extending his stick across the path, and inquiring, THE DOCTOR.-Here is another very soc"How a man might attain to virtue and honour?" able little volume from the press of Harper Xenophen could not answer; and the philosopher, and Brothers. It is entitled "Lotus-Eating. bidding him follow, became thenceforward his A Summer Book." master in Ethics. These incidents were shadows of leaves on the stream; but they conducted Demosthenes iuto the temple of eloquence, and placed Xenophen by the side of Livy. We have pleasing examples nearer home. Evelyn, sauntering along a meadow near Says Court, loitered to look in at the window of a lonely thatched house, where a young man was carving a cartoon of Tintoret. He requested permission to enter, and soon recommended the artist to Charles II. From that day, the name of Gibbins belonged to his conutry. Gibbon among the ruins of Roman grandeur, conceives his prose epic; Thorwaldsen sees a boy sitting on the steps of a house, and goes home to model Mercury. Opie bends over the shoulder of a companion drawing a butterfly, and rises up a painter; Giotto sketches a sheep on a stone, which attracts the notice of Cimabue, passing by that way; and the rude shepherd-boy is immortalized by Dante. Milton retires to Chalfont; and that refuge from the plague, gives to us Paradise Regained. Lady Austin points to a Sofa; and Cowper creates the Task. A dispute about a music-desk awakens the humour of the Lutrin; and an apothecary's quarrel produces the Dispensary. The accidental playing of a Welsh harper at Cambridge, inspired Gray with the conclusion of "The Bard," which had been lying-a noble fragment-for a long time in his desk. Slight circumstances are the tects of science. Pascal heard a common dinner-plate ring, and wrote a tract upon sound. While Galileo studied medicine in the University of Pisa, the regular oscillation of a lamp suspended from the roof of the cathedral attracted his observation, and led him to consider the vibrations of pendulums. Kepler determined to fill his cellars from the Austrian vineyards; but, disputing the accuracy of settler's measurement, he worked out one of the "earliest specimens of what is now called the modern analysis." Cuvier dissects a cuttle fish; and the mystery of the whole animal kingdom unfolds itself before him. A sheet of paper sent from the press, with the letters accidentally raised, suggests the embossed alphabet for the blind; and a physician, lying awake and listening to the beating of his heart, contributes the most learned book upon the diseases of that organ. THE MAJOR.-Who is the author? THE DOCTOR.-He answers to the name of G. W. Curtis, and has already earned some repute by two clever works, “Nile Notes of a Howadji," and "The Howadji in Syria." THE MAJOR.-I read both of these productions without yawning, which for me, is no small commendation. Let me have a mouthful of Lotus by way of sample! THE DOCTOR.-Here are Mr. Curtis's experiences of Niagara. Disappointment in Niagara seems to be affected, or childish. Your fancies may be very different, but the regal reality sweeps them away like weeds and dreams. You may have nourished some impossible idea of one ocean pouring itself over a precipice into another. But it was a wild whim of inexperience, and is in a moment forgotten. If, standing upon the bridge as you cross to Goat Island, you can watch the wild sweep and swirl of the waters around the wooded point above, dashing, swelling and raging, but awful from the inevitable and resistless rush, and not feel that your fancy of a sea is paled by the chaos of wild water that tumbled towards you, then you are a child, and the forms of your thought are not precise enough for the profoundest satisfaction in great natural spectacles. Over that bridge how slowly you will walk, and how silently, gazing in awe at the tempestuous sweep of the rapids, and glancing with wonder at the faint cloud of spray over the American Fall. As the sense of grandeur and beauty subdues your mind, you will still move quietly onward, pausing a moment, leaning a moment on the railing, closing your eyes to hear only Niagara, and ever, as a child says its prayers in a time of danger, slowly, and with strange slowness, repeating to yourself, "Niagara! Niagara!" For although you have not yet seen the Cataract, you feel that nothing else can be the crisis of this excitement. Were you suddenly placed blindfolded where you stand, and your eyes were unbandaged, and you were asked, "What shall be the result of all this?" the answer would accompany the question, "Niagara!" Yet marvellous calmness still waits upon intense feeling. "It was odd," wrote Sterling to a friend, "to be curiously studying the figures on the doc from my lips." We must still sport with our emotions. Some philosopher will die, his last breath sparkling from his lips a pun. Some fair fated Lady Jane Grey will span her slight neck with her delicate fingers, and smile to the headsman that his task is easy. And we, with kindred feeling, turn aside into the