For in their prime They learned to clime High up the reeling mast, And felt a pride,

Safe there to ride, Heedlessly in the blast.

And father's fears, And mother's tears, For many a truant child,

Have saddened life,

Till, with the strife

Of hope and dread, grown wild,

They, side by side, Have lain and died, By their own boy forgot; Who, o'er the sea, Nigh mad with glee,

Blesses his happy lot.

And boys I 've seen, Who 'd never been Where ships could swim before, As if in quest

Of a bird's nest,

Ransack the spars all o'er;

And shout as loud From topmast shroud That rattled in the breeze,

As if at play,

A summer's day,

'Midst boughs of apple trees.

INTELLIGENCE.

Sugar for Preserving Fish. Dr. M'Culloch, of Edinburgh, has ascertained, that the antiseptic quality of sugar is sufficient to preserve fish in the most excellent condition. He states, that this substance is so active, that fish may be preserved in a dry state, and perfectly fresh, by means of sugar alone, and even with a very small quantity of it. He has thus kept salmon for an indefinite length of time; and by this simple means, fresh fish may be kept in that state some days, so as to be as good when boiled as when just caught. It is added, that, “if dried and kept free from mouldiness, there is no limit to their preservation; and they are much better in this way than when salted. The sugar gives no disagreeable taste. This process is particularly valuable in making what is called kippered salmon; and the fish preserved in this manner are far superior in quality and flavour to those which are salted or smoked. If desired, as much salt may be used as to give the taste that may be required; but this substance does not conduce to their preservation. In the preparation, it is barely necessary to open the fish, and to apply the sugar to the muscular part, placing it in a horizontal position for two or three days, that this substance may penetrate. After this, it may be dried; and it is only further necessary to wipe and ventilate it occasionally, to prevent mouldiness. A table spoonful of brown sugar is sufficient in this manner for a salmon of five or six pounds weight; and if salt is desired, a tea spoonful or more may be added; saltpetre may be used instead, in the same proportion, if it is desired, to make the kipper hard."

On the Tranference of Fish from Salt Water to Fresh. A letter from Mr Meynell, of Yarm, Yorkshire, has been read to the Wernerian Natural History Society, on changing the habits of fishes, and mentioning that he had, for four years past, kept the smelt, or shirling, (Salmo Eperlanus,) in a fresh water pond, having no communication with the sea; and that the smelts had continued to thrive, and breed as freely as when they enjoy intercourse with the sea.

Sound attending the Aurora Brealis. Speaking of this phenomenon, M. Ramm states, "I believe that I have heard it repeatedly during a space of several hours, when a boy of ten or eleven years old, (it was in the year 1766, 1767, or 1768.) I was then crossing a meadow, near which was a forest, in winter, and saw, for the first time, the sky over me glowing with the most brilliant light, playing in beautiful colors, in a manner I have never seen since. The colors showed themselves very distinctly on the plain, which was covered with snow or hoar frost, and I heard several times a quick whispering sound simultaneously with the rays over my head. However clear this event is, and always has been in my memory, it would be unjust to expect it to be received with implicit confidence; but should others have made similar observations, it would be important for the inquirer into the nature of the aurora borealis."-Ramsmoem in Förset, March, 1825.

American Statisties. The whole number of people in the United States, by the last census, is nine millions, six hundred and twenty nine thousand. Of this number it is stated that two millions and sixty five thousand are engaged in agriculture, three hundred and forty nine thousand in manufactures, and seventy-two thousand in commerce. Only the efficient or laboring persons in each class appear to have been enumerated. Add the women, the children, and the invalids, and there will be found to be about eight millions in the agricultural class, two hundred thousand in the commercial, and one million, and three hundred thousand in the manufacturing. In England, the agricultural class does not exceed one third of the whole population. This one third is not only sufficient to produce bread stuffs and provisions enough for themselves and the other two thirds, but also to produce enough wool for all the extensive woollen factories in the kingdom, with the exception of a small quantity of fine quality. The wool produced amounts annually to twenty eight millions of dollars in value. Four fifths of our nation are employed to produce the same effects that follow from the labours of one third of the British nation.

