scious of a slippery tenure. Next to an affectation of slang, an affectation of finery is the most vulgar tone that disgraces a London man. The parvenu of middle life is generally recognised by an assuming and scornful demeanour. But there are parvenus of every grade; and those of the highest degree may always be detected by their affability. No man bows so low or so condescendingly as a new Peers LAW PEERAGES. If the Law has caused the extinction of some families, it has, en revanche, been the making of a great many. It has, within the knowledge of most of the persons who will read this paragraph, laid the foundation of no less than fifteen peeragesthose of Roslyn, Thurlow, Kenyon, Eldon, Redesdale, Manners, Erskine, Sidmouth, Percival, Tenterden, Gifford, Stowell, Lyndhurst, Wynford, Plunkett, Norbury. MONUMENT TO THE LATE The Committee to whom the direction of this monument is entrusted, have thrown the execution of it open to competition, and several distinguished artists are understood to have sent in plans. The spot chosen for its erection is on the Parade, at the back of the Horse Guards. The mo nument is to consist of a pillar, like Trajan's Column, with a statue at the top. Its height is to be between one hundred and fifty and two hundred feet, and the material granite. It will be ascended inside by a winding staircase to the gallery at the top, and will form a magnificent object from the King's Palace and the Park, and indeed from every part of the capital and surrounding country, for its elevation will render it conspicuous from afar. The inscription on the pedestal will be in front towards the Horse Guards. THE TOWER ARMOURY. Dr. Meyrick has at length arranged the horse armoury chronologically in a new building allotted for that pur purpose: and a Mr. White has re newed the Spanish armoury. In the rear of the equestrian figures in armour, variously disposed, Dr. Meyrick has placed a number of fine cannons, from the time of Henry VI. to the time of James II.; and, with the exception of one suit of mail, made to resemble the fashion of Edward I., the whole are genuine, and founded on the basis of truth. Seve. ral royal badges have been discovered on these arms. Instead, therefore, of the armoury in the Tower of London being, as it has hitherto been, a heterogenous medley, ascribed most ignorantly to periods to which hardly one piece so referred did belong, we have now an illustration of history interesting to the antiquarian, the artist, and the public in general. HERCULANEUM. ....: A house belonging to a barber, has been recently discovered at Herculaneum. The shop of this "artist," the furniture, the benches on which the citizens sate while waiting for their turn, the stove, and even the pins employed in the ladies' head-dresses, were found in an astonishing state of preservation. Original Poetry. A LOVE LAY. Lady, when I look on high, But starlit sky, nor earth, nor sea, Can e'er compare, dearest! with thee Fancy doth thy image trace, But Fancy soon doth fade away, Yet, there is a joy behind, Time doth pluck the flower at noon; PUBLISHED (FOR THE PROPRIETOR) BY J. DUNCOMBE, 19, LITTLE QUEEN STREET, HOLBORN; T. F. O. 1 Where all Communications (post-paid) for the Editor, are requested to be & Piner Paternoster-row; M'Phun, OF AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION IN History, Science, Literature, the Fine Arts, &c. No. 6.-(New Series) AUGUST 29, 1829. [Price 3d. ILLUSTRATIONS AND REMINISCENCES OF CHRIST'S HOSPITAL. THIS edifice, of which our frontispiece is a correct representation, forms a striking feature in the improvements effected and in contemplation about the metropolis; indeed, so numerous and attractive are they, that it would be difficult to convey an idea of the effect they will have on the general appearance of the city when accomplished, or to fix to their completion any period or boundary. Destruction, mutation, and renewal, seem to hold their dominion simultaneously in every quarter; and it would be matter of great surprise, if, under such auspices, many edifices of singular merit were not to be found among the number. We have selected this as one which holds the first rank amongst those of that order, and as the nucleus of a much more beautiful erection than that which now occupies the spot. majesty of its southern façade; though it must be admitted to be a good example of the baronial and ecclesiastical refectories of olden times, which we more often read of than we see at the present day. Its length is 182 feet, and its width and height proportionate; the side walls are faced to the height of eight feet or more with a wainscotting painted in imitation of oak, and disposed in small plain pannels; above these are the escutcheons and names of the treasurers of the school from its foundation to the present time. The lower end of the hall is occupied by the organ-loft, under which is the corridor leading to the grand staircase, and above it a smaller gallery for the accommodation of visitors; at the upper