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for foot passengers. In the centre, between the two roads, will be a line of numerous arches of communication, spacious enough to admit of persons passing from one road to the other; and in each of these arches will be fixed a strong gas-light. The approaches to the entrance of the tunnel will be by circular descents of easy declivity, not exceeding four feet in every hundred, a small one for pedestrians, and a large one for carriages; and so easy will be the descent, that the heaviest loaded waggon will never need (1) to have the wheel locked (2). The bed of the river has been examined by frequent and deep borings (5), in order to ascertain the nature of the strata (4), and the results have been, we are informed, highly encouraging; the deep parts being uniformly of a tenacious, hard, blue clay. The machinery by which the excavation is to be made, is the invention of Mr. Brunel, a Frenchman. The iron shield (5) for the protection of the workmen, and for the security of the work as it proceeds, is of an ingenious combination, and, of itself, is said to weigh ninety tons; and this weight is literally to be pushed through the earth, entering the shaft on the north side of the river. For this invention, Mr. Brunel has obtain

(1) To need, avoir besoin,

(2) To lock a wheel, mettre le sabot à la roue pour empêcher la voiture de descendre trop vite.

(3) To bore, percer, perforer. Borings, perforations par le vilebrequin.

(4) Strata, couches.

(5) Shield, bouclier, défense.

THE TUNNEL UNDER THE THAMES.

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ed a patent (1). As this large shield or three storied iron scaffolding (2), is daily moved on to fill up the excavation made by the workmen, it is to be followed closely by the bricklayers (5), who will make all good (4); so that the incumbent earth will always be supported by the iron shield, or by compact and well cemented brick-work, The size of the tunnel will be thirty-five feet wide, by twenty feet in height; each arch-way will have about fourteen feet clear width (including footpath); aud the whole lenght of the tunnel will be about one thousand three hundred feet.

Should nothing unforeseen prevent it, this novel communication is expected to be opened in less than three years. It will be obvious (5) to every person acquainted with the Thames, that no bridge could cross it where the tunnel is designed to be made, unless it were of a height so great that ships could sail beneath it. Such a bridge has been projected, but the design was soon abandoned. The tunnel may be regarded as a bridge reversed, and as a channel of intercourse between the two shores, at once commodious and suited (6) to its locality. It will open a free, and probably, an important communication between the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Kent and Surrey, and the several national, and commer

(1) A patent, un brevet.

(2) Scaffolding, échafaudage.

(3) Bricklayers, poseurs de briques, maçons. (4) To make good, achever, assurer.

(5) Obvious, clair, apparent.

(6) Suited, adapté, convenable.

cial establishments on either (1) shore, and which in time will give birth to improvements of no small magnitude. There will be in this tunnel, a thickness of fifteen feet of earth, between the crown of the tunnel and the bed of the river; and the brick-work will necessarily be of the best materials and most solid nature, and closely cemented with the utmost care.

COLLEGE OF CHARLEMAGNE.

Some years after the establishment of this institution, Charlemagne paid a visit to it. The students were all presented to him, and he demanded the list of the places they had respectively obtained by their compositions. On examining it the king remarked that the scholars whose parents were of the middle, or obscure class of society, greatly excelled those of higher birth.

The king therefore ordered them to be formed in two divisions, and having placed the industrious on his right hand and the idle on his left, he thus addressed the former: 66 My dear children, as you have industriously applied yourselves to yours studies, and have made such progress as will render you estimable in the eyes of men and useful mankind (2), I recommend you to continue with ardour, and be assured that in the course of your lives you shall have my patronage and protection. Then, turning (3) to the left, he said,

(1) Either ou each, l'un et l'autre. (2) Mankind, le genre humain.

(5) Turning, se tournant.

PATERNAL SOLICITUDE.

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with a stern countenance," As for you idlers of noble blood, unworthy children of the most eminent families in my kingdom; you, who instead of embellishing your minds and acquiring imperishable riches think your amusements and the adornment of your person the most important objects in life, and imagine that you are born only to enjoy the wealth and honours that some of your worthy ancestors have acquired: I swear to you that your birth and fortune shall have no influence with me, and that unless you recover (1) your lost time and avail yourselves (2) of the opportunities you have of acquiring what is here taught, you must expect no favour or encouragement from Charlemagne: be warned (5) in

time.

PATERNAL SOLICITUDE, AND FORTUNE OF WAR.

The following anecdote is said to be found in Bonaparte's fourteenth bulletin of the French army in Spain.

An old Spanish general retired from service, being eighty years of age, was in his house at Madrid with his only daughter, a very beautiful girl, at the time of the entry of the French into that city. A French officer entered the house with a party of his soldiers, for the purpose of taking up their quarters.

The venerable old general presented himself, holding

(1) To recover, rattraper.

(2) To avail of, profiter de, faire valoir.

(3) Be warned, prenez garde, ne négligez pas l'avertissement.

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his daughter by the hand, and thus addressed the officer: "Sir, I am an old soldier, and I know the rights and the licentiousness of a victorious army. Are you a single man (1)?" "I am, sir, replied the Frenchman. "Here then," returned he," is my greatest treasure, my only child, a beautiful and virtuous girl: be her protector, become her husband; her portion is nine hundred thousand franks." - The young officer did not hesitate, he took the house and family under his protection, married the beautiful Spanish girl, and soon finished his campaign.

THE SACRED WHITE ELEPHANT OF AVA.

It is a custom, in the empire of Burmah, at a place called Ava, to pay extraordinary honours to a white elephant. A traveller who has lately visited that part of India gives in his journal the following account. "The white elephant has a residence near the palace, with which it communicates by a long gallery supported by pillars.

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A the extremity of the gallery a lofty curtain of black velvet richly embossed (2) with gold, conceals the animal which is considered too sacred to be exposed to the eyes of the vulgar. Before this curtain are deposited the numerous presents to be offered to him. They consist of costly things (5); such as gold, silver, muslin, cloth, essence of roses, silks, etc.

(1) A single man, garçon, célibataire.

(2) Embossed, en relief, velouté, galonné, brodé. (3) Costly things, choses coûteuses, précieuses.

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