the reverse, are figures of Venus, Fortuna, &c. The vase is supposed to have been in the ground since the year 426, when the Romans left England, or, perhaps, longer.-Abridged from the Times.

Charity Commission.-The cost of this Inquiry, from its commencement in 1818, to its termination in July, 1837, amounted to £252,502.

Nelson Memorial.-The Committee appointed to superintend the erection of the Nelson Column have been called upon to re-consider the proposed site, Trafalgar Square, and to ascertain whether a more advantageous spot may not be selected. In the meantime, it should not be forgotten that one of the leading merits of Mr. Railton's design is its harmonizing with the architectural character of the Square.

Penny Postage Envelopes.-We are happy to learn that the allegorical nonsense-Britannia, camels, Chinaman, tubs, and all,-is to be superseded by a well-executed likeness of the Queen, resembling the label, but circular in form, to be printed on the right hand upper corner of the envelope.

Content.-Walpole writing to Pitt, says: "Consider, sir, what a monarch is a man who wants nothing! consider how he looks down on one who is only the most illustrious man in England!"

Port Wine.-3,540 pipes of wine were exported from the river Douro during the month of May last, making 13,136 shipped thence since the 1st of January of the present year. Of this quantity, 10,615 pipes have been sent to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Newspapers.-Mr. P. L. Simmonds, of Chichester, Sussex, has collected, in the progress of a work on which he is engaged, treating of the history of newspapers of every country, a collection amounting nearly to 5,000 separate numbers of different papers, from almost every country on the face of the globe. So valuable has this large assemblage of newspapers been deemed, for the illustration of contemporaneous history, and as exemplifying the character of the literature, commercial enterprise, and comparative civilization of different countries, that the trustees of the British Museum have concluded an arrangement with Mr. Simmonds for the purchase of his collection; and a large portion has already been transferred to the Museum library.

Nightingales.-The inhabitants of Limburg have lately petitioned the council of the province to protect the nightingales, by a law to fine heavily all destroyers of this favourite bird; but the councillors will not listen to the prayer.

Old Ship.-The Volunteer, of Hull, the identical ship in which Wolfe arrived in Canada, is now in New Brunswick harbour: she is 110 years old, and was employed as a transport prior to the taking of Quebec.

Model of the Pyrenees.-Mr. Bielefeld has just completed a beautiful papier-mâché map, or model, of the Pyrenees, from the elaborate model by Sir T. L. Mitchell.

Ortolans.-The Ornithological Society have 'presented to Prince Albert a pair of beautiful ortolans, which were hatched by steam at the Eccaleiobion.

London and Blackwall Railway.-Although only one rail is yet open, no fewer than 67,154 persons were conveyed during the first eleven days from the opening. On the first Sunday, the number of passengers was 8,313. When completed, there will be five stations on this railway, although it is less than four miles in length. The Blackwall terminus is a handsome structure, upon a noble quay, facing the Thames.

Coronation Picture.-Sir William Newton is engaged upon a "miniature" picture of Her Majesty's coronation. It is painted, not in oil, but, as miniatures usually are painted, on an oblong surface of ivory, thirty-two inches in height, and twenty-two inches in breadth. Sir William has, by a process of

his own invention, been enabled to join plates of ivory in such a manner that the joints are not perceptible, and are so firm, that it is very difficult to cause any separation or fracture in them. The picture contains nine figures, and represents that part of the ceremonial of the coronation in which the Duke of Sussex did homage to the Queen. "The composition of the whole," says the Times, "is correct, the management of the light is good, and the extraordinary breadth imparted to the whole, is a triumph in this species of painting hitherto almost, if not totally, unknown. This picture will raise Sir W. Newton to a very high position in his profession. He has struck out, by his genius, and his laborious application of it to his art, a completely new walk, and he is entitled to the honours of an inventor."

Camden Society.-The success of this association has led to the formation of three or four similar societies, in the metropolis and in the provinces. The object, as the reader will recollect, is the reprinting of rare antiquarian works, the first publishing of inedited MSS., and "the publication of early historical and literary remains." In the prosperity of such associations we have ever taken a lively interest; knowing, by experience, that antiquarian literature is rarely profitable to publishers, commercially speaking.

A Stone Coffin, seven feet long, and nearly four feet across the shoulder part, has been discovered, at two feet from the surface of a field on Hop-pole Farm, near Stratford. On removing the lid, which is rounded on the top, the remains of three persons were found within; but the coffin bears no inscription to denote who these persons were.

French Steamers.-The French have now at sea thirty armed steamers, of from 120 to 450 horse power, and are taking such vigorous measures for adding to this branch of their service, that the steam-power, which at present averages the power of 3,140 horses, will, in the course of the next year, be nearly doubled, or 5,780.-Col. D. Damer, in Parliament.

India Mail.-On the 4th of April last, a mail arrived in India in thirty-two days, from England.

Hampton Court.-Wolsey's Hall is undergoing Some decorations, on the completion of which it will be thrown open to the public. We have agitated this matter for seven years past, and are thankful to the Government for their compliance with the public wishes in the concession. We should much like to see the palace chapel added to the open apart

ments.

