laid on the table to arrange the bouquet. Honey- had asked for it, double its amount was enclosed from suckles and woodbines were creeping in at the window; the purchaser, with a letter apologising for, rather than and beyond it appeared a pretty landscape, intersected making a merit of the liberal act. He also commisby a river. The tone, keeping, and character displayed sioned her to paint another, leaving her to choose the in this simple subject, the expression-so fraught with subject. happiness and contentment, which sat on the face of O how happy Jane was when she went with Mr the female-the arrangement of the various accessories Mason to deposit this large accession to her savings in of the picture, gave to it a stamp of excellence and the bank! Her companion was not, however, so joyous; originality which caused each beholder to look at the he advised her to moderate her expectations, for in procatalogue to discover the painter. They found the portion as they were raised, so would her disappointpicture entered thus-""His study "-Jane Lambton.' ment be great. Remember,' he added, it is only a One of the spectators, on reading these words, became week to the time.' agitated; his head swam, and he laid violent hold on his fashionable friend's arm to prevent himself from falling. He was led out in a state bordering on insensibility, and with difficulty reached his wretched home. This little scene made a great effect on the fashionable critic; he attributed it all to the beauty of the picture, which he thought must therefore be very fine. Accordingly a high eulogy on Jane Lambton's production appeared next day in his father's influential paper. In the torn-down depressed critic the reader will readily recognise Barnton. From the time he left Worcester, he had, instead of rigorously setting himself to some definite branch of art or literature, first created, and then fed himself on delusive hopes. His uncle had died in embarrassed circumstances, and his expected government situation was point blank refused. He made a set of literary acquaintance, not so much for the purpose of following literature as a means of existence, as an amusement. His family had become too poor to assist him; one friend dropped off after another, as his demands for the 'help' he refused himself' increased; and he was now reduced to a low stage of poverty and actual privation. True, his literary friends sometimes furnished him with employment, but it seldom brought pay; and it was to perform one of these profitless tasks that he found his way to the exhibition. It is a singular fact, that the earliest character which nearly every literary adventurer undertakes in the metropolis, is one which requires the greatest amount of experience, acumen, and learning-that of a critic! In an ill-furnished room, in a court leading out of Fleet Street, Barnton had for several months dragged on a hopeful yet listless existence; but gradually hope after hope fell away, and now not one remained. He had refrained, according to the mutual agreement, from communicating with Jane; besides, the impression of her which he expressed in his farewell letter had always rankled in his breast. Would she sympathise with his distresses, even if she knew them? Far from it, he thought; she would, on the contrary, blame, or perhaps take no notice of his letter. He turned over the catalogue to assure himself that it was really she who had painted the successful picture; and even that, instead of gratifying, embittered his mind. Still,' he argued, 'the same cold, plodding girl, with no idea more refined than money, and earning it. Yet some sentiment was surely expressed in the picture? But who had awakened it? Certainly not he. A new rival had perhaps sprung up. Time would show, for the anniversary of their parting was near at hand. But how was he to live till then, short as the interval was?' Overcome with these thoughts and bodily exhaustion, Barnton threw himself on his pallet, and wept tears of vexation-not, alas! of repentance; for he was as far from helping himself' as ever. Fever, brought on by grief and privation, confined him to that bed for weeks: never was an unfortunate dreamer rendered so perfectly helpless and destitute. There was a very different aspect of affairs in Jane's cottage as the long-expected day drew near. Her in creasing industry had been crowned with the brightest success. Her China painting was so much admired, and her pencil in such great request, that her prices doubled. Her picture was sold on the first day of the exhibition; and, to her astonishment, instead of the modest sum she Jane promised to bear the worst with resignation, even should the worst come. She could safely promise this if her present feelings would only last, they were so full of hope for the future-so modestly, yet truly selfapplauding. The cottage, as she approached it on her return, lay smiling under a shining spring