BYRON.

STRANGE and singular, when we reflect upon it, has been the destiny of a man of such splendid talents and acquirements. Born to an ample fortune, and moving in the highest sphere of existence, a hapless and ill-fated marriage blasted at once his happiness and peace. An ornament to letters and his country, he became an involuntary exile-cut off from domestic comforts and endearments, and seperated, alas; far and for ever, from the child of his affections and his hopes! Is it to be wondered, then, that flung upon the world in early youth, with all the means of gratification within his power, he should sometimes have been betrtycd into regretted excesses, and that so situated and so circumstanced in after years, he should sometimes in dissipation have grasped at visionary happiness? hunted too, as he was, even in his most distant retreats, by the foulest calumny and slander,embittering his solitary existence even to the very grave! How truly prophetic of himself are the following lines, so full of pathos and expression, from the 4th Canto of his Childe Harold :-

Have I not

Hear me my mother earth! behold it Heaven!
Have I not had to restle with my lot?

Have I not suffered things to be forgiven?

Have I not had my brain sear'd, my heart riven,
Hopes sapp'd, name blighted, life's life lied away?

*

*

*

But I have lived, and have not lived in vain :
My mind may lose its force, my blood its fire,
And my frame perish even in conquering pain;
But there is that within me which shall tire
Torture and Time, and breathe when I expire;
Something unearthly, which they deem not of,
Like the remember'd tone of a mute lyre,
Shall on their soften'd spirits sink, and move
In hearts all rocky now the late remorse of love.

DR. JENNER

Sent the following Epigram, accompanied with a couple of Ducks to a Patient. "I've dispatch'd my dear madam, this scrap of a letter: To say that Miss-is very much better:

A regular doctor no longer she lacks,

And therefore I've sent her a couple of quacks."

SONG.

They may rail at this this life-from the hour I began it
I've found it a life full of kindness and bliss,
And until they can shew me some happier planet,
More social and bright, I'll content me with this.
As long as the world has such eloquent eyes,
As before me this moment enraptur'd I see,
They may say what they will of their orbs in the skies,
But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.
In Mercury's star, where each minute can bring them
New sunshine and wit from the fountain on high,
Tho' the nymphs may have livelier poets to sing them,
They've none, even there, more enamour'd than I.
And, as long as this harp can be waken'd to love,
And that eye its divine inspiration shall be,
They may talk as they will of their Edens above,
But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.
In that star of the west, by whose shadowy splendour,
At twilight so often we've roam'd through the dew,
There are maidens, perhaps, who have bosoms as tender,
And look, in their twilights, as lovely as you,
But though they were even more bright than the green
Of that isle they inhabit in heav'ns blue sea,
As I never these fair young celestials have seen,
Why-this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.
As for those chilly orbs on the verge of creation,
Where sunshine and smiles must be equally rare,
Did they want a supply of cold hearts for that station,
Heav'n knows we have plenty on earth we could spare.
Oh! think what a world we should have of it here,
If the haters of peace, of affection, and glee,
Were to fly up to Saturn's comfortless sphere,

And leave earth to such spirits as you, love, and me.

CHIMNEY-SWEEPERS.

THE kind-hearted and highly gifted ELIA in his "Praise of Chimney-Sweepers," says "I like to meet a sweepunderstand me-not a grown sweeper-old chimney sweepers are by no means attractive but one of thos tender novices, blooming through their first nigritude the maternal washings not quite effaced from the cheek such as come forth with the dawn, or somewhat earlier

