MONS. ARAGO says:—"Talking of the new fashion of discovering stars:— there's my friend Millevoye, who wrote to me post-haste one morning to say, he had just discovered two new stars! Now, one star is enough at any time, but two were so surprising in my eyes, that I rushed to him immediately to see if there was anything in them. 'Come, my dear Millevoye,' I said, 'can you look me in the face and say you have discovered two new stars?' 'I can,' he said boldly, and he turned his eyes full upon mine. The absurdity of the thing flashed so ridiculously upon me that I could not help laughing—the double discovery was at once apparent—_for the poor fellow squinted_. Take my word, never believe in a new star till you have seen it yourself." [Illustration: HISTORICAL PORTRAIT OF IRONSIDES. ] ASTLEY'S HISTORICAL QUESTIONS. Many of us owe to a visit to Astley's our earliest initiation into the mysteries of histories; and we are of opinion that a set of questions should be framed in accordance with these grand dog-mata—or horse-mata, as a maliciously-disposed person might call them—which we have gleaned from the boards of that great equestrian establishment. The arena of the circus is not a mere desert of sand or sawdust to him who looks at it with an intelligent eye, for many a wise saw may be picked up from the aforesaid sawdust, if the eye itself does not disdain the humility of the pupil. We subjoin a few specimens of the sort of questions and answers that would be found to meet the case, if we looked at history through some of Astley's grand spectacles. _Q._ How was the battle of Waterloo decided? _A._ By six Scotch Greys popping out from under two trusses of straw beautifully divided into six, and representing about half a pint of "standing corn," from which the gallant fellows emerged in time to "discomfit" eight French cuirassiers, who retired before the battery of the flats of the enemy's swords upon their highly polished breast-plates. _Q._ How did Napoleon succeed in crossing the Alps? _A._ He was carried across in an open boat on the backs of four supernumeraries. _Q._ In what manner did the Emperor travel to Russia? _A._ In a pasteboard hackney-coach, gorgeously emblazoned with Dutch metal, and which had been discovered among the rich relics of barbarism used for the old melodrama of Xaia of China. _Q._ How did the Duke of Wellington behave at Waterloo? _A._ He never spoke a single word, but pranced about, looking unutterable things, on a piebald charger. _Q._ To what are our successes in India attributable? _A._ To Lady Sale having surmounted an extensive range of platforms on a highly trained steed, and called upon "the whole strength of the company, with a numerous train of auxiliaries," to "advance for the honour of Old England," while the band in the orchestra played "Rule Britannia." _Q._ Mention some prominent points connected with the burning of Moscow?