shop of Indian curiosities and play with Niagara, treating it as a jester, as a Bayadère, to await our pleasure. Thus, in life and science, the strange intracies and unions of things small and splendid are clearly discerned. Causes and effects wind into each other. "By this most astonishing connexion-waistcoat, while my life, as I thought, was bleeding these reciprocal correspondences and mutual relations-everything which we see in the course of nature is actually brought about; and things, seemingly the most insignificant imaginable, are perpetually observed to be necessary conditions to other things of the greatest importance." History is a commentary on the wisdom of Butler. A proclamation furls the sails of a ship; and Cromwell, instead of plying his axe in a forestclearing of America, blasphemes God, and beheads his sovereign at home. Bruce raised his eyes to the ceiling, where a spider was struggling to fix a line for his web; and instead of a crusader, we have the hero of Bannockburn." Then, through the woods on Goat Island-solemn and stately woods-how slowly you will walk, again, and how silently! Ten years ago, your friend carved his name upon some tree there, and Niagara must now wait until he finds it, swollen and shapeless with time. You saunter on. Is it As yet you have not seen the Fall. You are coming with its waters, and are at its level. But groups of persons, sitting upon yonder point, which we see through the trees, are looking at the Cataract. We do not pause for them; we run now, down the path, along the bridges, into the Tower, and lean far over where the spray cools our faces. The living water of the rapids moves to its fall, as if torpid with terror; and the river that we saw, in one vast volume now pours over the parapet, and makes Niagara. It is not all stricken into foam as it falls, but the densest mass is smooth, and almost of livid green. Yet, even as it plunges, see how curls of spray exude from the very substance of the mass, airy, sparkling and wreathing into mist-emblems of the water's resurrection into summer clouds. Looking over into the abyss, we behold nothing below, we hear only a slow, constant thunder, and, bewildered in the mist, dream that the Cataract has cloven the earth to its centre, and that, pouring its waters into the fervent inner heat, they hiss into spray, and overhang the fated Fall, the sweat of its agony. แ right-well do I remember the difficulties with which the students had formerly to contend in acquiring a new language in the complicated grammars put into his hand. THE MAJOR.-I think in the present instance admit that is it as concise, yet clear, a help to you will, after looking into Klauer's table, German as you will meet with. THE DOCTOR.-I beg your pardon Cullpepper, but I hear Nell uplifting her voice, she heralds, I presume, the advent of Orlando! THE MAJOR.-As you love me, breathe not again the name of Nelly within these timber walls. We live in an extra refined age and clime, and Judge Snob hath ruled that it is rustic to allude to the barking of a hound! THE DOCTOR.-I take!-See the door opens! [Enter Orlando Plees.]-Welcome to the Shanty, Mr. Plees! Permit me to make you acquainted with the Satrap thereof, Cullpepper Crabtree of that ilk! THE MAJOR.-I trust, sir, that you will consider yourself at home. "Rude is our forest bower," as the poet hath it, but such as it is, it is very much at your devotion. PLEES.-You are exceedingly kind! What a beautiful locality this is? THE MAJOR-Fresh charms do your commendations add to the landscape, as they say in Shiraz! [Aside] I say Doctor, smuggle Uncle Tom's Cabin off the table, like a good fellow! me, I beseech you, as far as Uncle Tom is ORLANDO [smiling].-Make no stranger of concerned. Like the skinned eels I am now pretty well used to the infliction! Not a day has elapsed of the last three weeks, in which I have not stumbled upon the Cabin! From New York to Toronto there has been a perpetual sounding of Tom Tom's in my ears! THE MAJOR.-Now that you have broken the subject, might I make bold to inquire how this redoubtable volume is regarded in Old Virginia? your THE MAJOR. That metal rings true. Pray leave me the book, and in return accept Reports on the Sea and River fisheries of New Brunswick, by H. M. Perley, Esq." The brochure is well deserving of a nook in statistical library, as it is replete with curious facts, and well digested details. To the statesman and the naturalist, Mr. Perley's work equally commends itself. THE DOCTOR.-In looking over Goethe, the other day, I felt a little rusty, so forthwith recommened my German studies, and in my inquisition after something, in the shape of either dictionary or grammar, to lighten my labours, I stumbled on Klauer's German Tables. Have you seen them? THE MAJOR.-Yes, and a very good aid to the acquisition of the German language they are--the tables are concise and the directions for pronounciation are clear: it is altogether a very useful work that will enable any one, with common application, to acquire a fair knowledge of German, even without a master. THE DOCTOR.