The above memorandum was found in the pocket book of a deceased officer of the Massachusetts line.
Curiosity respecting the form, physiognomy and stature of eminent men is universal; biographers usually attempt to gratify their readers by detailing all such minute circumstances; yet who knows the weight of general Bonaparte, or the duke of Wellington? Those who read their biography would be gratified to know the cubic inches and exact dimensions of the clay tenements occupied by such martial spirits.
The average weight of these 11 distinguished revolutionary officers, is 214 lbs. and exceeds, we think, that of an equal number of any other nation.
[Salem Gaz.
Benevolence the source of delight.—Benevolus, who was uncommonly fond of music, was dressing to go to an opera, which was much admired, when he heard a murmuring of voices in the passage below his chambers; on inquiry, he was told that it was occasioned by a workman who had dropped half a guinea that he had just received for his week's wages, which could not be found; and on which his own maintenance and that of his wife and child depended. It immediately struck Benevolus that he could afford to give the man the half guinea by staying from the opera that night. He accordingly sent him the money and staid at home.
On another occasion, Benevolus having been prevailed on to promise to dine at a tavern with some young men, of whose company he was fond, was solicited for charity at the tavern door by a woman with an infant suckling at each of her breasts, and two half-naked children following her.—"For heaven's sake, a penny," said the poor woman, "to purchase some bread." "We are very hungry," cried the children. Benevolus, thrusting his hand in his pocket, found he had just a guinea, and no other money of any kind. "Good heaven!" thought he, "I am going to throw away the greatest part of this for a dinner, and it will maintain this poor woman and children a fortnight!"—He slipped the guinea into the poor woman's hand, and, returning directly to his chamber, sent an apology to the company, and dined with more delight on a mutton-chop than he had ever experienced from the most luxurious dinner.
[Moore.
Home.—The great end of prudence, Dr. Johnson says, is to give cheerfulness to those hours which splendour cannot gild, and acclamation cannot exhilarate. Those soft intervals of unbended amusement, in which a man shrinks to his natural dimensions, and throws aside the ornaments and disguises which he feels in privacy to be useless incumbrances, and to lose all effect when they become familiar. To be happy at home, is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labour tends, and of which every design prompts the prosecution. It is, indeed, at home, that every man must be known, by those who would make a just estimate either of his virtue or felicity; for smiles and embroidery are alike occasional, and the mind is often dressed for show in painted honour and fictitious benevolence.
There is something undoubtedly venerable in antiquity, but even this passion may be carried beyond its proper bounds. An old gentleman was once possessed of a jack-knife, which he declared he would not sell for twenty dollars. It was once, said he, the property of my great grandfather—and since I have been the owner of the knife, it has been repaired with four blades and two handles.
The Emperor of Morocco.—The following anecdote serves to show the high wisdom of the Emperor of Morocco:—A Jew had ordered a French merchant to furnish him with a considerable quantity of black beaver hats, green shawls, and red silk stockings. When the articles were ready for delivery, the Jew refused to receive them. Being brought before the emperor, who, it is well known, administers justice himself, he denied having given the order, and maintained that he did not know the French merchant. "Have you any witnesses?" said the emperor to the Frenchman. "No." "So much the worse for you; you should have taken care to have had witnesses—you may retire." The poor merchant, completely ruined, returned home in despair. He was, however, soon alarmed by a noise in the street; he ran to see what it was. A numerous multitude were following one of the emperor's officers, who was making the following proclamation at all the cross roads: "Every Jew, who within 24 hours after this proclamation, shall be found in the streets without a black beaver hat on his head, a green shawl round his neck, and red silk stockings on his legs, shall be immediately seized, and conveyed to the first Court or Palace, to be there flogged to death." The children of Israel all thronged to the French merchant, and before evening the articles were all purchased at any price he chose to demand for them.