riding on each side a carriage with four horses; all coming at full speed. The soldiers drew up on each side the gate of the iron railing in front of the palace, and the carriage drove up to the steps. Presently two gentlemen assisted an infirm, white-headed, old man out of the carriage, and led him up the steps by supporting him under each of his arms. It was the KING! We could see little of him; but I remember he seemed very feeble, and was dressed in a plain blue coat. But I had seen King George! and that was something for me to talk about when I got home again; and this I vainly thought entitled me to a little more consideration and distinction among my playfellows.

George IV, the son of that King, had this mansion taken down, excepting a small portion, and in its place he erected the present splendid building. The former was a plain house with a brick front, and had nothing remarkable in its appearance. The palace erected in its place, it will be seen by the picture, is a magnificent structure.

George IV was very fond of splendour and display. He had certainly considerable taste in the arts, but he made the people pay very dear for it. This building, with its ornaments and decorations, cost an immense sum of money; which, of course, the nation had to bear the expence of.

William IV also resided here frequently during his short reign, and it is now the residence of our beloved Queen, whenever she is in London; though her majesty is more frequently perhaps at Windsor, or at her new marine residence, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight.

Another front of the palace, besides that given in the picture, is in the garden, and is three hundred and forty-five feet in length, and of great architectural beauty. A broad terrace extends the whole length of it, and it is ornamented with statues of Prudence,

Temperance, Fortitude, Faith, Hope, and Charity. There are also, in the gardens behind the palace, some beautiful summer-houses, adorned by rich historical paintings.

The arch which you see in the picture in front of the palace, is said to be the finest in Europe, and resembles that of Constantine, at Rome. Under this we witnessed the Queen pass in her state couch as she returned from her coronation in Westminster Abbey. Her Hajesty had her crown on her head, and bowed very kindly as the people saluted her. Certainly, she looked like a Queen-so dignified and gracious-and yet she was evidently fatigued by the long ceremonies she had been called to perform.

On this arch are numerous tablets and decorations. On the side gates are figures representing England, Scotland, and Ireland; and the Genius of England inciting Youth. There are also some designs of a naval and military character; but as all such representations have, in our opinion, an evil tendency, we say nothing about them. We want the time to come, so long foretold and anxiously expected, when men will learn war no more.

The waters and gardens represented in the picture, are in what is called St. James's Park, in front of the palace. They are open to the public, for certain hours, every day-that is, to all who behave with propriety; and if they do not, they are soon expelled. This is a delightful place for London people to walk in; and every day there are numerous visitors, especially nurse-maids with children, to whom it affords great delight to throw bits of biscuit, or cakes, into the water, and then watch the fishes and the ducks contend for them! In the park, cows are allowed to stand here and there under the trees, and on a hot summer-day the little folks can have a pennyworth of milk fresh drawn from the cow. That is very nice! is it not?

When standing near the arch, if you turn yonr back on the palace and look around, there is a very interesting scene. On the left is Picadilly and the Green Park, with numerous mansions of the nobility, from Apsley House-the Duke of Wellington's, at the top of Picadilly, on to the mansion of the Duke of Sutherland, at the corner of the Green Park. On the right, Westminster barracks for soldiers, and lower down Westminster Abbey and Hall, and the Houses of Lords and Commons. Down before you these gardens and waters in the park, and then the Horse Guards, Whitehall, and the Government offices. Lifting up your head to take in a wider range, you see, in the distance, St. Paul's, the Tower, the bridges and shipping, with houses, and public buildings of all kinds, which you would more distinctly recognize were it not for the everlasting cloud of smoke which hangs over the great city.

And now, young reader, what are your thoughts of what you have been reading? Are they such as these:-"I wish I were a King, or a Queen, and had a palace to live in. How nice it must be to have such a grand place, and to eat and drink and wear what we please, and have servants to command at our pleasure." Well: I dare say you think so, and I dare say many grown-up people think so too. But why do you wish for these things?" To make us happy," perhaps you say. Ah! that is a sad mistake. Palaces, and thrones, and crowns, do not always make those who have them happy. Kings and Queens have often been very miserable, notwithstanding all their outward splendour-more miserable, some of them, than you would perhaps think it possible for a King or a Queen to be. But so it has been, and so it will be, and for this reason, Riches and honours cannot-no, they cannot of themselves make any person happy. There must be something else; and that something else is— what is it?-need you be told?-it is the favour of

God. Except our Maker bless us, man cannot. Except our Creator make us happy, his creatures never can. A King or a Queen then, must, like all other people, live in the fear of God, if they would be truly happy; and if they do not, the wealth of kingdoms will be spread at their feet in vain.

On the other hand, a poor man, struggling hard with poverty, may be happier than a King. Not because he is poor, but because he is living in the fear of God. The man who fears his Maker, feels that he is a sinner in his sight; and feeling himself a sinner, he humbles himself before God, and with a broken and contrite spirit seeks forgiveness from God through Jesus Christ. For he has heard the glad tidings that Jesus Christ the Son of God" died for our sins." He seeks for mercy with his whole heart, and God, who is faithful, forgiveth his sin. He is now made happy in the love and favour of his Creator. He wants no pomp or royal throne to make him happy—he is happy, and is looking for greater happiness in a better world.

Young Reader, do not be led away by the glitter and pomp of outward appearances. Seek for the wisdom that cometh from above. It is more precious than rubies. Covet not worldly honour, but that which cometh from God. Desire not to be exalted among men, but humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. Above all things, as a sinful guilty creature seek for the pardoning mercy of God in Christ, and finding this, you will then be recognized as a child of God, and hereafter you will be made a King and a Priest unto him, have a living crown which you will wear as an everlasting ornament, sit down on a throne death will never compel you to vacate, and occupy one of those heavenly palaces which the Divine Redeemer has himself erected, and from which you will never be dispossessed.

THE kind salutation is passing around-
How oft has it rung on my ear-

There's something delightful, I own, in the sound-
"I wish you a happy New Year!"

But how various would be the ideas of bliss,

Did our friends their opinion declare,

When they breathe forth their hearts in such language as this, "I wish you a happy New Year!"

Good health is a blessing we cannot o'er prize,
Whilst affliction looks gloomy and drear,

And this blessing shines brightest in most people's eyes
When they wish us "a happy New Year!"

Then, here's friendship-true friendship, so sacred, so sweet, So lovely, so holy, so dear;

"Tis friendship I wish you," how many repeat, "When I wish you a happy New Year."

So there's some wish us friendship, and some wish us health, And some wish us store of good cheer,

And others would wish us abundance of wealth,

When they wish us "a happy New Year."

That these blessings are good in their place, we allow;
But they're not the supreme good, 'tis clear,

For we might be possess'd of each one of them now,
And yet not have " a happy New Year."

For man is a rebel,-an alien from God,
A slave to sin, satan, and fear;

He needs washing from guilt in Immanuel's blood,
Or he'll ne'er have a "happy New Year."

What, then, shall I wish you? I wish you may find
The SAVIOUR: your sorrows he'll bear;

He will pardon your sins, and illumine your mind,
And you'll then have "a happy New Year!"
Mansfield.

W. M.