ACCOUNT OF CANALS, DOCKS, BRIDGES, WATER-WORKS, INSURANCE AND GAS-LIGHT COMPANIES, INSTITUTIONS, &c.

By Messrs. WOLFE and EDMONDS, No. 9, 'Change-Alley, Cornhill.

474

THE LION'S HEAD.

Valiant as a lion, and wondrous affable.

SHAKSPEARE.

WE are truly rich in prepared articles for our next Number: 1st. We have a chef-d'œuvre of a Table-Talk-the best yet, we think: 2d. We have a very nicely got-up paper,-which is to be followed by another quite as good, containing some original letters of Foote, Garrick, &c.,-with a curious document, or two, illustrative of dramatic history: 3d. A Rough Diamond,—an article which, to call it by its title, is to mislead. Exmouth Wrestling are the words that stand at its head: but it contains every thing, even to a wood cut. It commences with a word in favour of holidays: from hence it takes occasion to allude to Hackney coachmen and Newspaper Editors, who never have any drops a word passingly in praise of Brentford: recommends punctuality to a tailor; gets into a stage coach and out again, (strange to say) without an accident: affirms that the writer was induced to pass a fortnight at Exmouth-and-but we must not shew too much for fear of palling curiosity. Seriously, however, it is a clever paper. Then the Editor writes privately to THE LION that he is now at work on the Examiner versus Shakspeare; on Croker's Translation of the bon homme-a most singular selection of Mr. Croker's; on American Literature (which may or may not appear). The reader will be pleased to observe that Helvellyn, in this Number, is a very beautiful little Poem; and we promise another-very good also-though much longer, and not by the same writer-entitled Osmyn, a Persian Tale.

We cannot refuse ourselves the pleasure of noticing an Essay, which nevertheless we have not ventured to insert, entitled "Woman the true Source of Human Happiness." The writer bids us ask "the love-lorn youth,” if it is not so: and the love-lorn youth says yes,-heaving, at the same time, a deep sigh from his breaking heart. The writer then asks, "what can be traced in the grandeur of the heavens, what is there to be found in the starproof immensity of unbodied space, that can give back the raptures so often felt, and the idolised beauty so often adored, in the fondest and fairest object of our captivated affections?"-To this the reply must be-nothing in either the one or the other. No man can reasonably expect to dance with his sweetheart amongst shooting stars, or to enjoy a honey moon in a comet's tail, or to have a love-letter sent him with the post mark on the cover—“ UNBODIED SPACE"-scarcely legible. Does it then follow that the writer is correct in the conclusion which he thus summarily but distinctly states ?—“ to describe happiness, therefore, is only, in other words to describe woman." It may be so-as batchelors we hope it is so-but we dare not affirm it so positively as our correspondent.

Our Friend shall not pass unnoticed in our next Number. The lines from the Hop Garden are very sweet.

We shall find a corner for one of C. W's Sonnets in our next: but we are rather surprised he should have offered them to us, (that is to say if he be a reader of our Magazine.) The Critical Notice of Keats's last volume (No. 9) was almost entirely devoted to an attempt at shewing the inconsistency, and, as it strikes us, extreme weakness of the querulousness which forms the sentiment of C. W's second piece. By the bye, we we may as well give it

here, the LION, like "the late Mr. Daube,"* having almost entirely appropriated his HEAD to disputes and discussions. Unanimity would destroy him: a "faultless monster" would worry to death the King of Beasts.

SONNET.

Ir turns the heart's blood bitter to behold
How homage, wealth, and honours are applied;
How one man stoops to lift another's pride;
How some will worship brutes, if built of gold;
How Vice is purchased and sweet Virtue sold;
How Worth is crush'd, and Baseness dignified;
How what doth most exalt, men most deride;
And nothing is as all things were of old.
The world is in its age, yet is less fit
To die and to dissolve, and bear that ire
Which must flash round it once, and wither it
Into the dust of its funereal fire-

Vile, wallowing worm, that hath nor heart nor sighs,
But for base things,-nor will to dare, nor wing to rise!]

C. W.

That there is much suffering in the world, and that the fortunes of many are inadequate to their merits, it would shew folly or insensibility to deny. Miserable examples of the inequality and perversity of men's lots are every day apparent: but, in this respect, we apprehend, the world is very much as it was of old: and we also believe that people quite as often mistake their talents as find them slighted. The world against an individual, in judgment on himself, is quite as likely to be right as he is. The most distressing cases are those where the sensibility is greater than the power; the tendency beyond the means. The public then judging by what they see, and the candidate by what he feels, disappointment must be the result; and, in such instances, it falls hard and heavy on sanguine hopes, and youthful aspirations. Complaint, however, though it may be natural, should be repressed as worse than useless: it will only feed the fever of the mind that must torment and destroy unless allayed. The LION, however, begs pardon for prosing; and to atone will conclude with poetry.

Oh would some power the giftie gie us
To see ourselves as others see us,
It would frae mony a blunder free us
And foolish notion.

We shall endeavour to pay some attention to the important subject of Juvenile Delinquency in our next number. The Reports of the Committee for investigating the causes of its alarming increase, and of the Committee of the Society for the improvement of Prison Discipline, are important documents, which, without a violation of his duty, no Editor of a Periodical Work can leave unnoticed. Such neglect would indeed form a shameful contrast to the philanthropy that animates the exertions of these worthy associations. The mischief, however, is, that lighter and more obtrusive subjects almost unavoidably engross his time, at least,—if not his thoughts. His post is an awkward one, and has strong claims on the compassion of good Christians.

Maria, may we jump suddenly from the subject of Juvenile Delinquency to your more than inuendo? The LION'S HEAD has had its heart in its mouth ever since the receipt of your note-for really it does not know whether it is expected to disavow or acquiesce. It is ready, however, to do either according to orders.

W. K. will see we have made use of his paper; and we trust he will excuse the liberty we have taken with the communication. We had long been regarding the subject as one calling much for notice.

* N'avez vous pas connu feu Monsieur Daube?
Q'une ardeur pour la dispute éveilla avant l'aube!