were enabled to make displays of wealth and magnificence which might vie with the grandeur of princes; and by their collective influence and authority, often to resist that oppression which the feudal lords still exercised. Such monuments belong to the history of civilization. [Town-hall of Louvain.] Curious Time-piece. A Correspondent having seen a notice of the clock of Lubeck, in No. 31 of the Penny Magazine, has been induced to send us an account of a curious time-piece in the possession of a private gentleman at Exeter. It stands ten feet high, is five feet wide, and weighs half a ton. It strikes the hours and quarters, and has a perpetual almanac, which has an exclusive movement for leap year, requiring to be regulated once in 100 years, and the principal wheel of which revolves but once in four years. On a plate in the centre of the dial is seen the sun in his course through the heavens, as he appears to us. The circle which he makes is beautifully described in the changes of the seasons, by the receding or advancing of the horizon as the days lengthen or shorten. Underneath this is a lunar calendar, exhibiting the moon in her different phases; and an organ playing various tunes. There is also a belfry, in which are six ringers, ringing changes on as many bells; a variety of other figures are also shown in motion, playing instruments, beating time, &c. The ingenious artist, by whom this work was contrived and executed, died poor, and in a workhouse. The piece lay by for many years, no artist being found capable of repairing it, until it lately fell into the hands of a watch and clock maker of Exeter. Morning Meetings.-The Spaniards have a species of public amusement (though it deserves a far better name), which consists in the superior class of the male inhabitants collecting, between ten and eleven in the forenoon, in some public promenade or open space. In Madrid the favourite place of meeting is the Puerta del Sol: in Toledo, the Zocodover; in Seville, the Plaza de Santo Domingo; and in Granada, the Plaza de Vivarrambla and the Zacatin. These assemblages bear a striking resemblance to the ancient forum and ayopa: the subjects discussed at them are not merely private concerns, but the leading topics of the day; and the groups who take part in the latter, handle the matter in debate with a degree of talent and ardour, as well as unsparing freedom, which, however incredible it may seem, are rarely to be found under any other sky. These morning meetings are so dearly prized by the Spaniard, that I have heard many declare,- and they were men who had visited the gayest capitals in Europe, and were otherwise over-partial, as I conceived, in their estimate of the superiority of foreign countries, - that all the recreations and enjoyments which London, Vienna, and Paris afforded, could not make amends for the loss of the brief matin-hour which they had been accustomed to while away at the Puerta del Sol. But these assemblages carry, intrinsically, far greater weight with them than what appears upon the surface. Any person capable of appreciating the character and bias of the ever-changing crowds which collect, and disperse to collect again, at the Puerta, needs no other key to the course which public affairs are likely to take, and will find himself seldom at fault in his conjectures.-Journal of Education for January. An Election.-(Extract from a private letter from Greece.) "Before I quitted Atheus, I had the opportunity of witnessing the ceremony of a popular assembly, called together for the purpose of electing new Demogerontes. About three hundred Greeks met on a grassplot, in front of a church in the middle of the town: what are called the Archons or Plutocrats, who came into consequence during the days of Turkish sway, placed themselves and their eagle-eyes in the centre of the meeting. After discussing the question, whether the naturalized citizens, or owners of lands and houses who have migrated to this spot from Europe, and other parts of Greece, should be admitted to vote, and deciding it in the negative, they proceeded to debate upon the subject of allowing such citizens and any other strangers to be present on the occasion: and this was determined in the affirmative. A general shout next warned the multitude to lay themselves down on the ground, in order that the successive speakers should be distinctly seen and heard from the post which was assigned to them in the centre of the assembly. Oue of the citizens then recited an oath, to which every one qualified to vote made solemn response; it was to the effect, that they repudiated the influence of all ties of kindred, bribery, and every other cor 66 rupt motive, and pledged themselves that no other consideration should weigh with them in giving their votes, but the public interest. This done, the archons submitted the names of eight or ten candidates, out of whom three were to be elected Demogerontes; and the assembly, as each name was proclaimed, said "content" or non-content." Where the votes were dubious, the question was decided by a show of hands. But the business did not end without a split; for some of the archons, who were disappointed in carrying the election in favour of their own friends, withdrew in anger from the meeting, and were followed by