The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 48 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 48 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.
he required that lamps should be kept continually burning about the lady’s remains, which were interred near the high altar, in a tomb covered with silk.
We may naturally conclude from these circumstances, that, as long as the connexion between king Henry and Rosamond continued, the former had no other object in his affections; yet we are informed by a writer of Thomas a Becket’s life, that there lived a remarkably handsome girl, at Stafford, with whom king Henry was said to cohabit.  However, observes the same writer, Rosamond might have been dead before the second intrigue was commenced.

    G.W.N.

* * * * *

THE “NAPOLEON” CHILD.

On Friday the 8th inst. we paid a visit to the Bazaar in Oxford-street, to witness this extraordinary sport of Nature, about which the French and English newspapers have lately been so communicative.

The child is an engaging little girl, about three years old.  The colour of her eyes is pale blue, and on the iris, or circle round their pupils, the inscriptions on

    Left Eye
    Napoleon
    EMPEREUR.

    Right Eye
    EMPEREUR. 
    Napoleon.

may be traced in the above sized letters, although all the letters are not equally visible, the commencement “Nap” and “EMP” being the most distinct.  The colour of the letters is almost white, and at first sight of the child they appear like rays, which make the eyes appear vivacious and sparkling.  The accuracy of the inscriptions is much assisted by the stillness of the eye, on its being directed upwards, as to an object on the ceiling of the room, &c.; and with this aid the several letters may be traced with the naked eye.

This effect is accounted for by the child’s mother earnestly looking at a franc-piece of Napoleon’s, which was given to her by her brother previous to a long absence; and this operating during her pregnancy, has produced the appearance in question.  It was visible at the child’s birth, and has increased with her growth.  She has been seen by Sir Astley Cooper and other leading members of the profession, and probably before our Number is published, she will have been shown to the King.  She is an interesting little creature, prattles playfully, and will doubtless receive the caresses of thousands of visitors.

Our contemporaries are, we perceive, somewhat divided as to the distinctness of the inscription; but we have given our opinion fairly—­and, as the proverb runs, “seeing is believing.”  One of them describes the child as “a little boy, about two years old.”  This reminds us of the man in the Critic, “give these fellows a good thing, and they never know when to have done with it.”

* * * * *

PORTUGUESE PRISONS.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.