k, had his attention attracted to the screams of a child in
the care of a tramping woman, who had with her, two other children
totally blind. The cries of the child were so distressing, that he
insisted on knowing the cause; but; not getting a satisfactory answer, he
forcibly removed a bandage from its eyes, when, horrid to relate, he
found these encased with two small perforated shells, in which were two
live black beetles, for the purpose of destroying the sight. The woman
was instantly seized, and given into custody; and, at the magistrate's
meeting, at Eton, on Wednesday last, committed for trial. There is too
much reason to fear that the wretch produced the blindness of the other
two children, by similar means." This was rendered into a street ballad.

A correspondent pointed out that it was well known to all who pass
through the parish of St. James's, at night, that the district absolutely
swarmed with gaming houses; there was, in fact, no concealment about the
matter, as the keepers vied with each other in illuminating their doors
and windows to attract the notice of their victims. How was it that this
disgrace was permitted to exist from season to season? The police seemed
satisfied with the occasional conviction of one or more minor delinquents
from the neighbourhood of Leicester Square, but the Leviathans in crime
were allowed to continue their nightly course of profligacy and plunder
with impunity. The French authorities, by a law which was strictly
enforced, entirely swept away this nuisance from their capital,
notoriously, for years, the very hotbed of the vice of gaming; but we
were lamentably behind our neighbours; for, while we boasted of a Court
pure in morals, and strict in the performance of every religious duty, we
allowed the Sabbath to be desecrated, and the Palace of the Sovereign to
be contaminated by the close vicinage of houses expressly open for the
practice of this demoralising habit.--Are we much better now?

At the latter end of October, a new headdress for the infantry was
proposed, and Prince Albert was universally credited as being its
godfather--but public opinion was so unequivocally expressed against it,
that it was never likely to be popular. It was neither soldier-like, nor
appropriate, and bore a strong resemblance to the old Hessian cap, which
was introduced into the German service. This headgear was covered with
black cloth, the crown and brim being of black-varnished lea