No. IX.

ment in Cumnor Palace gardens, in compliment to his royal mistress, Queen Elizabeth. Within the last forty years it has been known to have kept the same

(To the Editor of the Mirror.) SIR,-As you have frequently given various illustrations of our immortal bard, Shakspeare, perhaps the enclosed engraving and account would not be unacceptable as an illustration of the historical novel of Kenilworth, in which the tragical fate of Amy Robsart, the beautiful Countess of Leicester, and the horrors of Cumnor Place, are so masterly depicted.

The curious statue of good Queen Bess, of which our engraving is an exact representation, at present holds a far humbler situation than that to which it was exalted when it first came from the hands of the sculptor.

The statue is carved in stone, and appears to have been executed with great skill. The queen is represented in one of her favourite dresses of stars and scroll work, the intersections of which were always ornamented with costly jewels and precious stones. She holds the globe in her left hand, and most probably that of the right held the sceptre; but this has been long since broken off. The face is much mutilated; but the jewels on her head, round her neck, and on the body of the dress, are still tolerably perfect.

This statue was supposed to have been sculptured by order of Robert Dudley,

to the manor house of Dean Court, and at present ornaments the garden of a small farm near Ferry-Hinksey.

1 am, Sir, &c.

MIKE LAMBOURNE.

Arts and Sciences.

ON SPECIFIC GRAVITY.
(For the Mirror.)

THE specific gravity of any body is that proportion which it bears to some other body of equal magnitude in point of weight. Inquiries into this subject are not only extremely curious, but also very useful; they enable us to ascertain the weight of such bodies as are too heavy or unwieldy to discover it by other means. The first idea of specific gravity was found out by Archimedes, when employed by Hiero, king of Sicily, to detect the adulteration the jeweller had put in making his crown; but the relation is so generally known, that it is needless to repeat it here. The hint, however, does not seem to have been at all improved, as for many ages nothing is mentioned concerning this subject in any author I have ever met with. About 1630, one Henry Von Etten, a German mathematician, sets down the relative proportions in the weight of some articles thus :Gold, 1875; lead, 1165; silver, 1040; copper, 910; iron, 810; tin, 750; and water, 100. In 1649, one Alstead, in his Encyclopædia, has them thus :-Gold, 1875; quicksilver, 1500; lead, 1165; silver, 1040; copper, 910; iron, 806; tin, 750; honey, 150; water, 100; oil, 90; and these appear to be merely copied from Etten's, with some additions only. In the year 1660, one Marinus Ghetaldi published a small tract, entitled, Archimedes Promotus, containing an account of some experiments upon this subject. The results appear thus stated:-Gold, 3990; quicksilver, 2850; lead, 2415; silver, 2170; brass, 1890; iron, 1680; tin, 1554; water, 200. All these writers differ most strangely from each other, as the reader will readily perceive; yet in Nos. 169 and 199 of the Philosophical Transactions, published and approved of by the Royal Society, (under which powerful sanction the accuracy might seem indisputable,) we find a more striking dis

Explanation. The left-hand column shows the specific gravity of the article to rain-water, the standard, (which is taken 19 times and 64 hundredth decimal parts as one ;) thus it appears that fine gold is as heavy as the standard, (and so of the rest.) All the articles above RAINWATER are so much heavier, and all below it are so much lighter as per table.

The right-hand column shows the weight of one cubic inch of each article in decimals of a pound avoirdupoise. Thus it appears a cubic inch of fine gold weighs 71035 lb. Avoirdupoise, or 10 oz. 7 dwts. 4 grains very near, Troy. A cubic inch of cast-iron, per table, .25807lb. or 4 oz. 2 drams, 066 decimal parts. By the aid of this table a great many useful questions may be easily answered, a short elucidation of which shall be given in a future paper.

JACOBUS.

A NEW INVENTION.

