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jso had vanished immediately on being dis
charged, and of course resumed his malprac
tices°forthwith. It needs hardly to be told
ibat Lord Shannon’s sop distant tenant dealt a
little in fiction, and that the whole story of
his farm from that nobleman, and of the pris
oner's thefts of the spade and vegetables, was
a pleasant device of Mr. Checkley’s. I told
this story,” continued Mr. O'Connell, “to a
roterie of English barristers with whom I
dined; and it was most diverting to witness
their astonishment at Mr. Checkley’s unprin
cipled ingenuity.” — Recollections of O'Con
nell . t m t
IRISH DIAMONDS.
(' O pH of a Letter written during the Rebellion ,
hi/ Sir , an Irish Member of Parlia
ment, to his friend in London .
“My Dear Sir, —Having now a little
peace and quietness, I sit down to inform you
of the dreadful bustle and confusion we are
in from these blood-thirsty rebels, most of
whom are (thank God!) killed and dispersed.
YVe are in a pretty mess, can get nothing to
eat, nor wine to drink, except whiskey; and
when we sit down to dinner, we are obliged
to keep both hands armed. Whilst I write
this, I hold a sword in each hand and a pistol
in the other. I concluded in the beginning
that this would be the end of it; and 1 see I
was right, for it is not half over yet. At
present there are such goings on, that every
thing is at a stand still. 1 should have an
swered your letter a fortnight ago, but I did
not receive it till this morning. Indeed, hard
ly a mail arrives safe, without being robbed.
No longer ago than yesterday, the coach with
the mails from Dublin was robbed near this
town; the bags had been judiciously left be
hind for fear of accident, and, by good luck,
there was nobody in it but two outside pas
sengers, who had nothing for the thieves to
take. Last Thursday, notice was given that
a gang of rebels were advancing here under
the French standard; but they had no colors,
nor any drums except bagpipes. Immediate
ly every man in the place, including women
and children, ran out to meet them. We soon
found our force much too little; and we were
far too near to think of retreating. Death
was in every face, but to it we went, and by
the time half our little party were killed, we
began to be all alive again. Fortunately, the
rebels had no guns, except pistols, cutlasses
and pikes; and, as we had plenty of guns
and ammunition, we put them all to the
sword. Not a soul of them escaped, except
some that were drowned in an adjacent bog;
and in a very short time nothing was to be
heard but silence. Their uniforms were all
different colors, but mostly green. After the
action, we went to rummage a sort of a camp
which they had left behind them. All we
found was a few pikes without heads, a par
cel of empty bottles full of water, and a bun
dle of French commissions filled up with Irish
names. Troops are now stationed all around
the country, which exactly squares with my
ideas. I have only time to add that lam in
great haste.
Yours truly,
“P. S.—ls you do not‘receive this, of
course it must have miscarried; therefore I
beg you will write and let me know.”
©nr Soml of Pundj.
TALKING BY TELEGRAPH.
Not content with the wonders the Electric
Telegraph performs—not satisfied with its
facility in announcing outbreaks—aye, and
making them also, now and then—it has been
proposed to apply its powers to the operations
of every-day life, and to carry on ordinary
conversation by means of the Electric Tele
graph. We have heard of a singer’s voice
being rather wiry at times; hut there will be
something very trying in the perpetual twang
°f the new mode of small-talk that is recom
mended to us. The coffee-houses have, we
are told, in many instances, superseded the
old bells by the new apparatus; and instead
°f the cries down the spout, of “Two of
greens,” “ One of ctipers,” “ Three of boiled
beef—no fat,” “ Six small muttons —two un
der-done-—three, no gravy —one knuckle,” —
‘he orders are communicated by the more ele
gant medium of the Electric Telegraph. We
should not be surprised to hear oi Her Ma
jesty haying resolved to deliver her Speech
h y Electric Telegraph, in order to spare her
*e’* the trouble of a personal interview with
aer Parliament; and though the dial-plate of
the machine would not be such a pleasing ob
as that disc of sunshine, the countenance
“1 Royalty, \ye think there would be some
|‘ng gained in sparing the Queen the bore
° a very tiresome ceremony, in which she is
annually obliged to participate.
