163-Domestic Quarrels. G. R.-Than these, nothing can be more disagreeable; and, if between man and wife, their hateful example extends to all the family. Two things well considered would prevent many of them. First, to have it well ascertained whether we are disputing about terms rather than things: and, secondly, to examine whether that on which we differ is worth contending about.

164-Fotheringay Castle. C. M.-It was in Northamptonshire, and was built about the beginning of the fifteenth century. Richard III. was born in it; but its chief celebrity arose from the circumstance of Mary Queen of Scots, whose death is an indelible stain upon the reign of Elizabeth, having been beheaded in it after her long cruel previous captivity. It was ordered to be demolished by her chicken-hearted son James I. of England.

165-Faults. E. A.-As there are some faults that have been termed faults on the right side, so there are some errors that might be denominated errors on the safe side. Thus we seldom regret having been too mild, too cautious, or too humble; but we often repent having been too violent, too precipitate, or too proud. Now, we would recommend you, in a friendly way, to examine whether the faults of which you complain do not in some measure lie on your own side.

166-Genteel People. P. C.-You will, no doubt, have heard of the young lady who allowed her mother to do the ironing for fear of spoiling her own hands, and of the young gentleman who was ashamed to be seen walking with his own father. Well, these are the very sort of persons who are treated with the merited contempt of all sensible people, and if you wish to avoid their fate, you will act upon the scriptural advice and "honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

167-Green Tea. P. A.-Give it up. Your constitution is not the only one upon which strong green tea produces severe effects. On all nervous temperaments it gives rise to tremour. anxiety, sleeplessness, and most distressing feelings. On others, however, none of these symptoms are manifested. Part of the ill effects, sometimes, ascribed to tea, may be owing to the use of so much aqueous liquid, to the temperature of the liquid, to milk or sugar used with it, or to the action of the tannin on the digestive liquid. But independently of these, tea posseses a specific and marked influence over the functions of the brain, not referrable to any of the functions alluded to.

168-John O'Groat's House. D. F. - Yes, there was really and truly a person of the name who is said to have built an ancient house forinerly situated at Duncan's Bay Head, that being the most northerly point in Great Britain. He and his brothers, originally from Holland, settled here about 1489. The house was of an octagon shape, being one room, with eight windows and eight doors, to admit eight members of the family, the heads of different branches of it, to prevent their quarrels for precedency at table, which on a previous occasion had nigh proved fatal. Each came in, by this contrivance, at his own door, and sat at an octagon table, at which, of course, there was no chief place or head.

169-Childhood's Tears. M. S.-There is sometimes a moral necessity for the correction of children notwithstanding the pain which a profusion of their tears will often give us. The great rule is, never to correct in anger, but with the firmness which is founded on the deliberations of reason. The sorrows of children, however, are exceedingly transient, and have often been the subject of poetical remark, but in no instance with more beauty than in the following simile by Sir Walter Scott:

"The tear down childhood's cheek that flows Is like the dew-drop on the rose;

When next the summer breeze comes by And waves the bush, the flower is dry." 170-Bleaching Siraw. S. C.-Straw is bleached by wetting it and putting it into a light box or barrel, with some sulphur thrown on hot coals in an iron pot placed on the bottom of it, so as to allow the straw to receive the free action of the sulphurous vapour. Two ounces of tar sulphur will bleach a pound of straw. The straw must be kept from the sides of the box, by laying it on strips of wood running across the box or cask. It should not be taken out of the sulphur box in less time than four hours. Old straw, leghorn, or palm-leaf hats or bonnets, may be whitened in this way, if they are thoroughly washed with a brush or sponge in soap-suds before smoking. Straw must always be wet when it is braided to prevent its breaking.

171 Humility. P. P. It is painful for us to dissent from the opinions of any of our young friends who correspond with us, but we are conscious that it is to the path of right which we invariably pursue, that we are indebted for the extensive confidence and friendship we possess; and the slightest deviation from it would be a sacrifice which a Family Friend could never make. nor a correspondent thereof ever wish or expect. In your case, then, we must unhesitatingly say that you are wrong, and counsel you never to hesitate to obey the orders of those who are placed in authority over you, always remembering that we must stoop to rise. True humility of mind is of such great value, that no sacrifice is too much to obtain it, and he who learns to obey is at the same time learning to command.

