184

FASHIONABLE FURNITURE.

CANDELABRA.

IF the merit of the invention of candelabra is due to the Greeks, the Romans are certainly entitled to great praise for the perfection to which they brought this kind of decoration, most elaborate and beautiful specimens of which have been discovered, not only in the excavations of Pompeii, but in other parts of Italy.

They are generally either of bronze or marble, and their richness corresponds with the magnificent character of the Roman architecture. This sort of decoration seems not to have been employed in the middle ages; indeed there is no record by which we can form any certain criterion to judge of the manner of lighting apartments at that period. The most probable conjecture is, that as candles were so much used in the religious ceremonies, they were also introduced for other purposes. In many cases,

perhaps, the only light diffused through the apartment proceeded from either a blazing fire or firsplinters; and to this very day in some northern countries this latter method is still practised.

At the time when the Roman style of architecture was adopted in this country, candelabra were also introduced, and have since formed a conspicuous part of elegant furniture. We now employ them in halls, staircases, libraries, and even drawingrooms. Their height may be regulated by the dimensions of the apartment in which they are placed, and from their vertical form they are well adapted to the Gothic style, which has been given in the annexed plate. The plan of the first is a triangle, supported by three griffins; and the two octagonals are decorated with pinnacles and flying buttresses.

INTELLIGENCE, LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, &e.

MR. ACKERMANN has ready for delivery, two interesting Views of the City of Mexico, coloured from drawings taken on the spot by Mr. George Ackermann. Also four plates of the Royal Stag-Hunt, coloured from pictures by

R. B. Davis.

A volume of Essays, Sketches of Character, and Imaginative Speculations, called Facts and Fancies, will shortly be published.

ready for publication, The History of the Administration of the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, from 1743 to 1754.

A friend of the late Dr. Parr's is preparing for press, Extracts from the published and unpublished works of that celebrated scholar, which will be accompanied by an authentic and interesting memoir.

Speedily will be published, The History of Scotland, from the earliest Period to the Middle of the Ninth Century; being an Essay on the Ancient History of the Kingdom of the Gaelic Scots, the Extent of their Country, its Laws, Populations, Poetry, and Learning-which The Rev. Archdeacon Coxe has nearly gained the prize of the Highland So

Mr. Thomas Roscoe is busily engaged on Memoirs of the Court of Queen Anne, comprising literary and biographical notices of the most distinguished characters of her reign.

ciety of London-by the Rev. Alexander || Napoleon will extend to six volumes, four Low. of which are already printed.

It is proposed to publish by subscription, a volume of Poems by Mr. John Taylor, so well known to the literary and theatrical world by his "Monsieur Tonson," and other poems, and a greater number of prologues and epilogues than was ever perhaps written by any individual. We are sorry to learn, from the prospectus issued on the occasion, that the misconduct of some person with whom this veteran in periodical and general literature was connected has rendered this measure, taken by his friends, essential to his comforts.

Mr. Soames has nearly finished the third volume of his History of the Reformation, which will be completed in two more volumes.

Mr. Britton's long-promised volume of Chronological History and Illustrations of Christian Architecture will be speedily published. It is illustrated by 86 beautiful engravings; and as it also embraces copious lists of ancient monastic architects, churches, architectural monuments, fonts, pulpits, crosses, &c. this volume will prove a sort of Encyclopædia of Christian Architecture for the library of

Sir Walter Scott's forthcoming Life of the antiquary and professional architect.

Poetry.

LINES ADDRESSED TO MISS F****R,
With a Copy of the "Forget-Me-Not."

By genius fram'd, to friendship dear,
This votive pledge of faith sincere,
May chance the warm esteem to trace,
Inspir'd by ev'ry mental grace;
By ev'ry charm of soul and feeling;
By all of beauty's fair revealing,
That mind and heart could wish to prove
In the best idol of their love.
And yet the gift and words are faint
My thoughts of thee, sweet friend, to paint;
No measur'd lines can meetly show
All that, for thee, this breast must know:
Still may they lightly indicate
My wishes for thy cloudless fate;
My hopes that bright may be thy hours,
And rich thy path with buds and flow'rs;
The buds of joy-the flow'rs of peace-
That bloom with time-with time increase.
Oh! may that brow, so calm and fair,
Ne'er own the with'ring touch of care;
Ne'er shrink beneath the hand of pain,
Nor, fading, prove its tyrant reign!
May those dark eyes, so soft and clear,
Be strangers to the burning tear
That, from the fount of anguish stealing,
Speaks of past hope and blighted feeling;
Then deeply wends its silent way,

And bears the bloom of youth away!
As now, may e'er that cheek disclose
The blush of summer's fairest rose-
The bright suffusion of a mind

Where mingle sense and thought refin'd;

Where all of radiant magic lies,

That wins the soul-the heart-the eyes!
May that pure bosom, ever blest,
Hail sweet serenity its guest,
An alien to the billowy strife

That strands, too oft, the bark of life!
May Fortune, from her dazzling bow'r,
Her choicest favours on thee show'r ;
The speaking glance; the sunny smile;
The breathing graces void of guile;
The lights that happiness define-
Oh! may these be for ever thine!*

I here notice, with pleasure, the intention of a young lady, who, possessed of great genius, aided by the refinements of classical taste and discrimination, is on the point of commemorating the features of her accomplished friend by a portrait, of which I have had the gratification of seeing the very beautiful idea. I cannot resist an opportunity, so flattering to my wishes, of paying the just tribute of admiration to this rising artist's abilities, and the enthusiasm with which she pursues her profession. Her sketches are full of originality and feeling; and her finished studies, in oil and chalk, from the antique, are distinguished by an impassioned grace and sentiment, which convey to the eye all the dignity and character of the originals, and create the fairest anticipations of her future excellence. For one of her drawings, from the head of the Apollo, Miss M. A. A********, this year, received the prize