of the most advisable plan for reducing the oxides* of metals to their natural state. The Chemist meditating a joke, gravely fold the loquacious Student, that in his opinion the most speedy and easiest way to accomplish the reduction of an oxide (oxhide) would be by applying a sharp butcher's knife to its substance. At once turning the most dificult process of Chemistry into the simple operation of cutting up the skin of an animal.

ALLITERATION EXTRAORDINARY.-There existed for a long time a violent war of pens, between Sir John Hill, the botanist and mul tifarious writer, and several of the wits of the day, particularly the late Samuel Foote. Lady Hill, who was in truth an inoffensive woman, did not escape from the notice of the waggish opponent of her husband.-Foote used in private to relate the following story; but which perhaps had no other foundation than what was furnished by his own inventive talents. He supposed a sextetto, or family, consisting of Sir John Hill, Sir John Fielding, and the Rev. Sir W. Cheere, and their respective ladies. The gentlemen were presumed to have been left over their bottle, and the ladies to have taken their tea, and be afterwards amusing themselves with a game, fashionable at that time, called, "I love my love with a letter."

Lady Cheere being first called upon, says, "I love my love with an N."11 Well, and why my lady?"-" Because he is a Knight!"

Lady Fielding being summoned, replies, "I love my love with a G."-" Good! my lady, and why? Because he is a Justice !"

Lady Hill, her turn being come, is invited to designate her love by the initial of his occupation, and being unwilling to surpass her friends either in wit or orthography, says, "[ love my love with an F.' And why? Be cause he is a Physician!"

called gin-shops, but by their owners winevaults. The new appellation for a place of this description is a shrubbery, This is cer tainly the more grateful to retined ears, as it is derived from à more elegant cordial.

SOME time ago, the mode of appointing fellows, or at least of examining candidates for some particular fellowships, was made a matter of controversy in a certain college, and the dispute furnished matter for much conversation in the university, A gentleman, in a mixed company, observed, that if such modes were pursued, he could not conceive what criterion there would be left of merit: "An

illiterate worthless man (continued he) may be chosen fellow, while a man of learning and worth may be set aside." Dr. Coulthurst, a man of much learning and humour, replied, "There is nothing new in this; for Pope said long ago, worth makes the man, and want of it the jellow."

The Exile, by a Bengal Officer. "In far distant climes, when the tear gushes o'er For home, love, and friendship, that charm us no more,

Oh, what on the Exile's dark sorrows can shine, Like the rapture that glows at the songs of Lang Syne.

"The music of Scotia is sweet 'midst the scene; But ah! could you hear it when seas roll between,

"Tis then, and then only, the soul can divine The magic that dwells in the songs of Lang Syne. "The spirit when torn from earth's objects o ove,

Loses all its regrets in the chorus above;
So in exile we cannot but cease to repine,
When it hallows with extasy songs of Lang Syne."

Tales.

DRUSILLA;

was scarcely restrained from bursting forth into action, by the whispers of caution, or the admonitions of prudence. Yet cruel Destiny waited to inflict a deeper wound on the peace of Edmund! Drusilla, the adored partner of his bed, was confessedly one of the most lovely women of her day; in her,

WHILE yet the hardy sons of Britain groaned beneath the Danish yoke; long ere the immortal Alfred rose, like the resplendent God of Day, to animate this drooping nation, and warm each patriotic bosom with ardour, to seek the emancipation of its country; on an elevated and advantageous spot, near which the majestic Frome now winds its way through the fertile Dorsetian meadows, Harold, a potent and ambitious Dane, held a strong and well-fortified castle; and stretched over all the adjacent country the iron rod of unfeeling despotism. In the plenitude of unopposed power, he became notorious for those acts of violence and oppression, which rendered his unhappy vassals ever uneasy and insecure, even in possession of the simple rights of nature.

On the verge of his ample dominions, in the most distant and intricate recess of an extensive and gloomy forest, the oppressed Edmund-though descended from a long race of worthy Britons-fixed his humble residence, removed as far as possible from the vicinage of his imperial lord, to whom he failed not to pay due homage, and customary tribute. But tyranny is ever the same-restless and insatiable; not content with wresting from its victims their rightful possessions, and dearest privileges, it is ever ill at ease, while they enjoy the least, the meanest, domestic comfort or consolation! Among the peasants, who preferred this retirement with Edmund, was his only brother Edgar; a youth of the most manly figue, and engaging deportment. Harold had selected all the finest youth of his domains, of whom were composed the guards of his castle. Edgar, therefore, was enrolled in the number; and with the greatest reluctance, doomed to waste his prime, confined within the fortress, subservient to the mandates of the wretch he despised. The touzed indignation of the honest plebeians

a sweet disposition, were united a supe riority of figure, and the most exact symmetry of features

"Grace was in all her steps; heav'n in her eye; In ev'ry gesture, dignity and love!"-MILTON.

