merly the shops of female
baubles, toys, and vanities, are now turned to libraries and sanctuaries
of learned works. There is a new star risen in the French horizon, whose
influence excites the nobler females to this pursuit of human science. It
is the renowned Monsieur Des Cartes, whose lustre far outshines the aged
winking tapers of Peripatetic Philosophy, and has eclipsed the stagyrite,
with all the ancient lights of Greece and Rome. 'Tis this matchless soul
has drawn so many of the fairer sex to the schools. And they are more
proud of the title--Cartesian--and of the capacity to defend his principles,
than of their noble birth and blood."

We find in _The Courts of Europe at the Close of the last Century_, by
Henry Swinburne, the following illustration of American manners:

"An English officer, Colonel A in a stage to New-York, and was extremely
annoyed by a free and enlightened citizen's perpetually spitting across
him, out of the window. He bore it patiently for some time, till at last
he ventured to remonstrate, when the other said, 'Why, colonel, I estimate
you're a-poking fun at me--that I do. Now, I'm not a-going to chaw my own
bilge-water, not for no man. Besides, you need not look so thundering
ugly. Why, I've _practised_ all my life, and could squirt through the eye
of a needle without touching the steel, let alone such a great saliva-box
as that there window.' Colonel A at last his anger got up, and he spat
bang in his companion's face, exclaiming, 'I beg you a thousand pardons,
squire, but I've not practised as much as you have. No doubt, by the time
we reach New-York, I shall be as great a dabster as you are.' The other
rubbed his eye, and remained _bouche close_."

In support of the hydropathic practice, and in illustration of the effect
of cold, we cite an anecdote MIGNET tells of the celebrated French
physician Broussais:

"Seized with a violent fever at Nimeguen, Broussais was attended
by two of his friends, who each prescribed opposite remedies.
Embarrassed by such contradictory opinions, he resolved to follow
neither. Believing himself to be seriously in danger, he jumped
out of bed in the midst of this raging fever, and almost naked sat
down to his escrutoire to arrange his papers. It was in the month
of January; the streets were covered with snow. While thus
settling his affairs the fever abated, a sensation of freshness
and comfort diffused itself