Calculation of London Consumption. There are upwards of 6,000 acres of ground cultivated as gardens, within 12 miles of the metropolis, giving employment to 30,000 persons in winter, and three times that number in summer. There were sold in Smithfield market, in the year 1822, 149,885 beasts, 24,609 calves, 1,507,096 sheep, and 20,020 pigs. This does not, however, by any means, form the total consumed in London, as large quantities of meat in carcasses, particularly pork, are daily brought from the counties round the metropolis. The total value of the cattle sold in Smithfield is calculated at 8,500,000l.; it is supposed that a million a year is expended in fruits and vegetables. The consumption of wheat amounts to a million of quarters annually; of which four fifths are supposed to be made into bread, being a consumption of 64 millions of quartern loaves every year in the metropolis alone. An advance of one farthing on a quartern loaf forms an aggregate increase, in expense for this article alone, of upwards of 13,000l. per week. The annual consumption of butter in London amounts to about 11,000, and that of cheese to 13,000 tons. The money paid annually for milk is supposed to amount to 1,250,000l. The quantity of poultry annually consumed in London is supposed to cost between 70,000l. and 80,000l. That of game depends on the fruitfulness of the season. There is nothing, however, more surprising than the sale of rabbits. One salesman in Leadenhall market, during a considerable portion of the year, is said to sell 14,000 rabbits weekly; he disposes of them, by employing between 150 and 300 men and women who hawk them through the streets.

Novel Mode of Robbery. A curious system of robbery has been detected at Aschaffenbourg, in Bavaria. A set of ruffians, already in prison there, contrived to cut the bars of their dungeon and to sally forth, committing depredations, after which they returned to prison, replacing the bars, so that their temporary escape was not discovered. This they continued nightly for a long time, becoming the terror of the town; until one of them, in escaping from the guard, left behind him part of his waistcoat, upon which was a button with the prison mark. This led to their detection.

He

Professor Mezzofanti of Bologna. The following amusing account of this celebrated linguist is given by the baron Zach, in one of the early numbers of his Correspondence Astronomique, Geographique, &c. :"This extraordinary savant is very truly the rival of the celebrated Mithridates, king of Pontus. This professor speaks thirty-two living and dead languages, not in the manner of the learned jesuit Weittenauer, but with a perfection truly surprising. Professor Mezzofanti introduced himself to me by addressing me in Hungarian; he paid me a compliment so well turned, and in such good Magyarul, that I was surprised and astonished to the last degree. He then spoke to me in German; first in good Saxon, and afterwards in the Austrian and Swabian dialects, with a purity of accent that raised my astonishment to the height; I could not help laughing at the change which the countenance and language of this extraordinary professor put upon me. spoke English with Captain Smith, and Russian and Polish with prince Wolkonsky, with the same ease and volubility as he did his native dialect, the Bolognese. I could not quit his side afterwards. At a dinner given by the Cardinal Legate, Spina, his eminence made him sit by me at table; after having jargonné with him in several languages, all of which he spoke much better than I did, it occurred to me to address him suddenly with a few words in Walachian. Without the least hesitation, or appearing to notice the change, my polyglot immediately answered me in the same language, and went on at such a rate, that I was obliged to call out to him, 'Softly, softly, M. Abbé, I cannot follow you, I am quite at the end of my Walachian.' It was more than forty years since I had either spoken, or even thought of this language, with which I was very well acquainted in my youth, when I was serving in a Hungarian regiment, garrisoned in Transylvania. Professor Mezzofanti was not only well acquainted with this language, but informed me on this occasion that he knew another, which I had never been able to learn, although I had much better opportunities of doing it than he, having had soldiers in my regiment who spoke it. This was the language of the Zigans, or of that tribe which the French improperly call Bohemiennes [gypsies], and at which designation the brave and true Bohemians (the inhabitants of the kingdom of Bohemia) feel very indignant. But how could an Italian Abate, who had never been out of his native place, learn a language, which is neither written nor printed? A Hungarian regiment, during the wars of Italy, had been quartered at Bologna; the professor discovered a Zigan in it, put himself under his tuition, and with the facility and happy memory he derives from nature, soon acquired this language, which is believed to be only a dialect (apparently altered and corrupted) of some tribes of the Parias of Hindostan."

