The cucumber (Cúcumis satívus), differs in many points from the white Bryony; but we shall see the natural character prevail, so as to render the position it occupies one quite essential to the arrangement. We take a flower from a cucumber plant, and observe that it is elevated upon a prickly stalk-like body, which in reality is the young cucumber; but from another part of the plant we gather a blossom quite deficient in this respect, and simply attached to the principal stem by a small stalk: these two flowers are technically termed the "male and female corollas," and may be distinguished further, by the last described, or stamen bearing flower, having only the rudiments of stigmas, and the three sets of stamens are arranged upon the tube of the corolla; the calyx also is more slender than in the fertile flower: the latter, on the contrary, contains only a style and " split stigmas" at the base of the corolla, through which there exists a connexion with the young ovary or cucumber, which is "divided into three or six cells, when young."

ber, combined in two pairs, the fifth being a perfect | poisonous, but M. De Candolle observes that the stamen; this then is a triadelphous arrangement of pips are never injurious in the species forming the the filaments: but there is no order in the artificial order; they are brown in the fruit of our plant class Monocia to express the number, therefore when ripe. the plant is placed by botanists either in order Pentandria, or order Monadelphia of that class. The filaments are hairy, and have their origin on the tube of the corolla; the stem is rough, with little hooks, angular, and flexible; and its leaves are large, harsh, deeply lobed, and stalked: this definition applies to the stameniferous plant which produces no fruit. It is considered essential to that bearing berries, and the latter is characterised as follows:-Segments of the calyx like the last, but more minute; divisions of the corolla smaller, and not so coarsely and apparently veined; the style is single, terminated by a five-lobed stigma; a small stalk separates the corolla from the fruit, which is a succulent round green berry, turning red when ripe; it is three-celled and three-seeded on arriving at maturity, but was originally six-seeded; the berries have an unpleasant scent of garlic, and form clusters, which arise from the axils of the leaves (axilla, L., the arm-pit, in allusion to the point of connexion between the leaf and stem of a plant). The leaves on either of the two kinds of plants do not originate in pairs, but one leaf is alternately balanced by a simple (not branched) spiral tendril; that is to say, they each spring from alternate sides of the stem: but in the individual that is now under investigation, they are smaller than are those of the stameniferous plant.

The two kinds of this species are seldom found in the same situation, which will be the cause of doubt in the first examination, as to their being two species or not; but the different position of the two organs for perfecting the seed, will be a sufficient indication of their being only separated individuals, not species, as the stamens in the flower which produces no seed, take their rise from the corolla; while in the pistilliferous flower the style springs from the base, where it is connected with the young ovary.

The musky scent of this plant is peculiar, particularly in that which produces fruit.

We see, from the above illustration, that the cucumber is really a monoecious plant, or, in other words, that it produces its separated flowers on the same stem; and instead of a berry, that it perfects an elongated fruit or gourd, which becomes orangecoloured as it ripens: the colour of the flowers also differs from the Bryony, as that has dingy greenish white corollas, while those of the cucumber are yellow. In its growth it resembles the Bryony, but owing to its artificial cultivation we do not see it in its climbing state, though its tendrils will afford an idea of its habit; the leaves are not so palmate as the Bryony, but they, and the stem, are similarly rough.

The natural order of the tribe in which these two genera are included is called Cucurbitaceæ, (from Cucurbita, the gourd); hence it is called the Gourd tribe. The essential character is found at page 331 of Hooker's "Introduction," in sub-class Calyciflora, on account of the supposition that the calyx is in combination with the ovary.

In looking for this weed in our book of reference, we find it generically defined at page 323 of the "6 Flora," Monccia Pentandria, and specifically at The definition is as follows:-" Flowers generally page 346, where the leaves are described as being monœcious, or diœcious. Sepals five, more or less "palmate," (divided like the hand, with the prin- united, sometimes obsolete" ("hardly evident"). cipal veins diverging from the apex of the petiole" Petals five, often more or less united, and someor foot-stalk). It is also stated to possess an times continuous with the calyx, marked with "acrid juice;" the berries are considered to be reticulated" (netted) "veins, and not unfrequently

66

en

fringed. Stamens five, distinct or connected in three bundles (triadelphous); anthers two-celled, very long, often combined, sinuous" (winding or wavy) “rarely ovate. Ovary combined with the calyx; styles short; stigmas three or five, twolobed, thick, velvetty, rarely fringed. Fruit fleshy, more or less succulent, crowned by the scar of the calyx, one-celled, with three parietal placentas" (we have already defined these terms to mean a fleshy base, attached to the walls or inner lining of the seed-vessel, and to which the seeds are fixed). "Seeds flat, obovate" (inversely egg-shaped), veloped in an arillus" (loose coat or 66 tunic"), "which is juicy or dry, and membranous. Testa" (testa, L. a shell, the hard covering of some seeds) "coriaceous" (leathery), " often thick at the margin. Embryo" (undeveloped germ or shoot in the seed) “straight, without albumen" (L. for the white of an egg, a starchy substance discoverable in many seeds, and supposed to afford the first nutriment to the seed when it sprouts); " cotyledons" (seed leaves-very visible in the pip of the melon, which is a species of cucumber) "foliaceous" (leafy), “veined; radicle" (little root) "next the hilum" (or scar).

