shone around was extinguished, and nought remained but the dim light in his own hand. He would not be turned back, however, but hurried only the more quickly forward till he reached a door at the opposite side. It was bolted within, but not locked; and pulling back the iron bar from the staple, he rushed out, the strong gust of the night air and the pattering drops of rain instantly extinguishing the lamp. A shrill scream met his ear as the door swung to behind him; but, nevertheless, he paused, and put his hand to his brow, with sensations in his bosom which he had never felt before and which he was ashamed to feel. While he thus stood, a fierce flash of lightning blazed around, dazzling his eyes for a moment, but serving to show the exact point of the rocky hill which he had now reached, and a path winding on down the woody descent, narrow, rough, and stony, looking more as if it had been traced by some torrent pouring down the side of the slope, than by the foot of man: along it he turned his steps, guided by the trees and bushes, which rendered it impossible that he should miss his way till, nearly at the bottom of the hill, a faint light shone before him, from the window of what appeared a little chapel. The good priest is watching for me,' the young man said to himself, and hurrying on, he gained a small projecting point of rock, which stood out clear from among the trees, and when he had gained the summit, the young wanderer turned to gaze at the building he had just left. All was dark and gloomy; not a ray broke from window or loop-hole, excepting one spot, where a ray shone forth upon the night, high up in the sky, shining red and hazy through the tempestuous air, like some star of evil omen. But the youth heeded not that light; he knew well that it was the beacon on the highest pinnacle of the donjon, beside which, under the shelter of the watch tower's roof, the weary sentinel was striving to keep himself awake, perhaps in vain. The rest was all as obscure as the world beyond the tomb, and, satisfied that he had not been remarked, he hurried into the little hermitage, and lifted the latch."

The Education of the Middle Classes.-Its Defective System at Present, and the Means of Improving it; with some Remarks on the Comparative Merits of Classical, Mathematical, and Scientific Studies, Moral and Religious Training, Home Education, School Discipline, etc. By James Wharton, M.A., Member of the College of Preceptors. London: Hatchard and Son.

This valuable pamphlet, of which we give a full title, will receive full notice next month.

Notes of the Month.

CITY OF WESTMINSTER LITERARY

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

AND

Mr. J. Russell, the comedian (formerly of Covent Garden and Drury Lane), has gratified the members of this Institution with two admirable Shaksperian readings. The first play selected was the Merchant of Venice; and the crafty malignity of Shylock and the humour of Gratiano, the waggish foolery of Launcelot Gobbos and the sweet maidenly dignity of Portia, were delineated with the skill of an artist and the just perception of a man of clear insight into character. On the succeeding Thursday evening, Mr. Russell read the tragedy of Othello. Here he was equally apt in his nice discrimination of the great elements of the play. The insidious but rapid wreck made of the peace of the noble Moor, his jealousy alike of his own honour and his wife's fair fame, the terrific climax of his anger, and the fatal act of vengeance and despair which ends his ill-fated love, were touched, so to speak, with the hand of a master. Jago, too, was just the blunt, jovial, soldierly fellow to make villainy pass current with such a noble nature as the Moor's. The room was well filled on the

occasion.

MR. PERCY B. ST. JOHN'S LECTURES ON

LIFE IN AMERICA AND COMMERCE OF
PRAIRIES, in Birmingham.

On Monday evening, MR. PERCY B. ST. JOHN delivered, to the members of the Polytechnic Institution, an extra lecture on 'Life in America." Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the theatre of the Philosophical Institution was filled with a respectable audience. The lecture was devoted to a description of the manners of the people of the United States, and to the advantages and evils of their constitution and government. The various topics were treated with shrewdness and judgment, and the lecture, which argued close and extensive observation, was enlivened by some amusing anecdotes, told with great hu

-Midland Counties Herald, Feb. 11.

mour.

On Tuesday evening (continues the same journal), Mr. PERCY B. ST. JOHN delivered the last of his course of lectures, "On Mexico, Texas, &c." The attendance was the largest on any occasion during the course. The first topic illustrated was the commerce of the prairies, the lecturer describing with his customary effectiveness the journey of a caravan of traders from St. Louis, across the prairie, to Santa Fé, in New Mexico. The goods taken on this journey were, he observed, principally calicoes, cloths, and hardware, the greatest portion of which was the produce of this country; and he thought that it would

