remained until it was provided against in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Edward the Third; but the noxious weed grew up in the shade of ignorance and confusion, during the bloody con tests of the house of Lancaster and York, till it received a considerable check under Edward the Sixth, when

victed of manslaughter, shall claim the benefit of clergy, unless he is a peer of the realm, or a clerk in priests' orders; and, by the ninth of James the First, it was entirely taken away from these delinquents.

WITHOUT BENEFIT OF CLERGY. We often hear this phrase, but very few comprehend its real meaning. Most persons suppose it means that a criminal shall have no spiritual adviser or religious consolation previous to his execution. But this is a popular error. The dark cloud of barbarism it was determined that no person conwhich succeeded the downfall of the Roman empire, having nearly effaced literary pursuits, the attention of the nobility and the body of the people placed above labor, was wholly absorbed by military exercises and the chase, while the regular and secular clergy became, for ages, with some exceptions, almost the sole depositories. of books, and the learned languages. As it is natural to respect what we do not understand, the monks turned the advantage to good account, and it gradually became a principle of common law, that no clerk, that is to say, that no priest, should be tried by the civil

power.

INSECT ARCHITECTS. The ground spider may well be rank. ed among the wonderful native architects of Australia; they are of various sizes, and differ in their color, form and markings. They hollow a circular hole in the earth, adapted to the size of their body, and more beautifully formed, and perfectly round, than any This privilege was enjoyed and engineer with all his scientific instruabused without restriction, till the ments could have made it. Within, it reign of Henry the Second, when the is nicely tapestried with the finest web, council, or parliament of Clarendon, woven closely over the wall of this or the sense of the nation was pro- subterranean drawing room, the depth voked by murder, rape and other crimes, of which I never accurately ascertainto set bounds to ecclesiastical licen- ed, as at a certain distance they seem tiousness, by a salutary regulation on to curve, or perhaps lead into a side the subject, but a law so necessary was cell, where the feelers of fine grass I evaded by the insolence of Becket, have introduced could not penetrate. and the base pusillanimity of King Some of these tunnels terminated at John and his successor. the surface with merely a sight web During a period equally disgraceful spun over the grains of soil close to the to the monarch and the clergy, a pro- apurture, as if to prevent their rolling vision, artful because it seemed to wear into it; the holes being from one-sixth the face of a remedy, was enacted, by of an inch to an inch in diameter. which any person tried for felony and Some of them boast of an extraordinary found guilty, was pronounced to be luxury of a front-door; these I imagine to exempt from punishment si legi ut be rather first rate kind of spiders, and clericus, if he was able to read as a the doors are as beautiful instances of priest. From this finesse the monks de insect skill and artifice as any that our rived considerable emolument, by teach- wonder-teeming world displays to us. ing prisoners to read, which, however When shut down over the hole, nothing odious or bloody their crimes, rescued but the very most accurate previous them from the penalty of the laws, and knowledge could induce any person to also answered another important pur- fancy they could perceive any differ pose, as by these means, men of the ence in the surface of the soil but, most desperate character, were thus perhaps if you remain very still for rendered humble and obedient tools of some minutes the clever inhabitants the church. This lucrative monopoly will come forth-when you perceive a

"A word or two more, and upon

circle of earth, perhaps the size of a wedding-ring or larger, lifted up from what ought to be the most important beneath, like a trap-door; it falls back argument to all. Exercise, fresh air, gently on its hinge side, and a fine, health-are they not almost synony hairy, beautifully pencilled, brown or mous. The exquisite bloom on the gray spider pops out and most proba- cheeks of American girls fade in the bly pops in again to sit just beneath the matron much sooner here than in Engopening, and wait for his dinner of land-not merely because of the softflies or other eatable intruders. Then ness of the English climate as many sup we see that the under side and the rim pose. It is because exercise, so necesof his earthen door is thickly and sary to the maintenance of health, is neatly webbed over, so that not a grain so little a matter of habit and educaof soil can fall away from its thickness, tion here, and so largely insisted upon which is usually about the eighth or in England; and it is because exercise, tenth of an inch, and although so when taken here at all, is too often as a skilfully webbed below, the upper pre-matter of duty; and has no soul in it; serves exactly the same appearance as while the English woman who takes a the surrounding soil. The hinges also living interest in her rural employ consist of web, neatly attached to that ments, inhales new life in every day's of the lid, and box. I have the great- occupation, and plants perpetual roses est respect and admiration for these in her cheek, by the mere act of plantclever mechanics, and though I very ing them in her garden."

often with a bent of grass, or a soft green twig, try to persuade one to come up, and be looked at (which they generally do, nipping fast hold of the intrusive probe,) I never was guilty

SUGAR CANE AND SUGAR.

