This event proved a fortunate one for Primaticcio: at the command of the king he painted the portrait of the peerless Diana, which so pleased the monarch that the artist became as great a favourite of his as he had been of his father; and often, when he was in a sportive mood, would Henry relate to his courtiers the adventure of Diana of Poictiers and Primaticcio the Painter. The Bijou.

Science and Art.

COBBETT'S NEW MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.

A friend of ours has favoured us with specimens of paper made from the husk and stalk of the Indian corn raised in this country by Mr. Cobbett, on his farm at Barn-Elm. Without entering into a discussion upon Mr. Cobbett's merits as a politician, we may be allowed to say, that his profound knowledge in all matters relating to agriculture and general husbandry, which knowledge he has never withheld from the world, will always render his name famous in this country. The two specimens now before us; one white or nearly so, the other of a delicate olive brown; were, we are informed, made in the space of five days! without time for the trying of experiments for the bleaching of it. It is not, like the paper made from straw, of a brittle quality, but on the contrary, possesses a surprising tenacity, and the darker sort (made from the the stalk and root of the plant,) will, we have do doubt, if made in any quantity, entirely supersede the use of the common brown paper, while that manufactured from the husk which surrounds the ear of the corn will be converted into the best writing or printing paper.

The title-page to Mr. Cobbett's Treatise on the cultivation of the Indian Corn has been printed on the last mentioned paper, and though of a yellowish tinge, is certainly much better than some printing paper now in use. Of the work itself it will be quite unnecessary for us to speak, after the encomiums bestowed upon it by the public press. The thanks of all those engaged in agricultural affairs, especially the peasantry of England, are due to Mr Cobbett for the introduction of this very valuable plant.

GERMAN METHOD OF EXPEDITING
VEGETATION.

A branch proportioned to the size of the object required, is sawn off the tree, the flowers of which are to be produced, and is plunged into a spring, if one can

be found; where it is left for an hour or two, to give time for such ice as may adhere to the bulb to melt, and to soften the buds; it is then carried into a chamber, heated by a stove, and placed in a wooden vessel, containing water; quick lime is to be added to the water, and left for twelve hours. The branch is then to be removed into another vessel, containing fresh water, with a small quantity of vitriol to prevent its becoming putrid. In a few hours, the flowers will begin to appear, and, afterwards the leaves; if more quick lime be used, the branch will vegetate more slowly, and the leaves will precede the flowers.

Anecdotiana.

THE BARD OF THE AVON.

Shakspeare was god-father to one of Ben Jonson's children; and, after the christening, being in a deep study, Jonson came to cheer him up, and asked why he was so melancholy. "No, faith, Ben!" says he, "not I; but I have been considering a great while what should be the fittest gift for me to bestow on my godchild, and I have resolved at last." "And prithee, what is it?" says Ben. " I'faith, Ben, I'll e'en give him a dozen of latten spoons, and thou shalt translate them!"'

sheathed his weapon, and resumed his seat, while the serjeant continued-"If ye cannot sit here in peace, get to your cribs. Thou, Hans Horst, hast a tongue that would anger St. Bernhard himself. I would advise thee to keep a guard over it, or it may one day bring thee to the halberds. Comrades, have ye no song, or a merry tale to tell?"

"Soldiers have no time to hear idle stories, serjeant," replied Hans, who had not been long in the troop, and was noted for his mischievous and quarrelsome disposition. His deportment was superior to that of his comrades, who looked upon him as some nobleman's son, who had been disinherited by his father for some real or pretended fault. "Short time have they for merry tales," continued he;" and if they have, they are all on the same subject-full of oaths, curses, match-locks, culverins, drums, trumpets, sabres, and daggers; not forgetting a sprinkle of broken costards and slit weazans. Hagel and Sturmwater! we have of late had enough o' that, methinks."

"Thou art a prating knave," replied the serjeant; 166 thou should'st have been

made a doctor o' laws. The Devil never had a better subject."

"Ah! ah! ah!" laughed Hans,"think ye so?" and his lip curled with a scornful smile-"Then I'm in my proper place, among men who cut throats for a few groschen per diem!"

Nay, nay,” replied_the_serjeant, "thou art abusing thine own trade wrongfully-ye reckon not the honour."

"Honour!" interrupted Hans, while his countenance again assumed its bitter smile. "Honour! ah! ah! ah!-Honour, master serjeant; and what is that but the bright steel, which the breath of any villain may sully. Pray, how keep ye that dainty article?"

Thou art a shrewd caviller, Hans Horst," said the serjeant, and art read in the books of the wise men: thank heaven, I cannot read our muster-roll. I am puzzled to think what could induce thee to enter our troop; for I am sometimes inclined to think thee of gentle blood."

