gant travelling-carriage drawn by four horses, and attended by two outriders. The clattering of the horses' hoofs upon the pavement, and the flashing of the lamps, and of the lighted windows, as the vehicle rushed along the street of the town from which he took his departure, for some moments carried away his attention from the thoughts that had distracted him; a feeling of gratified pride entered his mind; he felt himself to be a man of consequence, and anticipated with an eager delight the surprise of his former friends, the humiliation of his enemies, and the unmixed happiness of his betrothed love. But when the light, and noise, and bustle of the town had been left behind, when he was alone and in darkness, and not a sound reached his ear, but the heavy and monotonous tramp of the horses' feet, and the rushing noise of the wheels over the smooth road, the character of his thoughts was changed. Again and again he went over, in his mind, every particular of his short, but important, visit to the village; the anecdotes of the landlord, his rencontre with Clifford's friend, the scene in the wood, all were examined with the most scrupulous nicety. Could it be possible, he asked himself, while a sudden perspiration burst over his forehead at the terrible imagination, that any unexpected circumstance might occur to hasten the marriage? Could this mysterious stranger, who had forced upon him the history of Clifford, haunted his steps in the wood, and stared at him with his fierce eyes, as the carriage drove off from the inn door, have any influence over his destiny? Did he suspect who he was? Had he witnessed his emotion at the sight of Mr. Stanley's house? Might he not have warned his friend of danger? And might not the prompt, bold, sagacious Clifford, have already taken steps to secure himself against interference? Again the image of Emma appeared, sometimes with a reproachful, and sometimes a mournful look; her pale cheek, where the marks of recent indisposition had been visible; her heavy and sorrowful eye, that seemed to have been but too familiar with untimely tears; her listless walks; her melancholy voice; all rose upon his fancy like accusing wit nesses. His meditations were interrupted by his postillions suddenly pulling in their horses. A carriage, it appeared, was approaching in the opposite direction, and the night being dark, and the road extremely narrow at this place, it was necessary to be circumspect. He looked out of the window, but for some moments could only perceive the lamps of the other carriage, which was driving with considerable speed. At length, as it came nearer, moving more slowly, he observed what seemed to him, in his state of feverish insensibility, an evil omen of the result of his journey; the postillions wore white cockades, and it appeared evidently to be a marriage party. The two vehicles were now by the side of each other, their wheels grazing slightly as they passed; and Mortimer looked with a natural curiosity into the opposite window, which was open. The look that met his could not be mistaken; it had startled him on the solitary road; it had glanced on him at the inn door; and the expression of triumph, mingled half with derision, half with pity, which now shone with a magnificent and fatal lustre in its glance, withered his very soul. Gasping for breath, and catching with convulsive energy at the window-frame, he stretched forward to obtain a view of the bride; their eyes met; a terrible shriek rung in the ears of the wretched Mortimer; a second came more faintly, and more distant; and a third was lost in the rushing of the wheels and the trampling of the horses, as he found himself carried with headlong speed what matters it whither? Scientific Notices. REMARKABLE ATMOSPHERIC APPEARANCES. FROM PROFESSOR SILLIMAN'S AMERICAN JOURNAL. History and Description of some remarkable Atmospheric Appearances, as they were observed on the 19th of August, 1824, and Sep. 8, 1816, in the United States. (Continued from our last.) Copy of letter from Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill to Charles Meriwether, Esq. dated New York, March 13, 1824. DEAR SIR,-Your letter describing the meteorological phenomena of August 19, and the succeeding Friday, as they were observed in your part of Kentucky, reached me, in due course, through the Post-office. I suppose they must be classed among the halos and parhelions; though it is my opinion a better theory is To preserve from oblivion, an atmospherical appearance SAMUEL L. MITCHILL. Delineation of halos which appeared about the sun on the 8th of September, 1816-continuance about one hour, (from two to three o'clock, P.M.) at Newport, R. I.observed and delineated by D. Melville. * SIR WALTER SCOTT. We are informed that some of the editors of the Scotch journals assert, that the letter published by the French bookseller, purporting to be from Sir Walter Scott, and distinctly disavowing the authorship of Waverley and other novels ascribed to him, is not genuine. Every thing connected with the Scotch novels is out of the ordinary course. Why should the publisher of the French edition of works presumed to be by Sir Walter Scott, put forth a letter, stating