sun. She compared it with what it was last spring; then it was surrounded by a waste; now a pretty garden, and a handsome lawn, adorned it, and all effected by her own industry. What a pretty picture it will make!' she exclaimed, as she tripped in to tell Mary to get lunch ready for her kind friend the clergyman. A thought crossed her, and a tear stood in her eye. Would it be ever in her power to give the same order for him? O yes; she felt, she knew it would. Poor Jane! with all her prudence and industry, she, too, nursed sanguine and chimerical hopes, the results of enthusiasm and romance, a tinge of which was by no means inconsistent with her otherwise staid and common-sense character. Day by day her glowing fancy planned out Barnton's career. Perhaps he was studying some science, or writing a great poem which would secure his fame. She always coupled him with industry and success, judging of his progress by her own, and never doubting that he would keep his promise, and strive for himself. It was these feelings which prompted her to choose the subject of her picture, and to which, perhaps, its success must be traced. Her whole soul was brought to bear upon it. It was like truth and nature, because she never once doubted that it would come true, sooner or later. Borne up by this hope to the last, the important day arrived, without there being any visible alteration in Jane Lambton's demeanour. When, however, the postman brought her a letter, a full tide of emotion swept over her. He has not forgotten me!' she exclaimed; and old Mary could only with difficulty support her, so violent were her sobs. It was long before her agitation subsided sufficiently to enable her to peruse the epistle. Luckily, the reaction was complete, and the girl was perhaps firmer, better nerved to encounter the shock that she was doomed to receive, than if it had fallen upon her in a calmer moment. The letter was in the form of a journal, commenced about four days previously-the writing was faint and indistinct. Barnton began by asking a blessing on Jane Lambton's head. He bitterly regretted they had ever loved; sickness had overtaken him; he was, he thought, dying, and wrote before the time, lest he should never live to see the day they had appointed to communicate with each other. Under the next day's date he described himself as worse-scarcely able to hold a pen. Under the third date he implored her to forgive his failings, and to forget him. This was all! death, perhaps, had stayed his hand from writing more! This, the direst ending of all her anticipations it would have been possible to inflict, Jane bore with wonderful fortitude. There was no time lost in unavailing grief. That night she and old Mary were on their way to London! Jane, in alighting from the coach, was accosted by a well-known voice, that of Polter. I hope you will forgive us, Miss Lambton,' he said; 'but your measures not having been so swiftly taken as to escape the wishful anxiety of Emilia, she insisted upon my travelling up in the same vehicle, to offer any assistance that lies in my power.' Jane thanked him from her heart. She had already had time to reflect that the step she had taken was sufficiently rash to be open to misconstruction, and was glad to avail herself of Polter's guardianship. He, who knew everything from Emilia, knew what to do, and having deposited Jane and her attendant in the inn, went straight to Barnton's lodging. The morning was just breaking as he entered the court. He found the house with difficulty-knocked, and was answered by a saucy girl. He inquired for Barnton; but as he was only known to the handmaid as the two pair back,' there was some difficulty in making her understand whom he meant. Her reply was, that she believed he was dying, but that he was welcome to go and see. Lying on a wretched pallet, and surrounded by every mark of destitution, Polter beheld, not without shuddering, his former friend. Barnton's impaired consciousness prevented him from at first recognising his visitor. When he did, he grasped his hand with a faint pressure, and tears stood in his eyes. Polter, who knew that too much sympathy tended to aggravate rather than to assuage suffering, made as light as he could of his friend's condition, and assured him that he was commissioned by his best friends to allow him to want nothing. Barnton scarcely heeded what was said. In a faint voice he inquired about 'Jane.' This inquiry Polter declined to answer for the present, alleging the sufferer's weakness as an excuse for not agitating his feelings. He begged him to calm himself, while he went to obtain proper assistance. He then hastened to a physician known to his father, and brought him to Barnton's bed-side. Nourishment continually administered was prescribed, and its effects were visible on the patient's frame even before the end of the day. On the morrow it was thought safe to communicate to the