them, were ushered in by the exhilarating tones of a cracked trumpet, and the various personages were explained, in a loud voice, and with a jargon peculiar to the profession, by the principal hierophant, amid the raptures of the assembled spectators, whose exultation was complete, when the exhibition concluded with the merry, moving, panoramic, pantomimical, fantocinical procession of Tally-ho the Grinder. But alas! for modern improvements, the peep-show has now risen into the Attic Cosmorama; and its gorgeous pageants, and truly English scenery, "are vanished into thin air," while the juvenile groupes that still crowd to behold its wonders, are transported, without the aid of steam yacht or balloon, to the landscapes of Italy, and regaled with the architectural chef-d'œuvres of Michael Agmiolo (Angelo) Buornarotti; while we are informed by the proprietor (a title now very generally assumed) in a mongrel diction, wholly unintelligible, of the names of the several objects as they pass under review. But oh! "misfortune on misfortune, grief on grief!" the laughter-moving grinder and his tally-ho, with its rattling machinery of wheels and pinions, is no more; he has fled with the scenery of his native land; and in the final scene "That ends this foreign strange anomaly," behold a sumptuous square, filled with characters of every form and feature, with" Gorgons, Hydras, and Chimeras dire," which we are told is the "Cannibal at Venice, where we may see all the Lords and the Dukes, and the Princes and the Princesses, all in Marmalade, and the houses, all luminated, and the bonfires, and the fireworks, and all because of the Cannibal." The dissected puzzles, likewise, those fruitful sources of youthful amusement in the long winter evenings, are supplied by the Parisian Myriorama, where endless variety is produced; while it must be confessed, that invention will be abundantly exercised, and a taste for design promoted. But, to "leave the sports of children for the toils of men," what revolutions has not scientific nomenclature suffered within the last seven years. Even in our nurseries of juvenile education, the designation of school and even seminary is obsolete. We now hear of nothing but establishments, many of which I hear possess little claim to the title, as they seldom become established at all. But such is the rage for Greek designations, particularly where education is concerned, that passing the New Road some days since, I saw, written up in large characters, at the corner of one of the streets, the words POLYGLOT ACADEMY. My invention was for some time exercised to account for the propriety of a term, which I had never before seen applied but to a certain edition of the Bible; and after some cogitation I concluded that this learned inscription imported, that the establishment to which it was affixed, was a Classical Academy, at which many tongues or languages were taught. In the minutiae of public amusements the change has not been less extraordinary. That scene of enchantment Vauxhall, now closes with a magnificent Pyrotechnic exhibition; while two seasons since, we were regaled in the saloon, with a kind of stage, filled with revolving pillars, fountains, cascades, palm-trees, &c. with a back ground of looking-glass. This singular mechanical deception was denominated "The Heptaplasiesoptcrou." Long and unwearied were my researches to ascertain the etymology of this term, when, after many fruitless inquiries and investi gations, I discovered, through the kind assistance of a learned Grecian, to whom I have been on many occasions much indebted, that it meant "an image seven times reflected." Our most common tradesmen, seized with the nomenclatural mania, have adopted such professional designations, as render a pocket Johnson, an indispensable appendage to the Peripatetic. Should a luckless author, be ambitious of seeing his lucubrations appear before the public in a neat 8vo. price 10s. 6d. boards: he must apply first to a typographer, and next to a bibliographer, ere his ambitious views can be satisfied; in the plain English of ten years back, he must employ a printer and a publisher. Should a forlorn and solitary pedestrian, after travelling through crowded streets during the whole morning, seek to refresh exhausted nature; if his way lie through the Haymarket, in vain will he inquire for an eating-house, but will be informed that he is within a few doors of halfa-dozen excellent Restaurateurs. Should he subsequently wish to have his hair dressed in preparation for a visit to the Opera, he will be told that the Peruquier will be found on the opposite side of the street. Much might be added to this imperfect sketch, but as the subject is of a most extensive nature, its full discussion in its several ramifications and collateral bearings, will be probably resumed in a future number. P. HEIR OF SKY. In the house of the Laird of Sky is kept an ox's horn, which holds about two quarts, which formerly the heir of the Laird was expected to swallow at one draught, as a test of his manhood, before he was permitted to bear arms, or take his seat amongst the men. THE CONTRACT. Receive, dear maid, the warmest sigh, And let the beaming tearful eye, And oh! return one look of love, EPIGRAM. 66 "My cause," you say, concerns not theft or treason; That late three sheep of mine to pound he drove :" And all the perjuries of old King John; Then of the Edwards, and Black Prince you rant, -Now pray, dear Sir, one word about the Sheep. THE VILLAGE TALE. "The short and simple annals of the poor."-GRAY. NEED we, to foreign climes go hence to seek Now to my tale; and though no art shall dress, One morn I stray'd, with Fancy deep in talk, My thought, which had been busied in the dreams Of idle Fancy's visionary schemes, Rous'd by the knell, now seem'd with anxious glow, To turn to life-though it should turn to woe. My pace I quicken'd, eager to obtain, A knowledge which I fear'd might end in pain ; On the sad train the sacred portals close, I entered not, but wearied and distress'd, I looked around me for a place of rest;— I mark'd the villagers who pass'd me by ; I saw the boards, the cords, the new turn'd ground, Prompted by sympathy the cause to know, ""Twas a fine lad,”—an aged matron said, 66 64 The damsel blush'd-they took a mug of ale, “And bade good bye-ah! 'tis a woful tale!" I felt her simple eloquence; it seem'd, Cried "I heard our parson ask if any knew, "Why Will and Jane should not be married too."That very night it was, he took his bed; "And now, poor Jennie, 'stead of being wed, 66 "That cheek, whose rosy hue so well we know, "Looks now as white, and seems as cold as snow." "How old was Will?" asked one with accents mild ;"Why let me see, I knew him from a child; "Altho' 'tis-twenty years come Lammas day, Ah lawk! how quick the years do pass away; "Since Farmer Long, the father of poor Will, Brought him to see me, yonder at the mill. "I well remember his dear little charms, For he was then, a lovely babe in arms.' Not will'd to hear her long detail rehearsed, I loitered near to where two more conversed. "Yes; and d'ye know," says one "that till he died, "On which he died-Ah! 'twas a dismal sight. "Here William,-I am here,'-she faltering cried, Touched to the quick, I need not blush to say, Now through the church-yard came the mournful train ; What pen can trace, what eloquence can paint, The village curate first, in snow-white vest, |