Ambition hath been called by some author (with whose name I am unacquainted) and in some work (which has no place in my memory)" the noble weakness of a noble mind," or something to the same effect;-now, (my sweet public, do not yawn so awfully, I will be brief)—this said ambition is of two kinds-that which begins and terminates in self-which compasses sea and land for the gratification of its own ends-and that which encircles in its grasp of philanthropy, the whole human race-which knows no termi nation or limit in its efforts to diffuse peace and happiness, but the utmost verge of the green earth! Singular indeed it is, but unquestionably true, that the majority of mankind patronize the Being, whose passion assumes the first of these aspects. Does the Conqueror want encouragement in his career? No. Mark him as he strides from one field of desolation and ruin to another-his sword, red to the very hilt with human blood-his standards agitated by the fretful breeze which sighs mournfully the while over the gashed and lifeless corses of those who will return to their beloved native hills and valleys, and behold the dear faces of their kindred no more for ever!-Myriads follow in his train, and shouting with a mad enthusiasm, proclaim one, who was but yesterday a helpless infant in his mother's arms, and to-morrow may be but a clod of the valley a Hero-almost a Deity! I was always fond of peace, and would go far to find her, and do much to keep her when found: (indeed I have, my charming public, entre nous, written a poem upon peace, which, should the world display sufficient discrimination to discover my merits, may be published some of those odd days)but independently of this my predeliction, and as a matter of taste, I cannot help thinking it a far sublimer and more splendid sight, to behold an individual going on unobtrusively, and, as it were, in the shade, diffusing light to those who are sitting in darkness-knowledge to the ignorant-alleviating, comforting, counselling, wherever suffering and calamity abound-and where does it not?-but where is the applause and the gratulation which should follow this amiable and beneficent being?-few indeed will track the path of a Howard, or pause to shed a tear over the premature grave of a Henry Martyn! If it were at all extraordinary that the really great and good should pass over the stage of existence, comparatively unnoticed and unknown, we might wonder why the death of the excellent John Owen, late Secretary to the British and Foreign Bible Society, should have produced so little of what is called a sensation, among our countrymen: but Wonder," says Lord Bacon," is the offspring of Ignorance"-so a truce to it. There are some, who, in a few years of devoted usefulness and energetic exertion, live longer than many who are the full space of threescore years and ten, in merely crawling from the cradle to the grave. In this class was Mr. Owen. Among the very earliest founders of a society, which, in its organization and progress, certainly forms an epoch in the history of mankind, he brought to its aid talents and genius, which would have raised him to a high eminence in any rank of life. Enthusiasm, tempered by admirable good sense-zeal, unmingled with a particle of bigotry-and who that has heard him pour forth the full tide of his resistless eloquence in the cause, and can entertain a moment's doubt that his heart was immersed in its importance? He bore the petulance and provocation of those who were his opponents, with a temper and a meekness which should never be forgotten; especially when it is considered, that in the exercise of such amiable feelings, (the result of fixed principle) he was compelled to curb the intellectual power which he fully possessed, of putting to silence and to shame, those who misconstrued his motives, and who were incapable of appreciating his merits. The lively playfulness of his manners in private, (which ought to shut the mouths of those who invest religion with a gloom that belongs not to it) will ever endear his memory to all who enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance, and add pungency to their regret for the loss of one, who, after wearing out a bodily frame naturally strong, and a mind singularly vigorous, in the service of his fellowcreatures, fell a victim to his exertions, and sunk at last to rest. Reader!-this is not the language of compliment-of empty, unmeaning, interested panegyric-it is truthnothing but the truth-and if not all the truth, it is only because time would fail me to record it. I have advanced no dogmas which can clash with the settled opinions of any, but have simply attempted the sketch of an enlightened, noble, and consistent "I am but a Gatherer and disposer of Who died in the year eighteen hundred other men's stuff."-WoTTON. and one; CHEST. Here lies one Chest within another: ALLITERATIVE LOVE LETTER. 3, ON A DISORDERLY FELLOW NAMED Adored and angelic Amelia. Accept an ardent and artless amourist's affections, alleviate an anguished admirer's alarms, and answer an amorous applicant's avowed ardour. Ah Amelia! all appears an awful aspect! Ambition, avarice, and arrogance, alas! are attractive allurements, and abase an ar dent attachment. Appease an aching and affectionate adorer's alarms, and anon acknowledge affianced Albert's alliance as agreeable and acceptable. -Anxiously awaiting an affectionate and affirmative answer, accept an ar dent admirer's aching adieu. Always angelic and adorable Amelia's admiring and affectionate amourist, ALBERT. SIR JEROME BOWES.-John Basilide, hearted prince, ordered, according to Czar of Muscovy, a cruel and hardsome historians, a nail to be driven into the head of the Ambassador of an Ita lian prince, for having put on his hat in his presence. However, when JeQueen of England, appeared before rome Bowes, Ambassador of Elizabeth, that prince, he boldly put his hat on, and left him in the same manner. The Czar asked him whether he were ignorant of the treatment another ambasI know it, answered the Englishman: sador had received, for a like temerity? but I am the Ambassador of a Queen that never suffers an insult put upon any that has always her head covered, and of her ministers to pass unpunished. The Czar, generous enough to admire this boldness, exclaimed, turning towards who dares act and speak thus for the his courtiers: "This is a brave man, honour and interest of his Sovereign! Which of you would do as much for me?" NOBILITY.A merchant, named Mr.' John, intoxicated by the familiarity of Louis XI. who very often admitted him in particular to dine with him, took it in his head one day to request his Majesty to grant him letters of nobity. The King did not refuse his request; but when the new nobleman appeared at Court, he affected not to know him. Mr. John, surprised at this unexpected reception, could not forbear complaining of it. Go about your business, Mr. John-I mean my Lord, said the King; "when I used to invite you to my table, I considered you as the first of your profession; but now I should insult my nobles, if I were to treat you with the same dis Two or three months keeping strict to_tinction." these rules, Can never fail of making a couple of fools. A Good WIFE.