A METHOD has lately been discovered of rendering cast-iron soft and malleable; it consists in placing it in a pot surrounded by a soft red ore found in Cumberland and other parts of England, which pot is placed in a common oven, the doors or which being closed, and but a slight draught of air permitted under the grate, a regular heat is kept up for one or two weeks, according to the thickness and weight of the castings. The pots are then withdrawn and suffered to cool, and by this operation the hardest cast metal is rendered so soft and malleable that it may be welded together, or, when in a cool state, bent into almost any shape by a hammer or vice.

Newton's Journal.

ALE.

BACK and syde go bare, go bare, booth foote and hande go colde,

But belley God sende thee good ale ynoughe whether it be newe or olde.

I cannot eate, but lytle meat,
my stomacke is not good;

But sure I thinke, that I can drynke
with him that wears a hood.
Though I go bare, take ye no care,
I am nothinge a colde;

I stuffe my skyn so full within
of joly good ale and olde.
Back and syde go bare, go bare,

booth foote and hande go colde,

But belley, God send thee goode ale ynoughe whether it be newe or olde.

1 love no rost, but a nut-brown toste, and a crab layde in the fyre;

A lytle bread shall do me stead, much bread I not desyre.

No froste nor snow, no winde, I trowe, can hurt mee if I wolde;

I am so wrapt and throwly lapt

of joly good ale and olde,

Back and syde go bare, &c.

And Tyb my wife, that as her lyfe,
loveth well good ale to seeke,

Full ofte drinkes shee, tyll ye may see
the tears run down her cheeke;
Then doth she trowl to me the bowle,
even as a mault worm shuld;
And sayth, sweetbart, I tooke my part
of this joly good ale and olde.
Back and syde go bare, &c.

Now let them drynke, till they nod and winke
even as good fellowes shoulde doe;
They shall not mysse to have the blisse

good ale doth bringe nien to: And all poor soules that have scoured boules, or have them lustely trolde,

God save the lyves of them and their wyves, whether they be younge or olde. Back and syde go bare, &c.

Gammer Gurton's Needle.

SPIRIT OF THE

Public Journa s.

THE CLUBS OF ST. JAMES'S.

SHERIDAN.

MR. MOORE is mistaken in stating that Sheridan was in the habit of manufacturing puns and other witty sayings before he went into company; and that he generally remained silent until a proper opportunity offered for letting off a good thing. That he and other celebrated wits may have occasionally done so, is not at all improbable; but that such was Sheridan's practice, no one who knew him in

Had

the learned biographer in question, given the least consideration to his practical jokes upon those tradesmen and others who were in the habit of dunning him, he would perceive that Mr. Sheridan's invention was never at a stand; for, on such occasions, instead of paying, he generally contrived to obtain longer time and to run more deeply into their debt: -those who came to shear went home shorn. But there are a thousand proofs on record that, like the light produced by fire-boxes now in vogue, Sheridan's wit was instantaneous and vivid. A few of these brilliant flashes, as they occur to the writer's mind shall here be displayed, the reader bearing in mind that such only shall be set down as are not mentioned by other authors, or which, having appeared, have not been attributed to him by them.

Mr. Whitbread one evening at Brookes's talked loudly and largely against the ministers for laying what was called the war-tax upon malt; every one present of course concurred with him in opinion; but Sheridan could not resist the gratification of a hit against the brewer himself. He took out his pencil and wrote upon the back of a letter the following lines, which he handed to Mr. Whitbread across the table ::

"They 've raised the price of table driuk.
What is the reason, do you think?
The tax on malt 's the cause, I hear;-
But what has malt to do with beer?"

One day, meeting two royal dukes walking up St. James's Street, the youngest thus flippantly addressed him : "I say, Sherry, we have just been discussing whether you are a greater fool or rogue: what is your own opinion, my boy ?" Mr. Sheridan having bowed and smiled at the compliment, took each of them by the arm, and instantly replied, "Why, faith, I believe I am between both."

Being on a parliamentary committee, he one day entered the room as all the members were seated and ready to commence business. Perceiving no empty seat, he bowed; and, looking round the table with a droll expression of countenance, said, "Will any gentleman move, that I may take the chair ?"