§®©TfSl SIE ®1 OainF'lS'lE&M &IFIF IB ♦
We should be glad to see the speakers in
the House of Commons limited to the use of
the machine, which would prevent the other
members from being overwhelmed by the
drowsiness which the soporific qualities of
tone and style will induce, while at all events
there would be something electric in the af
fair to compensate for the absence of the feu
sacrc that poets celebrate.
It has been suggested, also, that this new
method of being able to “Give your orders,
gentlemen,” when it does not happen that the
“ waiters in the room,” will enable “ nervous
men who dislike servants” to do without these
necessary evils. We have heard of old wo
men so nervous they might be “ knocked
down with a feather,” but we never yet saw
an individual of the male sex, whose sensi
tiveness threw him into alarm at the sight of
a housemaid, or who became aspen-like in his
bearing in the presence of a cook, a nurse, or
any other female appendage to our domestic
establishments.
It may be all very well to call for what
you want by Electric Telegraph, but we are
puzzled to know how the articles are to be
conveyed by scientific or mechanical means,
so as to dispense with the presence of menials.
Correspondence by Electric Telegraph will
be a luxury, no doubt, and it will be conve
nient to trouble a friend with a few lines by
simply putting in motion the lines of wire
which are to supersede the p?ns of steel, and
throw the inkstand over, among the relics of
the past that modem ingenuity repudiates.
We hope that our novelists will not begin the
practice of writing by this process, for their
descriptions do not need the addition of the
telegraphic wire to aid their usually wire
drawn character.
1 —i
USED UP.
,
Mr. Punch. Really, my Lord, you ought
to make an effort, and do something for Ire
land, which is in a very unsatisfactory state.
Ld. J. Russell. Oh. there’s nothing in it.
Mr. P. You should try a modification of
the Church, colonization, or cultivation of the
waste lands.
Ld. J. R. There’s nothing in them.
Ld. G. Bentinck. What will you do for the
West Indian distress ?
Ld. J. 11. There’s nothing in it.
Sir R. Inglis. You should drop the diplo
matic relations with Rome.
Ld. J. R. A bugbear. There’s nothing in
it.
Mr. Cobden. What about the new Reform
movement l
Ld. J. R. {yawns.) Oh, we don’t want it!
If we did, we should have it. Besides, I
know how such cries are raised : I have done
it myself. A few gentlemen meet; talk a lit
tle; pass resolutions, and the thing is got up.
1 can assure you there’s nothing in it.
Mr. P. What do you think of the Session
for 1848 ?
Ld. J. R. Oh! decidedly nothing in it.
Leave me alone. You bore me.
THERE IS NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE.
We long to see the picture of the Happy
Family realised, viz., a Scotchman, Welsh
man, Englishman, and Irishman, all living
comfortably and quietly in the same cage to
gether. The thing is to be done—in fact, has
almost been done before, only the Irishman
will occasionally disturb the domestic peace,
and insist upon being let out. The foolish
fellow only knocks his head against the bars,
and then he raises a wild cry about being an
injured person, it never entering into his bro
ken head that he has been the principal cause
of the injury himself. However, we suppose
he will get tame in time, and that before long
we shall see the Englishman and the Irish
man sitting on the same perch together, or
playing, like kittens, with one another, whilst
the Welshman and the Scotchman look on
with brotherly tears in their eyes.
We would walk any day to Trafalgar Square
to see this phenomenon of the Happy Family.
It will be the greatest curiosity in London,
and will even throw a grace round the Nation
al Gallery. It will be a beautiful sight—the
first Wonder of the World. We only hope
we may live long enough to see it.
EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.
The friends of the Early Closing Movement
will doubtlessly be pleased to learn that the
Oysters, wishing to set a good example to all
persons employed in the shop-keeping line,
have come to the determination of shutting
up their shells one hour earlier than usual.
A Harmless Blade. —Of what use has Mr. j
Meagher’s sword been to him'? He seems
to have done nothing with it but——cut his
stick. j.* „„ t J. . . ,
JTctuspapcr Analects.
i_ j “ ; —“TT* T ‘ . t,- — — * ■ _ Mi,--
THE FINE ARTS.
The American Art Union. —The suc
cess of this Institution is truly remarkable.
