himself by his novels and historical romances, in which he was one of the first to imitate the style of Sir Walter Scott. His "Brambletye House," a tale of the civil wars, published in 1826, was very successful, and continues to be very popular. Sir Walter Scott, in his diary, under date October of that year, thus refers to it: "I read, with interest, Sir John Chiverton, and Brambletye House, novels in what I may surely claim as the style (quoting a couplet of Swift) "Jane Lomax;" "The ton;" "The Involuntary Prophet;" Moneyed Man;" "Adam Brown;" "The Merchant;" &c. He is also the author of "The Midsummer Medley," and of various pieces of poetry, one of which, the "Address to the Mummy in Belzoni's Exhibition," is well known, and admired for the happy combination of truth, humour, and sentiment which it embodies. Of his novels, "The Moneyed Man" is the most natural. It contains some fine pictures of London city life. Mr. Smith had resided for many years at Brighton, and has left a widow and daughters. He was rich, and his generosity to various literary men was one of the brightest traits of his character. Mr. Shelley once said of him: "I know not what Horace Smith must take me for sometimes. I am afraid he must think me a strange fellow; but is it not odd, that the only truly generous person I ever knew, who had money to be generous with, should be a stock-broker? And he writes poetry too," continued Mr. Shelley, his voice rising in a fervour of astonishment, "he writes poetry and pastoral dramas, and yet knows how to make money, We have this inand does make it, and is still generous!" teresting observation of Shelley recorded in Leigh Hunt's work entitled "Lord Byron and some of his contemporaries." LIEUTENANT SKENE, R.N. Ar the Cottage, Durham, on the 10th of July, ANDREW MONTZ SKENE, Esq., of Kilmacow, Wicklow, Ireland, lieutenant in the Royal Navy, in his 53d year. He was the son of the late Major A. P. Skene, and the heir-male of Skene of Skene, in Aberdeenshire. The present inheritor of the estate of Skene is the Earl of Fife; his lordship's mother having been the daughter of George Skene, Esq., of Skene, and the sister of the last laird. Lieut. Skene was educated at the Royal Naval College, having obtained admission there through the interest of Sir Joseph Yorke, afterwards Earl of Hardwicke. He entered the navy as a midshipman, and was for the first time in action at the siege of Flushing. He was one of Captain Alex. Skene's officers, when the late Duke of Manchester went out in his ship as Governor to Jamaica. He was also one of the officers in the Northumberland, when Sir George Cockburn conveyed the Emperor Napoleon to St. Helena. Having, while there, made many sketches of the Emperor and the localities, on the return of the admiral's ship, George IV. obtained from them an accurate idea of the residence of the imperial exile. Lieut. Skene completed his last years of active service in the navy in the expeditions of Sir John Ross, in 1818, and Sir Edward Parry, in 1819, in search of a North-Western passage. In the former navigator's account of his voyages, most of the drawings are from the pencil of Lieut. Skene; whose name was given to Skene Islands, in Baffin's Bay, by Captain Ross, and by Sir Edward Parry to Skene Bay, in Lancaster Sound. He possessed a mind of no ordinary combinaIn his voyages tion, as his mechanical inventions demonstrate. to the icy regions, the breakage of the thermometers of mercury, and the variance of the degrees of the scales of different philosophers, led him to give a decimal scale, founded on natural science. The range of heat being as a geographical circle divided into 360 degrees, he divided the range of heat from the melting of ice, to the greatest probable heat, estimated by Wedgewood's Pyrometer as 360,000 degrees, making the melting of the ice zero, and the greatest heat 360 degrees above it; and subdividing that range decimally, we have 360 degrees of 100 parts, or 360 thousandths. The first 100 parts, or one degree, is the melting of spermaceti; and the boiling of water is at 24 degrees, or 250 hundredths. It is curious that the first 100 parts of a degree below zero, or one degree of this scale, is also the point of change of frozen mercury to liquid; which first degrees above and below zero are those of the liquefaction of solids, independent of atmospheric pressure. After a long period of service as a midshipman, he was, in 1820, promoted to the rank of lieutenant, on his return from the second North-Western voyage. He subsequently married, and has left a widow, son, and two daughters. He had four brothers and two sisters, of whom one of the former-Mr. Skene of Bedford-and both the latter-Mrs. Wilkinson of Harperly Park, and Mrs. W. Trotter of Auckland-still survive. The branch of the Skenes to which the deceased belonged met with many misfortunes. During the revolt of the American colonies, his father and grandfather, Major and Colonel Skene, who continued loyal, lost their princely estate of Skeneborough, now Whitehall; while, in the rebellion of 1715, the family inheritance "Which I was born to introduce-Refined it first, and showed its use." They are both clever books ;-one in imitation of the days of chivalry-the other by Horace Smith, dated in the time of the civil wars, and introducing historical characters. My contemporaries steal too openly: Mr. Smith has inserted in Brambletye House whole pages from De Foe's Fire and Plague of London."" The other works of fiction published by Mr. Smith are numerous and all full of interest. Of these may be mentioned "Tor Hill;" "Zillah, a tale of the Holy City;" ;" "Walter Coly-in Scotland was sacrificed. |