maintained, especially in a country like Britain, where luxuries are not of spontaneous growth, without a variety of artificial institutions, necessarily resulting in a certain amount and kind of civilization. There must have been commerce; and commerce, even in its rudest form, requires a variety of arrangements and provisions made for carrying it on, absolutely incompatible with the primitive rudeness of barbarians. It cannot subsist without ships, warehouses, and harbours, these implying the possession of mechanical and scientific skill, and the cultivation of various arts. It cannot be carried on for any length of time without the existence of merchants as a distinct class, and that alone is a sufficient guarantee for civilization. A commercial people is necessarily, by the very fact of being so, a civilized people. The peaceful intercourse with other lands which commerce opens up,the acquaintance which it gives with their manners, resources, and wants,--the stimulus which it imparts to the inventive powers in order to create subjects of exchange which may make it a source of profit, the habits of industry which it forms, and the superiority which it gives to such habits, as well as to the qualities of sagacity and foresight, over mere physical strength-all these necessarily" emolliunt mores, nec sinunt esse feros," they create that state of the public mind which prepares the way for progressive improvement in the conditions by which men are united to each other in society,-in other words, for civilization. The continued residence, therefore, for a long tract of years, of men of luxurious tastes and refined habits in Britain, must have made it a kind of necessity that many of the more complicated arrangements of an advanced state of society should have been adopted and observed in it.

We may carry our suppositions still further, without overstepping the bounds of probability. What more likely, in such a state of matters, than the existence of educational institutions, in the benefits of which those of the higher classes at least participated? Latin, the language of the conquerors, would be cultivated from motives of policy by the conquered, and, in the works which existed in that language at the time of Cæsar, | with the successive additions made to them in the long period which followed, they had an ample store of whatever in literature is most fitted to ennoble the mind and enlarge the faculties.

Political institutions, it is probable, there were none, for there was no political liberty; but there must have been courts for the administration of justice, with the apparatus necessary for carrying their sentences into effect. They had, in the civil code of the Romans, as we have already remarked, one of the most complete, and, in its general principles, most soundly constructed bodies of law which ever existed. Having such laws, no doubt they had lawyers, sage jurisconsults, whose dicta contributed to swell the mass of authority which has been creamed off for the benefit of posterity in the Pandects of Justinian. In addition to this, as a necessary consequence of a fully developed system of law, there must have been a more or less thoroughly organized system of public records. The impossibility of trusting to mere tradition for the safe preservation of the evidence on which those rights rest, which it is the business of law to determine, and the necessity for guarding against the written evidence of them being destroyed, mutilated, interpolated, or forged, would suggest, in a very short time, the establishment, either in connexion with the general government, or with each separate court, of records to which, as permanent evidence of rights already adjudicated upon, future appeals might be made with certainty. A refined system of law without public records, would be a moral impossibility: and no nation ever yet had public records whose history had not something worth preserving.

But to conclude the enumeration of circumstances from which we infer the condition of Britain during the period of its occupation by the Romans to have

been one worthy of a larger place in history than it is now possible to assign to it, we must mention, as ene of the most important, the state of religion. At what time, and by whom, the Gospel was first preached in Britain, is a question into which we shall no further enter, than to say that there can be no reasonable doubt that that event took place within the first century, and that, long before the time of Constantine, Christianity had obtained a firm footing in the hearts of a great pr portion of the people. For, immediately after the conversion of that emperor, we find, according to the most credible accounts, the Church in Britain flourishing in a vigour indicative of a long establishment as one of the institutions of the country, as well as of the present enjoyment of courtly favour. The island, we are told, was covered with churches. And the Church in Britain was of sufficient importance to have its bishops to represent it at more than one General Council. The Church has been from the first, in every land in which it has been planted, the most effective instrument of civilization. In no country can it have subsisted for the shortest period which it is possible to assign to its establishment in Britain, previous to the fall of the Roman Empire, without having exercised the most marked influence upon the character, the general habits, the civil and political institutions, and the social condition, of the people.