patient what had happened-that Jane had travelled to London on purpose to help him, now he could no longer help himself. The physician, however, forbade any interview for the present; and it was not till Barnton was able to be removed from his wretched abode that the lovers met. ever, her name will appear as Mrs Barnton; for George and she were recently married by Mr Mason, who had already made Polter and his daughter man and wife. Mr and Mrs Barnton reside in the cottage, and, small as it is, they find it quite large enough for happiness. As Barnton's daily employment leaves him some leisure, he employs it profitably by contributing to the periodical literature of the day. The scene of these labours is His study,' and thus the dearest wish of Jane's heart is fulfilled-her picture is realised. GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERY IN 1843.* AT no period since the days of early Spanish discovery were men so intent upon exploring little-known regions as during the present century. This is well, since nothing facilitates the progress of civilisation more than thus bringing the distant and uneducated people of the various quarters of the globe in constant relation with their more favoured brethren. A glance at what has been done during the past year will amply demonstrate our position. In Europe, Hommaire de Hell has employed himself, and is still actively engaged, in exploring the Crimea and the steppes of Russia. With indefatigable zeal he has crossed a great portion of this country in every direction, followed the course of rivers and streams on foot and on horseback, visited the Russian shores of the Black Sea, of the Sea of Azof, and the Caspian; joining to all this the study of man in every sense. His wife accompanies him, taking careful and ample notes of all that she observes. Ödessa was the starting point, whence he diverged in every direction which promised interest or advantage: the Volga, Astracan, the Caucasus, the Calmuc Cossacks, were each examined in their turn. His examination of the Caspian Sea is singularly interesting. For a long time a diminution has been observed in the waters of this great inland sea, even distant salt lakes marking the former vast extent of its surface. M. Hommaire's examinations tend to prove a former union with the Black Sea, its separation from which, and the decrease in the waters of the Oural, Volga, and Emba, partly caused by agricultural operations on their banks, appear to be the principal causes of the phenomenon. Xavier Marmier, a French traveller, has recently visited Finland, St Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw, and Cracow, collecting much interesting matter relating to the literature of a people becoming daily more and more interesting. The Russian government, also, has favoured exploring expeditions; that of Humboldt to the Oural mountains, and the geological examinations of Baër, who in Lapland, Nova Zembla, and the islands on the coast of Finland, has discovered subterraneous stone labyrinths of great anti Polter had already established Miss Lambton and old Mary in lodgings, and it was there that the meeting which had caused Jane so many pleasurable anticipations, and such bitter disappointment, took place. Jane's true, enduring, and sincere affection was forcibly displayed at this interview. Every violent indication of emotion she purposely suppressed, lest it should affect the invalid. The characteristics of their sex were changed; for while the girl displayed a vigorous mastery over her mind, the man wept. The first emotions over, a new and delightful set of feelings stole over Jane Lamb-quity, to the origin of which no clue is yet known. ton; she was at length near him to whom her heart was knit-she was able to help him, and this ability she had earned by her own unaided exertions. But, more than all, it was manifest that he still loved her; for his proud, hitherto unyielding spirit, did not refuse the proffered assistance. Still he accepted it under a solemn promise, which he made to himself, never to need assistance again if his own exertions could prevent that necessity. Flandin and Coste, lately engaged in drawing the ruins of Persepolis, have started to examine those of Nineveh, said to be recently discovered by Botta. The site of the ancient capital of Assyria was known to be near Moussoul, on the Tigris, and called Nino. Botta has therefore only found the ruins, not the place, and having bought them for a few thousand francs, it will soon be known how much remains of the great city, which, according to Strabo, was three days' journey in circuit. Eugene Boré-it will be seen that the French are great travellers-is now in Persia; while Tchihatcheff, late of the Russian expedition to Khiva, has announced his travels in Altaï. Barnton has kept his word. As soon as his recovery was complete, he separated himself once more from Jane Lambton. She returned to