A FAMILY PICTURE.

My little ones, my darling ones, my precious things of earth,
How gladly do I triumph in the blessing of your birth;
How heartily for praises, and how earnestly for prayers,
I yearn upon your loveliness, my dear delightful cares!

Oh children, happy word of peace, my jewels and my gold,
My truest friends till now, and still my truest friends when old,
I will be everything to you, your playmate and your guide,
Both Mentor and Telemachus, for ever at your side!

I will be everything to you, your sympathizing friend,
To teach and help and lead and bless and comfort and defend;
Oh, come to me and tell me all, and ye shall find me true,
A brother in adversity to fight it out for you!

Yea, sins, or follies, griefs or cares, or young affection's thrall,
Fear not, for I am one with you, and I have felt them all;
I will be tender, just and kind, unwilling to reprove-
I will do all to bless you all by wisdom and by love.

My little ones, delighted I review you as ye stand,

A pretty troop of fairies or young cherubs hand in hand,
And tell out all your names to be a dear familiar sound
Wherever English hearths and hearts about the world abound.

Oh, blessed boon and gain to me!-oh mercy, praise and pride!
Ye lack but little heritage your father's name beside.
When I am dead your little ones shall read my words with glee;
When ye are dead their little ones shall still remember me.

My eldest, of the speaking eyes, my Ellin, nine years old,
Thou thoughtful good example of the loving little fold,-
My Ellin, they shall hear of thee, fair spirit, holy child,
The truthful and the well-resolved, the liberal and the mild.

And thee, my Mary, what of thee?—the beauty of thy face?

Thy coyly-pretty whims and ways, that ray thee round with grace?
Oh, more than these: a dear warm heart, that still must thrill and glow,
Wiih pure affection's sunshine and with feeling's overflow.

Thou, too, my gentle five-year old, fair Margaret, the pearl,
A quiet, sick and suffering child,-sweet patient little girl,
Yet gay withal and frolicsome at times wilt thou appear,
And like a bell thy merry voice rings musical and clear.

And next my Selwyn, precious boy, a glorious young mind,

The sensitive, the passionate, the noble, and the kind,

Whose light brown locks bedropt with gold, and large eyes full of love, And generous nature mingled well the lion and the dove.

The last an infant, toothless one, now pratling on my knee,
Whose bland, benevolent, soft face is shining upon me,-
Another silver star upon our calm domestic sky,
Another seed of happy hope, dropt kindly from on high!

This sealeth up the sum to us, my loved and loving wife,
Be these to us the pleasure and the business of life;
And thou to me-what art thou not ?-through infancy and youth
And manhood's prime, as now, my all of tenderness and truth.

A happy man, be this my praise-not riches, rank, or fame:
A happy man, with store enough-no other lot or name;
A happy man, with you for friends, my children and my wife,-
Ambition is o'ervaulted here in all that gladdens life;

Yea, leave me to my happy thoughts and those around me still
In ancient woods of Albury, or on my fresh Furze-hill;
And, children, teach your children, too, by righteousness to stand,
For thus shall ye inherit peace and blessings in the land!

approach to universal suffrage."

BRITISH VIEW OF AMERICAN EDUCATION. In Mr. | evil arising in the United States from so near an Lyell's book on America, there are some interesting paragraphs about public education, to the following effect:

"The Bostonians submit to pay annually for public instruction, in their city alone, the sum of 30,0001. sterling, which is about equal to the Parliamentary grant of this year (1841) for the whole of England; while the sum raised for free-schools in the State this year, by taxes for wages of teachers, and their board, and exclusive of funds for building, exceeds 100,000. sterling.

As in New England, so will it be in the old country. If the people are to be really educated, that is, the children, the parents must be clevated from that extreme poverty which begets,circumstances (at least it does so in all crowded communities) unfavorable to moral culture at home. School education in school hours, and, in the intervals, familiarity with the dirt, wretchedness, debauchery, and debasement, which exist in the dwellings of the lower orders of the town population of England, cannot be safely reckoned upon as likely to produce much good.

"The law ordains, that every district containing fifty families shall maintain one school, for the supENGLISH PROGRESS AT THE EAST.-England is port of which the inhabitants are required to tax now looking to the great, and hitherto sealed empire themselves, and to appoint Committees annually for of Japan, for the extension of her trade. The setmanaging the funds, and choosing their own school-tlement just formed at Borneo-the establishing of masters. The Bible is allowed to be read in all, and is actually read in nearly all the schools; but the law prohibits the use of books 'calculated to favor the tenets of any particular sect of Christians.' Parents and guardians are expected to teach their own children, or to procure them to be taught, what they believe to be religious truth; and for this purpose, besides family worship and the pulpit, there are Sunday-schools. The system works well among this church-building and church-going population.

