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of solid matter; and in these deposits no evidence has yet been obtained of any created thing having existed, either animal or vegetable. We have traced the history from this time through the period when a few worms erawled on the mud and sand of the newly-made shores of the ocean, when to these were added other lower forms of animal existence, and when marine vegetables first contributed to the subsistence of its inhabitants. We have watched the appearance of its denizens, as they, one after another cr in groups present themselves, and have seen how different were these from the present tenants of the sea, and yet how like them, and how evidently and admirably adapted to perform the part assigned them; and we have thus gazed upon the first doubtful and misty appearance of light and life, as they have bee me visible in the morning of creation by slow degrees, and through a long twilight. Trilobites, brachiopods, shell fish of various kinds are seen to abound; and the cuttle fish or creatures nearly allied, and not so highly organized, reign for a time undisputed lords of the sea. At length their reign terminated; other animals, of higher and more complicated functions succeedel, and the waters, after long preparation, became fit for the presence of fishes. These at first of small size and comparatively powerless, soon increased rapidly, both in number and dimensions, and encased in impenetrable armour, seem to have delighted in the troubled ocean, where the coarse conglomerate of the old red sandstone was being accumulated; and for a long while these less perfect species of the class were predominant. In time, however, other fishes sprung up, the old ones were displaced, and a new, vigorous, and powerful group of animals came into the field, endowed with exuberant life, and darting with speed and almost irresistible force through the water. Land, also, richly clothed with vegetation, even to the water's edge, contributed to support this abundant flow of life; and some few land animals of high organization appear to have been associated with the insects and the fresh-water animals whose remains have been preserved. But few, indeed, were the tenants of the land, so far as we can judge, when compared with those of the ocean; and while we have in so many parts of the world a rich supply of the vegetable remains of that period, there are only to be quoted the fragments of a scorpion, one or two foot-marks, and such like indications that nature was not inactive, though the conditions for preserving any terrestrial animal remains were so eminently unfavourable, that there is only just sufficient evidence to satisfy us of the fact."

In commencing his account of the second epoch of the world's earliest history, the author states that a complete change occurred in the nature and character of the animals by whom it was inhabited. Unlike Mr. Beswick, he does not attempt to calculate the lapse of time requisite for these changes, and the epochs, or periods, which he describes, are not measured by time, but by the remnants of organization yet to be found in the various

strata of the earth's surface. "The close of the first

epoch," he says, "was marked by great subsidencies of the land by the swallowing up of continents and islands into the sea, and by accompanying violent dislocations of these fractured materials of strata." Such is the common opinion of geologists. It is to be accepted simply as an opinion formed by those who have given the greatest thought and research to this subject. Still it is not a demonstration. The looseness of the proof may be best observed from our next extract :

"We have seen that, even up to the very close of the earlier epoch, there is no distinct and unquestionable evidence of the nature and position of the land on which grew the vast forests from which coal was elaborated. Here and there it has seemed that the trees of which we

find fragments must have grown on the spot where broken trunks are now apparently attached to their roots, the roots and trunks being buried together in the very soil from which they obtained their nourishment. But these

instances are rare and exceptional; and although we may be certain that the land was not far off, yet its exact position, and whether it was a continent or an island, or a group of islands, whether it extended southwards or northwards, whether it occupied what is now the Atlantic Ocean, or was shaped like Europe, and represented the two north-eastern continents, we cannot satisfactorily determine. Perhaps the most probable opinion is, that an extensive archipelago, like that near the eastern shores of Asia, was the remnant of a sinking tract throughout a great part of the north temperate zone; that portions of that tract, now forming parts of England and Central Europe, remained thus for a long time in shallow water, the recipients of many deposits; but that during this time the other tracts were too deeply submerged, and too far from land, to receive such additions."