It is not difficult to explain why Britain, during this period, with all that we have said, and much more that we might have said, but have no room to say, of the advances which it must have made in refinement and civilization, should occupy but a slender space in general history. It was but a province, and, considering what things alone it is that history generally troubles itself to record, a province can have little or no history of its own; all is absorbed in the history of the parent or dominant state. Who of us at the present day know much of the history of Jamaica? Or how much of it internal history during the last two hundred years wil be known to any one some centuries hence? The in habitants of this country are as much interested in, and much better acquainted with, the proceedings of the parish vestries of St. Marylebone or St. Stephen Walbrook, than with those of the House of Assembly d Jamaica, although it represents the interests of an island not much smaller than Great Britain. The interest which we take in public events, and on account of which we give them a place in history, necessarily gravitates around the centre of government, where the great in terests of the state are represented. The local and sectional interests which are to be found at the extremi ties are excluded from history, and the facts which concern them remain unknown to us, for the sam reason that the heroes who lived before Agamemna continue unknown to fame, carent quia vate sets, because history has had its hands full elsewhere. Stil if it was natural that the Romans should have forgotan all about such a mere corner of their dominions, we the Britons) might at least have been expected to retain say memory of so much of our history for ourselves; for think the considerations we have here dwelt upon t to show, that if history has been almost entirely sk as to the period we have been speaking of, it has been because there were not matters which it might ha well taken the trouble to preserve. We have ourselve felt these considerations, as often as they came vividly h fore us, rebuke an erroneous apprehension lurking in or minds regarding the real extent and importance, a relation to the history of Britain, of its occupation ly the people who were so long the masters of the world, and have, therefore, imagined that it might not amiss to offer some suggestions fitted to correct sch misapprehensions if existing anywhere else. If important facts are lost for ever, it is at least something, and preserves the truth of our views of history, to keep before us the empty places which they should ha occupied.

Biographical Sketches of Eminent Painters.

MICHAEL ANGELO BUONAROTI. THIS celebrated sculptor, painter, and architect, was the son of Ludovico Buonaroti Simoni, a gentleman of small fortune, but descended from an ancient and noble family. Michael Angelo was born in the year 1474, in the castle of Chiusi, in the territory of Arezzo, in Tuscany, where his parents then resided, and he was placed at nurse in a village called Settignano, about three miles from Florence.

The inhabitants of Settignano were principally sculptors and stone-cutters, so that Michael Angelo used to say that he imbibed the art of sculpture with his sustenance when an infant, for his nurse was the wife of a sculptor.

At the proper age he was sent by his father to Florence to be educated: but his genius for sculpture and painting soon developed itself, and caused him to neglect every other pursuit; for which he was often chastised by his master, and reprimanded by his father, who considered the vocation of an artist as derogatory to his rank. Michael Angelo continued, however, to seize every opportunity of studying the art which his ardent disposition impelled him to practise; and having become acquainted with a young artist, he borrowed models from him, which he copied with indefatigable zeal. At length his father was persuaded to allow him to become a disciple of Domenico Ghirlandaio, a painter who was much esteemed, not only at Florence, but throughout Italy.

Michael Angelo was then fourteen years of age, and, being at liberty to follow the bent of his genius, he applied himself so zealously to his art, that his master was astonished at his rapid progress. In a short time the disciple surpassed his instructor; and on one occasion, having observed some defects in a design of a female figure, drawn by Ghirlandaio, he pointed out, and corrected them, to the great surprise of all who witnessed this proof of the young artist's superior talent.

Nor was his skill confined to drawing and painting: his powers were equally remarkable with regard to sculpture. When only sixteen years old, he executed figures in marble which called forth the admiration of all who saw them, and caused him to be considered as a prodigy.

Lorenzo de Medici, surnamed "The Magnificent," who was the patron of genius and industry, observing the superior qualities of the youthful Michael Angelo, took him under his protection, and employed him in several noble works, particularly in statuary, by which he gained universal applause.

At the death of his generous patron, Michael Angelo quitted Florence, and after visiting Venice and Bologna, he repaired to Rome, where his extraordinary talents were highly appreciated and extolled. Being solicited by his friends to return to Florence, he did so, and there sculptured several statues. It was at this period that his fame became increased by the production of a figure which is considered to be one of his masterpieces, and even worthy of being compared with the works of the

ancients. This beautiful marble statue represents David with his sling; and it is related that Pietro Soderini, who purchased it, remarked that he thought the nose was too large, which observation proved his want of judgment, for it was in exact and ing willing to gratify Soderini, appeared to assent to delicate proportion. Michael Angelo, however, behis remark, and taking some marble powder in his hand, with the chisel at the same time, he began apparently to work on the nose, dropping gradually some of the powder as he proceeded. The deception was not discovered by Soderini, who, when the sculptor laid down his chisel, exclaimed with delight, that those touches had given life to the

statue.

in designing some pictures, which he intended to Michael Angelo was also engaged at this period paint in conjunction with Leonardo da Vinci; but he was summoned back to Rome by Julius II. to erect a magnificent monument, which that Pope destined for himself. Michael Angelo was twentynine years of age when he commenced this great work, which, however, was soon interrupted. Various reasons have been assigned for this. Some writers have attributed it to the impetuous temper of the sculptor; others to the no less irritabeen the cause, it is certain that the mausoleum ble disposition of Julius: but, whatever may have was never finished, and that, after it was begun, Michael Angelo suddenly quitted Rome, and was absent for some time.

