EDITED BY HERR HARRWITZ, PROBLEM No. XXVII.-BY MR. M'FARLANE.-White to move, and mate in three moves. Black-Messrs. H. and R. 1. K. P. 2. 5. Q. P. 1. (a) 7. B. takes P [ch.] 11. Kt. to K Kt. 5. 13. P. takes Kt [ch] 16. K. B. P. 1. 17. K. to Kt. 2 18. B. to Q. 2. (d) 31. Q. B. P. 1. 32. Kt. P. takes P. 33. P. takes P. [ch.] 34. B. to Q. 6. 35. B. to K. 5. 36. K. Kt. P. 2. 37. R. takes P. [ch.] 38. R. to K. Kt. sq. 39. R. to K. Kt. 7. (e) 40. R. to K. B. 2. 41. R. to R. 2 [ch.] 42. R. to R. 7. [ch.] 31. P. takes P. 32. R. to K. sq. 33. Kt. takes P. 34. K. to Kt. 4. 35. K. to Kt. 3. 36. P. takes P. 37. K. to R. 4. 38. Kt. to K. 3. 39. B. to K. Kt. 5. 40. Kt. to B. 4. U 41. Kt. to R. 5. 42. K. to Kt. 4. 43. K. R takes Kt.-And the Allies resigned. Duration, three hours and fifteen minutes. NOTES TO GAME XXVII. (a). This defence to the gambit is given by the Italian authors as one that leads to an equal game, and is sader than the one usually adopted. (b). Q. B. P. 1 would have been safer play. (c). Menacing to win a clear piece, by first taking Kt. and then checking at B. 6. (d). Better to have played Q. R to Kt. square, though in that case they must have lost their Q. P. (e). To prevent this R. from being masked. This part of the game is very difficult for the blindfold player, (f). The Allies, after having lost the exchange, have made a gallant struggle, but must now succumb to the Had they played K. to R. 6 instead, superior force. White would have won by B. to B. 4, &c. OUR FAMILY COUNCIL. In answer to several subscribers, who inquire how they are to address their letters on matters connected with the FAMILY FRIEND, we may state that the publication of this magazine will, at the close of the present month, be transferred entirely to Messrs. W. S. Orr and Co., No. 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, to whom all communications for the Editor may be forwarded. "Of outward form Elaborate, of inward, less exact.' "A lady of genius will give a genteel air to her whole dress, by a well fancied suit of knots, as a judicious writer gives a spirit to a whole sentence, by a single expression." We MANSIE LEE inquires if there is not some superstition abroad connected with the daisy. remember in France to have heard of a practice among the country children, which may possibly meet this question. To test the sincerity of their companions' friendship, they pull off, one by one, the white rays of the flowers, saying alternately, "Does he love me?"-" does he not?" until they have stripped off all the rays of the daisy. If the question "does he love me?" occurs at the last ray, the conclusion is favourable to the little inquirer. "HEPHZIBAH" addresses us "I am exceed A "CHESS PLAYER" is curious to know whether the game described in page 286 of our present volume, between Herr Harrwitz and Master Hudson, was a fair contest. Our correspondent probably thinks that the former must have given his youthful opponent many advantages, and perhaps protracted the game for the amusement of himself and his friends. We have, however, been assured by Herr Harrwitz, that in all hisingly fond of flower painting, and should much chess campaigns in various parts of the world, he never met with an antagonist more worthy of his egard, age and talent combined, than Master Henry Hudson, of Finsbury Place, London. It $ pleasing for us to know that this youth, not yet umbering nine years, received his earliest intructions in Chess from the pages of the FAMILY RIEND; and it is somewhat amusing to think, hat the pupil should, at so early an age, combat distinguished a master in the noble science as ferr Harrwitz, with his own weapons. JAMES REYNOLDS desires to know the meaning f"near and off horses," "vehicular" phrases in ommon parlance on the road. The term "near" probably a borrowed one. In a waggon the ear horse is the one which is nearest the driver, tho always walks with the horses to his right and. And the other, running abreast of him, is alled the off or far horse, because he is the farhest from the driver. This term, indeed, does jot refer to coaching so well as to waggoning, as he coachman does not walk by the side of his orses; but many of the terms of coachmanship re drawn from the same source; and the expresion "near" horse, seems to be among the umber. HENRY S., whose gallantry we must be allowed question, complains of the space we allot to our nonthly "fashions." "Dress," he observes, vith cynical indifference, "is of no consequence." What our fair subscribers will say to this bold nvader of their rights, we can guess. We will, Jowever, address to him the language of Addison, who may surely be esteemed an incontrovertible Authority. "Dress," he says, "is grown of universal use in the conduct of life. Civilities and respect are only paid to appearance. It is a varnish that gives a lustre to every action, that introduces us into all polite assemblies, and the only certain method of making most of the youth of our nation conspicuous; hence Milton asserts of the fair sex like to try my hand on velvet,' so I have been reading over and over again your paper in page 148 FAMILY FRIEND, but cannot understand the use of the 'formulas.' Is there no way of sketching the group at once on the velvet? And would you oblige me by saying whether the colours are very expensive or not, and also whether I cannot obtain them anywhere in town?" Here, indeed, are several questions to try our patience, but we cannot disoblige "Hephzibah," and perchance some of our fair readers may be glad of the same information; so we will state that the painting on velvet cannot be done without the "formulas," which are used in the manner of Poonah painting. Velvet cannot be sketched upon in the same manner as paper. The colours required are not expensive, and