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It is difficult to form anything out of these guesses that merits even to be ranked as a respectable theory. We are told by geologists, at one time, that boulders, broken from granite cliff's, were conveyed by a flood of water from the north-eastern districts of Europe to the South American continent. We are told by other geologists that "the vegetation which formed the coal deposits, we may be certain, was produced from land not far off from its present position;" that, farther, some tracts were too deeply submerged and too far from land to receive such additions." To us it would seem that depth of submersion might be a valid objection to the deposit of vegetable matter, but distance from the land where it was produced could not stand in the way since granite boulders are said to have been floated from the north-east of Europe to Southern America. This pre-supposes No. 1, the miracle of the creation of granite: No. 2, of a convulsion to chip it into boulders: No. 3, of a very terrible flood to float them away five or six thousand miles. The old-fashioned way of accounting for these things, namely, that they were created near the spot where they are found, if less satisfactory, is simpler than the scientific mode. We are inclined to guess that the vegetation of the coal deposits is to be explained on this principle. We do not think it is far travelled. We believe it grew near by the spots whence it is dug. There are closely analogical cases in the present state of the earth's surface. We find trees in districts of the country where no similar species imbedded in moss where there are no living trees, and is now found; and we know that the production of these trees is within the limits of written and accre

dited history. We see, also, that the common peat and turf, when sufficiently compressed under machines of considerable power, are resolved into a substance not differing greatly in its nature from coal, but of finer quality. At the same time there is reason to believe that the vegetation of which they are composed grew on the site of the present nurses; but if it had been compressed by a very powerful flood of water, casting over it heavy strata, especially under atmospherical influences that we cannot realise-even if it had merely been compressed by a sufficiently powerful weight of matter—it would have been resolved into one species of coal.

Our space does not permit us to pursue this subject further; but we are anxious to copy a few additional extracts from Professor Ansted's delightful book. The second epoch of the earth's history he regards as the age of reptiles :

⚫ Of all the ancient lines of sea coast that have yet been

introduced to our notice, there is none more interesting than that of the new red sandstone sca, for we find there not only marks of worms and the ripple of the water, but almost every other marking that can be imagined likely to have been made under such circumstances; and among these are distinct traces of the passage of numerous four-footed animals of various different kinds. Every one will remember the astonishment which Robinson Crusoe is represented to have felt at the sight of a human foot-print on the island which he thought deserted; and scarcely less surprising or interesting was the first discovery of these indications of animal existence in a rock so barren of fossils as the new red sandstone, and in a formation in which, till then, there had been no suspicion of the existence of any animals more highly organized than fishes. Nothing, however, can be more certain than that such foot-prints do occur; and although very little is to be determined from the mere form of the extremity, still even that little is of the greatest possible interest, when, as in the case before us, it is nearly the whole extent of our information. It is especially interesting to find that the foot-marks exhibit indications of some animals entirely different from those whose actual remains occur in the bed, and of some which present only faint and distant analogies with modern species, but which are yet made out by studying the peculiarities indicated in the rarest and most interesting of the fossils.

"Of all the reptiles at present found on the earth, the frogs, both in their young state as tadpoles, and in many peculiarities of structure, seem to form the nearest connecting link with the fishes; and since there are few distinct analogies between recent species of reptiles and either birds or quadrupeds, the whole order REPTILIA now forms an imperfect and isolated group, better adapted, it has been suggested, for a planet in an earlier stage of its existence, than for one peopled as our earth is at present.

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The secondary, or middle period of the earth's history, however, as made known to us by the study of fossils, may be looked upon as the age during which reptiles preponderated, and we shall find amongst the organic remains of this period a great number of forms tending to give considerable insight into the plan of creation with reference to this important department of zoology."

The "horrors" of that period were happily over before man came upon the stage. The earth has been filled with deceit, and crime, and bloodshed, and oppression, since our race took possession. We are bad: the reptiles, our ancestors, according to the "Vestiges," were clearly

worse:

"There were then, perhaps, existing, on or near the land, some of those reptiles which I shall describe in the next chapter; and with them were associated some true crocodelians, not much unlike the fresh-water garial inhabiting the Ganges. These, perhaps, might occasionally swim out to sea, and be found in the neighbouring

shoals.

"But these shoals were alive with myriads of invertebrated animals; and crowds of sharks hovered about. feeding upon the larger forms. There were also numerous other animals, belonging to those remarkable groups which I have attempted to describe in some detail. Imagine, then, one of these monstrous animals, a Plesiosaurus, some sixteen or twenty feet long, with a small wedge-shaped crocodelian head, a long arched serpent-like neck, a short compact body, provided with four large and powerful paddles, almost developed into hands; an animal not covered with brilliant scales, but with a black slimy skin. Imagine for a moment this creature slowly emerging from the muddy banks, and half walking, half creeping along, making its way towards the nearest water. Arrived at the water, we can understand from its structure that it was likely to exhibit greater energy. Unlike the crocodile tribe, however, in all its proportions, it must have been equally dissimilar in habit. Perhaps, instead of concealing itself in mud or among rushes, it

would swim at once boldly and directly to the attack. Its enormous neck stretched out to its full length, and its tail acting as a rudder, the powerful and frequent strokes of its four large paddles would at once give it an impulse, sending it through the water at a very rapid rate. When within reach of its prey we may almost fancy that we see it drawing back its long neck as it depressed its body in the water, until the strength of the muscular apparatus with which this neck was provided, and the great additional impetus given by the rapid advance of the animal, would combine to produce a stroke from the pointed head which few living animals could resist. The fishes--including, perhaps, even the sharks-the larger cuttle-fish, and innumerable inhabitants of the sea, would fall an easy prey to this monster.