that the reputed author was not the actual author? There can be no question that he believed the letter to be genuine, and conceived himself in honour bound to make it public. The course he pursued could not possibly serve his own peculiar interests, unless it be admitted that the Scotch Novels, as they are called, would be less popular, were Sir Walter Scott recognised as their author, than when the writer was unknown. But why did not Sir Walter Scott deny the authenticity of the letter in the French papers bearing his signature? Nearly a year has elapsed since that letter appeared. In whatever light we contemplate the conduct of Sir Walter Scott in this affair, we cannot acquit him of the charge of taking most unwarrantable liberties with his best friends, the public. Had he been resolved, either through caprice or interest, to remain seven years silent, like the disciples of one of the Greek sages, it would have been better than trifling with the public as he has done. When interrogated on the subject of the works ascribed to him, he ought to have declined giving an answer, leaving those who cared any thing about the matter to draw their own inferences from his silence. Edit. Kal. Newcastle-under-line correspondent, who lately favou We intended to mention, some time since, that if as with the solution of a critical position at Draugh should visit Liverpool, either on business or pleasure. think we can find a virtuoso, not very far from our off JOHN DUNN HUNTER. We ahall next week lay before readers further evidence of the barefaced Imposition of soi-disant great traveller. OPTICAL DECEPTION. We cannot understand the phenom non which is the subject of J. B. S.'s note. If he will rather more explicit, we will insert the communication We have just received, but have not yet perused, the e munication of J. L. C. The stanzas of H. W. J, shall be inserted next week. OR, Literary and Scientific Mirror. " UTILE DULCI." is familiar Miscellany, from which all religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending LITERature, Criticism, MEN and JANNERS, AMUSEMENT, elegant Extracts, Poetry, ANECDOTES, BIOGRAPHY, METEOROLOGY, the DRAMA, ARTS and SCIENCES, WIT and SATIRE, Fashions, Natural History, &c. forming handsome ANNUAL VOLUME, with an INDEX and TITLE-PAGE. Persons in any part of the Kingdom may obtain this Work from London through their respective Booksellers. a. 352.—Vol. VII. The Bouquet. brought nothing of my own but the thread that ties them." TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1827. pass over the description of Peery Clancy and his prohave here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have ceedings, too long for the space we can allot them, to the extracts alluded to at the head of this para graph. We shall, however, be obliged first to solicit the attention of the reader to a short preface, that he may better understand the subsequent extract. MONTAIGNE. TALES BY THE O'HARA FAMILY. In our last volume we have given some extracts m this interesting work; but we have from time time deferred transcribing the able and affecting rrative which we now present to our readers, to ther with some necessary editorial prefatory rearks which we wrote when the work first attracted u notice. on the dragoons as they passed by, and, in the twinkling "Arrah, then, may be that wasn't as nate a thrick, an' of an eye, every soldier was unsaddled and disarmed, and the prisoners, with grand and deafening acclaim, set at and so electric, tha no precautions could have been taken; liberty. The matter had been altogether so unexpected, and the military were not yet recovered from their surA young man of the name of Pierce Shea is forced prise, when the man who had given the first signal-word, by circumstances into the White-boy Association. with a face of laughing raillery addressed them. In an expedition undertaken by the White-boys, he as nately done, as ever you seen in your lifes, afore? Myrisks his life to save that of Peery Clancy, the tithe-self 'ud amost sware that you'll be for killin' all the proctor, who, in another moment, would have atoned corpses you meet on your road, from this day; an' faith with his life for the atrocities with which its progress lay on the ground, of which the lid had fallen off, and you may as well biggin now," pointing to the coffin that had been marked. Terence Delany, his deadly ene- allowed a parcel of large stones to trundle about; bud, my, the man whom be had ruined and driven to de- my darlin' red coats, as our work is done, we wants no spair, whose wife and children he had made house-more; no hurt or harm is intended to a sowl among ye: less, stood over him, ready to give the death blow. wid your own purty firelocks, too." glancing at the po though, to be sure, 'twould be no great bones to do id, At this instant Pierce Shea interposes; a dreadful lished barrel of the carbine he held in his bands; ** bud, up struggle between him and Delany ensues; Pierce is on your horses, an' go your ways; you know you can say victorious, and bears off the half-expiring proctor to you just dropt your prisoners on the road-an' so you did faith, like a hot phato, when you couldn't