time wagers one hundred pounds that he can pick, in fifteen minutes, any lock in England, not excepting even Chub's celebrated lock, which is now used in the vaults of the Bank of England, and upon which there have been delivered many lectures. Such a proposition appeared ludicrous to the advocates of Chub's lock, who endeavored to laugh Hobbs out of countenance by saying that he was either deranged or half-witted even to suppose that his lock could not be picked by an Englishman, who are generally more expert in such things than any other people. Hobbs, however, like a true Yankee, was not to be hoodwinked in this manner. He demanded a fair trial, which was readily granted, and in the presence of several Bank officers he succeeded with the simplest kind of an instrument in picking their favorite lock, which was considered the very best ever invented. The officers present stood by and looked at Hobbs with perfect amazement, wondering how he managed to pick Chub's lock in fifteen minutes' time with so little difficulty. On the evening that this feat was performed a lecture was to be delivered on Chub's lock, and the officers who witnessed the picking, desirous of saving the character of the lecturer, dispatched a messenger to inform him that Chub's lock was no more; but it was too late, the lecturer had commenced, and there was no remedy. If Hobbs' invention proves to be what he represents, it will be a triumph worth talking about. I also noticed a caloric engine, which the inventor states has many novelties, and will eventually supersede the use of steam; but I rather think it will not turn out as represented, as it appears to be but a modified arrangement for heating and cooling air, produced by some gases not named, under a piston, as in Ericsson's ordinary engine.

After all said and done, the United States will derive more benefit from this grand exhibition than any other nation. She has not contributed much, but she has sent some of her ablest mechanics here to note the contributions of other countries, which they will carry home for adoption and improvement.

The Queen and the royal family visit the Exhibition nearly every morning at half-past nine. The doors are opened for the people about ten o'clock, and those who go early have a fine opportunity of seeing her Majesty. She walks about the Palace with her suite, and examines the different articles with much interest. The stranger

erence.

would fail to recognise her in the multitude were it not for the great deference paid to her by her subjects, who seem to idolize her. As she passes through the crowd on her way to the carriage, which stands at a private door, the people standing on either side of the avenue take off their hats and return her salutations with great defIn appearance the Queen is not remarkable; her figure is short and rather embonpoint, her hair and eyes light, and her countenance indicative of nothing more than benevolence. Prince Albert is certainly fine-looking, but falls far short of the description given of him in the English prints. He is devoted to his Queen and family, and holds a high place in the affections of the English people.

LETTER EIGHT.

LONDON, England.

Visit to Westminster Abbey-The Houses of Parliament-The Members-The Thames, Bridges, and Tunnel.

"From hence we may that antique pile behold,
Where regal heads receive the sacred gold;

It gives them crowns, and does their ashes keep;
There made like gods, like mortals there they sleep;
Making the circle of their reign complete,

The suns of empire, where they rise they set."

WESTMINSTER ABBEY has been called, with much propriety, the Pantheon of the glory of Britain; for it is its monuments and ancient remains which render the Abbey so precious to Englishmen, and all those who admire the works of by-gone ages. Here lie nearly all of the kings, queens, princes, statesmen, philosophers, and poets of England, from the time of Edward the Confessor to George the Second. It is essentially the home of the mighty dead -for here sleep the illustrious men who have adorned life by their virtues, or enlightened the world by their labors in the various departments of human knowledge, who have reigned as the fathers of the people, ruling in the fear of God, or have governed with an iron rod, and in the indulgence of their passions have violated every law human and divine. Their ashes repose here in peace their

souls are with Him who gave them being, and will hereafter call them to stand at the bar of eternal judgment.

As we walked through the avenues of this venerable structure, and gazed on the monumental inscriptions of the departed, a crowd of thoughts rushed upon my mind, reminding me forcibly of the many historical associations connected with it; for aside from being remarkable as the depository of the great and good, it has been the place where the Roman Catholic magnate once celebrated mass with more than eastern splendor-where the Puritan once poured forth his fervent but holy exhortation. Here the terrible sentence of excommunication has been launched forth in all its terrors, and here the first English Bible issued from the press. Here, also, the magnificence and pomp of the regal coronation have followed the solemn and beautiful burial service for the dead.

