as my father, with his face a little raised and his eye up-turned, as if he were looking into the mystery beyond the grave-would dwell on the promises of the Gospel, his deep whispering words flowing on as by a divine inspiration, raising us by our sympathies beyond this world. Then the tears came fast into my eyes-for weeping was then a gladness-as I looked upon his benevolent features, irradiated with the ardour of his devotion.

So sung the sweetest songster that ever lived, so have I often felt when kneeling on the gay cushions with my gold-bound books and bands before my een-one among a throng of insensible worshippers-listening to the "pompous strain," the bowings and ceremonies, and sacerdotal robes, plucked from Aaron's old wardrobe.These thoughts rushed through my mind as I walked tardily on towards the stile; the green and briar-choked lane passing beside the cottage was before me. laid my hand tremblingly on the wicket-a hasty glance at the garden realized my fears-her hand had not bound up the long ponderous-headed flowers-they hung neglected on the earth, soiled and trodden down; weeds choaked the ground, and mingled mockingly with the choice blossoms of the garden. I heard a suppressed talking in the little room wherein we used to meet-there was more than one voice. I listened a moment and then advanced, giving a hasty look through the latticed panes; several persons were in the cottage. I stood a moment before the unopened door-I gazed on the white walls, on the honeysuckle flowering round the casement; softly and fearfully I moved my hand towards the latch, which, however, I dared not raise; I only laid my finger lightly on it, and, with my eyes rooted on the ground, stood in motionless anxiety; my arm dropped heavily down as, with a sigh, I would have turned away. Some one lifted the latch-my heart leaped up-I felt suffocated. In the middle of the room, surrounded with six or seven decent young men, was a coffin supported on two chairs. No one questioned me; there was a grief in my look which told them I was a mourner. I bent my head beneath the door, and, standing by the coffin I read on it the name of Hannah Dyer! My heart was swelled with bitter sorrow-my tears fell on the coffin

lid. There lay all that was once so dear to me, with whom I had listened to a voice long since hushed for ever. I stood as one entranced, rapt about with the incense of my own thoughts; a stir among the young men called me to myself. They were decently arrayed in black, the long white silk bands and ribbon bows betokening the chaste character of her who was gone. The heavy tones of the village church bell, which I had so often heard, fell slowly on my ear; the bearers disposed themselves on each side of the coffin -the two last had just gained the door-I started-the mourners ! there was none to mourn. I hastily followed-stooping, I plucked a drooping rose; and as I walked at the foot of the coffin with the flower in my hand, the little children of the village, the young maidens, and the aged carle, looked in my face and wondered-for I was the only mourner. Beneath the shadow of the sombrous Yewtree her grave was dug; the young men made way for me to stand by the grave's side as one that loved her, though they knew me not; the earth from the old clerk's hand sounded heavily on the coffin: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." I looked up

through the clear twilight of the starry evening; the tears filled my eyes as I repeated aloud, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord;" and the young men wept. I stood alone by the grave until the sand was being rudely thrown in; I returned to the cottage, which had been deserted: I sat down-and there, self-communing in a spot so sacred to goodness—wherein I had not stood for fifteen years-I recalled the long past, the present; I recognized those first impressions which now came upon me gentle and pure as dew on the flowers of Eden. I was startled by a sheeny light striking into the darkening room-the cold rays of the chrystal moon shone upon the lattice panes-I looked around, and cast a long and lingering glance upon every objectupon those flowers that would no longer be cherished by her-upon that sweet garden that would know her no more for ever. The moon's beams reached not the grave, but silvered the dark sepulchral branches overshadowing it. There was no voice to startle the silence, no eye to mark me: there I sat long and thoughtfully, until the clock, with its time-telling tongue, awoke my consciousness. I looked upon the withering rose-it was all that remained of her who is dead.

The worn and weary pilgrim may purify his conscience by his toilsome journey to Mecca; or the little less rational christian absolve his soul by bodily penance, or excite his religious ardour by a superstitious devotion: when that my heart is hardened by the

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world, and sin and suffering encompass me, I will visit the grave of her who is in heaven; and as I read on the plain stone the name of Hannah Dyer, I shall be regenerated by impressions which exalt and purify my heart, matured to penitence and peace by the faint stirrings of that better spirit which cannot be quenched.

PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES.

W.

MANCHESTER NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

WHEN We examine the causes that operate in producing the rise and fall of empires, and the varied agencies that have aided in bringing the world to its present moral and intellectual condition, we pause with feelings of pleasure to reflect for a moment on the origin and progress of our scientific institutions. The statesman wields the truncheon of command, and the warrior leads devoted thousands to an early death: but these in vain attempt to join nations in bonds of friendship: some jealousy discovers a new cause for quarrel, and, for trifling reasons, contending people again meet in all the hateful array of war. What these powerful agents fail to accomplish, is achieved by the humble hand of science. Its votaries, pursuing their peaceful discoveries, form connections and friendships which national quarrels in vain try to interrupt. Their interests and opinions (devoid of prejudice) seem apart from those of the world; and when this happy communion becomes more extended, that national hatred, so injurious in its effects, will disappear from the face of the earth-we shall no more hear such epithets as the too common one, "natural enemies," but know and feel that our greatest blessing is universal peace and universal friendship. In producing and strengthening this silken tie between one nation and another, our philosophical institutions stand pre-eminent. Alike formed and supported by a numerous concourse of people, they must in time exhibit effects upon public opinion. Here, individuals of opposite political principles (those banes of private friendship) meet together; they alike communicate and listen to communications of discoveries: the harmless discussions which ensue, strengthen, rather than interrupt the happy feeling, and they separate with the full conviction that this is an arena on which persons of all ranks, all principles, and all nations may meet in friendly and agreeable intercourse.