England Fifty Years ago. "In seventy years," says the Annual Register, "the people of Great Britain have advanced full eight millions in number. In twenty-five years, the number of inhabited houses in England and Wales alone have advanced one half. Fifty years ago, the very existence of canals was a matter of incredulity. Fifteen millions of public wealth have now been profitably absorbed by these mighty ducts; and at least half as much more is at this hour destined for their formation. Fifty years ago, there was hardly a steam-engine in the kingdom. There cannot now be less than twelve thousand-a creation of power equal to

at least a quarter of a million of horses; an energy, which, in a single day, would have raised up the great pyramid of Egypt. Fifty years ago, our annual export of manufactured cotton did not amount to a quarter of a million in value; it has now swollen to nearly thirty millions. In the same period, our exported woollens, in defiance of Saxon, Prussian, Spanish, and American competition, have advanced more than two millions. Fifty years ago, our imports of raw silk were only three hundred thousand pounds weight; they are now nearly three millions. Fifty years ago, our export of iron was hardly twelve thousand tons; it is now about ten times as much. Fifty years ago, our exports of linens were about four millions of yards; they are now nearly forty millions. Fifty years ago, the whole value of our exported produce, both native and foreign, was just fifteen millions of money; the value of British produce exported, alone, is now more than fifty millions. A hundred and twenty years ago, says old Tucker, there were only two or three vessels in Scotland, above two hundred tons; our whole tonnage is now more than a quarter of a million, employing twenty thousand souls. A hundred and fifty years ago, says Chalmers, the whole navy of Britain did not amount to a hundred thousand tons; it is now at least three millions of tons, employing about two hundred thousand souls."

Incombustibility of Wood. It is affirmed that a professor at Munich, of the Academy of Sciences, has discovered a method of rendering wood incombustible. He has combined caustic alkali in solution with a certain earthy substance, washed and sifted, and applied on the wood, to which it gives a nitreous surface, which renders it also impervious to water, and to all kinds of humidity. The Architectural Committee of the Theatre Royal at Munich has made trial of this method on two small buildings, one of which was prepared according to the professor's plan, the other not. Fire having been lighted in both, the one was burnt, the other received no injury. The expense of the application was only two francs for 100 feet.

Polish Coin. The Emperor Nicholas has decided that the coin in Poland shall always bear the effigies of the Emperor Alexander, to whom the kingdom is indebted for its restoration; a grand and important work, which he intended to complete whenever the general circumstances of Europe became more favorable. The execution of this noble design remains entrusted to his successor, who has testified an almost religious anxiety to comply with his most secret wishes. The gold and silver coin will present on one side the likeness of the late emperor and king with a laurel crown upon his head, and with this inscription, in the Polish language,-" Alexander I. Emperor of Russia, restorer of the kingdom of Poland (1815);" on the other side in the midst of a crown of oak, is inscribed the value of the piece; beneath the crown these words, "Nicholas I. Emperor of all the Russias, reigning king of Poland." The copper money will not be changed.

Sounds. It is known that sounds are heard with more distinctness and at greater distances in severely cold weather, than at other times. At Port Bowen it was found that two persons could keep up a conver sation with great facility between two stations at the measured distance of 6696 feet, or about one statute mile and two tenths, the thermometer at 18 below zero.