"Honour, master serjeant," replied Hans ironically, and with his usually wild and peculiar laugh- I gained mine honour

once in the University of Gottingen; but I've lost it somehow, probably among our company;"-and he looked significantly at his companions.

"Well done, bully Hans!" roared one of the troop, a young fellow named Albrecht Kreutzer 66 ; so thou hast lost thy good name among us, ay ?-Why, thou mischievous dog, thou hast corrupted the whole troop, who, instead of thumbing their prayer-books, and chaunting their hymns, rattle the dice box, and sing such songs as thou hast introduced-I leave thee to confess what they are."

Albrecht spoke truly: Hans had certainly set an example of profligacy and impiety to the whole troop, and over no one of them did he possess greater influence than over Albrecht Kruetzer. Indeed Horst had made him as bad as himself, or nearly so; so that they were both dreaded and despised by their comrades, who, daring and reckless as they were, could never behold Hans without a mixed feeling of awe and disgust. Albrecht was an excellent swordsman, and had come off victorious in several encounters. There was a sort of companionship between the pair, who were seldom separate; and once, in an engage ment, Hans bore off his wounded comrade, who lay at the mercy of the enemy, after striking down all who opposed him. Horst, as he received this pretended rebuke, which was given in a bantering tone, smiled sarcastically, and replied→→

"I am no snuffling priest, and cannot look sanctified when the wine flaggon or a pretty wench is near-Such an one as this, for instance."

He turned round as he spoke, and addressed some impudent remark to a young girl who had entered the room with some liquor for the troop. She was the host's daughter, a comely German lass, who had already engaged the affections of a young peasant in the neighbourhood. Hans attemped to salute her, when Albrecht started up, and hurling him aside, threw his arm round the girl's neck, and imprinted a kiss upon her lips, when at the same instant he found himself rudely seized from behind. Turning quickly round, he perceived a young man who had entered the room, and who now dealt him a smart buffet on the cheek. Enraged at this insult, the young soldier attempted to draw his sword, when Hans Horst interposed.

"Hold, comrade," said he, " your man is unarmed-wait till to-morrow and give him a fair field, like a soldier: with a proper division of wind and sun.'

Ay, when it pleases ye, Sirs," said the young man, "I am for you where

ye shall think proper to meet me. You have you choice, either single rapier, rapier and dagger, back-sword, or your hackbutt there."

"My comrade will give you the meeting," said Hans eagerly." "We will meet you under the old tower in the meadow yonder, by sunrise.-What say ye Albrecht Kreutzer?" "and

"I will," said Albrecht sullenly, there I'll drill such an oilet-hole in thy jerkin as shall teach thee to give a blow to one of his Highness's hackbutteers."

"You will find me ready," said his rival, cooly, as he quitted the room with the maiden, who with tears besought him to abandon his intention.

We must leave the peasant Wilhelm and his love, and return to the troop, who were now engaged in conversing upon a new topic, the approaching combat. In a short time, Hans Horst and Albrecht, who had been in close conversation, left the room, taking with them their hackbutts and lighted matches.

"Comrade, "said the former to his companion, as they gained the street, "I have been thinking of a plan, by adopting which ye may come off scathless, and re venge yourself by shooting your rival through the heart. Come, taste of this flask, 'tis a cordial for those who travel in the night, and has saved me from many a cold. Albrecht took the flask, which he half emptied.

"Here," said he, giving it back to Hans, " 'tis the right schnapps ;-but how can'st thou bring me through this business without danger ?"

"Harkee, comrade," said his compa nion, "thou knowest I am possessed of more knowledge than the noisy fools in our troop-dost thou think that knowledge was gained without trouble?"

I understand you not," said Albrecht, staring at the erect and gallant figure of his companion, who stalked down the

†The HACKBUTT was a large match-lock, fired with a rest. Many German Hackbutteers were in the pay of the princes of Europe from the time of the invention of firearms, to the reign of Elizabeth, and even later. Sir Walter Scott has a beautiful and graphic de scription of the Hackbutteers in his poem of the Lay of the Last Minstrel. Speaking of Conrade and his band of mercenaries, he says,

They were not armed like England's sons, But bore the levin-darting guns. Meaning the HACKBUTT, or, as Hollinshed and others wrote it, HAQUEBUT. The Ger mans and Flemings formerly excelled in the management of this heavy and unwieldy en. gine, which was not generally adopted in Eng land until after the invention of the wheel-lock,

which was wound up with a key called a span ner, and ignited the powder by its friction in rapidly revolving.