a cool breeze, which greatly moderated the heat. Towards evening it became agree ably cool, with some slight rain, but this did not commence till some time after the procession had returned to the Palace. Considering the immense assemblage on the river and its banks, we are happy to say, that we heard but of few accidents, and only one of a fatal nature, that of a young man who was pushed off a wharf at Bankside, and drowned; though only a very short time in the water. Three men were taken into custody charged with the offence. The new London Bridge consists of five beautiful semi-elliptical arcnes, the respective spans of which are, the first or end arches, on each side, 130 feet; the second arches on each side, 140 feet; and the centre arch, which rises 29 feet six inches above high-water mark, 152 feet. These are constructed solely of granite, of the finest description and workmanship, from the quarries of Devonshire, Aberdeen, and Cornwall. The width of the carriage-way over the Bridge is 36 feet, and the footways 9 feet on each side, making a total width of 54 feet. At present, we believe the gross expenses of the erection of the Bridge exceed £650,000-a sum far beyond the original estimate, but fully justified by the advantageous alterations adopted in the plans. The purchases of property to open the approaches to the new Bridge are not included in this calculation. The Bridge will be free, funds having been chiefly supplied from the bridge-house estates, and a grant of £200,000, from the Treasury. The design for the Bridge was made by the late Mr. Rennie; his successors, the Messrs. Rennie, executed it. ON THE CORONATION OF GEORGE III. AND QUEEN CHARLOTTE. [This essay appeared in the London Chronicle, just after the Coronation, September 22nd, 1761. The composition was, at the time, generally attributed to Dr. Johnson, who was known to be a frequent writer in that paper.] It is with life as with air: without frequent ventillations, it would sicken and stagnate, and therefore it is so ordered, that not only our appetites and passions, but our very reason, or desire of knowledge, should also concur in this wholesome and necessary operation. Curiosity may be called a kind of middle principle, between reason and passion; because it seems to be in alliance with both. While under the influence, and employed in the service of the understanding, it belongs to the former; when merely the slave of the senses, to the latter. Even in this its lowest operation, if it does not exceed a breeze, or moderate gale, it has its uses, and may be indulged, whatever the over-wise may pronounce, without the least imputation. But, in case it is suffered to gather to a storm, or to involve us in its vortex, like a tornado, we become the creatures of its power; and, from that moment, begging pardon for so problematical an expression, we are never at rest unless we are in motion. So much of levity and vanity there is in our composition, so near akin are we to the chaff and feathers we laugh at, for being the sport of every flurry, that, in the early part of our lives at least, few or none of us are in a capacity to make the necessary resistance. On the contrary, we are never so well pleased, as when we abandon ourselves to every impulse; nor could the angel introduced by Addison in his campaign, be more happy in the direction of his whirlwind, than we are in being swept away by ours. And having mentioned an angel, we may, perhaps, adventure also to mention the ladies. A flight may be called their element: and when we consider how many of them annually flutter away their precious lives in this transporting giddiness, a compliment becomes due to the worshipful company of parish clerks, on their politeness, for not having as yet inserted an article in their weekly bills, which might stand in contradistinction to that of the STILL-BORN. Of the vulgar I had rather speak with compassion than bitterness; and yet, when I reflect on the play-house calenture, which has seized them with such violence, that they had rather be stifled to-day, than wait till to-morrow for the same gratification, then attainable with ease and safety, pity seems to be thrown away upon them; and the discipline of St. Luke's more necessary to be called for.* Let this suffice to shew, that I am for confining it to its proper bounds. An ordinary entertainment, I therefore, argue, would be resorted to with an ordinary appetite; but an extraordinary one, such as the late coronation was, might be allowed to have a suitable effect upon us. It had, indeed, a just and rational title to the attention of the public; and it was, perhaps, an argument of much pride, or little sensibility, This alludes to the splendid spectacle of the Coronation, got up at Covent-garden theatre by Rich the manager, who was said to bave expended four thousand pounds in velvet alone, for the pa geant. But as the performance brought crowded houses, the speculation proved very fortunate. in those who affected to distinguish themselves by turning their backs upon it. Considered as a mere ceremonial, every man of reflection knows, that even forms and ceremonies are essentials