here, on the spot where he breathed his last, CHARACTER OF LORD CHATHAM. malignity would have held her accursed tongue; but it was not so. He had committed the fault, unpardonable in the eyes of political opponents, of attaching himself to one of the great parties that then divided Greece; and though he had given her all that man could give, in his own dying words, "his time, his means, his health, and, lastly, his life," the Greeks spoke of him with all the rancour and bitterness of party spirit. Even death had not won oblivion from his political offences; and I heard those who saw him die in her cause, affirm that Byron was no friend to Greece. His body, the reader will remember, was transported to England, and interred in the family sepulchre. The church where it lay in state here is a heap of ruins, and there is no stone or monument recording his death; but, wishing to see some memorial connected with his residence, we followed our guide to the house in which he died. It was a large square building of stone; one of the walls still standing, black with smoke, the rest a confused and shapeless mass of ruins. After his death it was converted into a hospital and magazine; and, when the Turks entered the city, they set fire to the powder; the sick and dying were blown into the air, and we saw the ruins lying as they were before the explosion. It was a melancholy spectacle, but it seemed to have a moral fitness with the life and fortunes of the poet. It was as if the same wild destiny, the same wreck of hopes and fortunes that attended him through life, were hovering over his grave. Living and dead, his actions and his character have been the subject of obloquy and reproach, perhaps justly; but it would have softened the heart of his bitterest enemy to see the place in which he died. It was in this house that, on his last birthday, he came from his bed-room and produced to his friends the last notes of his dying muse, breathing a spirit of sad foreboding and melancholy recollections; of devotion to the noble cause in which he had embarked, and a prophetic consciousness of his approaching end. My days are in the yellow leaf, The flowers and fruits of love are gone; LORD CHATHAM, (observes Lord John Russell,) was a man endowed with qualities to captivate a nation and subdue a popular assembly. Bold and unhesitating in the part he was to take upon every public question, he voice, a commanding eye, and unrivalled was the master of a loud but harmonious energy, but, at the same time, propriety of flashed from him with brilliant splendour, language, and a light of imagination which and was gone 'ere any one could pronounce gressive. Upon every important subject he that the speaker was either fanciful or diappealed to some common and inspiring sentiment- the feeling of national honour disgust at political corruption-the care of popular liberty-contempt of artifice, or hatred of oppression. But, providing the topic were animating and effective, he little cared whether it were one on which a wise patriot could honestly dilate; a vulgar preju dice served his turn as well as an ancient and useful privilege; he countenanced every prevailing delusion; and hurried the nation to war, not as a necessary evil, but as an honourable choice. Above all, he loved to nurse the popular jealousy of France; and it was upon his means of gratifying this feeling that he seemed to build his hopes of future power. Ever ready to be the mouth piece of the cry and clamour of the hour, he could be as inconsistent as the multitude itself. In his earlier days, when reproached with his change of opinion, he pleaded honest conviction of error; after he had acquired authority, he faced down his accusers with a glare of his eye, and the hardihood of his denial. Nor, although he assumed a tone of virtue superior to his age, was he more scrupulous than others in political intrigue; but his object was higher. Instead of bartering his conscience for a large salary, or a share of patronage, he aimed at undivided power-the fame of a great orator-to be the fear of every cabal, and the admiration of a whole people. W. G. C. COMBATS OF WILD ANIMALS. In all ages, (observes a recent writer,) the combats of wild animals was a favourite amusement. The Romans carried this pas sion to an excess; the Spanish bull-fight, originating, in all probability, from the Circus; and, while the English are delighted with bear-baiting, &c., the natives. of the East derive the highest gratification from animal exhibitions somewhat similar. M. D'Osbonville was present at a terrible combat between an elephant and a tiger, which took place in the camp of the celebrated Hyder Ali. A sort of amphitheatre being [Stephen's Incidents