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A CONVINCING PROOF.

Miss D. had the misfortune to become what the language of our neighbours delicately expresses by the compound word fille-mere, and wished to bestow, or rather to force, the honours of paternity on the prince.  The subject of dispute having been brought into his presence, he glanced at the child’s raven air, and coolly observed, “to convince me that this girl is mine, you must prove that black is white.”—­Cabinet Library—­Life and Reign of George IV.

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ASTRONOMY.

A facetious fellow, after reading the Report of the Astronomical Society for the past year, (which is very favourable) observed, “Well!  Astronomy is looking up.”

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THE PENNANT.

The following shows the derivation of pennant at the head of the mainmast of a man of war:—­

When Van Trump was sweeping the seas with his men of war, by way of a boast he put a broom at the head of his mast, for which, when Elizabeth had notice, she desired all her men of war to mount a long strip of linen at the head of their masts, as much as to say she would flog them soundly if they dared to molest her.

GEO. ST. CLAIR.

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CHESTNUTS

Are sold at the corners of every street in Florence, in seven different forms:  raw, cooked, and hot, both roasted and boiled; dried by heat, (the skins being taken off,) in which state they have a much sweeter and superior flavour; and made into bread, a sort of stiff pudding; and into thin cakes like pancakes.[6] This valuable fruit constitutes a considerable portion of the food of the lower classes, who must daily consume in Florence some tons.

    [6] In the confectioner’s shops at Paris, they are sold peeled,
        baked, and iced with sugar.  We can answer for their being very
        delicious.

* * * * *

Lord Hudson, in Queen Elizabeth’s time, said, “To have courage to observe an affront, is to be even with an adversary.  To have the patience to forgive it, is to be above him.”

C.B.

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DEATH AMONGST LIONS.

It is remarkable that in 1438, all the lions in the Tower of London died.

T. GILL.

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ANTIQUITY OF PORTERS.

Saccarii, among the Romans were a company or fraternity of porters, who had the sole privilege to carry all goods from the harbour to the warehouses, none being allowed to employ their own slaves, and much less those of others, for that purpose.