and bright,

Said Spring, "The grass looks green The hawthorn hedges too are green, I'll sprinkle them with flowers of light, Such stars as earth has never seen; And all through England's girded vales, Her steep hill-sides and haunted streams, Where woodlands dip into the dales, Where'er the Hawthorn stands and dreams, Where thick-leaved trees make dark the day, I'll light each nook with flowers of May. "Like pearly dewdrops, white and round, The shut-up buds shall first appear, And in them be such fragrance found As breeze before did never bear; Such as in Eden only dwelt, When angels hovered round its bowers, And long-haired Eve at morning knelt In innocence among the flowers, While the whole air was every way Fill'd with a perfume sweet as May. "And oft shall groups of children come, Threading their way through shady places, From many a peaceful English home, The sunshine falling on their faces; Starting with merry voice the thrush, As through green lanes they wander singing, To gather the sweet Hawthorn-bush, Which homeward in the evening bringing, With smiling faces, they shall say— 'There's nothing half so sweet as May!' "And many a poet yet unborn Shall link its name with some sweet lay, And lovers oft at early morn Shall gather blossoms of the May, With eyes bright as the silver dews Which on the rounded May-buds sleep; And lips whose parted smiles diffuse A sunshine o'er the watch they keep, Shall open all their white array Of pearls ranged like the buds of May." Spring shook the cloud on which she lay; And silvering o'er the Hawthorn spray, She showered down the buds of May.

OBITUARY.

PROFESSOR WILSON.

A word or two, en passant, about a man who in his lifetime has delighted so many thousands, cannot be out of place in OUR JOURNAL.

PROFESSOR WILSON died in Edinburgh on Monday the 3rd ulto. in his 65th year. He was the son of an extensive manufacturer in Paisley, were he was born in 1788. At the age of 13 he commenced his studies at the University of Glasgow, and four years afterwards entered at Magdalen College, Oxford, where the genius of which he was possessed soon manifested itself, and enabled him, among other honors, to carry off the Newdegate prize for an English poem.

At the end of that period he left Oxford; and having purchased the estate of Elleray, beautifully situated on Windermere, he cultivated the acquaintance of Wordsworth, and became, in latter days, the "Admiral of the Lakes," acting as such when Bolton entertained Canning and Scott with a splendid water fete on Windermere. In those days, Prof. Wilson played many wild feats. He attended all the fairs, fights, running matches, races, and so forth, in the country. He was a capital boxer, singlestick-man, and wrestler; no great sportsman, except as an angler, and now and then in pursuit of red deer.

For some time he took up his abode among the gipsies, learned a great deal of their slang, and adopted their costume and habits. Afterwards he partially settled down, and went to study law in Edinburgh. As might be expected, little profit resulted from this experiment; but he took to literature, and produced several isolated works, such as the "Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life," which attained great popularity; and the "Trials of Margaret Lindsay," a pathetic Scottish story. In 1818 the professorship of Moral Philosophy in the University became vacant, and "Blackwood's Magazine" was established. John Wilson immediately became a candidate for the one, and a contributor to the other. Sir Walter Scott's patronage mainly contributed to his success in the first, his own abilities won the second.

It is unnecessary to add, that his connection with "Blackwood" for years after identified him with all the brilliant fancy and exquisite taste with which its pages, and especially the "Noctes" were adorned. The productions of his eloquent pen were, in 1842, published in a collected form, under the title of "Recreations of Christopher North," and which in many respects manifest that true poetry with which his other works were characterised. The chief of these are the "Isle of Palms, "and the "City of the Plague," the former published in 1812, and the latter in 1816.

In person Professor Wilson was a stout,

tall, athletic man, with broad shoulders and chest, and prodigiously muscular limbs. His face was magnificent; his hair, which he wore long and flowing, fell round his massive features like a lion's mane, to which, indeed, it was often compared, being much of the same hue. His lips were always working, while his grey flashing eyes had a weird look which was highly characteristic. In his dress he was singularly slovenly, being, except on state occasions, attired in a threadbare suit of clothes, often rent, his shirts frequently buttonless, and his hat of the description anciently called shocking.

