a fine thing is illness for teaching people not to let the palate become irritated by luxurious living! "Very nice," eh, "but you would have liked a basin of mulligatawny better, and some wine-sauce with the pudding ?" Shocking depravity! the pleasures of illness are simple, and you must learn to enjoy them as well as those of health; it's all habit. Many medicines would be found extremely palatable if we were not prejudiced against them. Now, black draughts, you “can't bear them ;" and yet they are much nicer than castor-oil. Why, what's the matter? you've upset all the broth over that beautifully white counterpane! Delicate stomach, yours; very. Come, try the pudding; and don't let your imagination combine any medicinal sauce with it. You have eaten it all; that's right. Now, allow us to suggest that a little very ripe fruit will not hurt you—an orange, or some strawberries if in season. But you must not lie there and allow your mind to get either into a wearisome state of vacuity or unpleasant reflection. Send for a book from the library-some novel that you have never read; and if it is too much trouble to read it yourself, get some one to read it to you. It is a capital plan always to endeavor to forget an illness by means of some quiet and absorbing enjoyment. You are fond of music, for instance; and if you hear any good band strike up in the street we recommend you by all means to detain them. You will get up, perhaps, in the evening, and prepare yourself for a refreshing night's rest by having your bed made; should a friend drop in who can give you a game of chess or cribbage be sure to avail yourself of the opportunity, if you feel inclined for such recreation. Do not sit up late, or get into any exciting conversation; but go calmly and quietly to bed, take your basin of gruel, swallow your pills, lay your head on the pillow, and go to sleep. To-morrow it is most probable that you will be well, or only sufficiently indisposed to render it prudent that you should stop at home, when you will indulge in a stronger and more relishing diet; pass the day in a dreamy state of inactivity, or enjoy yourself vivaciously in any reasonable manner you may think proper.

Perhaps, gentle reader, you may have endured prolonged and severe attacks of bodily suffering-perhaps you will tell us that we have not been depicting illness at all, but merely indisposition. You would have had us pick out from the pages of the "Lancet" a thrilling account of torture under the knife, and then made us rack our ingenuity to discover, if possible, some pleasure contingent upon that. You might as well expect us to write an article on the pleasure of being hanged. We will, however, say this much as regards every degree of illness: that there is scarcely any that does not admit of some mitigating gratification. The mere circumstance of being watched and most carefully tended by those we love, the kindness with which they bear our peevishness, and the desire they

display to do every thing they can either to alleviate our pain or to conduce to our convalescence, are pleasures such as illness alone can afford, and must ever merit the highest appreciation, not only because we either are or ought to be duly impressed with them at the time, but for the farther and more substantial reason that they become delightful reminiscences and bonds of affection forever after. It is an excellent thing, morally and socially, is illness, and only requires that we endeavor to make the best instead of the worst of it; and therein lies the whole serious purport of this paper, which we have thought fit to write in as light a style as possible, knowing that the subject, though interesting to all, is very far from being generally palatable.

OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE USE OF THE
TELESCOPE.

IT has been long known, both from theory and

in practice, that the imperfect transparency of the earth's atmosphere, and the unequal refraction which arises from differences of temperature, combine to set a limit to the use of high magnifying powers in our telescopes. Hitherto, however, the application of such high powers was checked by the imperfections of the instruments themselves; and it is only since the construction of Lord Rosse's telescope that astronomers have found that, in our damp and variable climate, it is only during a few days of the year that telescopes of such magnitude can use successfully the high magnifying powers which they are capable of bearing. Even in a cloudless sky; when the stars are sparkling in the firmament, the astronomer is baffled by influences which are invisible, and while new planets and new satellites are being discovered by instruments comparatively small, the gigantic Polyphemus lies slumbering in his cave, blinded by thermal currents, more irresistible than the firebrand of Ulysses. As the astronomer, however, can not command a tempest to clear his atmosphere, nor a thunder storm to purify it, his only alternative is to remove his telescope to some southern climate, where no clouds disturb the serenity of the firmament, and no changes of temperature distract the emanations of the stars. A fact has been recently mentioned, which entitles us to anticipate great results from such a measure. The Marquis of Ormonde is said to have seen from Mount Etna, with his naked eye, the satellites of Jupiter. If this be true, what discoveries may we not expect, even in Europe, from a large reflector working above the grosser strata of our atmosphere. This noble experiment of sending a large reflector to a muthern climate has been but once made in the history of science. Sir John Herschel transported his telescopes and his family to the south of Africa, and during a voluntary exile of four years' duration he enriched astronomy with many splendid discoveries.-Sir David Brewster.

