mpress upon me that he was not vain, and gave various proofs to
establish this; but I produced against him his boasts of swimming, his
evident desire of being considered more _un homme de societe_ than a
poet, and other little examples, when he laughingly pleaded guilty,
and promised to be more merciful towards his friends.

Byron attempted to be gay, but the effort was not successful, and he
wished us good night with a trepidation of manner that marked his
feelings. And this is the man that I have heard considered unfeeling!
How often are our best qualities turned against us, and made the
instruments for wounding us in the most vulnerable part, until,
ashamed of betraying our susceptibility, we affect an insensibility
we are far from possessing, and, while we deceive others, nourish in
secret the feelings that prey _only_ on our own hearts!

--_New Monthly Magazine._

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

_Canary Birds._--In Germany and the Tyrol, from whence the rest of
Europe is principally supplied with Canary birds, the apparatus for
breeding Canaries is both large and expensive. A capacious building
is erected for them, with a square space at each end, and holes
communicating with these spaces. In these outlets are planted such
trees as the birds prefer. The bottom is strewed with sand, on which
are cast rapeseed, chickweed, and such other food as they like.
Throughout the inner compartment, which is kept dark, are placed
bowers for the birds to build in, care being taken that the breeding
birds are guarded from the intrusion of the rest. Four Tyrolese
usually take over to England about sixteen hundred of these birds; and
though they carry them on their backs nearly a thousand miles, and pay
twenty pounds for them originally, they can sell them at 5_s_. each.

_Braithwaite's Steam Fire Engine_--will deliver about 9,000 gallons
of water per hour to an elevation of 90 feet. The time of getting the
machine into action, from the moment of igniting the fuel, (the water
being cold,) is 18 minutes. As soon as an alarm is given, the fire is
kindled, and the bellows, attached to the engine, are worked by hand.
By the time the horses are harnessed in, the fuel is thoroughly
ignited, and the bellows are then worked by the motion of the wheels
of the engine. By the time of arriving at the fire, preparing the
hoses, &c. the steam is ready.

Fisher, bishop of Rochester, was accustomed to style