His professorial costume was just as odd. His gown, as he stalked along the College terraces, flew in tattered stripes behind him; and, altogether, Professor Wilson, with all his genius, was personally one of the most eccentric of the many eccentric characters existing in his day in the Scottish metropolis. He continued in the Chair of Moral Philosophy till the close of the session of 1850-51, when advancing years and declining health compelled him to resign. Rest and retirement brought, however, little relief, and he has gradually sunk into the grave, to be honored and regretted wherever the English language is known.

THE SKYLARK.

BY FREDERICK TENNYSON.

How the blithe lark runs up the golden stair
That leads thro'cloudy gates from Heaven to earth,
And, all alone in the empyreal air,

Fills it with jubilant sweet sounds of mirth!
How far he seems, how far,

With the light upon his wings!

Is it a bird, or star

That shines, and sings?

What matter if the days be dark and frore?
That sunbeam tells of other days to be;
And singing in the light that floods him o'er,
In joy he overtakes futurity.

Under cloud-arches vast

He peeps, and sees behind
Great summer coming fast
Adown the wind!

And now he dives into a rainbow's rivers,
In streams of gold and purple he is drown'd,
Shrilly the arrows of his song he shivers,

As tho' the stormy drops were turned to sound;
And now he issues through,

He scales a cloudy tower,
Faintly. like falling dew,

His fast notes shower.

The object of our call was to investigate certain claims put forth by this lady, wherein she avers that she can, by means of certain corsets (aptly termed plastiques), enable a symmetrical person to enjoy uninterrupted health. Such a combination of the utile and the dulce being something out of the common way, our attention was of course arrested; and we gladly report, pro bono, what we saw.

This we can do in few words. There are always kept in stock eight distinct sizes of corsets. These are numbered, consecutively, 1, 2, 3, &c. There are also no fewer than eighteen varieties of each size; one and all adapted for immediate alteration, so as to fit exactly any woman, of any size, or any shape. When adjusted on the person, the whole figure is flexible, the spine free, the lungs unoppressed, and all the functions of the body at full liberty to act as God ever intended they should act. All this; and, in addition, an elegant figure. It is not our province to unfold the simple mystery of how this is done.

Our interview with Madame Vallotton was not a long one. She was too much occupied to be able to afford us much time for gossip; but an honest grip of her hand at parting, must have convinced her that we regarded her as a public benefactor.

We do not despair yet of saving the lives of many women, who are at present madly bent on the suicide,-if not of themselves, at all events of their children unborn.

A GENTLE WHISPER.

BY THE SOUTH WIND.

THERE is a plant, which in its cell

All trembling seems to stand,
And bends its stalk, and folds its leaves,
From each approaching hand.

And thus there is a conscious nerve
Within the human breast,
That from the rash and careless hand
Sinks, and retires distressed.

The pressure rude, the tone severe,
Will raise within the mind
A nameless thrill, a secret tear,
A torture undefined.

Oh! you who are by nature form'd
Each thought retin'd to know,
Repress the word, the glance that wakes
That trembling nerve to woe.

And be it still your joy to raise

That trembler from the shade;
To bind the broken, and to heal
The wound you never made!
Whene'er you see the feeling mind,
Oh, let this care begin;
And though the cell be ne'er so low,
Respect the guest within.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[THIS DEPARTMENT OF OUR JOURNAL is one of its most interesting, as well as valuable features. Amusement, Instruction, Mental Improvement, and all the Social Virtues, are here concentred. Whether the Subjects introduced be on Natural History, Popular Science, Domestic Economy, the Fine Arts, or Matters of General Interest, -ALL are carefully digested, and placed before our readers in the winning garb of cheerfulness, goodtemper, and a determination to please. Our amiable correspondents enter readily into our naturally-playful disposition, hence are their contributions divested of to a true lover of Nature. Our columns, be it observed,

that dry formality which cannot be other than repulsive

are not exclusive; but open to ALL amiable writers.]

