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London Lions.

I. THE WEST INDIA DOCKS. SIR JOHN HERSCHEL, who possesses, in an eminent degree, the peculiar talent of felicitously illustrating every subject that he approaches, thus refers to the situation of the British metropolis as a port:-"It is a fact, not a little interesting to Englishmen, and combined with our insular station in that great highway of nations, the Atlantic, not a little explanatory of our commercial eminence, that LONDON occupies nearly the centre of the terrestrial hemisphere." Proceeding to examine its claim to the dignity of the emporium of the world, we shall find confirmation strong in the vastness of the several Docks constructed in the port of London, all of which have been the works of the present century; and the reader is assured, that a visit to "the Docks" is as replete with interest as any of the more attractive sights of the metropolis, which more directly rank as its amusements.

The West India Docks, the most extensive works of the kind in the world, extend along the piece of land called the Isle of Dogs, which lies in a bend of the Thames between Blackwall and Limehouse, at both of which places there are entrances to the docks. Their construction was begun in the year 1800, and in two years and a half from that time the works were sufficiently advanced to admit vessels for unloading. These Docks originally consisted of two separate basins, an Export and Import Dock; to which was added the South Dock, in 1829. The North, or Import Dock, shown in the first Engraving, is 170 yards long and 166 yards wide; the Export Dock is of the same length, and 135 yards wide; so that the area of the two is equal to 54 acres: there are, besides, two basins, one at each entrance, that at Blackwall being 5 acres, and that at Limehouse 2 acres, in extent. The South Dock is a spacious canal for shipping of the largest class: it is nearly three quarters of a mile long, running parallel to the other docks, and its lock-gates are 45 feet in width. The entire area occupied by the docks and warehouses consists of more than 295 acres, enclosed, (with the exception of the South Dock,) by a lofty wall, 5 feet thick. When originally opened, such is the extent of the Import Dock, that although the water was admitted at an average rate of 800 gallons per second, the space was not filled to the required depth, about 24 feet, for ten hours.

The visitor will not fail to be struck with the immense range of warehouses which divides the Import and Export Docks, and is fronted with massive stone quays and castiron sheds. In these warehouses is stowage-room for 160,000 hogsheads of sugar, besides a large quantity of

coffee, &c.; and herein, and under the spacious sheds surrounding the quays, at one time have been deposited 148,563 casks of sugar, 70,875 barrels, and 433,648 14,021 logs of mahogany, and 21,350 tons of logwood, bags of coffee, 35,158 pipes of rum and Madeira wine, besides other merchandise. The West India Dock Company's capital is £1,380,000; and in consequence of all West India ships, trading to the port of London, having been compelled to frequent these docks for 20 years after their formation, the profits during that period were immense.

The characteristic distinction in the appearance of the Export and Import Docks is, that in the Export Dock the ship is seen to greatest advantage, being generally freshpainted, standing-rigging up, colours flying, &c.; whereas, in the Import Dock, the vessels, though they are more picturesque, with their rigging down and loose, as in the first Engraving, the sides are whitened by the action of the sea, and altogether the ship contrasts strongly with a vessel ready for an outward-bound voyage. The Import Dock, likewise, presents more activity upon its quays.

The London, East India, and St. Katherine's Docks merit a separate notice; and, for the present, the vast extent of the Docks here illustrated will support this almost astounding assertion,-that the foreign trade of London exceeds not only that of every other city in the world, but even the entire foreign trade of every country in Europe, France alone excepted!

BLANCHE HERIOT.

A LEGEND OF OLD CHERTSEY CHURCH.

CHAPTER I.

How May Day was kept four centuries ago.
"Rise, and put on your foliage, and be seene
To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and greene,
And sweet as Flora."-Herrick.

CHERTSEY-UPON-THAMES may be said to have outlived its antiquity. There are few records left of its former importance, and its once noble monastery has bequeathed little more to shew us that it ever existed, than the detached tessella which the ploughshare from time to time throws up. The only perfect memorial of its bygone power is the old bell which still hangs in the steeple of the church-whose sound still quivers and vibrates throughout the same tower which the good Abbot Rutherwick, amongst his other beneficent deeds, erected in the twelfth century.

No one knows how that ancient bell came to Chertsey,

or whence was its origin. It is very very old, and its

motto and quaint Saxon letters prove its antiquity. It probably swung, and clanged, and echoed from the turrets of the monastery centuries before the honest Abbot's time -it might have assisted to chime for his birth, and it ushered him to the grave in company with the other prelates who went before or succeeded him. The kingdom changed its rulers: usurpers rose and fell: war followed inaction, and peace transplanted war, yet still the old bell kept on its unchanging song, and rang for the conqueror as bravely and lustily as it had before welcomed the vanquished. Its morning sounds roused the hind from slumber to his daily toil; and at evening it pealed out the solemn curfew, which carried its voice of rest far over the broad expanse of wooded hill and rich pasture that then surrounded the monastery.

