more words than are necessary about their business. The trading people, where there is no law to restrain them, will sometimes extort; but in other cases they are the plainest and best dealers in the world. Those who live upon their means in great cities, resemble the merchants and tradesmen in the modesty of their dress, and their frugal way of living. Among the gentry, or nobility, though they value themselves on their rank, order and frugality in their expenses is not less remarkable; and the furniture of their houses is more regarded by them than keeping great tables and a fine equipage. In Holland, it is always a general rule for a person to spend less than his annual income; on the other hand, living up to it will bring as much discredit upon him as extravagance, prodigality, and even fraud, in other countries. The following anecdote is said to be illustrative of the supposition that the Dutch are generally plodding upon the means of getting money. Two English gentlemen being in company with a Dutchman, one of the former, not understanding the language, desired his friend to apologize to the Hollander for not being able to enjoy the pleasure of his company. The Dutch man heard the translation with great composure, and then took his pipe from his mouth, and said, it was a consolation for the accident of not understanding one another, since,' adds he, having no connexions or dealings in trade together,our conversing could not possibly answer any useful purpose'." The lower part of the houses in Holland are lined with white Dutch tiles, and their kitchen furniture, consisting of copper, pewter, and iron, are kept exceedingly bright. Their beds and tables are covered with the finest linen, their rooms adorned with pictures, and their yards and gardens with flowers. Their rooms, in winter, are warmed with stoves placed either underneath or round the apartments. With respect to diet, all ranks are said to be addicted to butter; and the inferior classes seldom take a journey without a butter-box in their pocket. The diversions of the Hollanders are bowls, billiards, chess, and tennis. Shooting wild ducks and geese in winter, and angling in summer, make another part of their pastime. In the most rigorous seasons of the year, sledges and skates form a great diversion. In summer even common labourers indulge themselves in the tea-gardens; and on a holiday, or at a fair time in the villages, may be seen peasants sitting in circles round benches, to which children are dancing to the scraping of a French fiddler. In some of the villages in North Holland, the insides of the houses are richly decorated; but the principal apartments, as with us, are often kept for show, while the owners live in kitchens and garrets. The furniture in one particular chamber is composed of silken ornaments, which by ancient prescription is bequeathed from father to son, and is preserved as an offering to Hymen. To every house in North Holland there is a door elevated nearly three feet above the level of the ground, and never opened but on two occasions. When any of the family marries,the bride and the bridegroom enter the house by this door; and when either of the parties die, the corpse is carried out by the same passage: immediately after which it is fastened up, never more to turn on its hinges again till some new event of a similar nature demands its services. To the credit of the Hollanders it has been observed, they will never, either in their societies or in their business, employ their time for a moment in gratifying malice or indulging envy; but they will seldom step one inch out of their way, or surrender one moment of their time, to save those they do not know A Dutchman from any inconvenience. throwing cheeses into a warehouse, or drawing iron along a pathway, will not stop while a lady, or an inferior person, passes, unless he sees somebody inclined to protect them; a warehouseman trundling a cask-a woman, throwing water upon her windows, will leave it entirely to the passengers to take care of their limbs or their clothes. As a Dutchman is often a miller, a merchant, a waterman, or a sailor, he always wishes to know which way the wind blows: it is to the national economy to which we may attribute the beauty and utility of their public works, that multiplicity of bridges and causeways, which very sensibly alleviate the burdens necessarily imposed by the govern ment. As to the phlegmatic character of the Dutch, nothing can afford strangers a more lively picture of it than the coolness and silence with which even the sailors manœuvre. You may see them working their ships up to a shore or a quay, amidst the most provoking obstacles and incumbrances, without uttering a syllable! Though not so strong as that of the