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Breach in the Bank of the Great River Ouse, near Lynn, Norfolk. This is nearly 140 yards in extent, in the parish of Magdalen, near Lynn. By this river are conveyed into the ocean the highland waters of the counties of Huntingdon, Cambridge, Bedford, and Buckinghamshire. The breach was occasioned by the recent high gales.

The Hazards of the Sea, in life and property, have been far greater than perhaps has been known during the past month or six weeks.

The Spanish Expedition, by the latest account, seems to be in a deplorable state. At Santander and Vittoria, want of clothing and proper food are severely felt. Typhus fever was carrying off 15 recruits a-day at Santander; it is much questioned if General Evans could bring 3000 troops into the field. Cordova seems to lie under suspicion of having endeavoured to betray the allied forces. The provisions for the town of Santander come from France, and it is said it would be well if the army were also supplied from the same country.

Grant to the Irish Clergy.-After much discussion, the Corporation of the City of London voted 2001.

Prisoners' Counsel Bill.—Against this humane and proper measure, Mr. Poulter, M.P., said he would never consent to a speech on the part of the prisoner in every case of felony, because he was sure such a practice would injure prisoners!!-[Is this by saving them from being hung, or protecting the innocent?]

The Hon. Anna Maria Fitzmaurice, Viscountess Kirkwall, was, on the 17th ult., declared by a jury of unsound mind, and incompetent to manage her affairs from the 25th Dec. 1831. When the viscountess left the room she bowed politely to the commissioners. This investigation had lasted eight days, at the cost of 200 guineas a-day for witnesses, and expenses; besides, daily, to the commissioners 5 guineas; to 23 jurors, 1 guinea each; three physicians, 10 guineas; Mr. Cuff's room, 5 guineas; Mr., Thesiger, 100 guineas, and 20 guineas a-day; Messrs. Ellison and Whately, 60 guineas, and 10 guineas a-day; Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, 100 guineas, and 20 guineas a-day; Mr. Miller, 50 guineas, and 10 guineas a-day. Mr. Sergeant Wilde had been applied to in support of the commission, but demanded 1000 guineas, which was not acceded to.

A Pearl in a Periwinkle.-The Hampshire Advertiser reports to have just seen a pearl of about one-twelfth of an inch in diameter, extracted from a periwinkle, although it has been previously supposed that they are only in oysters.

A Mine of Liquid Quicksilver has been found in Haute Vienne; a vein of gold was supposed to exist on the same spot, but it was not considered rich enough to pay for the working.

Absurd Custom.-George the Second died in Kensington Palace. According to the etiquette, that no person, except a sovereign, can reside in the apartment in which a king has expired, that portion of the palace has been unoccupied ever since the year 1760; it is, however, likely when the repairs, which were very much needed, in the palace are completed, that the whole palace will be for the use of the Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria.

Snow fell about the 7th of February, between

Devizes and Marlborough, and Bath and Marlborough, to the depth in parts of 14 feet: in one coach two ladies were detained all night on the road.

Cemetery Ground Fees.-In St. George's in the East, the sum of 521. 2s. 8d. was charged for wine, refreshments, a band of music, tents, &c., upon the day the burial-ground was recently consecrated by the Bishop of London.

Alien Registration.-Lord John Russell proposed a very mild bill, merely requiring the parties to register their names, country, and intended place of residence, and that the department should be removed to the Home-office. Mr. Warburton called it (not improperly) "a ghost of a bill." Leave was given to bring in a bill. [The security of the country does not appear to us to be likely in any way to be endangered by the entrance of foreigners; and it would really be a NOBLE example, merely to require foreigners on entering this country to fill up a printed form, specifying name, country, age, city in which ordinarily residing, profession or calling, married or single, with the names of the several members of the family, if any, so that a statistical registration, if needed, might be made of it, and the parties discovered, if necessary.]

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Elopement. The eldest son of Admiral the Hon. Sir - has eloped with a person who filled some menial situation in his father's family. He has several sisters, and is nephew of a noble marquis.

Steam to India. We last month accidentally omitted the following interesting particulars :Mr. Waghorn arrived at Alexandria on the 28th Nov., and immediately took charge of the mails for the East Indian presidencies, and proceeded without delay for the Nile, where he arrived in the evening of the 29th. He had succeeded in procuring a proper boat to convey the bags to Cairo, where he expected to arrive on the 2nd Dec., and from thence to reach Suez in a journey of two days: hoping to make the entire voyage from Malta to Bombay in fifty days.

Menai Bridge.-The weight of metal in the Menai Bridge is 4,000,000 lbs., and its height above the level of the water is 120 feet; its mass might be lifted from the level of the water to its present position, by the combustion of four bushels of coal.

Intense Frost.-In Lapland, during the Christmas holidays, the mercury was frozen in the thermometer.

Boring for Spring Water.-At Southampton, after boring 520 feet, the last thirty through a bed of chalk, an adequate supply of the purest water has been obtained.

