382 SCEAPIANA. 



To conclude. We seriously advise Mr. Bulwer to leave off making 

 philosophical experiments. His results are, like those of some of our 

 popular lecturers at a mechanic's institute, who never proceed to illus- 

 trate a philosophical principle, but the machinery, from some unto- 

 ward cause or other, is certain to fail ; but Mr. Bulwer's defeat is 

 not to be attributed to the same cause his results are ludicrous, be- 

 cause his principles are unphilosophical. Let Mr. Bulwer take our 

 word for it ; by no conceivable process could he be elevated into a 

 philosopher. His course is smooth j the height of what should be his 

 ambition, is obvious enough. He is still young, and may live to 

 write many popular novels. 



He is still young yes, he is, we believe, about thirty a critical 

 age. Dr. Young has said, 



" At thirty man suspects himself a fool! " 

 Let Mr. Bulwer be more suspicious for the time to come. 



SCRAPIANA. 



A German merchant at Valparaiso, fond of scientific researches, has lately 

 had explored by a very intelligent Danish sailor, named Kenous, some dis- 

 tricts of Chili, which have hitherto never been visited by European travellers. 

 This man, it is announced, has made some interesting discoveries. In the 

 Andes of Chillao he found a plain strewed with the ruins of a considerable 

 city. Now as the actual Indians of Chili have always been monastic, and as 

 the Incas could never firmly establish their dominion over that country, this 

 city must have been built by a civilized people, that have since become totally 

 extinct. We know that in other parts of South America traces of a high de- 

 gree of civilization have been discovered, of which there are no longer any re- 

 mains among the Indians who at present inhabit that continent. 



CORK LAWS. A sack of flour of 280lbs. in France costs 31s. English 

 money, while the same weight in England costs 53s., making a difference of 

 70 per cent. A loaf of bread of four pounds weight costs in France four 

 pence three farthings, and second quality three pence three farthings. But 

 the French have no corn laws property is more equally divided trade is 

 flourishing and prosperous beyond all precedent. 



The handsome bridge of Dinant over the Maese in the Netherlands has the 

 following inscription : 



Ce pont a etefait id. 



A boy bringing a present of a basket of fruit to a lady in Southampton from 

 a friend in the vicinity, after emptying the basket, and looking about 

 anxiously, said ' Zooks ! madam zaid she zent her compliments with the 

 fruit, but I can't zee 'em nowhere !" 



Ferdinand VII. on being informed that they were going to pull down the 

 house formerly inhabited by the illustrious author of Don Quixotte, Miguel 

 Cervantes de Saavedra, situated in the Calle Fravero, No. 20, at Madrid, 

 immediately purchased the house, and has given orders to have it restored. 

 Upon the principal front will be placed a bust of that great man. 



Brescia. There has lately been discovered here a Roman temple dedicated 

 to Mars. In making excavations in this edifice, a statue of Victory in gilt 

 bronze was found, which by connoisseurs is pronounced superior to any that 

 Milan, Venice, or Naples possess ; it is supposed that there will be found 

 near this temple one of those sumptuous country houses, with which the 

 Romans had covered Italy. 