THE

MONTHLY RECORD OF CURRENT EVENTS.

HE Political Incidents of the past month have been interesting and important. Congress, after spending eight or nine months in most animated discussion of the principles, results, and relations of various subjects growing out of Slavery in the Southern States, has enacted several provisions of very great importance to the whole country. The debates upon these topics, especially in the Senate, have been exceedingly able, and have engrossed public attention to an unusual degree. The excitement which animated the members of Congress gradually extended to those whom they represented, and a state of feeling had arisen which was regarded, by many judicious and experienced men, as full of danger to the harmony and well-being, if not to the permanent existence, of the American Union. The action of Congress during the month just closed, concludes the controversy upon these questions, and for the time, at least, prevents vigorous and effective agitation of the principles which they involved. What that action has been we shall state with as much detail and precision as our readers will desire.

a territorial government for New Mexico, and was lost-ayes 98, nays 106. The question then came up on ordering the Texas Boundary bill to a third reading, and the House refused to do so by a vote of 80 ayes and 126 nays. Mr. BOYD immediately moved to reconsider that vote, and on the 5th that motion passed— ayes 131, nays 75. Mr. GRINNELL, of Massachusetts then moved to reconsider the vote by which Mr. Boyd's amendment had been rejected, and this was carried by a vote of 106 to 99. An amendment, offered by Mr. FEATHERSTON, of Virginia, to strike out all after the enacting clause, and to make the Rio Grande, from its mouth to its source, the boundary of Texas, was rejected by a vote of 71 in favor to 128 against it. The amendment of Mr. BOYD was then passed by a vote of 106 ayes and 99 noes; and the question was then taken on ordering the bill, as amended, to a third reading. It was lost by a vote of 99 ayes to 107 noes. Mr. HoWARD, of Texas, who had voted against the bill, immediately moved a reconsideration of the vote. The Speaker decided that the motion was not in order, inasmuch as a reconsideration had once been had. Mr. HOWARD appealed from the decision, and contended that the former

In the last number of the NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, we chronicled the action of the Senate upon several of the bills now referred to. They were sent of course to the House of Re-vote was simply to reconsider the vote on the presentatives, and that body first took up the original bill, whereas this was to reconsider the bill establishing the boundary of Texas, and vote on the bill as amended by Mr. BOYD.-On giving her ten millions of dollars in payment of the 6th, the House reversed the Speaker's deher claim to the portion of New Mexico which cision, 123 to 83,-thus bringing up again the the bill requires her to relinquish. Mr. BoYD, proposition to order the bill to a third reading. of Kentucky, moved as an amendment, to attach Mr. HOWARD moved the previous question, and to it the bills for the government of Utah and his motion was sustained, 103 to 91;—and the New Mexico, substantially as they had passed bill was then ordered to a third reading by a the Senate, both being without any anti-slavery vote of 108 to 98. The bill was then read a proviso. He subsequently withdrew that por- third time, and finally passed by a vote of 108 tion of the amendment relating to Utah; and ayes to 98 nays.-As this bill is one of marked an effort was made by Mr. ASHMUN to cut off importance, we add, as a matter of record, the the remainder of the amendment by the pre- following analysis of the vote upon it :-the vious question, but the House refused by a vote names of Democrats are in Roman letter, Whigs of 74 ayes to 107 nays. The subject was dis- in italics, and members of the Free Soil party cussed with a good deal of animation for sev-in small capitals :eral days. On the 4th of September, a motion to lay the bill on the table was defeated-ayes 30, nays 169. A motion to refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole, which was considered equivalent to its rejection, was then carriedayes 109, nays 99;-but a motion to reconsider that vote was immediately passed-aycs 104, nays 98;—and the Hou e then refused to refer the bill to the Commi.ee of the Whole by a vote of 101 ayes and 103 nays. Mr. CLINGMAN, of North Carolina, moved an amendment to divide California, and erect the southern part of it into the territory of Colorado;-but this was rejected-ayes 69, nays 130. The question was then taken on the amendment, organizing

