Nationality of the Scots. "Their groves o' sweet myrtles let foreign lands reckon, With the burn stea ing under the lang yellow broom. Nothing can be more simple, nor more irresistable. My military relative, conversing one day on the Peninsular war withs a companion in arms, happened to mention the love of country, and expatiating on the beauties and comforts of Old England, observed :"I dare say, Donald, you very often think of home too-though less rich in produce and felicitous in soil" (Argyleshire)-when the enthusiast, a lad of about nineteen, thus replied:-"O my ain hame!-what else is there worth thinking of here? I can see this moment, my father's house the rough grayhound at the door, and ilka glen, and burnie, about the place. A' are dear to me-an' it mak's my heart warm, when I think on them. What else is't that encourages a man to earn a hard livelihood, in order to haud up there, without the turmoil o' gettin' anes ain bread? An' what mak's fatigues an' dangers easy, but the hope of easin' auld age? Here the drum beat to arms, and Donald jumped up, snapping his fingers and singing the "reel of Tullochgorum." But this was all honest pride, and not thoughtlessness or insensibility; for he wanted to conceal the full tide of affection which was swelling in his eye, and he turned hastily, whilst the tears were (in his own language) rappin' down his cheeks:-no man did his duty better. After the battle of Waterloo, I enquired of a Roxboroughshire private of the 92d whether the regiment did not arrive fatigued on the field, so that it did not come fresh into action? "Aye," replied the soldier, "we were wearie eneugh that's true--but whan we heard the pipes play up, an' heard our lads cheerin' we war as light-fittet as linties, an' we loupet on the enemy as though we war rinnin' a race to a waddin'!-The pipes and the cheering, brought home in every note, and the necessity of doing his duty came from affection, more than from either glory or interest. Poor Sandie (for that was his name) was wounded in the thigh, of which he complained not. "I did na mind that," said he, "only I thought it hard to be cut, an' hash't by a French dragoon after I was down." Sandy, would have been too noble to have acted thus towards a fallen foe. “And what thought you, when you were down?" said his interrogator? I dinna ken, Sir, replied he, gif it wasna whether I should ever see my puir mither again, an' whither Willie my brither, wha's. i' the greys, was hurt or no !" Without further comment, I leave my reader to form his opinions on these two lads, a Highlander and a Lowlander, the one an officer, and the other a private ; and he will doubtless perceive that the same principle of honour, and the same love of country and of home actuated 1.both.o Statue of Burns-Velocipede Eclipsed-An Electrical Man-Effects of Drunkenness. Monthly Register. STATUE OF BURNS. Dumfries Sept. 14.—The sculpture wanted to complete Burns' superb mausoleum so long expected, has at last been erected, and has given the greatest satisfaction to every person who has inspected it. This sculpture is taken from the poet's prose dedication to the noblemen and gentlemen of the Caledonian Hunt, where he says, "The poetic genius of my country found me as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha, at the plough, and threw her inspiring mantle over me. There are only two figures in the piece, the bard, a fine rustic figure, represented as grasping with manly vigour the shafts of a genuine Scottish plough; and the genius represented as casting on her favorite son a benignant smile, and gracefully throwing her inspiring mantle over him.-The figure of the genius is of exquisite workmanship, and the statue of Burns is also extremely good, and the likeness as much preserved as could have been imagined. In a word, the sculpture does great credit both to Mr. Turnerelli by whom it was modelled and designed, and Mr. Fysic the artist by whom it was wholly cut. VELOCIPEDE ECLIPSED. A most ingenius travelling machine has lately been invented by Mr. James Stewart, Flour Dealer, New Bridge of Clouden, about two miles from Dumfries, which for ease, safety and conveniency, far surpasses any thing of the kind we have ever seen. It runs upon four iron wheels, the rider guiding it with a pole in the centre, which requires very little exertion, and his feet being always fixed in stirrups, never at any time touch the ground. The inventor has termed it "The Waterloo Travelling Carriage." As the expence is trifling we have no doubt it will very soon