THE FASHIONABLE NURSE

Colonist, Issue 2, 27 October 1857, Page 3

THE FASHIONABLE NURSE

Detection of crime;, and the severest . visitation of justice, says Mr. Chesterton, many'yeajs governor of Middelsex house of correction^ have', sometimes resulted in an extraordinary advancement of the fortunes of delinquents, Dora Fnen, a stolit, dark, handsome woman, apparently about thirty-five years of age, had long been: esteemed a 1 valued muse to ladies of distinction in their confinement,; or when suffering from sickness-, Not only had she been largely trusted, but held in the highest favour; and happy was that lady deemed to be whocould secure the services of Dora. Fenn. A deplorable accident had prostrated the lady of a" noble viscount, wlk> was tended during, her illness by the incomparable nurse. All had. progressed, favorably, and Fernr, no longer needed, had returned to her own home; when her ladyship's watch, and a. most valuable ordciy set in brilliants^ appertaining to his lordship-,- were missed. Those losses created immense consternation., for the reports of the day computed the' value' of the order at six hundred guineas. The case was confided to the scrutiny of Mr. Goddard of the public- office, j Great Marlborough-street, who subsequently be\.| came chief of a county constabulary. Hewa&a'i ■ man- of a very superior address, and of marked in* telligence; and in the progress of the case, no- ■■ thing satisfactory having been elicited, he learned that Dora Fenn had been an inmate of his lordi ship's house. At the proposition that her abode should be' visited, acute distress was manifested by tlie family. Ske. could never be suspected-—she was toa dear and good a creature! Goddard, however, insisted; and, armed with the necessary warrant, he repaired to her house, accompanied by his lordship, who bcnign,antly desired to soften the seeming affront. When Fenn appeared, rr any kind apologies were offered, and the sad necessity blandly explained; but no sooner had the nature of the visit transpired, than the countenance' of the woman, and her insolent refusal to permit a search, convinced Goddard of the soundness of the step he. had.counselled. Proceeding, in spite of opposition, to. execute his mission, he. discocovered the watch and appendages, but the order was not to be found- The apprehension of Fenn of course ensued ; and, after an introductory examination, she was remanded to my custody. There, overwhelmed with despair at the exposure of her treachery, she was largely visited by members of the aristocracy, who now began to account for the mysterious disappearance of various valuables from their own residences while the petted nurse was there. A committal to Newgate, trial, conviction, and a. sentence to death ensued; but still the order,- so much prized, was not forthcoming. At that period the execution of the highest penalty of the law was by no means unusual, and Dora Fenn's life was far from safe. In that emergency, the late Mr. Wontner, then governor of Newgate, summoning Fenn to his*ofliee, told her to listen to-him, and profit by his advice. Her life, he assured her, was in danger, but the restoration of the missing order (which she undoubtedly had stolen) might save it. He furnished her with paper, pen, and ink, and said—■ " Write to Avhoinsoevcr you please—'your letter shall not be read ; htit direct that the order be enclosed to me in a parcel forthwith, and I will see ;if we cannot preserve your life.'* These particulars I learned from Mr. Wontner himself; and, moreover, the following day the order was in his hands. Dora Fenn was transported for life, and became acquainted with, in Australia, and married, a man of enormous wealth, who, as a convict, had been assigned to that colony for life.

