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THE POET'S CORNER.

YOUTH.

Youth is the vision of a morn,
That flies the coming day:
It is the blossom on the thorn,

Which rude winds sweep away.

'Tis like the charming line that glows
Upon a virgin's face;
Till care hath nipp'd her fading rose
And withered every grace.

It is the image of a sky

In glassy waters seen,
When not a cloud is found to fly
Across t e blue serene.

But when the winds begin to roar,
And lift the foamy head;
The nimic stars appear no more,
And all the heav'n is fled.

'Tis like the dying tones that flow
From an Eolian lyre,

When gentle zephyrs, as they blow
Breathe on the trembling wire
Or like a cloud of fleecy form
Seen on an April day.

That veers before the crimson storm,
Then weeps itself away.

"Tis fleeting as the passing rays
Of bright electric fire,

That gild the pole with sudden blaze
And in the blaze expire.

And tender as the filmy threads,
Which in the dewy dawn,

From flow'r to flow'r Arachne spreads
Wide o'er the verdant lawn.

It is the morning's gentle gale,
That as it softly blows,

Scarce seems to sigh across the vale,
Or bend the blushing rose.

But soon the gathering tempests ponr,
And all the sky deform,

The gale becomes the whirlwinds roar,
The sigh a raging storm.

Youth's joys are bright as new-born day
Shining through vernal showers,
And gentle as the breeze of May,
Panting on op'ning flow'rs.

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THE TWOPENNY BAG.

Whereat the gentleman began to stare—

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"My friends," he cried, p-x take you for your care."-Pope.

We are sorry that "A Reader"-should have had reasons for becoming “A Writer;"-but he has shewn cause, and we will in future endeavour to spare his ink and our pockets.

"Arise my fair! and let us stray

"Where Spring's soft gales 'mong woodlands play,”

Says our friend "H"-but his wanderings have already been so irregular, that we cannot countenance him. He was unfortunate in his subject-perhaps his graphic descriptions may be more to the purpose.

"There is nae luck about the house"-and we lament to add, that unless our friend Giles will furnish us with a second copy, his letter is lost in toto.

"Buff" is a discoloured dog, who has no more idea of writing verses in praise of the fair than a young Buffalo! We should not be surprised to see him at St. Luke's the next time we call.

Contributions (post paid) to be sent to the Editor, at the Publishers.

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THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

on

THAT part of the house to the right of the Speaker is called the ministerial side of the house; that on his left, the opposition side. The bench on the floor, close to the Speaker's right, extending from his chair to the division in the centre, is known by the appellation of "the Treasury Bench,' which his Majesty's ministers usually take their seats. The bench on the opposite side is occupied by the leaders of the opposition. The seats are covered with green leather cushions. The floor is of plain oak, and the parts contiguous to the benches, on which the feet of the members rest, are covered with rush matting. An agreeable temperature is preserved through the house by means of flues, which pass under the floor, and which disseminate heat through brass gratings, placed in convenient situations.

1. This represents the principal door of entrance to the body of the house: it leads directly from the lobby, which we have already described. It is a folding door, one half of which only is opened, except on particular occasions, such as the entrance and departure of the Speaker-the entrance and departure of messengers from the Lords,

&c.

2. This is the table of the house, on which are deposited a certain number of the Journals, and on the end next the entrance, the mace. This mace is of silver, gilt. The table is covered with leather, and under are drawers filled with stationery, for the use of the members.

3. The mace.

When the house resolves into a committee, the mace is removed into a space prepared for it under the table. The Speaker then leaves the chair, and the chairman of committees takes his seat at the table. When the house resumes, it is the duty of the Serjeant-at-Arms to replace the

mace on the table.

4. These three figures represent the clerks of the house. Their duty is to take the minutes of the proceedings of the house, which are subsequently transcribed and entered upon the Journals, or otherwise disposed of, as circumstances may demand. It is their province also to read petitions, and to prepare transcripts of such questions as it may become the duty of the Speaker to submit to the house.

5. The strangers' gallery, devoted entirely to the accommodation of strangers. This gallery is computed to afford accommodation to about one hundred and fifty persons. From this gallery females are excluded by a standing order. In front of the gallery is the house clock.