The planting is performed about the of hurting one. I have picked very end of February, by laying the cane large ones off the ground that the plough lengthwise. The sprouts are ploughed had just turned over, and have carried in March, May and June. The cutthem to places unlikely to be disturbed; and I generally have two or three particular friends among them, whom I frequently take a peep at. They often travel some distance from home, probably in seach of food, as I have overtaken and watched them returning, when they seldom turn aside from hand or foot placed in their way, but go steadily on at a good swift pace, and after dropping into their hole put forth a claw, and hook the door too after them, just as a man would close a trapdoor above him when descending a

ting of the cane for seed is commenced in October, and for grinding in No vember. It is brought into a shed, where the cane-carrier is situated, which leads to two iron rollers, driven by steam. The juice runs from thence into a reservoir, or boxes. The cane after being hard pressed, called the begasse, falls from the rollers into a large chimney, and is burnt to ashes. The juice now called la plobe, is put into the first kettle, holding from thirty to forty gallons, and boiled, with the addition of a small piece of lime, in order to neutralize any excess of acid. When sufficiently concentrated, it is brought into the second kettle, called the flambeaa, and added to a previous EXERCISE FRESH AIR-HEALTH.- quantity of juice, where it is likewise Downing's Horticulturist expatiates on boiled down for a short time, and from the advantage to our women of of thence into the third kettle, and is ten seeking the air and using abundant called the syrup. This is the material exercise, as the true means of preserv-containing both molasses and sugar. ing health and imparting to beauty a It is then finished in the fourth kettle, more captivating freshness. An excel- called the battery and from thence lent article hereon finishes thus: thrown into coolers, where it remains

ladder.

Mrs. Meredith's New South Wales.

for five or six hours. The sugar is yesterday, I lost Scrub, my terrier; a love of a thing, that would kill rats as fast as he could see 'em. Turn out a hundred rats, and in a twinkling he'd make 'em feel as if the eyes of Europe were on 'em. And that dog's dead. Yet look at me,' and Basil passed his fingers through his hair, and with much fortitude, wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. 'Scrub's departed, yet I consent to breathe.'

now altogether chrystalized, and separated from the molasses, and put into boxes and carried to the purgery, a large building, in which the hhds. are placed on pedestals, and the molasses allowed to run and drop through the sugar and hhds. on the ground, which is perfectly clean and smooth, and is then put likewise in hogshead and barrels.

FASHIONABLE YOUNG LADIES. gar.'

BY DOUGLASS JERROLD.

'Hallo! Aggy, why you're come out of a rainbow.'

This sudden salutation was addressed by Basil to his sister, Agatha Pennibacker, who fine and gauze-like as a dragon-fly, floated into the room, and settled upon a sofa.

'I have told you twenty times,' said the young lady, with face severely set, 'I will not be called Aggy. It's hid

eous.'

I

'Then why don't you change it? say, mother, when are you going to consign these girls to India? market's full here. Bless you, such a glut of wedding-rings, I'm told they hang mackerel on 'em.' And Basil laughed saucily at Agatha; and Agatha pouted contemptuously.

'My dear Basil, I thought I heard your voice, where have you been, you naughty child? I'm sure your poor sister-it was Monica Pennibacker who spoke as she entered-'your poor sister might as well be without a broth

er.'

'That's their opinion, Nic,' and the youth was about to chuck Monica's chin, when Monica drew herself up, like a pouter pigeon, above the familiarity. When you can address your elder sister as you ought, Basil'

'Come, if you're going to act a domestic tragedy I shall leave the house, and not take a check to come back?' said Basil. What's the matter with you both? Why you're as stiff as if you slept on sheet iron and boarded on whalebone. What's the matter? Just wish you'd some of my troubles. Only

'Scrub! Bringing terriers before ladies!' said Monica; 'don't be so vul'Indeed, Basil,' chirruped young Agatha, 'you get so low, your sisters must disown you.'