AYES.-INDIANA, Albertson, W. J. Brown, Dunham,

Fitch, Gorman, McDonald, Robinson.-ALABAMA, Aiston,
W. R. W. Cobb, Hilliard.-TENNESSEE, Anderson, Ew.
ing, Gentry, I. G. Harris, A. Johnson, Jones, Savage, F. P.
Stanton, Thomas, Watkins, Williams.-NEW YORK, AR-
rews, Bokee, Briggs, Brooks, Duer, McKissock, Nelson,
Phanix, Rose, Schermerhorn, Thurman, Underhill, White.
Iowa, Lether-RHODE ISLAND, Geo. G. King -Mis
soURI Bay, Bowlin, Green, Hall-VIRGINIA. Bayly,
Beale, Edmunson, Haymond, McDowell, McMullen, Mar
tin, Parker.-KENTUCKY, Boyd, Breck, G. A. Caldwell, J.
L. Johnson, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Morehead, R. H.
mond, Kerr, McLane.-MICHIGAN, Buel.-FLORIDA, EC.
Stanton, John B. Thompson-MARYLAND, Bowie, Ham

Cabell.-DELAWARE, J. W. Houston.- PENNSYLVANIA,
Chester Butler, Casey, Chandler, Dimmick, Gilmore, Leris,
Job Mann, McLanahan, Pitman, Robbins, Ross, Strong,

702

HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZ NE.

gave rise to a warm debate and on the 12th | RUSK, whose term as U. S. Senator expires with
The amend the present session, has been re-elected by the
was rejected, ayes 5, nays 46.
He voted in favor of the bill of adjust-
ments offered by Mr. PEARCE, and passed in Legislature of Texas receiving 56 out of 64
committee of the whole, were non-concurred in votes.
by the Senate on the 14th, and the bill on the ment, and his re-election by so large a majority
same day was ordered to be engrossed for a third is looked upon as indicating a disposition on the
reading, by a vote of 32 to 19. On the 16th it part of the authorities to accept the terms pro-
to adjourn on the 30th of September.
was read a third time and finally passed, ayes posed.Both Houses of Congress have agreed
33, nays 19, as follows:

AYES.-Messrs. Baldwin, Benton, Bright, Cass, Chase, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Davis of Mass., Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Ewing, Felch, Frémont, Greene, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Houston, Jones, Norris, Seward, Shields, Spruance, Sturgeon, Un

derwood, Wales, Walker, Whitcomb, and Winthrop-33. NAYS.-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Barnwell, Bell, Berrien, Butler, Davis of Mississippi, Dawson, Downs, Hunter, King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pratt, Sebastian, Soulé, Turney, and Yulee-19.

It was taken up in the House of Representatives on the 15th and passed by a vote of 124 to 47.

