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that which endowed his heart with holy sensibilities and appointed him to loftier musings than the things of time and sense can supply.

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Though continually thrust down by sedulous preoccupation of the mind, there must be latent belief that the fashion of the things which absorb it passeth away, Struggling upwards and asserting a right to fix its regards, otherwise the poems of Herbert would long since have been consigned by tacit consent to the oblivion which awaits all reveries too idle and unreal to engage our sympathies; nor could any display of the early untutored vigour of a newly awakened language have redeemed them from this fate. As it is, very many are content he should remind them of what they would willingly forget, so that he delight them by the happiness of his fancy, the tenderness of his sentiments. and a certain forcible but odd propriety of phrase peculiar to himself, unless we join a kindred spirit, Quarles, the author of the Emblems, in this latter ascription.

But the principal design of these poems is to describe how the author's mind was from time to time affected by objects to which the majority of mankind are worse than indifferent; in short, they are simply the spiritual records of one who had vowed to keep his heart with all diligence, and intended little more than to trace and bewail its wanderings, and to show the goodness of God in the array of means which solicit or compel its return.

THE LATE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, ETC. OLD and New Palace-yard, with some of the buildings adjacent to Westminster-hall, are the site and remains of the Old Palace of the kings of England, erected by Edward the Confessor. The greater part of the Old Palace was consumed by a great fire in the reign of King Henry VIII., which occasioned the Court to remove to Whitehall, and to the ancient hospital of St. James: from that time the hospital becoming a royal residence, acquired the denomination of St. James's Palace.

The House of Lords was one of the chambers of the Old Palace of Westminster, and was used as the Court of Requests before it became assigned to the Peers in Parliament, as a place of sitting at the time of the union with Ireland.

St. Stephen's Chapel, the late House of Commons, is supposed to have been originally erected by King Stephen in honour of the proto-martyr St. Stephen, as a chapel to the Old Palace. This edifice seems to have been destroyed and re-edified by King

Edward I. In the Exchequer there is an account of the expense of this latter building, which commenced on the 28th of April, 1292, and occupied the workmen something more than two years: the carpenters were paid 5d. each per day, while the other workOn men received from 24d. to 34d. each. the 29th of March, 1298, St. Stephen's Chapel was burnt, together with the greater part of the palace. During the wars in which Edward I. was engaged, and which his son and successor, Edward II., continued, the chapel was not restored. But early in the reign of Edward III. a roll of expenses still existing, shows that the works for the new chapel of St. Stephen, within the palace of Westminster, began on the 27th of May, 1330. Eight years afterwards, by a royal charter, the chapel was appointed to be collegiate, with a dean, twelve secular canons, twelve vicars, and other ministers, to celebrate divine service for the king and his successors. These spiritual persons were endowed, by royal grant, with the king's great house in Lombard-street, London, the patronage and advowsons of Dewsbury and Wakefield, in Yorkshire, in perpetual alms towards their support; and with money from the Treasury, to make up together £500 yearly, until the king should provide for them other lands and revenues of that yearly value. This charter is dated August 6th, 1348, the same day as the foundation charter of St. George's College, Windsor. Master Richard, of Reading, had previously been paid £3. 6s. 8d. for forming two images of St. Edward and St John, for the front gable of the chapel. In 1350, Hugh of St. Alban's, master of the painters for the works within the chapel, was empowered by the king to take and choose as many painters and other workmen as he should find in Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, aud Sussex, for carrying on the works, and other persons were empowered by royal warrants to constrain the painters and workmen of other countries for the same purpose. On the 1st of January, 1353, Edward III. gave the collegiate body certain ground from the great hall to the Thames, whereon to build a cloister and houses necessary for the chapel. By the same grant they obtained several other houses thereabouts, with a right of way all day through the great hall, and an exemption from all taxes. Subsequently they had a grant of the advowson of the church of Birton, and a certain portion of tithes which had been severed from that parish church. The king likewise settled on them his Tower of Bucklersbury, in London, called Sewte's Tower, with his hospitium, or house called Le Reole, since called Tower Royal, in London, in part satisfaction of an annual issue the College had been wont to receive from the Exchequer. The same king, by his last will, vested certain manors, lands, &c., in John Duke of Lancaster, in trust, for the

