twelve before he withdrew from an occupation in which his heart was engaged; this, too, when he had to rise at four the next morning, walk to Cambridge (nearly four miles distant) to his work, and return in the evening. If his constitution had not been unusually strong, it must have sunk under these extraordinary exertions—a fate more frequent than is generally supposed among the industrious par. But he seems to have possessed an unweariable frame of body, as well as an invincible spirit. When the building was one story high, and the beams were to be laid on, the carpenter discovered that the timber from the old cottage would with only 14s. in his pocket. During that time his wife had four children, and buried as many more. The money which it cost him was about 50L, the whole of which was saved from the earnings of daily labour. The house and garden occupy about twenty poles of ground; and the garden is as creditable as the house to the industry and good sense of the owner; one of the fences was made of sweetbriar and roses mixed with woodbine, another of dwarf plum-trees, and against the back of the house he had planted a vine, a nectarine, and a peach-tree.' MINATION PAPER. [The following jeu-d' Esprit is written with perfect goodhumour, and we have no doubt will excite nothing but corresponding good-humour even in the persons against whom it is principally levelled. Every Cambridge man, who has undergone the ordeal of an examination for an university scholarship, will, we think, find amusement in reading this Parody of the usual style of the Papers of Questions.Times.] not serve for so large a place. PARODY OF A CAMBRIDGE EXAThis was a severe disappointment nothing, however, discouraged him; he covered it over with a few loads of haum, and immediately began a small place in the same manner, at the end, working at this with such perseverance that he got his family in within four months after the foundations were laid. This great object being accomplished, he went on leisurely with the rest as he could save money for what was wanting after five years he raised the second story, and in ten it was tiled and coated; the inside was not completed when Mr. Plumtre communicated the story to the society, but there was house room for himself and his family, and another apartment was let for a guinea a year. In this manner,' says that gentleman, Joseph Austin, with singular industry and economy, in the course of ten years built himself a house, which he began UTOPIA UNIVERSITY, Undecember 9657. 1. Give a comparative sketch of the principal English Theatres, with the dates of their erection, and the names of the most eminent Candle-snuffers at each. What were the Stage-boxes? What were the Offices of Promp ter ter-Ballet-master-and Sceneshifter? In what part of the Theatre was the one-shilling Gallery? Distinguish accurately between Operas and Puppet-shews. 2. Where was Downing-street? Who was Prime Minister when Crib defeated Molineux-and where did the battle take place? Explain the terms milling-fibbing-cross-buttock-neck and crop-bang up-and-prime. 3. Give the dates of all the Parliaments from their first institution to the period of the hard frost on the Thames. In what month of what year was Mr. Abbot elected Speaker? Why was he called "the little man in the wig ?" When the Speaker was out of the chair, where was the mace put? 4. Enumerate the principal houses of call in and about London, marking those of the Tailors, Bricklayers, and Shoemakers, and stating from what Brewery each house was supplied with Brown Stout Who was the tutelary Saint of the Shoemakers? At what time was his feast celebrated? Who was Saint Swithin? Do you remember any remarkable English proverb respecting him? 5. Give a ground plan of Gilead House. Mention the leading topics of the Guide to Health, with some account of the Anti-Impetigines-Daffy's Elixir-Blaine's Distemper Powders Ching's Worm Lozenges-and Hooper's Female Pills. 6. Give characters of Wat Tyler, Jack Cade, and Sir Francis Burdett. Did the latter return from the Tower by water or land? On what occasion did Mr. Lethbridge's "hair stand on ind?" VOL. LVIII. Correct the solecism, and give the reason of your alteration. 7. Enumerate the roads on which double toll was taken on Sundays. Did this custom extend to Christmas Day and Good Friday? Who was toll-taker at Tyburn, when Mrs. Brownrigg was executed ? 8. Distinguish accurately between Sculls and Oars-Boat and Punt-Jack-ass and Donkey— Gauger, Exciseman, and Supervisor Pantaloons, Trowsers, Gaiters, and Over-alls-At what place of education were any of these forbidden ? Which? and Why? What is known of the character and history of Dicky Gossip? DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. HISTORY.-The district of Columbia was originally inhabited by a tribe of Indians called the Manahoacs, who, who according to Smith, were at constant enmity with the Powhatans of Virginia. Their history is but imperfectly known. War, the small-pox, and the introduction of spirituous liquors, thinned the population rapidly. In 1669 a census was taken; and it was found that in sixty-two years onethird of their former numbers was wanting. They are said to have migrated westwardly, and to have become blended with the Tuscaroras. This district was ceded by Virginia and Maryland in 1794, and became the permanent seat of the general government in 1800. At the time of its cession, the principal proprietors on the eastern side of the Potomac were D. Carrol, N. Young, and D. Burns, who cultivated corn, tobacco, and wheat, where the city now stands. The selection of this site enriched those proprietors, particularly the former, who, however, from a mistaken policy, has withered the growth of that section of the city in which most of his property lies. The heir of the latter, Mr. Von Ness, pursued a different system, and by disposing of his ground on moderate terms, has contributed to the rapid improvement of his section of the metropolis, and to the consequent increase of value in