October 21. 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 
37 
clone a liundred years ago, they will not do now by the 
side of Bntrre Bose, Duchesse d'Angouleme, and Jersey 
OrciKoli, all of which are now to he had in quantity. 
The latter is a most delicious, rich, and sprightly 
flavoured fruit. It possesses that peculiar briskness 
which is only to be found in a pine-apple, and which 
one is loathe to call acid; and at the same time is rich 
and sugary. This is a variety which can be “ highly 
I recommended,” and which ought certainly to find a 
place in every garden. Plums are going out, and we 
have nothing new to notice besides what we have 
treated of in former reports; there are still, however, 
some arrivals of foreign baking varieties, of what the 
' Germans call Quetsche family. Tlie Grapes continue 
] the same as last week, being chiefly Black llamJmrghs 
and Cannon Hall Museats. There Jias been a large 
' arrival during the week of foreign Black Hanrburghs in 
I baskets, in excellent condition, which fetched from Is. 
I to Is. 3d. per lb. There are still some late Peaches 
I to be met with in the first-class fruiterers’, but the few 
I 
I remaining Nectarines there are do not seem very 
’ tempting. Pines are plentiful for tho demand, and 
I make from 3s. Cd. to Gs. per lb. 
In the vegetable department there has been a plen¬ 
tiful supply. Cabbages make from Gs. to 7s. per dozen, 
according to the size and quality. The variety which 
is most extensively grown for the London markets is the 
Battersea, which is also known in the country by many 
names, such as “Fulham,” “Barnes,” “ Emperor,” and 
I “ London Market.” Cauliflowers are excellent, and 
vary in price from Is. to 23. Gd. per dozen. Brussels 
Sprouts have come in, and are to be had at from Is. Gd. 
to 2s. per half-sieve. French Beans arc less plentiful, 
and are, consequently, making more money. Some 
weeks ago they could not be sold at any price, but now 
they are making from 2s. to 2s. Gd. Celery is very 
fine ; the best can be bad at Is. 3d, per bundle. Tur¬ 
nips from 2s. to 2s. Gd. per dozen bunches; and Carrots 
2s, Gd. to 4s. per dozen bunches. Pot.atoes are on the 
rise, and likely to continue so; they make from i,'3 to 
TG per ton; the finest are tho Regents, which are in 
excellent condition, and make from 3s. Gd. to -Is. per 
bushel. Mushrooms still continue plentiful, at last 
j week’s quotations. H. 
GOSSIP. 
I Ajiong the very numerous charities at 'Winchester is 
I The Natives’ Society, for the apprenticing of the children 
I of poor citizens. It was founded in IGGO, but we only 
notice it for the purpose of quoting some of tho prices 
I paid for articles connected with the Society’s annual 
I festival in tho days of yore. 
' “1075.—Paid for 9 bushells of malt and grinding ,€1 G 0 
j Paid for hidfe a busliell of barley for the 
' powltry - - - - -010 
“ 107G.—For lemonds, 4d. For aples, 2s. For cabidge and 
cariot. Is. (id. For 4 bushells of wheat, 12s. Gd.” 
At the Yarmouth Poultry Shoiv, MissE. Watts took a 
I first prize for dark-coloured Cochin-China Chickens, and 
1 not a second prize, as stated in p. 418 of our last 
1 volume. 
I 
There is a brilliancy—a glory—around the fall of tho 
warrior on the field of victory that takes away much 
from the mournfulness of death. We think we are not 
wrong in saying that there are few so base as to shrink 
from facing that death with a firm onward foot, and an 
unquailing heart, amid the ranks of comrades, and all 
tlie excitement and panojily of war. This is courage; 
but it is courage which excitement would infuse into a 
poltroon. There is another courage which we consider 
more admirable, though less appreciated—we mean that 
of the dying student, who, suffering under the slow 
inroads of an incurable disease, still labours on in the 
quiet retirement of his library, intent to fulfil his allotted 
task, though well assured that death’s foot is far ad¬ 
vanced across his threshold. This is passive courage— 
this is genuine heroism—and never was it more forcibly 
displayed than by Dr. William Macgillivray, late 
Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of 
Aberdeen. The two concluding volumes of his History 
of British Birds have just been published, and these 
are the contents of their concluding page;— 
“ Commenced in hope, and carried on with zeal, though 
ended in sorrow and sickness, I can look upon my work 
without much regard to tlie opinions wliich contemporary 
writers may form of it, assured that what is useful in it will 
not be forgotten, and knowng that already it has had a 
beneficial effect on many of the present, and will more 
poweiffully influence the next generation of our home-orni¬ 
thologists. I had been led to think that I had occasionally 
been somewhat rude, or at least blunt, in my criticisms ; but 
I do not perceive wherein I have much erred in that respect, 
and I feel no inclination to apologise. I have been honest 
and sincere in my endeavours to promote the truth. With 
death, apparently not distant, before my eyes, I am pleased 
to think that I have not countenanced error, through fear of 
favour. Neither have I in any case modified my sentiments 
so a.s to endeavour thereby to conceal or palliate my faults. 
Though I might have accomplished more, I am thankful 
for having been permitted to add very considerably to the 
knowledge previously obtained of a very pleasant subject. 
If I have not very frequently indulged in reflections on the 
power, wisdom, and goodness of God, as suggested by even 
my imperfect understanding of His wonderful works, it is 
not because I have not ever been sensible of the relation 
between the Cre.ator and Ilis creatures, nor because my chief 
enjoyment when wandering among the hills and valleys, 
exploring the rugged shores of the ocean, or searching the 
cultivated fields, has not been in the sense of His presence. 
“ To Him who alone doeth great wonders,” be all gloiy and 
praise. Pteader, farewell.” 
Death, indeed, was “ not distant” when Doctor Mac¬ 
gillivray penned those thoughts on the last day of July, 
for in little more than six weeks he was within his gi-ave. 
The opinion he had of the work of his dying years, for it 
occupied twelve, was not too high. Wo have pentsed it 
thoroughly, and we rose from it with the conviction that 
it is the best work existing on British Ornithology. It 
is the best for all the reasons that render such a book 
valuable—for its descriptions are most full and most 
accurate—its anatomical demonstrations more perfect 
than any previously effected—and the habits, baunts, and 
associations of each bird are most pileasingly described, 
not only with all the freshness induced by personal 
examination, but with all the spirit of a genuine lover 
of nature. We have room only for this short description 
of tho hahits of the Bed-hreasted Goosander :— 
“ In the outer Hebrides, in March, April, and part of 
