FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.

Facts, Hints, and Gems.

Facts.

ABOUT COTTON.

Cotton is a vegetable produce, and is now the most extensive manufacture in Great Britain.

Consumption- At the beginning of the eighteenth century about one million pounds weight per anuum were consumed, employing 25,000 bands of all ages; but at the close, it was fifty-two millious, employing 125 000 It is now nearly 800 millions.

The First Importation from the United States was in 1787, within the memory of some now living But all American cotton being from slave labour, is stained with blood and tears!

The Manufacture of Cotton Goods is yet in reasing. In 1852 eighty-one new factories with 3717 horse power engines, and employing 14 000 hands were built and set in motion

The Present Sources of Supply. In 1851, United States 1393 700 bags; Brazil, 108.700; Egypt. 67 400; East Indies, 328,800; West Indies, 4,900; Total. 1903 500 bags; costing £16 000 000 sterling

Colton may be grown in any tropical clime And as there is now an increasing demand for the material, it is proposed to make vigorous efforts to grow it in our own colonies, in Africa, and in the East and West Indies. It is said that a fertile region only as large as the whole of Yorkshire would grow as much as we now consume

Can

English Cotton Goods are ow in demand all over the earth, and there can be no fear that we shall manufacture too many if we only be supplied with the material regularly, at a fair price. The Yankees make us pay a high price for it now whenever they can.

Hints

TO PRESERVE HEALTH.

1. Beware of a cheap house; avoid courts and cellars.

2. Often wash your body all over with a sponge, and then rub your self dry; wash your children from head to foot more than once a week. 3 Don't make your beds too soon; let the clothes be exposed to the light and air.

4. Throw your windows wide open every morning, especially the bed-rooms. Get all the air you can.

5 Never stuff your chimneys with bags of straw or old clothes. 6. If there is no fire place in your bed room, leave the door open, or cut an inch or two off the top of it.

Do not allow any stagnant water, heaps of cabbage and filth, soap suds, or anything with a bad smell, to remain about your doors; carry them off as far as possible.

8. Sleep as few in a room as possible. Do not say you cannot afford a bigger house; dr nk, nay, eat less to obtain one Have as few curtains about your windows as possib e, and none to your eds.

9. Keep your house clean; do not be afraid of clean water, how ever far you have to carry it; use it freely; von cannot be extravagant with it Don't be afraid of whitewashing too often; it is very cheap aud h. althy.

10. Rad vour Bible every morn ing at breakfast; send your children to school; all of you go to a place of worship, and don't make exenses.

Attend to these rules, and you will have a contented mind and better health; do not say, It must be a great deal of trouble, try; after a while i comes quite handy.

FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.

Like the flowers, that spring up Little children, not alone
On the wide earth are ye known;
Bright, and countless, everywhere! 'Mid its labours, and its cares,

THE SUNKEN ROCK.

The

It is related that, many years ago, while a frigate was cruising in the Mediterranean, her commander was ordered to ascertain whether there existed, within certain lines of latitude and longitude, a shoal or reef which had been reported as being there. The captain addressed himself to the task with all the rough earnestness of a genuine seaman at the same time entertaining a strong persuasion that nothing of the kind described would be found in the position pointed out. undertaking was therefore conducted in a superficial manner, and was speedily terminated by the captain declaring that the report which had occasioned the search was a perfect mistake, and originated in delusion or falsehood. But an officer on board -a man who had accustomed himself to accurate calculation and observation-was of another mind, and felt convinced, with more careful and prolonged examination, a different result might probably be obtained. None of his arguments, however, availed with the commander, who sharply rebuked him as wanting experience, and being a mere theorist. The officer, nevertheless, carefully preserved his observations and reckonings, and, having left the frigate, persuaded the admiralty to send him on a second expedition, with a small vessel under his own command, in quest of the reported rock, or whatever else it might prove to be. His voyage was successful; and he returned with the clearly ascertained information, that in a certain spot in the Mediterranean there lay a dangerous sunken rock. This fact, for safety in the navigation of that sea, was of course carefully marked down in the charts. For this service he was rewarded with promotion. The commander of the frigate, hearing of this sometime afterwards, was highly incensed, and declared that the report was a fraud to get promotion; adding "If ever I have the keel of this ship under me in those waters again, and do not carry her clean over where the chart marks a rock, call me a liar, and no seaman to boot!"

Two years afterwards he was bound for Naples, having some public officers as passengers on board his vessel. One autumn afternoon, as the ship took a north-easterly direction; threatening dark strips of cloud began to stream over the sky, and a gale sprung up, which made the sails and cordage creak

No. 94.

37

THE SUNKEN ROCK.

as though they would burst, while the heaving waves tossed and tried the timber of the well-compacted vessel. Night came on, and the captain paced the decks rather anxiously, and consulted with the master of the ship, whose practical skill and experience rendered him a valuable counsellor. By the light of a lantern they examined a chart, when the master, pointing to a spot whereabouts they were, exclaimed, “Look here, sir!" There was the recently discovered point of danger, marked down under the name of "Twill Rocks." The commander was reminded of former circumstances, and, incensed beyond description at the remembrance, burst out into a passionate speech, abusing the officer who had reported the discovery, and repeating his own determination to sail right over the spot, and so demonstrate the whole thing as a bugbear, at the same time stamping his foot to give emphasis to his words.

As the ship speeded her way over the rolling billows, down went the commander into the cabin to join his officer passengers, and to tell the story of the sunken rock, thinking to make them merry at the expense of the false lieutenant. "In five minutes," said he, taking out his watch, with a laugh, "we shall have crossed this terrible spot."

But the intelligence by no means awakened sympathetic merriment in the company; they were terror-stricken, while he spoke gaily. There was a pause, and then a slight grating touch of something that scratched the bottom of the noble ship -then a noise of alarm from the hatchway then a shockthen a crash, and a quivering of the hull-and then the bursting of timbers, and the ingushing of water. The frigate had struck, and was presently a wreck, the masts falling over into the ocean, and the breakers threatening to swallow up all that remained of the ill-fated vessel. With desperate energy every thing possible was done to save the passengers. The boats were hauled out, and all on board embarked, and were ultimately preserved, except a few drunken sailors in the hold, and the commander, who would not survive his mad temerity. The last scene of the unhappy man was his white figure, in his shirt, and bare-headed, looking out from the dark hull of the frigate; the foam bursting round her bows and stern.

HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE. He had possessed the means of ascertaining the truth; he had listened to the arguments, and heard the reports of others; there was evidence enough to satisfy an unprejudiced man; but he would not believe. And is not that captain's history a parable of what is occurring