name of taxation. But it is worse than the unprincipled politicians. Now of the probcredit of Russia, which, though generally able success in the European markets of a believed to be both honest and solvent, has scheme recommended in this way an Engadopted the bad practice of continually bor- lishman is a better judge than an American; rowing without rendering clear accounts of and therefore we do not hesitate to assert expenditure. It is much worse than that of that it would have miscarried utterly. The France, of whose future, after the Empe- undoubted uneasiness of the foreign credror's death, nobody feels the least certainty. itor would have operated in a way wholly It is very much worse than that of the Brit- different from that expected. The plan of ish Indian Government, which conducts an paying off the Five-Twenties in greenbacks experiment unprecedented in the history of or, in other words, of substituting for a the world. And it is infinitely below that promissory note bearing interest and payof the United Kingdom, with which, on able at a fixed date another promissory note every principle, it ought to be on a par. The not bearing interest and payable at an inAmericans, who are confessedly sore at definite period — seemed to European credthese unsatisfactory phenomena, are not, of itors, to speak plainly, so impudently discourse, blind to their cause. It is the con- honest that it would have deprived of all stant folly of American public men in bab- or nearly all value even the express prombling about repudiation which brings it all ise of the Government which paltered with about. One President has formally pro- it. European capitalists would have reposed to set off all past payments of inter-garded the express promise to pay in gold as est against the principal of a debt. One standing on pretty much the same level as great American party fought a critical contest in a doubtful State oh the footing of paying off the largest part of it in inconvertible paper money. The most energetic attempts have since been made to deprive these facts of significance; but the foreign creditor, who indicates his opinion by the price-list, has evidently not been wholly convinced. He knows that minorities in the United States have a way of suddenly becoming majorities, apparently for no other reason than that the people like to give them a turn; and he knows that a popular majority committed to repudiation would act on its principles with an unflinching and unblushing thoroughness with which the petty lapses of constitutional or despotic Governments into bad faith would bear no sort of comparison.

The success of Mr. Boutwell's attempt to fund the greatest part of the American debt depends wholly and solely on the degree in which the mistrust of the creditors of the United States has been dissipated. Several schemes of the kind which were given to the world before and immediately after General Grant's accession to power had the weakness inherent in their being intended to make a profit out of the fear of repudiation. Their authors did not exactly say that they agreed with the politicians who proposed to pay off the Five-Twenties in greenbacks, but they at all events attached so much importance to the proposal that they thought it would frighten the public creditor into accepting a stock bearing a lower interest, but expressly promised to be paid off in gold, instead of the stock which bore a higher rate of interest about which this disgraceful quibble had been raised by

the implied promise which there was a hint of a possible intention to disregard. Even now the funding scheme under discussion in the Senate will only succeed in the European markets just so far as the suspicion of repudiation has been dissipated. If the credit of the United States has really improved through the undoubtedly earnest protests of the present Government and Legislature against dishonesty, the Federation will be able to borrow at a lower interest than heretofore, and may take steps for paying off the debt, which bears a higher interest, with the proceeds of the loan. The critical part of the new proposal is its borrowing part. The voluntary exchange of bonds for others bearing lower interest will only be a consequence of success in raising a loan. If the creditors of the United States perceive that through the favourable reception of these financial operations there is a probability of their being paid off at par, they will make their own calculations; and if they are disposed to continue their investments in the funds of the United States, they will accept the par value of their securities in the new stock.

Mr. Boutwell's present proposals have had their chances of success greatly increased by the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, that contracts for the payment of money made before the passing of the Legal Tender Act must be discharged in gold. The legal grounds of the decision, and the question how far it was influenced by the political bias of the judges, have but little interest for our readers, but undoubtedly it tends to assist the borrowing power of the United States in two ways. First, it is now un

doubted law, and must be followed in all and has thus done much to disperse the falcourts subordinate to the Supreme Court; lacy which to a certain extent blinded the and from this it follows that greenbacks more ignorant and honest of the repudiahave become totally useless for many pur-tors. Money, we understand the Court poses to which they were put, except so far to tell us, must, in the absence of decisive as a given number of them may actually indication to the contrary, be understood to represent a certain amount of gold. The imply the precious metal which is the prireasons for an early resumption of specie mary agent in carrying on the exchange of payments, have, therefore, greatly gained the world. The burden of proving that a in force. In the next place, the Court has contract may be discharged in greenbacks solemnly affirmed that there is an essential is on those who would discharge it in that distinction between greenbacks and gold, commodity.

Good Words for the Young.
THE WELCOME GUEST.

Jesus said, "I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in. . . Inasmuch as ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done unto me."