their adherents. The remainder of the electors, however, went on with the list of candidates until a final choice was made, and then proceeded to the business of voting. Instead of vases, they made use of common glasses, over which a piece of paper with an aperture in it, bearing the candidate's name, had been fastened. These glasses were placed upon a table in the middle of the church, under the safe keeping of three priests; each citizen went into the church singly, had his name recorded in a register, and received three beans, which he deposited in three of the glasses. The latter were ultimately opened, and the beans of each candidate counted; the result being determined by relative majority. By the time that all this had been transacted, afternoon was at hand, and the assembly had dwindled down to one-fourth of its original numbers. You must not be surprised at the injustice, which was done to the paroiks, or strangers, who form by far the most affluent and well-educated portion of the present inhabitants of Athens, by excluding them from all participation in such proceedings as these. It was the besetting sin of the ancient Greeks, and has descended with increased virulence to the modern, for every one to prefer his native town and its local interests to the welfare not only of any neighbouring town or province, but of his native country." Journal of Education for January, THIS IS LIFE. Like to the falling of a star, HENRY KING. Died, 1669. SITE OF A CONVALESCENT ESTABLISHMENT IN THE HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS. AMONG the Europeans in India, the frequent returns home for the recovery of health, which is affected so much by the warm climate of Hindostan, had long been felt as a great public and private inconvenience; and some meaus by which the necessity might be superseded of yearly invaliding and sending home a large body of soldiers was felt to be a desideratum. Under such circumstances the salubrity and genial temperature of the Nilgherries, (Blue Mountains), one of the principal branches of the western hauts, seems first to have suggested the idea of forming establishments in the mountain regions to which the sick and convalescent might repair. Another such establishment has been formed at Laudour, in the Himalaya mountains; and we believe there are others. The result has been found fully to answer the expectations which led to such establishments; and not only has a great waste of time and money been prevented, but the necessity has in a great measure ceased of exposing the sick to the inconvenience and danger of the long and wearisome voyage from India to England. A correspondent has furnished us with an extract from a letter, written by a medical | gentleman from the establishment in the Himalaya, part of which we shall lay before our readers. It does not state much concerning the establishments formed there, but it furnishes information with regard to a region of which little is known in this country, and not much even in India. "The place from whence I write is the first range of the grand chain of the Himalaya. It is in about 36° 27′ north latitude and 78° east longitude. It was selected about three years since, from its proximity to the plains, (seven miles off,) as the most eligible site for a convalescent depôt; and experience having already established its sanative character, so that every spot of ground capable of building upon is taken up for public buildings. These salubrious and delightful hills had been fourteen years in the possession of the British government before the beneficial purposes to which they were applicable appear to have been perceived. The summit of Laudour is about 7800 feet above the level of the sea; and, of course, every modification of climate from this height to the highest peak, 27,000 feet, may be found; but I shall more particularly speak of what I have myself experienced. "During the hottest season, which is just passed, the thermometer has never exceeded 67°, whereas, in the plains, it is rarely under 90°, in a good house, until October. The mean temperature here, by meteorological observation, is said to be 50°; and, as there are so few degrees of variation in the different seasons, I should say it is the finest climate in the world for invalids of every class. About 200 soldiers are annually sent hither from the different king's regiments; the greatest proportion of whom recover. quite frightful to a person unaccustomed to mountain travelling. But the eye soon gets accustomed to such circumstances, and I now gallop about on my gaout (hill pony) with as much confidence as I do on a horse in the plains. These animals are brought from Tatary, and resemble the Shetland ponies, but show a great deal more blood and symmetry. They are amazingly sagacious, and so conscious that a false step would hurl them to destruction, that they manifest the utmost caution in difficult places; and the traveller is quite at the mercy of his little quadruped, and must not interfere with him. An accident happens occasionally, but no life has been lost since the establishment commenced; which I account for by the circumstance that the beast always inclines towards the bank when he slips. "The periodical rains have now regularly set in, and will, as I am informed, continue