It is now in the ninth year of its existence ;
and having thus far been patronized by the
people of the entire Union, it commands our
attention as a national Institution. During
the last year, it collected from the people, and
disbursed among the artists of the land, near
fifty thousand dollars; and has already done
more to advance the interest of American art,
and disseminate a taste for the beautiful, than
all the academies in the country, exclusive of
the National Academy of Design. Tlienum*
her ot subscribers at the present moment, is
much larger than it was at the corresponding
period last year; ami the names are constant
ly pouring in from the four quarters of the
compass. That this should be the case, is
not at ail surprising, when we remember the
great value of many of the paintings already
purchased, and which are to be distributed by
lot among the subscribers.
Unquestionably, the most desirable prize
will be the series of four pictures, entitled,
“The Voyage of Life,” by the late Thomas
Cole. The original cost of these superb
paintings was six thousand dollars; and for
tunate, indeed, will he that individual who
shall become their possessor. We should
think that this prize alone would induce many
thousand people to subscribe, and try their
luck. If these pictures were worth six thou
sand dollars when the artist was living, how
much more must they be worth now, when he
is among the departed l
Another valuable prize to be distributed by
the Art Union, is a picture by Leutze, entitled
“ The Mission of the Jews to Ferdinand and
Isabella.” The cost of this production was
one thousand dollars, and it is worth twice
that amount; for it is a picture that would
honor any gallery in the world. We have
not time to point out the many beauties of
this painting, hut we may quote the para
graph in Prescott’s history, which it illus
trates :
“ The negotiation was suddenly interrupt
ed by the inquisitor-general, Forquemada,
who burst into the audience Chamber, and
drawing forth a crucifix, held it up, exclaim
j ing, “Judas Iscariot sold his master for thir
ty pieces of silver; your highness would sell
him anew for thirty thousand dollars; here
he is, take him and hasten him away.” So
saying, the frantic priest threw the crucifix on
the table, and left the apartment.”
And then, again, we have such pictures as
the following: The Strolling Musician, by
Edmonds, one of his happiest efforts; Wash
ington’s Retreat from Fort Necessity, by Chap
man —a very interesting picture; Washing
ton in the Indian Council, by Sterns —un-
questionably his master piece; also, a pair
of exquisite landscapes, by Kensett; an his
torical picture and several sweet landscapes,
by Huntington; a couple of Genoux’s life
like scenes; a superb moonlight, by Dough
ty; two pictures of Milton and Galileo, by
the accomplished White; and other produc
tions by Richards, Boutelle, Hinckley, Waugh,
Peele, Wenzler, Oddee, Auderbon, Hart, Mc-
Conkny, Hamilton, Baker, Ranney, and ma
ny more, “too numerous to mention.” The
number of pictures already purchased for the
present year is well nigh on to one hundred
and fifty, but it is thought at least two hun
dred more will be purchased before the close
of the year. The members for the present
year will he entitled to a copy of a large en
graving, “Queen Mary signing the Death
warrant of Lady Jane Gray, now being en
graved in line by Burt, after Huntington; and
also Rip Van Winkle, the celebrated tale of
Washington Trving, with six large outline il
lustrations, executed by the inimitable Daily.
The annual meeting and distribution will
take place on the 22d of December.
This Association, to quote from its Cata
logue, has now become national in its char
acter and benefits. Its means enable it to
foster and reward genius, in whatever part of
the country it may appear. Tt proposes to
send into tens of thousands of households the
refining influence of art, in a truly republican
way, and one suited to the moderate fortunes
of our citizens. Patriotic reasons, therefore,
as well as those of a more selfish sort, should
concur in swelling the roll of members.
And now, that our readers residing at a
distance may know how to communicate with
the American Art Union, we submit a list of
the officers for 1848 :
President —Prosper M. Wetmore.
Treasurer —George W. Austen.
Corresponding Secretary —Andrew Warn
er.
Recording Secretary —Nathaniel Jarvis, Jr.
The Committee of Management are—Robt. 1
Kelly, Andrew Warner, Ben. H. Jarvis, John 1
H. Austen, Moses H. Grenville, Philip Hone,
George W. Austen, Cornelius W. Lawrence,
Henry J. Raymond, Erastus C. Benedict, W.