THE sun glowed crimson in the west,

And all around the clouds grew brightSo bright, they spoke of far-off rest

Where shadows lose themselves in light. And shafts of glory stole between

The forest shades, where, dim and drear, Tall pine-trees wave their plumes of green In stately silence, year by year.

But when the sunset radiance fled,

From tree, and field, and snowy height,
The wind its wintry wings outspread,
And flew in haste to find the Night.
Its deep voice through the forest rang,
Till every tree bowed to its call;
And forth the magic Frost-man sprang,
To show his strength o'er stream and fall.

The forest fairies tripped away;

Wood fairies are so slight and small, That, though they like the cold, they say They cannot stand the wind at all. Some hid with dormice in their holes,

And some where snug the squirrel slept, Or went to see the sleepy moles,

Or in an old trunk sat and wept.

Yet in the darkness and the gloom
Was still one gleam of pleasant light,
Where in the woodman's little room

A cheerful fire shone warm and bright,
And pine logs blazing on the hearth
(With light the fairies love so well):
Far out upon the forest path

The merry, dancing firelight fell.

The room was poor, and yet intent

Some angel may have watched within:Who lowly love and true content,

Except with heavenly help, may win?

All round the fire the children sit,
Busy and happy as could be;
And Effie did her stocking knit,

Nestling upon her father's knee.
The mother's busy hands prepare
The evening meal, and when 'tis spread
She calls them to the simple fare-
Potato soup and barley bread.
Then did the father, rising, say-

"For these His gifts God's name be blest!
We thank Thee Lord, and still would pray,
Oh, come Thyself and be our guest!
Then all sit down content and glad

Around the plainly-furnished board;
But little Effie, is she sad?

She does not smile nor speaks a word.
Why is the little maiden dumb?

At last the child said with a sigh,
"We ask Him, but He does not come :
He never comes, dear father: why?"
Just then a feeble knock was heard,

And when the door was opened wide,
So cold he scarce could speak a word,
There stood a poor old man outside.
His clothing hardly covered him,

It was so ragged and so old,
Torn by the brambles, worn and thin,
And yet the night was bitter cold!
"Come in, my friend," the good wife said;
"Sit down and warm you by the fire;
Come, share with us our barley bread,
And soup, as much as you desire!"'
Grateful and glad the weary man
Entered the welcome warmth and rest,
While eagerly the children ran

To wait upon and serve their guest.

CATCHING COLD.

From Nature.

Two lectures were delivered in Gresham College on the evenings of the 14th and 15th January, by Dr. Symes Thompson, the Gresham Professor of Medicine.

The first of these lectures embraced a theme admirably adapted to fulfil the popular object with which this City professorship has been established, and as eminently suited to the present season: it treated of "Catching Cold."

ously into renewed action after the application of a chill. The relaxing influence of over-heated apartments should be avoided, because that saps the power of vigorous reaction; but, in cold weather, the utmost care should be taken to have the entire skin efficiently protected by warm clothing. The powers of the system in periods prone to the production of colds, and most especially when the temperature of the external air is between 32 and 40 degrees of Fahrenheit's heat scale (for that is the condition in which the danger is found to be most certainly incurred), should be more carefully maintained by the judicious use of sustaining food, and by the avoidance of every kind of injurious derangement or excess. When once internal congestion has been set up, and the cold has been "caught," the thing to be done is immediately to bring back vigorous circulation and exhalation in the skin. The Turkish bath is one of the most convenient and certain of all contrivances for ensuring this object: in its absence the vapour bath, or hot air bath may be employed. The action of the bath is to be reinforced by the administration of stimulants, first and foremost amongst which stands concentrated food. Indeed, the Professor's pet stimulant seems to be "Whitehead's Solid Essence of Beef," a New South Wales preparation, in which the nutritious principle of an ox is condensed into about nine pounds of easily transportable material,

The Professor first described, by reference to large drawings, the structure and arrangement of the parts concerned in the disorder-laying open the arcana of the nose, frontal sinuses, throat, voice-box, and chest, and showing the intimate relations by which these parts are connected, and the way in which modern science has found means to bring their inmost recesses under observation, and contrasting the precise knowledge of the present period with the ante-Schneider days, when all catarrhal defluxions were held to be outpourings of the brain. It was demonstrated that the ordinary cold is simply, in the first instance, congestion of the warm, moist, bloodcharged membrane, which lines all these cavities and is continuous throughout the series of them; but that this congestion is apt to pass on, under unfavourable circumstances, to inflammation, and to consequent derangement of structure. The congestion in which thirty pounds of beef are concenmerely means that more blood is thrust upon, and retained in, the minute channels and vessels of the membrane, than those channels and vessels can healthily accommodate. The first cause of this forced engorgement is that cold is extensively applied to the internal skin, which then, under the constringing and contracting influence, drives its own blood out, partly into these surcharged tracts of mucous membrane. The injurious effect known as "cold" is now sure to be realized if this external chilling them to begin at once to fortify themis experienced when the general system is weakened by exhaustion. It is also, in some persons, more apt to be produced at certain regular periods.