Swiss, the attachment of the Dutch to their own The French country is very remarkable. abandon the flowery banks of the Seine or the Loire to settle on those of the Spree or the Neva; not so the Hollander. He is never so happy as when he is near his ships and his canals; and when obliged to leave his country, he takes with him his habitudes; and it is thus that Batavia makes him forget the immense distance between him and the Texel. With respect to food, bread is not in Holland, as in France, the principal article; a whole family, here, do not consume more bread than some individuals in other countries; meal and pulse of all sorts are here the principal substances; as for potatoes, since the late war, they have been grown upon the downs in various parts of Holland. The Dutch, as it is said, have never adopted the English custom of eating their meat half dressed; on the contrary, they make a point of preparing it so as to assist mastication and digestion. Among the salt provisions which the Dutch prefer, the hams of Guelderland are well known. They also eat a great number of geese and wild ducks; and yet fish forms the principal part of the nourishment of some families, particularly in Summer, and this, with potatoes and butter, constitutes nearly the whole of the food of some of the poorer classes. Beer is the principal drink; but since the introduction of tea and coffee, the consumption of it has decreased considerably, Spirituous liquors, particularly brandy and gin, are in great request; and this practice originates in a great measure from the bumidity of the climate. The Dutch, it is said, adopted the use of tea from the same motives as the Chinese, namely, the consciousness of the unwholesome quality of their water. The drinking of tea in Holland, however, is generally confined to the morning: coffee is appropriated to their afternoons. Sage-tea and milk-chocolate, the latter made very weak, are very much in use as substitutes for tea and coffee. With respect to drinking healths at meals, and out of the same vessel, this custom has long been banished: as for tobacco, as there are few males who do not use it, so in some districts it is commonly used by the women. The seamen and fishermen chew it almost to a man; and in great towns, it is as common for men to invite each other to smoaking parties, as it is for women elsewhere to make parties at tea. In every thing that relates to domestic economy, the Dutch women may serve as examples to all from their domestic habits; some of these have obtained the epithet of Blockster. Their whole enjoyment is said to concentre in the interior of their houses. Celibacy also is less frequent in Holland than in any other country; but the marriage ceremonies vary considerably in different towns and even in different villages. After the publication of the banns, the families of the parties begin to visit each other, and the party betrothed makes them presents of bottles of spiced wine, or hypocras; these are humourously called tears. When the marriage day arrives, the young people strew the paths of the new-married couple with flowers. The Dutch poets almost always distinguish themselves on these occasions; and it is customary for busbands, when in easy circumstances, to collect and print these congratulatory verses with handsome vignettes, &c. Another festival generally takes place at the expiration of the first twenty-five years, which is repeated at the expiration of the same period a second time. Births in Holland are generally announced in the newspapers; but local customs vary much in this respect: for at Haerlem and Enkhuysen, when a woman is confined, a little plate covered with a piece of rose-coloured silk decorated with lace is attached to the door; and during this period no creditor, nor even an officer of justice is permitted to interrupt the husband on any account whatever. For theatrical amusements, there are very few places where any performances of this kind are exhibited regularly all the year round; these are confined to Amsterdam and the Hague. Leyden has a theatre, but it is only played in now and then. At Rotterdam, also, on account of some religious scru ple, no theatre has ever been suffered to be opened within the walls: of course, the one there is without the gates. Several places, on account of these prohibitions, have nevertheless their private companies or dramatic amateurs, as a winter amusement. Skating is undoubtedly carried to greater perfection than in any other part of the world. Every female in the country can skate. Thirty per sons at a time, holding hands, often dart by you on the ice with the quickness of light. ning. Others sit in a sledge, which is pushed along the ice by a skater. Besides these, there are vessels fifteen