'Poor little kittens,' cried Basil, as he dropped astride a chair, and shook his head at the young ladies, and sighed-Well, 'pon my life, I do wish you were out of this world!'

'Basil!' exclaimed the sisters, with a slight hysteric scream.

Basil!' said Mrs. Jericho, in deep, reproving thunder.

You'r too good for this earth, you are, indeed, girls. Take it in a lump, and see what part of it's beneath your notice. What a little of it's really respectable. If it was'nt unmanly, I could weep to think that my superfine sisters lived in the same wicked, vulgar world, that makes black puddings and sells cat's-meat.'

'My dear Basil,' said Mrs. Jericho in a tone of tender remonstrance, 'do not be so extravagant. And you hurt your sisters; you do indeed. A man'and Mrs. Jericho took breath for a great utterance-'a man never so beautifully shows his own strength, as when he respects our softness.'

'No, indeed,' said the young ladies, speaking and shaking their heads in sympathy. 'No!'

'I've a whole bank of respect in me, ma'am,' and Basil spread his fingers over his breast, 'but I don't pay a penny worth of it to forged drafts. Now softness is one thing; and-my dear pa. rents I am quite prepared to prove what I say-and gammon is another.'

'If you allude to me, sir,' said Monica, who had evidently made up her mind for an apothegm, 'permit me once

for all to observe, that I don't know what you mean.'

'That's exactly my feelings on the subject, Monica dear,' cried Agatha.

unfelt by its object. Now you have given us one sort of female flower, what, dear boy, what is the other.'

'Certainly, Nic,' and Basil took his 'Now children, I cannot endure this. sister's hand between his own. The It distresses me. These little quarrels other flower doesn't root in this world at lacerate me. You know, as I have all; earth's too vulgar for it, dearest often said, girls, I gave up everything maid. It's a flower so fine, it's grown for my children. Had I consulted my out of silk or velvet, and stands upon own feelings, I should have glided a a wire stalk.-Whatever scent it has, solitary thing to-to your father. it isn't its own; it doesn't come out of Therefore, here Mrs. Jericho drew itself, sweet girl, but out of fashion. forth a pocket-handkerchief; and both Very fine flowers, sown in silk, culti the girls, with a precision quite milita-vated by the scissors, and perched upon ry, imitated the movement-therefore stiffness. Not at all the sort of flower kiss one another and be friends.' for my button-hole, I can assure you.'

'With all my heart and all my mouth,' 'Dear, no! of course not,' cried the said Basil. Come along girls'-and wicked Agatha, clapping her hands. he folded his arms-'come along; I'Bessy is, of course, your heart's-ease. won't bite.'

'What a creature you are!' cried Monica, wiping her eyes, as her moth er moved her towards Basil.

'I dare say,' said young Agatha, lifting herself upon her toes to Basil, 'I dare say now you don't kiss Bessy Carraways in that manner.'

'Bessy Carraways!' said Basil, and the blood ran all over his face, his mother silently smiling at the emotion--Bessy Carraways is a--a'--Basil stammered, then laughed-'a flower.'

'No doubt, dear Basil,' said Monica. 'So are all young ladies of Bessy's age; all flowers.'

'But I mean,' said Basil, 'the natural thing. You see, my beloved sisters, there are two sorts of flowers. Now, Bessy, isn't too fine or too good for this world. No; she's a flesh and blood flower, growing upon the earth, and not thinking it too dirty for her, a flower that gives out the sweetness of her own natural self, and doesn't think it too good for other people; and why? Be cause she thinks no more about it than a rose or a lily, or any other blossom that's delicious and doesn't know it. Upon my word Basil,' cried Mrs. Jericho with joyous emphasis, 'you are quite a poet.'

Should be very sorry ma'am for the respectability of the family,' said Basil.'

