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own affairs, and interesting themselves so much in the affairs of others, a stranger would suppose from the publicity of every transaction, however trivial, that the good people of Market Mowbray acted and thought with one mind, like the old church horologe by which they daily regulated their own time-pieces. So it was, that not an event could transpire, without the cause and the effect being known from gate to gate.

The first and most dreaded of this clique was the chaste Miss Martha Tibbs. A victim to the evil eye of curiosity, Miss Tibbs exercised a despotic rule over all the tendrils of the town; nor could a glance travel from eye to eye without being crossed by the dreaded shadow of this virtuous lady. Miss Martha was a most important person, she inhabited the " big house," where her maiden aunt had resided for half a century before her. The patroness and queen of Market Mowbray, she exercised a discretionary power, and had raised her circle to the enviable height of exclusives. She was a thin, tall, yellow-faced lady, who, in spite of the stubbornness of her crisp curls, that hung in wiry circles about her cheeks, would never consent to adopt a cap, "it looked so old maidish ;” her flat, hard, mahogany-looking bust, shewed that she had little of the milk of human kindness; and her figure was rendered still more gaunt by her old-fashioned, short-waisted, chintz robe, which dropped over her feet. Her grey eyes were omnipresent, her long pointed nose would smell out the slightest error, while her tongue, like a right Toledo, seemed as if it must wound even the sheath that held it. But the accomplishments of Miss Martha Tibbs were of an order unparalleled in the history of Market Mowbray; for it is said that she could not only read and write, but even that she could play extempore on the harpsichord. It was Miss Tibbs's highest delight to collect around her the elite of Market Mowbray, and, while they were sipping their coffee or lemonade, to listen to some of her "touching airs," sometimes assisted by her dear Dr. Mellitongue and the voice of his supposed daughter, Miss Julia, who was declared to sing divinely whenever she sang in tune.

Things were in this state at Market Mowbray when one nightremembered long since for the terrific thunder-storm which shook to their foundations the tenements of age-a human being staggered into the Crown and Sausage, and appeared almost dead with alarm and exhaustion; as he entered the gate of the inn the wind howled still louder, the rain descended in Noachian torrents, the forked lightning (with one prong) followed his course, while the thunder rolled like-anything. The awful stranger seated himself

VOL. VI.-NO. XX.

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"Unfold its store of argument"

in the same tone of devout philosophy which characterizes the preceding volume. Few could read these volumes without being made wiser, no one could peruse them with any degree of attention and not be made better. To have the mind imbued with such sentiments is one of the greatest of earthly blessings, and one of the surest ways we can take

"To walk from holiness below

To holiness above."

How truly does the amiable Bernard Barton put the case:

"O! look up to the soft blue sky
Arching above thee bright and fair :

Cold is the heart and dull the eye
Which feels not, sees not, God is there!

Look round thee on this spacious earth,
With every varied beauty rife :
Starts not an instant thought to birth

Of Him whose presence gives it life ?"

Our limits forbid our making any extracts, and it is besides quite unnecessary, for the public has shewn its appreciation of the first volume so fully as to bring it already to a second edition, which has given the author an opportunity of considerably improving the arrangement; and we cannot doubt but that an equally favourable reception will attend this second volume.

The Physiology of Digestion, considered with relation to the Principles of Dietetics. By Andrew Combe, M.D., &c. &c. The second edition, revised and enlarged. pp. xxviii, 350; small 8vo. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.-Edinburgh: Machlachlan and Stewart. 1837.

As we fully anticipated, this excellent and justly popular treatise approaches to a third impression: the first was large; so was the second, which has been carefully revised and considerably enlarged. The first Part, which is introductory and physiological, includes much valuable information communicated in a style remarkably perspicuous and intelligible by unprofessional readers. We recom mend, in an especial manner, the sixth chapter of the second Part to the attention of invalids and convalescents. Altogether, the volume abounds with principles and precepts peculiarly adapted to secure the advantages of health-the principal element of comfort and happiness.

This unexpected, unparalleled circumstance filled with delight the good people of Market Mowbray, and especially all those who were to be admitted within the four walls of the high and virtuous lady patroness. Happy Peregrine! heroes only make sensations. Mr. Peascod was a nice-looking piece of pale-faced sensuality; his portrait was drawn by Mnemosini at full length; and, as the public papers, some months after this celebrated concert, advertised, under the cacaphonic title "Beware," that Peregrine Peascod was a young man of a possessing look, whose back was formed for coats of all sizes, whose feet fitted to any shaped shoe, whose head was equally accommodating, and who strived to get a character, but was nonsuitedhe was a tall, short, no-sized, thin, fat, serious, funny, sleepy, always awake, good-natured, selfish person, who invariably asked after the children. Peregrine was a compound of mighty opposites, a riddle to the good people of Market Mowbray, but who was said to have nothing in him, when he was found out.

The evening of the concert advanced; the young ladies were surprised, charmed, delighted. There was Miss Jane Verismall, the three Miss Shrimpingtons, the two Miss Trumps, and the four Miss Crumps; and then the beaux were most select: there was Mr. Acteon Snaggs, a very dear among the ladies, Mr. Dominic Fox, Dr. Mellitung and his daughter, Miss Mellitung, and, though last, not least, Bob Salter, the wit of Market Mowbray, and who, it is said, had even once composed an ode, which treated of several subjects, such as negro flogging, the sublime in music, the price of soap, with some fine allusions to the Fancy. Bob Salter was an ingenious person; he was a virulent pundit, and had made considerable proficiency on the Jew's-harp, which he maintained was the instrument which David played on before Saul.

