THE GATHERER.

THE OPERA.

Swift, in his Journal to Stella, speaking of the Opera says, "In half an hour I was tired of their fine stuff."

FAUSTINA and CUZZONI, two celebrated opera singers, were such bitter rivals, that neither of them would sing in the same room with the other.

CATS.

Four learned cats are now exhibiting in Regent-street; but as we have not yet left our card with their feline excellencies, we cannot wink at their perfections.

SHERWOOD AND ROBIN HOOD.

The officers of Sherwood Forest, famous for having been the head-quarters of Robin Hood in the 16th century, were a warden, his lieutenant and steward, a bow-bearer, and a ranger, four verderers, twelve regarders, four agisters, and twelve keepers or foresters, all under a chief forester; besides these there were several woodwards for every township within the forest, and one for every principal wood.

HALBERT H.

The late Duke of Norfolk passing down Piccadilly with Sheridan, as a gigantic wooden Highlander was just then fixing at the door of a tobacconist, asked, what was the reason of this usual location. "Ay, ay, I see it now," said the duke, "it is as much as to say, bargains here, a man may get the most for his farthing." "No," said Sheridan, "it seems quite the contrary, for if the Scotchman could have driven any thing in the way of bargain, he would have gone in."

A Mrs. Tomlinson is mentioned in the papers as having, lately died, worth thirty thousand pounds, chiefly amassed by habits of extreme penury. She had, before this accumulation, separated from her husband, to whom she handsomely allowed five shillings a-week. This was observed to realize the often-repeated saying of Solomon—"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband."

SUGAR MADE FROM RAGS.

The compiler of a Catechism of Chemistry up to the latest date, says, "It is a remarkable fact, that a pound of rags may be converted into more than a pound of sugar, merely by the action of sulphuric acid. When shreds of linen are triturated (stirred) in a glass mortar with sulphuric acid, they yield a gummy matter on evaporation; and if this matter be boiled for some time with dilute sulphuric acid, we obtain a crystallizable sugar."—Now is the time to look up all your old rags, &c.

A choral society, consisting of 160 members, has just been established at Breslau, for the cultivation of ancient music.

JOHN OF GAUNT.

There is a curious tradition respecting the estate of Sutton Park, (the seat of Sir J. Burgoyne.) near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, which states it formerly belonged to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, who gave it to an ancestor of the present proprietor, named Roger Burgoyne, by the following laconic grant:—

I, John of Gaunt,

Do give and do grant

To Roger Burgoyne,

And the heirs of his loin,

Until the world's rotten.

There is also a moated site in the park, called "John of Gaunt's Castle."

J.H.

With the present Number is published a SUPPLEMENT, containing THREE ENGRAVINGS: 1. The Death-Watch. 2. The Glow-Worm. 3. The Talipot Tree, and a series of other curious and attractive Wonders of Nature—The First and Last Crime, a vivid and masterly sketch—Public Improvements now in progress in London—besides an unusual variety of Literary Novelties.

Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers.