and wonder and admire, until the eye is attracted by a grand diadem of brilliants given by the Prince to the Princess the day before the wedding. The circlet is formed of two rows, with ten large brilliants equidistant, and is surmounted by scroll ornaments having drop shaped brilliants in the centre of each, connected by Greek devices. Another present from the Prince is here, a necklace consisting of clusters of brilliants with pearls depending here and there, wondrously beautiful pearls that Cleopatra would not have disdained; and here is a pair of earrings, and here is a brooch to match; and yonder there are more earrings, and more brooches, and a cross and a bracelet, the gift of the Queen, in the name of the late Prince Consort. Here is the necklace of brilliants presented by the Corporation of London; and here the bouquet holder of Cornucopia form, glistening with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds; and here is another bouquet holder, beautifully wrought with pearl and coral. The first of these holders was presented by the Lady Mayoress, the second by the ladies of Gravesend. Here we have a suite of ancient Scandinavian design-diadem, armlet, brooch, hair-pins, buttons, earrings, such as were worn by the daughters of the sea kings twelve hundred years ago. Here is the fac-simile of the Dagmar Cross, with a necklace of pearls and diamonds; it is gorgeous, dazzling, and does great credit to the workmen of the Northern Athens: diamonds, pearls, emeralds-such as the Peruvians might have worshipped; rubies-that might ransom a king. Look for a moment at this octagon bracelet, with its eight fair faces smiling from out the gold and jewels-this is the Bridesmaids' present; look there at the bouquet holder of rock crystal and gold, studded with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and pearls; it is the gift of Dhuleep Sing; observe this sapphire and diamond pin; notice this chased gold brooch, with a fine topaz in the middle; look at this brilliant bracelet, at this

"Pass on, ladies, pass on, gentlemen, pass on !"

And now we see silver plate and porcelain, and textile fabrics, all grouped together in glass cases with an eye to effect, a gorgeous, glittering sight, that it is probable no blushing bride before could ever exhibit. Here are the portraits, exquisitely finished, of the Prince and Princess of Prussia; our Princess looks charming, and her sweet smile seems to answer the pleasant glances that are given as the visitors gaze upon the picture; there is an immense vase from the Royal factory at Meissen, with a capital portrait of the strong-headed King of Prussia in the middle; and there is a Sevres clock, a china service, and a pair of beakers; and here are a table and a pair of vases in Dresden china, all decorated with figures of

Cupids, and wreaths of flowers, and fruits, and birds, and insects; and here is a fair mount, with pictures a la Watteau; and here is a picture of St. Catherine, and here an album, containing photographic portraits of the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London. Very magisterial looks the Mayor-still more magisterial the Macebearer the strength of Gog and Magog is upon him, and he looks resolved to resist even the Main force, which threatened the old city with the curtailment of its privileges. And here is a marble casket; and here a paper weight" in the Byzantine style," and there a paper weight, "surmounted by a figure of a mounted Amazon attacked by a tiger," and here a paper weight, "in the shape of a horse-shoe, mounted in gold." And here is a toilet service, all in silver, in the "Queen Anne style." It consists of a toilet glass, hand glass, a large casket, ten toilet boxes, two large jars, four smaller jars, two large beakers, four large scent bottles, a pair of toilet candlesticks, a pincushion with pin-tray, ivory hair brushes; tortoiseshell combs, and the instrument tray, with fittings. What young lady is there who would fail to perform her toilet well with apparatus so extensive? And here are silver vases and ink stands; and, more interesting than the silver and the gold,-for one may grow tired even of wealth!-are drawings of silver that is to be, drawings made from designs of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort. Notice this tazza, the group takes us back about six hundred years, and shows us the creation of the title of Prince of Wales as applied to English Princes; the figures represent Edward I. presenting his new born son to the Welsh Chieftains, one of whom kneels and kisses the prince's hand; observe also the portraits which are given of the Black Prince, and others, who have held the title of Prince of Wales-notice the pose of this figure of Saint

"Pass on, ladies, pass on, gentlemen, pass on."

Draperies; tartan velvet; silk tartan dress; Indian shawl, woven with gold on silver tissue; dresses of Lyons velvet, blue and maroon; Brussels lace scarf, with Cupids bearing torches; handkerchief with figure of Cupids; lappets with monograms of the Prince and Princess; crape shawl, in case lined with blue satin; opera cloak of silk, with raised blue velvet stripes and white silk trimmings; a dress of blue and white poplins; a shawl of white and scarlet taffeta, a cloak of silk orange, scarlet and white ground, with tasses (wrapped in paper), and white trimmings; more shawls, and the box containing them, with Norwich Arms upon it; lace shawl from Ireland, deep flounced, with handkerchief, deep-edged, and a circular parasol cover, all from the Green Isle; and a Paisley

