manner of dancing, forined a long line, when each with the greatest exactness, and the utmost grace imaginable, repeated the steps and actions of their leader in perfect time.

But neither entreaties nor threats could prevail on the unhappy black to join in this dance. She sat inconsolable by herself, and continued many days in the same sullen condition; and all we could learn on leaving the house, concerning this unfortunate female, lately so happy in her own country, was, that she was destined, with her husband, or rather lover, to embark in a few days on board a merchant vessel, the owner of which had bought them both, with several others, to sell them at Constantinople.

Oh, the horrors of slavery! What a day

of retribution awaits all who have had a hand either in establishing, or maintaining it!

A POPULAR HISTORY OF BRITISH SEAWEEDS. By the Rev. D. LANDSBOROUGH, A.L.S. Reeve and Benham.

All who take delight in an investigation of the lovely handiwork of Nature will prize this volume as it deserves. We only wish, for the author's sake, that good-people, properly so called, were a more numerous body. We speak feelingly. A man, now-a-days, may kill himself in the endeavor to benefit society, whilst they "do but wonder at his folly."

The beauties existing in Sea-Weed, and marine alge generally, are innumerable; and a work like this, compiled from first-rate authorities, and profusely illustrated with colored specimens by Fitch, ought to become universally popular. Mrs. Griffiths, Dr. Greville, and Professor Harvey, are the principal authorities quoted, and they are a host.

The very sight of this volume makes us long for summer, and a stroll by the sea-side. With such a companion, we could wander about happily for weeks and weeks,-being quite satisfied with the choiceness of our company. Oh, that we could turn our back upon cities, and with eyes upraised, sun ourself in the open air-far, far away!

How often we forget all time, when lone, Admiring Nature's universal throne, Her woods, her wilds, her waters,-the intense Reply of hers to our intelligence! Live not the stars and mountains? Are the waves Without a spirit? Are the dropping caves Without a feeling in their silent tears? No, no. They woo and clasp us to their spheres; Dissolve this clog and clod of clay before Its hour; and merge our souls in the great shore. The world we live in, puzzles us excessively. Few people seem to care for anything beyond the present hour. They are purely animal; selfish,—uninquiring. Wonders upon wonders lie at their very feet, cross their path at every step they take; and yet there is no heart to feel, no soul to enjoy what God has wrought. It would seem a crime to be

natural; but WE shall ever say with the amiable Milton :

The desire which tends to know
The works of God thereby to glorify
The great work-master, leads to no excess
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise,
The more it seems excess.

Yes WONDERFUL indeed are all His works
Pleasant to know, worthiest to be all

Had in remembrance ALWAYS WITH delight.

Oh, that we had the power, as well as the inclination, to make people feel as WE feel! Then would they be purely "happy."

THE CABINET OF BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY. BY C. WEIGHTMAN HARRISON. Nos. 1 AND 2. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. The Natural History of Insects is now becoming an interesting study; and a work like this cannot fail to make it increasingly So. Mr. Harrison is thoroughly master of the science of Entomology, and he labors hard to make it extensively understood.

The work before us (devoted to our native Insects) is intended to be compressed into the limits of about six or eight volumes,being also divided, for the convenience of purchasers, into several parts, each complete in itself. The arrangement adopted, is that of the Tarsal system of Latreille, now in general use among Entomologists. This, from the ease of its application, is considered superior to all other modes of classification.

The two first numbers contain (each) three plates of Beetles, admirably drawn and beautifully colored. They are as correct in their details as it is possible to be; and they afford convincing proof that no expense will be spared to render the work worthy of universal support.

The descriptions are equal to the plates,— being perfectly simple, distinct, and useful. Mr. Harrison deserves all the honest praise we are anxious to accord him; and we shall look for forthcoming numbers with interest. The work is beautifully printed, and on excellent paper.

FERGUSON'S RARE AND PRIZE POULTRY. PARTS 6 AND 7. J. Culliford, Southampton Street.

