to him who wore the russet brown cloak in the woods of Devon."

"And thou too," said the earl, as gracefully and majestically he led his beautiful countess toward the chair of state which was prepared for them both," thou too, my love, hast donned a dress which becomes thy rank, though it cannot improve thy beauty. What think'st thou of our court taste?"

The lady cast a sidelong glance upon the great mirror as they passed by, and then said, " I know not how it is, but I think not of my own person, while I look at the reflection of thine. Sit thou there," she said, as they approached the chair of state, "like a thing for men to worship and to wonder at."

66 Ay, love," said the earl, "if thou wilt share my state with me."

"Not so," said the countess; "I I will sit on this footstool at thy feet, that I may spell over thy splendour, and learn, for the first time, how princes are attired."

And with a childish wonder, which her youth and rustic education rendered not only excusable but becoming, mixed as it was with a delicate show of the most tender conjugal affection, she examined and admired from head to foot the noble form and princely attire of him, who formed the proudest ornament of the court of England's maiden queen, renowned as it was for splendid courtiers, as well as for wise counsellors. Regarding affectionately his lovely bride, and gratified by her unrepressed admiration, the dark eye and noble features of the earl expressed passions more gentle than the commanding and aspiring look, which usually sate upon his broad forehead and in the piercing brilliancy of his dark eye; and he smiled at the simplicity which dictated the questions she put to him concerning the various ornaments with which he was decorated.

THOSE Who outlive their incomes by splendour in dress and equipage, are well said to resemble a town on fire-which shines by that which de stroys it,

THE learned and venerable Archbishop Usher was a very conscientious overseer of the Church of God, and whenever he knew men promoted, rather through interest, than for their merits, he narrowly watched and shamed them. By the means of a powerful patron, a fashionable man got into a rich living, and when he was in it, he thought as much about it as such men usually do think concerning an ecclesiastical benefice. The Archbishop (whom this worthy Gentleman had never seen) exceedingly vexed at his notorious misconduct, went to the parish incog. and addressed a note to him from the Inn upon a Saturday evening, with a request for his leave to preach the next morning. After several messages from the importunate stranger, he consented that he should preach, if he would preach on the Eleventh Commandment! The Archbishop complied the report drew a vast multitude to hear so extraordinary a preacher, who, to their no small sur. prize, chose his text out of the Gospel of St. John, 13th chapter and 34th verse-" A new Commandment I give unto you." He handled the subject as Archbishop Usher always could whatever he undertook-shewing how sincerely we should love one another; pastors their flock, and the flocks their pastors. He received the thanks of the audience-nay, of the principal likewise, who vouchsafed to invite him to dinner-but his Grace modestly refused. However, as the Rector seemed uncommonly solicitous to discover his name, he answered, "My name is Usher! and I shall see, Sir, that you are suspended for your indolence, luxury, and supineness." Upon this, he took his leave, and our divine retired to ruminate upon what had happened so contrary to his expectation.

THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND ART-No. I.

THE GROTTO OF ANTIPAROS. Of all the subterraneous caverns now known, the grotto of Antiparos, an inconsiderable island in the Archi pelago, is the most remarkable, as well for its extent as for the beauty of its sparry incrustations. This celebrated cavern was first explored by one Magni, an Italian traveller, in the seventeenth century.

"Having been informed," says he," by the natives of Paros, that in the little island of Antiparos, which lies about two miles from the former, a gigantic statue was to be seen at the mouth of a cavern, the French consul and myself resolved to pay it a visit.

"After we had landed on the island, and walked about four miles through the midst of beautiful plains and sloping woodlands, we at length came to a little hill, on the side of which yawned a horrible cavern, that by its gloom struck us with terror, and almost repressed curiosity. Recovering the first surprise, however, we entered boldly; and had not proceeded above twenty paces, when the supposed statue of the giant presented itself to our view. We quickly perceived, that what the ignorant natives had been terrified at as a giant, was nothing more than a sparry concretion formed by the water dropping from the roof of the cave, and by degrees hardening into a figure which their fears had transformed into a monster.

"Incited by this extraordinary appearance, we were induced to proceed still further into this subter

ranean abode. As we proceeded, new wonders offered themselves; the spars, formed into trees and shrubs, presented a kind of petrified grove; some white, some green, and all receding in due perspective. They struck us with the more amazement, as we knew them to be mere productions of nature, who, hitherto, in solitude, had in her playful moments dressed the scene as if for her own amusement.