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But now let us see what goes on in the deeper abysses of the ocean, where a free space is given for the operations of that fiercely carnivorous marine reptile the Ichthyosaurus. Prowling about at a great depth, where the reptilian structure of its lungs, and the bony apparatus of the ribs, would allow it to remain for a long time without coming to the air to breathe, we may fancy we see this strange animal, with its enormous eyes directed upwards, and glaring like globes of fire; its length is some thirty or forty feet, its head being six or eight feet long; and it has paddles and a tail like a shark. Its whole energies are fixed on what is going on above, where the Plesiosaurus, or some giant shark, is seen devouring its prey. Suddenly striking with its short but compact paddles, and obtaining a powerful impetus by flapping its large tail, the monster darts through the water at a rate which the eye can scarcely follow, towards the surface. The vast jaws, lined with formidable rows of teeth, soon open wide to their full extent; the object of attack is approached-is overtaken. With a motion quicker than thought the jaws are snapped together, and the work is done. The monster, becoming gorged, floats languidly near the surface, with a portion of the top of its head and its nostrils visible, like an island covered with black mud, above the water.

"Such scenes as these must have been every day enacted during the many ages when the waters of ocean were spread over what is now land in the castern hemisphere, and when the land then adjacent provided the calcareous mud now forming the lias.

But a description of such scenes of horror and carnage, enacted at former periods of the earth's history, may perhaps induce some of my readers to question the wisdom that permitted, nay, enacted them, and conclude rashly that they are opposed to the ideas we are encouraged to form of the goodness of that Being, the necessary action of whose laws, enforced on all living beings, gives rise to them. By no means, however, is this the case. These very results are perfectly compatible with the greatest wisdom and goodness, and, even according to our limited views of the course of nature, they may be shown not to involve any needless suffering to us men, constituted as we are, and looking upon death as a punishment which must be endured, premature and violent destruction seems to involve unnecessary pain. But such is not the law of nature as it relates to animal life in general. The very exuberance and abundance of life is at once obtained and kept within proper bounds by this rapacity of some great tribes. A lingering death-a natural decay of those powers which alone enable the animal to enjoy life, would, on the contrary, be a most miserable arrangement for beings not endowed It would be with reason, and not assisting one another. cruelty, because it would involve great and hopeless suffering. Death by violence is to all unreasoning creatures the easiest death, for it is the most instantaneous, and therefore, no doubt, it has been ordained that, throughout large classes, there should be an almost indefinite rate of increase, accompanied by destruction, rapid and complete, in a corresponding degree, since in this way only the greatest amount of happiness is ensured, and the pain and misery of slow decay of the vital powers prevented. All nature, both living and extinct, abounds with facts proving the truth of this view, and it would be as unrezsonable to doubt the wisdom and goodness of this arrange

ment, as it would be to call in question the mutual adap- |
tation of each part in the great scheme of creation. No
one who examines nature for himself, however superfi-
cially, can doubt the latter; and no one, certainly, who
duly considers the laws ordained for the general govern-
ment of the world, can believe it possible for these laws
to have acted without a system of compensation, accord-
ing to which the vital energies of one tribe serve to prepare
food for the development of higher powers in another."
We have never read a scientific work with greater inte-
The history may be true or false. The author,
rather offers it as his impressions, or deductions from his
observations; but that scarcely detracts from the interest
of his speculations regarding the period when the earth
was without form, and void; when neither reason nor re-
sponsibility was to be found amid its darkness.

rest.

Travels in Central America. By Robert Glasgow

Dunlop, Esq. London: Longman & Co.