trated into one pound of little cakes, each about the size of an ordinary silver fiveshilling piece, and weighing half an ounce. One cake is calculated to prepare two large breakfast cups of good beef-tea. The preparation differs from Liebig's Extract of Meat chiefly in containing the gelatinous as well as the fibrinous constituents of the flesh. The Gresham Professor scattered the little round cakes, out of neat half-pound cases, liberally to his audience, recommend

selves against the inclement atmospheric influences. He gave one very interesting instance of the value and power of this preparation by alluding to a case that had fallen The prevention of colds is to be accom- within his experience on the very day of plished by keeping the skin in a healthy and the lecture. A patient had been brought vigorous state, so that it may at once re- into the Brompton hospital in a sinking sume its proper and normal condition when state, resulting from inability to take food. chills have been suddenly applied to it: He was at the time all but pulseless and then the internal congestions are avoided cold, and evidently on the brink of the or removed simultaneously with the exter- grave. He was placed in bed, and a cupnal contraction and stagnation. The habit- full of the beef-tea prepared from the "solid ual use of cold bathing in the early morning Essence" administered. The preparation is one very powerful means to this end: it was retained in the stomach, and in ten mintrains the vessels of the skin to rise vigor-utes from the time of its administration,

there was steady warmth all over the skin, | Somewhat severe thirst sets in; but curiously and restored circulation.

enough, simultaneously with the occurrence of this thirst, the congested internal membranes grow moist, and exhale gently and naturally in consequence of the relief of the overcharged vessels. All that is then necessary is to keep the supply of drink down to the point which enables some measure of thirst to be maintained; and during its maintenance there is not the slightest chance of the recurrence of the cold. Dr. Thompson dwelt emphatically in his lecture, upon the fact that, whereas certain ailments, such as the eruptive fevers, bring with them an almost complete immunity from the recurrence of the affection, it is just otherwise with ordinary colds. The more frequently they occur, the more frequently they may be looked for. They bring with them increased susceptibility of the internal membranes to congestive derangements.

There is one expedient both for preventing and curing "colds," which was not alluded to upon this occasion, but which is nevertheless as powerful as any of the measures which were described, and it may be drawn upon in circumstances when those plans cannot be adopted, in consequence of the sufferer being compelled by the exigencies of life to continue to meet exposure to chilling influences. This is abstinence from drink, and liquid food of any kind, until the internal congestion is removed. The remedial action through the skin does its work by drawing away the superabundance of the circulating fluid from the overcharged part. But this desirable result is even more certainly ensured if the general bulk of the circulating fluid, or blood, is diminished by withholding supplies of the more liquid, or watery, ingredient; which may be done Under such circumstances where the digestive power is unimpaired, diminution of drink, sustained at the point without in any way diminishing the richer, of persistent moderate thirst, is the most or more immediately nourishing portion. powerful and certain preventive of congesThe instant the general bulk of the circulat- tive disorder, and the most sure remover of ing blood is diminished, the excess contained undue internal susceptibility, that can be in the congested and overcharged mem- adopted. branes is withdrawn and the cold is relieved.

HOW MR. PEABODY'S BODY WAS EMBALMED. | - The preservation of the remains of the late Mr. Peabody was intrusted, the Lancet says, to the hands of Dr. Parry. The process carried out consisted in injecting the whole body, through the arteries, with a strong solution of arsenic, containing also some bichloride of mercury. Twenty-four hours afterwards another liquid, consisting of a saturated solution of tannic acid, was thrown in, with the view of effecting the gradual conversion of the gelatinous structures into tanno-gelatine or the basis of leather. None of the viscera were removed or disturbed. Before the opening into the chest required for the injection through the aorta was closed, an arsenical paste, or rather cream, consisting of arsenic, camphor, and spirits, was introduced into the thoracic cavity, also through an opening in the diaphragm into the cavity of the abdomen, and freely distributed about. Death bad taken place about two days and a half before the process was commenced, and decomposition had set in, so as to produce great distension of the abdomen; but the process was found to check all this, and when completed, all signs of a tendency to decomposition were removed. We may add that under the silk shroud, and upon the floor of the coffin, there was placed a bed of wellburned animal charcoal.

