TRIUMPH OF FAITH.-During an earthquake that occurred a few years since, the inhabitants of a small village were generally very much alarmed, and at the same time surprised at the calmness and apparent joy of an old lady whom they all knew. At length one of them, addressing the old lady, said- "Mother are you not afraid?" "No," said the mother: "I rejoice to know that I have a God that can shake the world."

OUR CHILDREN'S PORTION.

FROM THE SCHOLARS OF ISLINGTON GREEN WESLEYAN REFORM SUNDAY SCHOOL, LONDON, TO THE SCHOLARS OF THE WESLEYAN REFORM SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN YORK.

(Concluded from page 166.)

We will now notice more particularly some of the abovementioned places.

St. Paul's Cathedral is a large and magnificent structure, and, with the exception of St. Peter's at Rome, is the grandest cathedral in the world. It was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, after the great fire. Within it are several fine statues, and it contains the remains of some of England's bravest heroes, and most worthy statesman. It is surmounted by an enormous dome, covered inside with paintings. The highest part is 370 feet from the ground.

Westminster Abbey is an ancient and magnificent building, converted from a small monastery by Edward the Confessor, and rebuilt by Henry the Third and his successors, with the exception of the two towers, which were built by Sir Christopher Wren. One part of the abbey is called the "Poet's Corner," and there some of the most celebrated poets that England has produced are buried. The chief curiosities, however, of Westminster Abbey consist in the chapels at the eastern end, with their tombs. One of these, which stands behind the altar, is dedicated to Edward the Confessor; and here is seen the tomb containing his ashes, built by Henry III. In this chapel, also, are the tombs of several of the kings of England. The helmet of Henry V. is preserved, with the saddle on which he rode at the battle of Agincourt, stripped, however, of everything but the wood and iron. At the eastern extremity, and opening up to it, is the famous chapel of Henry VII., one of the finest specimens of gothic architecture in the world. It was built at an immense expense, Henry's tomb alone costing £10,000,—a sum equal to £200,000 of our money.

The Tower of London is a large collection of fortified buildings, surrounded by a moat or ditch; and covers upwards of 12 acres of land. It was commenced in the reign of William the Conqueror, and was used as a royal palace until the reign of Queen Elizabeth; it was also used, as it still is, for a state prison; and it was here that the unfortunate Lady Jane Grey was confined and executed. We shall now mention a few of the prin cipal parts of this building. The White Tower, which is the most important part of the edifice, is a large square building in the centre of the fortress. On the top there is a watch tower at each corner, one of which was used as an observatory, before that at Greenwich was erected, and still retains the name. This tower

contains, in different apartments, various kinds of arms, and the models of such warlike engines as have been presented to Government. On the top is a large cistern, which is filled by a water engine from the river Thames, to supply the garrison with water. The sea armoury, which is in this tower, is furnished with arms for nearly 50,000 sailors and marines. The grand storehouse is a large, handsome brick building, of the time of William III. The ground floor formerly contained part of the royal train of artillery, amongst which was the earliest invented cannon, formed of bars of iron, and bound with iron hoops. The room is now used as a store-room for small arms, ready packed to be sent off to any place at the shortest notice. Above this is the small armoury, which is reckoned one of the finest rooms of its kind in Europe. It contains arms sufficient for 150,000 men, all arranged in the most beautiful order. The horse armoury is a modern edifice, built upon the southern side of the White Tower, and contains a curious collection of suits of armour, from the time of Edward I. to that of James II., all arranged in chronological order. In the Spanish armoury there is a collection of weapons and instruments of torture said to have been among the spoils of the Spanish Armada. There is also the axe with which the ill-fated Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey were beheaded. In one part of the tower there is a very valuable collection of jewels, amongst which is the crown used at the coronation, which was made for George IV., and contains, amidst a profusion of precious stones, a sapphire above two inches long and one broad; also a ruby that was worn by the Black Prince and Henry IV. at the battles of Cressy and Agincourt; the crown of state made for Charles II., containing an emerald seven inches in circumference, valued at £100,000; and a pearl, said to be the finest in the world; and other crowns, sceptres, &c., too numerous to mention. The contents of this room are valued at not less than two or three million pounds sterling.

The Mint is the building in which all the money is made. It stands near the Tower, on Tower-hill. Steam-engines are constantly employed in making the money, and it is surprising to see how rapidly a piece of unshapen metal is turned into a beautiful

coin.

The Bank of England we suppose to be the first place in the world with respect to money matters. In it heaps of gold and large piles of bank notes may be seen. It is a very large building, and of different kinds of architecture, and looks as though it would be no easy matter to get out any of the gold it contains against the will of the owners. Over the hall is a very curious clock, which has, in the different rooms of the Bank, sixteen faces, all the hands being moved by brass rods connected with this clock. That part of the Bank where most of the business is carried on, is called the "Rotunda."

