no craven yielding up, of the sympathies of humanity to the instinct of self-preservation. On the contrary, the people according to the testimony of the curate, "with scarce an exception, stood by one another in the season of peril and perplexity, with unflinching and admirable courage. Panic there was none; but it was a trying timeall the more trying, by reason of the uncertainty that prevailed at first, as to the area of the pestilence, and its probable duration."

But let us follow our Mentor through a few of the touching, and indeed startling scenes, which he was called to witness. Hear him"The morning of Friday, the 1st of September, was a morning long to be remembered in this neighbourhood. The first intimation which the writer received of the sad incidents of the night, came in the form of a summons to the death-bed of one with whom he had cheerfully conversed at a late hour on the preceding evening. A patient, gentle widow, she was, an object of special interest to all who knew her. Many a pitying glance was cast that morning upon her little children, as they moved about scarcely conscious of what was happening. What was to become of them? They have found an asylum, but it is in their mother's grave. A fearful tragedy was enacting in that one small house, when eight of its twenty inmates died in quick succession before the night of the 4th September. And one there was who will be remembered by survivors, as one of God's own heroines, a truly Christian woman, who watched day and night at the bedsides of the dying, and by her calm, and quiet demeanour sustained the spirits of the living, till she herself fell the eighth victim to the disease. The writer will not soon forget, how, on the 5th or 6th evening of the month, he found the remnant gathered together in one room, in a state of anxiety and suspense, concerning one of their number, who complained of feeling sick and ill, and how their countenances lighted up with a gleam of satisfaction, when, he assured them, that the disease was subsiding, and its virulence abated, and that sickness was no longer the certain forerunner of death."

The next scene, to which we invite attention, is one of the most afflictive cases of domestic suffering ever witnessed; it may almost be regarded as the climax of wretchedness. Hear the worthy Curate's touching description: "The writer well remembers one that he witnessed. It was on a ground floor where the rooms communicated with each other; in the centre lay an interesting girl, just recovering from collapse, feebly inquiring for her mother and her sister; none dared to breathe a whisper that on the right and left lay a coffin in either room. Worn out by the fatigues of two harassing days and a sleepless night, either dozing or too broken-hearted to speak, sat the father by the corpse of his wife. Two grown up sons were alternately nursing their sister, and conversing with a friend and neighbour who had come to cheer their drooping spirits. The sequel to this narrative, is fraught with far too much melancholy interest to be passed over in silence. The poor girl seemed for a time to progress favourably, and it was deeply touching to see, how the prospect of her recovery engrossed her father's thoughts. If she were but spared to him, he frequently said, he could be content to live. But his own turn came

to be laid low, and he was removed up stairs, there to be nursed by his sister-in-law and his sons. Meanwhile, his daughter died of the consecutive fever. For a few days, her death was kept from his knowledge, and he appeared to be slowly recovering, till one afternoon, he somehow became acquainted with the truth, cast one look of anguish upon all present, turned his head on his pillow, and was dead before night. His sister-in-law, one of her children, and the friend, whose midnight visit to the family was just now mentioned, all breathed their last about the same time."

Another example, and we are done. "A woman was watching by the bed-the death bed, she imagined, of a kind and affectionate husband. Her children were with her, already orphans in her sight; she had passed one long night of sleepless anxiety; another was before herthe shades of evening fast closing upon the silent group, when a gentle tap summoned her to the door, to welcome the sympathising countenance of a stranger. "Your husband is ill," said this unknown friend: "and you sat up last night with him; I will sit by him to night. Hush!" motioning to suppress the expressions of gratitude that were forthcoming, "we must not disturb him ;" and then she proceeded at once to the bedside to nurse the sick man, as only a woman-not every woman can. It is notorious that for this disease, by far the best remedy is, an indefatigable skilful nurse; and so we may believe that, under the blessing of God, this kind good woman had much to do with the favourable turn taken by the patient, during the course of the night. "There, he is better now," she said in the morning; "I think you will be able to manage," and then withdrew as quickly as she came. Two or three times after, she presented herself at the door, but only to ask after the object of her tender care and solicitude, and immediately to retire."