Worcester, while he sought employment in London with untiring perseverance, and at length gained it-condescending to commence as clerk to a merchant at a very small salary, out of which he contrived during six months to save money. Recently, the firm which had so long employed Jane required the services of such a person as Barnton, and having obtained the most satisfactory testimonials, he was engaged. Meantime Jane, devoting herself entirely to her easel, had given up China painting, and her next picture established that reputation as an artist which who, from official situation, enjoys considerable advantages for the she now enjoys. In the present year's catalogue, how In Africa, despite the terrors of the climate, much has been done, though many have perished, victims to their zeal. A Norwegian, Mensen-Ernst, on his way to discover the sources of the White Nile, died in Upper Egypt, where he was buried near the first cataract. Nestor Lhôte, a learned Frenchman, died also in the *This article has been prepared for our pages by a gentleman purpose. silver pair of pincers, exactly similar to those so often found in bronze in Scandinavian tumuli, has been discovered in Bahia by Kroyer, a Danish naturalist; arrows collected in California are the same as those used by the Greenlanders, undoubted Scandinavians; and three Peruvian vases lately dug up are no other than Etruscans. A vast amount of attention has been excited amid the learned by these curious facts. same country. A crocoane devoured Dr Petit in the river above-mentioned, which proved also fatal, a short time afterwards, to a Mr Lloyd. Still, others advance in their footsteps; and one Prisse, in April, pushed up the country to visit the ruins of Carnac, ere they were quite destroyed by the workmen of Mohammed Ali. Meanwhile, a Prussian scientific commission, under Lepsius, was exploring a portion of the same country, discovering and describing a hundred and six tombs near the pyramid of Gizeh. Despite its terrors, in how many points has Africa been assaulted by the enterprise of Europeans? - through Egypt and Algiers, Senegal and the Niger, the Cape and Port Natal, and Abyssinia. While Lieutenant Christopher has dis-d'Artois, the Baron Thierry yet received an English covered a river of great depth and width, bordered by a most interesting people, while Harris has penetrated to the Christian kingdom of Shoa, Rochet d'Hericourt travels in Abyssinia, strengthening the commercial relations of France in that quarter. It is stated in his recent letters, dated Ankober, that he is about starting to visit Djingiro and Anaria, as well as the lake Aoussa, as he calls it, about fifty miles from the sea, and receiving the waters of the Aouache. To cross Africa is the ultimate object of the French government agent. Abadie, Combes, Tamisier, and the late Dr Petit-whose materials on the Azoubo-Gallas are deeply interesting have penetrated also into these regions. Thibaud and Arnaud, in Nubia and the Bahr-el-Abrad, are seeking the sources of the White Nile; as well as Mr Bailey, an English traveller, who is penetrating in the direction indicated by the natives-that is, about Bakka-Kalla. | Captain Jehenne and his subordinate, Parsama, are exploring the coast of Socotra and the north-east of Africa. Berbera, or Beurbura, presents the singular aspect of a town without any government. The Somalis, who inhabit it, are fine well-made men, darker than the Arabs, with regular features, large eyes, and an intelligent expression. Tadjoura will, it is said, be constituted a British port for trading with Abyssinia. In Algiers, the French government is carrying on extensive geographical surveys, which from time to time are given to the public. Oceana, or the South Seas, is rife in voyages. Baron Thierry, at the Bay of Islands, leading a miserable life, is a curious feature in colonisation. His history is strange. Born during the political emigration, of French parents, held at the baptismal font by the Count education. Wishing to colonise New Zealand, where he had purchased some million of acres, he essayed to obtain the support of the British government, failing which he sought that of France. Losing his means in a speculation, one fine morning he found himself in the West Indies, whence he crossed over to Panama, tried to colonise the Musquito shore, and failing, sailed for the Marquesas. Here he obtained, by way of pastime, a sovereignty over Nouka-Hiva, and then started for Tahiti, whence he visited New Zealand, where his unfortunate attempt was an utter failure. Here he learned that France had seized the Marquesas. Recollecting that he was king of Nouka, he was indignant; but not possessing the means of warring with France, he sold his sovereignty to a Belgian, and Thierry I. abdicated in favour of a good citizen of Brussels. It appears that Borneo is likely to become a colony of Great Britain. Mr Brooks, whose residence in that country has brought it into prominent notice, has already obtained a cession of the territory of Sarawak, sixty miles long and fifty wide, admirably fertile, and producing almost every conceivable vegetable and plant. The return of Ross is an event of great importance in a geographical point of view, and doubtless, when the details are fully known, will prove of deep interest. Such are the principal features in geographical progress for the year 1843, which, it must be seen, are of great importance. POPULAR FRENCH SONGS. NO. IV. JEAN DE NIVELLE. 