of Travel in formed, and enclosed by a treble row of "If thou regret'st thy youth, why live? "Seek out-less often sought than found- Greece, &c. lancemen; a tiger, about four feet high, was fastened by a chain to a stake fixed in the middle of the area: this chain was of considerable length, so as to enable the beast to move freely round the stake, and to retaliate the attacks of his adversary. When all the preparations were finished, a strong and well-taught elephant was turned in the area, and a furious combat immediately commenced; the elephant, after receiving two deep wounds, proved victorious. But, from an encounter like this, where the tiger seemed a feeble one of its species, and was, at the same time, restrained by chains, an accurate judgment cannot be formed of the relative powers of the contending animals, when both are in a state of liberty. M. D'Osbonville supposes, that, although four or five elephants would have nothing to fear from a great number of tigers; yet, as far as he was able to judge from the exhibition, a tiger, in full possession of his faculties, would be more than equal to an ele phant in single combat. The lion is called the monarch of the forest, not only from his majestic appearance, but from the supposition that there is no wild beast able, successfully, to encounter him. The largest, as well as the fiercest lions, are to be found in the interior of Africa; while the tiger in the East Indies is more powerful than any met with in most other parts of the world. But there is a variety of this animal occasionally encountered in the interior of Hindostan, even far superior in size and strength to the royal tiger of Bengal. This animal, which is called by the natives vaugey, spreads terror wherever it appears, and is the undisputed master of the Indian forest. W. G. C. The Gatherer. Having an Eye to Business.-The son of a brewer, whilst under an examination at an academy in this county as to his knowledge of the numerals, was asked by the master what was meant by double X?" Good malt and hops" was the prompt reply of the little urchin, who was, of course, immediately elevated to the top of the class for his sagacity. -Chelmsford Chronicle. Certain convents, it seems, "were said to have an apartment or dungeon, into which the friars every day, during the warm season, brushed or shook the fleas from their habits through an aperture above, (being the only entrance,) and where, whenever a frail brother was convicted of breaking the most fragile of his vows, he was let down naked, and with his hands tied! This earthly purgatory was called la Pulciara, that is, the Fleary; and there the culprit was left, till it was deemed that he had suffered punishment enough in this life for his offence."-The Doctor. Of the thousands who pass daily over Westminster Bridge, but few I venture to say have noticed how thickly the old portion of the stone, with which the bridge is built, is studded with fossil remains of testaceous animals. The stone being the more fragile has mouldered, and left the shells promi nent and conspicuous; in many places almost in masses, affording interesting specimens of remains of animals in existence before the formation of the stone by the J. S. K. operation of nature. The Blessing bestowed by the Venerable Mother of the Protector, on her Son.The Lord cause his face to shine upon you, and comfort you in all your adversities, and enable you to do great things for the glory of the most high God, and to be a relief unto his people; my dear son, I leave my heart with thee; a good night. It is given to no man to discover all that is true; but it is a privilege to add to our stores of knowledge any thing that is true.— Bowring. A Swede (says a German paper) has made several successful attempts to walk on the water as conveniently as on land, which he accomplishes by means of light shoes, made with tin. These shoes are shaped like a small canoe, and are bound one to the other, that they should not separate more than conveniH. M. ent to effect this walk on the water. Let the World Match This.- From the first time Rice jumped "Jim Crow" in Old Kentuck up the present date, he has sung 37,000 verses in the United States, England, and Ireland. During the great run of “ Ob, Hush!" at the Bowery Theatre, he sung one hundred verses each night, always upon some new subject. His encores are gene rally seven or eight times a night, and frequently he has been made to return ten times of a night. He "turns about" three times to each verse, so, by multiplying 37,000 by 3, we find that he has "wheeled about and turned about" 111,000 timesnearly as often as the little magician An instrument has been invented at Leip sic, called a "Psycometer," by means of which the degrees of the passions of the mind and heart are ascertained. This instrument is a small box twelve inches long, eleven broad, and three high. From the centre of the box rises a column six inches high and two broad. On the summit there is a needle, whose movements indicate the answer to the questions put by those who consult the instrument on the state of their H. M. mental affections. LONDON: Printed and published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House); and sold he all Booksellers and Newsmen.