The Mansion House, the house of the Lord Mayor, was built in the year 1739. It is a handsome building, with a large portico

in front of it. The Lord Mayor, as principal magistrate of the city, sits here to administer justice.

Guildhall is a venerable-looking place, where a court of justice is held. The great hall in it is 154 feet long, by more than 50 feet wide, and the pillars around it are adorned with shields bearing coats of arms. There are two figures of giant-size standing by the side of the western window: one represents an ancient Briton, having a long beard and flowing hair; and the other a Saxon, with a black, bushy beard, wearing a helmet. They are known by the names of Gog and Magog. Guildhall contains the statues of a great many judges, as well as those of Beckford and Lord Chatham, which cost 3,000 guineas. There are also monuments of Pitt and Nelson. On the north side is the Lord Mayor's Court.

The Monument was erected by Sir Christopher Wren, in commemoration of the "Great Fire of London," at a cost of £13,450 11s. 9d. It is a fine column of Portland stone, 200 feet high, surmounted by a flaming urn of gilt brass. It is entered through a door in the pedestal, and ascended by a winding staircase, consisting of 345 black marble steps. At the top of these steps is an iron balcony, from which may be had an extensive view of the surrounding city.

The British Museum is a very handsome building, surrounded by high, chocolate-coloured, bronze, and gilt railings, manufactured in your city, by Mr. Walker. It contains specimens of the birds, beasts, and reptiles which have been discovered up to the present time. These are stuffed, and (with the exception of the larger animals) placed in glass cases. There are also some mummies, thousands of years old, and in some of them the bones can be seen, but all the flesh is crumbled to dust-thus reminding us that "dust we are, and unto dust we must return." In the lower part of the building is the spacious Nineveh room, containing many of the Egyptian and Assyrian sculptures. In other rooms may be seen India relics, brought by Captain Cook and others from North America and the South Sea Islands; as well as Esquimaux dresses, weapons, musical instruments, helmets of feathers, and hideous idols, from the Sandwich and Friendly Islands. This museum is one of the finest collections of its kind in the world.

The Regent's Park Zoological Gardens contain a collection of nearly all the wild beasts, birds, &c., which can live in our climate. ' It consists of a beautiful and large flower-garden, situate in Regent's Park, from which it takes its name. The cages of the animals are scattered in every direction. Amongst the numerous animals the Hippopotamus has attracted great attention for the last two years, being the first which has been brought over into this country alive.

The Colosseum is a very large building 400 feet in circumference, and surrounded by an enormous dome. It contains a picture of London, painted on almost an acre of canvass.

The under room is filled with statues, models, and other curiosities.

We will not tire you, by giving a further description of our far-famed Metropolis, but will at once proceed to give you a very short account of our schools and the societies with which they are connected.

The Wesleyan Reform Societies in London, and its vicinity, are divided into eight circuits, containing about 67 chapels and preaching places, 121 local preachers, 266 class leaders, 4009 members, 57 Sunday-schools, 764 Sunday-school teachers, and 7344 Sunday-school scholars.

Our own school (Islington Green) is conducted according to "Mimpriss's System of Graduated Simultaneous Instruction;" with which we are all very much pleased; and of which we doubt not you have heard. The school is divided into five grades, all of which are taught the same lesson at one time, it being arranged or graduated according to the capacities of the scholars in each grade. There are eight teachers, including the superintendent and secretary, and about eighty scholars. The school commences at half-past nine o'clock in the morning, and half-past two in the afternoon, in the usual manner, viz., by singing and prayer. We use "The Union Hymn Book for Scholars." Then follow the lessons, singing, &c., which we will not further describe, and at four o'clock in the afternoon there is a general examination of all the grades or classes, which is conducted by the superintendent, or any teacher or other person he may appoint. The school is then concluded by prayer.

We are happy to inform you that a "Band of Hope" has been formed in connection with our school, of which many of us are members. We hope it is doing many of us good, in preventing us from becoming drunkards. We are sorry to inform you that drunkenness, "that great curse," rages to a fearful extent in London; so much so, that we fear it is more than the Temperance Societies and Bands of Hope, numerous as they are, can prove an antidote to. We pray that its votaries, seeing themselves in their true light, may not suffer themselves any longer to be "led captive by the devil at his will."-We are happy to inform you that, like yourselves, we are each presented by our teachers, with a copy of "the Band of Hope Review," on the first Sunday of each month-with the exception of those in the first or lowest grades, who have each a small book given

them.

We have also, in connection with our school, a Magazine Committee," consisting of about half a dozen boys of the fourth and fifth grades, who distribute magazines amongst their friends and acquaintances. The profits are devoted to the extension of the Library, which is but a small one at present. During the last year the committee has distributed over 1,500 magazines.

We hope that the War, of which there is now so much talk, may soon come to an end; that the efforts which the Peace