'Like Jean de Nivelle's dog, he runs away when you call to him.' LIKE a great many popular ditties, the rhymes with the above title keep their currency amongst the populace of France, less on account of intrinsic merit, than from their being wedded to a pretty tune, which it is always deemed a sort of profanation to set to other than the original words. It would appear that, when in 1695 the French overran Belgium, they brought the melody away amongst other spoils, and transported it to Paris, where it at once became popular. Our translation is derived from a broadside ballad printed at Namur in 1680, and which is now very rare. In America, which, since the publicity given to its ruined cities, has become doubly interesting, much has been done. Major Poussin has visited the United States, and an elaborate work is promised. California, of which Forbes's history is the only satisfactory account-French Proverb. ever yet published, has just been explored most fully by Duflos de Mofras; and his account of his labours on a country which promises so wide a field of emigration, is looked forward to with much interest. Farnham's Travels in California are announced, and, if we may judge from his previous delightful work, will be valuable. Gay's researches in Peru and Chili will unfold much that is mysterious in these celebrated countries: on the kingdom and town of Cuzco in particular, it is said that Mr Gay will give extensive information. De Castelnau, after exploring Florida, has started to mount the Amazon river, and cross the cordillera of the Andes. This is a magnificent field for geographical research. Since Francis Orellana, in 1539, who first spoke of a republic of Amazons; since Pedro de Ursoa, who sought in 1560 the famous lake of gold and town of El Dorado, this part of the country has been little visited: Raleigh, Pedro Texeira, in 1638; Fathers Acuna and Artieda, Father Fritz, Condamine, in 1743; Messrs Smith, and Man, and Humboldt, make up, we believe, the entire list. De Castelnau, therefore, has a fine and little-explored field; and in proportion as his task is immense, and fraught with difficulty and danger, in proportion will be the reward. Accident appears to have recently aided very much the cause of science. While Humboldt, by means of his vast erudition, is seeking to prove that America was known to Europeans before the time of Columbus, one Nathaniel Schoolcraft, agent of the United States government at Michillimackinac, has found in the valley of the Ohio a stone bearing an inscription composed of twenty-four Runic figures; a JEAN DE NIVELLE. A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! Three blades of a terrible brand, A fine fellow is John of Nivelle !* *The exigencies of English rhythm and rhyme force us to take some freedoms with this stanza. The verse stands thus in the original : Jean de Nivelle a trois marteaux, Jean de Nivelle has three halls, A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! Jean de Nivelle is oft seen In three coats-one yellow, one green, The third thin, like paper, and white, Which he wears when it freezes at night. We know very well, A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! Jean de Nivelle has three steeds; One in front, one behind. When he speeds, A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! Jean de Nivelle has one dog, We know very well, A fine fellow is John of Nivelle! And now, who is this Jean de Nivelle, whom his dog has made so proverbially celebrated? To answer this, we must collect the sage ideas of the curious in old proverbs. Bruzen de la Martinière partially solves the riddle. Jean de Nivelle,' he remarks, of whom so much is said, is nothing more than an iron figure which stands straight on his legs on the top of a tower beside the clock of Nivelle* on the Grand Place. This metal statue strikes the hours with his hammer.' But this explains nothing about the dog; and we shall get no nearer to the solution even if we cite M. Dewez's Geographical Dictionary, which says, 'Jean de Nivelle, who has made such a noise in the world, is simply a bronze effigy placed outside the tower of the college, who strikes, not the hours, as others have stated, but the half hours, with his hammer on the great clock.' Further research, however, informs us that this figure is a monument to which has been attached the name of a