On his return to that city, he was employed, by order of the Pope, in other works, among which were the frescoes in the chapel of Sixtus IV. in the Vatican. Michael Angelo did not wish to be thus employed; and he was not only willing, but anxious to recommend Raphael as his substitute : but Julius was inflexible, and Buonaroti was compelled to abandon the completion of the superb tomb which he had commenced, (which was a work quite in conformity with his genius for sculpture) and to devote his talents to the embellishment of the Sistine chapel.

Having once undertaken this important task, the illustrious artist wrought with his accustomed ardour; and, not choosing to be interrupted or intruded upon during his labours, he invariably declined to admit any person into the chapel whilst the frescoes were in progress; but when he had executed about half of his great work, Julius could not resist the desire he felt to see it, and he insisted that the scaffolding should be removed, and the public allowed to view the paintings. This must have been very annoying to Buonaroti, particularly as the Pope was continually urging him to hasten the completion of the frescoes.

One day, the Pontiff having asked him rather sharply when the work would be finished, Michael Angelo answered-“When I feel satisfied that I have done justice to my noble art!" "And we," retorted Julius, "desire that you should satisfy us, also, by finishing the work promptly:" adding, that if he delayed doing so much longer, he should be severely punished.

This threat alarmed the artist, who was well

(1) FRESCO is a kind of painting performed on fresh plaster, or on a wall covered with mortar not quite dry, and with water colours. The plaster is only to be laid on as the painting proceeds; no more

being done at once than the painter can despatch in a day. The

colours, being prepared with water, and applied over plaster quite fresh, become incorporated with it, and retain their beauty for a great length of time.

DISCOVERIES IN AUSTRALIA.1

It is not our intention to give a formal review of these most interesting volumes: our ignorance of matters purely nautical renders us incompetent to appreciate their peculiar merits. We would rather select such portions of the work as, we trust, will be agreeable to our readers, convey to them instruction as well as amusement, and, perhaps, induce them to peruse the whole work, which, we boldly assure them, will amply recompense them for their exertion.

Captain Stokes sailed from England in the year 1837, to survey the north and north-west coasts of Australia, and returned in the year 1843. This protracted voyage has been attended with most beneficial results. Not only have great additions been made to the natural history of that strange and wonderful region, but its capabilities of melioration are pointed out by many sensible and original observations, and the facilities of communication with the interior have been enlarged by the discovery, and exploring to a great extent, of four rivers-the Adelaide, the Victoria, the Albert, and the Fitzroy. Of these the Victoria admits vessels of considerable burden; thus giving a stimulus to commercial enterprise, and an opportunity of more widely diffusing the blessings of Christianity.

The work is written in a lively and amusing style, with that keen perception and vivid portraiture of the beauties of nature which characterises Sir Walter Scott's delineations of landscape scenery. But, what is still better, it is written in a candid and religious spirit. It is rarely that Captain Stokes finds fault with his precursors in the same track, and that reluctantly, and only when the concealment of error might endanger the future navigator. It is constantly that he acknowledges the hand of a superintending PROVIDENCE, and never fails to impress the duties incumbent upon His creatures, arising from His bounty and mercy. And there pervades both volumes that tempered enthusiasm which an active and zealous explorer of new regions cannot but feel, and that ardent hope of future beneficial results which glows in the heart of the patriot and philanthropist.

wings of the wind the fiery tempest streams over the hill

sides and through the vast plains and prairies: brushtwining parasite-or the giant of the forest, charred and wood and herbage-the dry grass-the tall reed-the blackened, but still proudly erect, alike attest and bewail the conquering fire's onward march; and the bleak desert, silent, waste, and lifeless, which it leaves behind, seems for ever doomed to desolation! Vain fear! the rain descends once more upon the dry and thirsty soil, and from that very hour, which seemed the date of cureless ruin, Nature puts forth her wondrous power with increased effort, and again her green and

flower-embroidered mantle decks the earth with a new beauty!"-Vol. i. pp. 105, 106.

enemies, the mosquitoes, but the reception they gave us "I must be pardoned for again alluding to our old this night is too deeply engraven on my memory to be ever quite forgotten. They swarmed around us, and by the light of the fire the blanket bags in which the men sought to protect themselves seemed literally black with their crawling and stinging persecutors. Woe to the unhappy wretch who had left unclosed the least hole in his bag! the persevering mosquitoes surely found it out, and as surely drove the luckless occupant out of his retreat. I noticed one man, dressed as if in the frozen North, hold his bag over the fire till it was quite full of smoke and then get into it, a companion securing the he obtained three hours of what he gratefully termed mouth over his head, at the apparent risk of suffocation: comfortable sleep-but when he emerged from his shelter, where he had been stewed up with the thermometer at 87°, his appearance may be easily imagined.