The fame of this accomplished female could not fail to reach and interest the ear of such a voluptuary as Harold. By his authoritative command, the fair victim was torn from the arms of her distracted husband, in order to gratify the lawless appetite of that tyrant. On her arrival at the castle, the beauties of her person, and the firmness of her behaviour, impressed a kind of reverential awe and astonishment on all who saw her. Such dauntless and intrepid virtue confounded even Harold himself; who sought, in vain, to win her to his desires, by the most specious arts, and seductive promises; determining, if possible, to conciliate her favour by kind and gentle means, rather than force her inclination by austerity and violence. Day after day, he repeated his interviews, and redoubled his fruitless solicitations; during which time, she expe. rienced the greatest marks of respect, and was allowed every indulgence, save that of liberty, and the society of a beloved hus band, whose dear idea was ever present to her mind, and whose fate she mourned with inconsolable anguish.

Meanwhile, the generous Edwin, unknown to Drusilla, with great difficulty and danger, had found means to give information to Edmund, and concert a scheme for the delivery of the fair captive. Many of the guard were in his interest; and, as their lord was held in equal detestation, many others waited only for an opportunity to do justice to themselves, their friends, and their coun try, by launching the bolt of vengeance on the devoted head of the common enemy.

Edmund was much esteemed by the little circle of his friends; and, fired with resentment for the injuries he had sustained, they vowed to espouse his cause, and assist his enterprize.

Things at the castle now began to wear a more serious aspect. Impatient of repeated repulses in his illicit pursuit, Harold, growing irritated and enraged, commanded Drusilla to be confined to the dungeon, with a view to enforce that compliance, which kindness and artifice had attempted in vain; and she was given to understand, that he had fixed a time, beyond which his forbearance would no longer be dallied with,

Nought gave Emanuel such high offence
As slight, or showing him indifference.
Discoursing in his ordinary way,

"Observe!" or " Note!" or " Mark me well!"

he'd say.

Oft he'd familiar be, and oft verbose,

As suited the condition of his flock;

One cup of ale would seal his lips up close,
But two would soon his ample jaws unlock.

It chanced Emanuel mellowed at a christening,
His every feature with good humour glistening,-
A look that showed more pathos than profundity,
A genial, generous, jocund rubicundity!-
Glebe of the gossip groupe had taken leave,
And home was trotting on a summer's eve;-
In a lone lane, he check'd his old grey mare,
(No matter what it was he wanted there)
When Ben, a shepherd lad, stood loitering nigh,
And, at the moment, caught the parson's eye.
"Tis fitting here, perhaps, we mention,
Ben oft before had drawn attention,
By shrewd reply, or simple witticism,
When Glebe had walk'd,

Well, Ben, said he, what are you at? asleep? "No, zir, (said Ben,) I've been a marking sheep." Marking your sheep! for what, Ben? tell ine how?

"Why, zir, d'ye you see, next week I drive the plough,

"And zo. for fear my flocks should ramble far,

" Or leave their usual tracks,

"With this here mixture (ruddle, pitch, and tar) "I make two broad long streaks across their backs."

Two streaks, d'ye say? why, wouldn't one large letter

The purpose answer, Ben, a good deal better? And (do you mind?) 'twould be most beneficial If of your master's name you placed th' initial. • The nitial, zir? what's nitial? like my stuff? “Like ruddle, zir?" Pshaw, Ben; of this enough;

My using such a word

On this occasion, was absurd; We'll now proceed awhile

In plainer style.

I'm happy, Ben, to find you're careful;

And yet, I'm fearful

You don't at times pay due regard;
Don't mark well what I say:
For instance-l'other day
I saw you, in the parsonage yard,

And call'd you near where I was seated; Did you well note th' advice I then repeat "Can't say I did;—you ask'd me, zir, to dri "Was so good humour'd too, (excuse joking,)

"A somehow, zir,-I didn't think "Your Reverence was preaching, then, smoking."

Well, Ben, know better for the future:Attend!-consider me your guide, your tutor Take up your things,- get on that stile, Your friend, your monitor, your coadjutor!

And mount behind;--'tis yet from home a m
We'll talk, as gently we jog on the way;
Do you, observant, mark whate'er I say:
For know the truths which I display
Must not by boys, like you, be spurn'd,
Nor ever slighted, when my back is turn'd.
"Well, zir, (said Ben) I be main ignorant

And hardly understand my criss cross rom "Yet I'll not sight, zir, what I take in hand "But do as you, your Reverence, may commaa

Glebe thus began: Ben, you have oft been to As there are now, there shepherds were of ol ADAM himself, we might a shepherd call, For he had flocks and herds, had care of all. The truths I quote

We in the Bible note,

And further on, if we the page unfold-
Mark me, good lad!—“ Yes, sir, if not too bel
Well spoken, Ben; your modesty of thought
Shows a due defference for what is taught.

But to proceed: Cain was a wicked man;
Of gloomy mind,

But Abel lived upon the shepherd plan:
D'ye mark me well? "As well, zir, as I can
You know, Ben, Cain was wrathful, struck
brother;

That stroke was bad:-"Well, zir, I'll m another."

Another blow! you would not strike your kin
No, zir, I'd but another mark put in."
Mark, Ben? you mean the one on Cain fir
placed :

The stamp of blood, by which he was disgrace
But how that mark was fix'd it is not said,
Its form or colour. "Zir, the colour's red."
Well, Ben: it might be so; not badly guess'di
Red is the type of blood, and so express'd;
But now, proceed we further,-
No longer we'll discourse on murther,

We'll speak of Jacob: thus the story runs"But pray, zir, pardon me, (said Ben)"Pray was not Joseph one of Jacob's sons, "Sold as a slave to Ismeclilish men?"