Intelligence from the Mexican Boundary Commission has been received to the 31st of There was some sickness among the August, on which day they were at Indianola, Texas. members of the corps, but every thing looked promising. Hon. WILLIAM DUER, member of Congress from the Oswego District, New York, he vindicates the bills passed by Congress, and has declined a re-election, in a letter in which earnestly urges his constituents not to encourof questions connected with slavery. Hon. E. age or permit any further agitation among them By the action of Congress during the past G. SPAULDING, from the Erie District, and Hon. month, therefore, bills have been passed upon GEORGE ASHMUN, of Massachusetts, also decline all the topics which have agitated the country a re-election.Captain AMMIN BEY, of the The bill in regard to the Turkish Navy, arrived at New York on the during the year. Texas boundary provides that the northern line 13th, in the United States ship Erie, being sent shall run on the line of 36° 30′ from the meri-out by his Government as special Commissioner He is a gentleman dian of 100° to 103° of west longitude-thence to collect information and make personal obserit shall run south to the 32d parallel of latitude, vations of the character, resources, and conand on that parallel to the Rio del Norte, and dition of the United States. in the channel of that river thence to its mouth. of ability, education, and experience and has The State of Texas is to cede to the United been employed by his Government on various States all claims to the territory north of that confidential missions. He was the secret agent line, and to relinquish all claim for liability for of Turkey on the frontiers of Hungary during her debts, &c., and is to receive from the United the recent struggle of that gallant people with ConStates as a consideration the sum of ten millions Austria and Russia. He has been warmly The law will, of course, have no received here, and enjoys every facility for of dollars. validity unless assented to by the State of Texas. prosecuting the objects of his mission. No action upon this subject has been taken by gress has appropriated $10,000 toward defrayher authorities. Previous to the passage of the ing the expenses of his mission. Hon. A. bill, the Legislature of the State met in special H. H. STUART, of Virginia, has been appointed session called by Governor BELL, and received Secretary of the Interior, to fill the vacancy Mr. McKENNAN from him a long and elaborate message in regard caused by the resignation of Mr. M'KENNAN. to the attempt made, under his direction, to extend He has accepted the appointment and entered the laws and jurisdiction of Texas over the Santa upon the duties of the office. Fé district of New Mexico, and to the resistance resigned on finding, from an experience of a which he had met from the authorities of the day, that his health was not adequate to the After narrating the cir- performance of the duties of the place. Mr. Federal Government. cumstances of the case, he urges the necessity STUART has been a member of Congress, where of asserting, promptly and by force, the claim he was universally recognized as a man of of Texas to the territory in question. He recom- ability, assiduity, and character.-Mr. Coxmends the enactment of laws authorizing the RAD, of Louisiana, on accepting the office of Executive to raise and maintain two regiments Secretary of War, addressed a letter to his con of mounted volunteers for the Expedition. A bill stituents, explaining and justifying the course was introduced in conformity with this recom- he had taken in Congress. He said that opinmendation; but of its fate no reliable intelligence ions on the subject of the extension of slavery has yet been received.A resolution was in- might be classified as follows: 1. There are troduced into the Texas Legislature calling upon those who seek, through the direct agency of the governor for copies of any correspondence the Federal Government, to introduce slavery he might have had with other states of the Con- into this territory. 2. Those who wish, by the federacy, but it was not passed. A letter has same means, to prevent this introduction. 3. been published from General QUITMAN, GOV- Those who resist any interference with the He claims to belong ernor of Mississippi, stating that in case of a question by the Federal Government, and would collision between the authorities of Texas and leave to the inhabitants of the country the exThe Union, he says, is too those of the United States, he should deem it clusive right to decide it. his duty to aid the former.Hon. THOS. J. to the latter class.

labors have been cheered and sustained, by Christians of all denominations. He was a man of ability, of learning, and of intense devotion to the welfare of his fellow-men.- -Bishop H. B. BASCOM, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, died at Louisville, Ky., on the 8th of September, after an illness of some months' continuance. He was in many respects one of the most influential and distinguished members of the large denomination to which he belonged. He enjoyed a very wide reputation for eloquence and was universally regarded, by all who ever heard him, as one of the most brilliant and effective of American orators. His person was large and commanding, his voice sonorous and

