in Holland, in order to obtain little scan- defended it. St. Austin affirms that the dalous anecdotes of his miserable adversary most caustic personality may produce a Morus.* The conclusion of this bitter wonderful effect in opening a man's eyes to personal encounter is instructive. Milton his own follies. He illustrates his position lost his eyesight, and Morus, finding him- with a story, given with great simplicity, of self neglected by a former patron, who took his mother, St. Monica, with her maid. the side of Milton, retired into obscurity, St. Monica certainly would have been a and died soon afterwards, it is supposed, of confirmed drunkard had not her maid timely grief. and outrageously abused her. The story D'Israeli, in his valuable work, presents will amuse: "My mother had, by little and many curious particulars of the manner in little, accustomed herself to relish wine. which some of the early Reformers and They used to send her to the cellar, as Catholics conducted their disputations. being one of the soberest in the family: "Luther was not destitute of genius, of she first sipped from the jug and tasted a learning, and of eloquence; but his violence few drops, for she abhorred wine, and did disfigured his works with singularities of not care to drink. However, she gradually abuse. Hear him express himself on the accustomed herself; and from sipping it on Catholic divines: The Papists are all her lips she swallowed a draught. As peoasses, and will always remain asses. Put ple from the smallest faults insensibly inthem in whatever sauce you choose, boiled, crease, she at length liked wine, and drank roasted, baked, fried, skinned, beat, hashed, bumpers. But one day, being alone with they are always the same asses. ... What the maid who usually attended her to the a pleasing sight it would be to see the pope cellar, they quarreled, and the maid bitterand the cardinals hanging on one gallows in ly reproached her with being a drunkard! exact order, like the seals which dangle from the bulls of the pope! What an excellent council they would hold under the gallows! Luther was no respecter of kings; he was so fortunate, indeed, as to find among his antagonists a crowned head. Our Henry VIII. wrote his book against the new doctrine. Luther in reply abandons his pen to all kinds of railing and abuse. The Hebrew points have long furnished He addresses Henry VIII. in the following a wide field of disputation, and the acristyle: 'It is hard to say if folly can be mony with which the contest raged for semore foolish, or stupidity more stupid, than veral generations is really surprising. The is the head of Henry. He has not attack- anti-punctists stigmatized the adherents of ed me with the heart of a king, but with the opposite system as blinded believers in the impudence of a knave. This rotten an exploded figment, while the followers of worm of the earth, having blasphemed the Buxtorf, on the other hand, looked down majesty of my King, I have a just right to from the height of their rabbinical learning bespatter his English majesty with his own with sovereign contempt on their pointless dirt and ordure. This Henry has lied antagonists. But we introduced this subLong after, the court of Rome had not lost ject principally for the purpose of relating the taste of these 'bitter herbs ;' for in the an anecdote of a late worthy minister of bull of the canonization of Ignatius Loyola this city, distinguished for his rigid attachin 1623, Luther is called monstrum teter- ment to the points. Being at one time in rimum et detestabilis pestis !" (a most hide- ill health, he was assisted in his official duous monster, and most detestable of ties by a licentiate of the church to which plagues!) he belonged, who resided in his house. That single word struck her so poignantly that it opened her understanding, and, reflecting on the deformity of the vice, she desisted for ever from its use." A Jesuit has collected "An Alphabetical Catalogue of the Names of Beasts by which the Fathers characterized the Heretics!" Of Calvin it is stated that "his adver- His young friend attempted in vain to oversaries are never others than knaves, lunatics, come his taciturnity, or draw him into condrunkards, and assassins! Sometimes versation; and, happening one day to meet they are characterized by the familiar appel- with a brother preacher in the city, comlations of bulls, asses, cats, and hogs!" municated to him the discomforts of his The fathers of the church were proficient situation. "Ok!" said Mr. B., "I'll call in the art of abuse, and very ingeniously on you to-morrow forenoon at eleven, and show you how to make Mr. A. talk." About the time promised he accordingly made his D'Israeli's "Curiosities of Literature." appearance, and Mr. A. after saluting him, | Hoadly;" to which the Bishop replied by returned to the book on which he was em- "Something Better;" but was finally surployed, and took no farther notice of his mounted by the student in his "Best of presence. The visitor accordingly began to All." converse with his disconsolate brother, and, In the common language of former geneafter doing so for some time, gradually in- rations there were many proverbial, or stock troduced the subject of the Hebrew points. comparisons, that were considerably ob"By the by, Mr. C., do you read Hebrew