-In PARIS, by all the Booksellers.-In RFANCFORT, CHARLES JUGEL. THE TEMPORARY EXCHANGE,* IN THE QUADRANGLE OF THE EXCISE OFFICE, BROAD-STREET, LONDON. On the destruction of the Royal Exchange, by fire, January 10, 1838, the Corporation of London, with that promptness which so conspicuously characterises them, granted their Guildhall, for the use of the merchants and bankers frequenting the late Royal Exchange; here they assembled and transacted their business for a short time; but the situ ation being found inconvenient, a meeting of merchants, shipowners, and others was held at the City of London Tavern, February 16, 1838, Mr. Thomas Wilson in the chair, when it was agreed to memorialize the Lord Mayor and the Greshamn Committee, to remove the 'Change from Guildhall to the area of the Excise-office, Broad-street, government having sanctioned the removal; and on Monday, February 26, 1838, another meeting was held at the City of London Tavern, Mr. Alderman Copeland in the chair, to consider the expediency of availing themselves of the consent of her Majesty's Government; when it was resolved, "that the assembly of merchants, traders, and others, which daily takes place at the Guildhall, is exceedingly inconvenient, and that the same be removed to the quadrangle of the Excise-office, without delay; and that the removal be carried into effect on the 5th of March following, or with as little delay as possible." On the 6th of August following, at a Court of Common Council, a member presented a petition from several merchants and bankers of London, praying "that the court would be pleased to grant them pecuniary aid, in order to enable them to defray the expenses which were to be incurred, in consequence of the calamity by which they were deprived of the commer cial accommodation of the Royal Exchange; that it was necessary that the arena of that portion of the Excise-office, devoted to the service of the petitioners, should be covered in; and as the government would not defray the expense to be incurred by securing the merchants and bankers from being exposed to the weather, they found it necessary to It is a singular coincidence, that the residence of Sir Thomas Gresham occnpied the site of the sent Temporary Exchange. pre and + About the year 1561, the merchants of London complained in like manner of being "exposed to the weather" while transacting their business; which complaint led to the building of the Royal Exchange; for one Clough, an agent of Gresham's, wrote to his master, bluntly telling him, that "the merchants studied nothing but their own profit; that they were content to walk about in the rain more like pedlars than merchants:" and in a drama, entitled, "If you know not me, you know nobody with the Building of the Royal Exchange," a similar complaint is there made; for it is stated, that the open spot at which the merchants assembled, under all the disadvantages of being "exposed to the weather," was Lombard Street; and in a conversation apply to the Corporation, to assist them from the funds of the City of London, in accomplishing so desirable an object." The gen tleman who presented the petition said, that the expense of making the new arena fit for the merchants, would not be less than 7007.; and moved, that the petitioners be granted 50l. towards defraying the said expenses. After a lengthened, and somewhat humorous debate, the honourable mover was allowed to withdraw his petition. mittee appointed by the subscribers to the On the 13th of August following, the Comfund for the erection of the Temporary Exchange, issued a circular, stating that they covering, with Mr. W. Cubitt, under the superintendence of Mr. Herbert, the Surof 100 feet by 40, with an additional covering veyor of her Majesty's Excise, to cover a space to the eastern passage. As the erection was to be a temporary one, the attention of the Committee was directed to a building of simple construction, calculated to afford shelter, and to give light, without excluding air: and they also resolved, that should the subscription allow of it, the Committee intended to obtain farther accommodation in various parts of the quadrangle, so as to afford convenience and shelter to all the merchants and others attending the Exchange. had entered into a contract for a suitable between Sir Thomas Ramsay and Dean Newell, the former says: " "Tis strange to see you here in LUMBER-STREET, This place of traffike, whereon merchants meet." The wretched nature of the accommodation here in bad weather, is pointed out in the following lines: The two merchants, Sir Thomas Ramsay and Gresham, are supposed to be talking on this spot of wealthy merehaut, when they are overtaken by a meeting, in company with one Hudson, another storm. Gresham.