hold 'em-an' his own house, where he has scarcely laid him in don't know what the duoul come o' them, an' that 'ill be safety, than he is alarmed by the entrance of a civil no lie for you." and military force. He hides himself in the proc-are to attempt and succeed in an action, such as you truly Brave fellows!" cried the sergeant, "for brave you tor's room, at the same time relying for safety on say we have never seen equalled, and generous fellows, the proctor's gratitude for the signal service he had too, to give us life and liberty when we least expected just rendered him. He is, however, given up by the either-brave and generous men, listen to me. You say no harm is intended us; but to send us to our quarters wretch, on promise of a reward for the discovery of without our swords or carbines, would be the heaviest a White-boy; and Pierce Shea is apprehended and injury you could inflict: we should all be tried and put under a guard. Terence Delany is his fellow- punished for cowardice; I should be turned into the ranks; these poor fellows tied up to the triangle, and half lashed prisoner. At the first break of morning they are to death; in short, you ruin us, if you keep our arms. I tied, each behind a dragoon; and the party, fourteen propose a treaty. Discharge our carbines with your own in number, exclusive of the sergeant in command, hands, and then let us have them back, when we cannot further use them to your annoyance; and as for the set out for Kilkenny gaol.—Edit. Kal. swords, we shall each of us swear on his own, as you restore them, instantly to put them into our sheaths, and ride off without drawing them: by the faith and honour of soldiers and of men we shall !" The powerfully depicted scene, with the beautiful ad pathetic lament of the mother over the dead dy of her only son, are extracts from the tale ntitled “Crohoore of the Bill-hook," one of the first eries of the "Tales by the O'Hara Family." "The time of our story is placed in that period then Whiteboyism first began to appear in Ireland. abouring under the excessive penal code then in most full operation, though since partly repealed, id excluded by one of its enactments from even an portunity to become educated, and to gain an enhtened, or at least temperate, view of their own uation, the Irish peasantry, neglected, galled, and rd-driven, in poverty, bitterness, and ignorance, thout competent advisers, without leaders a step ove themselves, and scarcely with an object, wildly deavoured to wreak vengeance upon, rather than tain redress from, the local agents of some of the st immediate hardships that maddened them. First of all, there was, doubtless, a religious zy to urge them on. They saw their creed ounced, their form of worship, under heavy talties, interdicted, and they knew that, some years fore, their priests had been hunted like foxes, and ed to hide in caves and other places of conceal at, from the keen scent and vengeance of the most ignificant professors of the rival religion, who, th impunity, took arms in their hands to enforce rigid letter of an almost exterminating law, still their knowledge unrepealed." But perhaps," says the author, "the exquisite any of the merciless being into whose hands the ection of tithes too frequently falls, may give immediate spur to the headlong and often savage rse of the Irish peasant; and, with this supposi- [Join in the conversation in front;"'tis the Hoirish cry, obeyed; "and now, sergeant, you will prove your sin Peery Clancy, tithe-proctor, at the era of our tory, for the parish of Clarah, stands at once be eus."-The infamous and diabolic character of EXTRACTS. They had travelled about half of their journey, and just left behind a slip of mountain road, on each side of which hills clothed with heath and fur, and rocks bleached white by time and the weather, were the only scenery, and were now approaching a trifling hamlet, to which the more fertile land gently sloped, when a wild cry came on their ears, and presently a funeral procession, formed by a great concourse of country people of both sexes, appeared in view. As the mournful crowd drew near, the sergeant halted his men in the centre of the road, closed his files, got the prisoners in the midst, and only recommending all forbearance of insult, thus remained to let it pass. •D—n my eyes, Jack," said one of the men to his might scare Neddy, here, from his corn. Oye, that would," observed another, a Yorkshire giant, leaning forward on the pummel of his saddle to as 'em calls it, what such loike woild Hoirish always howls, dom 'em." Demme, though," cried a Cockney, "if them 'ere doant care a curse for dead choap, for all their outlandish em, "It 'ud be too bad on the poor cratures not to listen to ," said the leader to his companions. Faith, an' it would," said another. "An' they so mooch in arnest, an' promisin' so well," said two or three more. "We are not your enemies," resumed the sergeant, seeing them waver, but English soldiers, come into your country as bruthers, and only doing, as soldiers, a disagreeable duty; besides, you have bound us to you in gratitude for ever, and treachery, even if it was in our power, would be impossible." "Arrah, we'll