Looking over a number of the Quarterly Review one day at Brookes's, soon after its first appearance, he said, in reply to a gentleman who observed that the editor, Mr. Gifford, had boasted of his power of conferring and distributing literary reputation; Very likely and in the present instance I think he has done it so

66

:

profusely as to have left none for himself."

Soon after the Irish members were admitted into the British House Commons, at the Union in 1801, one of them, in the midst of his maiden harangue, and in the national warmth of his heart, thus addressed the chair:-" And now, my dear Mr. Speaker," &c., which created a loud laugh from all parts of the house. soon as their mirth had subsided, Mr. Sheridan gave it another fillip, by observing," that the Honourable Member was perfectly in order; for thanks to the ministers, now-a-days, every thing is dear"

As

The Hon. Mr. S. having finished a tragedy, sent it to Sheridan with a note, requesting an early opinion, and offering it for performance at Drury Lane. The manager looked over the manuscript; but seeing nothing fit for representation, laid it on the table before the noble author, who called two days after, without saying a word. "Well, row, my dear Sheridan," said the dramatist, "what do you think of it? My friend, Cumberland, has promised me a prologue; and I dare say, for the interest of the theatre, you will have no objection to supply me with an epilogue ?"- "Trust me, my dear Sir," replied Sheridan drily and shaking his head, "it will never come to that, depend on't."

A friend having pointed out to Mr. Sheridan that lord Kenyon had fallen asleep at the first representation of Pizarro, and that, too, in the midst of Rolla's fine speech to the Peruvian soldiers, the dramatist felt rather mortified; but instantly recovering his usual goodhumour, he said, "Ah! poor man! let him sleep; he thinks he is on the Bench."

The conversation at Brookes's one day turning on lord Henry Petty's projected tax upon iron, one gentleman said that as there was so much opposition to it, it would be better to raise the proposed sum upon coals. "Hold! my dear fellow," said Sheridan, "that would be out of the frying-pan into the fire, with a vengeance!"

But, that Sheridan was from his very infancy, a person of great wit, the two following anecdotes will prove beyond doubt. Being at a boarding school, where were also two brothers, the sons of a physician, the conversation in the playground, as is often the case with boys, frequently turned on the rank, riches, and professions of their parents. The brothers were one day bragging largely of their father, saying, "that he was a gentleman, and that he professionally attended several of the nobility." "And

so is my father a gentleman; and as good as your father, any day," replied little Sheridan. "Ah! but," said the elder boy, "your father is an actor, Dick,-a player on the public stage; consequently, it is impossible that he can be a gentleman."" You may think so," replied Sheridan, "but I don't; for your father kills people; and mine only amuses them."

A gentleman having a remarkably long visage, was one day riding by the school, at the gate of which he overheard young Sheridan say to another lad, "That gentleman's face is longer than his life."Struck by the strangeness of this rude obser. vation, the man turned his horse's head, and requested an explanation. “Sir," said the boy, "I meant no offence in the world, but I have read in the Bible at school, that a man's life is but a span, and I am sure your face is double that length." The gentleman could not help laughing, and he threw the lad sixpence for his wit.

Mr. Sheridan met with few hard rubs himself, however; one or two of which may not be unentertaining to

mention.

He was endeavouring to compliment (vulgò, to gammon) a city tailor out of a new suit of clothes, and promising him half a dozen similar orders every year. "You are an excellent cut, my friend," said Sheridan," and you beat our snips of the West end, hollow. Why don't you push your thimble amongst us? I'll recommend you everywhere. Upon my honour, your work gives you infinite credit." "Yes," replied Twist, "I always take care that my work gives long credit; but the wearers ready money."