"As there is no other region in Anglo-Saxondom, containing 750,000 souls, where national education has been carried so far, it is important to inquire to what combination of causes its success is mainly to be attributed. First, there is no class in want or extreme poverty here, partly because the facility of migrating to the west, for those who are without employment, is so great, and also, in part, from the check to improvident marriages, created by the high standard of living to which the lowest work-people aspire, a standard which education is raising higher and higher from day to day. Secondly, I have often heard politicians of opposite parties declare, that there is no safety for the republic, now that the electoral suffrage has been so much extended, unless every exertion is made to raise the moral and intellectual condition of the masses. The fears entertained by the rich of the dangers of ignorance, is the only good result which I could discover tending to counterbalance the enormous preponderance of

Mr. Brooke, as Rajah of Sarawak-the late castigation given to the pirate Sultans in the Indian archipelago-all tend to show that this country is making its footing sure in that quarter, and gradually and systematically approaching Japan. It is expected that the next accounts from India will furnish some interesting particulars relative to the British attempt to open the ports of Japan. The islands composing the empire stretch from the 30th to the 41st degree of latitude, and from the 130th to the 147th of East longitude. The inhabitants have never been subdued by any foreign power. In 1281 the Japanese beat off 240,000 fighting men belonging to the Tartars. The Sultan of Bruni has sent in his submission, and asks for British friendship.

VITAL STATISTICS OF EUROPE.-The high price of bread in France does not reduce the consumption of the upper classes, nor even sensibly alter that of the middle classes, so that the deficit falls almost in totality on the lower portion of the population; and, in place of existing in the proportion of 25 per cent., it exists in that of 40 or 45 per cent. The difference is enormous for stomachs accustomed to a nourishment which contains, in a gross volume, but little nutritive matter. At the same time that want increases, their strength diminishes, and a universal falling off in activity and work is perceived. However, singular differences are remarked in consump tions nearly under the same latitudes-and there

The foreign debt is still larger than this; and (including the above) I will state the entire national responsibility as it existed at the end of last year:FOREIGN DEBT.

Internal debt....
Debt to English creditors..
United States claims and interest, say.
Copper to be redeemed.
Claims for Hilazo...
Bustamente loan

Total.......

Amount. $18,550,000 .60,000,000

2,400,000

2,000,000

700,000

500,000

.$84,150,000

The prospect of the payment of this debt is then carefully considered, and thus summed up:

are countries in Europe where not more is consumed in the years of abundance than in other countries in time of want-which would seem to indicate that customs and habits influence consumption in a certain proportion. In England, the consumption of wheat is 220 kilos. a year per head; in Russia, 400; in France, 200; in Bavaria, 220; in Saxony, 160; in the Austrian monarchy, 145. What is singular is, that the consumption of salt follows nearly the same progression as that of bread. In Austria, for instance, only three kilos. are consumed per head, whereas in Bavaria that quantity is nine kilos., and in England eleven kilos. This quantum appears to be still more considerable in Russia. It has been sometimes asserted that vegetable food demands more salt than animal food. Experience completely "The mint at Guanajunto, or the right to coin at contradicts this assertion. In England, where the that place, was contracted for in 1842 by a foreign consumption of meat is estimated at 31 kilos. the house in Mexico, for $71,000 cash, for the term head, twice as much salt is required as in Austria, of 14 years, at the same time that another offer was where the consumption of meat is only 14 kilos. before the government, stipulating for the payment The same observation applies to Bavaria, where of $100,000 for the same period, payable in annual each person on an average consumes 22 kilos. of instalments of $26,000 each. The $71,000 in hand meat each year. The greatest consumption of meat were, however, deemed of more value than the proknown is in Munich; it amounts to 115 kilos. perspective $400,000! This mint leaves a net annual head, and is almost as great as that of bread. It is income of $60,000! It appears to us quite evident also the city in which most beer is used. The latter that all the taxes which can be levied even to an consumption is extraordinary, amounting to more amount equal to confiscation, on the produce of labor than 800 lures each person, and consequently four in Mexico, will be found to be far short of the times greater than in Great Britain. Let a dearth amount necessary to maintain the army, the civil arise in Bavaria, and it may be imagined what pri- expenditure, and the payment of the interest of the vations will be suffered by the people of this coun-national debt; especially while the church and try, and how much the inhabitants of the capital, priests absorb so large a share of the produce of in particular, would have to reduce their real or industry." fictitious wants! The Austrians are, without contradiction, the most sober people on the continent; and yet they are not wanting in physical vigor, and are in general in good health. The average length of life is there the same as in England or France, and is superior to many other states in Europe, where the consumption is more elevated.—Constitutionel.

