show of; and mamma is humoured into a thing, under pretence of charity, which in itself is exceedingly objectionable : The chariest maid is prodigal enough

If she unmask her beauties to the moon.

So 'twas held heretofore: but to trick out a sweet innocent girl, and teach her to wear a marketable smile upon her face, and then offer herself for admiration at half-a-crown or five shillings a head, is what no charitable results can compensate us for: it strikes at the root of those modest blushing virtues for which English-women were of old honored and beloved. The extent to which these charitable bazaars are being carried, and the system on which they are conducted, is a growing evil; and, therefore, we protest against what may seem to sanction them, even though at the risk of being thought a little straitlaced. Let any sensible man look to his experience in these matters, and then say how far we are wide of the truth in this condemnation. Athenæum.

THE BEDFORD MISSAL. This splendid production was lately sold by auction for eleven hundred pounds: the purchaser was Mr. Tobin, of Liverpool. It contains about a thousand miniatures with splendid borders; and was originally executed for John, duke of Bedford, regent of France, of whom, and his duchess, it contains the only known likenesses. By the latter it was presented to king Henry the Sixth, when crowned in France. It afterwards passed into the family of the duke of Somerset, from whose great-granddaughter, Lady Worsley, it was purchased by the minister Harley; his daughter, the Duchess of Portland, sold it to Mr. Edwards in 1786; after whose death, in 1815, it was bought by the Duke of Marlborough, for £687 15s. Again passing under the hammer, it has obtained the enormous sum mentioned.

SARAH HAWKES.-Much curiosity and interest has been excited by the extraordinary case of this girl. The medical profession are literally astonished at her complete restoration from one of the greatest deformities that perhaps ever existed. This almost miraculous cure has been effected by Dr. Harrison, who, with praise-worthy liberality, has written a brief Memoir of the Case, with Remarks on Spinal Deformities, of very general interest, and published it for the benefit of the

patient. The book contains engravings of Sarah Hawkes in her deformed and in her present state, which adds greatly to its interest, and being published for the poor girl's benefit, we cordially recommend it on the score of charity as well as curiosity. Dr. Harrison says:

Before she left her native place, (Dunmow) she was examined by not less than forty medical men, some of whom went from the metropolis, and from more distant places, for the purpose; she had removed to London, and been exhibited there upwards of a month before I heard of her. The object of this journey was, partly to obtain alms; but chiefly to procure, if possible, some alleviation of her afflictions, through the benevolent exertions of the faculty. An amiable young lady, whose figure I had restored, (by which means she had been rescued from pulmonary consumption) called to inform me of Sarah Hawkes, and desired me to "visit the poor girl, as an object of compassion and wonder;" not having the slightest idea that any relief could be administered. A few days after I had attended to her request, she called again upon the girl; and, observing the hard already at liberty, and seeing, that considerable benefit had been obtained in other respects, she wrote to me as follows:

"I went to-day (Nov. 22nd) to visit little Sally Hawkes, and was much pleased, as well as gratified, to find the extraordinary improvement in her. I will not say surprised, after having myself received so much benefit from your skill."

EX-KING OF FRANCE.-It is said, at the interview which lately took place between Charles X. and Viscount Chateaubriand, the ex-king, after complaining of the conduct of several personages of influence towards him, concluded by saying, "But I forgive them all,-even you, viscount, who called me a perjured man."

PRINCE POLIGNAC AND Co.-In the Carlist circles it is. reported that the Prince de Polignac is so seriously indisposed, that his life will be in danger unless he is set at liberty, or removed to a more spacious prison. The Count de Peyronnet, on his side, is so deeply affected with his captivity, that, at intervals, he appears deranged. Nothing is said of M. Guernon Ranville, or of M. Chantelauze.

BY MRS. CHILD, AUTHOR OF "THE MOTHER'S BOOK," ETC. No. 3.-MADAME LAVALETTE, WIFE OF MARIE CHAMANS LAVALETTE.