they, we are informed, are made only by one person, who has an agent in Torquay, Miss Shapley, Abbey Roads, and one in Edinburgh, Miss Dawson, 65, York Place. JAMES LEESON wishes to enlighten "ONE OF THE UNLEARNED," who in page 288 inquired the definition and the etymology of the word "surname." Our correspondent states, that until about the middle of the last century it was sometimes written "sirname." Of "surnames," Du Cange says, "they were at first written not in a direct line after the Christian name, but above it, between the lines, and hence they were called in Latin, supranomina; in Italian, supranome; and in French, surnoms, over-names.'" "I have read your account of the Electric Telegraph in page 237 of the FAMILY FRIEND, but you do not state the manner in which the discovery took place." Thus writes a correspondent under the euphonious designation "TOBAGO." We must inform "TOBAGO" that we confined the article in question to the practical operations of the invention, its origin and history being gene rally known. The means of electric communication rest upon the simple principle discovered by Ersted in 1819, that a magnetic needle, free to rotate about its centre, when brought near to a wire through which an electric current is passing, tends to place itself at right angles to that wire, the direction of its motion following a certain law; and secondly, that a piece of soft iron is rendered magnetic during the transmission of an electric current, along a wire coiled spirally round it, when placed near the wire which connects the poles of a voltaic battery. "What are the ingredients for a scent jar in a room?" inquires SARAH B. The following receipt is supplied to us by a lady experienced in such matters: Gum benjamin, storax, sweet orris, nutmeg, and cloves, of each one ounce, all bruised in a mortar; throw in a handful of baysalt (at the bottom. of a large jar), mixed with some of the spices, then lay in flowers, and upon every layer of flowers or herbs a handful of baysalt and the rest of the spices. No more spices need be added to the jar, but fresh salt as long as you put in fresh flowers; and as the flowers blow at different times of the year, you must collect them as they appear to have attained perfection, pick them clean from their stalks, and cut the herbs. The best for a jar are violets, roses, sweet-brier, thyme, lavender flowers, rosemary, clove pinks, sweet marjoram; keep it close shut for three months, and on opening, it will require to be well stirred up with a small wooden spoon or a stick, and will be found to possess a delightful odour. Geranium flowers and leaves, sweet-scented verbena or lemon plant, should be added to the collection, but were omitted to be mentioned in the list of plants; every sweet-scented herb or flower should get a place in the jar. CHARLES STANDISH feels the genius of inspiration within him. He is desirous of becoming a song-writer, one of the glorious band who spread refinement and happiness in every household; "but," he adds, modestly, "I am inexperienced. What are the rules of composition which will most assist me?" To be a poet, Mr. Standish, requires something more than mere rules of versification, and to be a good song-writer you must possess poetic ardour. Shakspere tells us, that "Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews, Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones; Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands." Song-writing, it has been justly observed, is an art the most easy in seeming, and the most difficult in reality, in the entire range of literary composition. Such singing birds of real merit are indeed rare throughout the world. Without forgetting Ramsay, Hogg, and Cunningham, it may be justly asserted that Scotland has seen but one such bard, Robert Burns. Ireland has likewise produced but one, Thomas Moore. England cannot boast of one song-writer of the same high order. With regard to the rules of construction to be observed in song-writing, they are few, but important. After simplicity and concentration of thought and diction-simplicity of grammatical arrangement stands next in consequence. An inverted expression is most injurious, and a parenthetic clause almost uniformly fatal. All forms of complication are hurtful; and even epithets, and adjectives of every kind, can be employed but sparingly, and must be most direct and simple. The letter that next claims our attention is of a less poetic character. ARTHUR AMES is desirous of detecting counterfeit silver coin. The following is a sure method:-If a piece of silver be dipped into a solution of chromate of potash, decomposed by sulphuric acid (thirty-two parts by weight of water, three of chromate of potash, and four of sulphuric acid), the parts of the silver immersed in the solution quickly assume a purple colour. The colouring is deeper and more lively when the silver is quite pure, and diminishes in proportion to the quantity of alloy mixed with it. Of course this process will not hold good when a coating of silver has been deposited on a piece of white metal, &c. ; in such cases as plated or electrotyped articles, for instance, a portion of the coating must be filed off; upon trial by this process, the German silver will remain of a white colour. No other metals give the same colour as silver when submitted to this test; copper, zinc, &c., are acted upon by the solution, but not coloured as in the case of silver. "AVELINE" is desirous to have a long lease of existence. "Is there not some work on the art of prolonging life?" she inquires. We believe there is; but the most likely ingredients for attaining her wish, are content and cheerfulness—such as could make Mrs. Barbauld in her old age look upon death with calm, in the following beautiful