the Thane, looking with an air of profound mystery at his tender mate, whispered her, "We have _cotch_ a snake, and _killed_ it." * * * * * PARLIAMENT OF BATTS. Gurdon, in his _History of Parliament_, says--"This parliament was summoned in the reign of Henry the Sixth, to meet at Leicester; and orders were sent to the members that they should not wear swords; so they came to parliament (like modern butchers) with long staves, from whence the parliament got the name of _The Parliament of Batts_; and when the batts were prohibited, the members had recourse to stones and leaden bullets. This parliament was opened with the Confirmation of Liberties." P.T.W. * * * * * WITENAGEMOTES. "Alfred, with the advice and consent of his _Witas_, in _Witenagemote_, made his code of law that was common to the whole nation, and enacted that a _Witenagemote_ should be held twice a year, and oftener if need were."--See _Gurdon on Parliament_. P.T.W. * * * * * ANNUAL OF SCIENCE. This Day is published, price 5s. ARCANA of SCIENCE, and ANNUAL REGISTER of the USEFUL ARTS for 1831. Comprising POPULAR INVENTIONS, IMPROVEMENTS, and DISCOVERIES Mechanics Agriculture Chemical Science Gardening Botany Domestic Economy Zoology Useful and Ornamental Art Geology Geographical Discovery Meteorology Abridged from the Transactions of Public Societies and Scientific Journals of the past year. With several Engravings. "One of the best and cheapest books of the day."--_Mag. Nat. Hist._ "An annual register of new inventions and improvements in a popular form like this, cannot fail to be useful."--_Lit. Gaz._ Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143, Strand;--of whom may be had the Volumes for the three preceding years. * * * * * _Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers._ End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction No. 485, by Various