* * * * *

GLEANINGS FROM THE JOURNALS.

The Athenaeum is incredulous upon the subject of the falling of Table Rock, at Niagara, and in reprinting the account of the event, thought it necessary to offer a few remarks upon the credibility of American intelligence:—­“Our readers,” says the Athenaeum, “know that we have great fears of the American penny-a-liner, and are carefully on our guard against his feats.  Our own specimens of the class are commonplace artists compared with their American brethren.  The season is at hand when we are looking out for the performances at the former,—­but we expect little from beyond the old routine.  In their sluggish imaginations, the annual pike is doubtless already growing up to his great dimensions, which, on failure of the accustomed springs of intelligence, we are soon to find floating in the newspaper shallows,—­and the preposterous cucumber is probably having an inch added to its stature, which will shortly shoot rankly up where the parliamentary harvest has been cut down.  The most daring thing that we can expect from these geniuses is, a trick or two perhaps with the Nelson Column.  But the American penny-a-liner, our readers know, does the thing on the vast scale of his country.  He takes down Niagara at his pleasure,—­and puts it up again in its place, or anywhere else that he will.  He transports the great Falls about the soil of his country at halt a crown an adventure,—­and for five shillings would probably set them playing in the moon.”

* * * *

A “MASONIC SWORD” FOR THE EMPEROR OF HAYTI.—­A magnificent sword, intended to be presented to the Emperor Soulouque on his installation to the mysteries of the “Grand Masonic Order of Hayti,” has been made at Birmingham, thirty-two inches in length.  The blade is richly ornamented along its whole length with devices in blue and gold, bearing the inscription in French on the one side, “To the illustrious F. Faustin Soulouque, Emperor of Hayti,” and on the other, “Homage of the Grand Order of Hayti.”  The hilt is surmounted by an imperial crown, and adorned with various masonic emblems.  On the shield are richly chased the arms of Hayti, with the motto, “God! my Country, and my Sword,” “Liberty and Independence.”  We perceive, also, from the French papers, that a celebrated goldsmith at Paris, has forwarded to Hayti a crown, a scepter, a wand of justice, and a sword of state, manufactured expressly for his sable Majesty, at a cost of L20,000 sterling.  The latter has moreover, commanded, for his coronation, a sky-blue velvet mantle, embroidered with bees and richly bound with gold lace, and a Court dress of scarlet velvet, lined with white satin, and trimmed with the most expensive point lace, “with most valuable ornaments to match.”

* * * * *