lines "Life, we've been long together, Through pleasant and through cloudy weather. Say not good night, but in some happier clime, But it is only an exalted sense of religion that can produce such a happy contemplation of "life in death;" and the real wish of " Aveline" should be, not for increase of life, but to pass worthily the years allotted to her. J. J. C., in answer to F. O. LEMPRIER'S question (page 223) on the most efficient mode of producing hair, states-Keeping the hair closely cut is often productive of good effects; it is serviceable in headaches; frequent cutting promotes the growth of the hair, and admits of the usual operations of combing and brushing acting more efficiently on the scalp. The seasons, as they pass fleetly on, bear with them recollections of past enjoyments. which it is some relief in our chequered career to cherish. With September comes our excursions in the green fields, before the cold winds of coming winter have robbed the trees of their freshness when the clustering fruit of the hazel would tempt our longing palates, and would create as much joy as that which Aladdin experienced in the en When dancing thoughtless pleasure's maze, chanted cave of precious stones. VOL. XI. NO. CXXXVI. Many a "nutting" expedition in the thick 2A woods can we remember! Many a day passed with companions, lightsome and careless as ourselves, in the fastnesses of nature. Surpassingly beautiful is the rich mellowness of Autumn. Bernard Barton thus describes one of its scenes: "The bright sun threw his glory all around, And then the balmy, mild, Autumnal breeze Swept with a musical and fitful sound Among the fading foliage of the trees; And, now and then, a playful gust would seize Some falling leaf, and like a living thing, Which flits about wherever it may please, It floated round in many an airy ring, Till on the dewy grass it lost its transient wing." But to our subject of "Nutting." Towards the close of the present month this fruit becomes plentiful. Walnuts, we are told, originated in the warm vales of Persia. It is difficult to account for the many ceremonies practised anciently with nuts. They were then thrown in all the avenues leading to the nuptial apartment, before the feet of the passing bride; and the ceremony of strewing the nuts was the conclusion of the weddingday. Nuts are very useful under different points of view; the threefold advantage which they possess of giving light, warmth, and food, has been combined by Ovid in the following lines: "Nux vigilat, recreat, nutrit, preto igne manuque, Pressa, perusta, crepans, luce, calore cibo." Ovid also has taken notice of the various injuries which the Walnut tree receives at the hands of travellers in the highway; and Boileau says, Ep. vI., speaking of the Seine. "Tous ses bords sont couverts de saules non plantés, Et de noyers souvent du passant insultés." Numerous divinations and superstitious practices were formerly done with nuts, particularly about the eve of All Hallows. There are several varieties of the Hazel, the principal of which are the common hazel, and the filbert. The first is a native of every part of Britain, the shells of the nuts being found in the bogs even in the coldest parts. The filbert, again, is supposed to be a native of Asia to have been imported first into Italy, and thence to the rest of Europe. The filbert grows more upright, is more tree-like, and bears larger and better flavoured nuts than the hazel; but the wood of the hazel is the tougher, and the better adapted for hoops, though both make excellent charcoal. There is an American species; and there is also one growing in the vicinity of Constantinople, which bears a nut nearly double the size of the filbert. More than a hundred thousand bushels of foreign nnts are annually consumed in this country. The common hazel (Corylus avellana) has the nut small and short; but the tree grows more easily than the filbert, being found wild not only in forests and commons in England, and especially upon the banks of dingles and ravines, but occuring in extensive tracts in the more northern and mountainous parts of the country. Several places, whose soil suits its growth, are called after the hazel,-such as Haselmere, Haselburn, &c. The common hazel is seldom cultivated as a fruit-tree, though perhaps its nuts are superior in flavour to the others, which are more inviting in size. and the cob-nut, are merely varieties of the The filberts, both the red and the white, common hazel; and have been produced partly by the superiority of soil and climate where they grow, and partly by culture. The filbert is not thicker than the common nut, but it is at least double the length, and has the kernel large in proportion. The cob-nut is the largest of the species, and it is round. The cluster-nut differs from the others only in the fruit being produced in large clusters at the ends of the branches. A particular form of tree receives in some parts of the country (especially in Kent, where the culture of the filbert is carried on with advantage) the name of the dwarf productive nut, though that name indicates rather the mode in which the tree is trained than the variety to which it belongs. Generally speaking, the filbert is but a low grower; but still considerable ingenuity is exerted in keeping it down,-it having been found by general experience that the dwarfing of fruit trees is the most effectual means of insuring a large and uniform crop, and fruit of superior quality. The trees that are dwarfed are not allowed to exceed seven feet in height; and they are trimmed in the form of a goblet, with an open centre, as is generally done with well-managed gooseberry trees. When the tree comés into proper bearing, this goblet has attained a diameter of about six feet, which is every |