As

house perfect in every part. The story of the buried cities is now well known, and need not be repeated here. we stand in this court we seem to be carried back to the every-day life of a most remarkable people, whilst Mr. Phillip's excellent description leaves the visitor nothing to desire in the way of explanation. Independently of their own merits and artistic bearings, the Assyrian and Nineveh courts have an additional interest from the discoveries of Layard and others, conducted as they were with such consummate skill, and prosecuted with such unremitting earnestness and zeal. The Assyrian court is larger than any other set apart for one class of art, being 120 feet long, 50 wide, and having an elevation of 40 feet from the floor. The manner in which some of the more rustic visitors gazed in amazement at the winged bulls, the specimens of sculpture, and the adornments of this court, contributed not a little to our amusement.

As many of our readers may not have the opportunity of visiting the Palace, and as little is known concerning the Assyrian style of art, it may not be out of place to quote here Mr. Phillip's able resumé.

"It is only ten years ago that M. Botta, the French Consul at Mossul first discovered the existence of sculptural remains of the old Assyrian Empire at Khorsabad, and since that time the palace, now known to have been erected about 720 B.c. by Sargon, the successor of Shalmaneser, has been mainly explored, as well as the palace of his son Sennacherib at Koyungik, and that of Esharraddon at Nimroud, besides other older palaces in the last named locality. In addition to the explorations that have been made in these sites, extensive excavations, and examinations also within the last few years have been made into the ruins of the palaces of Nebuchadnezzar at Babylon, and of Darius and Xerxes at Susa.

"It is from the immense mass of new materials so suddenly revealed, that Mr. James Ferguson assisted by Mr. Layard has erected the court before which the visitor now stands-an architectural illustration which without pretending to be a literal copy of any one building, most certainly represents generally the architecture of the extinct but once mighty kingdoms of Mesopotamia, during the two centuries that elapsed between the reign of Sennacherib, and that of Xerxes, viz. from about 700 B.c. to 500 B.C.

"The oldest form of architecture in these eastern parts was probably that which existed in Babylon, but the absence of stone in that country reduced the inhabitants to the necessity of using bricks only, and for the most part bricks burnt by the sun, though sometimes fire-burnt brickwork is also found. The face of the walls so con

structed was ornamented with paintings either on plaster or ename! on the bricks, whilst the constructive portion and roofs were of wood. All this perishable material has, of course, disappeared, and nothing now remains even of the Babylon built by Nebuchadnezzar but formless mounds of brickwork. In the more northern kingdom of Assyria the existence of stone and marble secured a wainscoting of sculptured slabs for the palace walls, whilst great winged bulls and giant figures also in stone adorned the portals and façade.

"The pillars, however, which supported the roofs, and the roofs themselves were all of wood, generally of cedar, and these having been destroyed by fire and by the lapse of ages, nothing remains to tell of their actual size and form. Yet we are not left entirely to conjecture in respect of them-Susa and Persepolis, in Persia-the followers and imitators of Nineveh-arose in districts where stone abounds, and we find the structure in the cities had not only stone pillars to support the roof, but also stone jambs in the doorways, thus affording an unmistakeable clue to the nature of such portions of building as are wanting to complete our knowledge of the architecture of the Assyrian people.

"As now laid bare to us, the Assyrian style of architecture differs essentially from any other with which we have hitherto been made acquainted. Its main characteristics are enormously thick mud-brick walls, covered with painted bas-reliefs, and roofs supported internally by slight, but elegant wood columns, ornamented with volutes (spiral mouldings), and the elegant honeysuckle moulding which was after. wards introduced through Ionia into Greece-this Assyrian style being, according to some, the parent of the Ionic order, as the Egyptian was of the Doric order, of Greece. As far as we can judge from descriptions, the architecture of Jerusalem was also identical with that of Assyria."

I would gladly linger yet a little longer in the memory of a visit which delighted and instructed me at the same time; but the number of my folio tells me that I must pass over for the present a vast number of subjects, of which I would fain give a brief description. Enough, how ever, has been said, to induce those who can command means and leisure, to visit this building, and behold its treasures for themselves. A little piece of information may, however, be appended to this, which shows the skill, ingenuity, and care that have been employed, and furnishes the visitor with a few curious facts, of an inte resting nature.

"The Crystal Palace and its grounds," says Mr. Phillips, "occupy two hundred acres; and it is of importance to note that, in the formation of the gardens, the same uniformity of parts is adhered to as in the building itself; that is to say, the width of the walks, the width and length of the basins of the fountains, the length of the terraces,

the breadth of the steps, are all multiples and sub-multiples of the one primary number of eight. By this symmetrical arrangement, perfect harmony prevails, unconsciously to the looker-on, in the structure and in the grounds. The length of the upper terrace is 1576 feet, and its width 48 feet; the terrace wall is of Bath stone. The granite pedestals on each side of the steps leading from the grand transept are 16 feet by 24 feet. The width of the central flight of steps is 96 feet: and this is also the width of the grand central walk. The lower terrace is 1656 feet long between the wings of the building, or nearly one third of a mile, and 512 feet wide: the basins for the fountains on this terrace being, as just stated, all multiples of 8.

"The total length of the garden front of the wall of this terrace, which is formed into alcoves, is 1896 feet. The large circular basin in the central walk, is 196 feet in diameter, and the cascades beyond are 450 feet long,-the stone-work that surrounds each cascade reaching to the extent of a mile. The two largest basins for the fountains are 784 feet in length each.