seure, such, for example, as, "like the with or without the points?" "I have al- bairns of Falkirk, ye mind naething but ways been accustomed to read without mischief," or, "like Macfarlane's geese, them, sir." Well, so have I, and I think ye ha'e mair mind o' your play than your the system of the punetists a collection of meat:" but the present age, above all useless absurdities." "Great leears," said others, is that of extraordinary comparithe old minister, in indignation, throwing sons. We have heard, for example, of an down his book, "how can you do without old gentleman "singing like bricks," and the points" and immediately launched have seen a vessel in full sail, which, acforth into a disquisition on the antiquity, cording to some one standing at our side, authority, and necessity of the points; en- was "coming into harbor like a hatter." larged on zarquas and pashtas, shevas and Now, although we have long been aware zaqueph-quatons; touched on the accents, that bricks have had an ear for music ever distinctive and conjunctive; and, sometime since the days of Orpheus, who turned the in the afternoon, wound up with a bitter circumstance to account in building the anathema on Levita, Parkhurst, and all walls of Thebes, we always considered them their followers. But whether or not the merely as amateurs in the science, and gentleman for whose benefit the experiment never knew that they had made any prowas performed ever ventured to repeat it, ficiency in its practical departments. We we cannot tell. must confess our ignorance, also, with reAbout the middle of the seventeenth cen- gard to the peculiar capability of rapid motury a race of scholars arose who maintain- tion attributed to our respected friends the ed that the language of the New Testa- hatters; although we believe that any one ment was not what it had always been con- who should make free with one of their best sidered to be a dialect abounding with Paris short naps at sixteen shillings would Hebrew thoughts and expressions-but pure have reason to entertain a very high idea and classic Greek. Georgius, one of the of their locomotive powers ever afterwards. most furious of them, averred that his an- If he intended to escape their pursuit, he tagonist had committed the unpardonable would require, to use another unintelligible sin, and argued that because the Old Tes- metaphor, to "run like the mischief." tament was pure Hebrew, therefore the New We read with interest the minute occurTestament was pure Greek: a piece of rences of former days, such as are containreasoning which reminds us of a statement ed in the household book of the Earls of of Robert Turner, who "transplanted into Northumberland, and can even be content Albyon's garden" Nuysement's treatise on to laugh over such humble details as the the elixir vitæ, entitled, "Sal, Lumen, et following in the manuscript journal of a Spiritus Mundi Philosophici."" "You see, country weaver for 1716: although we may says Mr. Turner in his address "to the observe that, in the first extract, the worreader whose studies are seasoned with thy writer seems to have given too much salt," 99 66 our natural vulgar common salt scope to his imagination : will preserve dead flesh from putrefaction; what then will the true prepared philosophi- "The 24 night and 25 day of Septr. terrible for cal salt do?" : the husbandman would not have had. wind, a great shaking on qt. was left; and blowIn the controversy to which we have re-ing people's victuals throw oyr [other], and drivferred, the title-page of one book announced ing it over the hills lyk sheep; and making "The burial of the Hellenists ;" and that branches fall aff the trees, both green and rotten. of another, their "bone-breaking;" while The moneth of Septr. for the most pairt, such as a third, if we are not mistaken, dug up their ashes, and consigned them to the ink of the droppings of black. In the year 716, in the summer-time, we made We took 4 or 5 winds of heaven. Passing to the titles in pints and boil'd it with about an ounce of caprose, another contest, we meet with "Something and we had about a quart of good black ink. Good, or the Reply of a Student to Mr. I counted in the end of the 16 year qt. coper was in the box, and yr was 38 crowns or little | keen and active in carrying on the Union." more, and 9 ginies and a half. inform us that Almost the only transcribable lines in it "Of six sp. of yarn from William Jackson yt we quit to ye minister's wife, I reckon she had 6 grots of it yt we might have had." In the same volume from which these scraps are extracted occurs a very coarse "satire on our Scots nobilitie, who were "They sald the church, they sald the state and na- They said their honor, name, and reputation, From the Britannia DEATH OF DONIZETTI. WE lament to announce the decease of" Martyrs" and "La Favorita " for the this great Italian composer, on the 8th inst., Academie Royale in Paris, two five-act at Bergamo, after a long illness. Gaetan operas. In 1841" Adelia " appeared for Donizetti was born at Bergamo in 1798, and Salvi and Marini; and in 1842 "Maria at an early age proved his proficiency in Padilla " for Mlle. Lowe, Ronconi, and music. He was a pupil of the famed Simon Donizetti; also "Linda" in Vienna, for Mayer, at the conservatory of Bologna. Mme. Tadolini, Brambilla, Moriani, Varese, His