172-Knowledge of Men. R. F.-If you have formed an idea of the perfectability of your species, we doubt whether you have sufficiently mixed with the world to guarantee such a conclusion. We can assure you that the world abounds with fools who are too dull to be employed, as well as with knaves who are much too sharp. The compound character, however, is most common, and is that of which the world is made up; and as he who knows how to put proper words in proper places evinces the truest knowledge of books,-so he who knows how to put fit persons in fit stations evinces the truest knowledge of men. It was observed of Queen Elizabeth that she was weak herself, but chose wise counsellors; to which it was replied, that to choose wise counsellors, was, in a prince, the highest wisdom.

173-Smiles.

C. B. E.-Glum looks upon pretty features are certainly an ill association; but there is another error into which young girls often fall, and which consists in throwing an eternal simper upon their lips as unmeaning as it

We

is insincere. The cure of this fault is in some cases almost hopeless, bec use it is not committed unconsciously as a glum look mostly is. have seen the very prettiest girl at a party spoiled-utterly-yea, intolerably spoiled by this constant smile. It should always be remembered that a smile to have an agreeable effect, must be the natural consequence of a kind social feeling, and it must be followed by muscular repose in the features after the occasion for it is over. It is these alternations which pass over the human countenance, like the lights and shadows on a summer field that gives it interest and beauty. 174-Looking-glasses. J. W.-The fault may be in the glass, for it appears to us somewhat unnatural that your countenance should undergo such a peculiar cameleon-like metamorphosis under the circumstances described. You will not dispute the fact that ladies are proverbially fond of looking-glasses. This being the case they should all know that the beauty and truth of their reflected images very much depend upon the quality and colour of the glass itself, which are easily detected by holding white paper edgeways to the glass; and just so much as the reflected paper varies in colour from the paper applied, in the same proportion are their complexions apparently tinged or blackened by it. Thus many persons are continually imagining they look ill, and perhaps from this circumstance really become so, from the habit of using a glass that thus unconsciously to themselves, disfigures them.

175-The Morning Toilet. G. A.-The correction of which you speak is severe, and if a little modified might be equally effective. Yet when persons boast how few minutes they require to make their morning toilet, they little think what an unfavourable inference may be drawn from it with regard to their cleanliness. It is not possible for persons to wash themselves thoroughly, and attend properly to their hair, teeth, and nails, and put on the simplest dress with neatness in less than half an hour. Most females indeed will need an hour. There is no merit in making a short and hasty toilet in the morning. An hour is not too devote to you

to dress a second or a third time in the course of the day, the less time you give to this the better. Those who spend an hour on their persons in the morning, can dress for a ball in half or a quarter of that time; whereas those who take but ten minutes to dress before breakfast, often waste two or three hours over the evening toilet, doing, then, as an extra affair, what ought to be done, as a matter of course, every day..

176 Honourable Ancestry. S. C.-To be descended from an honourable stock of ancestry is nothing in favour of a person now a-days, if his own conduct is such as belies that of his ancestors. There is more or less a venerative sentiment in the mind of every man, and in proportion to its development, and the turn it takes, the respective feeling will be manifested; hence we may honour the man's ancestry, but we could not honour himself without throwing a moral blind over our intellectual faculties ; still we might have a feeling of respect for him, on account of his ancestors, but this feeling would arise only from the excess of the venerative faculty over the rational or intellectual faculties. Mrs. Porter, who became the wife of Dr. Johnson, is an instance of being uninfluenced by

veneration for the dignity of ancestry. When the box Tanthe wagoset enn descent, hind no money, and had had an urcle hanged. She replied that these circumstances need form no obstacle to their union, for that she had no more money than himself, and although she did not recollect that any of her relatives had been hung, she was sure, she had a score or two that deserved hanging,