-Now passion o'me, Sir Thomas, a cruell storme! An' we stay long we shall be wet to th' skinue; Wherein so many gallant merchants are, We shall be dripping wet if we stay here,) friends, Shall walk vnderneath it as now in Pawles. Hud on.-Day! Master Gresham; let me see: Gresh. The tenth of March! well, if I live, I'll raise a worke, shall make our merchants say, "Twas a good showre that fell vpon that day. In pursuance of his determination, Sir Thomas is described as having obtained from the corporation of London a grant of ground for the intended building. TO A MOTHER. You have a child on your knee. Listen a moment. Do you know what that child is! It is an immortal being; destined to live for ever! It is destined to be happy or miserable! and who is to make it happy or miserable? You-the mother! You, who gave it birth, the mother of its being, are also the mother of its soul for good or ill. Its character is yet undecided, its destiny is placed in your hands. What shall it be? That child may be a liar. You can prevent it. It may be a drunkard. You can prevent it. It may be a murderer. You can prevent it. It may be an atheist. You can prevent it. It may live a life of misery to itself and mischief to others. You can prevent it. It may descend into the grave with an evil memory behind and dread before. You can prevent it. Yes, you, the mother, can prevent all these things. Will you, or will you not? Look at the innocent? Tell me again, will you save it? Will you watch over it, will you teach it, warn it, discipline it, subdue it, pray for it? Or will you, in the vain search THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. BLEAK blows the chill Autumnal blast, of pleasure, or in gaiety, or fashion or folly, See! see! the chaste Chrysanthemum still triumplis or in the chase of any other bauble, or even in household cares, neglect the soul of your child, and leave the little immortal to take wing alone, exposed to evil, to temptation, to ruin? Look again at the infant! Place your hand on its little heart! Shall that heart be deserted by its mother, to beat perchance in sorrow, disappointment, wretchedness and despair? Place your ear on its side and hear that heart beat! How rapid and vigorous the strokes! How the blood is thrown through the little veins! Think of ir; that heart, in its vigour now, is the emblem of a spirit that will work with ceaseless pulsation, for sorrow or joy, for ever.-New Y. Mirror. A FRAGMENT, From an unpublished Poem. BRIGHT is the foam of the oceau, when blending With the soft sunlight that floats in its wave; Calm the blue vapours from hamlet ascending, Till they mingle in wreathes on the azure concave. Brighter, than this, 'twas the gleam of to-morrow, Which lighted her features when death hover'd nigh; Calmer than these, was that still hour of sorrow, When the spirit had fled to its home in the sky. Angels arise from your thrones on the rainbow, Cradle your light wings to bear her to Heaven; Cherubim, Seraphim, wide its gates open throw, Shout and rejoice o'er a sinner forgiven. Who would recall her from scenes of enjoyment, To sorrow and guilt on the world's desert plain; Give but a thought to her glorious employment, Nor selfishly wish for your lost one again. Care cannot reach her, or danger appal her, Heaven in its love wipes all tears from her eyes; Say, can a mortal then wish to recall her, Or tempt her to leave her bright home in the skies. No! she is blest-'tis Elysium to know it, Twere madness to wish her again to return; Though fondly we valued her here, let us show it, By a smile through our tears, as we gaze on_her F. A. L. ùrn. over all! The swallows from fair Albion's isle Have fled, to seek a more congenial clime; The fragile woodbine withers 'neath the pile Which erst had lent her succour to her prime ! But amid the desolation Sweetly breathing consolation, Blooming in ambrosial beauty, Type of virtuous, sweetest, duty. See! see! the chaste Chrysanthemum fades not with olden tirae! Sweet flower, still shed around our hearts Still, still amid the desolation, Live, live, thou chaste Chrysanthemum tho' all else fades away! |