'Oh, quite a bard,' exclaimed Monica, with a sarcasm so very fine it was

'My dear little puss,' said Basil, ‘I like Bessy, as I said, because she doesn't think herself too good for other people; for all that, I'm not good enough for her. No, my little tortoise shell, I always study humanity. it's safest-shall always think myself not good enough for any woman in the world. When I die, this is the epitaph I shall have grown over me:-He was so humble in spirit he never lifted his thoughts to marriage. Reader go and do likewise.

My dear, strange Basil!' said Mrs. Jericho, with an incredulous laugh.

'Shall endeavor to leave five pounds a year, to have that epitaph grown over me in mustard and cress. Five pounds a year, ma'am, to the sexton, to keep my memory green.'

I wonder what Miss Carraways would say if she heard yon? But I know better,' said Monica. I think, Agatha, we had better bespeak our posts as bridesmaids.'

'Wouldn't suffer it, my darling girls,' said Basil. If ever I was to marrynot that I ever shall-no, no—I shall walk through the world with the mus tard and cress steadily in my eye-you should not come near my wife. No, no; you're too good, too fine, too embroidered for the plain work of matrimony. Bless your little fillagree hearts, before you marry you ought to perform quarantine in cotton, and serve seven years to pies and puddings.'

ON THE USE OF MULES.

1. Mules, on a general average, live more than twice as long as horses. They are fit for service from three years old to thirty. Attwelve, a horse has seen his best days, and is going down hill, but a mule at that age has scarcely risen out of his colthood, and goes on improving till he is twenty. Instances are recorded of mules living sixty or seventy years, but these are exceptions. The general rule is that they average thirty.

in a life time will kill seven horses. Their faculty of endurance is almost incredible.

5. Another very important fact is, that in the matter of food, a mule will live and thrive on less than one-half it takes to keep a horse. The horses of England, at this present time, are consuming grain which would save the lives of thousands of British subjects. A particular friend of mine, who has returned from a visit to Ireland, informed me a few days ago that, in the country of Antrim alone there were 2. Mules are never exposed to dis- eight poor houses, containing from eases as horses are. I have spent con- eight to nine hundred paupers each. siderable time in studying the diseases Were the nobility disposed to substitute of horses, from ring-bone up to poll mules for horses, the grave might be evil. But who ever heard of a ring- cheated out of thousands of victims boned, spavined, wind-broken mule? who starve to death for want of the Immense sums of money are annually grain that horses consume.

In our

lost in the premature death of high-country, however, the saving of grain spirited horses by accident and disease. is no object. In a national point of The omnibus lines in the city of New view, the agricultural interest is so York have not been able to sustain great that the greater the demand for their losses, and are beginning to use mules, as less liable by far even to accident as well as disease. This results from the next consideration, which is that

grain of all kinds the better for the farmer. But yet individual farmers, who are in debt and whose land is not improved, would find it profitable, in the course of ten years, to have the labor of full team, and save one-half and more of the food necessary to keep it up as might be the case in substituting mules for horses.

MALLEABLE IRON.

Visitor.

3. Mules have organs of vision and hearing far superior to those of the horse. Hence they seldom sheer, and frighten, and run off. A horse frightens because he imagines he sees something frightful, but a mule, having superior discernment, both by the eye and ear, understands everything he meets, and therefore is safe. For the Among the various improvements in same reason he is surer footed, and the working of iron which have been hence more valuable in mountainous patented within the last few years, regions and on dangerous roads. I more particularly with a view to obdoubt whether on the Alpine paths a tain a strong, tough, and elastic matemule ever made a mis-step. He may rial for railway axles, wheel tires, and have been deceived in the firmness of the spot where he set his foot, but not in the propriety of the choice all appearances considered.

4. The mule is much more hardy than the horse. A pair of these animals, owned by a neighbor of mine, although small in size, will plow more land in one week than four horses. In light harness or under the saddle, in hauling iron ore or on the turnpike before a Conestoga waggon, one mule

other parts of machinery where great shocks are unavoidable, we observe a patent has been taken out in England by Mr. Witherell of New York, for a machine for manufacturing iron under various forms, imparting to it a twist, by which the fibre is laid in a spiral direction instead of longitudinally, as hitherto has been done. By this means the iron is rendered more available for resisting abrasion, and all other such forces as are destructive to the fibre.