"Our hands were in constant requisition to keep the tormentors from the face and ears, which often received a hearty whack, aimed in the fruitless irritation of the moment at our assailants, and which sometimes ended in adding head-ache to the list of annoyances. Strike as you please, the ceaseless humming of the invincible mosquitoc close to your ear seems to mock his unhappy victim!

fairly jumped into the river to escape further persecu"One poor fellow, whose patience was quite exhausted, tion."-Vol. i. pp. 143, 144.

"In one corner, that at first escaped my curiosity, so completely had it been shut out from the gaze of all by a winding bowery walk, I found, in a sort of alcove, the tomb of a child; upon it lay a fresh bouquet of flowers, revealing that the dead was not forgotten by those who were left behind. It was easy to divine, and I afterwards

"

came every morning to pay this tribute of affection to the departed. A weeping willow drooped its supple branches over the tomb, some honeysuckle and sweet briar surrounded it, loading the air with their rich fragrance; not even the chirping of a bird disturbed the solemn silence that reigned around; everything seemed to conspire to suggest holy and melancholy thoughts, and I lingered awhile to indulge in them, but, perceiving by the few footmarks that I was an intruder, hastened to retire; by no means sorry, however, to have discovered this evidence of the enduring love a mother bears her

(1) Discoveries in Australia; with an Account of the Coasts and

Rivers explored and surveyed during the Voyage of H.M. S. Beagle, in the years 1837-1843. Also a narrative of Capt. Owen Stanley's visits to the Islands in the Arafurià Sea. By J. Lort Stokes, Commander, R. N. 1846.

"I may here mention a singular custom that came under notice some time after, at the Protectorate in the valley of the Loddon, in the vicinity of Melbourne. Several women were observed, having their faces completely concealed by their opossum-skin mantles. Not satisfied with this, moreover, in passing a party of men, they moved in a sidelong manner, so as to render it impossible, even if the covering came to be displaced, that their faces should be seen. In the evening, at the Coralbery, these persons, three in number, were seated

in the circle of women, so as to have their backs turned to the dancers or actors, their faces being still wholly concealed. They remained seated, motionless, taking no part in the singing, or the gestures of encouragement indulged in by the other women. It was subsequently

explained, by a Protector, that these were women who had daughters betrothed to the men of their tribe, and that during the period of betrothment the mothers are always thus rigidly veiled."- Vol. i. pp. 284, 285.

"I may here take an opportunity of remarking, that, as a general rule, it is the labouring classes that thrive best at Sydney. They can, in tolerably prosperous times, earn sufficient in three or four days to support themselves throughout the week. During the remainder of the time the sober and industrious man employs him self in building a house; but I am sorry to say that the generality repair to the vast number of public houses that swarm on every side, and get drunk. This is evident from the annual revenue derived from rum, which, in 1839, was £190,000, amounting to more than seven gallons for every individual in the colony."-Vol.i. P. 309.

Among the other buildings in progress was the church, which, planted as it was on the northern shores of the Australian continent, was expected to form a nucleus from which offshoots might, by degrees, draw within its influence the islands in the Arafurà sea, and thus widely spread the pure blessings of Christianity. It is highly characteristic of our countrymen, that where with other nations the tavern, the theatre, the dancing house, are among the earliest buildings in a new settlement, with us, everywhere, the church is first thought of. In few corners of the world where English influence has extended itself is this otherwise than true; and it is a highly enviable distinction. It seems, indeed, that wherever the flag of Britain floats, there is made known the word of God in its purity; and, as an empire has been vouchsafed us on which the sun never sets, the extent of our influence for good in this respect is incalculable. We may venture to express our sincere hope that our country will ever continue to enjoy this noble supremacy."-Vol. i. pp. 385, 386.