Trafalgar Square.-Parliament have voted £5,000 for completing the laying-out of this fine area.

Public Records.-The sum of £10,000 has been voted, by Parliament, for binding, cleansing, and indexing the public records.

Torpidity of the Frog.-Lately, as a shipwright was sawing a piece of oak, thirty-five feet long, and two feet in diameter, he discovered, at about twelve feet from the root of the tree, a small cavity in the centre of the wood, which contained a frog. The surrounding part of the timber was perfectly sound; indeed, in the whole piece there was not even a crack. The frog was immediately removed, and placed, by the man, in his tobacco-box; it soon evinced symptoms of life, and it lived for more than eighteen hours. It is supposed the tree was upwards of two hundred years old.-Yorkshire Gazette.

"Well, this beats me out," as the rye said when the fellow hammered it over the head with the flail. "Oh, Nanny, wilt thou gang wi' me," as the feller said ven he was trying to steal the goat.

LONDON: Published by GEORGE BERGER, Holywell Street, Strand. Printed by WHITEHEAD & Co. 76, Fleet Street, where all Communications for the Editor may be addressed.

THE COCKBURN VASE. ON Wednesday, July 15th last., the very splendid piece of plate represented upon the preceding page, was presented to the Rt. Hon. Sir George Cockburn, by eightysix Naval and Marine officers, who had served under that distinguished Admiral, and able as well as excellent man.

The cost of this superb testimonial, executed in massive silver, by Mortimer and Hunt, of New Bond-street, has exceeded 1,000 guineas. The base of the design consists of eight dolphins supporting a plateau, upon which are seated allegorical female figures of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America; a couchant lion and seahorse being placed alternately between each figure. The centre of the plateau is occupied by a quadrangular pedestal, upon the centre of which is placed a florid column, supporting a flattened vase, elaborately enriched with oak-leaves and acorns, in burnished and frosted work. Upon the pedestal, also, are placed four other figures -a sailor, soldier, marine, and artillery

Meleager, 32 guns. Capture of the Enemy's Vessels of War and Convoy ; With Ordnance Stores

For Mantua,

From under the Batteries

Of St. Pierre Dorena, 31 May, 1796.

Walcheren,

And Capture of Flushing,

15 August, 1809.

The height of the group is thirty-four inches, and its weight 980 ounces. It is placed upon a salver, also of silver, twentyfour inches in diameter, and 200 ounces in weight. This salver, as the Engraving shews, has a richly-chased border, within which are four groups of trophies of war, and emblems of naval and military service, which are connected with scroll-work and flowers, and thus form an inner frame for the arms of Sir George Cockburn, beneath which is inscribed:

THIS ACCOMPANIMENT TO THE TESTIMONIAL
Is presented to
ADMIRAL

The RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE COCKBURN, G.C.B.,
MAJOR-GENERAL OF MARINES, &c.
In token of the high respect and admiration they
entertain

For their gallant and distinguished Chief,

BY THE UNDERNAMED OFFICERS:

[Then follow the names of the eighty-six officers.]

La Minerve, 38 guns.
Capture and Destruction
Of La Bravoure, 56 guns;
And Capture of La Succés,
38 guns, French Frigate,
2 September, 1804.

The vase, group, and salver are exquisitely wrought, and are alike honourable to the gallant veteran to whom the Testimonial has been presented, and to his companions in arms who have presented it. As a work of art, it adds to Mr. Bailey's reputation, and to the credit of the manufacturers who have carried his model into execution.

The presentation of this Testimonial to Sir George Cockburn by a deputation of the subscribers, must have been a most interesting ceremony; and Sir George, in returning thanks, assured his friends that it would be a trophy of sincerest pride and boast to him so long as he should be permitted to live; and after he had passed away, it would devolve, with a no less worthy accompaniment, "the Golden Sword" presented to him by Nelson, to those who

Of the life and services of Sir George Cockburn, a brief sketch may be acceptable. He is the son of the late Sir James

had his first commission of lieutenant in 1783. In 1793, he was appointed to the Britannia, and sailed to the Mediterranean; from which ship he went on board

the Victory, Lord Hood; by that officer he was made master and commander into the Speedy sloop; and, on January 24, 1794, was made post into the Meleager, of thirty-two guns. In 1795, be formed part of Nelson's squadron in co-operation with the Austrian arms, where he repeatedly displayed his zeal, ability, and courage. Next year he commanded the Minerva, of forty-two guns, on board which ship Commodore Nelson had his broad pendant, and proceeded with the Blanche frigate to Porto Ferrajo, to remove some troops of horse, which had landed there, to Gibraltar. They fell in with two Spanish frigates, and an action ensued of two hours fifty minutes; when the Sabina, of forty guns, after having 164 men killed and wounded out of 286, struck to the Minerva. A few hours after, the Minerva was attacked by another Spanish frigate, which she beat off: she next made sail, two ships of the line and a frigate appearing, and the Spaniards contented themelves with retaking the Sabina. Nelson arrived at

Elba in a very crippled state; and being repaired, the Minerva sailed to join the fleet off Cadiz, and gave information of the Spanish fleet being at sea, which was seen and defeated the next day. Captain Cockburn continued on this station till the year 1801, when he returned to England. In 1809, he sailed to the attack of Flushing, in the Bellisle man-of-war of eighty guns, and commanded a division of bombs and gun-boats, which he placed with great judgment. He was subsequently selected by Lord Chatham as a commissioner to settle the capitulation. In the same year, Captain Cockburn had commanded the Pompée, of eighty guns, and assisted at the taking of Martinique. We next find him in the Implacable, on the Cadiz station, assisting the Spanish patriots.