THE author of this work is now beyond the reach of criticism, having died, as we learn, when the last sheet of it had passed through the press. The work itself reflects very high credit on its departed author, and affords evidence of the loss that has been sustained by his early death.

cinders, which, however, occupied a good deal of time;
and, in my eagerness to penetrate into the strange scene
before me, I did not reflect that the day must be passing.
At last, a lurid glare penetrating from amongst the
smoke, and the increased proximity and brilliancy of the
flashes of lightning, accompanied by a noise like that of
the burning of an immense furnace, showed my near ap-
proach to the grand centre of the volcano. I slowly
proceeded towards it, but at last feeling exhausted by my
exertions, I sat down on a block of lava and began to eat
roused by a tremendous explosion, louder than any thun-
a piece of bread I carried in my pocket; but I was
der I ever heard; an immense lurid flame rose from the
crater, the intense light of which seemed to penetrate the
ground felt as if sinking below me.
smoke and illuminate all the neighbouring country. The
I felt myself thrown
with violence among the ashes, and lay for some time
stunned with the noise, and blinded with the light. When,
after a little, I recovered my observation, I heard the
smothered roar of the volcano near, but faint, and saw
the smoke slowly rising from the crater; the rocking of
the ground had ceased, and the eruption seemed to have
passed over; here and there a twinkling star appeared
through the vapour, and the moon was for a moment
seen, now and then, through the smoke. The dread so-
lemnity of the scene might make an impression on the
least sentimental. I sat still some time, as it were be-
wildered, looking at the red glare of the crater, which
appeared like a huge furnace. I then attempted to ap-
proach its edge, but the heat and suffocating vapours pre-
vented my reaching it within about twenty or thirty
yards."

At the close of his brief, but instructive sketch of the history of the Republic of Central America, our author observes that-

The object aimed at in this volume, as stated in the preface, is to furnish the English reader with some correct and trustworthy information respecting a portion of the world which is very little known in this country. Accordingly, we are furnished with a minute and interesting description of the principal cities and localities visited "Little hope can be entertained of any permanent imby the author. A brief history is also given of the re- ability shall unite the States and form a central governprovement in Central America, till some man of decided public of Central America, from its origin down to the ment capable of making itself feared and respected by all present time. Notice is likewise taken of its climate, parties, or till it shall fall under the dominion of some productions, commerce, customs, animals, geology, vol- foreign power capable of forming a firm and powerful canoes, &c. ; while its population, religion, and education the factious, and affording ample protection to the indusgovernment of a nature suited to the country, overawing receive a proper share of the author's attention. Alto- trious and well-disposed. It is to be hoped that one or gether, the work will be found to contain a large amount other of these events may soon occur to rescue this deof useful information, being the result of much minute place it in the elevated rank in which it would undoubtlightful country from its present anarchy, and gradually inquiry and extensive observation; and it is likewise edly hold under an enlightened goverment." written in a very correct, vigorous, and pleasing style. If Central America has, hitherto, been little known, it needs not be so any longer, now that, in this interesting work, we have been furnished with so full and accurate a representation of it. We give a few extracts from the

work itself.

The author resolved to ascend the volcano of Tormentos, and the following is his account of the scene :— "We commenced the ascent amidst broken and charred rocks, intermixed with cinders and broken pieces of lava. After two hours of hard toil, we approached the part of the mountain which is covered with smoke, and the discordant noises we heard as we approached it became loud and terrific, while the ground shook, as with one continued earthquake. Of a sudden, we were enveloped amidst the smoke, and heard a loud explosion, which scattered ashes all around. My guide exclaimed, O! santissima Maria, somus perdidos' (Oh! most holy Mary, we are lost), and called out to me, For God's sake, let us return, if it be possible;' but I felt so strong a curiosity to go on that I would not be deterred, so I answered, Go back if you like, nothing shall prevent my going forward.' Scrambling up like a cat among the cinders, which were in some places so hot as to burn my shoes, and guiding myself by the flashes of lightning which played about the volcano, and the direction from which the loudest noises proceeded, as the smoke entirely obscured the vision I slowly ascended among the lava and

ignorance and immorality are fearfully prevalent among
From the following observations it would appear that
the population of Central America.