-Simplicity is in my opinion the principal requisite in an elementary work, ORLANDO.-Its ability is generally admitted, but exceptions strong, and in my opinion, most religious are taken to the fairness of the authoress. Mrs. H. Stowe singles out with sheep, and exhibits them as average samples malignant assiduity, a few black, scabbed of the flock at large. Slavery as it is, is a widely different affair from the mythical creation (I can use no gentler term) of this fair but biased special pleader! THE DOCTOR.-I am half inclined to agree with you! But why not fight the enemy with her own weapons? Why not get up a per contra romance? ORLANDO. The thing has been done and well done too. Perhaps Major Crabtree, you will hononr me by accepting a copy of the work to which I refer. It is entitled "Aunt Phillis's Cabin; or Southern Life as it is." THE MAJOR.-I heartly thank you for your gift, I had already heard of the book, but hitherto have been unsuccessful in procuring a copy. Our Canadian bibliopoles are emancipationists to a man; at least I conclude they are from the assiduity with which they always "remember to forget" to obtain for me the volume which I now hold in my hand. ORLANDO.-May I be permitted the liberty of reading to you a single scene from Aunt Phillis? THE MAJOR-YOU will greatly oblige me by so doing. ORLANDO.-I may premise that Mr. Weston is a planter. Bacchus and Peggy are two of his slaves, the former being considerably the worse of liquor. Mr. Weston has just entered his kitchen, unobserved by Peggy, who is engaged in lecturing the aforesaid Bacchus: "It's no use, Mister Bacchus," said she, address. ing the old man, who looked rather the worse for wear, "it's no use to be flinging yer imperence in my face. I'se worked my time; I'se cooked many a grand dinner, and eat 'em too. lazy wagabond yerself." You'se a Peggy," interposed Mr. Weston. "A good-for-nothing, lazy wagabond yourself," continued Peggy, not noticing Mr. Weston, "you'se not worth de hommony you eats." "Does you hear that, master?" said Bacchus, appealing to Mr. Weston; "she's such an old fool." Hold your tongue, sir," said Mr. Weston; while Mark, ready to strangle his fellow-servant for his impertinence, was endeavoring to drag him out of the room. Carry him off," said Mr. Weston, again. John, help Mark." "Be off wid yourselves, both of ye," said Bacchus; "if ye don't, I'll give you de devil, afore I quits." "I'll shut up your mouth for you," said Mark, talking so before master; knock him over, John, and push him out.” Bacchus was not so easily overcome. The god time. Suddenly the old fellow's mood changed; whose namesake he was, stood by him for some with a patronizing smile he turned to Mr. Weston, and said, "Master, you must 'scuse me: I not well dis evening. I has the dyspepsy; my suggestion aint as good as common. I think dat ox was done to much." Mr. Weston could not restrain a smile at his grotesque appearance, and ridiculous language. Mark and John took advantage of the melting mood which had come over him, and led him off without difficulty. On leaving the kitchen, he went into a pious fit, and sung out "When I can read my title clar." Mr. Weston heard him say, แ Don't, Mark; don't squeeze an ole nigger so; do you 'spose you'll ever get to Heaven, if you got no more feelins than that ?" "I hope," said Mr. Weston, addressing the other servants, "that you will all take warning by this scene. An honest respectable servant like Bacchus, to degrade himself in this way-it gives me great pain to see it. William," said he, addressing a son of Bacchus, who stood by the window, "did you deliver my note to Mr. Walter ?" "Yes, sir; he says he'll come to dinner; I was my way to tell you, but they was making such a fuss here." Very well," said Mr. Weston. "The rest of you go to bed, quietly; I am sure there will be no more disturbance to night." "Ha, ha," said Peggy, "so much for Mr. Bac-on chus going to barbecues. A nice waiter he makes." "Do you not see me before you, Peggy ?" said Mr. Weston, "and do you continue this disputing in my presence? If you were not so old, and had not been so faithful for many years, I would not excuse such conduct. You are very ungrateful, when you are so well cared for; and from this time forward, if you cannot be quiet and set a good example, in the kitchen do not come into it." "Don't be afeard, master, I can stay in my own cabin. If I has been well treated, it's no more den I desarves. I'se done nuff for you and yours, in my day; slaved myself for you and your father before you. De Lord above knows I don't want ter stay whar dat old drunken nigger is, no how. Hand me my cane, dar, Nancy, I ain't gwine to 'trude my 'siety on nobody." And Peggy hobbled off, not without a contemptuous look at Bacchus, who was making unsuccessful efforts to rise in compliment to his master. "As for you, Bacchus," said Mr. Weston, "never let this happen again. I will not allow you to wait at barbecues, in future." "Don't say so, master, if you please; dat ox, if you could a smelled him roastin, and de whiskeypunch" and Bacchus snapped his finger, as the only way of concluding the sentence to his own satisfaction. "Take him off, Mark," said Mr. Weston, "the drunken old rascal." But what will the Abolitionist say to this scene? Where were the whip and the cord, and other instruments of torture? Such consideration, he contends, was never shown in a southern country. With Martin Tupper, I say, "Hear reason, oh! brother; Hear reason and right." It has been, that master and slave were friends; and if this cannot continue, at whose door will the sin lie? THE DOCTOR.