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the gallery.

certainly the most beautiful, as they are, from the numerous copies in circulation, the most generally known. By far the most striking, however, is the colossal bust of the first Napoleon, a work of grandest conception, at once bold and massive, yet executed to the highest possible degree of finish. Near it stands, or rather sits, on a pedestal which can be turned in any direction, the statue of Napoleon's mother, a noble work worthy alike of the artist and the subject. English sculpture is best represented by Gibson, whose colossal figures of Mars and Cupid are the first to strike you on entering the gallery; although superb and admirable as is this group, it is far from illustrating the truth or the tenderness characteristic of Gibson's masterpieces. The centro of the gallery is occupied by a colossal vase of polished granite, executed at Berlin, and a present from the King of Prussia. At the farther end of the gallery are two enormous lions in white marble, one asleep, the other awake, and both terribly lifelike; they are copies by Italian artists from those on Canova's monument to Clement XIV, in St. Peter's at Rome. We may mention here that, independent of the sculpture gallery, there are many fine statues and busts scattered through the building, among which the connoisseur will recognise the works of Chantrey and Westmacott, some of them being superb specimens of portraiture in marble.

The Endymion and the Hebe are | is on a smaller scale. The entire structure reclines on the slope of a hill; the volume of water descends from a classic temple adorned with dolphins, naiads, sealions, and other marine monsters, through the mouths and urns of which, as well as from other concealed vomitories, the fountain streams forth, and covering the broad surface of the channel, dashes headlong down the steep, disappears at the bottom among masses of rock, and flows thence by an underground route into the River Derwent. A very different kind of waterwork is an artificial tree which we come upon soon after quitting the cascade, and which is so contrived that, at a touch from the attendant it spouts forth from every branch and twig a shower of close rain upon persons who happen to be beneath it or too near it, and who must retreat pretty quickly if they would escape a thorough drenching. There are, however, in the grounds, waterworks of a far more important description; such are the jets and fountains, one of which sends its column of water near a hundred feet high, and another, which plays only on special festive occasions, and hurls its jet to more than double that height, or about as high as the monument in London. In connection with the waterworks should be mentioned the rockworks, with which in fact they are in a manner combined. These consist of rocky precipices of towering height, and picturesque ravines, all of them being artificially constructed (some of them even copied from actual natural scenes), and yet so natural in appearanco that no one not informed of the fact could suppose them to be other than what they seem.

The great wonder of the gardens, however, is tho conservatory, erected by the late Sir Joseph Paxton, and which was the precursor of the Crystal Palaco of 1851. It is in the form of a parallelogram, and covers more than an acre of ground; it is a most superb object to look at, and vast though it is in size, one might almost imagine it a living creature just alighted on the spot from some far-off wonderland. For its construction were required 70,000 square feet of glass, and the sash-bars, if laid end on end, would extend for forty miles. We do not much relish the tropical heat within, though we can but linger over the spectacle of the magnificent exotics it contains, and of which both hemispheres have furnished their proportions. For the convenience of royal visitors there is a carriage-drive round the interior.

It is quite impossible, within the limits of an article, to give the reader any adequate idea of the multitudinous wealth of this vast mansion. The spacious apartments are filled with treasures of all kinds, comprising works of the rarest art, the most consummate skill, and the richest material, all arranged with the most perfect taste, so as to surprise and charm the visitor at every turn. The Îibraries alone would require months of study barely to become acquainted with their contents. In one of them, the great library, which is near a hundred feet long, are near 30,000 volumes (among them some of the rarest works in existence), in addition to an unrivalled collection of illuminated manuscripts and other curious and elaborate productions of monkish industry in the monastic ages. In the cabinet library, as perhaps the reader may be aware, are those whimsical titles to sham books, supplied at the request of the Duke by the late Tom Hood. Among others one sees "Inigo on Secret Entrances," Cursory Remarks on Swearing," "Lambe on the In the course of our horticultural promenade wo Death of Wolfe," "Jack Ketch, with Cuts of his pass various other objects of interest, of which we own Execution,' ," "Barrow on the Common Weal," can barely mention a few. One is the Emperor "Recollections of Bannister by Lord Stair," and so Fountain, a memorial of the Czar Nicholas, who on, innocent practical jokes these, and quite appro-visited Chatsworth in 1844; others are trees planted priate, seeing that they occur where there is not space for anything more.