first essay in dramatic composition was Derivis, and Rovere. His "Don Pasquale," at Venice, in 1818, in an opera called "En- produced in Paris, for Grisi, Mario, Tamrico di Borgogna." He wrote various works burini, and Lablache, was his next triumph without producing any great sensation, up in 1843. In June he wrote "Maria di Roto 1828, when he produced the "Esule di han," in Vienna, for Ronconi, producing it Roma," for Mlle. Tosi, Winter, and La- at the end of the year in Paris, the night blache. This opera spread his fame through after he had brought out "Don Sebastian" Italy, and his compositions were eagerly at the Académie, a herculean feat, which sought after by managers. In 1830 he was the beginning of his attack on the brain. composed an oratorio for Naples, "Il Dilu- In 1844 "Catarina Cornaro," his sixtyvio Universale." In 1831 his "Anna Bo- third and last-performed opera, was prolena" was written for Pasta and Rubini, duced in Naples. In 1845 he was placed and this opera made his reputation Euro- in a maison de santé at Vitry, near Paris, pean. In 1832, for Pasta, Grisi, and Don- was removed to Italy in 1846, and lingered zelli, he composed "Ugo Conte di Parigi," till the 8th instant, never having recovered and in the same year the "Elisir d'Amore," his reason. He was married to the daugha comic opera, for Debadie. In 1833 heter of an advocate in Rome, but she died wrote "Il Furioso," for Ronconi and Salvi; without issue in 1835 of cholera, being "Parisina" for Mile. Unger and Duprez; enceinte at the time. Donizetti was the and "Torquato Tasso" for Ronconi. In successor of Zingarelli in the direction of 1834 appeared his "Lucrezia Borgia" and the Conservatory at Naples, and after the "Rosmonda d'Inghilterra " for Mme. Per-production of Linda," the Emperor of siani and Duprez. In 1835 his "Marino Austria appointed him chapel-master to Faliero was produced for Grisi, Rubini, the Viennese court. Lablache, and Tamburini; and in the same Donizetti was a ready wit, and no mean year his "Lucia "appeared for Duprez and poet. He wrote many of his own libretti. Mme. Persiani. "Belisario " was his He was an excellent pianoforte accompanynext popular essay, and then "Roberto ist. His faculty for composition was equal Devereux" for Ronzi and Barroilhet. His to that of Rossini; he has been known to "Fille du Regiment" was composed for score an opera in twenty-four hours. In the Opera Comique in Paris in 1840, and his early works he was an imitator of RosMlle. Zoja caused its popularity in Italy by sini, but his style became his own after the her impersonation of Maria. Mlle. Lind" Esule di Roma." We subjoin a comand Miss Poole have made it popular in London. In this year he also produced the plete list of his operas, the year of production, and the places at which they were Naples 1823 Naples 1823 Venice 1830 Naples 1830 Naples 1830 Naples 30 1830 Naples 31 1830 Naples 32 1830-31 Milan 33 1831 Naples 1832 Milan. 35 1832 Milan 36 1832 Naples 1833 Rome 37 38 1833 Florence 1833 Rome 40 1833-34 Milan 1834 Florence 1834 Naples 43 1834-35 Milan 44 1835 Paris 1835 Naples 46 1836 Venice 1836 Naples Naples 1836 Naples 1837 Venice 1837 Naples 1838 Venice 1839 Milan La Lettera Anonima Il Fortunato Inganno Una Follia RUSSIAN GOLD MINES.-During the ten years ending with 1846, the total quantity of fine gold produced in the dominions of the Emperor of Russia was 8,387.96 poods, or 368,063 69 British pounds troy, the value of which, at the rate of 113-001 grains troy weight per pound sterling will be L.18,761,310, In 1837, the quantity produced was 402-68 poods, or 17,669-60 British pounds troy, the value of which is L.900,673. In 1838, the quantity was 448 93 poods, or 16,699-06 pounds troy, and its value was L.1,004,120. In 1839, the quantity was 448-61 poods, or 19,685.00 pounds troy and of the value of L.1,003,403. In 1840, it amounted to 498-52 poods, or 21,875-06 pounds troy, of the value of L.1,115,037. In 1841, the quantity was 588-66 poods, or 25,830-40 pounds troy, and its value was L.1,316,653. In 1842, the quantity was 826-58 poods, or 36,270 33 pounds troy, and its value was L.1,848,808. In 1843, the quantity amounted to 1,178.25 poods, or 51,781 61 pounds troy, and of the value of L.2,635,386. In 1844, the quantity was 1,220-84 poods, or 53,570-46 pounds troy, and of the value of L.2,730,647. In 1845, the produce was 1,248.34 poods, or 4,777 16 pounds troy, of the value of L.2,792,156 In 1846, the quantity produced amounted to 1,586-55 poods, or 66,985 01 pounds troy, and of the value of L.3,414,427. The above return comprises the whole produce both of the public and private mines. The Russian government levy a duty of from 12 to 24 per cent. on the produce of the pri vate mines; the rate being subject to no rule, but varying according to localities and other circumstances. During the ten years ending with 1846, Il Furioso all' Isola di the return of produce shows-first, that there has S. Domingo Otto Mesi in Due Ore Il Castello di Kenil- Il Diluvio Universale Ugo Conte di Parigi Sancia di Castiglia Parisina Torquato Tasso ra Maria Stuarda been scarcely any difference in the supply from the Oural Mountains; secondly, that the produce of Siberia has increased more than tenfold; and thirdly, that there has been an augmentation of nearly four to one in the total annual supply. It is said that new mines have been discovered in the Oural; and the fact of an imperial ukase having lately forbidden the sale of public estates in the region of the auriferous sands of Siberia, justifies the inference that the government have made, successful surveys in that direction, and anticipate a further profitable development of the gold-washings which have been so fruitful during the last four years. Under these circumstances, it seems reasonable to expect an increase of supply, of which, however, it is quite impossible to estimate either the proportion or the continuance.