spirit, painted in Hope's gayest colours. We almost all follow some one of these in youth or riper age; but who can say that in these lies contentment? Oh what agony, to think that the object for which dangers have been overcome, obstacles surmounted, and all but life itself exchanged, is, at the moment of possession, slipping from our grasp! What a victory has the fell destroyer over those wanderers from the true path, who have wasted time-ay, and perhaps forfeited a happy immortality,— for a painted toy, no sooner won, than lost for ever!

The sun still shone brightly; the birds sang gaily as ever: but a shadow had fallen on my heart, and imparted a sombre hue to the landscape. The sound of a horn gave me warning to hasten, lest I should miss the coach that was to convey me from Penrith; and as I took my seat, I inwardly resolved that I would not hastily forget the lesson taught me by the Butterfly Chase.

The Editor's Desk.

CHURCH NEWS.

WE have before alluded to the commencement and progress of the works at S. Mary Church, Devon, and gave our readers an engraving of the exterior, (Vol. XI. 1852,) and now that the new chancel, and the first portion of the new nave are opened for divine service, we desire to give them some account of the building in which we feel sure they are interested.

Standing in the old nave and looking eastward, we see before us the first bay of the new nave and its aisles and the chancel and its aisles. In arranging the plan for the new Church, difficulties had to be contended with which rendered an unequal proportion in the width of the aisles of the nave absolutely necessary; but we imagine that this arrangement is neither unsightly nor inconvenient; indeed the picturesque effect of the building is height

closes of iron with brass pillars, and on the cresting of each are brass crowns from which at each end rise crosses and triple-light gas burners in the intermediate spaces, from which a powerful light is diffused over the chancel. The oak rails cross the chancel on the first step into the sacrarium, which adjoins upon the responds of the arcades; they are richly carved and moulded, but perfectly open. The workmanship of this beautiful part of the furniture was the execution and offering of Messrs. Wm. and Henry T. Taylor, both parishioners.

The east wall is reached by three steps, two within and one without the rails, and the altar stands upon a pace. The reredos which is of stone, is richly moulded, with marble shafts. The centre panel contains a carved representation in Caen stone of the Last Supper of great beauty. In the northernmost panel of the end compartment is seen the end of the corner stone, laid by the Right Hon. Sir John Patteson, Knt. This stone passes through the wall, and in each end is a cross within a moulded quatrefoil, carved by the architect. The east window is of five lights, and is copied from one of the choir aisle windows in the Cathedral of Exeter. An oak chair and desk are placed on the north side for the use of the Lord Bishop of the diocese, who resides within the parish. These are the work of Mr. Thos. Lidstone of Dartmouth.

The stalls for the choir are of oak, with carved knops to the elbows, and angels terminating the standards of the desks, each holding a scroll with an appropriate text in relief. The needlework from designs by Mr. Hugall, the architect, is most magnificent, and was executed by ladies. Thanks are due to Mr. Woodley, for his noble liberality in the matter of marble, and to the clerk of the works for his great care and skill: and we are more than ever convinced that the way to have Churches once more the glory of the land is to have them designed not only by skilful architects, but by those whose hearts are thrown like Mr. Hugall's, into the whole system of the Church.

And now we must also congratulate the Vicar, the Rev, Alexander Watson, upon the successful manner in

which his school festival passed over, even though celebrated late in October. A long procession of more than four hundred children proceeded in excellent order to the church, with banners with appropriate mottoes floating gaily in the breeze. Lines of flags were also to be seen in various parts of the streets. They were placed in the new chancel. The service, we are happy to say, was choral. The surpliced choir sang most heartily, and from joining therein ourselves, we soon discovered that it was a place in which acoustics had been regarded as of some moment. We could not but wish that those who talk about the want of clearness in choral service had been present, to hear the distinct manner in which God's praises were rendered on this occasion. The clear and careful enunciation of the boys showed that no ordinary pains had been taken in preparing them for the adequate discharge of the duties devolving upon them. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Vicar, who was particularly happy in his remarks to the children, teachers, and choristers. Immediately after service, a procession was formed, and a visit paid to Castle Cary, the residence of G. Thorne, Esq., R.N. Subsequently a most substantial dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was eagerly partaken of by the hungry juveniles, who did not fail to show their appreciation of the fare in a most practical manner. Appropriate addresses were delivered by the Rev. the Vicar, and the Rev. W. B. Flower, and cheers, hearty and long continued, were given for Church and Queen, the Bishop, the Vicar, the Curates, &c. The English sports of merrie old England followed, and a right happy day ended right merrily.

The festival celebration at S. Paul's, Brighton, was this year most effective, and we heartily bid GoD speed to our fellow labourers in that important town.

Church building and Church restoration, are going on throughout the country in a most successful manner, and we have recently seen the influence of the Archæological Societies plainly shown where least expected.

Of literature we have but little; the following brochures by Mr. MONSELL will be acceptable.