in government. But then it is, besides, one of the most august that Europe has left, to boast of -venerable it is for the traces of the manners, habits, and, customs of our ancestors retained in it; and over and above all, what more significant effort can a great and opulent and splendid nation like this make, to display its magnificence, than, by forming one great assemblage of all the ranks and degrees of which it is composed? Now, that the assemblage I am speaking of was very nearly thus formed, the recollection of every spectator may furnish sufficient proofs. But, as some are found to plead want of memory, in hope to be complimented with the excess of wit,-as others are too idle to make use of any talent they are possessed of,-and as the Earl Marshal's book may be waste paper in most families by this time,-I will be at the trouble of verifying out of it, with an addition here and there of an index, what therein was not to expected. Had the herb-woman and her maidens been the simplicities they ought to have been, instead of the finicals they proved to be, they might have passed well enough for the representatives of our villagery. The drums and trumpets in the front of the procession, the gentlemen pensioners stationed round the two royal, though unsightly canopies, and the yeomen of the guard in the rear, must be admitted, so far at least as show is concerned, as military ingredients; to say nothing of the soldiers, who should have kept the peace of the platform. The dignitaries of the city will insist on passing as an epitome of all that is important in it. From the appearance of the King's chaplains, and the gentlemen of the privy chamber, we have some portion or other of his Majesty's household in sight all the way. Due honour is done to the high court of Chancery, by the insertion of the Clerks and Masters thereof; and while upon this topic, we may be allowed to speak by anticipation, of the super-eminent station kept in reserve for the Lord High Chancellor himself. The King's Attorney-General, (colleagued with the Solicitor-General he should have been,) the brethren of the coif, and my lords the Judges, presented the venerable figure of the law. The remainder of our cathedral pomp were exhibited at full by the deans, prebendaries, and choir of Westminster. The plumage of the Knights of the Bath furnished the ladies versed in romance with the phantom of their dear departed chivalry. his Majesty's council, not being peers of By the courtesy of England, the lords of parliament, were to be regarded as the very flower of the house of commons. But, unfortunately for them, Mr. Pitt, the Atlas of the state, did not choose to honour them with his presence; and fortunately for his Majesty and his subjects, it was a glorious day notwithstanding. Proceed we now to the Right Reverend Fathers of the Church; no longer, it is true, mitred, crosiered, and otherwise adorned as in the days of delusion and superstition; but so enrobed, nevertheless, as might best exemplify the piety, gravity, and moderation so essential to their functions. In the several orders of the peerage, as arranged, we have the scale of honour before our eyes, from the baron to the duke; and to all that is grand and senatorial in the institution itself, the accompaniment of the ladies has been most judiciously contrived, for the sake of superadding to it all that belongs to beauty, grace, and splendour. Perhaps, it is to shew that there is something more essential in power than titles, that the great personages who hold the high offices of state, though belonging to the peerage, are selected to form a corps by themselves. The dukes and no dukes of Normandy and Aquitaine, we are to suppose, make their appearance after these, as vouchers for the title of our kings to the throne of France. The princes of the blood royal, each in his order, according to the laws of precedency, are so placed, as to be the immediate harbingers of his Majesty. But even the Queen Consort, though royally robed, crowned, sceptred, and attended, and consequently to be considered as a figure in chief, appears in relation to the throne but as a subordinate. To her happy presence, however, we owe the most striking part of the solemnity. The sight of Lady Augusta, in her train, could not but excite a warm wish in every bosom that the like illustrious lot could somewhere have been found for her; and if such a station could have been assigned to her royal mother as became her state and dignity, the groupe would have been complete*. She not long after became the wife of the hereditary prince of Brunswick; by whom she had the late unfortunate Caroline, mother of the late Princess Charlotte of Wales. In the amiable, gracious, and captivating person of the King, surrounded with all the insignia of power, pomp, and majesty, the glory of the day was consummated. The KING,-if in these mutinous times, when so preposterous a struggle is main tained to set the servant above his lord, a subject may venture to assert the rights of his sovereign,-the KING is the source of all the titles and honours which passed in parade before him; the distributor of all the offices