feet long, their bottoms covered with broad plates of iron; their course is accelerated by the assistance of masts and sails. The velocity of their progress is certainly inconceivable to a stranger, being seldom less than 12 miles an hour. In summer time sailing matches are not unfrequent. In cases of death, public messengers clothed in black, with crape on their hats, are sent to inform the relatives and friends of the deceased. One of these always attends the funeral as a master of the ceremonies. As to interments, as the inconvenience of burying in churches has been generally acknowledg ed, the practice of interring the dead out of town has been adopted in Holland, as well as in many other parts of the continent. Though all religions, including Jews and Catholics, are known to have been equally tolerated in Holland for a considerable time past, another sect is described as having lately sprung up under M. Canzions, the object of which is to unite all. Hence it is not un common to see collected in their temple, Calvinists, Lutherans, Anabaptists, &c. This society admits of no predominating or exclu sive system. They have no priests, but only two speakers, who stand near the altar to deliver their discourses. Their service is divided into that of worship and instruction. The first has for its object the demonstration of the greatness of God, and the admirable order of nature. They assemble for this purpose every Sunday evening. The worship, which is confined to instruction, takes place once a fortnight, on a Tuesday evening, when the doctrines of revealed religion are discussed. Six times in a year they assemble to receive the sacrament; but during prayer, and the pronunciation of the blessing, every per son is prostrate. [European Magazine. REMARKABLE PREDICTIONS RESPECTING PIUS VII. The present Pope has often related to his friends the two following anecdotes relative to predictions of his elevation to the tiara: He was a Benedictine at St. Callisto, when his townsman and relative Braschi, afterwards Pius VI. filled the post of minister of Finance at Rome. He sometimes dined with him, and after dinner they generally went together to St. Peter's, where Braschi prayed at the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, for whom he testified peculiar veneration. One day, proceeding as usual to the cathedral, when they were near the bridge of St. Angelo, an old woman perceived them and fell upon her knees before them. Monsignor Braschi supposing that she was soliciting alms, sent a servant to give her a piece of money. The woman, however, refused the donation, declaring that she could not help falling on her knees from veneration and astonishment to see two Popes riding in one carriage." After the election of Pius VI. to the papal chair, Charamonte stood to view the ceremony of his elevation near an acquaintance, the Abbate Penacchia. The latter abruptly turned to him and said: "Take good notice how the Pope conducts himself on this occasion, as you will succeed him and have to go through the same ceremony." When this event actually took place the Abbate Penacchia was still living, and reminded his Holiness of his prediction. MAL DU PAYS, OR HOME SICKNESS OF THE SWISS. I know not, says Mr. Von Bonstetten, a more remarkable phenomenon than the disorder known in Switzerland by the name of Mal du pays. When I was in office at Gessenay, I became acquainted with a village schoolmaster, who was passionately fond of botany. The inhabitants of cities can scarcely form a conception of the happiness to be found in a simple life, where the desires never exceed the means of gratifying them. Faverod-this was the name of the schoolmaster-had no affections but what were engrossed by his wife, his only daughter, his dog, and the plants of his valley. His library consisted of an old botanical work, and Linneus and Haller were known to him but by name. Such was bis love of this science, that, to the great offence of the villagers, he had banished almost all the culinary vegetables from his garden to make room for Alpine plants. This garden was called by the country people The Latin Garden. This excellent man was fond of the solitude in which he lived among his plants. He would spend hours in the Alps in examining a plant, and admire with rapture all its peculiarities. He was acquainted with all those of his valley, and every Spring he beheld them return with the same feelings as he would have welcomed old friends. His dog was his guide; he apprized him in his rambles of the time for his meals, and sometimes of the approach of night. A decisive taste for any subject, be it what it will, is almost invariably productive of a certain elevation of mind. I was astonished at Faverod's relish for the beautiful. I