"We had yet seen but a few of

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the wonders of the place, and were introduced only into the portico of this amazing temple. In one corner of this half-illuminated recess, there appeared an opening about three feet wide, which seemed to lead to a place totally dark, and which one of the natives assured us contained nothing more than a reservoir of water. Upon this information, we made an experiment by throwing down some stones, which rumbling along the side of the descent for some time, the sound seemed at last quashed in a bed of

water.

"In order, however, to be more certain, we sent in a Levantine mariner, who, on the promise of a good reward, ventured with a flambeau in his hand into this narrow aperture. After continuing within it for about a quarter of an hour, he returned, bearing in his hand some beautiful pieces of white spar, which art could neither equal or imitate. Upon being informed by him that the place was full of those beautiful incrustations, I ventured in with him about fifty paces, anxiously and cautiously de scending by a steep and dangerous way. Finding, however, that we came to a precipice, which led into a spacious amphitheatre, if I may so call it, still deeper than any other part, we returned; and being provided with a ladder, torch, and other things to expedite the descent, our whole company, one by one, ventured into the same opening; and descending one after another, we at last saw ourselves all together, in the most magnificent part of the cavern.

"Our candles being now all lighted up, and the whole place completely illuminated, never could the eye be presented with a more glittering or a more magnificent scene. The whole roof hung with solid icicles, transparent as glass, yet hard as marble. The eye could scarcely reach the lofty and noble ceiling; the sides were regularly formed of spars, and the whole presented the idea of a superb theatre, illuminated by an immense profusion of lights. The floor consisted of solid marble, and in several places magnificent columns, thrones, altars, and other

objects, appeared as if nature had designed to mock the curious productions of art. Our voices, upon speaking or singing, were redoubled to an astonishing loudness; and upon the firing of a gun, the noise and reverberations were almost deafening.

"In the midst of this grand amphitheatre rose a concretion, about fifteen feet high, that in some measure resembled an altar; and we caused mass to be celebrated there. The beautiful columns that shot up round the altar appeared like candlesticks; and many other natural objects represented the customary ornaments of this rite.

"Below even this spacious grotto there seemed another cavern, down which I ventured with my former mariner, and descended about fifty paces by means of a rope. I at last arrived at a small spot of level ground, where the bottom appeared different from that of the amphitheatre, being composed of some clay, yielding to the pressure, and into which I thrust a stick to the depth of six feet. In this, however, as above, numbers of the most beautiful crystals were formed; one of which particularly resembled a table.

"Upon our egress from this amazing cavern, we perceived a Greek inscription upon a rock at the mouth, but so obliterated by time that we could not read it distinctly. It seemed to impart, that one Antipater had come hither: but whether he penetrated into the depths of the cavern he does not think fit to inform us." This account of so beautiful and striking a scene may serve to give us some idea of the subterraneous wonders of nature.

EPIGRAM.

Goldsmith.

On Match and Flame.

How Maidens strive each spark to catch!
When flint and steel they handle,
In order, first to light a match,
And then, to light a candle!
In courtship! see! how 'tis reversed,
(Tho' still a spark they try to catch)
A flame, 'tis then, they strive for first,

But that e're long becomes "a match."

Prince William (afterwards Duke of Cumberland,) when a child, being carried to his grandfather on his birth-day, the King asked him at

what hour he, rose. The Prince replied, "When the chimney sweepers went about: "-". Vat is de chimney-sweep?" said the King. "Have you been so long in England," said the boy," and don't know what a chimney-sweeper is? Why, they are like that man, there;" pointing to Lord Finch, afterwards Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham, who was remarkably dark.

PLEASANTRY OF TAMERLANE THE GREAT.

When Tamerlane had defeated Bajazet he sent for him into his tent; the moment he saw him he burst into a fit of laughter. "Do not insult me," said Bajazet, " my misfortune ought to teach you wis dom." "I laugh to think," replied Tamerlane," that such a cripple as myself, and a man with one eye, as you are, should be chosen by destiny to govern such multitudes of people, and to decide the fate of the Eastern Empire."

THE LOVES OF A CASTLE

BUILDER.

(Continued from p. 174.)

