with three ounces of gunpowder, and exploded at the same moment with a loud report, and small fragments were thrown into the air seventy to eighty feet high; but the rock was only broken into three or four fragments. The ball from a rifle fired sixty yards distant, with a charge of four grains of cotton, penetrated two elm boards, each an inch thick, an oak board of the same thickness, and was then flattened against the rock. The explosive property of the gun cotton, is dependent upon the same principle as that of gunpowder; viz. the presence of oxygen in the solid form in immediate contact with substances possessing a strong affinity for that substance. In gun cotton, we have carbon and hydrogen side by side with the oxygen of the nitric acid, which is supposed to exist in the cells of the cotton fibre. In gunpowder, we have carbon and sulphur associated with the oxygen required for their conversion, but existing in nitric acid combined with the potash of the salt-petre. In this latter case the products of combustion are carbonic acid, sulphurous acid and dense fumes arising from the destruction of the potash in fine particles. The products of combustion of the gun cotton vary according to the circumstances under which it is ignited; under pressure, as fired from a pistol, the products would appear to be water, carbonic oxide, and cyanogen or hydrocyanic acid, and probably a little nitrous acid of nitric oxide. Its precise chemical constitution has not yet been satisfactorily determined. It most probably consists of cellulose, in combination with two atoms of nitric acid. The question yet remains to be solved, whether it be chemically combined, or the acid be confined in the cells in mechanical contact. This view of its constitution affords ready means of accounting for the presence of cyanogen, and accords most nearly with the results of experiments undertaken to determine the proportion of materials employed, and the amount of products. LISTZ AND HIS MARRIAGE. BY THEOPHILE GAUTIER. TRANSLATED BY J. P. MANN. AFTER having given a number of very profitable concerts in the principal cities of Germany, Listz, one day, about the middle of October last, entered Prague, the capital of Bohemia. The very next day, a stranger presented himself to him at his lodgings. He was an old man, bowed down with misery and affliction. The great artist received him with a more cordial welcome, perhaps, than would have been granted to a lord or a duke. Encouraged by this kindness, the old man said to him, "I come to you as to a brother artist, although I beg you to excuse me for taking this title, in spite of the distance which separates us; but once, perhaps, I was considered of some little value. It was acknowledged that I had a certain talent in music; and I gave a few lessons, which enabled me to support myself decently, Now, however, I am old, worn out, D burthened with a large family, and without pupils. I live at Nurenberg; but am come to Prague to receive a slight inheritance, which, to my great sorrow, has been swallowed up by law expenses, and I must go away to-morrow, without money enough to carry me home." "And you are come to me? You have done right, and I thank you for this proof of your esteem. To oblige an artist, a pianist, has always been for me, not only a duty, but a pleasure. I am ready to serve you." Saying these generous words, Listz opened the drawer of his writingdesk, but was quite astonished at seeing that this, his usual cash-box, contained only three ducats. He rang for his valet. "Where is the money?" said he. 66 There," replied the servant, pointing to the drawer. "How there'? Why there is nothing there, or nearly so." "I know it very well. I told you yesterday, sir, that the money was nearly all gone." "You see, my dear fellow," replied Listz, smiling, "that I am not, for the moment, richer than you are; but this will not trouble me in any way. I am in good credit, and one of these days I will coin money on my piano. However, I will not occasion you any false joy, nor make you wait until my finances are in a better state. You are in a hurry to leave Prague, say you? Well, then, we must seek some other way to get you the wherewithal." Listz opened another drawer and took out a medallion, which he gave the old man. "Take this," said he; "it is the very thing. It is a present from the Emperor of Austria, his portrait set in diamonds. The painting is but so so; but the diamonds are splendid. Sell them, I beg you. Whatever you get for them is your own." The old pianist tried in vain to refuse so rich an offering; but Listz has a certain way of giving that admits no refusal; so, after a short struggle, the poor man retired, loading his generous benefactor with blessings, and hastened to the richest jeweller of the city to get the money for his journey. The jeweller, seeing this man, so