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On leaving the sculpture gallery, we pass into the orangery, where, scattered among the orange-trees, rhododendrons, and some magnificent exotics, are a number of fine statues and a singular curiosity in the shape of an enormous single crystal, weighing several hundredweights. From the orangery we enter the gardens, and make the tour of them under the guidance of one of the gardeners, of whom some threescore and ten are here in constant employment. A walk of a few minutes brings us to the front of the celebrated cascade, which at first view recalls to remembrance the grand cascade at St. Cloud as it existed before the late misfortunes of France. Like that, it consists of a series of flights of steps, though it

by royal personages, as an oak planted by Queen Victoria, when princess, in 1832; a chestnut planted by her mother, the Duchess of Kent; a sycamore planted by the late Prince Consort in 1843, etc., etc. With the Italian garden, which shows like a miniature park, and night serve for a living illustration of the scene of Boccaccio's Decameron, we close our hasty survey of the grounds.

It would be difficult to imagine a greater contrast between any two possible residences of the aristocratic class than that existing between Haddon Hall and Chatsworth. If the question be asked, which is the more interesting, and better repays the trouble of a visit? the answer would depend almost entirely upon the character and pursuits of the

persons questioned. In Chatsworth we have all that wealth can procure, all that luxury can demand, all that a refined and highly cultivated taste could select. On the other hand, in Haddon Hall we have a revelation of the facts of human history during several consecutive centuries, and that recorded in characters so plain that the simple man may decipher them, and with a little effort of the imagination may re-people the mouldering solitude and recall the daily life of the generations that have passed away. For our part, while we confess to being far more impressed by the contemplation of Haddon Hall than by the splendours of Chatsworth, we would advise the reader by all means to see both places, and to go first to Haddon Hall.

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Sonnets of the Sacred Year.

BY THE REV. S. J. STONE, M.A.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."-Gal. v. 22, 23.

FAIR is the Garden of the Lord: and fair

The Stream therein that by its sevenfold rills Brings life's renewal from th' eternal hills; And fair the Tree the Lord hath planted there; Ninefold the fruit the living branches bear: Love, that the soul with noble ardour fills; Joy, that the heart with happy prospect thrills; Peace, that makes quit the mind of all its care; Long-suffering, that can feel and yet endure; Gentleness, the sweet-eyed and soft of hand; Goodness, the true, the upright, and the pure; Faith, that can see beyond the border-land; Meekness, that counts the pride of life as loss; Temperance, that nails indulgence to the cross.

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Sweep up the hearth, and spread the simple fare.
Say the night-prayers, here, kneeling at my knee:
'Great God, be kind to us who trust in thee!'
Father is coming, after the toilsome day;
Oh, let our blessings meet him on the way!

Open the door, and let the light shine out,
The night is dark, and not a star about.
Come, let us sing, he'll hear us at the stile,
The place is still and lone for half a mile.
Sing, children, sing; and baby, laugh and crow,
On father's knee thou shalt a-riding go!"

R. M.

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O the music of young voices, O the tuneful little feet, How they rise and fall together, keeping time in cadence sweet;

Like the ever-moving planets making harmony above, So the happy notes of childhood vibrate on the chords of love.

On the settle sits the grandsire with his eyes so old and dim,

That the little sunny faces seem like fading dreams to him;

But he hears their merry voices, and it almost makes him young,

As he tries to catch the meaning of each little prattling tongue.

O the merry laughing voices, how melodiously they flow,

Bringing to the old man's memory happy days of long ago,

When he, too, could shout with gladness, when he, too, was bright and bold,

Long before his children's children told him how the world grew old.

And the music of young voices, long as this fair earth shall last,

Will re-link the joyous present with the half-for

gotten past;

And the ring of little footsteps, pattering on the cottage floor,

Will be heard, the wide world over, till there shall

be time no more.

MARY FRANCES ADAMS.

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THE MANDARIN'S DAUGHTER.

A STORY OF THE CHINESE GREAT REBELLION, AND THE 66 EVER-VICTORIOUS ARMY."

BY SAMUEL MOSSMAN, AUTHOR OF "NEW JAPAN: THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN," ETC.

CHAPTER XV.-A TAIPING EMISSARY.

TIME passed on and I became more and more intimate with the mandarin, his daughter, their kindred, and friends. A-Lee's lady connections quizzed her unmercifully for having a "barbarian" lover, for it was by this time understood by all that my visits were something more than ordinary friendly calls. "We are both Christians," she would say to them, "and it does not matter what country we belong to, if we are sincere in professing that faith, and become united in the holy ties of wedlock, under the blessings of a religion which makes that union equal between husband and wife in the eyes of God and man. I have imbibed the doctrines preached by the missionaries of our church, and learned from their teaching the superior condition of females in Christian countries compared to what it is here. When I consider their physical and mental degradation, I dread the thraldom I would have to submit to in espousing a husband among my own countrymen."