-Is not such a scene somewhat uncommon in the Southern States? If Mrs. Stowe culls out her black sheep, does not Mrs. Eastman (the authoress of Aunt Phillis) devote her attention with equal exclusiveness to the whiter quadrupeds? ORLANDO.-I can only speak from my own experience. Honestly, do I assure you, that pictures similar to the above are familiar to me as "household words," admit. Permit me, however, to ask you a THE MAJOR.-That I am frankly willing to question or two. May not the worst scenes delineated by Mrs. Stowe, occur in the South? May not a happy community, such as I con"Icede Mr. Weston's establishment to be, be broken up by death or bankruptcy, and the members thereof scattered east, west, north, Master," said Bacchus, pushing Mark off don't like de way you speak to me; t'aint 'spectful." and south? May not the husband be torn from the wife, the child from the mother, the brother from the sister? ORLANDO.-There is no well constituted slave owner, who will not feel pained, as I now feel pain, at being constrained to return an affirmative answer to these interrogatories. THE MAJOR.-Then, my dear sir, I am bound to say, that I consider the authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," fully justified in every sentence and line that she has written! If only one such case of outrage occurred in the course of a year, that case would furnish ample warrant for the sternest and most uncompromising denunciation of the system that permitted it! THE MAJOR.-You spoke of some messages, I think? to read "The Paris Sketch-Book," by ThackTHE DOCTOR.-Yes. The Laird wishes you ORLANDO.—I wish, from the bottom of my soul, Major, that you could behold the happiness of the slaves on my uncle Bovell's plantation. Why, I have witnessed no correspond-eray, which has just appeared in Appleton's ing light-heartedness and joviality amongst the series. He says it abounds, even to overflowfree labourers of the Northern States or Bri-ing, with wit, humour, and graphic delineatish North America. tions of character. Though written many years ago, (the Laird adds,) it prophetically indicates the course which Louis Napoleon has recently followed, and altogether is a rara of books. THE MAJOR.-And do you not perceive, Mr. Plees, that this very occasional joviality is one of the strongest proofs of the crushing degra-avis dation which slavery brings upon what old Fuller quaintly terms "God's image, cut in ebony?" ORLANDO.-It may be owing to my obtusity, but I confess my inability to trace the legitimacy of your deduction. THE MAJOR-Do you think that we could be sitting here, enjoying ourselves fancy free," if there was a possibility that ere many months or weeks had elapsed, we could be driven like hogs to the St. Lawrence Market, and knocked down at so much per head to any brute or bumpkin, who could produce the requisite amount of mammon? Would not that hideous possibility dim our eyes and cloud our brows, and constrain us to live in constant heaviness of heart and bitterness of spirit? No, Mr. Plees, the mirth of the animated, soul-endued chattle, is the strongest, and most infernal evidence of the debasing tendency of enforced servitude. In proportion as the slave's laugh is loud, does he resemble the horse or the mule, whose highest enjoy ment is exemption from the lash, and whose To Kalon is a mess of oats, and appetite to masticate the same! THE DOCTOR. I am sorry to break in upon this discussion, but I have an engagement this evening, and before I go I must deliver a brace of messages, one from the Laird and the other from the Squireen. THE MAJOR.-By the way, what has come over our messmates? I was wondering why they did not show face. THE DOCTOR.-The Laird is one of the Committee of Management for the Agricultural Festival, and cannot find time even to eat, much less to visit the Shanty. As for THE MAJOR.-And the Squireen? THE DOCTOR.-Oh, he merely wishes you to remit him £20, if perfectly convenient. THE MAJOR [starting up].-Mr. Plees, I hear the supper-bell!