gi' them the arms," now burst from the whole crowd. "Stop," said Pierce, advancing; "it is my duty, as this rescue has been undertaken for my advantage, to see that no evil grows out of it to my unknown friends; so, let the carbines be first discharged;" his commands were cerity by handing us your cartridge-pouches;" the sergeant readily couplied; Pierce emptied them, seperately, and returned them, together with their carbines and swords, which latter were, according to treaty, at once sheathed, while the dragoons remained still dismounted. The military party, with many professions of thanks, then gained their saddles, superfluously assisted by their new their miserable throats were also opened for a parting friends, who zealously opened to give free passage; and shout, when the sergeant, wheeling his troop round, gave the word, Soldiers, fire!" The pistols hidden in the bolsters had been, by one party, forgotten, and were in stantly discharged; every ball took effect, and fifteen men revenge. Terence's description, he might expect to find his helple survivors.-It may not be out of course here to rem that if the language uttered by Terence Delany too refined for one in his situation of life, it is ascerta as only in strict unison with the genius and idiom language in which he spoke, and from which we literally translated; in the Irish, there is nothing of is known by the name of vulgarism; its construction in the mouths of the peasantry, who to this day use i been and can be but little corrupted; nor could the f liar colloquy of the meanest among them be renderi English, into common-place or slang It would be setting up a claim for more of mildness than generally belongs to humanity, or perhaps expose him to the charge of pusillanimity in the opinion of some of our readers, were we to represent Pierce Shea as an inactive spectator of this affair; and our regard for facts is too strong not to acknowledge, that with the dragoon's sword, on which he now leaned, panting for breath, he had evinced, during the desperate struggle, a revengeful sense of, to his apprehension, the cruel treachery practised on his too credulous friends. The yet uncalmed passions of those around him were for some time indulged in undiminished uproar and confusion of sounds; some loudly rehearsed their exploits, or exultingly exhibited their Inquiring his way to Murtoch Maher's barn, wounds, or brandishing the arms of their foes, told of found the place was on his nearest way homeward what they would have done; the shouts of victory, or the destructive fire had, some time previously, consumed boisterous congratulations of triumph, were sent forth; or dwelling of a wealthy farmer; from a contiguou the ferocity of unsatiated vengeance was exhibited by a part of the thatch roof had, to prevent the spreading of few, who, with mad curses and imprecations, ran to tram-flame, been torn; one end was yet covered, but thr ple or hack anew the slaughtered dragoons and horses. the other end rain and storm found free admission: But dearly were that day's vengeance and triumph bought this was the comfortless dwelling of Moya Delany sad upwards of thirty peasants lay dead on the mountain road, three grandchildren. and near a dozen more were wounded. And then was heard the scream of women as they rushed from body to body, recognising a husband or brother among the slain or dying; or, what rings more awfully and terrifically on the ear, the rough commanding voice of men, changed to weakness and lamentation, as they, too, knelt in sorrow over the corpse of a father, a brother, or a son. The scene that now surrounded him, together with all his late adventures, might well seem to Pierce, as he stood gazing around him, exhausted, and scarce able to exert his judgment or recollections, but the confusion of a terrific dream; and his thoughts were yet uncollected, when a body that had hitherto lain as if lifeless, stirred at his feet, and a faint voice, not unfamiliar to his ear, pronounced his name. Shocked and thrown off his guard, he started aside, and then fixed his staring eyes on Terence Delany. There was a long and deep cut across the wretch's tem ple, and the blood flowed in a now thickened stream over his cheek, neck, and bosom. Pierce knelt, and endeavoured to raise him, but the gasping voice that came at intervals, requested his forbearance; he spoke, as usual, in Irish. "No, son of the Sheas, disturb me not, if you wish to leave my dying moment free for what I have to say; I am almost dead; promise to fulfil any last prayer." I do promise before God." Pierce soon came on the desolate group. The woman, of unusual height and bearing, in her mien features a strong likeness to her deceased son, stood tr with her back to the entrance, as he approached, youngest child asleep on her withered bosom, and the of two hungrily watching a few potatoes, that were roam in the white ashes of a fire made on the for with furze. Till the moment of his entering, Sheal sufficiently reflected on the difficulties of his mission, now felt painfully at a loss how to convey the d tidings he bore. The old woman had not perceived entrance, and he stood behind her for some moments his "Dieu