further endowment of this college and other religious houses, which the trustees duly appropriated, until Sir Simon de Burley, constable of the Tower and chaplain to Richard II. persuaded that prince to dispossess them of this property and grant it to Burley and his heirs. Burley was afterwards attainted, and his possessions becoming forfeited to the crown, the king resettled the lands as before. For the use of this college Edward III. caused to be erected, westward from the Palace Court, in the Little Sanctuary, a strong clock-house, or bell-tower, of stone and timber, covered with lead, containing three great bells, which were afterwards usually rung at coronations, triumphs, and funerals of princes, and which gave such a huge sound, that it was commonly said they soured all the drink in the town. At first the canons and other officers inhabited the cloisters before-mentioned, but afterwards buildings were erected for them between the clock-house and the woolstaple, called the weigh-house. They had occasionally lodged in Canon-row; but, on vacating that place, it became chiefly the residence of noblemen and gentlemen, with good houses for their accommodation. The last dean, Dr. John Chamber, built, adjoining to the chapel, a cloister of curious workmanship, at an expense of 11,000 marks. On the suppression of religious houses, the college of St. Stephen was valued £1,085. 10s. 5d., and in the first year of Edward VI. it was surrendered to the crown. Soon afterwards, the House of Commons, which until then had usually assembled in the Chapter-house of Westminster Abbey, removed their sittings to St. Stephen's Chapel, which had been fitted up for their reception. From that time it became appropriated to their meetings, and received successive alterations and improvements, until its final destruction with the House of Lords by fire on Thursday Oct. 16th.

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We subjoin an Official Report of the damage occasioned by the fire :

"The following is the official report upon the damage done to the buildings, furniture, &c., of the two Houses of Parliament, the Speaker's official residence, the official residence of the clerk of the House of Commons, and to the Courts of Law at Westminster-hall, occasioned by the fire on the 16th day of October, 1834, as far as can at present be ascertained :

"House of Peers.-The House, Robingrooms, Committee-rooms in the west front, and the rooms of the resident officers, as far as the Octagon Tower at the south end of the building-totally destroyed.

"The Painted Chamberstroyed.

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"The north end of the Royal Gallery, abutting on the Painted Chamber, destroyed from the door leading into the Painted Chamber, as far as the first compartment of

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"The Library and the adjoining rooms, which are now undergoing alterations, as well as the Parliament offices and the offices of the Lord Great Chamberlain, together with the Committee rooms, housekeeper's apartments, &c., in this part of the building, are saved.

"House of Commons.—The house, libraries, committee-rooms, housekeeper's apartments, &c., are totally destroyed (excepting the committee-rooms Nos. 11, 12, 13, and 14, which are capable of being repaired.)—The official residence of Mr. Ley (Clerk of the House,)—this building is totally destroyed.— The official residence of the Speaker-The state dining-room under the House of Commons is much damaged, but capable of resteration. All the rooms from the oriel window to the south side of the House of Commons are destroyed.-The Levee rooms and other parts of the building, together with the public galleries, and part of the cloisters, very much damaged.

"The Courts of Law.-These buildings will require some restoration.

"Westminster Hall.-No damage has been done to this building.

"Furniture.-The furniture, fixtures, and fittings to both Houses of Lords and Commons, with the committee-rooms belonging thereto, is with few exceptions destroyed. The public furniture at the Speaker's is in great part destroyed.

"The Courts of Law.-The furniture generally of these buildings has sustained considerable damage.

"The strictest inquiry is in progress as to the cause of this calamity, but there is not the slightest reason to suppose that it has arisen from any other than accidental

causes.

"Office of Woods," Oct. 17th."

BELGRAVE LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC

INSTITUTION.

THE first half-yearly meeting of this institution was held on Monday evening last, the Earl of Munster in the Chair. It appeared from the report that the number of members is 220; that the library, which is daily increasing, already contains upwards of 1,500 volumes-a large portion of which had been presented by members of the insti tution, and are of a select and valuable character. The report made particular mention of a recent present of the "Yverdun Encyclopædia," 58 vols. 4to, from the Earl of Munster, and of a curious Oriental manuscript from Lord Byron. The list of lectures announced for the present season included the names of many individuals most eminent in science and literature;