miserably dressed, endeavouring to sell, in great haste, such rich diamonds, conceived, naturally enough, some suspicion as to the ownership; and feigning to examine the diamonds with great attention, in order to ascertain their worth, he gave time to one of his assistants to go out and return with an escort of police, who arrested the unhappy artist in spite of his protestations of innocence. "To prison first," said they. "You can explain the matter afterwards to the magistrate." The prisoner wrote to his benefactor to demand his assistance. Listz hastened to the jeweller's. "Sir," said he, "you have caused an innocent man to be arrested, and you must immediately come with me to get him free. He was the real owner of the valuables; for I gave them to him myself, this morning." "But you yourself, sir,-who are you?” 66 My name is Listz." "I know no one of that name.' "It is very possible? but I can make myself known.” 66 Do you know, sir, that these diamonds are worth about six thou sand florins, or more than five hundred guineas ?" "So much the better for him to whom I have given them." "But to make such presents, one need be very rich." 66 My present riches amount to three ducats." "Then you must be a sorcerer." "No I am not, I assure you; yet I have but to move a finger or two to have as much money as I wish." “Doubtless, then, you are a magician." "I will just reveal the secret of the magic I make use of.” Listz had noticed a piano in the back shop. He approached it, and ran his fingers over the keys: then, carried away by his enthusiasm, he improvised one of those charming and fantastic symphonies, of which he alone has the secret. At the first sound of the chords, a beautiful young girl appeared at the side door of the shop. As long as the melody lasted, she remained motionless and attentive; but scarcely had the last note ceased to vibrate, than she cried out with the enthusiasm of an artist, 66 Bravo, Listz! that is admirable." "You know him, then?" asked the father. "It is the first time I have had the happiness of seeing or hearing him," replied she; "but there is but one Listz in the world who can give such accents to the tones of a piano." An admiration like this, from a person of remarkable beauty, and expressed with grace and vivacity, could not fail being exceedingly flattering, not only to one's self-love, but to one's heart. Nevertheless, after having replied as well as he was able to these seducing compliments, Listz hastened away to deliver the poor prisoner. The jeweller accompanied him; and to make some amends, as he said, for his awkwardness, invited the two artists to sup with him. Of course, his amiable daughter was present, and presided with much grace at the repast, as much delighted with Listz's generosity, as enchanted with his talents. That same evening, the musicians of the city gave the prince of pianists a serenade; and the next morning, the principal inhabitants of the town, together with the first nobility, waited on him, and requested him to give a few concerts at any price he would fix. The jeweller then understood that a talent like his, rightly appreciated, was as good, in a monetary point of view, as the most precious of diamonds. The honours that were everywhere rendered Listz inspired him with astonishment and respect. So when he saw the great man redouble his visits, he was delighted; but when he discovered that his daughter was the object of his attentions, his joy was beyond all bounds. He was rich enough to sacrifice a little to vanity, and had often thought of giving his millions a little splendour by an aristocratic alliance; but the German aristocracy is full of prejudices; his advances had all been repulsed, and it was with the greatest avidity that he seized an opportunity of connecting himself with the aristocracy of talent, which in Bohemia is recognized by the greatest in the land. It needs scarcely to be said that the young beauty was quite disposed to yield to the wishes of her father. One day, with the frankness usual to the Germans, the jeweller said to Listz: "What do you think of my daughter?" "She is adorable." "What do you think of marriage ?" "Well enough to try it." "What would you say to a fortune of three millions of francs ?" "I would accept it, and say, thank you." "You understand me, I see. My daughter pleases you; you please my daughter. The dowry is ready, and you'll be my son-in-law?" "Willingly." And the wedding day was celebrated the next week. CAREW. CAREW ought certainly to be a favourite with the ladies, notwithstanding his quaint figures and expressions; for no one has shewn himself so much attached to them as he has done, in making them the continued subject of his poetic labours. Clarke, too, deserves their thanks for reproducing his works at so low a rate. How easily does Carew express himself. MURDERING BEAUTY. I'LL