he informed her that he was of

177-Domestic Manners and Faustic manD. We agree with you that the domestic manners and vulgarities of some of the male portion of our youth are frequently very far from claiming our admiration, although they often excite our laughter by their ludicrous sprightliness and humour. The expression of, like a brick," is an absurdity, although it has a meaning when taken in conjunction with the appearance and expression of its utterer, who is usually a sort of made-up gentleman that walks in a sphere between the vulgar and the genteel. All serene," is poetically expressive, and is, we be lieve, so far as we are initiated into this species of nomenclature, intended to convey a meaning, similar to all's well, physically speaking, whilst it, also, has a relation to the present state of the moral and mental feelings and faculties." Over the left," signifies that one will not, cannot, or did not, do, what was asserted to be done, whilst, "he hooked it," means, he ran away, mostly, in a dishonourable sense. Such metaphors as these take their rise, generally, by accident, and become a part of the "unwashed" vernacular, which we hope is never heard amongst the readers of the Family Friend. After all, however, these are only words of vulgar, not evil, import; but what will we say of those actions which speak stronger than even words, and convey a meaning in which there is a depth of broad and low-bred sarcasm and contempt, which language itself could not impart. These are to be often seen, in winking with the eyes, pushing out the tongue, twisting the mouth, or putting the fore finger, in the form of a half-bent hook, up to the side of the nose, when the performers are, what they call, taking their fun off a person, or, what is worse. probably deceiving him. These are all as broad vulgarities as can be met with, but must not be taken as forming a portion of our domestic manners, being only oddities, which arise from mental obliqueness induced upon the characters by low associations and defective education. We give an illustration of another action, which is very

178-Onions. M. S.-Onions possess more nourishment, than, perhaps, any other vegetable. A Highlander, with a few raw onions in his pocket, and a crust of bread, or a bit of cake, can work or travel to an almost incredible extent for two or three days together. In France, the soup de l'onion is now universally in use after all violent exertions.

179-Incubation of Insects. R. L.-It is im-1 possible to say the variation is so great. It ranges from two to many millions per annum, Dr. Dwight published a case of an egg producing an insect eighty years after it must have been laid. He thinks the power of vivification may endure an indefinite period, and mentions that mustard-seed buried two hundred years grew and flourished. He ascribes to this the periodical intervals of insects.

180-Blue Stocking. A. C.-The term blue stocking applied to literary ladies, was conferred on a society which was called the Blue Stocking Club, in which females were admitted; and so called owing to a Mr. Benjamin Stillingfleet, one of its acting members, wearing blue stockings. We have seen an account, however, that ascribes the origin of the term to a beautiful lady of eminence who was a member of the club, but we believe the above is the correct origin.

181-The Fine Arts. P. C.-Yes, but perhaps the grandest attempt ever made to raise the arts to a pinnacle of perfection was Napoleon's project to assemble all the scattered master-pieces of painting and sculpture in one collection. This he actually effected, and for ten or twelve years the Napoleon Museum in the Louvre, at Paris, was the wonder and admiration of the world. There might be seen and studied every famous production of every school, under the liberal direction of that enthusiast in the arts, Denon.

182-Reading in Bed. G.S.-We never knew much good, if any, come out of such a habit. In our opinion it is not only absurd, but baneful, in the highest degree dangerous, and should be strictly prohibited. What, although Sheridan did it. That mad and dissipated statesman did many things which no other person would do who did not wish to lose all modern character for common sense or discretion. There is a time for everything, and so there ought to be a place for everything, and the bed is not the proper one for reading, but for sleeping.

183-Palms. C. A.-Paims are the most useful productions of Ceylon. First the cocoa-nut, in universal use for food, drink, and the arts of life. The Palmyra, nearly as valuable. The areca catechu, whose nuts, the betel and the chunan, are the universal luxury of Asiatics. A tree produces from 500 to 1,000 nuts. The sago palm, whose pith, dried and granulated, is in use through Europe, is also prolific in sugar. The talipot is famous for its large leaves, (one of which shelters fifteen or twenty men,) and its fruit. The jack produces fruit as large as a man's body, filled with delicious pulp, and with seeds as large as chesnuts, of which many dishes are made. A Cingalese family live at ease on the produce of a dozen cocoa-nuts and three or four jack-trees.