Central America are probably hardly to be equalled in
"The ignorance, vice, and superstition prevailing in
any other part of the world, unless it may be in the in-
terior of Africa or the East India islands. In the towns,
not one in ten can read or write, and in many parts of
the country, not one in a thousand. In many villages,
containing some thousand inhabitants, no person is to be
found who can read, and when a traveller is compelled to
show his passport to the alcade, who is the first civil and
criminal judge, he is generally requested to read it.
Morality is at the lowest ebb among all classes, especially
the whites and creoles; indeed, I could never find, that
among them any disgrace was attached to any sort of
crime except petty larceny. Murder, perjury, forgery,
and swindling of all sorts are considered as quite venial.
The priests (Roman Catholic) are, for the most part,
blind leaders of the blind; and the better educated merely
consider themselves as actors, whose business it is to ex
tort money by acting the part which will please the
ple. Forms and religious parade are carefully ker
but no one thinks of inculcating private morality
decency. The marriage ceremony is, also, as ne se
expected, considered merely as a form to keephe aup publie
decency, and both man and wife act in pri
please.

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ate as they "I have never found any native of Caat have y stral America

who would admit that there could be any vice in lying; and when one has succeeded in cheating another, however gross and infamous the fraud may be, the natives will only remark, Que hombre vivo! (What a clever fellow!) All classes are addicted to gambling, and far more money changes hands in this manner than in commerce, or any legitimate business. Nearly all the Guatimala merchants, who are the only ones possessed of any capital, have commenced their career with some rascality. Concubinage is common among all possessed of any wealth; nor is this, as in other countries, done secretly, if at all, but even wives will publicly speak of their husbands' mistresses, and express their approbation or disapprobation of their taste."

It will be seen that the priests are greatly to blame for this deplorable state of things; and that in this quarter their system is decidedly opposed to the spread of knowledge, and to the enjoyment of religious toleration.

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Eton College, justly celebrated on account of the many illustrious men it has trained up and sent forth to fill stations of eminence and usefulness. Windermere, with its lake of varied beauties and enchanting scenery, is also made to pass in review before us; and the Burnham Beeches, which our author declares surpass any sylvan locality he has yet visited. And the reader will find lively and minute descriptions of Bramshill; and Hall Barns, the residence of the poet Haller; Gregorics, the seat of the celebrated Edmund Burke, and many other interesting localities. Several wellexecuted illustrations accompany the notices, which add considerably to their interest; and to render the volume as agreeable as possible, and to prevent anything like monotony being felt, the reader is treated every

now and then to a chapter in Mr. Jesse's particular walk, a tale of deep interest, connected with the locality visited, or an essay on some general subject.

We quote Mr. Jesse's description of Stoke Church and churchyard :—

-

Though, according to law, education is entirely free, no person except a Roman Catholic could venture to set up a school, as he would be certain to be forced to abandon it by the priests, as was exemplified in the case of Mr. Crow. The consequence is, that all the exertions of the priests have only served to limit general "It is impossible to approach it (Gray's churchyard) knowledge; while all the young people above the labour-without feeling that it is a spot calculated to have inspired ing classes have, in spite of them, imbibed infidel opinions, and make no hesitation in calling the Christian revelation a ridiculous fable, and the priests, comedians and cheats. They speak of them in a much more disrespectful manner than any Protestant would think of doing, while, at the same time, they comply with the unmeaning Romish ceremonies, and kneel and cross themselves before the figures of their saints.

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the poet with those feelings which drew from him his beautiful and well-known Elegy in a Country Churchyard.' Here he wrote-here he wandered-and here he was buried. But where is his monument? We may look for it in vain, either in the church or churchyard. There is, indeed, the tomb of the careful, tender mother of many children, one of whom had the misfortune to survive her.' child was Thomas Gray, the poet. In that simple tomb his Though the entire liberty of religious worship, both ashes repose with those of the mother he so affectionately private and public, was guaranteed by the federal consti- loved. Strangers from all parts of Great Britain, and tution of Central America, acts have been since passed by many from different quarters of the world, who so conthe states of Guatimala, Honduras, and Costa Rico, instantly visit Stoke Poges, led there by their admiration reference to this and some other of the federal laws, declaring that parties differing from the Church of Rome are only at liberty to exercise their religion in private. Indeed, such religious liberty could never in reality exist, whatever the laws might be on the subject, as the priests, who have the entire control over the greater part of the lower orders, would be certain to excite them to assassinate any person who should attempt to expose their idolatry, and introduce a purer system of religion. The character of the priests in Spanish America, with very few exceptions, is grossly immoral and corrupt-nearly all publicly live in concubinage, and a great number drink and gamble. Such being their own character, they can hardly be expected to inculcate morality on others; yet their supposed sacred character makes them worshipped by the lower orders, though they are ridiculed and despised by the more educated."

