QUEEN VICTORIA AND HER CLAREMONT PALACE. We present the readers of the Garland || her popularity, kept her people in good huthis month a finely engraved portrait of mor with herself, and, so far as we can learn, Queen Victoria, and a very fine, spirited and has behaved herself very well, considering beautifully engraved view of one of her coun- she is a Queen, and conducted herself with try seats. This lady occupies a large share great propriety and good sense. Her husof the attention of the world, although she is, band, Prince Albert, also seems to be a domesin reality, but a mere cypher in the govern- tic kind of man, well spoken of, and well ment of even her own country, except so far treated, though he be a Dutchman. They as eclat and patronage gives her influence. now have two children. Victoria seems to Almost every individual, however, feels some be extremely fond of exercise and travelling. interest in her movements and conduct, ow-Judging from the "newspapers," she appears ing to the conspicious place she occupies, to be all the time " gadding," when she is and a feeling of gallantry or admiration for one of her sex and age being placed upon the throne of a great and powerful nation. She is now about 24 years of age, began to reign in 1837, and has thus far maintained she has several fine country seats and paVOL. VI.-No. 10.-APRIL, 1843. able. In addition to her recent long and exciting journey into Scotland, where she was every where received with the most cordial demonstrations of good will and good wishes, 297 laces to which she makes frequent excursions; one of which is here presented. It is called CLAREMONT, And is situated in the 66 Environs of London." A London paper of a recent date, from which we copy the engravings, says: "Her Majesty having determined upon again honoring Claremont with her presence, we lose no time in presenting a view of this very delightful retreat. It is expected that her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert will visit Claremont in the course of a few days. The game in the royal preserves here is more abundant than it has been for many seasons past." From this we judge the object in the visit was to allow Prince Albert an opportunity to shoot at the poor animals that harbor in the woods, or Park, attached to the place. Of The historical account of Claremont is thus given. It owed its origin to Sir John Vanbrugh, who bought some land here and built a house for his own accommodation. Pelham, Earl of Clare, afterwards Duke of Newcastle, bought the estate of Sir John, much improved the grounds, and added a banquetting-room for the entertainment of his colleagues and parliamentary supporters. The seat derives its name from a building erected on a mount in the park by Lord Clare, and called after his own name. the gardens at Claremont one writer says, rather pompously, "There you may wander with secure delight, and saunter with perpetual amusement.' The grounds being thus improved, the original house was found no longer worthy so magnificent a demesne. The great Lord Clive, who purchased the estate from the Duke of Newcastle, gave Browne orders to erect a mansion, regardless of expense, who is said to have performed the task very much to the satisfaction of his employer, although the expense was above one hundred thousand pounds. It is a noble mansion, forming an oblong square of fortyfour yards by thirty four. On the ground floor are eight spacious rooms, besides the hall of entrance and the grand staircase. On the principal front a flight of thirteen steps leads to the great entrance, under a pediment supported by columns of the Corinthian order. The general effect is grand without heaviness, and chastely elegant. On the death of Lord Clive, this estate was sold for little more than one third of what the mansion and improvements had cost, and was purchased by Lord Galway, by whom it was sold to the Earl of Tyrconnell, who disposed of it to Charles Rose Ellis, Esq.; this gentleman resided at Claremont until 1816, when it was purchased by Government for £69,000 for the country residence of the princess Charlotte and prince Leopold, now king of Belgium. From the Lady's Book. "WHERE THE WEARY ARE AT REST." BY JULIET H. LEWIS. Mother! mourning for the infant, Dealing death on all around, Seeking for the world's renown, Cease thy vain pursuit of phantoms! Quench the fires within thy breast! Strifes like thine! oh, what avail they "Where the weary are at rest." Miser! gloating o'er thy coffers, Saddened with a wealth untold, Know'st thou not thy dross will perish? Dimmed will be thy shining gold? Seek the treasures of pure Heaven! Even such was God's behest: Free are all things from corruption "Where the weary are at rest.” Young and lovely maiden! wreathing Hope's bright blossoms round thy brow, All things smile in love upon thee, Bright the world before the now, Ere that world shall disappoint thee Let thy Saviour be confessed! Steer thy bark toward the haven "Where the weary are at rest." Drooping one! o'er earth a wand'rer, Friendless, houseless, dost thou roam! This is not for thy abiding, Heaven shall be thy lasting home. Cheer thee then, though now thy spirit Be by worldly woes distressed, Endless joys thou shalt inherit "Where the weary are at rest.” Christian sufferer! worn with anguish, Racked by more than mortal pain, Longing for release, and Heaven, Chafes thy spirit at her chain? Soon the bonds of earth shall sever, Thou'lt be numbered with the blest, "Where the wicked cease from troubling, And the weary are at rest.” No. 10. Criticism.