7.  Describe minutely how you pass one day on ship-board; learn to take and apply lunar, or other observations, and how the midshipmen, &c, do it.

8.  What sort of fish you get, and how dressed.  I should think your business would be to make yourself master of the middle Greek.  My compliments to Bonaparte, if you meet with him, which I think is very likely.  Pick up little articles of dress, tools, furniture, especially from low life—­as an actual smock, &c.

9.  What they talk about; company.

10.  Describe your impression upon first seeing things; upon catching the first view of Constantinople; the novelties of the first day you pass there.

In all countries and climates, nations and languages, carry with you the best wishes of, dear Carlyle,

Your affectionate friend,

W. PALEY.

Quarterly Review.

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SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY.

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The Tea Plant.

The tea leaf is plucked from the plant by the manufacturers at three periods during the spring, which crops they call, in their technical phrase, the head, or first spring; the second spring; and the third spring.  The quality of the tea varies according to the time of the plucking.  The young and tender leaves of course make finer tea than tough and old ones.—­Asiatic Register.

Portsmouth Literary and Philosophical Society.

We have been much interested with the report of this Society for 1827-8, and we are happy to record the prosperity of the establishment.  Some of the lectures, especially those on Geology, or Mineralogy, are very attractive; and in the curator’s report, we notice that the Museum, previously rich in fossil organic remains, has been enriched by numerous donations in this department, during the past session.  The entire number of specimens in the Museum is upwards of 9,000.

We have not been at Portsmouth for these three years, and till we saw this report, were not aware that the State Chambers, lately on the Platform Battery, had been pulled down towards the close of last year.  The building was of some interest.  It was of stone, with walls of considerable thickness, and square vaults below, descending to a level with the parade, and used at different periods as dungeons.  The part on which the vane stood, was erected in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and the other part was built in the time of Charles II., whose name, with the date, was on a marble slab above the doorway.  Of late years the building had been modernized and used as a signal-house and subscription reading-room.  If we are not mistaken, the edifice had often been much injured by the encroachments of the sea, and probably this led to its removal.

Conversations on Geology.