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of the poet, return disappointed at not finding a record to his memory in the church. The parish register has indeed the following entry :-Thomas Gray, Esq., was buried August 5th, 1771.' A stone, on the wall of the church, tells us that we are standing near the tomb of the poet.

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But how full of interest is the spot we stand on! Here heaves in many a mouldering heap;' here rugged elms;' and here is the yew-tree's shade,' and there Gray reposes in his narrow cell.' Who can be here without feeling his mind softened, and his enthusiasm awakened! He sees in the distance those spires and towers which crown the watery glade' of Eton, and those fields where once the poet says his 'careless childhood strayed.' It is indeed almost impossible to doubt that this is the spot where the Ode and the Elegy were written. We see the picturesque features of the landscape most accurately placed before us, and almost hear the sounds of rural nature which have been so beautifully and so pleasingly described in these poems. And who can see the neighbouring beech trees, especially those of Burnham, without recollecting the nodding beech' that 'wreathes its old fantastic roots'? What lover of nature can see them without admiring their various contortions, as they sometimes grasp the ground, and then throw up those bold and curious excrescences, which, when mossed over, Not only do as they generally are, form a rural seat. they remind us of the poet, but we see the 'twittering swallows,' the 'lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,' and hear the drowsy tinklings' of the folded sheep at short intervals, so different from the sounds which are made while they are feeding. Gray must have been, not only a lover of nature, but an accurate observer of little facts and circumstances which would have been unnoticed by those who are unaccustomed to rural scenery and rural sounds. Thus he notices the droning flight' of the beetle-the wood lark (my favourite songster)‘pip

THIS is another entertaining volume, from the pen of an author who has, more than once, already appeared favourably before the public. As its title imports, it consists chiefly of notices of several localities in England, rendered interesting, either by their natural beauty or their historical associations. Our author, accordingly, conducts us to Ritchings Park, where Prior and Pope, and Gay and Thomson once sung, and where the accomplished Addison once wrote; and to Stoke Church and churchyard, where we are so much reminded of the poet Gray; and to Hampden-memorable for its being the residence of the patriot of the same name-a name stilling her farewell song'-the wistful eyes pursuing the set

venerated and fondly cherished by every lover of liberty. A visit is paid to the early residence of Pope, and to

ting sun-the ploughman plodding his weary way homewards,' as 'the glimmering landscape fades on the sight,' and the light seen in his cottage from the blazing

hearth,' prepared for his comfort by his careful wife. beautiful seat of Sir John Cope, the following just reAnd then how clear are those lines, and what a delight-marks are made regarding the pernicious system of abful picture do they present of the labourer's happy home! "The children run to lisp their sire's return,

Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.'" Towards the close of an interesting notice of Eton College and its playing-fields, our author remarks that"It is impossible not to be struck, on going into the great or upper school of the boys, with the fine vista of busts of Eton worthies, which now line the walls of that

room.

senteeism, still so common among our landed proprietors :

"Standing on an open and commanding eminence, Bramshill reminds us of those times when the houses of

English country gentleman overflowed with hospitality estates, and were looked up to as the friends and beneand guests, when the owners of them resided on their It is a singular proof of the rapid facility with alt red in this respect; and much responsibility attaches factors of their poorer neighbours. Times are sadly which a fortunate idea, when once hit upon, may be carried out, that, although this noble room seems likely, to those who, forsaking the abodes of their forefathers, within a short time, to be thronged with the images of watering-places, or to spend their money and change are content to seek their happiness, either in crowded Eton's chosen sons, yet the collection has been made by their habits in foreign lands. This stigma, for stigma it gratuitous and spontaneous bounty within a year or two. is, cannot be attached to the present owner of Bramshill. It seems an obvious and efficacious system to influence the minds of the young, by keeping before their eyes the tality is exercised, and the worthy old baronet resides There the good home-brewed ale is still to be found, hospiimages of the great men whose successors and representatives they are. An Eton boy cannot help feeling exulon his estate, surrounded by his tenants and dependants. tation and dignity as he walks down the upper school, and It was pleasing to see some ancient huntsmen or whipperssurveys the busts of the celebrated men who formerlyn, nearly past all work, in their faded scarlet coats, trod the same ground with himself, and now look upon sunning themselves on a bench, with every appearance of the school of their boyhood like tutelary genii of the speak more plainly the kind-heartedness of their master, comfort and enjoyment in their old age. Nothing could place.