LORD EARDLEY.-A late act of Lord Eardley deserves to be recorded:-When the 17th Regiment were under march from Chatham to Windsor, his Lordship dined with the officers at Dartford. In the course of the visit it came out that Captain Miles, of that regiment, was on the point of retiring, and that a very young Lieutenant was in treaty for his company, to the prejudice of a Mr. Amiel, the eldest Lieutenant, who had for several years re

His Lordship with great goodness began a negotiation with Captain Miles, in favor of Mr. Amiel, of whom he had heard a very honorable report-and having settled the sum of fourteen hundred pounds as the price of the company, he enclosed the amount next morning to the Lieutenant, with an additional hundred, to supply any immediate wants. Where such nobleness of mind is evinced, party distinction dies away. His Lordship merits the reward of extensive praise.—January, 1789.

NATIONAL DEBT AND FINANCES OF MEXICO-.mained in the same situation for want of money! Mr. Macgregor's sixteenth part of the "commercial tariffs and regulations, resources, and trade of of the several states of Europe and America," has just been issued, in accordance with a vote of parliament. He enters into the consideration of the treaties of commerce and navigation, in force, between this country and Mexico, and then details the trade, navigation, agriculture, manufactures, and finances of that country. He traces the constitution from the overthrow of Iturbide, and the several governments that have existed. The statistics of Mexico are then developed, and the following shown to be the national debt of Mexico, which is of very considerable importance, and may be divided into the two great classes of foreign and internal debt. The internal debt amounts to $18,550,000; and in 1841 the customs were mortgaged to pay this sum, in the following subdivisions:

ECONOMY.-Lady Hardwicke, the lady of the Lord Chancellor, loved money as well as he did, and what he got, she saved. The purse in which the Great Seal is carried is of very expensive embroidery, and was provided during his time, every year. Lady Hardwicke took care that it should not be provided for the seal-bearer's profit, for she annually retained the purse herself, having previously ordered that the velvet should be of the length of one of the state rooms at Wimpole. So many of them were saved, that at length she had enough to hang the state room and make curtains for the bed! This same Lady Hardwicke was equally provident for the table. Sometimes it was necessary to give a dinner, but for fish she did not choose to give money-venison was accordingly sent up on such occasions from the park at Wimpole, and this she took in her carriage to a fishmonger's at Templebar, exchanging it for the dainties required by her extravagant company.-May, 1791.

DEATH OF A RUSSIAN NAVIGATOR.-The papers announce the decease of Admiral de Krusenstern, a celebrated Russian navigator, who achieved a reputation almost as great as that of Capt. Cook. He entered the navy early in life, and soon discovered, besides the possession of nautical skill, a comprehensive mind. During several years service in the East Indies, his attention was directed to the importance of a trade in furs, between the Russian possessions on the Nortwest coast of America and China, and on his return to his country, proposed to hisgovernment an expedition to favor the project. The idea was not well received at first, but on the accession of the Emperor Alexander, it received his favorable consideration. Two vessels were given him accordingly, the one named Nedeskda or the Hope, was commanded by Krusenstern, and the other, called the Neva, was placed under the orders of the Prince Lisanskey. The expedition was absent several years, and many important discoveries were made through its instrumentality. From one of the isles of Mendoca, the Admiral brought away a French sailor of the name of Joseph Cabris, whose extraordinary adventures, something in the style of those recorded in Typee, made him for a long time the lion of Paris. In 1815 Krusenstern was charged with a new expedition round the world, with the special purpose of examining Behring's Straits, and finding a northwest passage. His voyages have been published extensively and are familiar to most readers. He died on the 6th of October, 1846, at St. Petersburgh, highly esteemed by his countrymen.