end is a stage, or series of ascending benches, which are filled only on great occasions; this is surmounted by a gallery corresponding to that just described, The style in which the new dining hall of Christ's Hospital is built, prevailed about the time of Henry the Se-to which a winding staircase in the tower venth, less embellished than the florid but pure Norman, affording every facility for duration, and with sufficient opportunity for the exhibition of tasteful ornament, a combination of advantages effected by the introduction of large windows, which greatly diminish in appearance the size of the piers, while the Jatter, from their magnitude, add to the security of the building. The basement, which rises to a considerable height, consists of spacious cloisters, offices, &c. and is faced with granite: the roof of the cloisters is groined with brick work. The interior of the hall does not correspond with the No. 173.-3d. S. at the western extremity of the building gives access. The roof, which is flat, and of oak, is supported by arches of low elevation terminating in the walls, and emblazoned with heraldic devices, which give to its buff sides an agreeable relief, and contribute greatly to an imposing effect. Passing over the details of a building to which there is free access at stated hours, we take a hasty glance at the economy of an institution which, from its magnitude and universality, possesses an interest beyond the sphere of locality. It has been observed, that recollections of past ages are excited by the structure itself. In a much greater degree are these realised by the preparations for a repast-the boys in their tunics and vests-the small square trencher of wood supplying the place of British china, (which in our time has reached the cot of the peasant,) the servitors loaded some with large wooden bowls of meat and vegetables on their heads, others with huge baskets of bread, and here and there one whose occupation is to distribute salt from a small bowl to the rest (an employment, by the bye, far less profitable and tyrannical than that of the Etonian at Montem) with the service, as performed at meals, cannot fail to awaken the most pleasurable sensations in the spectator, especially when he sees hilarity and health depicted in the faces of the busy little wights. The discipline of the school, though doubtless liable to some objections, is not of so demoralizing a nature as that of many of our large establishments. "The Christ's Hospital boys' sense of right and wrong," says the author of a brief History of the School, " is peculiarly tender and apprehensive. It is even apt to run out into ceremonious observances, and to impose a yoke beyond the strict obligations of the moral law." He adds, that "the filial feelings of affection are here, from their not being entirely separated from home, nor yet exclusively brought under its influence, brought to a maturity which they could not have attained under a completely domestic education." The different orders or classes in the school are thus described by the same author: "And first, let us remember, as first in importance in our childish eyes, the young men (as they almost were) who, under the denomination of Grecians, were waiting the expiration of the period when they should be sent, at the charges of the Hospital, to one or other of the Universities, but more frequently to Cambridge. These youths, from their superior acquirements, their superior age and stature, and the fewness of their numbers (for seldom above two or three at a time were inaugurated into that high order), drew the eyes of all, and especially the younger boys, into a reverent observance and admiration. How tall theyused to seem to us! how stately would they pace along the cloisters! while the play of the lesser boys was absolutely suspended, or its boisterousness at least allayed, at their presence! Not that they ever beat or struck the boys--that would have been to have bemeaned themselves-the dignity of their persons alone insured them all respect. The task of blows, of corporal chastisement, they left to the common monitors, or heads of wards, who, it must be confessed, in our time, had rather too much licence allowed them to oppress and misuse their inferiors; and the interference of the Grecian, who may be considered as the spiritual power, was not unfrequently called for, to mitigate by its mediation the heavy unrelenting arm of this temporal power, or monitor. In fine, the Grecians were the solemn Muftis of the school. Eras were computed from their time;-it used to be said, such or such a thing was done when S- or T was Grecian. "As I ventured to call the Grecians the Muftis of the school, the King's boys,* as their character then was, may well pass for the Janizaries. They were the terror of all the other boys; bred up under that hardy sailor, as well as excellent mathematician, and conavigator with Capt. Cook, Wm. * The mathematical pupils, bred up to the sea, on the foundation of Charles the Second. |