be much better if Britain would conduct the trade in a more direct way. The goods could be taken direct to Texas in British ships, and then carried across the country to Santa Fé, which was a short and easy route, compared with the four months' journey from New York, by way of St. Louis and the Great Prairie. The only obstacle would be the tariff on the importation of goods into Texas, now part of the American Union, and he hoped that would not be heavy. He then passed on to describe the crossing of the Rocky Mountains, and the life of the trapper in the more northerly regions, where the elk and the beaver are the objects of pursuit. He expressed a deep regret that the conduct of civilised nations towards the Indian had been so little governed by the principles of Chistianity, and that the red man had always been considered by the white man as "in the way." The United States, he remarked, had often passed acts guaranteeing "permanent" possession of lands to the Indians; but the law was always violated, when the white man found it for his interest to do so. He feared that the time was not far distant when the red man, along with the beaver and the buffalo, would disappear from North America. It was, he considered, in the power of Britain, by remonstrance, to secure for the red race better treatment; if she herself always treated the aborigines rightly, the example would soon tell upon the American people. He earnestly hoped that it would be so; for he loved the Indian character: it was Cooper's masterly delineation which had led him (Mr. St. John) to America, and all he had seen had only tended to increase the interest which he felt in the red race. The lecturer concluded by thanking his audience for his exceedingly gratifying reception in Birmingham, and expressing, amid loud applause, his hope to meet them on some future occasion..... Mr. Evans, the secretary of the Institution, said he was sure, from the manner in which the concluding words of the lecturer had been received, that the audience would be glad to hear that there was a probability that Mr. St. John would, on a future occasion, deliver another course of lectures to them.

THE BIRMINGHAM MERCANTILE AND LIFERARY INSTITUTE Was established in the autumn of the past year, and is in connection with the earlyclosing associations, its members being composed entirely of young men who are working to obtain emancipation from the long hours of business lately so general in shops, warehouses, and counting-houses. The success it has met with is highly satisfactory, considering the many and great difficulties its promoters have had to con

tend with: it is at present connected with the Polytechnic Institution, the committee of that instititution having acted in the most liberal manner, by admitting its members at a considerable reduction from their ordinary subscription, in consideration of a guarantee of 200 tickets, yearly, from the committee of the Mercantile and Literary Institute. It is the intention of that body to establish a society on the principle of the Whittington Club and Manchester Athenæum, so soon as arrangements can be made to carry out the plan. The secretary, Mr. William Potter, will supply all further information.

PERSIAN PAINTING.

Mr. I. R. King has lately executed some most charming productions, in this novel and agreeable art, which is gradually becoming more and more popular among the aristocracy and middle classes. Ingenious, easy of acquirement, we recommend it to all. The new subjects are Chartres Cathedral, Hôtel de Ville de Louvain, Interior of Milan Cathedral, besides heads, flowers, and other subjects too numerous to enumerate.

Colossal Candelabrum in Crystal CUT GLASS, FOR H.R.H. IBRAHIM PACHA. This splendid and unique specimen of British industrial art, one of a pair, has just been completed by Messrs. Follet and Clarkson Osler, at whose factory, in Birmingham, the two candelabra were ordered by Ibrahim Pacha, on his visit to that town. The Pacha gave a general commission, and necessarily left great scope to the design and skill of the manufacturer, both of which have been eminently displayed by Mr. Osler in this truly gorgeous and oriental piece of magnificence. It is gratifying to think that in the palace of the luxurious Prince for whom it is destined, England will present a trophy of its manufacturing and artistic genius, to which, we venture to say, no work in glass has approached since the discovery of the Phoenicians, and which will be a striking and peculiar object of interest, even amid the "magnificence" of "great Alcairo." It is impossible to render justice to the beauty of this work by any description; adequately to appreciate the effect of the brilliancy of the material, the prismatic changes of the tapering column, and the combined result of the admirably adjusted proportion of the candelabrum, requires ocular inspection. And even in the establishment of Messrs Osler, 44, Oxford. street, where it is now on private view, the gratified spectator must still trust to his imagination; he must suppose himself in the divan of the Pacha, brilliantly illuminated, where the other lights may play

upon the column, and call into being all the variously changing hues of a cylinder of prisms, twelve feet in height. The column, as we have just said, is of that height to the top of the glass leaf dish, from which two rows of branches or arms rise, sixteen in number in the lower, and eight in the upper, each provided with a ball shade, and decorated with a prismatic star. This dish is also ornamented with six pendants, each two feet in length. The total height of the candelabrum is seventeen feet, and weighs upwards of 2,000lbs. The column itself is composed of three cylinders of cut-glass prisms. The lower cylinder is nearly three feet in length, and weighed 192lbs., previous to the process of grinding, etc. The ornamental glass base, which rests on the hexagonal metal plinth, is 34 inches in diameter, and weighs 155 lbs. Such are the colossal dimensions of this surprising specimen of art, in which equal ingenuity has been displayed in preserving proportional strength and beauty in the tapering column, and taste in the ornamental accompaniments with which its base and capital are graced. We repeat that is an honour to the country; it is, as our contemporary (Art Union for January) says, "one entire and perfect crysolite."

LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OF ENGLISH TOWNS.-No I. Birmingham.

We have not been able to give the first of this series of articles as yet, because we are yet deficient in much of the necessary information. We hope our friends in Birmingham and elsewhere will give us the data to go upon, as rapidly as possible. All documents will be gladly acknowledged.

MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. The members of this society held their annual meeting yesterday, at the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry. The chair was taken by Richard Godson, Esq., M.P., when Mr. Hardy, the actuary, read a very gratifying report, which stated that during the past year, 159 proposals for assurance had been received, amounting to about 130,000l. The total number of policies issued was 1,224, and those existing to the 31st of December was 984; representing an amount of 688,3887. 15s. The annual income of the society for assurance premiums alone was 23,5147. 11s. 11d. The capital of the society was 105,1287., or nearly one sixth of the sums assured. The directors declared there to be a clear divisible surplus of 59,6651. Os. 3d., equivalent

to 7s. 8d. in every 17. sterling contributed to the society. This had enabled the directors to augment the addition to the policies very considerably, and proved how productive the money became that was laid out on life assurance. Thanks having been voted to the directors, to Mr. Hardy, the actuary, and also to the chairman, the meeting adjourned.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

This theatre opened for the season on Tuesday night, upon most auspicious cir

cumstances. The house was crowded with a most brilliant and fashionable audience. Donizetti's "La Favorita" was the opera selected. The spirited libretto, the dramatic character of the music, and the charming morceaux which are interspersed here and there through this opera, are im- ́ portant elements of success; but, nevertheless, it is yet more to the admirable manner in which it is performed here, and in which it is mounted at this theatre, which will give it the popularity is seems destined to enjoy.

The most important event of the evening was the debut of Gardoni, the new tenor. He is very young, and gifted with a voice delightfully sweet, pure, and flexible; his style is excellent; he has a pure taste, and his action is alternately pathetic and energetic, and besides this, one of his greatest charms is that air of youth and tators that he is actually moved by the ingenuousness which persuades the specfeelings he expresses. All these qualities render Gardoni a delightful singer, and one who, no doubt, will become a great favourite.

Superchi, the new baritone, is a decidedly valuable addition to this establishment. He possesses a fine full voice, much taste and expression, and an excellent style. He sang the aria, "Pour tant d'amour," with a taste and feeling which procured it a rapturous and most well-deserved encore. He was warmly applauded throughout, and experienced a most favourable reception. Bouché, the new basso, has a fine, fulltoned voice, of a peculiar and uncommon quality, and bids fair likewise to become a favourite.

One of the things which struck us most forcibly, at the performance of "La Favorita," was the wonderful improvement of Sanchiolo. She has more self-command, more repose; and her voice appears now under perfect control. Her acting has none of those extravagant gestures, none of that excess of energy, which deteriorated so greatly from its effect; and yet she has moments of passion and fire, in which she awakens an answering chord of sym

pathy in the breast of all her listeners. She was admirable throughout, but in the last scene especially so; she gave the Pregheira with a deep and quiet pathos, and a delicacy of tone, which astonished all who heard it; while, in the subsequent duet with Gardoni, her well-remembered brilliant notes came forth with an aplomb and effect that called forth the loudest applause. We must observe, en passant, that this duet is one of the gems of the opera; and in the death scene, which concludes it, Sanchioli was truly touching.

The ballet presented us with two new danseuses and two new dancers. Mdlle. Rosati's movements are most graceful, her pantomime vivacious and impassioned. Mdlle. Taglioni, as a dancer, is light, acute, graceful, and, at the same time, possesses remarkable power of muscle. Both M. Paul Taglioni and M. D'Or are dancers of considerable merit, and were much applauded. We must not omit to notice the last scene of the ballet, as a display of the scene painter's art, and one of the triumphs of the composition. We have seldom seen anything more charming than the Naiads' dance. All is exquisitely painted and contrived, and it was impossible not to be struck by the extraordinary perfection to which, in these days, the ballet has been brought.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION; THE LATE ADDITIONS.