property. TOPOGRAPHY. TOPOGRAPHY. This district is 10 miles square, and includes within its limits the city of Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown; its diagonal lines are north and south, east and west. The southern angle is at Fort Columbus, at the mouth of Hunting Creek, on the left bank of the Potomac. From this the lines run at an angle of 45 degrees to the distance of 10 miles. The district is composed of portions of Virginia and Maryland on the east and west side of the Potomac, a grand and beautiful river, which rises in the Allegany Mountains, and after a meandering course of near 400 miles, empties itself into the Chesapeake Bay. The Potomac is navigable to vessels of considerable burden as high as George-town; and by means of locks which have been erected at the great and little falls, a navigation is afforded to boats of no inferior magnitude, for 100 miles nearer its source. There are several fisheries on the Potomac very productive and valuable, not only to the proprietors, but to the inhabitants, who are thus easily and cheaply furnished with the means of subsistence during the remainder of the year. Shad are sold at the different landings for three dollars per hundred, and herrings at fifty cents per thousand. The following is a list of the principal fish caught at these fisheries:-viz. shad, herrings, sturgeon, rock, gar, carp, pike, six varieties of the perch, mullett, and cat-fish. The soil is various-on the banks of the Eastern Branch and Potomac there is a deep and rich alluvium, which contains "fragments of primitive mountains, pyrites, gravel and sand, shells, and the remains of vegetable substances." Mr. Goden says, that Rock Creek, which divides Georgetown from the city, separates the primitive from the alluvian soil. Though the soil in parts of the district is steril, it is capable of being highly improved by the application of plaster or any other species of compost, and might, from its convenience to an excellent market, be made, by enterprising and industrious agriculturalists, eminently productive and fertile. Its natural productions are such as are common to the adjacent states. There is, convenient to it, an extensive quarry of free-stone on the Acquia Creek, and another of beautiful marble on the Seneca, which has recently been discovered. CLIMATE, &C.-The climate of the district is liable to frequent and sudden changes-in summer excessively hot, and in winter very cold; but it does not appear to be more pregnant with diseases than other portions of the United States. The healthy appearance and longevity of the inhabitants indicate its salubrity; and, indeed, when we consider the flowing nature of its surface, the free admission of pure and wholesome air, and the excellence of its water, in which it stands unrivalled in the United States, we cannot but believe it must be healthy.— Mr. Blodget estimated the annual deaths in Washington at one of 48 to 50 at New York, one of 44 to 50; Baltimore, one of 42 to 49; and in Charleston, one of 35 to 40, which establishes the 2 R2 superior superior healthiness of Washington to those cities. In European cities, the annual deaths are, one to 28, making a vast difference in favour of Washington. POPULATION. The population of the district of Columbia, at the last census (1810,) amounted to 24,023-now, in all probability, 30,000. The city contained 8,208, Georgetown 4,948, and Alexandria 7,227; Washington county 2,315, and Alexandria county 1,325 inhabitants. COMMERCE. Its commercial importance has, perhaps, never been duly appreciated. From its central situation, surrounded by a rich, fertile, and flourishing country, commanding the most extensive internal resources, it must soon become one of the richest commercial territories in the United States. In 1813, it exported, in domestic productions and manufactures, to the amount of 1,387,000 dollars; thus surpassing in exports alone, both Connecticut and Vermont; and in 1803 it paid in duties on imports 143,000 dollars. Its rising prosperity is marked and perceptible; and though it has been opposed by all the violence of prejudice, and all the obstacles of conflicting interests, it has risen with great rapidity, and promises to be of vast political and commercial importance to the United States. Its natural advantages are calculated to promote that object. Situated on the great postroad from the northern to the southern extremities of the United States, and almost equi-distant from the Atlantic on the one side and the Ohio on the other, which yield it every facility of naviga tion, and open to it all the trade of the west, it is impossible that it can avoid becoming the most wealthy and eligible territory in the Union. MANUFACTURES.--Its manufactures are in a flourishing condition, and are daily increasing in variety and capital. CONSTITUTION AND LAWS.— By the constitution of the United States the national legislature have the power to exercise exclusive legislation over this territory, and to enact such laws in relation to it, as may be deemed necessary and proper. Whether Government could assume this right, consistently with the nature and principles of our political institutions, and thus exclude a large population from the privileges of freemen, we shall not now pause to examine. It is, however, certain, we are for many years destined to be deprived of the right of suffrage; a privilege so much and so highly prized by our countrymen. The laws of Virginia and Maryland, prior to the year 1800, are still in force in the district, excepting such as have been repealed or modified by the national legislature, who have exclusive jurisdiction. over it. Congress have, however, lately passed a law authorizing the Judges of the Circuit Court, in conjunction with the Attorney General of the United States, to form a code of laws for its government, which we trust will obviate all those difficulties hitherto experienced from the various and conflicting statutes of the adjacent States, and from the inconvenient organization of the District Courts. WASHINGTON |