THE GREASE FROM THE THAMES MUD. Since our last we have examined a sample of the grease derived from the Thames mud at Battersea. It is of a yellowish tint, very like inferior butter in appearance, taste, and smell. Of course, the nature of it, and the method of obtaining it, are the chemists' secrets, and it is only possible to speculate on the matter. Mud, in itself, as consisting of particles of inorganic matter, such as flint, granite, sand, clay, or wood, reduced by attrition, and mixed with water, can yield nothing of a nutritious character. We must therefore look to other substances for the matter in question. The silicates of potash and soda when in solution have a gelatinous appearance; but this is not quite what we get. Peat is a more likely source, as it yields paraffin and also stearine and analogous fatty bodies. The chances are that peat may be found on the banks of the Thames; but it is yet more likely that the ground is impregnated with fatty matter, the refuse of manufactories, of ships, and derived from other sources. One thing is certain, the manufacture of this grease from the mud has been going on for a long time, and quantities of it are shipped to Holland weekly. South London Press.

From Tinsley's Magazine.
POPULAR SCIENCE.

believe this; the assumption would be wholly adverse to every teaching of periods MANY circumstances prove that a taste gone by. No words are, perhaps, more has arisen for scientific information, if not ill-applied than "practical" and " unpracscientific study, beyond that of any antece-tical" in respect to science. The history dent period. Popular magazines, the stand- of science shows that facts, the utility of ard matter of which is assumed to be fiction, which could not only not be seen at the nevertheless find room occasionally for time, but not for long ages after the time in scientific papers. Scientific lectures are some cases, have at length been turned to generally well attended if only the lecturer the most material account. No science is be competent; and here the fact should be more rich in these examples than chemistry, heeded, that in proportion as a lecturer is understanding that science, as is usual in more deeply versed in the subject on which England, to comprehend electricity and he treats, so does he commend himself to certain other branches of physics as well. an audience. It is worth while to investi-The example of the electric telegraph has gate the causes of this change; for un- been so frequently adduced in support of doubtedly it is a change, and it is rather this, that I almost hesitate to adduce it; sudden. Not by all is this change accepted still, to omit that illustration would be at one even value. Whilst some persons a mistake in such an argument as we are deprecate the scientific spirit, associating it upon. When the Danish philosopher with some notion of irreligion, or at the Ersted, in 1819, proved that an electric least free-thinking, others foster the spirit current travelling in any one direction deas one calculated to elevate the mind to flected a magnetic needle at right angles to conceptions of the Deity such as the mind itself, no sort of use for this discovery was of an individual unacquainted with science at the time apparent. It seemed to be in can never aspire to. Meantime science the list of things popularly called useless. advances, drawing within its ranks men of Nevertheless, in time—and, for a discovpure minds and high theological training. ery to take effect, no long time it The time has come when, if members of the culminated in one form of the electric clergy be sought to deprecate scientific cul- telegraph. Then, again, when Faraday ture, they cannot be found in the very high- | proved, that by winding an insulated wire est clerical ranks. Upon the laity science around an iron bar, and transmiting elechas imposed a yet stronger hold. Oxford tricity through the wire, the bar was inand Cambridge, abandoning their ancient stantaneously converted into a powerful principle of exclusive devotion to the dead magnet, he laid the foundation of other languages and pure mathematics, have fallen varieties of the electric telegraph; and the in with the sentiment of the day. Both electricians who, before his time, proved Oxford and Cambridge have established that electricity could be made to develop good chemical laboratories, and the col-colour in a chemical salt furnished a princilateral science of geology has been studied ple on which is based a third variety. Up at Cambridge with a devotion and freedom to this day all the electric telegraphs made from theological bias eminently characteris- or proposed whether to indicate by belltic of the spirit of the times. Some explanation may be found for the scientific tendencies of the age in practical utilitarianism men being induced to study science for what it may bring; and much as it is the custom to deprecate this incentive, still the concession must be granted that practical utility is one not unworthy the aspiration of mankind. Some confusion exists as to the meaning of this word "utility," and a loose way of expression has become usual regarding it that may be worth while to dispose of. If a man could bring himself to believe that any specified branch of knowledge, acquired through scientific inquiry, was actually, in every sense, useless, and ever must be useless then, I apprehend, he would not be morally justified in giving time to its study. The fact is he does not believe this: he cannot

ringing, dial-work, actual printing in ordinary letters, printing by accepted signs, or telling their tale by change of colour (and electric telegraphs can do all this) are but developments of three electrical functions that, when discovered, seemed as far from useful application as well might be. Take electrotype, again; the beautiful process whereby a thin layer of gold, silver, or other metal may be deposited on a conducting surface; consider the numerous practical applications of this art, the manifold ways in which it conduces to the utilities of life: the principle on which it depends was known some time before any practical application became apparent.

A very remarkable application of science, that seemed remote from any human need, is even now taking place to most utilitarian purposes. After the decisive proof offered