a-uth" startled her as if from a trance ing quickly round, she then stared at him m neither uttering another word. At last she spoke firm, though mournful voice, and the following ensued in Irish: The dragoons thus surrounded, at first spurred and spurred to free themselves; but the outward circles of the country people pressed on those within, so that the horses stood wedged and powerless. A second volley from the holster pistols then immediately followed, with effect as deadly as the former; and louder and louder, and fiercer and fiercer, grew the shouts and efforts for vengeance. The wretched people were unprovided with any weapons except sticks, but they were furious as bulls, and active and ferocious as tigers; some grappled the reins of the horses, and others dragged the riders to the ground; though cut and hacked with the sabres that were still available, and trodden and trampled under the prancing feet of the affrighted animals, or themselves treading and trampling on the bodies of their dead companions, they did not flinch a jot; while their antagonists, unable to act in a party, every moment found their single bravery useless, or overpowered by repeated and ceaseless onsets. One man among the peasantry bounced up behind a dragoon, clasped him in his arms, and both tumbled to the earth; in an instant he was on his legs again, jumped on the breast of his prostrate enemy, wrenched the sword from his grasp, forced it through his temples, and emitting a shrill cry that was heard above all the other clamour, then waved it aloft, and with the rifled weapon proceeded to inflict deep and indiscriminate wounds on men and horses, until one wellaimed thrust brought him down, and he was crushed beneath the hoofs of the chargers. A goaded horse, unable to plunge forward, reared up and fell on his haunches, and the ill-fated rider was instantly deprived of life by the crowd that, bounding into the air, leaped and danced upon him. He who at the first commencement of the affair had acted as leader, laid hold of one of the poles of the She advanced, and fixed her eyes upon him. mock bier, and with it much annoyed the soldiers; a "My son ?-and what tidings from my son ?--I sabre reached him in the abdomen; he snatched a handsee him last night, but my dreams were with Tere kerchief from a woman's neck, bound it round the ghastly Here, then, untie this-pointing with his feeble fin--your face frightens me, young man; tell your errend wound, and darting forward on his assaulter, grappled ger to his bloody shirt, where Shea found a few shillings My face ought to show the sorrow of my heart," with him till the dragoon was lifeless, and, the handker- carefully secured by a thread-"you must take that to Pierce, in a broken accent, handing the little legacy, chief giving way, his own intestines burst from his body my mother, and now the only mother of my children-I "God of glory!I dreamt I sat by his corpse-and with the exertion. While all this went on, frantic women begged it for them since we parted; you will find them moment I was looking at his coffin in the fire;" Kined the fences at either side of the road, and with terrible, all, not far from this, in a ruined barn, near to the caught his arm, and gazed more wildly and keenly in outcries of fear and encouragement, prayers for their blackened walls of Murtoch Maher's house; lead her to his eyes :-"my son is dead!—áy, and here is blood up friends and curses for their enemies, clapping of hands my corpse; and tell her I died, wishing for her blessing; you, and you are his murderer " and tearing of their hair, added to the already deafening and blessing, though they are not here with me, her son's yell of the combatants, to their shouts of savage onset, or children-and-" his voice grew for a moment stronger, savage triumplr, and the groans or shrieking of the his glassy eye lit up, and he was able to raise his clenched wounded. hand and braced arm as he added, tell her, too, I died with the traitor's blood upon me"-he sunk down, and Pierce thought he was dead; but soon after he again opened his eyes, and without motion resumed: This bloody scene was enacted in little more than a minute. In fact, the sergeant and the three men who had at first broken through the crowd with him, after discovering that they were galloping alone on their road homeward, scarcely had time to face about again to the relief of their eleven comrades, and to re-approach the outward lines of the infuriated crowd, when those eleven were reduced to one. From their elevation above the heads of the assailants they were then able to form a pretty correct opinion of how matters stood. They had not yet dis charged their second pistols, but, after a moment's pause of indignation, did so, and, as before, every shot told. The wildest cry that had yet been heard arose, a number of voices exclaiming, together, as the dragoons followed up their volley with a furious charge-" Make way, boys, and let thein in!" The crowd accordingly divided. This was what the sergeant had wished and tempted; he fell back with his little party, and cried out, 66 Fly, comrades! retreat, retreat!" The single survivor rushed pale and bloody through the human