184-The Last Word. D. O.--If you consider having the last word in your case a victory, we as a Family Friend seriously advise you for the future to resign it and suffer the defeat. Hus

band and wife should no more fight to get it than they would struggle for the possession of a lighted bomb-shell. Married people should study each other's weak points, as skaters look out for the weak points of the ice, in order to avoid them. Ladies who marry for love should remember that the union of angels with women has been forbidden since the flood. The wife is the sun of the social system. Unless she attracts, there is nothing to keep heavy bodies like husbands from flying into space. The wife, who should properly discharge her duties, must never have a soul above trifles. Don't trust too much to good temper when you get into an argument. Sugar is the substance most universally diffused through all natural products. Take you a hint from this provision of Nature.

185-Early Fame. There are numerous instances of honourable fame having been acquired early, and that through difficulties which have rather a tendency to inspire us with energy to work on, than to depress us and incline us to give up. Sir Thomas Wyatt, and Lord Surrey, the great refiners of our language, and the first English poets after Chaucer, whose works can be said still to survive, died, the former at the age of thirty-eight, and the latter on the scaffold,the last victim of the despotism of Henry VIII.,

at that of thirty-one. Sir Philip Sydney fell at the battle of Zutphen, in his thirty-second year. Francis Beaumont, the dramatic poet, died in his thirtieth year. Otway, at thirty-four. Collins, at thirty-six. Burns, at thirty-seven; and Byron, at thirty-six. Mozart, at thirty-five; and Raphael, at thirty-seven. In short many of the most celebrated names have been immortalized before their possessors had reached the fulness of their manhood; which shows that it is not so much a long life that is wanted to achieve greatness, as the well-employed time which nature during the present allots us.

186-Good Manners. B. S.-If your ambition is to be a well-bred lady, you must carry your good manners everywhere with you. These are not things that can be laid aside and put on at pleasure True politeness is uniform disinterestedness in trifles, accompanied by the calm selfpossession which belongs to a noble simplicity of purpose; and this must be the effect of a Christian spirit running through all you think, say, or do; and unless you cultivate and exercise it upon all occasions and towards all persons, it will never become a part of yourself. When you try to assume it for some special purpose, it will sit awkwardly upon you and often fail you at your greatest need. If you are unpolite to your washerwoman, you are in great danger of being so to the very lady whose good wishes you are trying to propitiate. Rude manners are so insinuating that they will steal upon you unawares without their opposite has become a habit. The charm which true Christian politeness sheds over a person though not easily described, is felt by all hearts and invariably responded to by the best feelings of your nature.

187-The Wren. E. L. S.-Not only its attachableness, but its love of the society of man, ought to make it an object of his care. Indeed, it has long been the custom in many parts of the country to fix a small box at the end of a long pole in gardens about houses as a place for it to build in. In these boxes wrens build their

191-Friendly Visits. I. S.-The remedy is in many instances almost irremediable, such visits not being subject to the stringent rules of etiquette. The best way is to take a decided course. If your intimates are not to be told at the door, that you are engaged, but enter your apartments at all times, they should learn from yourself, that there are days when you are too busy to see any one.

192-The Habit of Calculating. D. F.-Acquire the habit of calculating for yourself the amount you are to pay, instead of blindly paying whatever you are told is the sum due. Always look at the change you receive, and satisfy yourself that it is right, before you put it into your purse. If two persons agree in their calculations, it is most likely they are correct, but without this check you may pay more or less than you owe; for vendors in shops often make blunders; and a shilling given away in a mistake may deprive you of the pleasure of giving it in charity.

193-Colour of Blood. A. E.-No; for although the colour of redness is universally associated with the idea of blood, yet redness of colour is not essential to blood. There are many animals with true, yet without red blood; and there is no animal in which the blood is red in all the parts of its body. The blood of the insect is transparent; that of the reptile is of a yellowish colour; that of the fish in the greater part of its body is colourless. Even the red blood of the human body is not equally red in every part of it, there being two distinct systems of blood-vessels, distinguished from each other by carrying

blood of different colours.

