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AMONG the many literary and scientific institutions that have of late years been established in the metropolis for the develop ment of the human mind, none is more ap. propriately located, than the Eastern Institution in the Commercial Road; and it has already proved itself a place of great attraction, particularly on the evenings of the musical performances.

The architects, Messrs. Hopkins and Gray, have here produced a very commodious structure, although sparingly embellished externally, possesses great degree of dignity. The south end, or front, retires a little distance from the road, and consists chiefly of a Doric tetrastyle, with fluted columns; there being no windows either within or externally of the portico, which circumstance is in itself favourable to the style adopted for the façade, and stamps it as a public building. The general plan is a parellelogram, about onehalf of which is occupied by the great room at the rear, or north end. This apartment, which measures 80 feet by 50, and is 36 high, has a segmental arched ceiling, and the wall at the farther end forms a similar curve. Vol. XXXIII.

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It is lighted by a single range of five windows on each side, placed at a considerable height from the floor, and dressed with architraves and coruices. But, independently of this degree of architectural decoration, the trusses which support the ceiling, and the enrichments of the last-mentioned part, the whole is quite bare, owing to its being at present in an unfinished state, and without any colour whatever to relieve its monotonousness and blankness. On this account, likewise, the two splendid chandeliers with gas-burners, which are of wood, richly carved and gilt, now form too great a contrast with all the rest. Probably some gilding will be applied to the ceiling, and, were it also to be extended to the chambranles, or dressings of the windows, it would tend greatly to architectural keeping as well as embellishment. In fact, the room requires only to be judi. ciously coloured and decorated to become a very striking oue; its dimensions being noble, and it being admirably fitted in itself to receive embellishment from the pencil, whether of colouring alone, or of design likewise, espe cially the curved end, in front of which is the

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orchestra. As a concert-room it is said to be unrivalled, and to be allowed by all the professionalists who have attended the musical performances that have from time to time been given in it, to be most admirably contrived for sound-indeed, to be superior in that respect to any other concert-room in the metropolis. The benches have handsome stuffed cushions and mahogany backs, both which can be removed, so that, when the room is required for public meetings, or similar purposes, the seats are transformed into mere forms, which cannot be damaged by persons stepping over them, or standing upon them. Whenever the room comes to be decorated, some additional dressings and embellishments ought to be bestowed upon the door, in order to give it that architectural importance which will make it accord with

the size and character of the apartment.

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• Whom God is Father to the church is mother to.

+ In Christ alone I rest my hope.

I adore the Deity in his own temple.

God grants help to those who ask for it.

I had not need to question long, it was soon answered. Did I not learn and read from others ?-it was Love!

And could I longer hide from my owuself

That all my heart was thine, and thiue aloue.

And is my love to thee now chang'd? Is the tie broken, which then bound me?

Nay rather it has strengthened with my years,
And it will last till death,-unless
Thine own inconstancy shall break the chain.
M. S-k.

AN AMERICAN IN ENGLAND. IN the year 1831, Mr. Maclellan, an Ameburgh, in order to complete his studies at rican student of divinity, came over to Edinthe University there. Accordingly, he attended the lectures of Dr. Chalmers, Profes that, and of the following year ;-devoting sor Wilson, and others, during the session of the intermediate summer to a tour on the Continent. During the whole of his travels he kept a journal; and as we had the pleasure of his personal acquaintance while in Edinburgh, and mingled with him in many of the scenes he describes, we can vouch for the general accuracy of his sketches. His promising career was cut short by death, three months after he reached home; but his jour nal, in a condensed form, has been published since; and may be procured at Mr. Hodson's

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Depôt for American Publications," FleetStreet. We intend to extract a few of the graphic descriptions with which the work abounds. They will give our readers an accurate notion of the first impressions produced on a stranger, on visiting our island.*

First View of England.

After a voyage of twenty days, our ship dropped anchor in the Mersey. Green hedges of hawthorn, supplied the place of our wooden fences and stone-walls. The fields are not planted with apple orchards so thickly as in our land; but the regular furrows with which nearly the whole landscape was sketched over, indicated a high state of culti

The above-named bells were cast at Gloucester, by vation. The undulations were soft; and if, Abel Rudhall, 1746.

то

(For the Mirror.)

I LOVED thee e'er I knew the meaning of the word,
And when as children, we did play,
And shared each little pleasure,
Whose voice delighted, or whose praise
Sounded so sweet unto mine ears as thine?
But years passed on,

And then, a strange and awkward shyness,
Came in place of that fond welcome
Which in earlier days of childhood,
I was wont to give thee.