This work progresses well. The two parts before us are devoted to the Malay and the Game Fowl; both which have ample justice done them. The author spares no stood; and writes with all the energy of pains to make himself thoroughly undera man fond of his subject, and thoroughly acquainted with it in all its details.

The animals figured are well defined, and nicely colored. The game-cocks in particular take our fancy. They are noble birds.

JOSEPH THOMAS Beale, and Co.

This composition evinces, throughout, much originality; the minor cantabile being well introduced, and causing a pleasant interruption from the original melody, which is again resumed, in a more complicated form, towards the latter part of the piece.

Much talent, too, is shown in the concluding page of Notturno, in the endeavor to suit to it an appropriate finale. We are not surprised at its being so popular with the musical world of professors and amateurs.

HELP FOR THE TURK. BY THE SAME AUTHOR. WORDS BY J. ST. CLEMENT. John Shepherd, Newgate Street. This appropriate song for the times in which we live, speaks for itself in flaming colors; and has already found its way into many of the music shops of our metropolis. The good and loyal feeling that is comprised in the words, together with the bold martial airs adapted to them, are quite sufficient to render it worthy of notice here.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
WHEATSTONE'S HARMONIUM.

We cannot resist the opportunity to notice, under the general head of " Music," the very great perfection to which the "Harmonium" has been brought.

We recently had occasion to visit the establishment of Messrs. WHEATSTONE & Co., Conduit Street, when one of these beautiful instruments (with their latest improvements) was being performed on; and were quite charmed with the effects produced. peculiar richness of the tone, and the precision with which each note answers to the touch, are qualifications alone sufficient to secure its popularity.

The

should there be an Harmonium also; for Wherever there is a pianoforte, there what is deficient in the one, in the other is immediately obtainable; so that the power of a band may be commanded at will.

For devotional music, for churches,

DEDICATED TO MISS RUSHBROOKE. COMPOSED BY JOHN PARRY. Cocks and Co. We can readily enter into the feelings of the composer of this lovely melody. There is a calm simplicity prevailing throughout that is perfectly delightful. The words and the music are worthy,-the one of the other. The imitation of the tinkling of the vesper bell is skilfully introduced, and the conclusion of each verse is wound up with a beautiful Ave Maria.

HAVE STILL SOME KIND WORD FOR ME. BALLAD. BY THE SAME AUTHOR. Cocks and Co.

The words of this ballad (by J. E. Carpenter, Esq.) are, as in the last-noticed, in unison with the music. There is not much character in it, perhaps; but there is a tone and a thoroughly good style about it not generally met with in compositions of the present day.

THE VESPER BELLS. VOCAL DUET. Cocks and Co.

Much fun and frolic predominate in this lively duet. We may not admire the style, and yet cannot help feeling pleased with it as a whole. It is sung by the Misses Jolly, in Mr. Carpenter's popular entertainment, "The Road, the River, and the Rail."

ment could be more appropriate. It can be modulated at will, or increased in compass; it requires no tuning; is compact in size; easily transportable; handsome in appearance; and obtainable from ten guineas upwards.

NATURE'S VOICE.

I have learned

To look on Nature,—not as in the hour
Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes
The still, sad music of humanity;
Nor harsh, nor grating, though of ample power
To chasten and subdue. And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean, and the living air,
And the blue sky, and in the mind of men,
A motion and a spirit that impels
All thinking things, all objects of all thoughts
And rolls through all things; therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows, and the woods,
And mountains; and of that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
of eye and ear; both what they half create,
In nature and the language of the sense,
And what perceive; well pleased to recognise
The anchor of my purest thought, the nurse,
The guide, the guardian of my heart and soul,
Of all my moral being.

WORDSWORTH.

OUR EARLY FLOWERS.

THE HYACINTH AND HAWTHORN.

Go, mark the matchless working of the power
That shuts within the seed the future flower;
Bids these in elegance of form excel,
In color these, and these delight the smell;
Sends Nature forth, the daughter of the skies,
To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes.