w They'll tell you children keep iip and eternize theh- name; but the poorest way it is of immor" talizing them that can be, and common to the base as well as the noble; to the peasant as the king ; nay, even to bruit feasts. The nobler way is. by great action^ noble-works and attempts, whereby a man's name will be engraven in his merits ana achievements; so deep as the teeth of time can never devour, J^nd we commonly see the greatest works have been' done by childless men. Besides^ the risk that's :mn for them is dubious and hazardous, yet .obligatory. *' ■ * * They (the wise) had better be childless : 'tis too common in the middie sort. Thy son's a drunkard, a gamester, a spendthrift; thy daughter a fool, a . If these have not good estates their charge will undo you". What greater misery than to have children, and leave them no better inheritance than hunger and thirst, joyned with nakedness? No plague like to want; and if thou hast means 'tis ten thousand to one if they will be ruled by thee. Many times .the extravagancies and vices of but one causes more trouble than will over-balance the pleasure in all the rest,"— Qonr. jugal Duty r <&c. y V!3G. Duration op Life asioxg FAKMEns^English farmers and their families enjoy many sanatory' advantages, yet they suffer from the heaps of manure which surround -their houses. Young farmers of the age of twenty-five to thirty-five die at the rate of 10 in 1000 annually, .which is a slightly higher rate of mortality than is experienced by sho3m'aliers, carpenters, bakers, grocers, Miners,, b aeksmithß, at that period of life. Farmers in the..subsequent ages of life enjoy superior, health, and after 85 live 83"years on an average, ais they tlien become less- sensible to zymotic influences, which, however, prove fatal to their children and their cattle. The cattle are'exposed to the additional risk of drinking impure water, which recent experience has proved so often fatal; for many of the unscientific farmers in the country still allow the putrid ammoniacal fluids to stray into the roads or into the ponds where the' cattle drink, although, as the late Principal Harris acutely once remarked, this is about as rational as? to retain the grains for use after brewing,, and to allow the strong ale to run away to waste. Modes of Managing Weeds.—Mr. Mole never sees theirr. They grow in all the corners of his fences, in his yards, in the roads and lanes,.and wherever they please. They encroach on his meadow; they invade his ploughed land; they sow their seeds by millions. His grounds become nurseries of nuisance, annoyance, and ills to all his neighbours. He wonders why his lands yield weeds so much more than anybody's else around him, It has never occurred to him that weeds grow spontaneously; but valuable crops must be cared for and cultivated, so he enjoys a harvest of weeds, and nothing else. Mr. Slow sees the docks growing, and exclaims :—"That Is too bad; these weeds must be dug up." But they go to seed, after all. After half of them have scattered themselves in the ground, he cuts the stalks up and burns them. It is the same with all the other pests that infest his farm. " Faint, though pursuing," he fights ■ on, never gaining full victory, yet never absolutely defeated, Mr. Smart sees the .weeds, and he is at them with a fnry. All over his ploughed lands his eye ranges, like the eyes of the eagle for his prey. Every corner is scrutinized. ■ Hoe and spade, scythe and trowel, fire, and hot water, are all made to play a part in the onslaught which he is ever making." on the weeds. His first rule is, " Let none grow." If any escape-the application of this, the next is, '• Let none go to seed." If, after all, some do go to seed—for what human eye is omniscient. ?-—his third rule is, " Let them be totally destroyed." He gathers them without scattering their seed, and burns them, or packs them in a comei, and lets them thoroughly rot, arid their seeds with them. In a year or two, life farm is clear, and with" eternal Vigilance," he keeps it so.— Ohio Farmer. TttF, Diving Bell and the Mulgrave Family.----The first diving-hell we read of was nothing but a ver^y large kettle suspended by ropes, with the mouth downwards, and planks to sit on, fixed in the middle of its concavity. Two Greeks at Toledo,- in 1588, made an experiment with it before the Emperor Charles V, • They descended in it to a considerable depth. In 1683 William Phipps, the son of a blacksmith, formed a project for unloading a rich Spanish ship sunk on the coast-of Hispaniola. Charles 11. gave him a sliip^ with everything"necessary for his undertaking; but, being unsuccessful, hci returned in great poverty. He then endeavored to procure another vessel; but failing, he got a subscription, to which the Duke of Albemarle contributed. In 1687, Phipps set sail in a ship of 200 tons, having previously engaged to divide the profits according to the-twenty .shares of which the subscriptions consisted. At first all his labors proved fruitless; but at last, when driven to dispair, lie was fortunate enough to bring up so much, treasure, that he returned to England with the value of 200,000/:, Of this sum, he got about 20,000/, and the Duke of Albemarle, 90,000/. Phipps was knighted by the king, and laid the foundation of the fortunes of tha present noble house of Mulgrave. Since that time diving-bells, have been often employed. I Wise men are instructed by reason; men of less un- j derstanding, by experience; the most ignorant, by necessity; and beasts,;by nntnre.-~Ciqerq.'