The World of Fashion; a Dissolving View; and Prospects of the Coming Season.-It was quite right of you, my dear Sir, to take upon yourself the responsibility of those remarks on the fashionable world which were interwoven in my last communication to you. Whatever my thoughts might have been, I should not have dared so to commit them to paper. However, you are to be highly commended for so kindly and honestly speaking out for your country women's good. If, as you have frequently remarked, there be a desperate wound, the surgeon must probe it to the bottom. Should it be only slightly healed, it would but break out with increased virulence, and perhaps terminate fatally with the sufferer. Let me tell you that your observations have already produced a good effect in our neighborhood. OUR JOURNAL is in great repute here; and its Editor's unceasing endeavors to benefit society are highly estimated. Let us hope that good sense will induce people to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest what you have said for their good. Then will all their past follies be buried in oblivion,

and melt away in (what you playfully call) "a dissolving view." Nobody can justly say that you are personal in your strictures, or that the shadow of ill-nature pervades your remarks. You war with measures rather than with men, although the latter are very properly responsible for the former. Since you were here (more particularly within the last few days), our garden has gone on increasing in beauty. The apple-blossoms, pears, and cherries, are presenting a most delectable appearance. How infinitely diverse are they! There are no two alike. They are all beautiful in degree, one surpassing and outvieing the other. Yet is there not one which does not possess some beauty peculiar to itself. Some trees present us with flowers of a pure white. Others have streaks of red, and varied shades; and add, moreover, to beauty and elegance the most exquisite fragrance. These, just now, stand still (as it were) for a short season, to be admired. Anon, they will vanish, again to come before us in another pleasing form. As for our darling flowers, they are springing up everywhere in choice variety,although a few genial showers would enhance their already numerous charms. These, in due course, will be sent us. You seemed pleased at what you saw, but every day since has produced something still more bewitchingly attractive; and in June, I hope to be able to astonish you with our roses. They promise much. Those tame hedge-sparrows have brought their young family abroad. The robins have commenced another nest in the greenhouse! We have four families of young blackbirds, and three of young thrushes. The swallow is here; also the redstart, the merry cuckoo, blackcap, and nightingale. An evening walk by our river-side, is now a treat,-the air is so full of sweet sounds! The bird-trappers have been down,-of course; and we have lost several blackcaps and nightingales. I hope, however, the choice few that haunt our sequestered grounds will be safe. I shudder at the thought of what may be their fate. But it is of little use to keep on talking of birds and flowers. It must be everybody's business now to associate with them. I need not tell you on whose side the advantage will be! Human nature ought to come oftener into contact with such goodly company. We should then be all very different from what we are now. At this season every field is a temple, where we may offer up the incense of a grateful heart, and the thanksgiving of a virtuous mind, to the Giver of all Good, whose gracious power is as visible in the smallest blade of grass as in the motion of the Heavenly bodies. The lark-you heard him,begins the universal hymn of praise, and wakes the feathered choir. Obedient to the summons, all join in cheerful harmony. No discord breaks upon the ear; all is sweetest concord. comes the golden sun, with his dear, glorious face, sharing in and contributing to the joy and gaiety of all nature. Then commence the raptures of creation generally, when the smallest and the greatest of living things have each their full measure of delight. Morning after-morning do I rise betimes, to see what I hint at; and I think I told you even more of my particular fancies, when you were with us. At your request, I have transcribed a few stray thoughts, though they are

Then

great goodness has so lavishly provided all that heart can desire to make us purely happy. O, if our pen could only express what the hand that holds it would gladly instil into it (if possible), then would our readers know more of us, and of that which we call "happiness." In July we shall in many places (D. V.), personally explain what here may appear vague. Propinquity adds a charm to sympathy, and the union is then most sweet!-W. K.