ANECDOTE OF THE FIRST LORD HOLLAND.-Step Fox was so much indebted, that after many entreaties, he obtained 20,000l. from his father to pay his debts. Accordingly, he summoned all his creditors to meet him the ensuing morning, as he was to discharge their bills. The evening, however, in which he received his money, he repaired to Almack's and showed the 20,000!. which was all in bank notes, to George Selwyn, informing him at the same time for what purpose he had received that sum of his father; George laid him a considerable bet, he would not take a farthing of it out of the house again. Stephen was only a looker on for a considerable time; but being at length elevated with liquor, he began to shake his elbow, and in a few hours lost the whole sum, as George Selwyn had predicted.--June, 1781.

THUNDER AND JUSTICE.-The danger of hasty judgment is strikingly illustrated by the following incident:

"A noble lady of Florence lost a valuable pearl necklace, and a young girl who waited upon her was accused of the theft. As she solemnly denied Unable to the charge, she was put to the torture. support the terrible infliction, she acknowledged that she was guilty, and without further trial was hung. Shortly afterwards Florence was visited by a tremendous storm, and a thunderbolt fell upon a figure of justice on a lofty column and split the head to the scales, one of which fell to the ground, with it the ruins of a magpie's nest containing the pearl necklace."

ANECDOTE OF GEORGE THE FIRST.-The Lord Mayor of London had been very serviceable to government, and the King told the Minister he was willing to give him some mark of favor for his good offices. "What should you like to have?' said the Minister to his Lordship. "A Red Ribbon and a Star would make a great figure in the city," replied the Mayor; "I want no pecuniary favor."

66

The request was so modest that the Minister ven-
tured to assure the cit that he would soon be a
Knight of the Bath; but when the King was in-
"No," says his Majesty,
formed of the request,
“we wear that order ourselves, and this Mayor was a
footman; but if he will accept of the Irish Peerage,
we will make him a Lord."

VALUABLE INVENTION-NEW LIFE-BOAT.-Mr. Houldsworth, Governor of Dartmouth, has invented a boat-or rather a plan for fitting up ship's boats-of such a nature as to render it incapable of sinking in the most tempestuous sea, if the load is not greater than the calculation of the displacement of air the means adopted for supporting the boat and persons who may be in danger by shipwreck, or A trial of the plan has refrom any other cause. cently been made at Woolwich with one of the boats built at the dock-yard on a plan of Lord J. Hay, C. B., at present Lord of the Admiralty, and given to Captain Henderson, C. B., commander of the Sidon steam-frigate, on his Lordship's ceasing to be Captain-Superintendent, pro tem. of Woolwich dock-yard. The boat measures thirty-two feet in length by five broad in the centre, and weighs nine On the inside, all round, under the crosscwt. beams, were fixed simply with cord, which could be effected in a few minutes, ten hermetically-sealed tubes formed of vulcanized India-rubber, each six feet long and five inches in diameter, calculated to support five cwt., without sinking, although the boat was filled with water. On the boat being dropped into the water, a plug was withdrawn from her bottom, and she was allowed to fill with water. Three persons then stood over the ankles in water on her cross-beams, but they could not bring her down. Five hundred weight of iron was then lowered into her, which she supported with the greatest ease, and the three persons in addition stood on the edge of the side, sinking it about six inches under water, without the boat showing any inclination to sink, but righting herself with the greatest ease. The experiments were made in the presence of numerous distinguished naval officers, master shipwrights, &c.

The

ROME.-According to official returns for the year 1846, the city of Rome is divided into 54 parishes, inhabited by 35,988 families. There are 41 bishops, 1533 priests, 2845 monks, and 1472 nuns. Jews, who are about from 8000 to 10,000, are not comprised in this census. The whole population in 1837 was 156-552; in 1840, 154,632; in 1845, 167,160; and in 1846, 170,199.

HOT AND COLD BLAST-IRON.-A correspondent in Newcastle writes as follows: "Mr. R. Stephenson, the eminent engineer, has been making a series of experiments upon the relative strength of hot and cold blast iron, the result of which will be a complete revolution in the iron trade. Hitherto cold blast iron has brought a higher price, and has been considered in every respect superior to hot blast. Previous, however, to the construction of the high level bridge at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, intended to connect the York and Newcastle with the Newcastle

and Berwick Railway, Mr. Stephenson caused more than one hundred experiments to be made with the various sorts of pig iron, the result of which has been to prove that the hot blast is superior to cold, in the proportion of nine to seven; and, moreover, that pig iron, No. 3, is better than No. 1, which up to this time, has sold much higher in the market."

DEATH OF MICHELET.-The Paris papers announce the death of the celebrated historian Michelet, whose late work, called "Priests, Women and Families," excited so much attention.