historical personage who bestowed the collegiate church of St Gertrude on the town of Nivelle; whether correctly or not, remains to be proved. John II., of the Montmorency family, espoused Jane de Fosseux, a lady of Nivelle. One of the sons proceeding from this marriage was called Jean de Nivelle. John the second became a widower, made a second marriage with Marguerite d'Orgemont, and followed the fortunes of Louis XI.; whilst his son, John de Nivelle, enrolled himself under the banner of Charles the Bold, who secured him possession of the estates to which he was born. His father, incited by the French king, and by Marguerite d'Orgemont, summoned him three times by three sergeants and heralds at arms, to hasten and join his father's soldiers, and to fight for the king of France, the legitimate sovereign of the Montmorencies. But Jean de Nivelle, who had secret warning that it was intended to cast him into a solitary tower, flew from his father's emissaries. He was consequently disinherited, and designated by his father a dog,' which gave rise to the national proverb, He is like a dog, or that * Nivelle, or Nivelles, is a small town in the province of Brabant, famous for its manufacture of fine linen. dog Jean de Nivelle, who runs away when he is called.' He afterwards settled in Belgium, where Charles the Bold heaped fortune and honours upon him; having married Gudule Vilain, of Ghent, lady of Liedekerke, and was the grandfather of Phillip of Montmorency, Count of Horn, who was beheaded at Brussels in 1568.-Another account says that John of Nivelle was one of the most powerful Belgian nobles, who called himself also John of Montmorency. Having a character naturally turbulent, he did not check the violence of his temper even towards his father, and in a domestic quarrel actually struck him. Though cited for this unfilial act before the court of parliament, he refused to appear. In vain was he summoned, according to custom, by the sound of trumpet at all the cross-roads of Paris: the more they summoned him, the faster he flew to the coast of Flanders; and the populace, who are never at a loss for quaint expressions to apply to individuals whom they favour or despise, called him the dog Jean de Nivelle, who runs away when he is called!'-an expression which has passed into a proverb. There is a third version of the story of the iron figure of Nivelle, which is far more probable than either of the above: Bouchard V., sire of Montmorency, who often visited Belgium, was in 1156 at Nivelle, and paid his respects to the abbess of St Gertrude, she being the lady of the manor. The noble and reverend lady received him while surrounded by her canonesses. With one of these nuns Bouchard fell in love, and the after-consequence was the birth of a son, who was named Jean de Nivelle. He grew up a fine man, and good cavalier, and gained honour at several tournaments. At the court of the good Duke Godefroid-le-Courageux he won the heart of a young and noble damsel, with whom he eloped towards a small estate his father had given him near Nivelle. Hastening joyously along on his palfrey with the lady behind him, and followed by a faithful greyhound, he encountered a richly-caparisoned and noble knight, who, on observing the youth and beauty of his companion, barred his further progress, and disputed the lovely prize with him. Though Jean had not the smallest dread of breaking a lance with the stranger, he proposed, in place of fighting, that the question should be left to the decision of the lady, who should be free to choose whichever of the claimants for her hand she had the greater fancy for. The stranger knight consented; and-alas for poor Jean!-to his great surprise and mortification the fickle damsel left him, to go with the grand cavalier. Jean sorrowfully continued his route, having nothing to comfort him but his dog. But soon after, the damsel, who loved the hound because he was pretty and faithful, told her new lover that he must obtain it for her. The cavalier returned, overtook the disconsolate lover, and demanded his dog. Let us,' said Jean as calmly as he could, adopt the same expedient upon this animal as settled our dispute about the lady. Call the dog to you, and if he follow, he is yours.' The knight declared that Jean had spoken wisely; but when he called the gentle greyhound, it did not follow the example of the false lady. On the contrary, the more the cavalier called it, the more quickly it flew towards its master, who was thus allowed to keep it. This is perhaps a truer, certainly a prettier, explanation of the proverb than either of the former. LONDON CHIT-CHAT. MAY, 1844. THE season,' as it is called, has commenced. The town is full, the streets at the west end are crowded with carriages, public amusements abound, and the weather, though labouring under the influence of an east wind, is dry, sunny, and pleasant. Since arriving in the Great Metropolis, I