.. Gkand Night Attack, and Sijege Operationsbs the Troops at CfrATHA.M.r—Oii Friday night last thewhole of the troops belonging to the.Royal Engineers,; : and fte East India Corap^i'y'sSapp3rs;anicl- Miners at; preient at head; quarters, Chatham, together with the.----t-oops from1 the: provisional battalions and. those of the' Boyal. Marine Light Infantry, were engaged until-n-iarly midnight in. sonib seige operations o£ a hjgUly; interesting description, together with a night attack orf_ a strongly fortified position defended by a large force: from the, garrison.. The plan of the operations carried; out consisted- of an attach on those portions or'the Hne v of fortifications which: surround Chatham, garrison';; known as the Spur Battery,.tbfc KirigVßastian', the* Prince of Waled Bastion, and Prince Edward's Bastibn; : tho spot selected: by the attacking party as- the .base of tiiei-r operations being: the extreme end,-of the" lilies',; where- the usual preparations wbre made for' racing: the parallels, constructing bafcteries t coi&isfirig ofsunken y lLalf-sunken, and elevated, together with the other seige operations usually undertaken by a largo foree1* in' their attack on a strongly, fortified position.. The entire works of the attack and defence were undertaken by .the. -Royal and East India Company's; Engineers, the troop 3of the line, and the Koyal Marines, the whole, being under'tfe general superintend.-;1 , enee of Colonel H. S'andhaißv director 6f the Royal Engineers establishment at Chatham;;. ■ The officers* and troops selected to ta&e part in.."the proceedings.to? be undertaken1* assembled" on, tlXe. jfenieral parade: ground, at Brotn'pton 'Barracks: slrortry before dusk,where thjey were formed fnto two divisions, consisting, of the right attack, under the command, of Captain G, R. Lempiiere and the officers of tlie India Company's! Sappers and! Miners.' The defence of tho garrison devolved on a strong hody-of troops selecteclfrom"the-1 Engineers and the Royal Lfannes, who were jilaced- , under the comm'aTttt ot" QUa'rfceVmaster M.Bradford, R.E., the direction of the whole plan .of operations; bsing entrusted to Lieutenant-Colonel- .A:.- P.-.Gvßoss,^' assisted by major F. C Hassar.d, R.E., andra staft'of officers. A strong body of troops, of the fine, selected from the 24th, 27th (Enniskillew)1,82 nd, 52nd (Light Infantry), sLst, 64th, 70th, 75th, 78th> (Highlandere,, .^ 84th, and 86th Regiments, commanded- by Major 11. T>. Ellis, Captain 11. H. Price (35th Regiment), ami Captain J. J. Bouvchier, 52ndLightInfantry, furnished working, covering, and skirmishing parties. : A body of the Royal Marines took up their position, inside the / works, for the purposb of working tlie mwtara amlguns. Tlie Marines were placed' under the command ;of Captain F. L> Alexander and six officers-of that corps. On the assembling of the troops on the parade-. grounrt, they were detailed off for their respective duties by Sergeant-Major Jones, E.E,, and each mats made'acquainted with the/posifciorr he was to occupy,. The troops comprising-the right, and left attack were formed into 14 divisions, consisting, of nieri for tracing the first and other parallels ; .a strong" party to nTake: the necessary excavations for the trenches arid' batteries; parties to occupy the batteries when; formed, together with pickets, patrols, blue lights, and coyering parties, Lieutenant G. Phillips, R.E., being ap- ~ pointed to superintend the working parties. The; whole of the merr employed in the attack and defence: were furnished with several rounds of blank cartridge^ the attacking parties being- also provided with pick--axes, shovels, and other engineering implements.- A» j soon as it had become sufficiently dark to commence i the operations, the defending party marched off for the purpose of manning the Sour Battery, King's Bastion, and the other points, intended to be attackedv The attacking force, led by Colonel Ross, shortly1 afterwards marched out of the garrison over the-draw-, bridges, taking the road1 to the Great Lines.- As the i night was very dark, and the whole body of troop* marched in strict silence, their movements were not observed by tfte beseigbd party within the garrison. On reaching the lines the attacking party received orders to,scale the fences, which having been done, they immediately commenced operations against the fortress by tracing a first parallel to the brow of thehill on the left* the distance being 600 yards; a second parallel, in continuation, on tiie right,! #a*also traced, the parallels thus formed being 1100 yards in length. In this occupation the troops were engaged, nearly an hour, after which a line was formed! extend-? ing nearly a mile, the working parties commencing operation's for excavating a trench six feet wide and three in depth. ■ While so occupied the parties at work were defended by a covering party of troops of the? line; advanced pickets were also sent out.' After some time the parties within the garrison observed the move* mente of the enemy, and preparations were immediately made for driving tftem from t"heir works. A sortie was first made from the garrison, led on by Lieutenant R. G. Thorold, R. E., and