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Examples like this have a sweet odour. They exert a healing influence on human wretchedness. They realise, and more than realise, the visions of poesy with respect to the tenderness of woman. can turn from the contemplation of deeds like this, without pronouncing her, "the angel of life?"

THE PEOPLE'S PALACE.

THE Great Exhibition of 1851, was the realization of a grand idea. The bringing together of the products, natural and industrial, of the four quarters of the globe, to the extent then witnessed, was an event without a parallel in the history of nations. At first, but an idea in the mind of the Prince Consort, the Exhibition gradually assumed a more definite and substantial form, until, at length, it stood forth a splendid reality, commanding the admiration, and administering to the instruction of mankind. The Crystal Palace was a structure worthy of the purpose to which it was consecrated, and was itself an exhibition of taste and genius, the sight of which was ample remuneration for the toil and expense of a long pilgrimage; but far

more wondrous than this vast and magnificent erection were the contents of which, for the time, it was the depository. These specimens of the productions of a large portion of the nations of this babbling earth were seen, indicating the progress of each in those arts which tend to human refinement, comfort, and luxury; while, daily, immense throngs of human beings of various colours and climes, were beheld sweeping onward through its numerous compartments, surprised, bewildered, and yet intensely gratified; and reminding the looker-on of that great multitude which no man can number, who, redeemed out of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue, stand before the throne of God and the Lamb.

That the Exhibition was promotive of nobler objects than the mere gratification of curiosity, will scarcely be questioned. It was there proved, to a demonstration, that taste and skill, so far from being monopolized by any country, are generally diffused among mankind; and thus a check was given to that spirit of national bigotry and exclusiveness, which is so often the accompaniment of ignorance, of the inhabitants and productions of other countries than our own. The display, too, of the multitudinous objects there collected in honourable rivalry, must have given a powerful impetus to the cultivators of the useful and ornamental arts; while the visitation of our shores, by the multitudes of foreigners, who were attracted by the novel and glorious spectacle, may reasonably be presumed to have done something towards the destruction of national animosities, and the diffusion of the spirit of universal brotherhood. Recent events have, it is true, unhappily shown that the dreams which some, yielding to the enthusiasm of the hour, then indulged of war, henceforth, being an impossibility among the nations of Europe, were fallacious; but this does not prove that the war spirit was not in some measure subordinated, and more peaceful dispositions engendered, in many minds, than those which previously prevailed. To myriads of our fellow-countrymen, the Exhibition was an attraction so powerful as to induce them to turn aside, for a season, from the labours and profits of their ordinary avocations, that they might with their own eyes inspect its wonders; and the period thus employed by them still lives in the recollection of many, as a time when they became conscious of an elevation of thought and feeling, to which they were formerly strangers. The entire period, from the opening to the close of the Crystal Palace, was an interval of peculiar and unusual interest to the nation generally; and we wonder not that, as the time appointed for the termination of the Exhibition approached, a strong desire took possession of the public mind that the Palace, instead of being broken up, and reckoned among the things that were, should be preserved, and in future years be made subservient to the enjoyment and improvement of the people. For various reasons, indeed, it was not deemed expedient by the authorities, that the structure should remain in Hyde Park; but the wishes of the public have been substantially, and in some respects, more than met, by the company of enterprising men who, having purchased the materials of the original erection, have employed them,

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with such additions as were requisite, in raising the still more splendid PEOPLE'S PALACE at Sydenham.

In this gorgeous fabric, and the adjacent grounds, are collected such a multitude of objects to gratify the eye, and call into exercise the powers of the mind, as are not to be found on any other spot on this terraqueous globe. Here the memorials of the past, and the realities of the present are blended together, constituting one vast and harmonious whole. The spectator, as he surveys one class of objects, is carried back to the ages anterior to man, during which the earth was preparing for his reception; as he looks on others, his mind travels, with the rapidity of lightning, to lands and scenes far away; and then as the images of others are imprinted on his visual organs, he returns to his own scagirt isle, and rejoices in the fact, that it is here a gracious Providence has fixed the bounds of his habitation. The People's Palace is a thing of which its originators may well be proud; and we cannot but hope that, in harmony with its designation, it will contribute to the instruction and happiness, not of a mere section, but of the masses of the community. "The schoolmaster is abroad!" is a statement which we often hear, and in which we delight to recognize a fact big with hope for our country and the world. The schoolmaster is abroad; and whether we see him embodied in human form, or appearing in the shape of a Crystal Palace, we hail his advent. Under proper regulations and management, we expect that the institution at Sydenham will rank high among the numerous educational influences brought into operation by the intellect and philanthropy of the age, for the mental illumination and social improvement of the people; and a pitiable circumstance truly will it be, if, through the mistaken views and proceedings of those intrusted with its direction, the good which it is calculated to accomplish, should be, to any extent, neutralized.