Would that we could persuade ourselves of the reality and truth of this assertion! We fear that the "wish is father to the thought," and that Captain Stokes's religious feelings rather lead him to anticipate what ought to be done, than what actually is done. It is, however, gratifying to hear that tardy justice is to be rendered to this highly interesting portion of the globe; and that two colonial Bishops are about to be sent out to Australia, though their respective positions are not yet determined.

"On the 24th, a party of natives made their appearance on Point Emery. Their voices, shrill like those of all their fellows, were heard before they were seen. With these it was particularly so, though on all occasions the speaking and hallooing of the Aborigines can be heard at a very considerable distance. They were found, when on shore, to be of the party we had before seen in Shoal Bay, with the addition of five strange men. All appeared actuated by the same friendly dispositions, a very strong indication of which was their presenting themselves without spears. Like most others on that coast, they had a piece of bamboo, eighteen inches long, run through the cartilage of the nose. Their astonishmen at the size of the wells was highly amusing; sudden exclamations of surprise and admiration burst from their lips, while the varied expressions and play of countenance showed how strongly their feelings were at work within.

"It is very singular, and not very susceptible of explanation, that although they climb tall trees by merely resting their toes in a slight notch cut as they ascend, the natives will hesitate in alarm before looking over the edge of a precipice or height. It was therefore some time before this party could be induced to look down the well. At length, by stretching their spare bodies and necks to the utmost, they caught sight of the water in the bottom. The effect upon them was magical,

and they stood at first as if electrified. At length their feelings gained vent, and from their lips proceeded an almost mad shout of delight. Nothing, perhaps, could have more decisively shown the superiority of the white men to these savages, than our being thus able to procure this necessary of life from so great a depth; there being, moreover, no outward appearance of any. Perhaps their delight may be considered a sign how scarce is water in this part of the country. I should certainly say, from the immense quantity each man drank, which | was two quarts, that this was the case. A further corroboration of the extreme importance of this element to the Western Australian is, that a native, in describing a fine country, always opens his narrative by stating the important fact-" plenty water."

"The deep interest which, in the natives, always succeeds to the discovery of this necessary article, must strongly impress the explorer, who will ever afterwards look upon streams, even in other countries, with far different feelings from any before experienced. In no land does the presence of water more rapidly enrich the landscape, changing it from a thirsty-looking plain to a rich green spot, than in Australia; and it is in journeying through such a country, when one suddenly meets with a luxuriant valley, that the eye naturally dwells with delight on the changing scene, and the impression, not easily forgotten, clings to us even when far away. When gazing upon the superabundant water that flows in almost every corner of the earth, we cannot but reflect on the scantily supplied Australian, nor fail to wish him a more plentiful supply. Naturally, we are disposed to reflect but little on the great blessings of the most ordinary things. In the eyes of the civilized man, fire and water are matters scarcely worthy of thought; but it is the traveller who learns to appreciate how great blessings they are in reality.

"An Influenza appeared to be raging among the natives; all having the remnants of colds-coughing made to induce them to come on board, but they proved severely when we met them. Several attempts were vain. Sometimes, just as the boat was leaving the shore they would enter the bow of it, as if about to accompany us; no sooner, however, was the boat in motion, than out they jumped, laughing, and apparently delighted to deceive us; acting, in fact, exactly the part of noisy children.

"Our friendly intercourse with these natives sustained a shock, which at first threatened to annihilate it, but which fortunately ended as it began, in smoke. One of the officers used a common flint and steel in order to procure a light for his cigar; at this new mode of procuring fire all eyes were open, for doubtless they pro cure it only by means of friction; but, when he proceeded to place the lighted cigar between his lips, and roll forth from thence a thick and perfumed cloud, fright took full possession of them, and exclaiming irru irrù, with the arm extended, and a slight vertical motion of the hand, they darted off most unceremoniously, elambering up the face of a precipitous cliff, with extraord nary agility. Their cry of irrù irrù, and their manner of delivering it, were identical with those of King's Sound, under somewhat similar circumstances. In a few days they had forgotten their fright, and had returned to renew the friendly relations this little incident had interrupted."-Vol. ii. pp. 19-22.

"I left here a paper in a bottle, giving an account of our proceedings, and should have been sorry to think, as Wallis did when he left a similar document on a mountain in the Strait of Magellan, that I was leaving a memorial that would remain untouched as long as the world lasts. No; I would fain hope that, ere the sand of my life-glass has run out, other feet than mine wil have trod this distant shore; that colonization will, ere many years have passed, have extended itself in this quarter; that cities and hamlets will have risen on the shore of the new found river; that commerce will have directed her track thither; and that smoke may re