THE RICHES OF POVERTY.

ONE morning in the time of buds, of sunshine, and of showers,

I wandered in a field-path, edged with spring-time's earliest flowers;

I wandered mournfully, although the air was fresh and bright,

And the skylark poured his joyous song from a blue and cloudless height.

I wandered mournfully and slow, for I was very poor,

And the future only seemed to me a burden to endure.

I brooded o'er my poverty, and all the sorrows deep

That threatened those, for whom my life, a sacrifice, were cheap.

And I without the power to turn aside one woe-to calm

One anxious thought, or o'er one fear to pour hope's precious balm !
Should not this make the soul grow sad, the eye with tears o'erflow?
Mine did, with that most helpless grief none but the weak can know.
And the troubled stream of thought was full with many a grief, that still
Came gushing from that single fount, as from a cavern rill,

But as upon the night shines out" the poetry of heaven,"

So to the dark hour of the soul are starry visions given.

I thought if in my path should lie gold, meant for me alone

That a departed one had traced the gift upon a stone

If to my hand the power were given to change to metals rare,
And precious stones, the common ones that feel the common air;
If a most delicate fairy form, arising by the river,
Would at my feet a purse lay down, to be exhausted never!
What happiness, with wealth like this, what bliss I could bestow
On those my heart was aching for, and many a child of woe!
And my spirit so intensely dwelt upon these shadows wild,

That I almost prayed my God would give their substance to his child.
Like oil upon the waves, that Name on my troubled heart came down,
And I looked above to His own blue sky to deprecate His frown.
And a voice, unheard before, awoke the echoes of my heart,
Bidding its former fantasies, like sprites unblest, depart;
Then pleading in its silent halls with low and suasive tone,
I listened with a reverent ear, as from an altar-stone.

"Yes, thou art poor, no gold hast thou to canker o'er thy soul,
No power to gain one single thing that riches can control.
From day to day thy means of life with Providence are hid,
And He who feeds the ravens doth almost thy food forbid.
Yes, thou art poor; but who is He that bids thee call on Him
As Father? are not worlds His own to which thy world is dim?
And is not all the wealth of this His own to take and give?
If it were good for thee, would He without it let thee live?
And those for whom thy heart is sore, does not His word declare
He binds the broken heart, He makes the weary one his care?
Some through a long and subtle chain of causes trace the hand
That gives them all, but daily thou dost 'neath its pressure stand!
Some to a human lord must bow, on whom their fortunes rest,
With the dark shadow of whose mind their own may be opprest!
But He on whom the desolate and poor may call alone,
Reflects light, peace, and purity, and wisdom, from His throne.
And art thou then so destitute? has He all wealth denied?
Oh! there are sources whence it flows, a free and boundless tide !
Look forth on the creation with the eye that He has given,
And bless Him who bestows unbought the noblest gifts of heaven.
The fresh pure air its thousand choirs, the incense-breathing flowers
That steal up silently and bright amid their turfy bowers;
The wooded vale, the winding stream, in whose clear depth there lies,
Distinctly dim, like the fabled past, a shadowy world and skies.
And all earth's varied loveliness harmoniously combined
That gives the inmost heart a sense of gladness undefined.
And is it nothing then to feel and know a joy like this?
In Nature's mirror still to see her Maker's blessedness?
In all His Providence ordains a Father's hand to feel,
And in His word a Saviour God its promises to seal?
And art thou then so destitute-are riches only gold?
Does there not dwell within the heart a mine of wealth untold?
A wealth from whose most lavish use but comes increase of store,
Which Death gives immortality, and Time an added power.
A power that in the desert sands, or the ice-girdled north,
Is gentle, pure, and glad, as in the Eden bowers of earth;
A light before whose lustre mild the heart's dark spectres fly,
Waking up bliss and beauty like its emblem in the sky.
'Tis Love-the angel of the world-the element of Heaven,
In which the image of our God was to his creatures given.
Love-but not him, Earth's pilgrim-boy, whose feet the dust must tread,
To fling a fleeting halo round one vision-gifted head:
But him the pure and heavenly one, whose bright unchanging wing,
Though cradled at the shrine of home, veils each created thing,
Shedding its own sweet lustre over earth's most dark and sad,
The spirit of a blessed fount, that makes all nature glad;
A spring, with whose immortal flow the joys of Heaven begin,
A presage of the happiness itself hath power to win.
And often in the poor man's heart its treasures brightly dwell,
Leaving the worldly prosperous one a dark and gloomy cell.
No wealth?-the very power to love were wealth enough alone
To overmatch the value of the proud world's every throne!
But wouldst thou ask a gift of God to make thy cup o'erbrim,
Pray that thy heart's best treasure might be lavished upon him;

Stint not its free abundance-as rivers to the sea
Its utmost flood can never fill that bright immensity,
Oh! praise Him, that He is so good, so merciful, so just,
That we may pour on Him the heart's most perfect love and trust.
A love, that in this world gives peace that none can take away,
And 'mid the wreck of worlds shall stand a wealth without decay!"

I went home wiser for the time, and happier for the hour;

Oh! that the mists of earth should cloud such thoughts of truth and power

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS OF THE

METROPOLIS.

LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

In the year 1796, an institution was founded in Glasgow by the will of Professor Anderson, for the purpose of instructing, in scientific subjects, the middle and working classes. No department of this establishment was, however, exclusively set apart for the instruction of mechanics in those branches of knowledge of especial use in their daily avocations, until the year 1800, when Dr. George Birkbeck commenced delivering a series of lectures on mechanics and chemistry. During the period since these lectures were first delivered, the advantages of the scheme were unequivocally demonstrated, and similar courses of instruction were established in several other cities of the empire. In 1823, in consequence of some disagreement between the mechanics and the trustees of the institution, the former seceded, and formed an establishment of their own, called the "Glasgow Mechanics' Institution." The knowledge of this fact, combined with the reflection that if Glasgow could maintain such an establishment, so also ought the metropolis, attracted the attention of the conductors of the Mechanics' Magazine. Accordingly, on the 11th of October, 1823, they proposed the formation of a "London Mechanics' Institution." One of the first individuals that responded to the invitation was the same gentleman who, twentythree years previously, opened the temple of science to the artisan -Dr. Birkbeck: and to him, in conjunction with several other public-spirited men, is the institution mainly indebted for its successful foundation. On the 11th November, the first public meeting was held at the Crown and Anchor tavern, and at the election of officers, the doctor was unanimously chosen as President, in which situation he has ever since zealously devoted himself to the promotion of its welfare. It was not until the 20th February, 1824, that the institution fairly commenced operations. On the evening of that day the members assembled in Dr. Lindley's chapel, Moorfields, to hear the President's inaugural address, and an introductory lecture, by Professor Millington, on the elementary principles of mechanical science. The increasing wants of the members rendering more ample accommodation necessary, extensive premises were subsequently procured for the permanent seat of the institution. They are situated in one of the most central parts of the metropolis-29, Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane, midway between the great leading thoroughfares of Holborn and Fleet-street.

A spacious lecture-room and other suitable apartments for the library and apparatus were erected. The expenses incurred were defrayed by means of subscriptions, assisted by a loan from the worthy President. As the resources of the institution are mainly absorbed in meeting its annual charges, the whole of this loan has not yet been repaid; it is, however, in a gradual course of liquidation.

Since the establishment of the institution, two evenings in every week (Wednesday and Friday) have been appropriated to the delivery of lectures on various subjects, literary as well as scientific. There is, in the opinion of many old members, much room for improvement both in the selection and arrangement of the subjects.

With regard to the selection, it has been stated, that if great variety was not permitted, the number of members attending the lectures would be considerably diminished. When a lecture on "Music, with numerous illustrations," is to be delivered, the theatre, which can contain within its walls a thousand persons, is usually filled to overflowing. On the contrary, when the subject is one of those sciences not so attractive in its nature, but, nevertheless, of great interest and importance, the attendance, although good, is comparatively small. We mention this fact, not because we are averse to the cultivation of that which "softens men's manners and suffers them not to become brutal," but as showing in a striking manner what is and what is not “ popular.” These remarks are not confined to this institution alone, but are, we believe, applicable to all establishments of similar, and, indeed, of much higher, pretensions.

The classes are the most efficient means yet devised to carry out the objects of the institution. They pursue their studies the whole year, meeting generally from about half-past eight till ten in the evening. The teachers are men of acknowledged ability, and the manner in which their tuition is imparted, renders it possible for any one really willing to learn, to acquire the information of which he is in need. We cannot withhold our strong approbation of the conduct of these gentlemen, and especially those whose services are gratuitous. We subjoin a list of the subjects of study in the various classes :

English Grammar, Writing, Arithmetic, Book-keeping, Mathematics, Practical Geometry, Drawing,—architectural, mechanical, perspective, and ornamental-Drawing the human figure, Modelling, Landscape drawing, Geography, Short-hand, French language, Latin language.

occasionally given in the theatre, the performers consisting chiefly of the members of the Music class.

The library, consisting of 7000 volumes, is composed of works in every branch of science and literature. If we may judge from the appearance of the books, there are pretty good indications of their being used, and sometimes not quite so well as they deserve to be. We wonder some bibliopole is not engaged to deliver a lecture on the question-" How ought books to be taken care of?" We rather think that the sum expended on such a lecture would not be thrown away, as the next bookbinder's bill would satisfactorily prove. The library is also amply supplied with the new reviews and magazines. The reading-room is well attended, especially in the evening. It is furnished with the morning and evening newspapers, which are removed to the news-room when the reading-room becomes crowded. Indiscriminate admission to the library is not allowed. Any person wanting a work for perusal on the premises is obliged to leave his ticket with the librarian until the book be returned.

A very good collection of specimens, illustrative of the sciences of Geology, Mineralogy, &c., will be found in the museum; also apparatus requisite for illustrating the mechanical and chemical sciences, &c.

The subscription to the institution is 6s. per quarter, with 2s. 6d. entrance. Youths under eighteen years of age (students) pay the same subscription and have equal privileges with members, except voting at the election of officers. Members' sons and apprentices may attend the classes or lectures at 3s. per quarter. Ladies are admitted to the lectures and the use of the circulating library, at 5s. per quarter, or the lectures only at 3s. The number of persons belonging to the institution was, on the 5th of June, 1839, as follows:

883 Members.

174 Students.

13 Members' sons and Apprentices, 11 Ladies.