Marriages made by the will of a third person are not usually happy; for people rarely love those, whom their relatives are determined they shall love. Lavalette seems to have been an exception to this general rule. Bonaparte, wishing to reward the bravery of his aid-de-camp, and being at that time somewhat restricted in his power, resolved that he should marry a niece of Josephine. "I cannot make you a major," said he, "I must therefore give you a wife. You shall marry Emilie Beauharnais. She is very handsome, and well educated."

Lavalette objected that he had no fortune-that he was going immediately to Africa-that he might be killed-that perhaps the young lady would not fancy him. But the conquerer of Italy was not in the habit of supposing the opinions and feelings of others could possibly be obstructions in the way of his wishes. "Killed, you certainly may be," he

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replied; "but she will then be the widow of one of my officers she will have a pension-and may marry again advantageously. The wedding shall take place in eight days. I will allow you a fortnight for the honey-moon. You must then come and join us at Toulon. Come, come, the thing all settled. Tell the coachman to drive home."

Lavalette smiled to see how readily he was disposed of, apparently upon the supposition, that he had no right to feel any interest in the matter. Foreigners accuse us of dancing as if we did it by act of the legislature; but this marrying per order is a more serious affair.

Lavalette agreed to visit the young lady, mentally reserving a degree of freedom, in case the union should not be mutually agreeable. The following is his own account of the interview.

"In the evening I went to see Madame Bonaparte." She knew what was going forward, and was kind enough to show some satisfaction, and call me her nephew. "To-morrow," said she, "we shall go to St. Germains-I will introduce you to my niece: you will be delighted with her-she is a charming girl." Accordingly, next day, the General, Madame Bonaparte, Eugene, and I, went in an open carriage to St. Germains, and stopped at Madame Campan's. The visit was a great event at the boarding-school; all the youug girls were at the windows, in the parlours, or in the courtyard, for they had obtained a holiday. We soon entered the gardens. Among the forty young ladies 1 anxiously sought for her who was to be my wife. Her cousin, Hortense, led her to us, that she might salute the general and embrace her aunt. She was, in truth, the prettiest of them all. Her stature was tall, and most gracefully elegant, her features were charming, and the glow of her beautiful complexion was heightened by her confusion. Her bashfulness was su great, that the general could not help laughing at her, but he went no further. It was decided that we should breakfast in the garden. In the mean time I felt extremely uneasy. Would she like me? Would she obey without reluctance? This abrupt marriage, and this speedy departure grieved me. When we got up and the circle was broken, I begged Eugene to conduct his cousin into a solitary walk. I joined them, and he left us; I then entered on the delicate

subject. I made no secret of my birth, or of my want of fortune; and added-"I possess nothing in the world but my sword, and the good will of the general-and I must leave you in a fortnight. Open your heart to me. I feel myself disposed to love you with all my soul-but that is not sufficient. If this marriage does not please you, repose a full confidence in me; it will not be difficult to find a pretext to break it off-I shall depart; you will not be tormented, for I will keep your secret.' While I was speaking, she kept her eyes fixed on the ground; her only answer was a smile, and she gave me the nosegay she held in her hand; I embraced her. We returned slowly to the company, and eight days afterwards went to the municipality. The following day, a poor priest, who had not taken the oaths, married us in a small convent of the Conception, in the Rue St. Honore. This was in some manner forbidden, but Emilie set a great importance on that point: her piety was gentle and sincere."

Immediately after the marriage, Count Lavalette left his bride, in order to join the expedition to Egypt.

At the end of eighteen months he returned; and when he received orders again to depart for Saxony, he took Madame Lavalette with him. The people of North Germany had great prejudices against Frenchwomen; and were therefore surprised when they saw a young and beautiful lady so modestly dressed, and timid even to bashfulness. During her residence at the court of Berlin she excited great admiration.

In France, honors were of course heaped upon them during the prosperity of Bonaparte. Grateful for these favors, and warmly attached to the Emperor's person, Count Lavalette welcomed Napoleon on his return from Elba. In the counter revolution, which immediately ensued, this became a crime; and he was imprisoned.

The state of Madame Lavalette's health made this affliction peculiarly distressing; she was expressly forbidden to visit her husband. A few months after he was arrested, she gave birth to a little son, which died in a few hours. The reverse of fortune that had fallen on all her friends, and the sad fate of her husband, produced such a state of nervous ex