wood's Mag._

After this specimen of "Contributors" who would be an Editor? It is a fair
sample of more than one "paralytic periodical:" our readers must bear in
mind a certain point of etiquette about "present company."

* * * * *

FRAMEWORK OF SOCIETY.

"It is curious," says the _London Magazine_, "to imagine what the society
of _New South Wales_ may be two thousand years hence. The ancestors of a
portion of our proud nobility were thieves of one kind, the chieftain of
ruder times being often nothing better than a well-established robber. And
why may not the descendants of another kind of thieves glory equally in
their origin at some distant day, and proudly trace themselves to a Soames
and a Filch, and dwell with romantic glow, on their larcenous deeds? A
descendant of Soames may have as much pride in recalling the deeds of that
distinguished felon in the Strand, as a descendant of a border chief has in
recounting his ancestors levies of blackmail."--Pope might well say--

"What can ennoble sots, or fools, or cowards,
Alas! not all the blood of all the Howards"

* * * * *

SEEING IS BELIEVING.

In South America, the whole population is equestrian. No man goes to visit
his next door neighbour on foot; and even the beggars in the street ask
alms on horseback. A French traveller being solicited for charity by one of
these mounted petitioners, at Buenos Ayres, makes the following entry in
his note-book.--"16th November. Saw a beggar this morning, who asked alms
of me, mounted on a tall grey horse. The English have a proverb, that
says--'Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll ride to the devil!' I had often
heard this mentioned, but never saw one upon his way before."

_Monthly Mag._

We remember to have seen in Paris a man in a sort of chaise, grinding an
organ, drawn by two ponies, and followed by a boy--begging from house to
house. From the faded _livery_ worn by the boy, we set the whole down as a
burlesque.

* * * * *

SHADOW CATCHER.

I was present, some years ago, at the trial of a notorious obeah-man,
driven on an estate in the parish of St. David, who, by the overwhelming
influence he had acquired over the minds of his deluded victims, and the
more potent means he had at command to accomplish his ends, had done great
injury among the slaves on the property before it was discovered. One of
the