6. The members' galleries. These galleries are provided with double rows of seats. On a call of the house, or when an important discussion attracts a numerous attendance of members, these galleries are completely filled. Members sometimes speak from thence, but this does not often occur.

7. The seats here described, and which are immediately under the strangers' gallery, are devoted to the reception of Peers of the other house, who may feel desirous of being present at the discussion in this to the foreign ambassadors to the sons of members, and to some of the Westminster boys, who are entitled to this privilege. Members also occasionally introduce their friends here.

8. This is the situation of the bar of the house. When persons appear at the bar with papers, or for other pur poses, a sliding bar is drawn across the space which is here observed.

10. This small door is for the exclusive accommodation of the reporters for the public press.

13. The lustre. This is composed of brass, and consists of three rows of branches, in each of which is a wax candle.

15. This figure is meant to represent the situations in which particular members of the opposition and ministerial parties generally take their seats. This figure is intended for Sir James Mackintosh,

27. Mr. Canning.

It may here be interesting to state the origin of this building, and to explain that its walls have not at all times resounded to the thunders of political discussion. At an early period of its history it was devoted to religious purposes, and was known under the title of St. Stephen's Chapel, by which even in modern days it is occasionally described. The form of the edifice, in fact, in a great measure stamps its early character. On being viewed by a stranger, for the first time, it presents precisely the appearance of a chapel.

The wainscoting, the cieling, the galleries, and the backs of the benches, are composed entirely of oak, highly varnished, and light being admitted only from one end, a sombre cast is given to the whole, which impresses the mind with the awe usual on entering a place devoted to the worship of the Almighty; and the illusion is scarce dispelled, when, on turning round, you perceive, still retained, the organ loft (the strangers' gallery) as it existed in more ancient times.

Stowe, in his "Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster," thus speaks of St. Stephen's chapel :

"Then for St. Stephen's chapel of old time, founded by King Stephen; King John, in the seventh of his reign, granted to Baldwinus de London, Clerk of his Exchequer, the Chapelship of St. Stephen's, at Westminster, &c.

"This chapel was again since (of far more curious workmanship) new builded by King Edward the Third, in the year 1347, for 38 persons in that church to serve God; to wit, a dean, twelve secular canons, thirteen vicars, four clerks, five chorists, two servitors; to wit, a verger and a keeper of the chapel. He builded (lodgings) for them from the house of receipt, along nigh to the Thames, within the same palace there to inhabit. And since that there were also buildings for them betwixt the Clock House and the Wool Staple, called the Weigh House [still called Channon-row.]

"Philip, wife of this king, also was a great benefactor to the Chanons of this chapel.

"He also builded to the use of this chapel (tho' ont of the Palace Court) some distance west in the Little Sanctuary, a strong clochard of stone and timber, covered with lead, and placed therein three great bells, since usually rung at coronations, triumphs, funerals of princes, and other obits. Of these bells men fabuled that their ringing soured all the drink in the town. More, that above the biggest of which was written,

'King Edward made mee,
Thirtie thousand and three:
Take me down and weigh mee,
And more shall ye find mee.'

"But these bells being taken down, indeed, we found that all three did not weigh 20,000,

"The said King Edward endowed this chapel with lands, to the yearly

value of five hundred pounds. Doctor John Chamber, the King's Physician, the last Dean of this college, builded thereunto a cloister of curious workmanship, to the charges of eleven thousand marks. This chapel or college, at the suppression, was valued to dispend in lands, by the year, one thousand eighty-five pounds ten shilling five pence, and was surrendered to Edward the Sixth, since which time the same chapel hath served as a parliamenthouse."

It was called the Free Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Stephen. The Dean was commonly of great confidence with the King, and often preferred to some bishoprick. Such was Sampson, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. It was richly endowed, but the revenues were made away, and alineated upon the dissolution of religious houses. Among which was a messuage called the Helmet, in Kingstreet, belonging to it, which was granted to Richard and John Rede, in the 2d Edward VI. There were also certain manors and lordships belonging to it, called the Manours and Lordship of Eshetisford, alias Asheford, in the county of Kent, which, with other lands, were sold to Sir Anthony Auchar and Henry Polstred, esqrs. in

3d Edward VI.