-George Washington. For the Ladies' Garland. CRITICISM. BY MRS. LYDIA JANE PIERSON. "Dear Ellen, do oblige the company by reading aloud the sweet little poem you were just finishing when I surprised you this morning. We are all personal friends and shall be delighted to hear it." "Oh, yes! do read it, Ellen!" came from every part of the room; and the young girl was obliged, out of pure good nature, to undergo the martyrdom of reading aloud her own composition. So, with the tide of modesty flashing through the pearl of her cheek, and the long dark lashes delicately shading her soft blue eyes, in a slightly tremulous tone, she commenced "'Twas when the pale autumn was sighing, "But rumor had wounded her bosom Pale, bent by affliction, and weary, "Beautiful!" cried a dark eyed girl, whose lips looked as if formed exclusively for the expression of tender sentiments. "Beautiful!" she repeated, and sighed deeply. "Nonsense!" ejaculated a jolly bachelor of forty-five. "Strange, that the Pegassus of every young lady should follow the same track. Love, weep, and marry." 299 "I must be allowed to differ from your judgment, madam," remarked an urbane old gentleman, who certainly had been a lover, a husband, and a father. "I do not discover any indelicacy in the words or sentiments of Miss Ellen's poem; while 1 certainly think that the tact with which she has told a long story in a few short, grammatical and wellmeasured lines, does honor to her judgment, and gives promise of future excellence in the poetic department.” 66 My dear young lady," he said, addressing Ellen, who was sobbing in spite of her efforts to the contrary. "This poem is, I presume, the first you have submitted to public opinion, and the criticisms with which it has been honered will, I hope, save you much future pain. You are now aware that critics are more frequently influenced by their own tempers, than by any merit or demerit of the composition under consideration. You will not in future suffer yourself to be elated or depressed by any person's censure or applause, unless you know such person to be of sound, discriminating judgment, and generous spirit. Let me advise you to weigh every criticism against your own judgment, and never expect to please the world, now that you see how the opinions of a small circle differ on the same subject.' GEORGE WASHINGTON. ANECDOTES RELATED BY JOHN ADAMS, SENIOR. The following account of the appointment of General Washington to the supreme command of the continental army, June 18th, 1775, has been placed in our hands by a gentleman in whose veracity we have full confidence. We cannot doubt the authenticity of the anecdotes he gives. Their subject has of late years been brought before the public under various versions, and has in every shape attracted attention. The private journal narrates a conversation with John Adams, senior, before that great and good man was called to his final rest. The relation is more in detail than that which has hitherto been made public; but it substantially corroberates the former versions of the causes which led to the appointment of Washington. Lest we should in any way affect the anecdote, we give it in the words of the narrator. The army was assembled at Cambridge, Mass., under General Ward, and Congress "Ridiculous!" snarled a maiden lady of was sitting at Philadelphia. Every day new fifty winters. "As if woman's life and hap-applications in behalf of the army arrived. New England army, a New England commander, with New England perseverance, all appealed to them. For this cause they hang back. Now the only course is to allay their fears, and give them nothing to complain of; and this can be done in no other way but by appointing a Southern chief over this force, and then all will rush to the standard. This policy will blend us in one mass, and that mass will be resistless." The country was urgent that Congress should legalize the raising of an army; as they had what must be considered and was in law considered only a mob, a band of armed rebels. || The country was placed in circumstances of peculiar difficulty and danger. The struggle had began and yet every thing was without order. The great trial now seemed to be in this question-Who shall be the Commander in Chief? It was exceedingly important, and was felt to be the hinge on which the At this, Samuel Adams seemed greatly mocontest might turn for or against us. The ved. They talked over the preliminary cirSouthern and Middle States, warm and rapid cumstances and John asked his cousin to sein their zeal for the most part, were jealous cond the motion. Mr. Adams went in, took of New England, because they felt the real the floor, and put forth all his strength in the physical force was here; what was to be delineations he had prepared, all aiming at done? All New England adored General the adoption of the army. He was ready to Ward; he had been in the French war; and own the army, appoint a commander, vote came out laden with laurels. He was a scholar supplies, and proceed to business. After this and a statesman. Every qualification seemed speech had been finished, some doubted, some to cluster in him; and it was confidently be- objected, and some feared. His warmth inlieved that the army could not receive an ap-creased with the occasion, and to all these pointment over him. What then was to be doubts and hesitations he replied: done? Difficulties thickened at every step. Gentlemen, if this Congress will not The struggle was to be long and bloody.