er of ceremonies turning towards the people,
said, with a high voice, that he gave them thanks in the name of their
ancestors, for having so well honoured them; and in recompense he
promised them, on their part, a plentiful harvest, a fruitful issue,
good health and long life, and all those advantages which are most
pleasing to men.

The Chinese have also in their houses a niche, or hollow place, in which
they put the names of their deceased fathers, to which they make prayers
and offerings of perfumes and spices at certain periods.

A.V.

* * * * *

THE SELECTOR;
AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_.

HISTORY OF POLAND.

This volume, a goodly octavo, will be peculiarly acceptable at the
present season. It presents a lucid view of Polish history, from the
earliest period to the present eventful moment; and, as a passage of
immediate interest, we quote the following character of the President of
the National Government of Poland:

This illustrious personage, Prince Adam Czartoryski, is the
eldest son of the late prince of the same house, and is
descended from the family of Jagellon, the ancient sovereigns of
Lithuania. His father was long known, not only as a nobleman of
the first rank in Poland, but as one of the most accomplished
scholars in Europe. Such was his reputation, that at the period
of the last vacancy in the throne of Poland, Poniatowski
(afterwards king) was deputed by the diet to propitiate the
Empress Catherine, to second the election of Czartoryski; but
the deputy's handsome form found such favour in the licentious
eyes of the modern Messalina, that he ceased to urge the suit of
the diet, and returned the avowed nominee of his imperial
mistress. Prince Czartoryski's claims on the throne, popularity,
and consequent influence, rendered him odious to the court of
St. Petersburg, and when the last act of spoliation was
perpetrated, his lands were ravaged, his beautiful Castle of
Pulawy destroyed, and a sentence of extermination pronounced
against him, unless he would consent to send his two sons, one
the subject of this notice, and the other Prince Constantino
Czartoryski, as hostages to St. Petersburg. To avoid this
wretched alternative, the prince and his princess, who still
survive, consented to the separation, and the two young
noblemen, were placed under the eye of t