of 600 feet.  Augustus II., king of Poland, could with his fingers roll up a silver dish like a sheet of paper, and twist the strongest horse-shoe asunder.  An account is given in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 310, of a lion who left the impression of his teeth upon a solid piece of iron.  The most prodigious power of the muscles is exhibited by fish:—­A whale moves with a velocity through the dense medium of water that would carry him, if he continued at the same rate, round the world in little more than a fortnight; and a sword-fish has been known to strike his weapon quite through the oak plank of a ship.

W.G.C.

Beauties of Chatsworth.—­Marshal Tallard, who was entertained a few days at this place by the Duke of Devonshire, on leaving, made this declaration—­“When I return,” said he, “into my own country, and reckon up the days of my captivity, I shall leave out those which I spent at Chatsworth.”  And Quin once said that he had nearly broken his neck in coming to it, and he should break his heart on his return.

SWAINE.

Origin of the Discovery of Peru.—­Balboa, the famous Spanish adventurer, in one of his expeditions, met with a young cazique, who expressed his astonishment at the high value which was set upon the gold, which the Spaniards were weighing and distributing.  “Why do you quarrel,” said he, “about such a trifle?  If you are so passionately fond of gold as to abandon your own country, and to disturb the tranquillity of distant nations, for its sake, I will conduct you to a region where the metal, which seems to be the chief object of your admiration and desire, is so common, that the meanest utensils are formed of it.”  Transported with the intelligence, Balboa eagerly inquired where this happy country lay, and how they might arrive at it.  The cazique informed them, that at the distance of six suns, or six days’ journey to the south, they would discover another ocean, near which this wealthy kingdom was situated; but if they intended to attack it, they must assemble forces far superior in number and strength to those which now attended them.—­This was the first information which the Spaniards received concerning the great southern continent, known afterwards by the name of Peru.

P.T.W.

Cholera Morbus.—­Dr. James Johnson, in his interesting book entitled, Change of Air, or Pursuits of Health, &c., says—­“The cholera morbus ought to be denominated the high-police of scavengers.  It has cleared away more filth, in Europe and England, than all the municipal edicts that ever issued from the constituted authorities.  On this, and on some other accounts, it will save more lives than it has destroyed.”

Patriotism.—­When the Chancellor d’Auguesseau, who constantly resisted the encroachments of Louis XIV. on the liberties of the people, was sent for to Versailles by that monarch, he was thus encouraged by his amiable wife:  “Go,” said she, “forget in the king’s presence your wife and your children,—­sacrifice everything except your honour.”