— From a Statement drawn up by Sir E. Baynes, English consul in Russia. From Chambers's Edinburgh Journa. MEMOIR OF THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD. In the middle of the last century there view he sought out the humble moneylived, in the town of Frankfort-on-the-changer, who consented reluctantly to take Maine, a husband and wife of the Hebrew charge of the treasure, burying it in a corpersuasion, who lavished all their cares up- ner of his garden just at the moment when on a son, whom they destined for the pro- the republican troops entered the gates of fession of a schoolmaster. The boy, whose the city. His own property he did not conname was Meyer Anselm Rothschild, and ceal, for this would have occasioned a who was born at Frankfort in the year search; and cheerfully sacrificing the less 1743, exhibited such tokens of capacity, for the preservation of the greater, he rethat his parents made every effort in their opened his office as soon as the town was power to give him the advantage of a good quiet again, and recommenced his daily education; and with this view he spent routine of calm and steady industry. But some years at Fürth, going through such a he knew too well the value of money to alcurriculum of study as appeared to be pro- low the gold to lie idle in his garden. He per. The youth, however, had a natural dug it forth from time to time as he could bent towards the study of antiquities; and use it to advantage; and, in fine, made this led him more especially to the exami- such handsome profits upon his capital, nation of ancient coins, in the knowledge of that on the duke's return in 1802, he offerwhich he attained to considerable proficien- ed to refund the whole, with five per cent. cy. Here was one step onwards in the interest. This of course was not accepted. world; for, in after years, his antiquarian The money was left to fructify for twenty researches proved the means of extending years longer, at the almost nominal interest and ramifying his connexions in society, as of two per cent. ; and the duke's influence well as of opening out to him a source of immediate support. His parents, however, who were noted as pious and upright characters, died when he was yet a boy, in his eleventh year; and on his return to Frankfort, he set himself to learn practically the routine of the counting-house. After this we find him in Hanover, in the employment of a wealthy banking-house, whose affairs he conducted for several years with care and fidelity; and then we see opening out under his auspices, in his native city, the germ of that mighty business which was destined to act so powerfully upon the governments of Europe. Before establishing his little banking-house, Meyer Anselm Rothschild prepared himself for the adventure by marrying; and his prudent choice, there is no doubt, contributed greatly to his eventual success in the world. was used, besides, with the allied sovereigns in 1814 to obtain business for "the honest Jew" in the way of raising public loans. The "honest Jew," unfortunately, died two years before this date, in 1812; but the whole story would appear to be either entirely a romance, or greatly exaggerated. In 1812, Rothschild left to the mighty fortunes, of which his wisdom had laid the foundation, ten children-five sons and five daughters; laying upon them, with his last breath, the injunction of an inviolable union. This is one of the grand principles to which the success of the family may be traced. The command was kept by the sons with religious fidelity. The copartnership in which they were left, remained uninterrupted; and from the moment of their father's death, every proposal of moment was submitted to their joint discussion, and carried out upon an agreed plan, each of the brothers sharing equally in the results. About this time a circumstance is said to have occurred, to which the rise of the Rothschilds from obscurity is ascribed by We may mention another circumstance those who find it necessary to trace such which, on various occasions, must have conbrilliant effects to romantic and wonderful tributed largely to the mercantile success of causes. The Prince of Hesse-Cassel, it the family. Although their real union conseems, in flying from the approach of the tinued indissoluble, their places of residence. republican armies, desired, as he passed were far asunder, each member of the house through Frankfort, to get rid of a large domiciling himself in a different country. amount in gold and jewels, in such a way At this moment, for instance, Anselm, born as might leave him a chance of its recovery in 1773, resides at Frankfort; Solomon, after the storm had passed by. With this born in 1774, chiefly at Vienna; Charles, |