Bench, in a state of comparative in- || dations. Hence the Wye is sometimes concealed or half obscured by overhanging foliage; at others, wholly expanding to view, is seen sweeping beneath in a broad and circuitous channel: hence, at one place, the Severn spreads in the midst of a boundless expanse of country, and on the opposite side of the Wye; at another, both rivers appear on the same side, and the Severn seems supported on the level summit of the cliffs which form the banks of the Wye. Hence the same objects present themselves in different aspects, and with varied accompaniments; hence the magic transition from the impervious gloom of the forest to open groves, from meadows and lawns to rocks and precipices, and from the mild beauties of English landscape to the wildness of Alpine scenery." digence. The present edifice was erected by Sir Mark Wood, Bart. formerly chief engineer in Bengal, and consists of a centre and two wings, built of Bath freestone, with an elegant portico. The centre part of the building contains three stories, with a noble saloon paved with marble, and an elegant winding staircase, by Bonomi; the apartments are fitted up in the most costly manner, the walls being embellished with some fine designs in relievo. There is also some fine tapestry from the Gobelin manufactory in Paris, and which is said to have belonged to the unfortunate Louis XVI. The wings, which contain the library and billiard-room, are built in the Grecian style, and have a very elegant appearance: indeed, the character of the whole building, in point of chasteness of design, is rarely to be surpassed. The wings are highly ornamented, and on the summit of them are six figures from the heathen mythology. In describing the scenery of Piercefield, a celebrated modern writer says, "The walks are carried through a thick mantle of forests, with occasional openings, which seem, not the result of art or design, but the effect of chance or nature; and seats are placed where the spectator may repose and view at leisure the scenery above, beneath, and around."--"This bowery walk," he further says, "is consonant to the genius of Piercefield; the screen of wood prevents the uniformity of a bird's-eye view, and the imperceptible bend of the amphitheatre conveys the spectator from one part of this fairy region to another, without discovering the gra The walks extend nearly three miles, but the most remarkable features which they present to notice are the Alcove, the Grotto, the Double View, the Giant's Cave, and the Lover's Leap. To particularize their several beauties and attractions would far exceed the limits of this work, neither is it necessary, as they are to be found in most of the topographical accounts of Monmouthshire and the scenery on the Wye. Strangers are allowed admittance, every Tuesday and Friday, to the grounds of Piercefield, the only approach to which is by the lodge, entering the park from the road leading to the village of St. Arvans; about a mile from Chepstow. The lodges and park-wall were also built at the expense of Sir Mark Wood, at a time when provisions were extremely dear, and gave employment to many poor persons, who * otherwise would have been subject- the Wind-Cliff to Tintern Abed to much distress. A new road has lately been opened, leading by the park-wall under bey. The above particulars and the design for our view were also contributed by Mr. F. W. L. Stockdale. THE PARTING GIFT. This little tale was told with an air of truth and simplicity which sensibly affected the good-natured Dupont; he added five francs to his gift, and the young girl, almost wild with joy, hastened home to procure immediate sustenance for her mother. FRANCOIS DUPONT succeeded, at the age of twenty-one, to a little property which had belonged to his uncle in the province of Touraine. Circumstances obliged him to go to Tours, and as he was rambling about, two or three days after his arrival in that city, a young girl, holding a basket, in which were a few bouquets of violets and primroses, presented it to him with a silent cour-cessary purchases for her mother, tesy, The graceful air of the young supplicant, and the modesty of her looks, so different from those of her class, interested him; he took one of her little nosegays, asking at the same time the price. "What you "What you please to give," was the reply, delivered in a tone scarcely audible. Dupont presented her with a franc. The look of delighted surprise and grateful acknowledgment with which it was received, made him think that the sum, small as it was, was a treasure to her; and on making a few inquiries, he found his suspicions were just. The little marchande, who had more prudence than is common at her age, had no sooner made the ne than she hastened to lay out the Three days afterwards, François was passing the spot, when Adele ran after him with a sprig of hothouse roses. "Take them, sir, do pray take them!"-" Willingly, my dear," replied he, putting his hand in his pocket.—“ Oh, no, sir, no money! You must indeed, you must condescend to accept of them: they have been purchased, with a great many more, out of your money; and I have sold them so well, that mo Her mother was a widow; they subsisted by needle-work, but the long illness of her parent had reduced them to great distress, and after parting by degrees with their little wardrobe, and few articles of furniture, Adele, who was scarcely twelve years of age, had recourse to this humble and precarious mode of obtaining some relief for her almost father says, if our good fortune conmished mother. tinues till she gets better, we shall you?" 99 be able to buy materials for our work, " Poor child, what has happened to and then I shall not sell flowers any more."-" She is quite right," said Dupont, who easily guessed that the prudent mother was desirous of withdrawing her blooming child from a situation so dangerous to her morals. "Here is my address, give it to your mother, and tell her to come to me as soon as she is able to go out." He walked on, resolving in his own mind to assist the good woman in placing the pretty Adele in a more eligible employment. "Ah, sir! I am very unhappy! I cannot sell my flowers: during some days past, I have taken scarcely any thing, and my mother is worse.' Dupont's hand was put instinctively into his pocket, but, alas! he had emptied it completely; nothing remained but a lottery-ticket, which he had bought some time before. "I have no money," said he, "but take this: it will sell at least for the price of a morsel of bread." He darted away as he finished these words, and shutting himself up in his lodgings, gave vent during some hours to a despair happily too violent to be of long duration. When it had a little subsided, he began, Frenchman-like, to look his fate in the face, with the intention of making the best of it; and the result of his meditations was, a But while he was thus meditating the good of others, he was regardless of his own. Naturally unsuspicious, and very fond of play, he became a prey to a sharper, who, after suffering him, as is usually done by these gentry, to win several times, at last pretended one evening to be so piqued at his ill fortune, that he demanded a meeting for the next morn-resolution to enlist, in the hope that ing, in order to take his revenge. Fortune would be more favourable to Dupont accepted the challenge, re- him in the field, than she had been paired in the morning to the appoint- at the gaming-table. ed place, and before evening quitted it a beggar. For some days previous to this event he had not seen Adele, but in returning to his lodgings, he passed by the spot where she stationed herself; but too much absorbed in his own misfortunes to think of any thing else, he would not have noticed her, had she not stopped him. "Ah, my God! what is the matter, sir? what has happened to you?" "Nothing." Let us leave him to win her smiles as he may, and return to Adele, who hastened to her mother with a heart full of grief and pity for her benefactor; for she easily saw he was unhappy, though she could not divine the cause. Her mother sympathized in her feelings; but could by no means consent to make the use he had desired of the billet. "It will bring so little," said she, "and who knows what may happen? To be sure, the chances are a thousand to one "But you tremble, you look wild, against us, but still there is a chance. you must be ill then!" "No, I tell you," and he looked her sternly in the face; but perceiving that she was pale as death, and had been weeping, his heart softened. Your flowers are still tolerably fresh; you may therefore sell some of them to-morrow, and the next day the lottery will be drawn." How did the good woman exult |