terrace admit of being formed! What a serviceable lobe (to speak like an M.D.) would be added to those "lungs of London," the parks. How well would our romantic city readers be able to enjoy moonlight on the Thames! What an exquisite theatre would be formed for the display of Truly, with such prospects in perspective, Sir Fre tasteful dresses, elegant forms, and bright eyes! deric Trench deserves the willing suffrages of the ladies, as well as those of the commercial, barge, steam-boat, and wherry interests, he so assiduously courts in the above pamphlets. Sure we are that all our fair readers will join with us in wishing hearty success to Sir F. Trench and his Thames Terrace.

1. SPEECH OF SIR FREDERICK W. TRENCH M.P., ON THE EMBANKMENT OF THE THAMES, in the House of Commons, Thursday, June 10, 1841. -2. LETTER FROM SIR FREDERICK TRENCH TO THE VISCOUNT DUNCANNON, &c. &c.*-The embankment of the Thames-the mud and gravel question which it involves, its navigation, depth or shallowness-seem at first sight to be subjects not precisely calculated for discussion in La Belle Assemblée. A moment's reflection will, however, convince our fair readers that they have an interest in it. Most of them have, doubtless, been borne on "the silvery bosom of the Thames" in a steam-boat, which has, perhaps much to their annoyance, run a ground-a mishap Sir F. Trench and his lucubrations above proposes to remedy. He is anxious that a terrace, extending from Blackfriar's Bridge to Hungerford Market should be built, so as in some degree to lessen the breadth and increase the depth of the river. Then, what an admirable series of promenades would the proposed

Olivier, Pall-Mall.

TRACTS OF THE ANGLICAN FATHERS.-These two very valuable volumes are a great addition to is devoted to tracts written on the Book of Prayer, our store of theological learning. The first volume while the second is filled with those that are purely doctrinal. We sincerely recommend this work to the perusal of all those who have a reverence for the pure truths of Scripture.

SHOOTING; a Poem. By Alexander Webber. commenced, and slaughter has been at its deadly -Now the warfare among the partridges has fairly work in almost every preserve in her Majesty's dominions, Mr. Webber's pleasing little poem on the subject of shooting has fallen very opportunely into our hands. His poetry is certainly not firstrate, but he writes attractively, aud with truth, which he speaks very plainly in the following passage :

"The odious Game Laws are the Sportsman's bane,
Now, keepers, to preserve, are almost vain ;
Under their auspices the lazy thrive,
While honest industry can scarcely live."

If his prognostication, that in half a century game will be a rarity," be right, we shall begin to bless our stars that we shall be out of the world by that time, for we have such a natural affection for a plump partridge, that we invariably evince who are enjoying the sports of the field at this our love for it by eating it. To such of our friends season, we beg to recommend the work.

SCENERY AND ANTIQUITIES OF IRELAND.--This is really a very elegant and very cheap monthly publication. The views are romantic, and we are happy to greet a work that embraces the beauties of our sister island, which have been hitherto neglected, and almost unknown. Foreign scenes have been again and again brought before the public, but our own native beauties, which are equal to those of any other country in the world, have been most unaccountably passed over as not worthy of consideration. A better spirit now prevails, and we hail the appearance of a work like this, as a bright omen of the dawning of a happier taste. The engravings are really superb.

A NARRATIVE OF THE MARCH AND OPERATIONS OF THE INDUS IN 1838-9. By Major HoughThis work, though rather of a narcotic description, takes the reader through several thousand miles of a country hitherto unknown to us, and hence it becomes interesting and valuable for its original

information. The details are sometimes very dry reading, though a clever writer might have made a great deal out of the novelties, adventures, and circumstances that attended the progress of the

army.

THE AMENITIES OF LITERATURE.This work with a very odd title, is from the pen of the veteran Mr. D'Israeli, who has been before the public as a writer for nearly fifty years. It is a collection of literary gossip, partaking too much of the old school, and telling us what every modern schoolboy knows. But all criticism is disarmed when we are told that the amiable author has lost his sight; and we are rejoiced to find that under this deprivation he can still find pleasure in literary pursuits, and enjoy the happiness of a green old age. We do not exactly agree with Mr. D'Israeli in what he says→

"Of sweetest Shakspeare, Fancy's child," but as the passage to which we allude, is short, our readers shall have an opportunity of judging

for themselves.