made him acquainted with Linneus, Haller, and Dillenius. None but a botanist, and one who has lived in seclusion, can conceive the delight which their works imparted. Faverod had never quitted his mountains; he had never beheld the plain, nor even imagined that there was any other world than that in which he lived. Haller's work excit. ed in him the strongest desire to make himself acquainted with the flowers of the plains, and that genus of plants which inhabits morasses. I proposed to him to accompany me to Valleyres, and to explore the places where Haller resided, and which he frequently mentions in his works. This journey of about 60 miles was a circumnavigation of the globe, or rather, a transportation into the empyreal regions. We arrived about noon at ValleyWhat was Faverod's rapture on finding himself in this land of promise, where at every step new discoveries were to be made and new treasures exploded! res. At day-break the next morning he set out his researches. I expected him to dinner, but it was evening before he returned. I went to meet him, expecting to find him the happiest of men; but what was my astonishment to find him pale, dejected, and quite an altered creature! I intreated him to inform me what was the matter, and what accident had befallen him. He made no reply. I then requested him to step into my room, and discovered that it was the mal du pays (home sickness) which had produced this change. He was ashamed to confess his complaint. I fortunately guessed it, and directed him to return as soon as he pleased. These words infused new life into him. He set off immediately, and walked the whole night without stopping or taking refreshment. Robbers plundered him by the way, but this circumstance gave him little concern. He perceiv ed no diminution of his disorder till he arriv ed within sight of the mountains contiguous to his village. On reaching his own house it vanished entirely, like a dismal dream before the rays of the morning sun.-[New Monthly Lon. Mag. GERMANY. A letter from Breslau states that an innkeeper, named RICHTER, of the village of Royn, near Liegnitz, has lately excited an extraordinary sensation throughout all Silesia, and the neighbouring parts of Saxony, Brandenburg, and Bohemia. He is reported to cure, by magnetism alone, that is, by merely touching with his hands, all kinds of diseases not proceeding from defective organization. He is generally known by the name of the Miraculous Doctor, and is daily consulted by thousands. He is said to have cured a great number of deaf and blind, and persons who have been paralytic. From seven to ten carriages filled with patients have been in the habit of going to him every day from Breslau only. As his house, though very extensive, was incapable of holding all his visiters, he was obliged to treat his patients in the open air. At length the governor of Liegnitz sent a medical commission to Royn to make daily reports for several weeks on Ric ter's process, and the number of his cure and the result was a prohibition to continu his operations. He then repaired to Berlin and it is said that through the interference o Prince Blücher, and Lieut.-Gen. Hünerbein, 6. Charles Oudinot, (Duke of Reggio) born in 1765-a Counsellor of State and Privy Counsellor, and Major-General of the King's household; Governor of the 2d military division; President of the department of the Meuse; Grand Cross of the order of St. Louis; commander of the grenadiers and chasseurs of the King's guard, and commandant of the National Guards of Paris. 7. E. J. J. A. Macdonald, (Duke of Tarentum,) born in Sedan, in 1765—a Privy Coun sellor and Peer of France; Major-General of the King's household; a military Governor of a division; and Grand Cross of the order of St. Louis. governor of Silesia, and in consideration of the cures performed by him on a great number of soldiers, he has been permitted to continue his practice. Richter is a well informed man; he was educated at the Gymnasium, at Breslau, and it is reported that he was accidentally made acquainted with the magnetic power, which he possesses, by the surgeon of a French regiment, who lodged at his house during the late war. He performs all his cures gratis. The voluntary presents made to him are distributed by the churchwardens among the poor of the place. Counsellor Mogalla, having spoken unfavourably of Richter in the Provincial Paper of Silesia, of which he is editor, had a narrow escape from being murdered one Sunday at Breslau, when he appeared in public. The Rev. Canon Kriegs, one of the most celebrated preachers of Germany, has completely lost the confidence of the public, for having in the pulpit made some animadversions, though in very cautious terms, upon Richter. Before the operations of