"Since the dissolution, the same chapel hath served as a parliamenthouse. The High Court of Parliament, consisting of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of Parliament, was formerly in the Chapter House of the Abbot of Westminster, and this continued till the stat. of 1st. Edward VI, which gave to the King Colleges, Free Chapels, &c. whereby the King enjoyed to his own use this ancient Free Chapel of St. Stephen's, since which time it hath served, by the King's permission, for the House of Commons to sit in."

Such is the origin of this edifice, which, since its conversion to the purposes of the British senate, has undergone considerable repairs. Its ancient form, however has been strictly preserved. In the year 1800, upon the union between England and Ireland, the galleries, and the seats in the body of the house, were enlarged to admit of the reception of the Irish representatives; and about the same period some alterations were made in the avenues leading to the strangers' gallery, which were antecedently very inconvenient.

LITERARY CHARACTERIS- shire, is an ash tree, under which the TICS AND CURIOSITIES.

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"Tell us one of your Tales." In his Arabian Tales, M. Galland frequently repeats the sentence, "My dear sister, if you do not sleep, tell us one of your tales." Some young wags feeling a little disgusted at the repetition, took it into their heads to go one winter's night and awaken poor Galland, by hallooing loudly under his window, "M. Galland! M. Galland!" He opened the casement and enquired what they wanted? To which query one of the party said, "M. Galland, are you the translator of those beautiful Arabian Tales?"-"I am the person," was his answer." "Then," replied the wag, "if you do not sleep, tell us one of your tales!"

CRITICAL ACUMEN.

When Gildon was writing his "Laws of Poetry," he perchance stumbled upon the following line of the Duke of Buckingham's:

"Nature's chief master-piece is writing well." and he very sagaciously enlightened his readers by informing them, "That what is here said has not the least regard to penmanship, that is, to the fairness or badness of the hand-writing."

SMALL OBSTACLES.

"I over-fatigued myself," said Sir John Hills, one day to a friend, "with writing seven works at once." Sir John made a contract to translate Swammerdam's work of Insects, for fifty guineas, nor did he remember that he understood not a single word of the language in which it was written, which was the Dutch, till after he had made the agreement; but this was a small obstacle, the work was translated for Sir John bargained with another person for twenty-five guineas, who being precisely in Sir John's situation, bargained with a third, who was perfectly acquainted with the language, found no obstacle, and translated for twelve guineas what Sir John had undertaken for fifty.

ANECDOTE OF THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH.

On a large heath, called Shag's Heath, about a mile and a half from Woodlands, in Horton parish, Dorset

unfortunate Duke was apprehended. The tradition of the neighbourhood is, that after the defeat at Sedgemoor, the Duke and Lord Lumley quitted their horses at Woodyeats; where the former, disguised as a peasant, wandered hither. He dropped his gold snuffbox in a pea-field, where it was afterwards found full of gold pieces, and brought to Mrs. Uvedale, of Horton. One of the finders had fifteen pounds for half the contents or value of it. The Duke went on to the island, as it is called, a cluster of small farms in the middle of the heath, and there concealed himself in a deep ditch under the ash.

When the pursuers came up, a woman, who lived in a neighbouring cot, gave information of his being somewhere in the island, which was immediately surrounded with soldiers, who passed the night there, and threatened to fire the neighbouring cots. As they were going away next morning, one of them espied the brown skirt of the Duke's coat, and seized him. The soldier no sooner knew him, than he burst into tears, and reproached himself for the unhappy discovery.

The family of the woman who first gave the information, are said to have fallen into decay, and never thriven afterwards.

The Duke was carried before Anthony Ettrick, of Holt, a justice of peace, who ordered him to London. Being asked what he would do if set at liberty? he answered, if his horse and arms were restored, he only desired to ride through the army, and he defied them all to take him again.Farmer Kerley's grandmother, lately dead, saw him, and described him as a black, genteel, tall man, with a dejected countenance.

The close where he concealed himself is called Monmouth Close, and is the extremest N. E. field of the island. The tree stands in a hedge, on a steep bank, and is covered with initials of the names of persons who have been to see it.

ANECDOTE OF GEORGE THE SECOND.

No bad example in the high departments of State.

His Majesty generally, after dinner, made it a rule to visit the Countess of Yarmouth.-In passing through the

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