i 

 THE RULING PASSrOxV. 347 



Statistics and Topography are at the lowest possible ebb. Scarcely any 

 topographical work can be depended upon, for the compilers, instead of 

 examining for themselves, almost invariably copy from each other, till 

 names, dates, and places, form one confused kaleidoscopical display, 

 apparently good as a whole, but full of shreds, patches, and imperfec- 

 tions, when examined in detail. The Parochial History of Scotland, 

 now publishing, forms a noble exception to this censure, and we do 

 trust, a work of a similar nature will soon appear in England. We have 

 been led to imderstand that the Statistical Committee of the Worcestershire 

 Natural History Society have been engaged for the last two years, with 

 unwearied assiduity, in the laudable undertaking of collecting and copy- 

 ing documents, records, inscriptions, and other details connected with 

 the physical history, antiquities, topography, and population of the 

 county, and in collecting every curious fact on the subject within their 

 reach, with the ultimate view of submitting their labours to the world. 

 To these gentlemen, then, we look with confidence for something like 

 an approximation to what we have in our mind's eye — a really accurate 

 parochial history of Worcestershire, and we trust it will not have to be 

 said that they have slept at their posts. 



In parting with the '* Family Topographer" it would be disingenuous 

 not to say that his list of Gentlemen's seats is very good and correct. 

 This has evidently been subjected to the revision of a resident, and had 

 the same care been observed with the other departments of the work, our 

 language instead of reluctantly being that of reproach and censure, would 

 have been that of unmixed commendation. 



G. Am. Onand. Spina, G. E. 



The Ruling Passiont. — Alonzo Cano, a Spanish artist, may be literally 

 said to have felt the ruling passion strong in death ; for, when the priest^ who 

 attended him, presented the crucifix, he turned his eyes away, and refused to 

 look at it, because the sculpture was so badly executed ! but asked for a plain 

 cross, which, being brought to him, he devoutly embraced and expired. 



Voltaire relates that Camoens was shipwrecked on the coast of Malabar, or 

 Mecon (in Cochin China according to Mickle), but swam ashore, holding up 

 his poem, which he had mostly written at sea, in one hand, which otherwise 

 had been, perhaps, lost for ever. 



Curran's ruling passion was his joke. In his last illness, his physicians 

 observing, in the morning, that he seemed to cough with more difficulty, he 

 answered, " that is rather surprising, as I have been practising all night," 



The study of gi-ammar was the great passion of the Abbe Dangeau ; one 

 day somebody was talking to him of the apprehensions entertained that some 

 great revolution was about to take place in public affairs ; " that may J^," 

 said the Abbd, " but whatever happens, I am extremely rejoiced that 1 have 

 in ray portfolio at least thirty-six conjugations perfectly completed." 



Mr. Day, the eccentric founder of Fairlop fair, had a housekeeper, who 

 had lived with him for thirty years, and was equally eccentric. She had two 

 very strong attachments : one to her wedding-ring and garments, and the other 

 to tea. When she died, Mr. Day would not permit her wedding-ring to be 

 taken off ; he saidi, if that were attempted, she would come to life again ; and 

 directed that she should be buried in her wedding suit, and a pound of tea in 

 each hand ; and these directions Avere literally obeyed* 



Monsieur Restant, the French grammarian, after spending four score years 

 in settling the conjugation of the irregular verbs, is said to have expired with 

 this observation, " je m'en vais done, ou je m'en vas (car il n'y a rien de 

 decide la dessus) faire ce grand voyage de I'autre monde." 