gap, escaping many missiles aimed at him by the baffled people, and 66 "Away, sergeant, away!" he shouted, striking, for one push at life, the sides of his snorting steed. Where are the rest ?" asked the sergeant; why do they lag behind ?" They cannot help it," answered the rescued, and, till that moment, despairing man, spurring past them, nor we either-on, on.' Is it so ?" resumed the sergeant; "let us ride, then!" -and all instantly gallopped off at their horses' utmost speed, a mingled roar of disappointment, rage, and triumph, following them for the short time they remained n view. I am going to meet you, Ailleen, wife of my heart; yes, the pulse of my heart you were, when it was young and joyful; and when it grew black and sorrowful, still you were its darling; you might have been rich, but you were poor with Terence-oh! tell my mother, young man, to be kind to poor Ailleen's children;"-a rapid convulsion passed over his face, his limbs unconsciously quivered, and the black blood gushed fresher from his deathwound, in consequence of a violent effort he made to grasp Pierce's arm, as with unwinking eyes rivetted on him, he just had time to say My heart is sorry, young gentleman, offer you a seat in this poor place." There is no necessity, good woman;" and his time, choked up, as he looked around; I have only t sage from your son." "A merciful Heaven forbid !"-"But he is gone from the old mother, and the orphans ?" This was asked in a tone of the deepest mis whilst her own tears now came fast. "Christ have pity on you!" was Pierce Shea's answer, while he covered his face with his hands. She was stupified, but did not fall, Then she plentifully, but without loud lament. She sat and d the children around her, and told them they had no fi now; at the same time pressing, with one arm, u screamed, the infant that lay on her breast, and wit other encircling the two elder ones, whose piercing arose, as they clung to her tattered but clean ve After some time she desired Pierce to relate the of her son's death; and as he went on, rage, revenge when he had uttered the last part of Terence's dying sage, triumph flushed her face, and dried the tears cheeks, and the widowed and childless old woman in a stern voice him "You saved me from the crime of murder-I owe it to you that, now as I go to face my Maker, I have not "He died with the blood of the traitors upon that red sin upon my soul-and I would requite you.- "He did I saw it wet upon his hands.” First, I pray that your young days may be full of joy, that "Then he died as I would have him die," she res your beloved may be like my Ailleen, and that your chil- rising up," and no tear shall ever more drop fro dren, and your children's children, may rise up to be a mother's eye, to wet the early grave of Terence De comfort to you-and-and-the last words were scarce-Pierce saw her, with astonishment, catch up a audible or intelligible-"listen, and do not move me--listen with your soul-an enemy is close upon you-put no trust- -"he stretched out his gaunt limbs, and died. The tears streamed down Pierce's cheeks; general carnage does not start a tear, when a particular misery, like this, will unlock the sluices of human feeling. With the assistance of two women he bore the body to the village, where, in a spacious barn, the corpses of those whose homes were not near, were laid out" in ghastly array, but with all reverence and decency: and as Pierce Shea was most anxious to be at his father's house, he lost no time in first fulfilling the sad request of the dying man, and therefore quickly turned his feet towards the place where, by poor vessel full of water, and extinguish the embers of th and then she took the second eldest child by the motioned the other to the entrance, and with the yo still held on one arm, added, in a tone more of con than of entreaty, Lead me to my son's corpse; i be stretched, and watched, and buried, and those left behind him must sit at its head." Thus admonished, and under such afflicting stances, Pierce, notwithstanding his own anxiety home, could not hesitate to comply; so, taking the from the old woman's arms, he led the way; she, firm step, and the two other grandchildren held ea the hand, silently following. It was known that Terence Delany had no home; and when they arrived at the barn in which, as we before noticed, his body was "laid out," they found that all the usual attentions had been bestowed upon it. The mother walked straight up to his bier, only casting a few rapid glances at each side, on the other corpses that lined her way; she stood erect for a moment over the silent features of her only son; then slowly stooped, and kissed his lips; and at last bursting into an irregular and dismal song, attered, in many an unequal dhass, or verse, his keen thecaun. "I nursed you at my breast; I baked your marriage cake; I sit at your head-Ullah! "I gave you my milk; I fed you with my heart's blood; look upon yours. "I rocked your cradle; I nursed your children; I must follow in your funeral. "Your children are about me; I see my child's children! but I see not my child. "I remember your face in youth; its brightness was manly like the sun's; it made daylight