When the first dawn of womanhood

therefore, less striking than the steep hillsides, retired valleys, and melting lines of beauty which distinguish our scenery, they at least communicated a spirit of unity and studied proportion to the whole view. The houses in the villages stood side by side, in undeviating lines; and instead of our lovely white cots and villas, a few prominent mansions reigned over the whole scene.

Ladies in Hats.

We were near enough to one of the mansions to see a servant in livery leading up a

More on thee, to ponder o'er thy every word and look. pair of saddle-horses; on which a gentleman

Was bursting o'er me, I began to think

Each slight was keenly felt, each kindness

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and lady mounted, and rode gracefully off, until we lost sight of them behind a grove of trees. "I declare," said a fellow-countryman on board, "that lady wears her husband's hat capitally." I afterwards remarked that this was the usual head-dress of ladies when on

horseback. It was singular to my eyes; but brick was not so smooth; it was rarely it certainly had an air of security.

Picture of Liverpool.

In the midst of the transparent air, there was a dense cloud; which rose up among a forest of masts, lines of houses, turrets, and steeples. It was the smoke; which, like an evil spirit, hangs day and night over the great city of Liverpool. A little black steamer now came briskly up to us. It was a custom house boat. It received our letters, and the cabin passengers; and, in a few minutes, we were running rapidly by the docks; the massive stone-walls of which shut up the shipping of this commercial metropolis. Here and there the large basins communicated, by tide-gates, with the water of the river. The regular character of these docks, and the peculiar slope given to the yards of all the vessels which fill them, have an imposing appearance. Perhaps this unity made its commerce appear to me more extensive than it really is; for my impression was, that the shipping in the harbour, at that time, did not fall much short of that of New York and Boston combined. I was disappointed with the appearances of the stores [warehouses] along the docks. They were built of brick; but the brick was not only irregular in shape, when compared with ours; but its face was rough, and much soiled with dust and coalsmoke. A dark piazza ran along their front; the face of the buildings resting on square pillars. As far as we could see, all was bustle. Heavy drays, and large wagons drawn by huge horses and loaded with cotton, thundered over the pavements. Three things struck me in particular, as soon as I entered Liverpool; -the large size and powerful appearance of the dray-horses; the vast extent and prison-like aspect of the warehouses; and the convenience and stability of the docks. But while the warehouses were so immense, the streets were narrow and choked up; the side-walks by men, women, and children (nearly all of whom were clothed in wretched garments); and the rest of the street by carts loaded with merchandize. A narrow strip of sky, grey with smoke, shone dimly above; lighting up the street, it is true; but not with that transparent bright. ness which cheers our towns. The shops in these streets had a contracted and indigent air. After breakfast, I walked with my American companion to the upper part of the town. In this direction the city had more the air of Boston, or New York, than the streets which I had hitherto seen. In general, however, the houses (which were arranged like our own, in connected streets or retired "courts,") were not so elegant as the ranges which distinguish our cities. They were not so much adorned by beautiful porticoes, piazzas, and blinds, as our habitations. The

painted white; it was not sustained on granite-bases, as is almost always the case with us; nor were the handles of the doors, and the bell-knobs, so often plaited with silver as is usual in our cities. Yet if, in general, the houses fell beneath our own in brightness and beauty, nevertheless there were, here and there, houses of uncommon splendour; which would have surpassed our most expensive buildings. I expected this. Wealth is monopolized by the few; hence there is not that beautiful gradation of style which characterizes everything at home. You would look, therefore, for shoeless beggars and brilliant equipages; and you find them. The society of Liverpool, so far as I came into contact with it, I found refined and agreeable. An American who goes to Liverpool expecting to find beauty, brilliancy, and life impressed on everything, will be disappointed. It undoubtedly possesses a vast amount of wealth; but this must be seen in its costly docks, and extensive warehouses, and the canals which glide into its deep treasure-houses, and its path-way of iron, with its cars laden with precious merchandize. Of its politeness and affability, he must not take the first outward appearance as the measure; for behind the dark and unprepossessing appearances which strike him at first, he will find there all the sweet courtesies which give a charm to life. An English Equipage.