have sauntered a good deal about both in the interior and environs, and in different quarters have observed tokens of extension and improvement. Where will this vast aggregation of brick houses terminate? At Camden-town--no longer an isolated suburb---on the north, I noticed the other day whole lines of streets, crescents, and places day evening, I observed every gin and beer-shop crowded rising into habitable existence; and the same thing is seen with customers. Surely, thought I, society has not done in the space between Kensington and Brompton, which is wisely in presenting no other scene of attraction to these rapidly filling up with squares and streets, some of them revellers. Apropos of metropolitan intemperance, a return more than usually handsome. In a new and partially- has lately been made to the House of Commons on the formed square in this quarter I had the curiosity to ask subject, from which a few facts may be gleaned. In 1831 the annual rent of a house, and learned it was L.110--the the total number of persons taken into custody for drunkaccommodations not being better than those of a sixty-enness by the metropolitan police was 31,352, and in 1832 pound house in Edinburgh. In the new buildings, generally, it was 32,636. From this number it has gradually declined, there is a sensible improvement. Domestic architecture is notwithstanding the increase of population, and a great advancing in elegance; a taste is displayed in the windows, extension of the police bounds, to no more than 10,890 in doorways, and elevations, which one does not see in the 1843. The proportion of male and female cases has rebald house-architecture of fifty years ago-a circumstance mained much the same. From 19,748 males, the number doubtless ascribable to the free general discussion now-a- has declined to 6752; and from 11,605 females, the days of all matters in which the fine arts are concerned. number has declined to 4138. So far, there appears to be What is somewhat curious, while taste in building pri- a distinct decrease of gross intemperance; but from a vate mansions is on the advance, taste in public edifices, corresponding report on disorderly conduct, one would be of nearly all kinds, is still about as poor as it was in the led to infer that there is, on the whole, not any great imdark age of the reign of George III. The only way one can provement in the general habits of the lower classes of account for this anomaly, is by supposing that in most in- London. In 1831 the total number of persons taken into stances public structures, abandoned to the management custody for disorderly conduct was 10,383. In 1834 it was of ill-selected committees, are either jobbed or neglected. 11,660; from which it increased to 14,855 in 1843. Perhaps The only great building of the day which is felt to be en- in this, as in many similar returns, an allowance should be tirely satisfactory is the grand Gothic edifice in the course made for increased vigilance in the police: what is now of being erected for the accommodation of the houses of considered disorderly conduct, may at one time have been parliament. It is now getting into shape, but years will passed over as harmless pleasantry. The want of explastill be required to finish it. The new Royal Exchange is nation on such points renders returns of delinquency of in some respects a fine building, and occupies a good situa- much less value than they might otherwise be. tion, considerably improved by the removal of old houses in its neighbourhood; yet it is singularly defective in grandeur. The front, a pediment with Corinthian columns, wants bulk and height. Timidly conceived, it sinks beneath the adjacent buildings, which it ought, on the contrary, to have risen against and overshadowed. The other day I went with some ladies to the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, to see what is at present spoken of as the chief curiosity among the sights of London, an American dwarf, usually known as General Tom Thumb. We were all much amused with the exhibition of this little creature, whose smallness exceeded our expectation. On entering the hall, we found it occupied by a concourse of ladies and gentlemen engaged in observing the antics of the dwarf, who was merrily trotting up and down a large table, carpetted, and surrounded by a railing to prevent his falling off. On the table were also a chair, table, and sofa of miniature dimensions, suitable to the size of the little fellow; and at one end was a tiny scaffold, with a stair, covered with red cloth, which he occasionally climbed, to be more conspicuously observable. One could not but feel interested in such a singular spectacle, yet the interest was mingled with a degree of pity. We had before us a human figure, dressed as a fashionable gentleman, in coat, trousers, Wellington boots, waistcoat, and cravat, and yet not more than twenty-five inches in height. The