this man were interrupted all the baths in Silesia were deserted, and the professors of the medical art had nothing to do. The following list of the Marshals of France, with the remarks on it, is taken from the Boston Centinel. Frequent errors are made in print and conversation on the subject of the Marshals of France, whose deeds of arms for the last twenty-five years filled the world with astonishment and alarm; and whose names had become, among all classes, as familiar as those of household deities. To give some information, if not amusement, we have collected the following particulars respecting those renowned soldiers. We believe it is not generally known, that ALL this corps of Marshals alive (save four only) are now in France: and that all of them (with perhaps an exception of two) are full in the confidence of Louis 18th; sustaining under him the highest offices:-And further, that he has no other Marshals in his service than those who were first created by Buonaparte! The following are now in France, and rank in the order in which they are enumerated: 1. Marshal Victor, (Duke of Belluno) Military Governor of the 16th division, President of the Electoral College of the Loire and Cher Major-General of the King's house hold, Grand Cross of St. Louis, and one of the witnesses, for the army, of the marriage of the Duke of Berri. 2. Jean Baptiste Jourdan, born in 1762, Military Governor of the 7th division. 3. Pierre Augureau, (Duke of Castiglione) born in 1757-a Peer of France, and Governor of the 19th Military Division. 4. Edward-Adolphus-Cassimir-Joseph Mortier, (Duke of Trevise,) born in 1768-Military Governor of the 16th division. 5. Louis-Nicholas Davoust, (Prince of Ech muhl, and Duke of Auerstadt,) born in 1776 -recognized as Marshal of France, but has no command, and resides at Louviers. 8. Augustus F. L. V. Marmont, (Duke of Ragusa,) born in 1774-a Peer of France; Major-General of the King's household, and Grand Cross of the order of St. Louis. 9. Louis-Gabriel Suchet, (Duke of Albafera,) born in 1796-He was one of Louis's Peers, but having accepted a seat in Bona. parte's house, he was unpeered in 1816; but has since been appointed Military Governor of the 9th division. 10. Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr, Secretary of State for the Marine and Colonies, a Peer, and Privy Counsellor; a Military Governor, and Grand Cross of the order of St. Louis. 11. Francis Charles Kellerman, (Duke of Valmy,) born in 1735, (the eldest of the Marshals,)-was unpeered by Louis 18th in 1815; but appointed Military Governor of the fifth division; Grand Cordon of the royal Legion of Honour. 12. Joseph Lefevre, (Duke of Dantzic,) born in 1756-He too accepted a Peerage from Buonaparte on his return from Elba; and was, therefore expelled by Louis. He has no command. 13. Marshal Count Perignon, a Peer of France; Governor of a military division, and Grand Cross of the order of St. Louis. 14. Marshal Count Serrurier, Governor of the royal Hotel of Invalids, and one of the Peers of France. NOTE. Of the balance of the Marshals, it is known, that Ney, Berthier, Lasnes, Bessieres, Junot, and Massena, are deceased.Bernadotte is in Sweden; Soult, Grouchy and Savary in exile; Brune is in France, but not recognised as a Marshal. We draw this strong inference from these facts; that Louis 18th would not employ these personages in the stations they fill, if he were not assured of their loyalty; and satisfied of the stability of his throne. A journal published at Turin contains a curious article, relative to the life of man. The author makes several calculations, which, in his opinion, form the basis of annuities, insurances, tontines and all kinds of speculations, resting on the course of human life. He supposes the world to be peopled by a milliard of persons, who all die in the space of an age. He lays down 33 years for one generation, consequently 33,333,333 die in the course of a year, 91,324 in the course of a day, 3803 in an hour, 65 in a minute, and in a second 1. The number born in the course of a year amounts to 37,937,037, in a day 101,471, in an hour 4228, in a minute 70, and in a second one 1. Out of 1000 children born in the same hour, there remain 740 at the end of a year; 600 at the end of three years; 584 at the end of 4 years; 540 at the end of 10 years; 446 at the end of thirty years; 226 at the end of 60 years; 49 at the end of eighty; eleven at the end of 90; nine at the end of 95; and 1 at the end of 97. The author concludes from these tables, that one half of the children die by the age of seventeen. ut of 10,000 persons, only one arrives at the age of 100. The following is the comparative number of persons on the same portion of earth in different countries;-In Iceland 1; in