Simplicity in the Nineteenth Century.-A few days ago, I was returning by train from the Caledonian Road to Kingsland-" en route for my own dwelling. Among the passengers was a stout and uncommonly jovial looking, elderly matron, somewhat about my own age. She was accompanied by her equally.portly, jovial daughter," Priscilla," and I imagine it must have been the first time they had ever trusted their goodly personages to this rapid mode of conveyance. On alighting at Kingsland, the mamma began to shake her capacious dress and arrange the sides of her enormous bonnet. Miss Priscilla did the same. Neither of them were votaries of the present style of bonnet, I assure you. 'Prodigious!" exclaimed mamma. "Awful! ejaculated Priscilla,-"Never was so horrified in all my life!" Just at that moment, an empty coal-train rushed past. The mouths of both were now wide open, and their eyes staring with amazement. Presently mamma looks at Priscilla," Bless my soul, darling! did you ever ?"-" No, ma,-I never did! What is that?" " Why, my loveliest, that bes the express train." "I thought it was! Oh dear, I'm so terrified!" In order to be quite certain, mamma grasped the arm of one of the porters. "B'aint that the express train, man ?" "That's a coal-train-madam-" "Oh, wonderful!-I thought so. Here, Priscy dear, that was the express train to Cole. You can tell aunt you've seen an express train. B'aint you delighted love?" "I'm over pleased, ma. How lucky we are, to have just met the express train! I've heard such a talking about those awful hinges, and now I've seed one. Who would have thought we should see the express train to Cole ?" Here the portly couple ascended the staircase to continue their journey; and no doubt they did astonish aunty, with their great good luck!-BOMBYX ATLAS, Tottenham.

remember a farmer in Essex, some 33 years ago, who declared that his crops had been bad ever since he left off going to Church once a month. He remarked, that he must turn over a new leaf, or his barvests would never be what they ought to be!]

Heat of Animals.-The heat of the human body will raise the mercury of the thermometer to about 98 degrees. That of other animals varies very widely. The heat of some fishes and reptiles is below 50, while that of some birds is as high as 110. The wolf comes nearest to man in this respect, his heat being 96. The dog, cat, hog, sheep, and ox, are from 100 to 103; the shark, 83; the whale, 104; the house-sparrow and the robin, sometimes 111, which is the maximum, so far as we know. It is curious to observe that the Arctic wolf has a reasonable advantage of 9 degrees over the wolf of our own latitude.-W. P.

Addressed to "Home Birds."-Beauty, says Lord Kames, is a dangerous property; tending to corrupt the mind of the wife, though it soon loses its influence over the husband. A figure agreeable and engaging, which inspires affection without the ebriety of love, is a much safer choice. The graces do not lose their influence like beauty. At the end of thirty years a virtuous woman, who makes an agreeable companion, charms her husband more than at first. The comparison of love to fire holds good in one respect-that the fiercer it burns the sooner it is extinguished.—Q.

Use of Pond Mud.-Some three or four years ago, as an experiment, we drew out of the bottom of a pond, filled during the season with back-water from the canal, but dry in the spring, about fifty loads of mud, which was applied immediately to the land. For the first and second years, it seemed to prove a decided injury; but after being turned up with the plough, and subjected to the action of frost for one winter, the beneficial effects began to manifest themselves, and the best of our barn-yard manures have not produced so heavy a growth of grain; and the effect promises to be permanent. Probably a better way would have been to have piled it up for one year, or composted with other manure, or with lime.-R. MERCHANT.

The Vowels.-Some six-and-thirty years ago, a holiday was proposed to the boys at Eton on discovering the two words, within a given time, which contain all the vowels in regular order. The answer was- -"abstemiously" and "facetiously."

Consumption of Spirits, Beer, &c.-A return has been made up by the Board of Trade, showing,

as far as can be given," the quantity of spirits, beer, &c., consumed in the United Kingdom annually. In the instance of beer, the return has been calculated upon the quantities of malt and sugar used by licensed brewers, deducting the beer exported; there is no account of the beer brewed in private families, and therefore the quantity really drunk must be larger than is here stated. But, taking this return as the most complete that could be obtained, we have the following account for 1853.-4,931,639 gallons of foreign and colonial