ng these may be mentioned Drs. Grant, er, Birkbeck, Hope, Ritchie, and s. The evening meetings, held once a ight, were mentioned as one of the - pleasing and useful branches of the ution; and papers from various memand friends, on highly-interesting sub,were announced. The financial statet recorded various donations of money private members of the institution, also e subscription of 25 guineas from P. keth Fleetwood, Esq., M.P., and a ation of 10 guineas from the Rev. ry Blunt, A.M., Vice-Presidents of the tution. In general the statement of the unts of the institution was satisfactory

and encouraging. A plan for erecting a more commodious building for the purposes of the institution was alluded to in the report; and it was stated that, as soon as it was more matured in its details, it would be submitted to a general meeting of the members. The adoption of the report was moved by the Rev. Percival Frye, and seconded by C. W. Dilke, Esq., and carried unanimously. The Earl of Munster, after he had quitted the Chair, in reply to a vote of thanks most cordially given, expres. sed his warm interest in the welfare of the institution, and his conviction that it would meet with more distinguished patronage and more extended success.

TEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL at WALSALL, from Sept. 23, to Oct. 22, 1834, inclusive. The situation of Walsall is so near the Centre of England, that its Temperature may be taken as the Average of the whole Kingdom.—Latitude 52°, 34', 30′′ N Longitude 1o, 57', 0" W-Thermometer in the shade NW aspect.

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GLEANINGS.

Purification of Sea Water.-The experiment with the newly-invented apparatus of Mr. Wells, for purifying salt water on board of ships, and rendering it fit for the purpose of drinking, cooking, and washing, was repeated on board a vessel moored for the occasion alongside Carey's floating-bath, off Westminsterbridge. The experiment was completely successful, and answered the expectations of the persons present to witness the process, amongst whom were several Captains in the navy and persons connected with the shipping interest. The apparatus itself is in height about 4 feet 6, and in breadth and length about 4 feet. It is a steam kitchen, calculated to supply the place of a galley and cabouse, and capable of cooking for 70 or 80 persons. It weighs about 11 cwt, and consumes in 12 hours about 2 cwt, of coals. It purifies sea water at the rate of a quart a minute; the stem or distilled water is condensed with grat rapidity by means of a pipe or tube though which it passes, being carried along the outside of the bows and side of the vessel, and brought into immediate contact with the ocean, by which means it is rendered immediately cool; the pipe re-enters the vessel and the fluid drops from it as from the worm of a common still. This simplification of the process of condensation appears to be the principal novelty. and it is not the less valuable for its simplicity of contrivance. The water is fit for cooking or washing immediately it decends from the end of the pipe, but it is impregnated with a slight aroma, which renders it not quite fit (though it is very nearly fit) for drinking, until it has been passed though a filteringmachine, or exposed for some hours to the operation of the atmosphere, by which means it collects the carbonic acid and oxygen, of which it has been deprived by distillation. The advantages to gained from this invention are, the small quantity of fuel consumed in cooking, the certain supply of a palatable water, and the increased room for freightage, by the space occupied by carrying tanks or water-casks being no longer needed for that purpose. The water has no taste whatever of the victuals which are cooked during its purification, which was shown recently by the fact that a dinner was being dressed for upwards of 30 persons at the time the experiment was proceeding. The salt can be collected, and may be made serviceable, or it may be kept in solution by the heat, and drawn off by means of cocks.

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A Storm in the Orkneys.-If the tourist has the good fortune to be in the Orkney during a storm, he will cease to regret the absence of some of the softer and more common beauties of Landscape, in contemplation of the most sublime spectacle which he ever witnessed, By repairing, at such a time, to the weather shore, particularly if it be the west side, he will behold waves of the magnitude and force of which he could not have previously formed any adequate conception, tumbling across the Atlantic like monsters of the deep, their heads erect, their manes streaming in the wind, roaring and foaming as with rage, till each discharges such a Niagara flood against the opposite precipices as makes the rocks tremble to their foundations, while the sheets of water that immediately ascend, as if from artillery, hundreds of feet above their summits, deluge the surrounding country and fall like showers on the opposite side of the Island. All the springs within a mile of the weather coast are rendered brackish for some days after such a storm, Those living half a mile from the precipice declare that the earthern floors of their cots are shaken by the concussion of the waves. Rocks, that two or three men could not lift, are washed about, even on the tops of the cliffs, which are between 60 and 100 feet above the surface of the sea when smooth, and detached masses of rock of an enormous size are well known to have been carried a considerable distance between low and high water mark. Having visited the west crags some days after a recent storm, the writer found sea insects abundant on the hills near them, though about 100 feet high; and a solitary limpet, which is proverbial for its strong attachment to its native rock, but which also seemed, on this occasion, to have been thrown up, was discovered adhering to the top of the cliff, 70 feet above its usual position.Anderson's Guide to the Orkneys.