We have had before occasion to notice this very interesting exhibition. Since that time several figures have been added; among them we may mention Lord Hardinge and Lord Gough, James I, Henry VII, and Mr. Macready in the character of Coriolanus. With the two first, there are all the associations which military gallantry can call forth. The heroes of Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon, deserve a position among England's warriors, as brave men, though not as statesmen, and perhaps not as generals. But this is not the place on which to enter into a critical examination of their conduct. When we look at them in the exhibition, we regard them only as the heroes who fought and overthrew the Sikhs, the most powerful enemies with which the English have had to contend for many years. All who are conversant with late events in those parts, cannot fail admiring the dauntless gallantry displayed, and we are almost tempted to forget that it was mainly through the careless indifference, we might almost say, recklessness, of Lord Hardinge, that caused the fearful slaughter of our countrymen at Moodkee and Ferozeshah. We refer to his refusal to advance troops,

although urged by Major Broadfoot, the political agent, and afterwards, it is said, by Lord Gough. Henry VII-the wily politician and conqueror of Richard III. But of all the dresses that attract attention, we think that of James I the most remarkable. Were we not struck by the curious costume, we should be by the beauty of the materials. The proprietors deserve the highest credit for the liberal manner in which they conduct their affairs, for, regardless of expense, they purchase every article required, even at the most exorbitant prices. The public, it would appear from the assemblage when we visited the exhibition, are not at all disposed to neglect their old favourite, but throng the magnificent room in great numbers, and, whatever may be their class of life, conduct themselves in a most praiseworthy manner. The Coriolanus of Macready is well done, and the hundreds who have admired him on the stage will no doubt flock here in order to view him more closely. The costume is extremely well done. Mr. Macready is a great actor, there cannot be a doubt, and although many prefer that splendid reader, Vandenhoff, still the former preserves a high place in the theatrical world. The stage is rapidly declining, and, until some powerful actors arise, it will fall, and should such men as even Kemble, or Kean, or Garrick, appear again, it would merely retard the rapid decay of theatrical prosperity, for the day in which they were of use is gone by. Before closing this notice, we will take the opportuniiy of pointing out the few faults that may be remedied in this otherwise excellently conducted exhibition. The first is, perhaps, the least, we mean as regards refreshments: that department is not well conducted. More space should be given, as at present it is very inconvenient for those that desire refreshments, and we know that many refuse to partake of them in consequence. The next is, the placing such men as Ox. ford and Francis among a gang of murderers. Persons who play the fool, for which they deserve punishment, are not diabolical ruffians or arch-traitors. Those stupid fellows had no more intention of shooting the Queen than they had of getting rid of themselves. We should, therefore, strongly recommend the proprietors to remove them from such company, for, if they remain there much longer, it will have the effect of corrupting their morals. Those of our readers who have not as yet paid a visit to this exhibition, we would recommend to do so; we ourselves, although well acquainted with it for years, have not tired of it, yet, on the contrary, we feel the greatest interest in examining every new figure added.

BOOK THE SECOND.

CHAPTER IV.

THE EVENING PARTY.

The longest day has a close, and even a bill of costs may have an end to it; so at length the weary hours brought round the eventful evening of Miss Cornelia Pointer's party. Many and varied had been the emotions which had filled the breast of the maid, previous to the arrival of the portentous minute when early visitorsthose who made a point of never missing their tea-might be expected, and when, supported by her two best girls, Betsy and Jane, she stood by the window in all the majesty of white muslin, round and rosy bare arms, and no less ruddy cheeks, awaiting the arrival of her friends.

Miss Pointer was only a milliner and dressmaker, but she didn't look it; between ourselves, we doubt if any of her most aristocratic customers, coroneted or uncoroneted, would have presented a more graceful and elegant appearance than did Miss Cornelia. Cornelia made flounces and furbelows, but there was no less heart for that. She was a good girl too, and none the worse because her little flattering monitor told her that all this expense and display had been gone to, to dazzle the eye and win the truant affections of our friend and hero, Mr. Frederick Wilson. It was half-past five o'clock, and Miss

*Continued from page 159,

NO. 1365.

Pointer closed the shutters, and extravagantly lit six candles, thus bringing into full relief the whole of the preparations which she had made to do honour to the occasion.

A handsome piano formed the most prominent object in the room, round which were ranged the chairs in good fashion fo the premeditated polka and quadrille, while in one corner were all the paraphernalia of an extensive supply of tea, coffee, and other good things, with which to satiate the vicious propensity to consume the productions of the earth, with which as a people we are preeminently gifted. But room, said we.

Miss Pointer had two thrown into one, so that there was ample accommodation, not only for the dancers, but for those more reverend, grave, and solemn seniors, who indulged in the mazes of whist and cribbage, while the younger tripped it on the light fantastic toe, or rather toe and heel, if we are literal.