But when I was questioned on the subject, my incoherent answers made him fear for my wits, and re-, solve that I was not to be trusted with any thing that required thought or caution. I was soon left altogether to myself, and was seldom absent from my chosen spot. There was a beautiful girl who frequently visited my father's house. Her station was a humble one; but this did not prevent my comtemplating her as the chief object of my hopes and wishes. I remember, particularly, one afternoon I was reclining on my accustomed seat in the garden, while the sun was setting beautifully over the chimnies of the surrounding houses, which my fancy had changed into something unknown in the haunts of man. I pictured to myself a scene in which I should be the principal actor,-when blushing honours would come thick upon me; when wealth would be wafted with every gale; and when happiness would smile upon me, great and prosperous as human creature could become on earth. Mary was to be with me, and when high and proud ones would bend to the influence of her rank and beauty, she would turn to me as the highest and the proudest of them all. Her raven locks would be braided with diamonds; pearls would encircle her ivory neck; and, glittering in gold, she would pace along the corridors of my lordly castle; while the vassals would kneel in awe as she swept by. A gay carriage would be waiting at the gate, while the underlings were lingering for her arrival;-she came, and they stooped almost to the ground, as with the air of a goddess she ascended its steps. The vision vanished at the repeated call to dinner; and Mary, in her brown russet, was at the humble meal. The placid smile that was always on her cheek, increased as she welcomed me from my mental wanderings; but, as I sate down beside her, I felt a chill. come over me, and longed to be

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again in the air my thoughts inhabited.

At another time, I`was a soldier ; and after having passed through every station, from a private to a general, I became the commander of a great army, and led it on to battle. The dawn was breaking beautifully over the warlike hosts, and showed the contending parties gathering up their arms, and glancing, now and then, fearlessly towards their enemies. The battle commenced, and the shrieks of the dying were drowned by the noise of the trumpet and the drum. They met, like the wave of the ocean with the torrent, that whirls from the hill to the shore, when they mingle in rage, while the crush sends the splash and the foam to the sky. The battle became doubtful, when I galloped on my steed into the thickest of the fight, and turned the tide of victory. Then a nation's praise and gratitude greeted me, and I was hailed by myriads as a rising sun. "My best soldier," said the King, " receive”66 a box on the ear," exclaimed my impatient father, who had been calling me for half an hour to my busi

ness.

This day-dream I indulged for weeks, until another occupied my mind. I was a traveller, and roved over the thirsty sands of the Arabian deserts; climbed the Alps, wandered through the fair valleys of Italy, floated on the lake of Geneva, entered a Turkish Harem, and at length became the slave of an Algerine pirate. The pirate had a daughter, and the daughter loved the pale hue of my English skin. One evening when I was labouring in his garden, expecting the signal she had promised, but which I feared to hear, the soft silver sound of a lute from her balcony floated towards me on the twilight breeze; and then I saw her snowy hand waving, and beckoning me to her; in a moment we were flying through the garden, the beautiful Mahometan clinging to my arm, and whispering in her sweet language," haste, haste;" we were, soon on board a friendly rover, the winds were high, and they bore us

"

rapidly across the ocean. We landed, and then-" three yards of tape," said a customer of my father's, for I was in his shop, and I awoke to dream again.

At another period, my thoughts took a different direction, and I saw before me, in the distance, the glory

I was

that encircles a statesman's brow. Then my constituents were around me, bearing me on their shoulders, through an applauding multitude, towards the Senate-house. seated near the Treasury benches, and at the call of the House, rose to address them on a subject of the utmost importance to the welfare and liberty of my country. I commenced, while the right honourable gentlemen listened with undivided attention; -"Mr. Speaker, I rise to give my support to the motion before the house, because I consider it of the utmost importance, not only as it relates to the welfare of my countrymen collectively and individually, but as it appertains to the honour of human nature, human reason, human perfection, and every thing to which the word human can be prefixed. An honourable member near me, with whom I generally side, and whom I always esteem, but whose arguments on the present subject could not have been dictated either by the reason of a philosopher, the feelings of a man, or the heart of a christian, has thought proper to declare that the members of the church of Rome are, in this country foreigners in every thing but their birth-foreigners!-they were not so when they fought to give liberty to a country that wept in bondage, while their blood was the stream that swept away despotism and misrule. They were not so when they placed a laurel crown upon the brow of Albion; nor are they so while they so largely contribute to preserve the glory they have assisted her to gain;-hear, hear, hear, from all parts of the house:"-and I awoke to behold my father gazing upon me with a mixture of pity, contempt, and anger, in his countenance.

Those are a few instances of my unhappy propensity; I have alluded

to the state of mind which followed it; and, like the morning after a carousal, left me sick, debilitated, self-accusing, and self-despised. My object is, to warn and scare from the dangerous path those who are inclined to tread in it; and to entreat those who can sit and listen to the enchantress Indolence, that they will rise and depart from her unholy habitation:

"Her palatable cup,

By standing, grows insipid, and beware The bottom, for there's poison in the lees." Necessity-a necessity I was the chicf cause of creating-threw me on my own resources, and obliged me to shake off the propensity to day-dreaming before it had become fatal. I now think of the habits of my early life, sometimes with astonishment, but always with a melancholy regret, that so many hours and. days should have passed over my head to leave me neither wiser nor better.