come into general requisition as an amusing relaxation, and to persons of a sedentary habit in particular, will prove a most salutary and agreeable excercise. AN ELECTRICAL MAN. Dr. Hartman of Frankfort on the Oeder, has published in a German Medical Journal, a statement, according to which he is able to produce at pleasure an influx of electrical matter from his body towards other persons. You hear the crackling, see the sparks, and feel the electric shock. He has now acquired this faculty to so high a degree, that it depends solely on his own pleasure to make an electric spark issue from his fingers, or to draw it from any other part of his body. Thus in this electrical man, the will has an influence on the development of the electricity, which had not hitherto been observed except in the electrical eel. EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS. Two notorious drunkards who have long been known in the streets of New York,last evening fell upon this plan to get rid of their troubles. They Births-Deaths. each drank a pint of clear whisky, being well charged before, and requested a third person when they were both down to roll them together, placing their mouths as nearly in contact as possible: when thus placed, the third person in compliance with their request, lighted a brimstone match, which he put between their mouths, and in an instant the two miserable wretches were blown to atoms and as effectually scattered to the winds, as if filled with gunpowder; and the poor fellow wha applied the match was so much injured by the limbs of the two carcases that his life is despaired of. BIRTHS. Aug. 30th, At Ayr, Mrs. Hill, wife of the Rev. Mr. Hill, of Dail❤ ly, of a son. Sept. 7th, At Rockbank Mrs. Colin Campbell, Jura, of a daughter. Sept. 9th, At Kelvin Grove, Mrs. Buchanan of Auchintorlie, of a daughter. DEATHS. Aug. 25th, At Heathfield, James Watt, Esq. aged 84. Mr. Watt who was a native of Greenock, may justly be placed at the very head of those philosophers who have improved the condition of mankind by the The steam enapplication of science to the practical purposes of life. gine is probably the most perfect production of physical and mechanical skill which the world has yet seen.He was distinguished not only by that higher prerogative of genius, promptness, and fertility of invention, but also by its rare and happy union, with calm and sagacious, judgment, regulated by those habits of patient attention and investigation. His manners were marked by the simplicity which generally characterizes exalted merit-he was perfectly free from parade and affectation, and though he could not be unconscious either of the eminent rank he held among men of science or of those powers of mind by which he had attained it, yet his character was not debased by the slightest taint of vanity or pride. Birmingham Gazette. Aug. 5th, At Irvine, Mrs. Susan Campbell eldest daughter of Alexander Campbell Esq. of Greenfield, and spouse of Richard Reid, Esq. Writer there, much regretted. At Porto Rico, West Indies, Capt. John Boyd, second son of William Boyd, Esq. Berryhill, parish of Kilmarnock, much regretted. Aug. 31st, At Saltcoats, Mrs. Jane Mercer Findlay, spouse to Mr. Robt. Auld, manufacturer, Saltcoats. Sept. 9th, At Ayr David Limond, Esq. Town Clerk, aged 75 years. Sept. 9th, Mrs. Weeks, aged 82, midwife of Exeter, and also to the Eying-in Charity; she followed her avocation almost to the last was the mother of 22 children, all of whom were baptized, and had attended at the delivery of more than 11,000 infants! Lament of the Muse. Poetry. LAMENT OF THE MUSE. The day was done, and far on high To muse on Nature's charms awhile My steps were slow along the lea, My head, with all their heavenly charms, All thoughtful as I gazed around, Her beauteous eyes half raised to me! And mournful seemed her musing theme. She stopped and gazed with wistful eye, I felt soft pity touch my heart, And strove but all in vain to speak; For tho' my thoughts were framed for speech, Some strong enchantment tied my tongue, My soul stood list'ning in mine ears, While sweet the following words she sung. "Oh! must I ever weep and mourn, Tho' born a daughter of the sky! Ah! few of all my minstrel sons, Soft pleasure's rosy bowers have seen, Save, in the pleasing page of truth Or when young Fancy spread the scene; Dark envious shades have wrapt them round, Shades, which their light could ne'er dispel ; They wandered joyless mid the gloom, Tho' some have burst in splendor forth, And flashed upon the worlds dull eye! |