on issuing from the fortifications those engaged fell in with ; the. = advanced pickets. A skirmish ensued, which lasted some time, until the party from the Spur Battery, felt it necessary to retreat. On .retiring they burnt fire baUs to indicate to those within the works their position, and when at a distance? of abSut 200 yards from the garrison a number of bhie lights were exploded, to enable those inside to direct their fire. As soon as the party making the sortie had reached the garrison the whole line of defence wte instantaneously illumij nated from one extreme to the other with large blu§ lights. The effect was brilliant in the extreiu.e f tiiff Avhole extent of the lines, and, indeed, the country for miles round, being .plainly visible, and enabling those within the works to obtain a correct view of the immense body of troops forming the attacking-party, The night being, very dark, me illumination of the garrison was visible at a great distance, and presented the appearance of a large town being on fire. Thff instant the signal was given the whole force of the garrison opened a tremenduous fire on their assailants with the mortars, gnns, and muskets. On the alarm being soxinded along the'ranks of the attacking party each man stood' to "his arms, and immediately the whole line poured in a heavy fire, the appearance of a line of troops nearly a mile in length firing volley after volley having a grand effect. .AfteT the faric^ had continued on both sides for some time, that from , Within the garrison lessened until it altogether ceased, and the attacking part}', having repulsed the sortie and silenced the guns from the fort, were permittedto' continue the seige operations without further molestation. The whole of the operations were not concluded I until nearly midnight, when the entire body of troops. I returned to their quarters. On the, following morning j an inspection of their tracings and parallels was made, when they were found to have been correctly performed. !An immense number of persons assembled to witness tho rare and interesting spectacle of ae%e ©oßratSona carried on at night, but not the least accident occurred. — Times,l3th July.

"I was walking, along the Strand one morning, where I met with.» young man whom I had formerly been to school with. Upon my asking him how his father and mother did, Oh ! (says ha, in- an impcrkvuj* tone) I know indeed; I have done with father and mother some time since; I have got & placo of two hundred a year. Well, hut, says 1, don't you go to , see them on a Sunday, and at other' leisure times ? No, faith, every Sunday I go into the country to see one of the most beautiful .little angels you ever, beheld in your life. But sure (replied I) you might find some time to go to see them; for tho' you might not see angeh, you would behold objects next in degree to them. But this young gallant was so infatuat'eui with his little country angels thit all thoughts about parents or relations were entirely evaporated; so I found it morally impossible to work any reformation in him.—At another time I met with one whose profession brought him five hundred pounds per annum, Upon my asking him when he a.whis father last, hoi answered, ' I have not seen him- a long time.' How so'? replied L Why (says lie) you must know thatby some unexpected incidents in trade he has failed; and therefore I am afraid to go to see him, as the old cock will be dunning mo for money. * * * * I ant married and have a young family coming on, which* it behoves me to take care of."— Garlton House Mag. Tjie Vamjb of English Cattle &?" America.—r We have on several occasions had to notice "theextraordinary demand which exist in the UnitedStates for cattle of the pure English breeds. Societies for this object have been formed, and agricultural shows are held at stated periods in most of fche principal cities and towns of the Union. For several- weekspast a deputation from the Illinois Agricultural Improvement Society has been in tins country employed in the selection of stock, The deputation have proceeded through England, Ireland,. Scotland, and ■ Wales, and have already made purchases to a larger extent. Liverpool has been selected as the port of embarkation, and a considerable portion of the stock has arrived. The animals, which comprise a number of horses, bulls, and sheep, are such as have taken: prizes at agricultural shows. All means have been* adopted for their safe conveyance to the port of destination, which is Philadelphia,. From thence they will be forwarded to Illinois, where, in the course of the ensuing summer, a large show of cattle and agricultural produce is to be held. A number of agricultural laborers, with their families, arc-to- proceed in the samo vessel to Philadelphia. They have been engaged by extensive agriculturists in the United' States, and tvvtl be employed on1 farms, and in the breeding and rearing of cattle. It may be mentioned, aw showing the value of English cattle in America,. that before the arrival of the present stock at Phil's- . ddphifi, a cost of more than £2,000 .will have been incurred for shipment and other attendant expenses, irrespective of the cost of the animals..