exercised under him; the masterspring of every civil and military movement; and all these powers and prerogatives are constitutionally vested in him, that he, and he alone, the parliament not sitting, might be the guardian of the community. By the kings-at-arms, heralds, pursui. vants, &c., whose very business is parade, and whose habits are declaratory of their office, the whole procession was to have been methodized, arranged, and conducted, under the Earl Marshal, as commander-inchief; and for this purpose, it may be presumed, they were interspered through the whole. Was, therefore, this vast combination of forms, orders, and dignities, to be considered as a mere ceremonial? I again repeat it, the very pomp of the show would have been worth the curiosity of the crowds who came to be spectators of it. But they must have little knowledge, indeed, who take the shell for the kernel. It is true, the king is virtually bound to his people, and the people to their king, the moment he enters on the kingly office. But the reciprocal duties of the governor and the governed are not to rest on implication only on the contrary, the covenant between them is, by a positive law, to be renewed on the one hand, and assented to on the other. At the time of the coronation, this great interchange of fealties is to be explicitly and formally made. The king is personally presented to his people; they are on the other hand asked, whether they are willing to be his subjects; and he is not crowned till their assent has been specified by their acclamations. He then takes the great oath to discharge his sublime office according to law, justice, and mercy; and also to conform to the other conditions prescribed by the constitution; and having so done, he receives in his royal state the homage of the peers, which, till then, cannot be legally exacted. MISSIONARY COMMUNICATIONS. THE Society of the friends of the Hebrew nation have lost no time in carrying into effect the resolution adopted by them at their anniversary, respecting an institution for the reception of converted Hebrews; wherein they might be taught useful trades, in a manner similar to that practised at the institution at Camden-town, which is open to inquiring Hebrews only. See Imperial Magazine for June, p. 277. A committee was immediately elected; who examined such vacant houses as appeared eligible; compared the terms on which each was offered; and, out of these, selected one, situate No. 10, Durhamplace East, Hackney-road. This house, entered upon at Midsummer last, has been furnished and fitted up for the reception of the institution, with all convenient speed. Behind it, and immediately contiguous, an ample garden, and extensive conveniences, at once give sufficient room, and constitute a fine, open, airy situation for the destitute sons of faithful Abraham-the friend of God; who, converted to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, long to attain some useful trade, in the exercise of which they may be enabled, on quitting these premises, to provide things honest in the sight of all men. The severe illness and lamented death of the Rev. C. S. Hawtrey, A.M., one of the secretaries of this society, the latter of which took place on Sunday morning, July 17, deranged, at the moment, the plans, and, during a short period, delayed the opening of this asylum. But, with due resignation to the inscrutable providences of Jehovah, the opening of "The Operative Jewish Convert's Institution," for thus it is denominated, took place on Thursday, the 14th of July. The Rev. J. C. Reichardt, who was unanimously elected superintendent of this institution, and who resides on the premises, offered up, on this occasion, fervent prayers, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; invoking the blessings of God upon all the promoters of this undertaking, its officers, its present and future inmates, upon Israel, scattered over all the earth, and the Israel of God in every nation under heaven, and upon all men. Five of the sons of Abraham have been admitted into this institution, who have been sometime baptized into His church, and profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; for these, and others who may hereafter be admitted, an able master has been provided, to teach the art of shoemaking; and this, for the present, is the only trade practised or taught. The house of mercy is thus opened; the friends of mercy are in exercise; and, with truth and holiness for their motto, while they labour at once to teach the descendants of Abraham the religion of Jesus of Nazareth-the great prophet announced by Moses-the Christ of God, according to His gospel,—and also a trade whereby they may hereafter live honestly among men, they cry, "Who is on the Lord's side, who?" and individually say to their fellow Christians, "Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? If it be, give me thine hand." 66 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt: (which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord :) but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in 'their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. On