Force of Imagination.-A few years ago, a celebrated physician, author of an excellent work on the force of imagination, being desirous to add experimental to

his theoretical knowledge, made application to the Minister of Justice to be allowed an opportunity af proving what he asserted by an experiment on the criminal condemner to death. The Minister complied with his request, and delivered over to him as assassin. A man who had been horn of distinguishe parents. The physician told him that several persons, who had taken an interest in his family, had obtarted leave of the minister that he should suffer death in some other way than on the scaffold, to avoid the dus grace of a public execution; and the easiest death he could die should be by blood-letting. The ch minal agreed to the proposal, and counted himself happy in being freed from the painful exbition which he would otherwise have been made of, and rejoiced at being thus enabled to save the feelings of his friends and family. At the time appointed, the physician repaired to the prison, and the patient bar. ing been extended on a table, his eyes bonad, art every thing being ready, he was slightly pricked near the principal veins of the legs and arms with the per of a pin. At the four corners of the table were two little fountains filled with water, from which issued small streams, falling into basins placed there to received them. The patient, thinking that it was his blood that trickled into the basins, became weaker and weaker by degrees, and the remarks of the med cal men in attendance, in reference to the quality and appearance of the blood (made with that intention, increased the delusion, and he spoke more faisty, until his voice was at length scarcely audible. The profound silence which reigned in the apartment, and the constant dropping of the fountain, bad so extraordinary an effect on the brain of the poor patient, that all vital energies were SOOD golf, although before a very strong man, and he died without having lost a single drop of blood."—Le Caméices.

Literary Notices.

Just Published.

The Preacher's Manual; or, Lectures on Preaching containing the Rules and Examples necessary for every species of Pulpit Address; new edition, revised. By S. 1. Sturtevant. 2 vols. 12mo.

Practical Holiness the Ornament of Christianity By the Rev. John Flavel. With a Recommendation. by Mrs. Mason, author of " Spiritual Treasury," &c. The Three Sisters. By the Rev. A. B. Seckerson. The Young Man's Companion in the World; peinung. by Anecdote and Example, to its vices and virtues.

Historia Technica Anglicana. A Systemarie arrangement of the leading events in English History, from the earliest notices of the country to the present time; with an entirely Original System of Mnemonics. By Thomas Rose.

Alphabet of Electricity, for the use of beginners. By W. M. Higgins, 16mo.

A Grammar of Phrenology; or, an Analysis of the Faculties of the Human Mind. By H. W. Dewhurst, Esq Professor of Phrenology and Natural Theology. A Familiar Lecture, illustrative of the Architecture of the Human Body, exhibiting the power, wisdom, and goodness of Almighty God in the creation of Man. By H. W. Dewhurst, Esq. Adapted for the Rising Generation. Sixth edit. 8vo.

In the Press.

The Life of Thomas Linacre, M. D.. Physician to King Henry VIII. and founder of the College e Physicians in London, with Memoirs of his Cotempo raries, and of the Rise and Progress of Learning more particularly of the Schools, from the Ninthia the Sixteenth Centuries inclusive. By John Nobl Johnson, M. D., late Fellow of the College of Pe cians, London. Edited by R. Graves, of the Inner Temple, Esq.

Six Lectures on the Atheistic Controversy, deli vered at Sion Chapel, Bradford. By the Rev. B Godwin, author of "Lectures on British Colonial Slavery."

The First Volume of Mr. Murray's Variorum Eži tion of Boswell's Life of Johnson; printed uniformly with the Works of Byron and of Crabbe, and embel lished with Engravings by the Findens, after Drawing taken on the spot by Stanfield; will be published the 1st of January next.

Hector Fieramosca; or, The Challenge of Barletta An Historical Tale; by the Marquis D'Azeglio.

LONDON: PRINTED AT THE CAXTON PRESS, BY H. FISHER, SON, AND CO.

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