We confess, however, that in reference to this matter, we are not altogether void of apprehension. There are two questions, especially in relation to which we fear erroneous opinions are entertained by many at the head of affairs; viz. ; the consumption of intoxicating liquors on the premises, and the opening of the Palace to the public on the Lord's Day. In reference to the first of these questions, we regret to have to state, that action has already been taken by the Directors, which has resulted in the establishment of the liquor traffic in a building which should have been regarded as sacred to the cause of Intelligence and Virtue. In reply to a memorial on this subject, from the Executive Committee of the "United Kingdom Alliance,' the Directors are reported to have said, "That it is not the intention of the Directors to permit the sale of any spirituous liquors in the Crystal Palace or grounds. That it is intended to supply beer and wine under regulations for securing moderation and good order, application for permission to do so having been made by the Directors, and acceded to by Government, under a conviction that it is called for by public convenience, and calculated to promote the cause of order, decorum, and sobriety."

This reply of the Directors appears to us replete with fallacies.

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We wish they had intimated what those regulations are which are to secure moderation and good order," in the consumption of those liquors, the tendency of which is to produce excess and disorder. It is well known that there are laws in existence intended to " secure moderation and good order" in the sale of intoxicating drinks in our ordinary public houses and beer shops,-with what results, facts patent to the world, testify. As a general rule, the vendor of an article will supply his customers as long as they continue to demand it, and can pay for it: and, we suspect, those who have the management of the wine-bottle and the beer-tap in the Crystal Palace, will not long be superior to those considerations which are found to influence men of business, generally. The assertion, that the sale of wine and beer is "calculated to promote the cause of order, decorum, and sobriety," is a strange one. In what respects have these beverages hitherto contributed to the public weal? Is it nọt a fact, that their use has, in numberless instances, resulted in drunkenness and its attendant abominations? Is it not a fact, admitted by the most competent and impartial judges, that, but for these and kindred liquors, our prisons and penitentiaries would be comparatively empty? And is it not also a fact that, with multitudes, what is called their moderate use, is almost invariably the precursor of excess? These things cannot be denied, and, under these circumstances, to expect that the sale of beer and wine in the People's Palace will promote "the cause of order, decorum, and sobriety," is as absurd as it would be to look for grapes from thorns, and figs from thistles. We trust that our friends of the Alliance, and the Christian public at large, will agitate this question, until the Government and the Directors are induced to reconsider their determination, and the People's Palace is no longer degraded into tap-shop.

The opening of the Palace and its grounds to the public on the Lord's Day, though not yet a fact accomplished, we fear, without strenuous exertion on the part of the friends of the Sabbath, will shortly be so. In certain quarters, there is a strong desire to rob the Sabbath of its peculiarities as a day sacred to rest and devotion, and to turn it into a day of recreation and pleasure. Such persons, we need scarcely say, are strenuous advocates of the cause we deprecate, and various are the considerations which they advance in support of their views. One of their favourite arguments has been, that if the Palace were open to the people on the Sabbath, it would draw them away from the public-house, and its temptations to crime; but this argument has been deprived of what little force it had, by the circumstance that the Palace itself is now a licensed drinkery. Besides this, we are afraid it will seldom be found that the frequenters of public-houses have such a love for the beautiful in Nature and Art, as is sufficient to induce them to abandon their favourite places of resort. That some advantages might result to some of the working classes, from the throwing open of the Palace on the Lord's Day, we are not disposed to deny ; but we feel convinced these would be more than counterbalanced by the evils it would originate. Such an event