until September. We have sometines terrific thunder-storms with hail; and in such a storm, a short time since, three of the natives were killed by the lightning. The weather is disagreeably damp; but the thermometer continues steady at 67°, and never exceeds 80°,—an equability of temperature not to be surpassed in any part of the world." THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. Tus powerful, intelligent, and docile animal, which in its unmixed state is certainly the noblest of the canine tribe, is a native of the country the name of which it bears, and may be considered as a distinct race. Its introduction into this country is of comparatively recent date; and the fine animal known to us by the name of Newfoundland dog is only half-bred, and of size inferior to the dog in its native state, when it measures about six feet and a half from the nose to the extremity of the tail, the length of which is two feet. In its own country it only barks when greatly irritated, and then with a manifestly painful effort, producing a sound which is described as particularly harsh. Its exemption from hydrophobia in Newfoundland appears to be well authenticated. "As a further proof of the benignity of this climate, may be adduced an abundance of every kind of game, such as woodcocks, partridges, pheasants, &c., all of the most splendid plumage, at the bottom of the dells, together with a great variety of deer, leopards, hyenas and bears, whilst the tiger is very rarely seen. All the The dog is employed by the settlers as a beast of European fruits thrive to great perfection; and very burthen in drawing wood from the interior to the coast. many of them, as the apricot, currant, raspberry, &c., Three or four of them yoked to a sledge will draw two grow wild. A botanical garden promises well, even in or three hundred weight of wood with great facility its infancy; and the gentleman in charge of it states, for several miles. In this service they are said to that all the plants indigenous to temperate climates be so sagacious and willing as to need no driver thrive exceedingly well. Much to my surprise, these or guide; but, having delivered their burden, return almost perpendicular mountains are highly cultivated, without delay to the woods in the expectation of reand, where irrigation is practicable, rice, beans, peas,ceiving some food in recompense for their labour. We potatoes, and every kind of corn, are seen to flourish. The effect is very beautiful at a distance; and the eye is in every direction relieved by groups of magnificent oak, walnut, and fir-trees; and, though last, not least to be admired, the rhododendron. see, indeed, in this country, that, from the activity of his disposition, the Newfoundland dog delights in being employed; and the pride of being useful makes him take uncommon pleasure in carrying in his mouth for miles baskets and other articles, of which, as well "The male inhabitants of this region are a good-fea- from that satisfaction as from the fidelity of his chatured race, but the women are perfectly hideous; and,racter, it would be dangerous for a stranger to dispute as ablution is an operation not often performed in the possession with him. In many respects he may be concourse of a life, their persons are very cfensive from sidered as a valuable substitute for the mastiff as a house filth and vermin. But as a contrast to the disgusting dog. circumstances, they are a lively merry people, and suffer hardships and fatigue without a murmur; nor are theft or murder known among them. I have remarked goitres to be a very common disease, as it is, I believe, in all mountainous countries, particularly Switzerland and the Tyrol t. The Newfoundland dog is easily satisfied in his food. He is fond of fish, whether fresh or dried; and salt meat or fish is more acceptable to him than to most other animals, as well as boiled potatoes and cabbage. When hungry, however, he has not very strong scruples about appropriating such flesh or fish as falls in his way, or even of destroying poultry or sheep. the blood of the latter animal he has much appetite, and sucks it from the throat without feeding on the carcass. For It is well known that the Newfoundland dog can swim very fast, dive with ease, and bring things up Other dogs can swim, from the bottom of the water. but not so willingly, or so well. This superiority he owes to the structure of the foot, which is semi-webbed between the toes; thus presenting an extended surface to press away the water from behind, and then collapsing when it is drawn forward, previous to making the stroke. This property, joined to much courage, and a generous disposition, enables this dog to render those important services in the preservation of endangered life, of which such numerous instances are recorded, and of which our engraving affords an illustration. The following anecdotes of the Newfoundland dog are taken from Captain Brown's interesting Anecdotes of Dogs.' "A Newfoundland dog, kept at the ferry-house at Worcester, was famous for having, at different periods, saved three persons from drowning; and so fond was he of the water, that he seemed to consider any disinclination for it in other dogs as an insult on the species. If a dog was left on the bank by its master, and, in