As in many other instances, comparative trifles first led to the

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formation of a Natural History Society in Manchester: some of the inhabitants of that large and populous town had long contemplated having an additional institution to the one already proceeding so successfully under the auspices of Dalton-some society where collections of all the rich and varied objects of creation should be brought together; where, even in the centre of a commercial town, the admirer of Nature might study the beauties of the inhabitants of woods and wilds-might at once transport his thoughts from the busy scene of bustle and turmoil with which he was surrounded, and for a time revel amidst the productions of distant climes. An opportunity at length offered itself for carrying this design into effect in 1821, a collection of birds and insects-the former comprising many rare and valuable specimens were offered for sale ; a small body of spirited individuals met and agreed to purchase them, and these specimens became the nucleus around which were to accumulate the now splendid collections of the Manchester Natural History Society. The insects had been collected some time previous by Lee Phillips, Esq., and at that period, when collections of natural objects were more rarely formed, exhibited a valuable assemblage both of foreign and British specimens. The most complete department was that of British Lepidoptera, which, even at the present time, is highly valuable. Amongst the birds were many of considerable interest, especially some rare specimens of Myotherinæ. The greater part were collected by M. Freyreiss, who was employed by a society of Vienna to collect specimens in South America, where he staid some years. After his employers were supplied with the more valuable results of his labours, some of the duplicates came into the possession of the late Mr. Robinson, from whose friends, on his decease, they were bought by the gentlemen who thus first commenced the Manchester Natural History Society. This purchase being made, it was necessary to adopt some measures for the preservation of the collection, and to endeavour, as soon as possible, to obtain additional contributions. A room was taken in Cross-street, St. Ann's Square, and Mr. T. Harrop was appointed to take charge of the specimens, and stuff such birds or other animals as were sent in.

No addition of great importance was made until the latter part of 1822, when the collection of minerals belonging to Mr. Strutt, of Derby, was purchased; at once filling up, to a certain extent, a department of the highest importance, and one in which the Society was very deficient. This collection being obtained, the museum took at once a higher rank. The visitors were gratified by the interest they found in the specimens, the increased variety affording a more ample field for study and contemplation.

A gradual accession of specimens was made during the years 1823 and 1824, especially in the department of foreign Ornithology, which rapidly increased. The proximity of Manchester to Liverpool, where ships were daily arriving from all quarters of the globe bringing with them specimens and illustrations of every de

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partment of the vast field of Nature, gave the officers of the institution great advantages; and of these they availed themselves in the most active and persevering manner, each endeavouring to vie with the rest in promoting the prospects and ensuring the success of the society. The apartments occupied now became much too small for the proper display of the property as well as for the general accommodation of the society, and consequently, in 1825, they removed to a more convenient building in King-street, where two large and well-lighted rooms contributed much to the good appearance of the specimens. The chief deficiency consisted in the want of a conchological collection, and to remedy this an extensive one was purchased from Mr. Swainson, which, however, was almost entirely composed of foreign species.

No addition of particular importance was now made for some time, but a variety of contributions were received from its friends, both at home and abroad, and numerous minor purchases were made. The birds, from their numbers and splendour, attracted general attention, and already ranked as one of the first collections in the kingdom; whilst the minerals, shells, and insects, for that period, were far from contemptible.

In 1832 it was evident that the new building was not sufficiently extensive for the reception and display of the specimens accumulated, and the propriety of having one erected expressly for the purpose was suggested. This proposition was acted upon the following year, when, a convenient site being selected in Peter-street, the present hall of the Society was commenced. The plot of land secured was much larger than the actual building required, to enable future additions to be made; a precaution highly necessary, from the great demand for warehouses and other buildings in that part of the town. In 1834 the Society received a considerable addition by the purchase of a collection of Crustacea belonging to the late Rev. L. Guilding; and in April, 1836, the new hall of the Society being completed, the specimens were removed from their old situation to the places they now occupy.

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The department in which this institution most excels is certainly that of Ornithology. The collection of British birds wants but few to make it complete, and the foreign one contains about eighteen hundred specimens; amongst these are many rare and undescribed species. Hitherto the birds have only been arranged in neral groups, but on the appointment of Mr. W. C. Williamson, in the autumn of 1835, to the office of curator, a new system of arrangement was commenced. The first step was the separation of the British from the foreign birds, which were placed in another room. The former were arranged according to the catalogue recently published by Jenyns, and grouped so as to simplify as much as possible the study of Ornithology. All the birds of one genus are brought together and placed upon one group of artificial branches, with the name of the genus fixed at the root, or point where the branch is fastened to the case. For the next genus a se