"The universal celebrity of Shakspeare is comparatively of recent origin: received, rejected, and revived, we must ascertain the alternate periods,

and we must look for the causes of the neglect as well as the poet. We may congratulate ourselves on the numerous escapes of our national bard from the oblivion of his dramatic brothers. The history and the works of Shakspeare, and perhaps the singularity of the poet's character in respect to his own writings, are some of the most startling paradoxes in literary history."

THE POETICAL WORKS OF ALEXANDER POPE. -One octavo volume, of no more than 200 pages, with an ample quantity of notes, and printed not only in good style but also on good paper, is on highest commendation, and, as it is within the our table. We must give this cheap edition our reach of every person's means, we doubt not its circulation will be extensive. We like the plan of these works, for they do more real good to the furtherance of universal knowledge, than a thousand of those expensive "meadow of margin" books, which only the rich can purchase, and the poor know only by name.

EXCURSION IN NORMANDY.

Edited from the

Journal of a recent Traveller. By F. Shoberl.We have here a work of very instructive and amusing character. Mr. Shoberl has done light literature good service by the publication of this Excursion, from which we shall quote the following anecdote, as a hint to disobedient and careless wives.

"One day, a sturdy peasant in the environs of Evreux was at work in the fields amidst storm and rain, and went home in the evening thoroughly tired and drenched to the skin. He was met at the house door by his loving friend, who had been at home all day. My dear,' said she, it has been raining so hard that I could not fetch water, and so I have not been able to make you any soup. As you are wet through, I shall be obliged to you to fetch me a couple of buckets of water; you will not get any wetter. The argument was striking, so the man took the buckets and fetched some water from the well, which was at a considerable distance. On

In our opinion, the works of the great poet of nature were always as far distant from the pool of oblivion as Mr. D'Israeli's are from the regions of immortality, but there really is no accounting for some people's taste. Dryden was rather out in his judgment when he said of Shakespeare," he is many times flat and insipid." We consider that he was one whom nature never could copy again-immortal, unapproachable in genius. We do not think the Amenities of Literature will at-reaching the house he found his wife comfortably tain any thing like popularity.

BIBLICAL RESEARCHES IN PALESTINE, MOUNT SINAI, AND ARABIA PETRA. By Dr. E. Robinson.-The Monkish legends and the gossip of the barbarous race of people who now inhabit the scenes of scriptural history, appear to have been received by Dr. Robinson with most amazing credulity. Travellers in strange lands are always allowed by courtesy to stretch the bow a little, but our observations upon a work like the one before us must be condemnatory, as it certainly cannot elucidate the scriptures; and in this age of unbelief, every good and honest man ought to avoid administering to infidelity.

DENDY'S PHILOSOPHY OF MYSTERY.-We have here a collection of most improbable stories. We

are informed that a weli-educated woman went to sleep, and in that sleep forgot all her acquired knowledge, and that she afterwards had periodical returns of complete ignorance and acquired learning, and was in every respect a double character. Between these old and new states, as the lady was wont to term them, she vacillated for four or five years,

seated by the fire; then, lifting one bucket after the other, he poured both over his kind and considerate partner. Now, wife,' said he, you are quite as wet as I am, so you may as well fetch water for yourself; you can't get any wetter.'"

The following Norman custom of avoiding be ing regularly married, though bad enough in itself, innovations and improvements on that subject-is certainly far more moral than some of our late

ex. gr.

"The beggar-lad seeks himself a lass of bis own caste, and merely asks her if she is willing to be his helpmate. If she consents, the business is settled, and they proceed to the solemn ceremony of marriage. A fowl, the produce of their fishery, is put into an earthen pot and boiled. As soon as this is done, the bridegroom takes up his stick and strikes the pot with it. The marriage is valid for as many years as there are pieces."

This is certainly an improvement on the notorious Mr. Owen's principles, and far less tending towards the degradation of human nature. One more extract, and we close our account of this interesting work.

THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF SOCIETY IN INDIA. By Mrs. Major Clemons.-This is but a small volume, but it is an amusing one. Mrs. 3. "Young Rose of the Valley," Ballad poetry Clemons penetrated even into the sacred pagodas, by Charles Jeffreys; music by J. Blewitt. Jefand was admitted to a sight of a portion of the cere-freys and Nelson, Soho-square. monies therein enacted. We have not space for long extracts, therefore we shall content ourselves with a short account of the amusements of the young Indian aristocracy.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.

THE THEATRES.