the idea that it would be obliged to follow the boat across the river, which is but narrow, stood yelping at the bottom of the steps, unwilling to take the water, the Newfoundland veteran would go down to him, and with a satirical growl, as if in mockery, take him by the back of the neck and throw him into the stream." "A native of Germany, fond of travelling, was pursuing his course through Holland, accompanied by a large Newfoundland dog. Walking one evening on a high bank, which formed one side of a dike, or canal, so common in that country, his foot slipped, and he was precipitated into the water, and, being unable to swim, he soon became senseless. When he recovered his recollection, he found himself in a cottage on the opposite side of the dike to that from which he had fallen, surrounded by peasants, who had been using the means so generally practised in that country for restoring animation. The account given by the peasants was, that one of them returning home from his labour, observed, at a considerable distance, a large dog in the water swimming and dragging, and sometimes pushing, something which he seemed to have great difficulty in supporting, but which he at length succeeded in getting into a small creek on the opposite side to that on which the men were. "When the animal had pulled what he had hitherto supported, as far out of the water as he was able, the peasant discovered that it was the body of a man. The dog, having shaken himself, began industriously to lick the hands and face of his master, while the rustic hastened across; and, having obtained assistance, the body was conveyed to a neighbouring house, where the usual means of resuscitation soon restored him to sense and recollection. Two very considerable bruises, with the marks of teeth, appeared, one on his shoulder, the other on the nape of the neck; whence it was presumed that the faithful animal first seized his master by the shoulder, and swam with him in this manner for some time; but that his sagacity had prompted him to let go his hold, and shift his grasp to the neck, by which he had been enabled to support the head out of the water. It was in the latter position that the peasant observed the dog making his way along the dike, which it appeared he had done for a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile. It is therefore probable that this gentleman owed his life as much to the sagacity as to the fidelity of his dog." year 1269, in the reign of Henry III. We shall give the statement in the modernized version of Maitland, the historian of London:-" About the same time a great difference happened between the Company of Goldsmiths and that of the Merchant Tailors'; and other companies interesting themselves on each side, the animosity increased to such, a degree that, on a certain night, both parties met (it seems by consent) to the number of 500 men, completely armed; when, fiercely engaging, several were killed, and many wounded, on both sides; and they continued fighting in an obstinate and desperate manner, till the sheriffs raised a great body of citizens, suppressed the riot, and apprehended many of the combatants, who were soon after tried by the mayor, and Laurence de Brooke, one of the king's justices; and thirteen of the ringleaders being found guilty, they were condemned and hanged." THE Goldsmiths' Company is one of the most ancient | chronicler Fabyan relates as having happened in the of the London Guilds, or associated crafts. It appears, indeed, to have originated before the time when charters of incorporations began to be granted to such societies by our kings. In the year 1180, in the reign of Henry II., it is recorded to have been one of those that were fined as adulterine companies, that is, companies that had no royal charter or licence; and it may have existed in this state for a considerable period. It would seem already to have been a wealthy and important association, if we may judge by the amount of the fine imposed upon it, which was forty-five marks, while from most of the others only one mark was exacted. Of the present London companies, that of the Goldsmiths' ranks fifth in the order of precedence, the first four being those of the Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, and Fishmongers. None of these, however, have royal charters so ancient as the earliest by which the Goldsmiths' Company was incorporated. This was granted by Edward III. in 1327; and subsequent charters, confirming and extending the privileges then conferred, were obtained in 1394 from Richard II., and in 1462 from Edward IV. Even before they were thus regularly incorporated, however, the Goldsmiths had apparently taken their place as one of the leading trades of the city. We have a curious evidence of this in an incident which the old VOL. III. Here we find, while the Merchant Tailors lead the one faction, the Goldsmiths are at the head of the other. The early opulence and consequence of the latter were in great part acquired by their practice of acting as bankers, which they did in this and other countries long before any regular banks were established. They served both to individuals and to the government as agents in the transference of bullion and coin, in making payments and obtaining loans, and in D |