T

HE

FLOWER TO WHICH

WE

SHALL NEXT INVITE ATTENTION IS NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL AND FRAGRANT; IT IS A DOMESTIC PET, as well as a florist's favorite and a garden ornament. Hyacinth glasses are a part of the furniture of our parlors. The gradual development of the root, leaves, and flowers, and the little attentions necessary for complete success, afford familiar lessons in vegetable physiology; whilst the oriental splendor of the gorgeous colors, and the rich perfume which breathes around, adorn and enliven the humblest home, as well as the luxurious halls of grandeur and wealth.

The plants we have hitherto examined all belong to the great Erogenous class, so that with the hyacinth we enter on a new field, and are led to the contemplation of plants differing in the structure of the seed, of the stem, of the leaf, and of the flower, as well as in their general aspect and habit, from any that have yet come before us. We enter on the Endogenous division of the vegetable kingdom, characterised by the single seedleaf, the absence of any distinction between bark and wood, the parallelism of the venation of the leaves, and the tendency to the number three in the circles of parts forming the flower. In the hyacinth the true stem is reduced to a mere plate, from which, underneath, the roots proceed; and on the upper surface of which is a bud, known as the bulb, and popularly, though very erroneously, regarded as the root. The coatings of the bulb are transformed leaves. When duly stimulated by moisture and warmth, it sends forth leaves, and a flower-stalk. Each separate flower is, properly speaking, produced in the axil of a leaf; but the leaves accompanying flowers are commonly reduced to a very small size, and transformed in appearance. Botanists give the name of bractes to these and all other leaves which are changed in form or appearance by their connexion with the flower, but do not form parts of the floral circles.

The hyacinth flower seems to be a bell, consisting of one piece divided into six radiating and reflexed parts towards the extremity; six stamens growing out of the interior of the bell, and a seed-vessel standing in the midst. Careful inspection will, however, make it manifest that three of the

VOL. V.-15.

divisions of the flower lie within the other three; and a comparison with other flowers of similar structure shows that we have here, in fact, five successive circles of three parts each, of which the four outermost are combined together. The exterior circle may be recognised by its tendency to produce nectariferous tails, something resembling that of a violet, which may be seen in stronglygrown hyacinths. This is, properly speaking, a calyx of three united sepals. Altercorolla, so combined with the outer circle as nating with them, are the three petals of the to form with it but one bell. Then follow

two circles of stamens, alternating with each other, but forced by pressure into a complete union with the parts already described. tain that the seed-vessel is formed by the Very little observation is necessary to ascerunion of three capillary leaves, whose edges meet in the axis, and whose mid ribs are as strongly marked as the lines of junction, producing the appearance of six parts. On the young seed-vessel are said to be found necpores, the presence of which is part of Linnæus's technical character of hyacinths, but which nevertheless are not and not at all, we believe, in the other species often found in the plant we are describing, which Linnæus included in the family; so that the mention of them is only an embarrassment to the student.

tariferous

The natural color of the hyacinth is the rich dark blue which is so often seen in it; but numerous varieties are common. as various shades of blue, from almost black to very pale, pink and flesh color, pale yellow, and white. Each color is also occasionally produced double. Florists value the flowers for the clearness and brilliancy of their colors, the number, size, and regularity of the bells. The double ones are very rich and splendid; yet the single, if good in color, size, and growth, are not accounted much inferior. The number of distinct named varieties which are increased by offsets rom the bulbs, and retain their separate characteristics, is very great; but many of them are scarcely different, being similar seedlings raised and named by different persons, and a collection of twenty-five or thirty sorts would exhibit all that are really worth notice. The hyacinth is very successfully cultivated in Holland, from which country the bulbs are imported to satisfy the demand amongst us.