"I cannot help remarking that our schools, generally, appeal very little to the imagination and feelings of boys. They make little or no use of association, which is, nevertheless, one of the most powerful instruments in the government and discipline of the human understanding. In general, the school room is the dirtiest place in the establishment; whereas I cannot help thinking that any association with learning should be made agreeable, and, as far as possible, delightful. Indeed, the disinclination to learning felt by many men in after life may perhaps be attributed, not unreasonably, to the unpleasant associations with which instruction in boyhood was conveyed to them. The busts placed in the upper school of Eton, regarded in this point of view, seem most worthy of remark

and admiration."

The Burnham Beeches, which were so much admired by the author, are thus described :

"It is difficult to give the reader such a description of these trees as will enable him to form a just idea of them. Some of them are of gigantic growth, and of most picturesque character. From their huge trunks, boughs of a size little inferior to the parent stem throw far and wide their horizontal shade, while their no less massive roots, rising above the soil in solid blocks, or twisting their gnarled talons deep into the ground, show at once the firmness with which these vegetable monsters are fixed, the power with which they can resist the fury of the storm, and the distance from which they derive that vital nourishment, which is seen alike in their strength and their beauty, in the tenacity of their fibrous growth, and the splendour of their luxuriant foliage. It is impossible to visit them without feeling that here Nature has done everything, and that in the most pleasing manner. Nothing is formal, and forest scenery may be viewed in all its beauty and variety, without any embellishment from art. llere no distant spires are to be seen, or cottages, bridges, or even fences of enclosures; but, as we enter the forest glades, and view the knotted and gnarled trees, and saunter under their shade, the mind is insensibly carried back to the times of the bowmen of Harold and the days of Robin Ilood."

Another pleasing feature about this volume is the moral and religious tone with which it is pervaded. Though a work, strictly speaking, devoted to the description of remarkable localities, and to antiquarian research, yet it is not destitute of useful reflections and virtuous sentiments, as the author avails himself of the opportunities presented for suggesting lessons of a moral nature, thereby rendering his work both profitable and entertaining, and fitted to improve, not only the head, but also the heart of the reader. For example, when describing Bramshill, the

nor can I well conceive a more enviable situation than
his.
he can look around his well-cultivated grounds, and feel
In a green old age, and in his splendid mansion,
that his own happiness consists chiefly in the promotion
of that of others.
the worthy Knight of Bramshill appears to be the father
Like a second Sir Roger de Coverley,
of his neighbourhood, and, like him, to be respected and
loved."

In a chapter describing a country churchyard, the author makes the following touching remarks:

"There is a certain degree of melancholy pleasure in sauntering in a village churchyard, in reading the 'uncouth rhymes,' in viewing the various methods which have been taken to attest the sorrow of surviving relations. Here the mingled together. The grave of a child has, indeed, someyoung and old, the infant and suckling child,' are all thing peculiarly affecting in it. So young-so promisingso pretty-(for what is so pretty as a child?)—the delight of a fond mother-perhaps her only one-whom she had fostered in her bosom, and yearned over with affection which only a mother experiences to know that its innocent prattle has ceased, and to feel that for some good, and wise, and benevolent purpose it has been stripped in its early bloom, here fades away—all these reflections intrude themselves on the mind in a

country churchyard. The graves of the old, indeedthe threescore years and ten'—are viewed with far different sensations. Their race is over-their hour-glass has run itself out-and happy are they if they have made up their account in time.

The

"And then how varied are the scenes to be witnessed in a churchyard. The church door is open, and there issues forth a bridal party, the bride holding down her head; the mother, perchance, weeping at the loss of her daughter, and the rest merry, and offering their congratu lations to the bridegroom. Sometimes a christening is to be seen the fat and cautious nurse holding an infant in its long white robes, followed by its parents, with the godfathers and god-mothers, and some intimate friends, who are about to partake of an entertainment to celebrate the ceremony. But the solemn toll of the bell is next heard. clergyman meets it, and walks before it into the church, The coffin is slowly borne to the churchyard gate. pronouncing those noble sentences, beginning, 1 am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord-I know that my Redeemer liveth-we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.' The coffin is again seen in the church-yard, the grave opers its mouth to receive it-the weeping mourners stand around. Again the voice of the clergyman is heard, Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to liveheaded sexton, with his ready handful of earth, throws earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.' The hoaryit on the coffin, and the sound vibrates it every heart

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