Theatricals begin to wear a more promising aspect as the fine weather decreases, out-door amusements not being well calculated to the present state of the atmosphere. Madame Vestris has commenced the career of

COVENT GARDEN,

with a degree of spirit, which, though it promises more than it has as yet performed, bids fair to carry her through the season prosperously. Besides reviving the old comedy of She Would and She Would not, a new one came out on Saturday the 26th, but too late for us to report upon. It is entitled, What will the World Say? and is by Mr.

Mark Lemon.

DRURY LANE.

have had no character at all;" but still not a note of music was forthcoming. Such a patient English audience we never saw before. Cries for music, however, now became vehement, but all cries were vain till about half-past eleven, when two gentlemen appeared in the orchestra, and one of them favoured the audience with the following speech:

"LADISH AND SHENTLEMANS,-Signor Venafra ish vara sorry that he ash been disappointed by Madame Cerito, who will not appear dish night."

was,

A loud cry from the boxes and the galleries, not appeared?" arrested the speaker's retiring asking the startling question, "Why the band had steps, but the only answer that could be elicited "Madam Čerito is vera ill, and will not come dish night." He then said something about the money being refunded, but the money-takers not having received orders to return that cash which had been so honestly obtained, declined to reimburse the sufferers without orders, and many, to our certain knowledge, put up with the loss of their admittance money rather than be subjected to impertinence. About midnight there might have been fifty people A person, luxuriating in the name of Signor on the platform, who, with those in the boxes, were Venafra, announced a Fancy Ball, which was to loud in their expressions of indignation, and Eliatake place at Drury Lane Theatre on the evening son was loudly called for, but in vain. Things of the 13th of September. The dancing was an- continued in this state for some time, when the nounced to begin at 10 o'clock, and the celebrated paid servants of the theatre began to extinguish the danseuse, Cerito, was to be the presiding Empress lights. This drew forth a burst of hisses, accomof the evening. So much for the promises of Sig-panied with cries of "shame! shame!" and a genenor Venafra. At ten o'clock the doors were how-ral fracas seemed to be on the eve of taking place, ever unopened, and about a quarter past that hour for cries of "throw down the flower-pots" became we were admitted, and took our places, among universal from the upper boxes and the gallery. A about a hundred more persons of proper footing rush at the same moment was made towards the in society, in the dress circle, to enjoy the merry orchestra, and one spirited individual actually scene that was expected to take place on the plat- usurped the sacred sticks belonging to the kettleform beneath us, and have a near view of the drums of Mons. Julian's band! It was at this graceful movements of Cerito in the dance. It time that the insolence of the management was certainly appeared very odd to us on our first manifested towards those who had been duped out entrance to find not even a single fiddle, much less of their money by fraudulent statements; for a a performer in the orchestra! But we determined posse of policemen were marched up the pit to wait patiently the result. About eleven o'clock arena, and actually had the impudence to seat one of the fugs of the establishment was sent for- themselves among the company with their hats on, ward to allay certain feelings of indignation be- as coolly as if they had been invited to assist at a ginning to awaken into existence: this fag, be it Rosemary Lane concert! How dared such an inknown, came not to offer anything like an apology sult be offered to a respectable audience, and how for Signor Venafra's want of faith, but to sprinkle dared Mr. Eliason lend himself to an adventurer, on the floor-cloth, spread in the centre of the plat- to get the English public to pay their money for form, some very pure spring water, from a bottle nothing? He knew that no danseuse would dewhich had formerly been filled with Eau de Co-grade her talents by dancing at Drury Lane with logne! This was scene the first. Then the overture of canes, boot-heels, and hisses began again, it having been interrupted by the entrance of this very important personage, who, having performed his part, retired from the gaze of the admiring audience! At this moment a solitary being, attired in the costume of a smuggler, and quite as dirty as if he had just returned from landing his contraband cargo, entered the arena, and being the first character that had appeared, was loudly applauded! Then came a few of "the peoplsh" from the neighbourhood of Houndsditch, with blue dress-coats, the skirts lined with white glazed cambric muslin, wearing mosaic broaches, and badly washed white Berlin gloves. Next followed some half-dozen ladies in character dresses, without which they would evidently, as Pope says,

|

the lowest class of females, and gentlemen dressed in their best for the occasion. A more impudent fraud we never heard of: Cerito's name being used on the occasion was like putting a person's name on a forged bill of exchange. Cerito herself, however, who actually did come to assist at this promised scene of splendour, was also most grossly insulted. She and her father were turned from the door by the serfs of the adventurers, who ought to be looked after by the Mendicity Society. It is time that these persons were stopped in their career: honest Englishmen are denied even their right to try to gain a livelihood, while a foreigner is allowed not only to insult, but to pick the pockets of the public with impunity. Of the audience we must say that, in our opinion, they were not half bold enough; nay, terrible cowards.