Athenian Sarcophagus. An ancient sarcophagus was discovered at Athens at the end of December last in the court-yard of the Mint, a skeleton only was found in it.

Rubens.-A statue by M. Geefs, a talented Belgian sculptor, is about to be erected to Rubens, for which (in English money) 40007. has been subscribed.

Drinkable Sea-water.-The distillation of palatable and fresh water at sea has been effected by P. Nicole, of Dieppe, by simply causing the steam arising from boiling seawater in a still to pass through a stratum of coarsely-powdered charcoal, in its way to the condenser or worm-tub.

A long Holiday to Freemasonry, Orange Societies, &c.-By his Majesty's gracious answer to the address of the Commons, an effectual discouragement is to be put to all Orange lodges, and generally to all political societies, excluding persons of a different religious faith using secret signs and symbols, and acting by means of associated branches, throughout his Majesty's dominions.

The death of the young reigning Queen of Naples, caused by a bilious fever, took place on the 31st January, 1836.

Death of Napoleon's Mother.-Madame Maris Letitia Bonaparte died at Rome, (where she had resided from the year 1814,) on the 2nd of February, at 1 a. m. She was born August 24, 1750, at Ajaccio, from the Ramilini family. Being blind, and obliged to keep her bed, she used to receive visits from only a few intimate friends. Cardinal Fesch, her brother-inlaw, visited her daily, and was at her bed-side in her last moments. She who had once seen all ber children upon thrones, had, since the eventful 1814, heard only continually of their deaths. The death of the Princess de Montfort, of whom she was dotingly fond, was the last of these calamities. There had been so often reports of her death, that when the event was announced it was scarcely credited. It seems she retained her senses until, in a calm and quiet sleep, she breathed her last. Her remains were interred in a very quiet manner, for fear of creating any popular commotion.

The late Thomas Walker, Esq.-The Rev. D. Mathis, rector, together with the overseers of the poor and trustees of the parish of St. Mary,

Whitechapel, have condoled with the brother of this respected magistrate. What mode of praise can be higher than is conveyed in the following:-" Where parochial discussions formerly attained a high pitch, a state of peace and unity has ensued, which for many years has known no interruption." He disseminated amongst all classes those opinions which were best calculated for its amelioration. "We reflect with gratitude under his official superintendence, from the same practical views which regulated his decision, and from the ardour with which he provided the one, and at all times encouraged the execution of plans for the improvement of our parochial affairs."-[We think we know (we speak officially) another magistrate in Marylebone, whose living worth is equally appreciated with that of the benevolent and much lamented Mr. Walker.]

Lamentable End.-A little girl, five years old, who had been confined all night for breaking a pane of glass in a gentleman's window in Yorkstreet, was lately crushed instantaneously to death, at eight in the morning, whilst sleeping on the guard-bed, wrapped up in one of the men's cloaks, by one of the tall chimneys of the policeoffice, which was blown down during the heavy gale at Belfast, and fell in through the roof of the building.

Extraordinary Accident.-Lately, at Messrs. Combe and Delafield's brewery, Long Acre, Robert Burns was engaged throwing out grains from the third floor into a waggon below. The high wind blew the doors too, the man was precipitated to the bottom, and much injured.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.

BIRTHS.

Feb. 3, at Oulton Park, Cheshire, Lady Grey Egerton, of a daughter.-Feb. 1, at Mote Park, Athlone, the Lady Crofton, of a son.-Feb 8, at Wiltoncrescent, the Lady Charlotte Egerton, of a daughter. -Feb. 9. at Dudley-house, the Marchioness Conyngham, of a daughter, still-born.-Feb. 8, at Detchley Park, the Viscountess Dillon, of a dangh ter.-Feb. 10, at Belmont, Kent, the Right Hon. Lady Harris, of a daughter.-Feb. 15, in London, the Right Hon. Viscountess Forbes, of a son.-Feb. 14, at Kingston House, Dorset, the Lady of the late Lord Suffield, of a sou.-Feb. 14, at Warter Priory, near Pocklington, Yorkshire, the Right Hon. Lady Muncaster, of a daughter.- Feb. 14, at No. 6, Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh, the Hon. Lady Menzies, of a daughter.-Feb. 19, at Torrington-square, the wife of Sir Harry Nicholas, K.C.M.G., of a daughter.Feb. 5, in Cornwall-terrace, Regent's-park, the lady of Patrick Cruickshank, Esq., of a daughter.Feb. 2, Mrs. S. Straight, of Bedford-place, Russellsquare, of a daughter.

MARRIAGES.

Feb. 3, at Marylebone church, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Hon. Lord Colchester, to the Hon. Elizabeth Susan Law, second daughter of the late, and sister of the present Lord Ellenborough.-Feb. 13, at Wimbledon, by the Rev. H. Lindsay, the Hon. John Carnegie, second son of Admiral, the late Earl of Northesk, G.C.B., to Charlotte, only daughter of the late David Stevenson, Esq. of Dollan.-Jan. 26, at the British Embassy, Berne, Oscar de Satge, Baron de Thoren, of Thoren Pyrenees, France, to Millient, only daughter of William Wall, Esq., Worcest r.