It was May Day, and the May of England in the olden time-such a fair season as awakened the numbers of our early poets, and produced those bland and honest verses in honour of the "sote monthe," with which, in the joyousness of their hearts, they welcomed the coming of spring's fairest handmaiden. Nor was this homely feeling of rural glee confined to the poets alone, for all the land partook of it. And when they saw the blossoms and buds bursting from their winter shelter, and breaking forth into life and vitality, their own unaffected hearts inspired the feeling from the wild flowers, and they felt the influence of May, and rejoiced at her coming, with the same outpouring of breathing gratitude and homage that the flowers evinced by their sweet odours.

The first green blush of spring was beginning to spread over the branches of the goodly trees that encompassed a large smooth pasture in the immediate vicinity of the Abbey, where we would lay the opening scene of our legend. Here and there, the hawthorn and a few early shrubs had pushed forth their full summer leaf; but the greater part of the greenwood owed its slightly verdant tint to the half expanded buds, which awaited, as if timidly, the more cherishing heat of summer to bring them to maturity. Natheless, the indications of approaching foliage were every-where apparent, and the heavy blossoms of the fruit trees added in no small degree to the promise of a luxuriant and early season, which the rest of the vegetable world held forth; and showered down their petals, studding the green turf with their delicate leaflets, in company with the gentle daisies that peeped out from the grass to kiss the sunbeams.

A merry company had assembled on this pasture to join in the May day gambols; and the village (for Chertsey was a village then) appeared to have turned out its entire population to 'don observance' to the festival. The shrill garrulity of age mingled with the light intonations of youth, and the full voice of manhood with the joyous silvery laugh of woman. Some were dancing in noisy glee around the tall shaft, which, decorated with field flowers, formed the Maypole; and others, more intent upon personal embellishments, were trimming light wreaths of cowslips to add to the attraction of their own rustic toilets. Various groups of joyous laughing individuals were scattered about the enclosure, watching the sports of their companions; amidst whom, the sober forms of a few monks from the Abbey, whose oriel commanded a view of the entire scene, were gravely walking about, bestowing an occasional 'benedicite' in reply to a passing salute; or anon casting a glance, that still savoured of this world, upon any rosy girl who chanced to cross their path.

Nor were the chief performers in the celebration absent. The alewife of 'YE ROSE HOSTELRIE' had placed sundry benches in front of her dwelling, around which was collected a goodly crew of masks and mummers, who were indulging in countless potations of good ale and hippocras,

in the intervals of their performances round the May-shaft. The Jester presided over the entertainment, and, perched upon the back of a rude chair, with his red and yellow shoes upon the seat, was controlling, with his grotesquelycarved marotte, such outbreaks of misrule as a flow of good spirits tempted the others to give way to; Master Snap, the dragon, in his wicker envelope, was relating a sly jest to the Hobby-horse; Friar Tuck was flirting with Maid Marian; the Minstrel with his pipe and tabor was, in a subdued manner, and with an occasional glance of contempt at the village orchestra then performing, endeavouring to accompany Little John in his attempt to rehearse a species of ode which was meant for the edification of their audience when the mumming-ring was again formed; and Robin Hood was tipping with elder-wood whistles a sheaf of reed arrows that lay on a rough settle at his side. All was innocent mirth and hilarity, for increased education and refinement had not ruined the simplicity of the May revellers, nor spoiled their taste for harmless merrymaking.

But although this scene of rustic gaiety was passing in an almost unheeded spot of the island, yet was it a sad time for England generally, for the date of our chronicle is the year 1471-the period of the hottest conflicts between the Roses of York and Lancaster. The want of newspapers, or circulated official accounts of the various changes as they occurred, compelled those not actually engaged in the strife to depend upon the stories of the wandering chapman, or the rumours of the occasional traveller for information, as to what course the affairs of the kingdom were taking; and even in the present instance, the tidings of the bloody contest at Barnet, although three weeks had elapsed since the engagement, were imperfectly understood by the majority of the people. It must not be supposed, however, that the villagers were careless as to the subsequent issue of the dispute, or that they felt no interest in the fortunes of the two parties. On the contrary, the least information was eagerly sought after, and a small red or white rose, predominating in their rustic finery, plainly betokened the cause which the wearer espoused, and silently spoke the sentiments of the individual when open language would have been dangerous.

"Hast heard any news from the other side of London, reverend father?" asked a sober-looking personage, of a monk who was passing at the instant.

"A worthy friar arrived at the monastery from Hampshire, but yestere'en, Master Woodley, and brought us tidings of Queen Margaret," replied the monk. "She has left the sanctuary at Beaulieu, and marched with some newly-collected troops towards Gloucestershire. It was reported that the Duke of Somerset and Sir Thomas Fulford had formed the army during her retirement, and that they expected hourly additions to their force."

"May victory on the rightful side speedily end this fearful struggle," said Master Woodley.

"Amen," fervently rejoined the monk; and then, as if anxious to avoid further conversation on the subject, he added abruptly, "The villagers are slow to recommence their pastime-do they wait for any thing?"

"They have chosen our fair beauty, Blanche Heriot, for their Queen of the May," replied a young man who now joined the party; "and her majesty not finding a consort to her mind, has not appeared to-day. I would gage my new jerkin against the Fool's hood, that her thoughts are more with Margaret's army than our band of mummers. What sayest thou, holy father ?"

"The thoughts of Mistress Heriot are known but to herself or her confessor," returned the monk, calmly. And murmuring a pax vobiscum he bent his steps towards the Abbey.