Here comes a splendid carriage! How it whirls along! It has four horses. Two "jockeys "bestride them ;-bobbing up and down, as they kick and spur along at a furious rate. They are a singular genus ;-much the same all over England. They are accoutred in a round riding-cap, a short blue peacoat, tight buckskin breeches, white-topboots, spurs, and a short whip; and have a round red face, just suited to their habili ments. The footman peers up proudly behind. He looks with elevated disdain on all beneath his conspicuous station. In his gold-laced hat, his new blue coat profusely decorated with the same, his red velvetbreeches, his white silk-stockings, his polished shoes, and his unsullied wash-leather gloves, behold the man of place and dignity! The carriage stopped at a splendid house we were passing. One "jockey" sprung from his horse; the footman tripped down from behind; pulled the bell; and a kindred spirit opened the door, bowing his powdered head most complacently. The carriage-door was opened; and a very beautiful, graceful, and elegantly-dressed young lady was handed out. She entered, and we passed on; while the two lacqueys exchanged compliments together on the steps. We admired the beautiful complexion of the lady; and the elegant simplicity of her dress. An elegant simplicity

of taste seemed to me always a pleasing characteristic of English ladies of the first rank. There is not so much of the French diversity of dress. Beauty is never so attrac tive, as when simply, yet elegantly adorned. It shines like the diamond out of the chaste gold which it decorates. N. R.

Manners and Customs.

LORD AUCKLAND'S VISIT TO MAHARAJAH
RANJEET SINGH.

THIS imposing interview took place, Nov. 30, 1838. The Governor-general, (Lord Auck land) and his suite, having nearly approached the camp of Maharajah, a discharge of artillery announced that he had left his tents, and in a few minutes afterwards, his highness might be seen coming to meet his noble visitors, in all the 'pomp and circumstance' peculiar to an oriental procession.

The scene which now presented itself is utterly beyond description. All that the imagination can conceive of human grandeur, all that the most exuberant fancy can devise in its endeavours to portray the scene of royal splendour, was here bodied forth. Adown the avenue formed by the serried ranks of hundreds of steady horsemen, whose steel casques and gay appointments glittered in the sun, moved two masses of elephants, bearing on their lofty backs the mightiest potentates of the Orient, seated in their gorgeous how dahs, and attended by the chief officers of their respective courts, sumptuously attired. Beyond were seen columns upon columns of scarlet-clad and helmeted troops, "all furnished, all in arms," arrayed with a precision and preserving a steadiness worthy of the best European discipline; while behind and about their ranks, stretching to the east and to the west, was an extensive encampment, in the centre of which were numerous tents of crimson and gold, indicating the chosen abode of a powerful military chieftain. Crowded together, at viewing distance from the legions, thousands of spectators of the humbler classes stood in ranks, preserving a silence, a decorum, and an immobility, which proved the existence of a severe military discipline, even in the walks of civil life. No shouts rent the air, save the licensed clamours of some rude faqueer; no vociferous cheers manifested the exuberant joyousness of a happy population. The admiration of the people-if admiration it were--was only depicted in their silent awe and breathless astonishment, or kept in check by the apprehension of high displeasure. Not many minutes elapsed before the transient view here attempted to be described was interrupted by the rencontre of the two stately processions. It was not difficult to distinguish the Maharajah from his proud and gallant Sirdars, seated on a

ponderous elephant in the centre of the line, and habited, as the day before, in his dark crimson shawl-cloth tunic, trousers, and turban, without any tinsel or trinkets-in short, without any relief to the uniformity of his exterior than that presented by a flowing white beard; the sagacious old man came out in strong contrast with his richly-clad attendants and chieftains. On closing with the Governor-general, who, dressed in the blue and gold uniform of a minister of state, hore himself throughout as a nobleman might be expected to do on such an occasion, the Makarajah saluted his lordship, and received him into his howdah, upon which the cannon again "spoke to the trumpet," and the columns of elephants, now united, proceeded to the durbar tents. The arrival at the destination was the signal for another salute from the batteries of Runjeet Singh's horse artillery, while bands of music, uncommonly well trained, played our national anthem, and loud clarions proclaimed the glory of the Maharajah. The tents were enclosed within a vast area of crimson cloth walls, about nine feet high, and decorated with yellow lace. Within the enclosure, in well-arranged ranks, forming numerous allies and guards of honour, stood some 2,000 or 3 000 of the household troops of the Maharajah, clad, for the most part, in crimson silk, or elegant kincaub, and armed with highly-polished matchlocks and shields. The most perfect order, the most profound silence prevailed, broken only by the royal band (formerly in the service of the Begum Sumroo,) and the murmurs of approbation proceeding from European lips. Alighting within this splendid enclosure, the Maharajah conducted Lord Auckland, the Commander-in-chief, and their suite, to the durbar tent, which consisted of a splendidly-carpeted floor, provided with numerous gold and silver chairs, and covered in by a spacious surmeeaun, lined with shawl cloth, placed in front of the Maharajah's principal pavilion. Here the whole assembly took their seats, and the ceremony of the introductions took place, Major Wade, and Mr. W. H. Macnaghten, who sat on Lord Auckland's right, acting as interpreters on the behalf of the English visitors. As the British officers were severally introduced to Runjeet Singh, he addressed a few words to them, and rallied Colonel Skinner upon their old acquaintanceship. The principal Sirdars then presented themselves, and severally did homage to their chief, receiving a few complimentary salaams, and now and then an expression of good will. When the presentations were over, a band of Nautch girls, bedizened with jewellery, and beautified after their fashion with missee, silver-dust, &c. were called in, and formed a little circle, while the most celebrated bayadere treated the company to a few of those singular movements, which here pass for

tem.