194-The Fame of Authors. R. R.-The fame of most writers is very ephemeral, chiefly owing to their choice of subjects of the day or of the age or nation. English literature does not preserve above eight or ten authors before the age of Shakspere; not above twenty from Shakspere to Addison, and scarcely fifty from the time of Addison to the year 1840. Since the days of Elizabeth one or two books or pamphlets per day have been printed; but the subjects were obsolete theology, forgotten politics, or superseded philosophy, the majority in bad method or bad taste. It has been the same in France, Germany, Italy, and Holland, and doubtless was the same among the ancients, though we so often lament the loss of their works.

195-Duty of Elder Sisters. A. M. It is the duty of elder sisters to take a lively interest in the education of the younger children, and to use all the advantages which they have received, for the benefit of those that are coming forward in the same line. They should aid their parents in the choice of schools, and ascertain what is actually learned at them. Where circumstances render it necessary that the elder children should assist in teaching the younger ones, it should be done cheerfully; not as a duty, merely, but as a useful discipline. Some writers upon education consider teaching others as the most effectual way of learning one's-self. When Madame de Genlis described what she considered as a perfect system of education, she represented her models as taking younger children to teach, as a part of their own instruction. It has been said that we are never sure that we know a thing thoroughly, until we have taught it to another.

196-Dining-Room Air. G. A.-Yes, the air of the dining-room becomes sensibly impure by the steams of food, and that, too, in proportion to the quality and quantity that is put upon the table. Dr. Willick says, that crowds of people and great quantities of provisions, dressed with the richest spices of the East and West, contribute to saturate the air with the most heterogeneous particles, which must render the atmosphere very unfit for persons in a delicate state. Strictly speaking we ought not to sit in the room where we dine or take victuals until it be aired again. Those who can afford this luxury, should be careful not to stay for hours together over their bottle in the dining-room. The bad effects of such contaminated air, are not perceived by the persons continuing their libations after dinner, but are sensibly felt by any one coming in fresh from the air. This circumstance merits particular notice in this country, where it is with many a practice to sit long after dinner.

197-Divisibility of Matter. U. L.-It is scarcely credible, yet a slip of ivory, of an inch in length, may be divided into a hundred equal parts, each of which is distinctly visible, but by the application of a very fine screw, 5,000 equidistant lines, in the space of a quarter of an inch, can be traced on a surface of steel, or glass, with the fine point of a diamond, producing delicate and varied colours, thereby proving that the beautiful hues of mother-of-pearl, peacock pearl, and the less delicate appearance of what are termed watered fabrics, are the effect of irre

gularity of surface, not, as might be supposed in the case of mother-of-pearl and peacock pearl, the result of variety of substance. A single pound of cotton has been spun into a thread seventy-six miles in length, and the same quantity of wool has been extended into a thread of ninety-five miles, the diameters of those threads being only the 350th and 400th parts of an inch.

198-The Pea. U. M-The native country of the common pea is not known. France has been named with some probability, or it may have been brought to that country from Egypt or Syria. Neither do we know the exact period at which the common pea was first cultivated here, but it was most probably in the reign of Henry VIII., as Tusser names it as a dainty, and says it is "good for the purse and the pot.' Peas were still rare in the early part of Elizabeth's reign, when Fuller observes they were seldom seen, except those which were brought from Holland, which, were dainties for ladies"; but in the latter part of the same reign gardening made rapid progress in this country, and Gerard describes the runcival, the garden and field peas, the tufted or Scottish, the peas without skin in the pods, the wild pea, and the everlasting pea.

199-Autumn. P. M.-The idea is not at all original, although it may have sprung up as such in your mind, for in all minds there is a tendency to coincidence when treating of the same or similar subjects. Thus Thomson finds an emblem of life in the rolling year, and Shakspere in the following lines, makes Autumn the mournful type of human existence:

"That time of year thou may'st in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,