236 Palm-tree Cordage. —'Change of Colour in a Negro. 



the first growth and five for the second : but, besides that it is 

 only a small nmnber which is capable of yielding twice in the 

 year a wool of sufficient length; the prospect of reaping advan- 

 tage from animals twice in the year submitted to the shears, 

 seems more than doubtful. The experiments made by M. 

 Bourgeois, on his estate at Rambouillet, leave no doubt on 

 this svibject." 



If the above facts (taken fi-om the Bibliotheqice Physico- 

 Economique) are to be depended upon, they are worthy the 

 attention of the English clothier, who will perceive that the 

 French clothier has had recourse to a change in the wools 

 consumed in his manufacture, with a professed view of main- 

 taining a rivalry with English cloth. 



PALM-TREE CORDAGE. 



A specimen of the palm-tree cordage, recently invented in 

 North America, has been sent over to Liverpool fi-om New 

 York. It is very beautiful, and from its appearance much 

 stronger and more elastic than cordage manufactured fi:om 

 hemp. 



CHANGE OF COLOUR IN A NEGRO. 



An advertisement in the Norfolk Beacon, United States, 

 apprizes the public, that a natural curiosity at that place is now 

 exhibiting. The object is a man of sixty years of age, and of 

 uncommon intelligence, who was born black, and continued 

 so until the age of forty-five ; since which, he has gradually 

 undergone a chanoe of skin, until three-fourths of him have 

 become perfectly white, and his arms and hands have assumed 

 a delicacy and transparency not surpassed by those of the most 

 tenderly bred female. 



OBITUARY.— Sir William Herschel. 



This distinguished astronomer died at his house at Slough, 

 on the 26th of August, in the S^th year of his age. 



Sir William Hjrschel was born in November, 1738; his 

 father being a musician, brought up his four sons, of whom 

 Sir William was the second, to the same profession, and placed 

 him, at the age of 14, in the band of the Hanoverian Foot 

 Guards. Unable, however, long to endure the drudgery of 

 such a situation, and conscious of superior proficiency in his 

 art, he determined on quitting the regiment, and seeking his for- 

 tune in England, where he arrived about the end of the year 

 1757. After struggling with great difficulties in London, he 

 was engaged by the Earl of Darlington to superintend and 

 instruct a military band then Ibrming by that Nobleman in 



the 