shawl, woven of Cashmere wool and silk. Quite a wardrobe, comprising the fairy-like webs of lace from Norwich and Ireland and Belgium, and the heavy gorgeous tissue from Delhi. And then, the books, children's gifts, a Bible and a Prayer Book from the children of Windsor; a Bible from from the children of Whippingham; a Bible from the British and Foreign Bible Society. These simple gifts are, in our opinion, the most interesting in the whole collection;-here are gold and jewels, and china, and costly satins; here are toilet services and bridal wardrobes; and here is the Word of God, which is more precious than gold, and more to be desired than the fine gold, speaking alike to crowned and uncrowned, to rich and poor, that the fashion of this world passeth away. I emerge from the red baize gangway, and I sit down to rest, and the first object my eye falls upon, is the touching group of Westmacott's, " Outcast and Desolate," where the starving mother cowers over her dying child; and still I hear the voices of admonitory policemen, "Pass on, ladies, pass on, gentlemen, pass on."

I went up stairs after that, and looked over the Court from a small gallery which commands it; and the scene was worthy of observation. In the pressure of the crowd one failed to notice how skilful were the artistic arrangements which had been adopted. The Court itself is in the Italian style, and is surrounded with cloisters; the glass roof produces a general effect similar to that of being open to the sky. There are some good frescoes on the walls, and excellent specimens of Italian sculpture, Robbia's enamelled ware, Georgio's lustrous majolicas are grouped in different parts. In the centre are the standards to which allusion has already been made. The cases are arranged round these standards; small groups of exotics fill up the angles; the walls of the temporary court are fluted so as to represent white satin, decorated with bay leaves. Looking down the gallery, we can follow the winding of the railed space, in which the crinoline and broadcloth flow; we can see how difficult a work our friends in blue have to induce the fair visitors to tear themselves away from the fascinating spectacle; but the admonitory voice-" pass on, pass on,"-sounds-with its hollow echo-like that of some solemn teacher, declaring the vanity of all earthly things. The jewels are rare, and the fabrics costly, but we must not linger-this thing of beauty; this object of interest; this valuable treasure, must be left behind-" pass on, ladies-pass on, gentlemen-pass on."

in

I wander through the picture galleries, thinking of these things, and I sit down opposite Haydon's picture of May-day, and I fancy

the admonitory voice calls to me from the canvas. Here Punch delights the crowd, and the old salt and the young guardsman, and the street beggar, and the group of idlers amuse themselves with his quaint drolleries; and Jack in the Green, and a group of climbing boys, all brave with ribbons, are out for a day's sport; and here is Corydon, in the swallow-tailed high collared coat of 1820, and Phillida, in a narrow gored skirt, short waisted, and a gypsyhat; and here is a yellow carriage-such as you may see disused in Windsor stables-and inside are another Phillida and another Corydon, just married, if we may judge by bridal veil and wedding favours; and rattling behind them is a mourning coach! They are all passing on, and jostling one another, wealth and poverty, youth and age, life and death,-" make way there, tangling group, for the carriage of the wedded pair"-" make way there, wedded couple, for a dead man's bier."

But, apart from these reflections, there was in the sight of the wedding presents much that was highly gratifying. They showed so much spontaneous will; and those who went to see were evidently highly satisfied that the cadeaux of the youthful bride should be so great-there was no "envy, hatred, or malice," that all this wealth should be given to the Princess Alexandra-everybody seemed to think that she deserved it. Dr. Johnson used to say, "there was nothing worth seeing beyond Hyde Park Corner;" I wonder what he would have said to this Kensington Exhibition. Something there was to see, full surely, in this great display of love and loyalty-something that was good to see, that spoke eloquently of the affectionate interest which all classes of our community take in the prosperity-the joys-the sorrows-of our royal home; something that made us feel that between us there was a bond of union, very different from that which occupies its place in some of the Continental countries. We do no slavish homage, but we are right loyal in our sentiments; our best wishes are for the happiness of the newly wedded pair; and our prayers rise up for them, that they may be counted among those who are His, in the day when He "makes up His jewels."

CHRISTIAN KEN.

I AM GOING THERE."

BEYOND the crimson sunset,
Far, far beyond the skies,
There is a heavenly country
Where sunlight never dies;
There is a glorious mansion,
Where all is bright and fair,
Christ has prepared the City,
And I am going there!

Thousands of souls have gathered

Into that heavenly Home, Where sickness never enters,

And sorrows cannot come.
Saints with their lofty praises,
Around the throne repair,
In heaven they're always praising,
"And I am going there!"

My soul is sad to leave you,
But oftentimes it seems,
I hear the voice of Jesus,
Calling me in my dreams.
You know I shall be happy,

You must not then despair,
For oh, there is a heaven,
And I am going there!

Sometimes I see those spirits,

That bright angelic Band,
Who dwell with Christ for ever,
In yonder blissful land,
His name is on their foreheads,
And conquering palms they bear,
And I shall soon be with them,
Yes, I am going there.

From friends who love me fondly,
And call me their delight,
I go to higher pleasures,

A world of heavenly light!
A Paradise eternal,

Christ did for us prepare,
He calls me from my loved ones;
But they will meet me there!