-Alons! A meeting of merchants and traders was recently held in the City Hall, Toronto, at which a petition to Parliament, of which the following is the prayer, was unanimously adopted :— "That your Honourable House will so amend the Assessment Act of 1850, and the Assessment Law Amending Act of 1851, that, in so far as they relate to the cities, towns, and incorporated villages, the annual produce of skill or labour, or of some or all of them combined-that is to say income, by whatever name called, or from whatever source derived, shall be taken as the basis of taxation on personal property, and that any person assessed on any income derived from any office, or from trade, calling or professions, shall be assessed in the Municipality in which such office is held, or such trade, calling or profession exercised, and that such further measures may be adopted as shall to your Honourable House appear best fitted to ensure the equitable operation of the Assessment Law so amended." WE invite our readers attention to Mr. Baines' CROWN LAND AGENCY, "A Registry of Lands, &c., left for private sale, will be kept. "THOMAS BAINES." TORONTO. "It is about twelve months since the writer was in that city, and in that short time, the beauty of the principal streets has been very greatly increased. St. James's Church had been com other warehouses, such as would do credit for their substantial roomy designs to St. Paul's Churchyard or Cheapside; and we noticed similar improvements on Wellington Street. However, but a short time was given for these investiga tions,-what is here mentioned, is the result only of a cursory glance through the city." THE PARK. We have already in our Magazine advocated the establishment of Public Parks in the ris ing cities and towns of our young country. It is with pleasure we notice that the inhabitants of Toronto are alive to the importance of the subject, as will be seen by the following extract from the News of the Week :— "At a public meeting held in the City Hall, on the 2nd ult., to consider the best mode of securing a portion of the Garrison Common, as a pub lic Park for the use of our citizens, the following Resolutions were proposed and adopted :— "Resolved,-That it is most desirable that the portion of the Garrison Common leased to the Corporation, should be appropriated for a Public Park for the citizens, secured to the city in such way as will justify the necessary improvements. "Resolved,-That in the opinion of this meeting, to carry out the proposed plan of settling old pensioners upon the lands within the limits of the city, as this meeting understands the intention of the Imperial Government to be, is highly objectionable, and will prove injurious to the interests of this city, inasmuch as such a settlement must Resolved, That this meeting fully approves of the course taken by His Worship the Mayor and the City Corporation, to defend the rights of the city property in question, and respectfully requests they will continue their exertions to secure the same." The following sketch of Toronto as it is, is necessarily be composed of such a class of dwel given by a recent correspondent of the Mont-lings as would not be creditable to the city, and real Herald:will form a small and insignificant village within the limits of the city, at a point where the contemplated Park is proposed to be situated, and sarily pass; and would, in the opinion of this meetwhere our principal western railroads must neces pleted, and added to it, some pretty school build-ing, be a violation of the compact entered into ings and other dependencies. This church, built between the Corporation and the Ordnance Deof white brick, for which Toronto is famous, in the partment in reference to the said land. restored style of church architecture, is decidedly the most beautiful and appropriate religious structure to be seen in Canada. In the order of Civil Architecture, the new Court House deserves notice. It promises to be as fine a structure, in its own kind, as the Church. But public buildings may sometimes proceed rapidly, while general distress prevents improvement in Domestic Architecture. This is not the case in Toronto. Upon King Street, we noticed the builders at work in some five or six places, besides observing several new and handsome brick houses, where a year ago wooden ones stood. Our readers, who are acquainted with Toronto, will remember the corner of Bay and King Streets, which used to be disfigured by some wooden shanties of two stories. These have been completely swept away, to make room for elegant brick houses. While the retailers have thus been improving their places of busness, the wholesale warehouses have also continued to augment in number and beauty. Yonge Street, from the wharf to King Street, is now completed nearly throughout, with dry goods and THE CENSUS RETURNS For Canada East and West, have all been received at the Government offices, with the exception of the returns for Bonaventure, in Lower Canada. They form an immense mass and it is said that considerable difficulty is experienced in making them properly. Quite them into a tangible shape. Many of the rea number of clerks are employed in putting turns are said to be incomplete, and in a great number the totals are not given, which causes a good deal of additional labour to the clerks. The population of Canada East is estimated at 904,0000; Canada West, 852,005; total, |