The hyacinth of the ancient fabulists appears to have been the cornflag (Gladiolus communis of botanists), but the name was applied vaguely, and had been early referred both to the great larkspur (Delphinium Ajacis), on account of the similar spots on the petals, supposed to represent the Greek exclamation of lamentation, Ai, ai, and to the hyacinth of modern times. To the latter it was in

studying it. We find in the hawthorn all the four circles of parts belonging to the flower; the sepals and petals, each five in number, the stamens numerous, and the carpels from one to three. The sepals cohere in the lower portion, and the united part is lined by the torus, or common base of the petals and stamens, so that these parts seem to grow out of the calyx. The carpels, which are uncertain in number-only one

pressed together, completely imbedded in the calyx tube and concealed by it, the whole forming an oval berry. The species, which are numerous, are pretty constantly thorny. Mespilus, the medlar, is known by the five indurated carpels being imperfectly covered by the calyx, producing a top-shaped fruit, the flat open summit being bordered by the remains of the sepals.

the carpels (five in number) cartilaginous, Pyrus, the apple, pear, and service, has

The tree is hard-wooded, the branches having lateral, sharp thorns. The leaves are smooth, dark green, wedge-shaped below, three or five-lobed, and cut above; the stipules or auxiliary leaves crescent-shaped, cut. The flowers are corymbose, on smooth stalks, white, with a pinkish cast when fading; produced in great abundance. The botanical name now generally received is Crataegus oxyacantha. Oxyacantha is a name used by Theophrastus and Dioscorides for some plant of the kind, it is now believed for the Crataegus Pyracantha (a well-known shrub commonly trained on walls), but which by the earlier modern botanists was supposed to apply to the hawthorn; hence Linnæus adopted it as a specific name. Crataegus is also an ancient name found in Theophrastus. It is explained as referring to the strength of the wood of the plant which bore it; but perhaps the more probable interpretation is goat's head, from some fanciful resemblance which we could not now undertake to justify. It is probable the name belonged to a kind of thorn-tree, and it was adopted by Linnæus as a generic name for a family nearly allied to the apple and pear, and which includes the hawthorn. All those plants which have the five sepals united into a tube, embracing and adhering to the carpels, which do not exceed five in number-the common basis of the stamens and petals spreading over the calyx beyond its union with the carpels, and usually appearing as a fleshy disk, form the border of which five petals and about twenty stamens grow, the plants being shrubs or trees not unfrequently thorny-form the natural order of Pomacea, by many regarded only as a section of Rosacea, to which it is closely allied. The distinctions of the genera are chiefly founded on the fruit. Crategus has the carpels indurated, closely

in the calyx tube, and each producing not more than two seeds, whose covering is also has the carpels, which in other respects cartilaginous; whilst Cydonia, the quince, resemble those of Pyrus, many-seeded, each seed being covered by a mucilaginous pulp. We have here only contrasted a few of the principal genera of Pomacea, of which the distinctions may be readily understood. It will be seen at once how the various sorts of thorn trees, of which many are seen in our shrubberies, are known from the medlars; why the genus Pyrus, as botanically defined, includes the service-tree and the mountainash, as well as the apple and pear; and why the beautiful early-flowering tree, whose crimson blossoms adorn our walls, and which has been introduced from Japan, is rightly named Cydonia Japonica, not, as it is vulgarly called, Pyrus Japonica. As its fruit often grows to a good size, it is easy for any one to observe for himself that the plant is a true quince. Indeed, the fruit may be ripened with a little care, and might be used as a substitute for the quince. The mountain-ash being so nearly allied to the apple as to be usually placed in the same genus with it, those who are acquainted with this fact will be prepared to dismiss the common notion, which is but a vulgar error, of its berries being poisonous. It has originated, without doubt, from ignorantly classing them with other red berries which are poisonous; but there is no fruit of the pomaceous tribe which is pernicious. Some are insipid and worthless; even the wild apple, known as the crab, is too austere to be agreeable. The acid of the mountain-ash is mingled with bitter and is not very pleasant to most people; but it is often found refreshing, and in Scotland the berries are deemed worthy of being made into a Common plants which are really dangerous ought to be familiarly known, that they may be eradicated where it is possible, and that children may be put on their guard against them; but prejudices against harmless plants ought to be removed. We might almost as well imagine the haw poisonous as the mountain-ash berry. Neither possesses much value as a fruit, but they at least need excite no apprehension.

conserve.