tures, that every man could examine at pleasure, with the proud consciousness that he was looking upon the works of art, which he had contributed to purchase and preserve, and which his intellectual attainments had taught him to value, not merely as the choice productions of the great masters, but as the incentives to emulation to succeeding generations. The first step towards forming a national collection, was purchasing the pictures belonging to the late J. J. Angerstien, Esq. and the house in Pall Mall where they were deposited. They consisted of the finest productions of Claude, Poussin, Rembrandt, and other old masters, with several by Hogarth, Wilkie, and other modern ones. The generosity of various munificent patrons to the design, was soon evinced by numerous donations of splendid pictures, the number of which soon rendered a larger building necessary; and a sufficient grant was made by Parliament for the erection of the present edifice, which, being finished, is now open to the public every day in the week, except Saturday. The exhibitions of the Royal Academy are now removed to this building from Somerset House. A SCLAVONICO HUNGARIAN LOVE SONG. The maiden spins her flaxen thread, "I wish that raven eyes were sold, THE OFFICER'S WIDOW. Some years ago a lady, whose superior manners excited, on her first arrival, a sort of nine-days' wonder amongst the gossips of the neighbourhood, occupied apartments in - street, Brompton. Her countenance was interesting rather than handsome, her easy carriage evidently marked the lady, and her behaviour, though rather reserved, was po'ite, but exhibited that proneness to techiness often observable in persons of decayed fortune, who, in their intercourse with the world, seem continually recurring to the past, whilst others think but of the present. In her case there was nothing either singular or romantic. She was the widow of an officer whose love of pleasure had dissipated his fortune, leaving her, at his death, without any other support than the pension allowed by Government, which, however liberal it may be, when compared with the resources of the country, and the number to whom it is extended, is still barely sufficient to procure the absolute necessaries, much less the comforts of life. Although she had married with the consent of her family, yet the extravagance of her husband soon excited their disapprobation, and during his life a coldness existed between them. At his death, however, they felt it necessary 66 to do something." The son, who had been designed for the artillery, was placed with an engineer; and as their pride would not suffer her to degrade her family, by endeavouring to maintain herself, they made a trifling addition to her pension: a selfish bounty, which tacitly compelled her to appear like a lady, without giving her the means of doing so; and her life was a daily sacrifice of comfort to show-or, to sum up her miseries at once, she was a poor gentlewoman. Amidst all her troubles, she however had some consolation, and looked forward to the time when her son's clerkship should expire, and he would be able to reside at home. She might also have other, hopes, and expect, through his means, to escape from her present dependent situation. But her hopes, whatever they were, were doomed to be frustrated. For some months before the time she had expected so anxiously, Edward had been unwell with a severe cold, which ere long settled on his lungs. His mother had often wished him to have advice for whenever she saw him his cough rendered her uneasy; but he postponed it from time to time in expectation of getting better. Those who have to keep up appearances on a limited income, and eke out their scanty pittance to support a character above their means, will readily believe that his apparent neglect was in reality economy. It was, however, a mistaken thrift; he was compelled, partly from weakness, partly in search of a purer air, to decline a lucrative situation offered him by his master, and go to his mother's. The change of scene had a temporary effect; but when its novelty had subsided, his disorder revived with increased power; and though his illness had not reached that point when even friends despair, yet a glance at his countenance was sufficient to convince a medical eye, that his recovery was almost hopeless. He nevertheless continued to take exercise when the weather permitted (for the latter part of the spring was very unsettled); and at the commencement of summer again experienced, for a short time, a cheerfulness of spirits which he mistook for a renovation of health. But as the heat increased his debility returned, and before the beginning of autumn he became so weak as to be rarely able to leave the house, and grew peevish in proportion to the progress of his disorder. To detail this minutely would be tedious. Like all consumptive patients he kept gradually declining, whilst the flattering nature of his complaint prevented him from suspecting his danger. It became his chief amusement to get his heart-broken mother to sit by him, and listen to the plans he had formed for re-establishing his health, by a trip into the country, when he was able to support the journey, and to the course of life he intended to pursue on his recovery; a circumstance which seemed barely possible even to a mother's hopes, and utterly visionary to a stranger. His weakness daily continued to increase, and in a few weeks he was confined to his bed, whilst it was clear his dissolution was fast approaching. The decay of his body had moreover a corresponding effect upon his mind. He would inquire about circumstances which had never taken place, and be angry when contradicted or not understood. He also became capricious, and, if the term can be applied to a person in his situation, unreasonable, requiring the constant attendance of his mother, and never permitting her to be absent a moment, without angrily commanding her return. In the earlier stages of his complaint he had been considerate; but he now daily expressed a wish for delicacies, which it seemed cruelty to deny, and useless to procure; for when they were gotten they were rarely touched. The expenses, too, of illness had greatly diminished her little fund, and she found that money would soon be required for absolute necessaries. Indeed, for some time past she had been wavering between her dread of approaching want, and her dislike of applying to her relations; but having written them an account of Edward's illness, she was in daily hopes of receiving an unasked-for supply. Some, however, took no notice of her letters; and those who occasionally visited her in consequence of them, were precisely the persons who were unable to afford her any material assistance. At last an occurrence, trifling in itself, confirmed her resolution of making a direct application. She was one day sitting by Edward's bed-side, when he suddenly asked for some strawberries. "I have none, my dear," replied his mother, are out of season." "Then give me some grapes." "I have not any either, my love." "for they “Well then,” said he, “give me whatever you have." The knowledge that she had nothing he would touch, rendered her unwilling, if not unable, to answer, and she remained silent. What, have you nothing to give me, mother?" he exclaimed, after waiting a few minutes in expectation of her reply, and throwing himself back on his pillow, covered his face with his hands, and turned from her; but she could perceive by his half-suppressed sobs, that he was weeping. As this can be told, it seems nothing; but his mother experienced a sickness of the heart, which no misfortunes of her own could have produced. That evening she wrote to one of her brothers. He was busily engaged with the affairs of a charity, of which he was a governor, and her letter remained unnoticed for nearly a week, when an answer arrived, enclosing a remittance. It came too late to be of service to her feelings: she had struggled for five days with fatigue, suspense, and despair, during which time she had seen her son, if I may so express myself, gradually exhale. He now took nothing but a little drink, and a few days, or even hours, seemed likely to be his last. The morrow was one of those beautiful days, which some.. times in the middle of autumn gladden the declining year. The bed-room of Edward commanded a view of some fields, whose verdure was yet bright, and looked brighter in the light of an unclouded sun. A few solitary individuals, apparently attracted by the fineness of the afternoon, were strolling about them. Several groups of children were in various parts of them engaged at play, and their bursts of merriment, softened by distance, came upon the ear with that peculiar melody which Goldsmith has noticed. A few cattle basking in the sunshine, and the very dogs seemed enlivened by the spirit-cheering influence of this" latter spring." M.s. E had walked to the window to exchange the faint and sickly atmosphere of her apartment, for the freshness of the open air, when her attention was suddenly attracted by hearing her son draw his breath rather harder than usual; and turning her head, she perceived his countenance distorted by a series of slight convulsions. Although dreadfully shocked, she rallied her spirits and rushed to the bed. As she bent over the |