round about me. **I remember your form in the dance; and strong was your arm when you wrestled with the young men; none was like my son to me. **And none was like him to his own Ailleen, the wife of his bosom; Ailleen, with the blue eyes, and the yellow hair; her children look at me with her eyes. Many strove for Ailleen; but she left her father's riches to share your cabin; she chose you above all; she was your bride. Ailleen was beautiful and good; you loved one another; and my heart laughed to see you in your own house; the old mother's heart, sitting by your lire. **And all your days were pleasant till the destroyer ame; then your young cheeks grew pale, and the light left your eyes, and I laughed no more. Ruin blackened your youth, and made your hearts old too soon, and ended your days: Ailleen died first; you see her now where she is; tell Ailleen your mother loves ber. "I am left alone; and the little children of Ailleen have no father. "But I weep not for you now; you fell revenging yourself on our enemies; the blood of the traitors shall alone nourish the green grass on your grave. "I nursed you at my breast; I baked your marriage cake; I sit at your head!-Ullah!" Scientific Notices, Comprehending Notices of new Discoveries or Improvements in Science or Art; including, occasionally, sin gular Medical Cases; Astronomical, Mechanical, PhiFosophical, Botanical, Meteorological, and Mineralogical Phenomena, or singular Facts in Natural History; Vegetation, &c.; Antiquities, &c.; List of Patents. REMARKABLE ATMOSPHERIC APPEARANCES. FROM PROFESSOR SILLIMAN'S AMERICAN JOURNAL. istory and Description of some remarkable Atmospheric Appearances, as they were observed on the 19th of August, 1824, and Sept. 8, 1816, in the United States. (Concluded from our last.) SOLAR HALOS. Prefixed to the following article, in the Rhode Island per, from which we copy it, is the paragraph published the National Intelligencer of September 11, announcing sphenomenon as seen in that city. We have thought $ particular account of it, as observed elsewhere, would acceptable to our readers. this second circle having a mock sun, less bright than the the reflection and refraction of light in the rainbow, it requires an alteration or modification to suit the case of halos and pharhelia. I consider the scientific application of the laws of optics, to solve this phenomenon, as one of the most inviting subjects of modern science. It seems to be a casus omissus, or prætermissus in the Newtonian doctrine. An ardent genius in our country might supply the hiatus." I view the reasonings of "A." in the Rhode Island Republican, republished in the National Intelligencer, October 3, as being superior to any thing I have seen on this subject. Washington City, Oct. 11. [From the Philadelphia Register, Sept. 17, 1816.] A description is given in the National Intelligencer, of the 12th instant, of a circle or halo, which was observed at Washington on the 8th September; and as the writer is desirous of knowing the extent of this curious phenomenon, I shall attempt to describe it as it appeared in this vicinity. It would be presumption in the writer to attempt accounting for the causes of a phenomenon in nature, which has remained unaccounted for by the philosophers of the Between eleven and twelve o'clock on Sunday, 8th present and preceding ages; but it will not be considered Sept. a beautiful corona or halo, was seen at Holmesburg, presumption to premise the causes of a phenomenon, which near Philadelphia, around the sun. The diameter apcauses are so self-evident as to have been considered un-peared about half the size of a rainbow, the rim or edge worthy the notice of the Newtons and Franklins and Rit- strongly marked with prismatic colours, and particularly tenhouses that have gone before us Halos or circles, a deep orange; the body of the circle was very misty, but around the sun or moon, have always been considered as on the outside a clear blue sky. To the northward of this, the precursors of rain, (or snow in the winter season) and there was another complete circle, of about the like dimenall are accustomed to predict the number of hours to elapse sions, intersecting the former, and passing through the before falling weather, by the number of stars visible centre of the sun, at its southern extremity. Intersecting within a circle about the moon. this circle to the northward, were arcs of two other circles, of much larger dimensions, crossing at each other-colour whitish, but fainter than the other. The sky was remarkably clear to the northward, cloudy towards the at-south. In a southerly direction, there was also observed, about one eighth part of a circle above the clouds, with very bright colours. L. The rainbow is formed by the reflection and refraction of the sun's rays on the falling globular particles of rain. Halos about the sun or moon are formed by the refraction of the rays of light on a medium more dense than the mosphere, without any reflection as in the rainbow. For six or eight weeks previous to the appearance of the phenomenon just described, very little rain had fallen on any part of this continent: as far as we have heard, the drought was general. To