"Such are a few of the principal measurements connected with the Palace gardens, as these are seen on the surface. But although the work that is above ground may be recognized and calculated with little trouble by the visitor, there is, beneath the surface, an amount of labour and capital expended, of which he can with difficulty form an accurate idea. Drain pipes spread under his feet like a network, and amount in length to several miles; he treads on thousands of bundles of faggots, which have formed his path; he walks over ten miles of iron piping which supply the fountains for his amusement."

And here I conclude my brief sketch of a ten days' trip, during which I enjoyed the happy society of kind friends, and, I hope, improved my mind, as I did my health and spirits. Before I lay down my pen, I would express my earnest hope that the effects of the Crystal Palace will be such as its most sanguine supporters scarcely now look for. It will, I believe, exercise

a mighty influence upon the minds of the people, and give a new current to their thoughts. I speak not now of its influence upon Art, but of the part it will occupy as a handmaid of Religion. It will improve and elevate the tone of hundreds and thousands. It will, I would hope, prove a mighty engine for good: and if popular lecturers were employed at times, to explain some of its wonders, still greater good would be effected. That this, and all other kindred efforts may tend to the greater glory of GoD, and the everlasting well-being of man, is the prayer, my dear friend, of

Yours faithfully,

W. B. F.

310

The Editor's Desk.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Walter the Schoolmaster, a new book by the author of “Harry and Archie" and other charming works, is sure to be an announcement gratifying to hundreds of readers. We ourselves have long been looking forward to the day of its publication; and now that it has reached us, just as we are making up our last sheet, we cannot resist recommending it in the strongest possible manner, and presenting some few extracts in confirmation of our opinion. The object of the work is, to cheer schoolmasters, anxious to do their duty, in the discharge of the heavy task that devolves upon them, and to make them look forward to reap in joy, though they sow in tears. Such a work was much needed for they only who have the care of pupils,-in whatever walk of life-can appreciate fully the difficulties that are ever springing up, the fears that are constantly arising, and the joy with which any hopeful sign is welcomed. Few besides Mr. Monro, could have written the present work. He has had practical experience of the subject on which he writes: and in giving the world the benefit of that experience, he uses those wonderful powers of description which he possesses in such a remarkable degree. In the early chapters, in which we are introduced to Walter's predecessor, and the examination of a village school, there is some pardonable sarcasm for our own experience enables us to acknowledge the truth of what may seem severe, and what is so admirably hit off. The volume contains twenty-six chapters, in which incident upon incident is recorded with a remarkable variety, that prevents the interest of the tale lagging for a single moment. We cannot enter into the details of the tale,-which we hope our readers will all have the opportunity of perusing for themselves, -but may just state, that the grand principle by which the teacher, Walter, is influenced, is that of love; and that in the reformations which he works out, he rules by that, and not by the rod. One instance must suffice;

Walter determined to try his hand upon a rough Irish boy, who was always in rags. He is introduced to us at Wer's Sunday tea

"I'll tell your master !' uttered a shrill, clear voice; 'I'll tell your master-see if I won't!' said the same little voice, breaking out nto a sort of wet thaw, just before a burst of tears, like a hard frost breaking up into wet rills underfoot.

"Tell him, if you like, old cock; tell him at the feast. I don't care, he didn't ax me; so there's another for you.' This speech was followed by a heavy dab and splash, and that, after a shower of mud, by a loud howl, so sudden and determined, as if proceeding from a very vigorous will. Poor little Jonah, by a successful shot, had just received a handful of mud exactly on the point of the nose; which, acting with a power of lever, had scattered the mud like a discharge of grape or canister at a siege. Walter opened the door suddenly, and admitted the poor little fellow, whose appearance was all the more forlorn from the fact of his evident neatness of dress got up for the occasion; but before Walter could interfere, a loud shout rung along the road, and the Irish boy, coat and all, had darted forward to avenge the cause of his fellow guest.

"Och! and ye'll do it, will ye? Sure enough, ye're a raal manger dog; ye car'nt get the feast yersel, and ye stops them as can!'

"And the next moment blows thick as hail were descending on the head of the unfortunate assailant from the infuriated Irishman. Screams, howls, and indignation broke from the unfortunate Englishman, when more help arrived on both sides, and the pelting of mud and jargon of abuse became loud on the ears of the guests already assembled. Walter's heart failed him: his ideal tea was melting into air; he felt half ashamed and awkward as he came out to separate the combatants. He caught hold first of the Irishman by the coattail, which unfortunately was rotten, and gave way with a loud rent; and Walter stood still with the coat-tail in his hand, and by the rent exposed the porous condition of the under garments. This failing, Walter had in the dark caught hold of the wild Irishman's long flowing hair.

"And he's been a buttering pink-eyed Jonah, the shindy, he has; and all bekase of his filthy jealousy. I'll see if I won't,' continued the infuriated and gasping Irishman, struggling in vain to be rid of Walter's hand. 'Bad luck to you, thin, new masther, for lugging me off the Saxon; bad luck to ye! bekase I'd have shillaleed him like my fayther did the French at Ciudad Rodrigo. Hurra, hurra! young 'un, I say.'

"All this time Walter was in vain trying to choke the life or the voice out of his obstreperous pupil, pulling at his shirt and hair, while he was dancing and leaping like a rampant lion in a round stainedglass shield. Hurra! none of your blarney. Who was your fayther? A m'litiaman, and mine was a rigler sodger, born wi' a red coat on his back, and Salamanca printed on his skin, like a sailor wi' an anchor blown into his hand. Hurra, I say!'

"But by this time, what with being half throttled and dragged down,