B. Deen, P. M. Wetmore, C. H. Russell, Jno.
P. Redner, Wm. J. Hoppin, A. M. Coggins,
M. O. Roberts, F. A. Coe, David C. Colden,
and Nathaniel Jarvis, Jr.
The Superintendant is—J. William Moore;
and the Collector , John Erhardt.
The above officers are chosen annually,
and receive no compensation.
Every subscriber of $5, is a member of the
Art Union for the year, and is entitled to all
its prizes.— Chas. Lanman , in the N. Y. Ex.
LETTER FROM MR. WILLIS.
In an amusing letter dated Trenton Falls,
August Ist, published in the Home Journal ,
Mr. N. P. Willis says:
“I am inclined to think that, from French
intermixture, or some other cause, the inhabi
tants of this region are a little peculiar in
their manners. There is an unconsciousness
or carelessness of others’ observation anil
presence, that I have hitherto, only seen
abroad. Wp have had songs, duetts and
choruses sung here by village girls, within
the last few days, in a style that drew all in
the house to listen very admiringly, and even
the ladies all agree that there have been ex
tremely pretty gills day after day among them.
I find they are Fourierites to the extent of
common hair-brush and other personal furni
ture —walking into anybody’s room in the
house for the temporary repairs which belles
require on their travels, and availing them
selves of whatever is therein, with a sim
plicity perhaps a little transcendental. I had
obtained the extra privilege, for myself, of a
small dressing-room apart, in which 1 pre
sumed the various trowsers and other merely
masculine belongings would be protective
scarecrow sufficient to keep out these daily
female invaders; hut, walking in yesterday,
I found my combs and brushes in active em
ploy, and two very tidy looking girls making
themselves at home without shutting the
door, and no more disturbed by my entree ,
than if I had been a large male-fly.
“As friends were waiting, I apologised for
intruding long enough to take a pair of boots
out from under their protection, hut my pres
ence was evidently no interruption. One of
the girls (a tall figure, like a woman, in two
syllables, connected by a hyphen at the waist,)
continued to look at the back of her dress in
the glass, ala Venus Calhpegc , and the other
went on threading her most prodigal chevelure
with my doubtless very embarrassed, though
unresisting hair brush, and so I abandoned the
field, as I was of course expected to do. As
they did not shut the door after my retreat, 1
presume that, by the code of morals and man
ners hereabouts, a man’s pre-occupancy of a
room simply entitles him to come*and go at
pleasure—'the unoccupied portions and con
veniences of the apartment open, meantime,
to feminine availment and partaking. I do
not know that they would go to the length of
‘ fraternizing’ one’s tooth-brush, but witn the
exception oi locking up that rather confiden
tial article, I give in to the customs of the
country, and have ever since left open door
to the ladies—which ‘severe trial’ please
mention, if convenient, in my biography.”
i —i
RICH ANCIENTS.
Pithius, the Lydian, when Xerxes entered
Greece, says Herodotus, possessed two thou
sand talents in silver, and four millions of
darics in gold, amounting to five millions and
a half of English pounds.
Marcus Crassus, the Roman, after conse
crating the tenth of all he had to Hercules,
feasted all the people of Rome at ten thousand
tables, made a donation to each citizen of as
much corn as would last him three months,
and had 7,100 Roman talents, or more than
$1,500,000.
The gold which overlaid one room of Sol
omon's Temple, the ‘ sanctum sanctorum,’ 30
feet square, and 30 feet high, amounted to 600
talents, or nearly $21,000,000.
Lucullus, a Roman Senator, when he sup
ped in one of his halls, which he called Apol
lo—and there he supped often never sat
down to a supper which cost less than 50,000
denarii, or about SBOOO. Plutarch, in speak
ing of one of his suppers, at which only one
guest was present, says the supper cost Lu
cullus five myriads, by which it is supposed
he means 50,000 denarii. —Cleveland Herald.
POPULATION OF LIBERIA.
A pamphlet lately issued at Philadelphia,
makes the following statement respecting Li
beria.
“ The inhabitants of Liberia, emigrants
from the United States, and their children,
number three tlionsand five hundred; fthd
157