account for the phenomenon as it appeared here, let us suppose the atmosphere to be abundantly charged with vapour taken up by the sun, but not yet form ei into clouds of sufficient density to fall in rain, but of a density sufficient to cause a refraction of the sun's rays in their passage through it. Let us also suppose a north-easter commencing, (which was observed by Dr. Franklin always to commence in the south-west,) forming a counter current in the higher regions of the atmosphere, carrying the dense vapour with it from the S. W. to the N. E. And let us suppose also the most dense part of the volume of vapour to extend from the S. E. to the N. W. Then the rays of the sun, being refracted in their passage, through this dense medium, would form the primary halo, with prismatic colours proportioned to the density of the medium and the intensity of his rays-the most dense part of the medium or surrounding vapour causing a concentration of the sun's rays on that part, forming a mock sun, or sun-dog; the rays of light thrown off from which would form the second circle on the surrounding vapour. The same cause would occasion a concentration of the rays of light forming mock suns nearly on a right line N. W. and S. E. on the second circle, from the mock sun on the north-eastern limb of the primary halo; the rays of light thrown off from which would form the two circles of the third order, of double the diameter of the second, which circles crossing the secondary halo on the north-eastern part, forming another concentration of the rays of light, which being again. thrown off on the more distant and less dense medium, would form the great circle, extending below the horizon in the N. E, and crossing the third circles in a direction, if continued, to meet at the south-western limb of the primary halo. That these are the causes of those wonderful phenomena seems confirmed by the north-east gale that followed, commencing on Monday evening, and by the abundance of rain which has since fallen. At this place the rain commenced on the 9th, at night, and fell in torrents, almost without intermission, for eight days in succession. Extract of a letter from a young gentleman in Newcastle, (Del.) to his sister in the city of New York, dated Sept. 10, 1826.-"On Sunday morning last, at about eleven o'clock, we were surprised by a most singular appearance of four circles on and about the sun's disk, each having perfect all the colours of the rainbow. One of them (the most brilliant) crossed the sun's centre; two each cut the centre of the first, and the fourth was connected, and at some distance from the sun. Some of us are superstitious and were frightened, and none of us can give a conjecture as to what has produced them." Washington City, Sept. 25, 1816. I have sketched an uncommon halo which I saw here. I think it is an opprobrium to modern philosophy, that no satisfactory solution of the result of reflection and refraction has been given, at least I have seen none. It was seen at Philadelphia, and at Newcastle, Delaware-at the last place with extraordinary modifications. No man is better able than, you are to solve the phenomenon. I have the honour to be, with esteem, and very respectfully yours, JOSIAH MEIGS. To the Hon. S. L. Mitchill, New York. A. Barometer [From the R. I. Republican.] The above described phenomenon was observed at this be on the same day, Sunday, September 8th, between hours of two and three in the afternoon: duration of appearance about 40 or 50 minutes. The annexed [From the National Intelligencer.] ich was delineated at the time by actual observation. Extract of a letter from Dr. S. L. Mitchill, dated The sun at that hour bearing about south west. The October 4, 1816.- I thank you for your account of the immediately encircling the sun was about the usual halo of September 8, accompanied with a drawing. Under Mar. meter of those commonly seen, but uncommonly bright, a conviction that such natural appearances ought to be og tinged in its whole circumference with prismatic co-recorded for the benefit of the present time, and the inrs, especially on its upper and north-eastern limb, where formation of our successors, I caused the most remarkable right mock sun (or sun dog, as it is usually called by meteor of this kind that I ever beheld, to be delineated men) was formed; the rays of light from which formed and preserved in the Medical Repository. In the 10th econd halo of a smoky white colour, well defined in its volume of that work, its history and figures may be seen; ole circumference, but more faintly as it approached the where, in addition to two circles, like those you observed, mary halo on its south-western limb, where they united, there were five parhelia, and two of them tailed. Recond being exactly double the diameter of the first; | "As to a theory of the colours which are produced by 14 15 16 29 61 40 0 49 0 50 0 S.W. Fair. 28 52 42 40 O 0 47 0 W.N.W. Fair. 29 85 39 .0 42 0 50 0 W. Fair. 17 29 62 41 0 43 0 47 O N.W. Stormy. 18 30 10 35 0 41 043 0 N.W. Fair. 29 95 37 0 40 0 53 0 S.S.E. Cloudy. 20 29 95 41 0 51 0 53 0 W.S.W. Rain. 19 16th, Three, p.m. rain. 17th, Severe gale during night, with heavy rain. 7 |