Sunday, August 14, I witnessed the baptism of another son of Abraham, at Somers' Chapel, by the Rev. T. I. Judkin, M. A., previous to the morning service therein. The Hebrew youth, who then publicly professed his faith in the great Redeemer, has been for some time, and now is, an inmate of the Hebrew institution, Camden-town: and having rendered himself useful, by an upright and correct discharge of the office of accountant therein, is much respected. He had many struggles with the enemy of souls, ere his faith became fixed, as to the divinity of Jesus Christ: but before the hallowing teachings of the Holy Ghost, his unbelief gradually melted away; and, previous to his baptism, he expressed himself in terms which left no doubt upon the minds of those who witnessed his initiation into the Christian church, that Christ was formed in him, the hope of glory. This convert, in addition to his Jewish names, received the christian name of James. The second chapter of the Epistle of St. James, being the lesson for the day, was read and commented upon, at the Hebrew institution, Camden-town, on the Friday evening previous to his baptism, during the weekly service, held on those evenings there on the beginning of the ancient Sabbath, and the impression upon the minds of all present was most solemn and affecting. In order to present no obstacle to the inquiring Jew, on his entrance into the Hebrew institution, the Jewish sabbath has been, from the first, kept by the inmates, as well as the Christian sabbath: and, therefore, the superintendent causes the bell to be rung, in order to call the whole to attend a solemn service, at seven o'clock on every Friday evening, as the commencement of that sabbath. After prayer, portions of the psalms or prophets are sung or chanted in the Hebrew language; solemn prayer is then offered up to Jehovah; and the lessons for the day are read, throughout, in order. Every man having a bible before him, in the language which he understands, (for several of the inmates are foreigners, and do not understand the English language,) the superintendent reads the first verse; the person next to him, on the left, reads the second; and so on, in succession, until it becomes the superintendent's turn to read again, and until the chapters are ended: every man reading in the language to which he is accustomed. Comments are then made upon these readings; doubts, suggested by the inmates, are solved by the teachers, and exhortations are delivered by them, arising out of the subjects treated upon; and translations are verbally made to those who do not understand English. Singing then recommences, in the Hebrew tongue, and the service is concluded with solemn prayer. WM. COLDWELL. CELESTIAL PHENOMENA.-SEPT. 1831. THE Sun enters the equinoctial sign Libra on the 23d, at 46 minutes past 7 in the evening, when the Autumnal quarter commences, and the days and nights are again of equal length in every part of the world. His semi-diameter on the 1st is 15 minutes 53 seconds and a tenth, and on the 25th, 15 minutes 59 seconds and 3 tenths. The moon is new on the 6th, at 33 minutes past 8 in the morning; she enters her first quarter on the 14th, at 42 minutes past 4 in the morning; is full on the 21st, at 55 minutes past 9 in the evening; and enters her last quarter on the 28th, at 28 minutes past 4 in the afternoon. On the 11th, at 14 minutes 30 seconds past 8 in the evening, she is in conjunction with y POETRY. Libræ, which is attended with an occultation at London. The planet Mercury passes the Sun at his inferior conjunction on the 26th at 6 in the evening. Venus is still situated in the western hemisphere during the evenings of this month; she is stationary on the 17th near 63 Virginis. Mars is in conjunction with the Sun on the 24th, at 3 in the afternoon. The noble planet Jupiter is still a conspicuous and interesting object in the constellation of the Goat. There are ten visible eclipses of his satellites this month, namely, five emersions of the first, in the following order on the 4th at 42 minutes 1 second past 11 in the evening; on the 13th, at 6 minutes 23 seconds past 8 in the evening; on the 20th, at 1 minute 57 seconds past 10 in the evening; on the 27th, at 57 minutes 36 seconds past 11 in the evening; and on the 29th, at 26 minutes 29 seconds past in the evening-three emersions of the second: on the 4th at 30 minutes 25 seconds past 1 in the morning; on the 21st, at 58 minutes, 31 seconds past 7 in the evening; and on the 28th, at 34 minutes past 10 in the evening; and an emersion of the third, on the 21st, at 13 minutes 22 seconds past 9 in the evening; also an immersion of the same satellite on the 28th at 41 minutes 29 seconds past 9 in the evening. Saturn is too near the Sun to be visible this month. The Georgian planet is situated near 9 Capricorn, and to the west of Jupiter. I WOULD not at the sinner preach, To irritate bis latent pride; It charms the heart, and melts the man. I would not preach above his head, I would not preach for mere display My handsome form and fine address: 2D. SERIES, No. 9.-vol. I. What, stand before my Maker Christ, JOSHUA MARSDEN. |