His style was exceedingly florid, and elaborate, and his discourses abounded in the most adventurous flights of fancy and imagination. He shared the merits and the faults of what is generally and pretty correctly known as the South

great a blessing to be staked upon any game of hazard, and the prolongation of the controversy upon the subject of slavery, he deems in itself a calamity. "It alarms the South and agitates the North; it alienates each from the other, and augments the number and influence of those who wage an endless war against slavery, and whom this discussion has raised to a political importance which, without it, they never could have attained."Dr. HENRY NES, member of Congress from the Fifteenth District of Pennsylvania, died at his residence in York on the 10th.- -Several American citizens residing in Paris, having observed in the London papers an account of a gross insult said to have been of fered to Hon. Mr. BARRINGER, United States Min-musical, and his manner exceedingly impressive. ister at Madrid, by General NARVAEZ at Naples, wrote to him, assuring him of the cordial response upon which he might count to such measures of redress as he should choose to adopt. Mr. BARRINGER replied by declaring the whole story to be false in every particular.ern and Western style of eloquence, and always In all his personal and official intercourse with him, he says, General NARVAEZ had been most courteous and respectful.An election for state officers was held in Vermont on the first Tuesday of September, which resulted in the choice of CHARLES R. WILLIAMS (Whig) for Governor, and the re-election of Hon. Messrs. HEBARD and MEACHAM to Congress, from the Second and Third Districts. THOMAS BARTLETT, jun., Democrat, was elected in the Fourth District, and no choice was effected in the First. -Professor J. W. WEBSTER was executed at Boston on the 30th of August, pursuant to his sentence, for the murder of Dr. PARKMAN. He died with great firmness and composure, professing and evincing the most heartfelt penitence for his crime. Intelligence has been received of the death of the Reverend ADONIRAM JUDSON, D.D., who is known to all the world as the oldest and one of the most laborious missionaries in foreign lands. He left the United States for Calcutta in 1812, and has devoted the whole of his life since that time to making Christianity known in Burmah. He translated the Bible into the language of the country, besides compiling a Dictionary of it, and performing an immense amount of other literary labor in addition to the regular preaching of the gospel and the discharge of other pastoral duties. He returned to this country in 1847, and married Miss Emily Chubbuck, with whom he soon returned to his field of labor. His health for the past few months has been gradually declining, and during the last spring it had become so seriously impaired that a sea voyage was deemed essential to its restoration. He accordingly embarked on board the French bark, Aristide Marie, for the Isle of Bourbon, on the 3d of April; but his disease made rapid advances, and after several days of intense agony, he died on the 12th, and his body was committed to the deep on the next day. Dr. JUDSON was attached to the Baptist Church, but his memory will be held in the profoundest veneration, as his

spoke with great effect. His labors in the service of the church have been long, arduous, and successful. He has exerted a wide influence and has exerted it in behalf of the noblest and most important of all interests. His death occasions profound and universal regret.—————JOHN INMAN, Esq., favorably known to the country as a literary man, and as editor of the New York Commercial Advertiser, died at his residence in New York, on the 30th of August, after a lingering illness of several months. Mr. Inman was educated for the bar, and practiced law for some years in New York; but left the profession for the more congenial labors of literature. He was engaged for some years upon the New York Mirror, and soon after became associated with Colonel STONE, in the editorial conduct of the Commercial. Upon the death of that gentleman in 1847, Mr. Inman became the principal editor, and held that post, discharging its duties with ability, skill, and unwearied assiduity, until failing health compelled him to relinquish it during the last spring. He wrote frequently for the reviews and magazines, and sustained confidential relations, as critic and literary adviser, to the house of Harper and Brothers. He was a man of decided talent, of extensive information, great industry and of unblemished character. He died at the age of 47.

The most exciting event of the month has been the arrival of the celebrated Swedish vocalist, JENNY LIND. She reached New York in the Steamer Atlantic on the 1st of September, and was received by a demonstration of popular enthusiasm which has seldom been equaled in this country. More than twenty thousand people gathered upon the wharf where she landed, and crowded the streets through which she passed. She gave her first concert at Castle Garden, in New York, on the evening of the 12th, and this was rapidly followed by five others at the same place. The number of persons present on each occasion could not have