-There are three things which a good wife should resemble, and yet those three things she should not resemble. She should be like a town clock-keep time and regularity. She should not be like a town clock-speak so loud that all the town way hear her. She should be like a snail, prudent and keep within her own house. She should not be like a snail carry all she has upon her back. She should be like an echo-speak when spoken to. She should not be like an echo-determined always to have the last word. TO CORRESPONDENTS. In answer to numerous inquiries, we beg to state, that each volume of The MIRROR will contain a Title and Index; we therefore request our Subscribers not to bind up their sets until the Index' is published, of which due notice will be given.. Replies to several letters shall be' sent in a day or two; and our remaining Correspondents shall (if possible) all have an answer next week. Advertisements. Published by J. LIMBIRD,355, The INSOLVENCY REGISTER, Published every Saturday, price Sixpence each. This Work is published every Saturday morning, at six o'clock, and contains in regular seriesa faithful report of proceedings in the Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors, with the result of every case heard before the Court:--a list of every insolvent in England and Wales, applying for relief under the Act, with the name, several places of residence, and day of hearing of the Petition :---lists, alphabetically arranged, of every Insolvent in England and Wales, discharged or remanded, by authority of the Court: ---the whole forming an authentic Register of proceedings under the Acts, whieh, not only for immediate use, but as a Work of reference, will be found of great and general utility. OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. No. XXII.] SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1823. [PRICE 2d. The New London Bridge; and the Ancient Chapel. OUR present Engraving requires our readers to look back for half a dozen centuries, and to look forward for half a dozen years. It presents a correct view of the Ancient Chapel which for merly graced the centre arch of London Bridge; and an engraving of the successful design for the New London Bridge, which is intended to be erected over the river, near the scite of the present structure. Of the history of London Bridge, our readers have already been made acquainted, in the second number of The MIRROR, to which we refer them. The chapel, of which we this week VOL. I. present a correct view, was built in the centre of the bridge, on the east side. It was dedicated to St. Thomas, and was built in 1209. Peter de Colechurch, the first architect of the bridge, was buried in this chapel, in the middle of which was a tomb, in which his remains were deposited. The Chapel had an entrance from the river, and another from the street. Bridge on account of its narrow arches, The inconvenience attending London and the present decayed state of the structure, has induced the city to wish to erect a new one. A commission has," however, been appointed on the subject, and they determined in favour of a new bridge. Architects and engineers were invited to furnish designs, and premiums offered for the best plans that should be presented. The instructions on which the plans were to be founded were to the following effect: That the bridge should consist of five arches, and be faced with granite; the centre arch to be twenty-three feet above high-water mark. The scite of the bridge not to exceed 170 feet from the West side of the present bridge. The clear waterway not to be less than 600 feet. The declivity of the road-way not to exceed one foot in twenty-six feet, and stairs of granite to be provided to go from the foot of the bridge to the river. Premiums of 250l. 150l. and 100%. were to be given for the first, second, and third most approved designs. After this notice had been made public about six months, it was found that fifty-two designs had been sent in. The whole were then submitted to the Crown Architects, Messrs. Soane, Nash, and Smirke, together with Mr. Montague, the City Architect, when they selected as the three best, those of Mr. Fowler, Mr. Boorer, and Mr. Busby (son of Dr. Busby), to whom the premiums were adjudged. Of Mr. Fowler's design we this week present an engraving. It is to consist of five arches, segments of circles; the centre arch to be 154 feet span; the two next 143 feet, and each of the smaller arches 125 feet span. The width of the bridge, 48 feet; the height of the ballustrade, or rather parapet, seven feet; it is to be a wall pierced with large circular apertures, filled with open cast-iron work, so as to afford a view of the river. The estimated expense of the bridge is 806,000l. Mr. Boorer's plan is light and airy, the span of the arches, which are ellip tical, being 152, 144, and 128 feet; the width of the bridge, 54 feet, and the estimated expense, 500,000. Mr. Busby's design gives the arches at 150, 140, and 130 feet; the arches are semi-elliptical; the width of the bridge is 47 feet, and each side is fenced with a ballustrade. The estimated expense is 386,000Z. We confess that none of these plans appear to be what the instructions expressed, worthy of the metropolis, and the present cultivated state of science; though they all possess considerable merit, The country that has produced a Rennie, and the metropolis that THE DIFFICULTIES OF A CON- To the Editor of the Mirror. ties that attend the first establishment of a consulting surgeon. I pass over the expensive process of education, and consequent loss of that period of life during which others in more humble occupations are laying the foundation of their fortune, and come at once to the time when I made my debut as a In order public professional character. to do this with any prospect of success, I discovered that it was necessary I should have turned my attention to some particular branch of the healing art. Accordingly, after much consideration, I selected one which common sense as well as knowledge of my profession concurred in convincing me was very imperfectly and unsuccessfully practised. My first difficulty was to find a competent teacher, for alas! they were like Demetrius of Ephesus, they knew by their craft they had their wealth, and were very cautious of communicating the methods of treatment they adopted; one more liberal than the rest gave me every attention, but I soon found his theories were wild, his practice badly founded, and in general unsuccessful. I acquired, however, a knowledge of all the treatment then known to the world, as he sacrificed his life to the acquirement of knowledge. Being therefore under no constraint as to commencing practice, which, from sentiments of gratitude to my preceptor, I should not have done to his injury if he had survived, but rather have participated in his labours, |