It was on the sunny morning of the 4th of July that the good and industrious people of Market Mowbray had scarcely opened their shop windows and rubbed up their counterpanes when, to their amazement, they observed the head of Miss Martha Tibbs voluminised and ensepulchered in her frilled night-cap, gently insinuated between the folds of the white window curtains: the circumstance was remarkable, and excited no little inquiry as to the cause of such a phenomenon, whether or no it proceeded from a mental solecism, or the more probable effects of green gooseberry pie. But through the day, what was their surprise to see the door of Miss Tibbs thrown wide open! a circumstance that had not been known since the death of Mrs. Margaret Tibbs, some fifteen years back. So it was: wide open was the door, and servants were seen

flying from window to window, and men with strange, uncouthlooking boxes, carried up stairs under the particular direction of Mr. Peregrine Peascod. The professor had exerted himself most diligently to secure a good and expressive number of performers for the forthcoming musical soirée. There was Mr. Crook, the leader of the Shipney Church choir, on the clarinet; Miss Tibbs on the piano forte; Master Plunkett on the triangle; Bob Salter on the drum, Jew's-harp, and ram's-horn; Peregrine Peascod, leader, on the violin; with the fortunate assistance of two itinerant musicians, one on the Pandean pipes, the other, a six-feet-two consumptive-looking man, to shake a cap and bells. The band was thought most complete, and from the morning rehearsals great things were expected. The evening drew on; the performers were stationed, Peregrine in front, the clarinet at one end of the room, the drum, Jew's-harp, and ram's-horn at the other end, Miss Tibbs behind the leader, and the triangle stood by Miss Tibbs, to accompany her in "Those Evening Bells." The itinerants were placed behind a screen near the door, where also the refection was laid out. The happy hour arrived; the ladies, dressed out quite smart, took their seats in a circle round the room. Dr. Mellitung prepared a short address on the Expression of Music, which he understood was the highest perfection of the science, that tones should be brought to as near a resemblance as possible of the thing expressed, that the sacrifice of melody was nothing compared to the natural illustration of either sounds, persons, or events; Professor Peregrine confirmed the Dr.'s harangue, when Bob Salter here sounded a blast upon his ram's-horn, and begged the ladies to observe that the ram'shorn was not only the most ancient but most powerful instrument, since it had even blown down the walls of Jericho itself.

Peregrine then opened the concert by playing a little song, which he had composed for the occasion, in honour of Miss Tibbs, beginning with "Chaste Diana," to the tune of Lillabullero. Being finished they expressed their approbation most eagerly. The next piece was variations on the celebrated air of "Borborigmus" (by Squatz) on the clarionet. It is said that Mr. Crook lost his puff, though it was followed by much praise. The professor next gave an imitation of silence on the back of his violin, which was so much liked that he repeated it. "What a nice fiddle!" whimpered the eldest Miss Trumps. Peregrine smiled, and observed that it was a real Straduarias; Miss Verismall begged to see it, for she declared she had never seen a gregarious fiddle before. Miss Tibbs then sang the "Minuet in Ariadne" to her own accompaniment. Delightful,

partiality with which he discusses the whole matter. He is bigotted to no one master or theory, but reasons for himself; rejects that which appears to him not founded on truth, and adopts whatever he considers sound, whencesover it may proceed. He also makes an admirable distinction between the grand principle on which the system rests, and the theories of even its most enlightened advocates Thus, he observes

"As to the merits or demerits of the above speculations future observations must decide; in the mean time let us not forget that, whether true or false, the facts of Homœopathy are altogether independent of them, being the result of experiments, of the truth of which any candid inquirer may convince himself."

Dr. S. further admits that, in the present state of our knowledge, antipathic remedies, and even bleeding, are still occasionally required; and the volume does not contain a single observation tending to detract from the merits of the old school.

"There is, however, a class of diseases in which the use of antipathic remedies is altogether indispensable, namely, where there is a prostration of the vital powers; here the susceptibility for homœopathic medicines is often altogether extinguished, and can only be restored by the use of such antipathic remedies as are adapted to the peculiar nature of the case. Whilst, therefore, we reject the exaggeration of Hahnemann, when he says that by means of the above methods no radical cure was ever effected, we must admit their application to be of a very limited nature, and their injudicious adoption to be frequently followed by very injurious effects. Still they are both occasionally of essential service in the palliation of symptoms, both in acute and chronic diseases, and at times are even alone sufficient to effect a permanent cure."

Confirmation of the Homeopathic Doctrine by an Opponent." Professor Jörg, of Leipsic, having undertaken a series of experiments with the view of disproving that doctrine, ends by warning practitioners of the danger of using nitre in inflammations, assafoetida in hysteria and hypochondriasis, and prussic acid in inflammatory affections of the larynx and bronchia, because, in his experiments upon healthy individuals, these substances had produced very similar diseases. He further expresses his astonishment at finding results so contrary to received opinions, and states that, as far as his experiments have yet gone, he has scarcely met with a remedy the real properties of which are known. The most remarkable point in these experiments, however, is that, though conducted in the most practical manner, the learned professor cannot see that they all tend to confirm the very system they were meant to destroy."

Small Doses. Many, both of the opponents and advocates of the system, "seem to dwell upon the incredible smallness of the dose as the essence of the system, and the touchstone of its merit; and exhaust their imagination in the attack and defence of this unimportant point, which has, in reality, nothing to do with the marrow of the question. The principle of Homoeopathy had been promulgated, the system had been named from this principle, and had already approached maturity, before the discovery of the atomic powers of medicine not only spread terror and dismay among the adherents of the old system, threatening the apothecaries especially with utter annihilation, but laid the foundation for many of the errors and absurdities which have since so seriously impeded its progress. And yet this discovery of Hahnemann is not only absolutely certain, but in its results will, in all pro

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