FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39  
40   >>  
s to other prey. The Nautilus then returns to tenant and repair its little bark; but it too often happens, that before he can regain it, it is by a species of shipwreck, dashed to pieces on the shore. Thus wretchedly situated, this hero of the testaceous tribe seeks some obscure corner "where to die," but which seldom, if ever, happens, until after he has made extraordinary exertions to establish himself anew. What a fine picture of virtue nobly struggling with misfortune.[8] When the sea is calm, whole fleets of these Nautili may be seen diverting themselves; but when a storm rises, or they are disturbed, they draw in their legs, take in as much water as makes them specifically heavier, than that in which they float, and then sink to the bottom. When they rise again they void this water by numerous holes, of which their legs are full. The other species of Nautilus, whose shell is thick, never quits that habitation. The shells of both varieties are exceedingly beautiful when polished, and produce high prices among Conchologists. It is easy to conceive that the ingenious habits of this wonderful creature may have suggested to man the power of sailing upon the sea, and of the various apparatus by which he effects that object. The whole creation abounds with similar instances of Nature ministering to the proud purposes of art: one of them, the origin of the Gothic Arch from the "high o'erarching groves," is mentioned by Warburton, in his _Divine Legation_, and is a sublime lesson for besotted man. [8] Magazine of Natural History, No.1. * * * * * THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_. * * * * * VIDOCQ. [We have abridged one of the most striking chapters in the very extraordinary history of Vidocq; premising that the interest of the adventure will compensate for the space it here occupies.] A short time before the first invasion (1814), M. Senard, one of the richest jewellers of the Palais Royal, having gone to pay a visit to his friend the Cure of Livry, found him in one of those perplexities which are generally caused by the approach of our good friends the enemy. He was anxious to secrete from the rapacity of the cossacks first the consecrated vessels, and then his own little treasures. After much hesitation, although in his situation he must have been used to interments, Monsieur le Cure decided on burying the ob
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39  
40   >>  



Top keywords:
extraordinary
 

species

 

Nautilus

 

history

 

Vidocq

 
striking
 
chapters
 

premising

 

origin

 

adventure


ministering

 
Nature
 

purposes

 

Gothic

 

interest

 

Magazine

 

besotted

 

Natural

 

History

 

groves


mentioned
 

Divine

 

Legation

 
sublime
 
lesson
 
VIDOCQ
 
Warburton
 

NOTICES

 

SELECTOR

 

LITERARY


erarching

 
abridged
 

Senard

 

rapacity

 

secrete

 
cossacks
 

consecrated

 

vessels

 

anxious

 
friends

treasures

 

Monsieur

 

decided

 
burying
 

interments

 

hesitation

 

situation

 

approach

 

caused

 
invasion