and as I stood at one end, and looked through the long vista of arches to the other, the effect was very beautiful. Between the two series of arches are stalls, in which various fancy articles are sold, such as medals, pictures, candies, &c.

One day I addressed a note to the Hon. Shaw Lefevre, Speaker of the House of Commons, and another to Lord John Russell, requesting each to give me (as a stranger from the United States) an order for admittance to the House of Commons, as it is only by an order from a member that admission can be procured. On the following evening I received a reply from the Speaker, enclosing an order. I went directly, but as it was rather late, and nothing of great interest being on the floor, the house was very thin, and the debate unimportant. The next day I received an order from Lord John Russell, to the same purport, of which I took advantage, and went again. They seemed to be discussing some question pertaining to the foreign relations of the British people. A Mr. Cochran made a most inflated and excited harangue. Lord Palmerston rose in reply, and in a few words completely scattered to the winds all the imaginary evils which the former speaker had been an hour

in conjuring up. keen, and sensible-delivered in a most graceful manner, and with a distinct voice. I never before heard so few words tell with such marvelous effect. This discussion drew forth some remarks from Sir George Grey, Home Secretary, which were also to the point. The building at present occupied by the House of Commons is a very plain one, and of moderate dimensions. There are three rows of forms along each side of the room, with leather-covered cushions. The Speaker sits at the end, in a comfortable chair, wearing a powdered wig. The members wear their hats, except while they are speaking. A new and very elegant building is now in process of erection, and nearly finished, for both houses of the British Legislature.

His remarks were pointed,

On Sabbath morning I went to the National Scotch Church, Regent's Square, to hear the Rev. James Hamilton, D. D. His church is a large one, and was very full. The seats are after the old-fashioned pattern, with high backs, and without cushions, which render them extremely uncomfortable. Dr. Hamilton, though widely known as an author, is but a young man, somewhere

between forty and forty-five. He lectured on the 28th chapter of Acts-Paul's landing at Melita. After giving a rapid, though interesting sketch of the history of this island, he went briefly over the narrative, explaining in a simple, though striking style, the principal points, and closed by drawing several practical deductions from the whole. It was a beautiful lecture, and some parts of it surpassingly eloquent. He uses notes, but does not seem at all times confined to them.

In the evening I heard the Rev. Baptist W. Noel. His church is in a retired street, and not a very large edifice, though from the manner of constructing the pews, and from the fact that the gallery runs round the four sides, the pulpit being near the centre, it holds a greater number of people than ordinary churches of the same size. After standing some time in the aisle, with a number of other persons, without having the offer of a seat from either the sexton or a pew-holder, I walked forward, and selecting one well calculated for seeing the speaker and hearing his voice, I seated myself, asking no questions. The church soon became densely crowded. The precentor gave out the hymn, and read one verse, and then, with the

congregation, sung it, after which he read another, and so on to the end of the hymn. Mr. Noel then read a chapter and prayed. He pleaded earnestly for the English establishment, that her ministers might seek that reformation which she, as a church, so much needed-for the Scotch establishment in the same way-then in the warmest and kindliest manner for the Free Church of Scotland, and for her General Assembly, which was soon to convene; for the Presbyterian and Established churches of Ireland, and for God's blessing on the new secession in France.

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His text was 1 John iii. 2, Beloved, now are we the sons of God." The subject of the discourse was that assurance which God's people might and consequently ought to possess, that they are his children. It was about an hour and a quarter in length—simple and plain in its structure, though very earnest. He has a sweet voice, and his enunciation is slow and very distinct. He used no notes, and turned up a great many passages of reference in the Bible lying before him.

The post-office arrangements here are beyond all praise. For the small sum of one penny (or two cents,) letters are not only conveyed to every part

of the United Kingdom, but in all cities delivered without additional charge to the persons to whom they are addressed. In most of the cities they are delivered four times every day by carriers, and in London ten times for a certain distance around the post-office, or in what is called "the city ;" beyond that there are five deliveries. To accelerate the morning delivery of letters in distant parts of the metropolis, the postmen are conveyed in long light vehicles to the verge of their districts, at which they arrive fresh for their work. Each vehicle of this kind carries fourteen men, with their bags; the man belonging to the nearest district sits next the door, so as to descend without occasioning any delay.

In the mail trains on the railway there is a post-office car, attended by two men. These men receive the bags at every station, and having in their car pigeon-holes, counters, and every convenience for assorting letters, the bags are opened, overhauled, and properly distributed. In this way a letter may pass from one town to another in a few minutes, instead of going through and returning again, as is too often the case with our American mails. As the cars will not stop at