This truly noble specimen of Gothic architecture was originally founded in the seventh century, by Sebert, King of the East Saxons, in the year 610; but being afterwards destroyed by the Danes, it was rebuilt by King Edgar in 958. Edward the Confessor again rebuilt the abbey and cathedral on a larger scale, in 1066, when Pope Nicholas II. constituted it the place of inauguration of the Kings of England, and gave it the form of a cross, which thenceforward became the usual form for cathedral building in England. Henry III. made large additions to the abbey in 1245. Henry VII. also made an addition, which is regarded as a remarkable specimen of architecture, yet adds nothing to the beauty of the building, as it is not in keeping with the original design. In the general plunder of monasteries and church property, which distinguished the reign of Henry VIII., this abbey, among others, suffered severely; but it was more injured by the Puritans in the great civil war, who left it in a state of dilapidation. Sir Christopher Wren was afterwards intrusted with the task of repairing the great national edifice, which is now greatly improved, and stands a monument that every true Englishman is proud of.

The monuments in the Abbey are, generally speaking, of a very plain and unostentatious character, particularly those that mark the resting-places of the truly great. Thus, Milton, Dryden, and rare Ben Jonson. But the sepulchres of the kings are somewhat different. Here we find great efforts made at the grand, the ornate, and

the beautiful. Mary, styled the "bloody Mary," and her sister Elizabeth, both repose in the same tomb, and one monument covers them both. I looked with melancholy interest on the monument erected by James I. in honor of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. There are very many interesting objects to be seen here, and among them we were shown the chair used at the coronation of the Kings and Queens of England. It was made in the reign of Edward I., and presents nothing remarkable for beauty of form or costliness of material. Immediately under the seat is fixed the stone of Scone, from Scotland, which was formerly used at the crowning of the Scottish kings. The chair itself is perfectly plain, and appears to have been hacked and carved with penknives not a little, by persons desirous of cutting their names upon the coronation chair of English monarchs. I noticed among the monuments one erected to the memory of the unfortunate Major André, Adjutant-General to the British army in America. It sets forth his melancholy end, the esteem in which he was held both by his friends and his foes, and concludes by stating that his remains had been deposited in November, 1821, in a grave near the monument.

I left the old abbey with a feeling of reluctance; for in the short space of time allotted, I could take barely a glance at objects that were well worth a day's reflection.

Just opposite Westminster Abbey, on the banks of the Thames, or Tems, as the English term it, is the Palace of Westminster, or new Houses of Parliament, which is, without doubt, the most important architectural work which has been undertaken in this country since the re-edification of St. Paul's Cathedral. The old Houses having been destroyed by fire, Oct. 15, 1839, the present magnificent structure was commenced, from the designs of C. Barry, Esq., in 1840, and is now rapidly approaching completion. The plan of this truly national edifice is extremely simple. It is constructed entirely of hard magnesian limestone and cast-iron, in the Gothic style of architecture, and will endure, in all probability, as long as England continues its present form of government. The towers of this enormous building are crowned by majestic symbols of the British monarchy; its walls are girt with the heraldic insignia of a long race of kings; its chambers glow with all the associations of chivalry, religion, and of justice; and when completed, it will stand

a monument of enduring splendor to the reign of the present dynasty.

To convey to you some idea of the magnitude of Westminster Palace, I will give the dimensions of the whole building. The eastward presents a frontage of nearly one thousand feet. When complete, it will cover an area of nine statute acres. The great tower at the southwestern extremity, which has already been raised to the height of one hundred and eighty feet, will ultimately reach the gigantic elevation of three hundred and forty-six feet. Its cubic contents exceed 15,000,000 feet, being one-half greater than St. Paul's, and it contains not less than between five and six hundred distinct apartments, amongst which will be a chapel for Divine worship formed out of the crypt of old St. Stephen's. As far as I am able to judge, I regard the structure as perfect in arrangement, detail, warming, ventilation, and all other conveniences.

After examining the architectural beauty and utility of the building, we went into the halls of legislation, which I have always had a desire to see, and compare with our own national bodies. We were fortunate in procuring seats where we could see and hear every thing distinctly in the House of Commons, and I must say that I was really disappointed in the appearance of the body, their demeanor, and manner of conducting business. A very important resolution was under consideration while we were there, viz., a resolution condemnatory of the punishments inflicted during the disturbances in Ceylon; of the conduct of Lord Torrington, the late governor of that island; and of that of Earl Grey, in signifying her Majesty's approbation of Lord Torrington's conduct during and subsequent to the disturbances. The debate was heated, and we had a fine opportunity of hearing the best speakers of the House under favorable auspices; and I feel safe in saying that not one of them would have been regarded with us as either effective or eloquent. It did not strike me as a dignified body, but on the contrary, was, if any thing, a little worse than our House of Representatives. The members were very generally engaged in conversation, or moving about during the debate, and all sat covered except him who for the time occupied the floor in speaking. During a man's speech, he is frequently annoyed and the House thrown in confusion by the cry of Hear, hear, hear, which is generally followed by the deep, hoarse