gaze no more on her bewitching face, I'll love no more those cruel eyes of hers, CONQUEST OF FLIGHT. LADIES, fly from Love's smooth tale, Young men, fly, when beauty darts Now 'twixt their lips, now in their eyes. THE HUE AND CRY. IN Love's name you are charged hereby, Are ready marks to know the thief. Her hair a net of beams, would prove Her eye so rich, so pure a grey, And freshly laid in nuptial bed; But from that voice, shall hear again- Literary Notices. Not One Lash! An Address to her most Gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, on the Inefficiency, Impolicy, and Demoralizing Tendency of Flogging in the Army and Navy. By Mr. ISAAC REEVE, Chase Lodge Grammar School, Hounslow. Second Edition. London: James Gilbert, 49, Paternoster Row. WHEN this eloquent and feeling pamphlet was introduced to our notice, we immediately felt the necessity of giving it as wide a publication as possible; and we trust, that our first monthly number will receive no little lustre from the quotations and remarks we intend to borrow from it. The author, it will be perceived, is a schoolmaster, residing in the neighbourhood of the late melancholy event, which has stained so many hearts, and brought down, upon a cursed law of cruelty, a condemnation which will shortly, not only sweep away the cowardly fifty lashes, but which, in its effects, must lead to humanizing efforts for the welfare, and safety, and moral regeneration of thousands of our brave defenders. By this production, he has added a true laurel leaf to the wreath which already belongs to his unrecognized class. Α leaf, which will be kept green, not by blood, not by torture, not by enforcing demoralization; but by the sweet and gentle tears, that his pity, in conjunction with others, the eldest born of manly, honest humanity, pours upon it. To prevent crime, not to punish it, is the true end of legislation. When a law fails to do this, and manifestly in its effects deadens men's hearts, as in this case it does their shoulders, to the appeals of their consciences-to their sense of right. When it finds a being a man, and leaves him a brute; when it causes a myriad voices to lift themselves in determined, manly opposition to the demon-invented cat; when its action is a broken heart, a mutilated body, a destroyed moral sense; away with it. The statute-book is disgraced by its presence; and its victims will rise, by-andbye, and having lost the characteristics of men, will call loudly for a just reprehension of those who, by permitting a savage order to remain unabrogated by humanity, have despoiled God's image, and added crime to crime, or misery to misery. Had Lord John Russell had sufficient moral courage, a short time since, to have substituted "Not one Lash," for the contemptible "fifty," the act would have been the brightest that could have illuminated a statesman's career. The change from hundreds to this miserable fraction, is the strongest argument that can be adduced for total abolition; for the sudden descent in the terrible scale of stripes, shews how untenable is the position of the whole. The same remark that necessitates fifty, necessitates five hundred; and we defy the defenders of this deadly "antidote of evil," to establish a necessity for fifty, on stronger grounds, than they can a greater number. It is not humanity-pity-which has produced the change. No, it is simply a seeming listening to the appeal of the pitiful,- -a stroke of policy that mercy will not, dare not, acknowledge. Our author concludes his preface, by a letter to the Duke of Wellington, in whom, as head of the army, rests the power of lessening punishment; and also of abrogating it altogether. We give this letter entire, and beg attention to the last paragraph particularly, as one which ought, from its very composition, to have hindered the "fifty" being marked in the place of more. "Hounslow, Oct. 1846. May it please your Grace, "I beg to present for your acceptance the enclosed little address. The subject cannot but be deeply interesting to your Grace, and although the petition is addressed to Her Majesty, yet am I persuaded that the granting of the object prayed for depends, in great measure, on your decision. "Since writing this pamphlet, my attention has been directed to the following remarkable contrast:-In the 12th Lancers, a part of which has just entered these barracks, not a man has been flogged for many years; and yet the whole regiment is in a high state of discipline. On the other hand, the 7th regiment of Hussars, which has just left us, and is become almost notorious for its floggings, is frequently rife with acts of disobedience and disorder, and the unhappy officers, unable to bear the odium naturally incurred by the execution of this revolting law, are glad sometimes to exchange, perhaps with pecuniary sacrifice, into other regiments. |