dancing. The shawls,'trinkets, cloths, &c., which constituted the presents on these occasions, were now brought in, exhibited, and then appropriated by the officers of the Governor-general's suite after the ordinary sysThe horses, &c., were then inspected; and here terminated the ceremonials of the meeting on the modern "Field of the Cloth of Gold." Some little time was passed in visiting the different tents, inspecting the fur niture and other paraphernalia, and conversing with the chief sirdars; and the Governor-general then offered his adieus to the Maharajah, resumed his seat in the howdah, and departed in the order of his coming, the horse artillery, as before, honouring the event by a royal salute.

HUNGER AND GOLD.

PITHIUS, a Lydian prince, had many gold mines in his small dominions. His poor subjects were used like slaves, and he constrained them to work in his mines, by day and night, without giving them the least respite. His princess, who had a large portion of good sense and humanity, was desirous to reform this inordinate passion in her husband, for though he possessed such large quantities of gold, he was reluctant to purchase even the necessaries of life, and his only pleasure was to hoard it up, and the beholding of it with his insatiable eyes.

Seeing a favourable opportunity, when he returned one day from the amusements of the chase, exceedingly hungry, she took care to have large chargers full of massy wedges of gold served in for dinner. The prince was, at first, inuch pleased with the spectacle, and gazed upon the gold with peculiar affection; but this delightful and brilliant sight did not remove the urgent cravings of hunger, and he begged of his princess that he might have something to eat.

"You

The prudent princess then addressed her husband with a smiling countenance, "Now is not this what you like best." jest," said the prince, "I cannot feed upon gold; and I might starve, though I had in possession all the treasures of that rich metal which the world can afford." The princess replied," it must, therefore, be a great fault, and the extreme of folly, to have so great a passion for a thing that lies useless in your chests. Be persuaded, my dear prince, that sums locked up are not wealth, and are only valuable when they are exchanged for the necessaries and comforts of life." Pithius took the hint given by his prudent and humane princess. He was quickly so altered in his dispositions, that he became as gene. rous as he had formerly been covetous.

HOROLOGIA HISTORIA.

THE CLOCK-SPHERES OF THE ANCIENTS.

(For the Mirror.)

Ir is probable, that from the most remote times there have been methods of different kinds, and instruments of various forms and principles, used to keep some kind of an account of time; the variation of the lengths and different positions of the shadows cast by vertical objects, would, doubtless, be the first observations made for determining the different times of the day; for the shadows of objects, as is well known, follow in an opposite direction of the sun; thus, in all countries, and at all times, when the sun is rising in the east, the shadows of objects cast on any plane will be towards the west; and on the contrary, when the sun is westerly, the shadow falls eastward; and at the time of the sun's coming to the meridian, the shadows east will fall in a line at right angles to the equator, or due north and south. All these remarkable changes could, I should imagine, not fail to arrest the attention of man, even in the most rude and uncivilized statefor the patriarchs of old, accustomed as they were to seek the shelter afforded by the fine trees of their climate, must have observed, and, perhaps, with astonishment, the continual motion of the shade under which they delighted to sit, whilst enjoying their meals, or sheltering themselves, during repose, from the noontide heat-from which it is easy to imagine that the first instrument used to keep an account of time, would be some sort of machine, so constructed, as to imitate the motions of the shadows cast by vertical objects; and the idea derives considerable support from the curious fact, that the very first instrument recorded, is precisely of this nature, namely, the famous dial of Ahaz, of which we learn, from biblical history, that about seven hundred and thirteen years before the birth of Christ, the King Hezekiah revolted against the Assyrian King Sennacharib, to whom he was tributary, but was overpowered by Sennacherib, who took from him several of his fortified cities, and ultimately threatened Jerusalem; and Hezekiah finding that he was in danger of losing both his life and kingdom, made his peace as he could with the Assyrian conqueror; and about this time he was taken seriously ill, and warned by the Prophet Isaiah of his approaching end, but, by his prayers and entreaties, he induced the Lord to order the prophet to return to him, and promise that not only should he recover, but also that his life should be prolonged fifteen years, and his kingdom saved from the impending danger of Syrian invasion; but Hezekiah scarcely crediting these contradictory communications from the prophet, he asked for some signal proof, which the prophet obtained for him by his prayers; and this proof

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