with their little professional notes sounding like the peep peep of a young sparrow; or liker to the matin lark should I pronounce them in their ærial ascents not seldom anticipating the sun rise? I have a kindly yearning toward these dim specks-poor blots-innocent blacknesses. I reverence these young Africans of our own growth; these almost clergy imps, who sport their cloth without assumption; and from their little pulpits (the tops of chimneys) in the nipping air of a December morning, preach a les son of patience to mankind. When a child, what a mysterious pleasure it was to witness their operation! To see a chit no bigger than one's self enter, one knew not by what process, into what seemed the fauces Averni, to pursue him in imagination as he went sounding on through so many dark stifling caverns, horrid shades! To shudder with the idea that "now, surely he must be lost for ever!" To revive at hearing his feeble shout of discovered day-light! and then (0, fullness of delight!) running out of doors, to come just in time to see the sable phenomenon emerge in safety, the brandished weapon of his art victorious like some flag waved over a conquered citadel! I seem to remember having been told, that a bad sweep was once left in a stack with his brush to indicate which way the wind blew. It was an awful spectacle certainly; not much unlike the old stage-direc. tion of Macbeth, where the "apparition of a child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises." Reader, if thou meetest one of these small gentry in thy rambles, it is good to give him a penny. It is better to give him twopence. If it be stormy weather, and to the proper troubles of his hard occupation, a pair of kibed heels (no unusual accompaniment) be superadded, the demand on thy humanity will surely rise to a tester."

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IT has long been my opinion, (said Horace Walpole,) that the Out-pensioners of Bedlam are so numerous, that the shortest and cheapest way would be to confine in Moorfields the few that remain in their senses, who would then be safe, and let the rest go out at large.

WHITTINGTON'S ALMS-HOUSES.

HE above engraving is a faithful representation of those beautiful Alms-Houses at Highgate, belonging to the worshipful Company of Mercers, situate at the foot of the hill, in the road leading under the Archway, towards Finchley, Whetstone, and Barnet.

The town of Highgate, (which is only four miles from the metropolis,) is at once healthy and delightful. Being seated on an eminence, it commands a most extensive view of the surrounding country. The building of this Asylum for decayed freemen, was began in the early part of the year 1823, and is not yet considered complete, (February 1825.) It is composed of brick, in the Gothic style, and ornamented with numerous sphires. The establishment has three wings, and is divided into about twenty-six separate apartments or houses. The ground in front, which is divided from the road by iron palisadoes, is tastefully laid out as a garden; the centre intended to be adorned with a whole length figure of the well remembered and justly esteemed City Magistrate whose name they bear.

There has lately been erected on the hill (the very spot we are to suppose, on which the fortunate Whittington had lain him down to rest, when the London bells so kindly invited him back to wealth and happiness,) a new stone, emblazoned with a very minute account of the years in which he served the offices of Sheriff, Mayor, &c.

NO. XV.

THE PRIDE OF THE VILLAGE.
(Concluded from page 164.)

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WHAT was he to do? There were the old obstacles which so incessantly occur in these heedless attachments. His rank in life-the prejudices of titled connectionshis dependence upon a proud and unyielding father, all forbade him to think of matrimony: but when he looked down upon this innocent being, so tender and confiding, there was a purity in her manners, a blamelessness in her life, and a beseeching modesty in her looks, that awed down every licentious feeling. In vain did he try to fortify himself by a thousand heartless examples of men of fashion; and to chill the glow of generous sentiment with that cold derisive levity with which he had heard them talk of female virtue; whenever he came into her presence, she was still surrounded by that mysterious, but impassive charm of virgin purity, in whose hallowed sphere no guilty thought can live.

The sudden arrival of orders for the regiment to repair to the continent completed the confusion of his mind. He remained for a short time in a state of the most painful irresolution; he hesitated to communicate the tidings until the day for marching was at hand; when he gave her the intelligence in the course of an evening ramble.

The idea of parting never before occurred to her. It broke in at once upon her dream of felicity; she looked upon it as a sudden and insurmountable evil, and wept with the guileless simplicity of a child. He drew her to his bosom, and kissed the tears from her soft cheek; nor did he meet with a repulse; for there are moments of mingled sorrow and tenderness which hallow the carresses of affection. He was naturally impetuous; and the sight of beauty, apparently yielding in his arms; the confidence of his power over her; and the dread of losing her for ever; all conspired to overwhelm his better feelings-he ventured to propose that she should leave her home, and be the companion of his fortunes.

He was quite a novice in seduction, and blushed and faltered at his own baseness; but so innocent of mind was his intended victim, that she was at first at a loss to comprehend his meaning; and why she should leave her native village, and the humble roof of her parentsWhen at last the nature of his proposal flashed upon her