On one occasion, he received a pretty hard hit from one of the electors, as he was on a canvassing visit at Stafford. He was met in the streets by one of his old voters, a simple, but substantial bargess, with whom he had formerly had some dealings of a pecuniary nature. This man accosted him as follows:-" Well, Maister Sheridan, I be main glad to see you. How be ye, eh?" Why, thank you, my friend, very well. I hope you and your family are well," replied the candidate. "Ay, ay," answered the elector, "they are pretty nobbling;but they tell me, Maister Sheridan, as how you are trying to get a Palumentary Reform. Do ye think ye shall get it?"

"Why, yes," said Sheridan, "I hope so."—" And so do I,” replied his constituent, "for then you'll be able to pay off the old election scores, shan't ye ?"

New Monthly Magazine.

WATERMAN TOM AND BETTY JONES.

BY T. HOOD.

THERE was a jolly waterman,
And he was fond of wet,
He laid a wager he would wed

A girl whose name was Bet.

He staked his blunt and launched his boat, And took his sculls in hand,

Says he. "Now I am once afloat,

She can't three sculls withstand."

But still poor Tom felt many qualms
As up the reach he steered,

He thought as how he'd reach her heart,

Although he was afeard;

And then hc rowed with might and main,

Then floated with the tide

And then he chewed his thoughts and quid, Then turn'd them both aside.

As thus engaged, he shut his eyes,
And swore as how he'd slight her
He fouled a barge-just as he said,
"My heart it is much lighter!"
Tom went in over head and ears,

And loud began to squall:

They soon pulled up and pulled him inOh, what a waterfall!

Says Tom," This comes of making loveI'll see her yet and scold her;

For though my heart was like a fire,

By it's now much colder."

"Young man," shouts one on board the barge, "Oh, let your heart be free!"

Quoth Tom, "You'd better mind your eye,
You're a lighterman than me!"

At Putney they put Tom ashore,
And he put on his coat,

And to the Eight Bells then went he,
To wet his thirsty throat;
He rung the changes on his belle,
And called for many a jug,
And then begau his mug to eye,
And then to eye his mug.

Now Betty Jones she lived hard by,
And by hard work she lived;
To gain much love she had a way,
And much away she gived;

So Tom he toddled up to her,

And in her presence came,

Says he, "I stopped at your strange gate." Says she, "Your gait's the same."

"Bet, I've come up to marry you."

Oh, marry come up," quoth Jones. Says he "I claim you for my rib,

For I love your flesh and bones;

I do adore you, on my life

Just look into my heart!"

"O, wretch! I'll never be your wifeBegone, with all your art!"

AN IRISH HEDGE SCHOOL. On reaching the houses, Eugene stopped us in front of one, the roof of which had fallen in. This is all that remains of our village school. Here, in his noisy mansion, sat Phil. Sulivan, wielding his birch as if it had been a sceptre, while his little subjects were ranged round on benches formed of sods, that you may still see along the wall. The fire, when any was required, was made in the centre of the apartment, the fuel being furnished by each scholar daily bringing a turf with him. The door was formed of stakes interlaced with wattles, a loop of which thrown over a crooked nail, served the purpose of a lock, and a rude table, that the master sat at, was all the desk in the school. As they came in at the door, the urchins were obliged to make their best bow, by drawing back the left leg, catching the tuft of hair that hung over the forehead, and bringing their stiff necks to the precise mathematical curve that constituted politeness; while Phil. sat in the middle, sometimes talking English, sometimes Irish, to suit himself to the comprehension of his pupils. As a specimen of the manner in which he accomplished this, I will give you a journal of my first day at school.

While the more advanced scholars were conning their tasks, he taught the younger tyros the alphabet-" Come up here, Pat. Geehan," said he, to a red-headed boy dressed in a gray frieze coat, which came down to his heels, and a pair of old leather breeches, that, only reaching half way down his thighs, exposed his red measled legs.-"Come stand up here on the table, and let the boys hear how well you can say your letters."-Pat mounted with great confidence; but when his phiz, by being raised into the light, became more distinctly seen, "Ubbaboo tearin' murder!" exclaimed Phil., "where have been wid that face? why man alive you've been kissing the prata pot, and your hair too stanin' up for a price, like the bristles of a fighting pig,-is there no water in the