-adopt this army before ten moons have set, Without union all was lost. The country New England will adopt it, and she will unand the whole country must come in. One dertake the struggle alone-yes, with a strong pulsation must beat through all hearts. The arm, and a clear conscience, she will front the cause was one and the army must be one. foe single-handed. The members had talked, debated, considered This had the desired effect. They saw and guessed, and yet the decisive step had not New England was neither playing nor to be been taken. At length Mr. Adams came to played with; they agreed to appoint a day. his conclusion. The means of resolving it A day was fixed. It came. Mr. Adams went were somewhat singular, and nearly as fol-in, took the floor, urged the measure, and aflows: he was walking one morning before ter some debate it passed. Congress Hall, apparently in deep thought, when his cousin Samuel Adams came up to him and said, 66 The next thing was to get a commander for this army, with supplies, &c. All looked to Mr. Adams on the occasion, and he was ready. He took the floor, and went into a minute delineation of the character of General Ward "What is the topic with you this morning?" "Oh, the army, the army," he replied. "I-bestowing upon him encomiuins which then am determined to go into the hall this morning, and enter on a full detail of the state of the colony, in order to show an absolute need of taking some decisive steps. My whole aim will be to induce Congress to appoint a day for adopting the army as the legal army of these united colonies of North America, and then to hint at an election of a Commander in Chief!" "Well," said Samuel Adams, "I like that, cousin John, but on whom have you fixed as that Commander ?" belonged to no one else. At the end of the eulogy he said, “but this is not the man I have chosen." He then went into the delineation of the character of a Commander in Chief, such as was required by the peculiar situation of the Colonies at that juncture.And after he had presented the qualifications in his strongest language, and given the reasons of the nomination he was about to inake, he said ? “Gentlemen, 1 know these qualifications are high, but we all know they are needful at this crisis, in this chief. Does any one say they are not to be obtained in this country In reply I have to say they are; they reside in one of our own body, and he is the person whom I now nominate,-GEORGE WASHINGTON, OF VIRGINIA. Washington, who sat on Mr. Adams' right hand, was looking him intently in the face, to watch the name he was about to announce, and not expecting it would be his, sprang from his seat the minute he heard it and rushed into an adjoining room. Mr. Adams had asked his cousin Samuel to ask for an adjournment as soon as the nomination was made, in order to give the members time to deliberate and the result is before the world. I asked Mr. Adams, among other questions, the following: Written for the Ladies' Garland. ITALY. With what pleasing emotions do we turn from the busy cares of life, to regale our minds amid the nations of eastern climes; and what one is more pregnant with interest than the beautiful Italy-the land of poetry and song-which has been almost forgotten, But it reminds us of the short duration of huIman glory. We sigh that this fountain of literature and art-from whence much of our present knowledge has sprung-should be so neglected. "Did you ever doubt of the success of the conflict?" "No, no," said he, "not for a monient. expected to be hung and quartered, if I was caught; but no matter for that-my country would be free; I knew George III. could not forge chains long enough and strong enough to reach around these United States. sphere, And melt the soul to tenderness, yet fall not on the ear! Oft Memory comes with tender look, and takes us by the hand, And leads us, nothing loth, into her dim and shadowy land, And there, all clothed in snowy robes of purity and truth, We see the dear, true-hearted ones who loved us in our youth! The beautiful, the beautiful, no earthly tongue may tell, How god-like they have grown in that sweet clime wherein they dwell! Well may they sweep their golden lyres with many a rapturous strain, For they no more are bowed to earth by mystery's icy chain ! From Italy have arisen some of the greatest men, whose names grace the pages of history. If we seek heroes, Cæsar, Pompey, Augustus, and Cincinnatus, rise up before our sight; if we speak of eloquence, Cicero claims the palm; if we whisper of poetry, Virgil lifts up his golden lyre. So if we course the whole circle of human talents, taste, science, and the arts, Italy responds to the inquiry, and claims them as her own.Yet with all her claims, she is unnoticed.Well might Byron exclaim "I've stood upon Achilles tomb And heard Troy doubted-Time shall doubt of Rome." Hear what the same poet says of Imperial "I stood within the Coliseum's wall, 'Midst the chief relics of almighty Rome- Thus stood Rome in his day. Since then, the work of ruin has acquired a greater impetus, and like all things touched by the wasting hand of decay, Rome is crumbling into her original earth. Although the glory of Italy has departed, yet she still claims much to merit our attention. Her cloudless skies, her towering mountains, and verdant vales often entice the traveller to her shores. Who can wonder that the arts should have been nursed and fostered in the lap of Italy? that poetry, painting, and music should emanate from a land so fertile in the elements of beauty, and sublimity?-a land where skies, seas, lakes, forests, Alpine heights, and pastoral valleys unite in the formation of |