DEATHS.

Feb. 9, at Chelsea-park, after a few days' illness, the Lady Frances Wright Wilson, only surviving sister of the Marquis of Ailesbury.- Feb. 10, at his house, Rivers street, Bath, in the 71st year of his age, Commissary General Sir W. Henry Robinson, K. C. H.-Feb. 5, at Paris, at his residence in the Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin, Lady Sheridan, wife of Lieutenant-General Sir W. Sheridan, Bart-Jan. 18, at Northampton, William Hughes, Esq., civil engineer, under whose hands the Caledonian Canal, and other great works, were executed.-Jan. 1, of scarlet fever, Susan, the third daughter of Captain Naus, R.N., of Clythe Cottage, Monmouth, on the Sunday following, Martha, the eldest; and on the 6th, Mrs. Nares, with an infant female child-and within five days, a mother and three children were buried in the same grave. On the 28th of the preceding month they were all in excellent health.-At Brussels, T. Walker Esq., police magistrate. He had been making a visit to the prisons in the neighbourhood and places of confinement, and was in perfect health and spirits but a few days before his death.-The Earl of Stair, lately, at Paris.-At Chertsey, a Mr. W. Goring, aged 104 years.- Feb. 21, William Van Mildert, D.D., Bishop of Durham. Dr. Van Mildert was consecrated Bishop of Llandaff in 1829, and translated to the see of Durham in 1826.-At Abberley, Worcestershire, Mrs. Mary Bagnall, at the age of 102 years. Until about three months of her death she enjoyed excellent health, and her faculties were very little impaired.-Miss Isabella Robson, at Capheaton, North Shields, killed instantaneously, by the falling of a tree of the largest dimensions, which was torn up by the roots, during the tremendous storm on Saturday, the 16th Jan.

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In authentic portral engraved exclusively for the Lady's Magazine and Museum

VOL. IX.

W. 30 of the series of ancunt portraits

Dobbs and Street, publishers, 15. Carey street. London.

1836

LADY'S MAGAZINE

AND

MUSEUM

OF THE BELLES-LETTRES, FINE ARTS, MUSIC, DRAMA, FASHIONS, &c.

IMPROVED SERIES ENLARGED.

APRIL, 1836.

UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT.

MEMOIR OF THE COMTESSE DE GRIGNAN
(DAUGHTER OF MADAME DE SEVIGNE).

Illustrated by an authentic whole-length Engraving, beautifully coloured from the celebrated original at Versailles by Mignard.

[Subscribers' Copies contain two Plates, illustrative of the Fashions, and one of the Series of ancient authentic Portraits:' the Magazine should be delivered on or before the 1st of each Month. Each volume is completed in six numbers, with an Index, so that the present half-yearly volume will contain Portraits of the Empress Catherine the Second; Marie Touchet; Madame de Sevigné; the Countess Grignan, her beautiful Daughter; the unfortunate Queen, Marie Antoinette; Renée de Chateauneuf; with about 450 pages of letterpress, and twelve Engravings of the newest Parisian Fashions.]

It were almost profanation to detach the memoir of this lady from that of her celebrated mother-the narrative of their lives is so closely interwoven, that it is impossible to do so without tedious and useless repetition; we will, therefore, refer our readers to information regarding this beautiful countess, to the memoir published in our last number, here contenting ourselves with a sketch of her character, as it is handed down to us in the writings of her era, and the interesting family correspondence known to the world by the title of "Letters of the Marquise de Sevigné."

Intemperate praise abounds in Madame de Sevigné's letters, and this error in judgment had certainly an injurious effect on the manners of her daughter. The Countess de Grignan was of unimpeachable moral conduct, yet the traditions of the French court and the contents of Madame de Grignan's own letters, give any thing but a favourable impression of the disposition of this celebrated beauty. It may at once be seen that she was vain and pedantic, cold, affected, and censorious, presenting the most disagreeable

2 E-VOL. VIII.—APRIL.

traits of a precieuse, an exclusive, and a blue stocking; in short, directly the reverse in manners to her frank, sweettempered, and highly-gifted mother. These faults are oftener, indeed, seen in female amateur literati, than ladies who are professionally authors. The blue-stocking faults in Madame de Grignan's character, may be traced to the excessive personal flattery her doating mother was constantly pouring into her ear. Her parent was a virtuous wife and a careful mother, but she ought to have known that no human creature can bear never-ceasing homage; the mind naturally becomes wearied and peevish with the fatiguing repetition of exaggerated epithets of endearment : such constant adulation as was offered daily to Madame de Grignan, would, indeed, have been a greater trial of Christian virtue, than the most bitter persecution, or the fire even of pagan torture itself.

We have seen that this doating mother died in her seventieth year, at Count de Grignan's castle, in Provence, whilst nursing her daughter during an alarming attack of illness. The beautiful

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