face was quite infantine, and so also were the movements and speech of the dwarf. An exhibitor, whom we could not mistake for anything but an American, kept him in conversation, and led him to show off a few of his pranks. One of these was selling a history of himself for sixpence, the ladies pressing forward to buy copies, and each receiving a kiss on being handed the book. Of course one was purchased by a lady of our party, and from this I extract the following particulars. A few days ago Trafalgar Square was laid open to the public. This space of ground, which, as long as I remember, has been surrounded with boards---a favourite field for all sorts of bill-sticking operations--has been at length united with the common thoroughfares around it. Situated in front of the National Gallery, and behind Charing Cross, at what may be called a great centering point, the square promises to be one of the finest things in the metropolisa kind of Place de Concorde---with monuments and fountains as its principal ornaments. The ground being excavated to bring it to a level, the area is necessarily below the street on the north, and on this side it is bounded by a granite wall and parapet, and is reached by flights of steps. On the west and east it has also bounding walls, and it is entirely open only on the south. Unlike as this inequality makes it to the places of continental cities, the lowering towards the north is perhaps an advantage, for it gives the effect of a little more height to the National Gallery, for which everybody is exceedingly thankful. Within the open area are two ponds, enclosed by raised walls of granite, uniform with the environing walls of the square, and these patches of water are farther, as I understand, to be decorated with jets d'eauthe liquid furnished by Artesian wells now in preparation. Charles S. Stratton, the true name of the little hero, was At the north-east angle, and therefore at a prominent born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States, January point of the square, is placed Chantrey's equestrian statue 11, 1832, and is now consequently upwards of twelve years of George IV. A pedestal for a similar statue at the north- of age. His parents are people of the common size, with west angle is still vacant. The great object of the square, nothing at all remarkable in their physical or mental orhowever, is the column placed in the middle, almost to ganisation. At his birth, the general, as he is usually the interruption of the passengers on the trottoir from the called, weighed 9 lbs. 2 oz., which is rather greater than Strand to Pall-Mall. This handsome pillar is surmounted the average weight of children at their birth. There were by a bronze statue of Lord Nelson, which has been a no extraordinary circumstances attending his advent, or mark for much amusing criticism. The cocked hat is cer- preceding it, and he was considered a very handsome, tainly grotesque, though how to get rid of it, and yet pre-hearty, and promising boy. Nothing remarkable was serve the character of the admiral in his full dress, is a noticed respecting him until he was about five months old, difficulty which I cannot pretend to solve. I am inclined when he weighed 15 lbs., about which time his parents and to think that the cocked hat might pass muster, and that their neighbours began to remark that he did not continue the great defect of the exhibition is an ugly coil of thick to grow. Still, there were no indications of disease; and rope which the figure almost seems to sit upon. Here I expecting that he would soon take a start, his parents think the artist has been singularly unfortunate, and I thought little of the matter. Time passed on, and the would hope that this ungainly object might yet be in some general became remarkably strong, playful, active, intelliway modified. gent, and handsome-increasing in vigour and the manliness of his proportions, but not increasing one inch in height, or one ounce in weight. It is proper to state, that he has always enjoyed a good appetite, partaking freely of the ordinary dishes found upon the tables of the labouring classes, has sound refreshing sleep, and has always been in the most perfect health, with the exception of those slight colds, &c. to which the best-regulated constitutions are liable. Since his birth, his parents have had two other children, who are now well-grown and interesting girls of Let us So much for the physique of Trafalgar Square, now for its morale. Trifling as is the accession to the open grounds of London, the laying open of what is but a small patch of ground indicates a progress in the right direction. hope and trust that open-air loitering spots will elsewhere be set apart within the densely-crowded compass of the metropolis-something to attract idlers from the public house. Much requires to be done for this purpose. In a walk along Holborn and through St Giles last Sun |