Sweden 14; in Turkey 36; in Poland 52; in Spain 63; in Ireland 99 ; in Germany 127; in England 152; in France 169; in Upper Italy 172; in Naples 192; in Venice 196; in Holland 224; in Malta 1103-Such is the difference between the population of Iceland and Malta. From Kotzebue's Anecdotes. THE OBSTINATE WAGER. An ancient or modern says: "He who has began a foolish thing should go through with it to the end." In that the ancient or the modern is very wrong, for a half done foolish thing is still less injurious, than a whole one. I will relate a whole one, which was performed at P -g. Two young men were standing at the window of a coffee house, a third drove by in an open carriage. It was lovely weather, and the driver was looking about him fresh, gay, and healthy. "It is most abominable," said Latinsky, one of the youths who were standing at the window, "that a young and healthy man on this beautiful day should not prefer walking on foot." "That may well be," replied the other, but no one has a right to find fault with him. If it is his pleasure to drive, who can prevent him ?" LATINSKY. "Who? I?" "You?" "Yes, I! what will you lay of it " "You jest." "Will you bet a dozen bottles of Champaigne ? It is done." With two springs Latinsky was at the bottom of the staircase, before the door in the street, took the horses by the bridle, stept modestly up to the carriage, and said, "I beg your pardon, Sir, for stopping you, but give me leave to observe, that it is very remarkable, that a man of your age, and your blooming health, should prefer riding in this beautiful weather." "Allow me also to observe, Six," answered the other," that it is still more remarkable for me to hear this observation from you." "It certainly appears strange, but—” "there are no buts in the case, Sir. Get out of my way!" "No, Sir, that cannot possibly be." "How, Sir, are you in your senses?" Really I am very sorry to oblige you, but you must indeed get out, and take a walk with me." The stranger glowed with anger, leaped out of the carriage, drew his sword, and wounded Latinsky dangerously. "Enough!" replied the latter," you are too humane, Sir, to ride in this fine weather in good health, whilst I severely wounded must walk on foot." With these words he leaped into the carriage, cried aloud to his friend at the window, "I have won my wager! and drove home. From Kotzebue's Anecdotes. THE MODERN GREEKS. In the last sittings of the society of human ob servers at Paris, Carey, a Greek, read a very interesting memoir on the then beginning regeneration of science in Greece. The cause of the same he very naturally found in the French illumines, particularly also in the undertaking of the publication of the Encyclopedie, (!) afterwards, in the war of Russia against the Turks, and in the expedition to Italy and Egypt. But let the cause lie where it may, the joyful effect is not to be denied. The young opulent Greeks collect knowledge in the European universities, with which they enrich their native country. Locke's Enquiry, Montesquieu on the Roman empire, the best mathematical works, Fourcroy's Chemical Philosophy, and a number of other good books are translated into Greek. Codrika, an Atheian, who was secretary to the Turkish embassy at Paris, has presented Fontenelle's, Wilton's and Anacharsis Travels to his countrymen, in their native language. celebrated, is by no That the energy, by which their ancestors was means extinguished in Greece, is daily proved. The example of the Macnoltons (formerly Spartans) is known. Another race of the Greeks, the Suillioten, less known than any one, but not less valiant, inhabit a village between the rocks of Epirus, not far from ancient Dodona, surrounded by the poetical rivers Acheron and Kozyt. With 15000 men capable of bearing arms, they defended the liberty of their race against a powerful Pacha of European Turkey. If the danger was great, the women united with the men, and assisted to fight an enemy, that in spite of their over-powering numbers, was almost instantly overcome. Here incidents have happened, that old Lacedemon might not have been ashamed of. In a spirited battle there fell a young leader of the Suillioten; his death shook the warriors, they assembled round his corpse and lamented. Then rapidly came the mother of the deceased, she covered his face with her apron, took his arms, and-his place, at the head of the little army, put the enemy to flight, hurried back, uncovered the countenance again, and exclaimed with deep suppressed agony, "I have revenged thy death!" From D'Israeli's Calamities of Authors. Thomas Churchyard, a poet of the age of Flizabeth, was one of those unfortunate men, who have written poetry all their days, and lived a long life to complete the misfortune. His muse |