In 1812, Captain Cockburn was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, when he hoisted his flag in the Marlborough, and sailed for the American station. In the same year, he sailed up the river Patuxent, with a flotilla, keeping abreast of the army

under General Ross, in his advance to the city of Washington. On the approach of the British armament, the American commodore, Barney, set fire to their flotilla, all of which was blown up, except one vessel, which was taken. Cockburn took thirteen sail of merchant ships, besides which he destroyed the public buildings, dockyard, military stores, &c.

We have not space to recite the numerous services performed by Rear-Admiral Cockburn. Peace being restored, he returned to England, and was nominated a Knight Commander of the Bath. He was next appointed to escort Buonaparte to St. Helena: he accordingly hoisted his flag on board the Northumberland, of 74 guns, in which ship the ex-emperor embarked in August, 1815, and arrived at the place of his exile on October 13 following. Sir George Cockburn was relieved in the command at St. Helena by Sir Pulteney Malcolm, and he now returned to England. On February 20, 1818, he was nominated a Grand Cross of the Bath; on March 25 following, he became one of the commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral; and, in the summer of the same year, he was returned to Parliament for Portsmouth. In 1819, he was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Blue squadron of His Majesty's fleet. After the dissolution of Parliament, in 1820, Sir George was defeated in his attempt to retain his seat for Portsmouth; but he was returned to Parliament for Weobly, in Herefordshire. On the 5th of April, 1821, Sir George Cockburn received the honourable and lucrative appointment of MajorGeneral of Marines, which he retains to the present day.

ENGLISH ANTIQUITIES AT CALAIS.

"THE city of Calais was the last continental fortress that remained in the possession of the English, after they had been driven from Normandy, Guienne, and the other apanages, or matrimonial acquisitions of the Plantagenets." Hence, Calais becomes an attraction to all visitors to the Kentish coast, especially at this season of the year. The strait, upon which it is situated, being only eight leagues across, from Dover, is called, by the French, a pas, (step;) consequently, shoals of English visitors flock to Calais; and foremost among its "curiosities" is the church of Our Lady, built by their ancestors. The architecture is not very striking; but, when viewed from an elevation, the small, round towers of the aisles present a peculiar resemblance to those seen in the drafts of a building constructed after a plan of the wool-staple for the palace of Henry

VIII., at his meeting with Francis I., A.D. 1547. Sterne describes the whole church as being, in his time, "more fine than handsome;" but these epithets might now change places. The high altar is the principal attraction of the interior; it is of Italian marble, and was built in 1628, with materials found in a ship wrecked on this coast, on its passage from Geneva to Antwerp. The workmanship cost 20,000 livres, a considerable sum at the above period.

The richness of the altar strangely contrasts with the bare, massive, and whitewashed columns which support the roof. A Correspondent of the Times states, that "a few days ago, it was ascertained, by the merest accident, that, underneath the coats of whitewash, which had accumulated on these columns for many generations, a variety of fresco paintings were hidden; and the antiquarian spirit was strongly excited by the knowledge of the fact." At the expense of the Committee of Agriculture, Arts, and Commerce of Calais, the plaster is now in course of removal from the columns. On the whitewash being cleared from the two large pillars in the rear of the altar, and behind the sanctuary, one exhibited the interior of a chapel, in which St. George is vanquishing the dragon; while in the distance are discernible the walls and spires of a town. The framework of this painting consists of a score of coats-of-arms; the top being occupied with the pious scroll, Orate pro anima Thome Wodehous; which said Thomas Wodehouse is presumed to have been some governor, or one in authority, of the English town or garrison. The other column shews the same arms and legend, but with a different subject. On another column, in the body of the church, has been found a long slab of coffee-coloured marble, with a stone in the centre, occupying the place of a niche; while above, below, and around it, the surface of the marble is thickly covered with white roses. "Almost every column that has been tried shews marks of paintings beneath the whitewash; and it is the intention of the authorities to institute a strict examination of the entire edifice. Not the least remarkable are the scrawls on the pillars, in old English and courthand, with charcoal drawings of the gal leys and other vessels of the epoch, and the names of the parties who amused themselves in this way, instead of edifying by mass or sermon. The period of the Wodehous emblazonment must have been previous to the battle of Agincourt, as the arms of that family at present borne have no analogy to those just discovered; and it is known that Henry V., after his victory, gave fresh arms, with supporters,