Amongst my comrades it was well known that I was waiting for my time to expire to make A-Lee my wife, and settle down to some occupation in China. Upon several occasions I met a stranger at the mandarin's, who gave his surname as Wo and his proper name as Cut-sing. He was about thirty years of age, of the middle height, and had a thickset figure. His forehead was low, with stronglymarked eyebrows, overhanging acute-angled eyelids that shaded restless piercing eyes. In manner he was officiously polite, but a sneer which frequently crossed his features while making his humble obeisance, indicated insincerity of disposition. He was a native of South China, and, though a scholar, he spoke the mandarin dialect of Peking with a peculiar provincial accent. There was something about the man that was displeasing, yet he was most assiduous in his attentions to secure my good opinions.

It was always in the evening when Cut-sing made his appearance at Meng-kee's house, and generally he and his host would retire into the library, holding secret converse together. Apparently, he was not a favourite with any one, except the mandarin himself, who paid him great attention. From what I saw, however, I concluded that those were matters of importance discussed between them, which they were unwilling to speak of before the members of the household or their friends.

One evening when this stranger called, I was asked to join them in the library, which I assented to, as I felt somewhat curious to know the topic of their conversation. On this head I was soon enlightened by Meng-kee, who said, after they had been seated

"My friend, Foong Cut-sing, is anxious to know if your honourable officials at the embassy have heard any late news of the Taiping movements at Nanking and the middle provinces.'

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"Yes, noble sir," the stranger added, "you will make me your humble debtor, if you can tell me. I trust that I do not infringe on your honour by asking you to give me any information on the subject."

"Not at all," I replied. It is no breach of con

fidence to tell you what I hear, for the news is published in our newspapers at Shanghai, so that any one who reads English knows all about it." "Ah!" said Cut-sing, "I wish I could speak and read your honourable language, as you do ours." "The latest news received by steamer, informs us that the Taiping army under Chung Wang have captured Soo-chow and Hang-chow, and numerous smaller walled cities in Kiang-soo and Che-kiang, which have been garrisoned by forces said to be two hundred thousand strong."

On hearing this the stranger's eyes twinkled, and he remarked, in a suppressed tone of voice, “This is great news, indeed. These two cities are the most famous in our great flowery land for their wealth and luxury. The poet has said that 'Paradise is in heaven above, but Soo-chow and Hang-chow are on the earth below.' What successes these are! The conquering armies of the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace will prevail over the imps." "I don't know exactly what you mean," was my rejoinder, "but I tell you that the British and French authorities at Shanghai are becoming afraid for the safety of that settlement. Admiral Hope has been to Nanking, and held a parley with the rebel chiefs, saying that the British forces will not interfere with the progress of the rebellion, if the Taiping hordes approach no nearer than ninety lee (thirty miles) of that treaty port. Should they cross the boundary, our troops will fire upon them.'

Par

This piece of information seemed to displease Cut-sing, and he quickly interrupted, saying, don, noble sir, they would not dare to injure one of your people. For are they not both God-worshippers, and believers in the elder brother Jesus Christ? Is not theirs a form of religion most effectual for propagating the truth of Christianity? Before their progress all forms of idolatry are totally destroyed, without distinction, and the ruins of Pagan temples and the remains of Buddhist idols are to be seen far and near wherever their victorious arms have been." "Ho! ho!" I thought, "our inquisitive stranger is a rebel;" so I remarked at once, From what say, I conclude you are a Taiping?

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"I am," he replied, unhesitatingly, "and I glory in being a humble subject of the Taiping Tien-wang. I came last from Nanking to this city of the Tartar imps, where if I was suspected I would be cut to pieces by them. But you, honourable sir, will not, I am sure, inform upon me.'

"Certainly not," I said, "you may rely on the honour of a British soldier. Besides, I am not a friend of this treacherous Tartar Government, who tortured and murdered our men; and if your Taiping Government succeed in overthrowing them, without hurting us, why we should be glad, especially as you profess to be imbued with the spirit of Christianity."

"We not only profess the doctrines of your religion, but we practise it in the Protestant form which prevails in your honourable country. It is based upon the Holy Bible, which your learned missionaries have translated into our language, and distributed throughout the land. Our decalogue is literally the same as that of the English Church, but with annotations to some of the commandments applicable to the Taiping worshippers. The principal sacraments of the Protestant religion are observed; the Holy Communion is rendered by an offertory of tea upon the altar every Sunday during service; and no one

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