Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

thousands , and every species of thing , big and little , which the press can supply , employing in all about 200 heads and 400 hands . " A monument to tho memory of the late General Sir Harry Smith is about to be erected at Whittlesey , in the Isle of Ely , -where lie was born in the year 1781 , and where his father was in practice as a surgeon . The Library of Congress at Washington now contains about

60 , 000 volumes , and about 50 , 000 public documents . When the British burnt it in 1 S 14 , it only contained 2500 volumes . Nine years ago it caught five hy accident , when 35 , 000 volumes were burnt . The room is now fire-proof , the shelves , & c , being made of cast-iron . A re-issue of M . Guizot ' s translation of the complete works of

Shakspere is now taking place in Paris , the first volume of ivhieh has already appeared . We trust that our Gallic neighbours will be able to appreciate the great poet of humanity differently to ivhat they have been taught to do by the false taste of Voltaire , AVIIO wondered " IIOAV men's minds could have been elevated so as to look at these plays with transport ; and hoiv they are still folloived

after in a century which has produced Addison ' s " Cato ! " We wonder what the philosopher of Ferney would have said now , to see the ivorks of Shakspere more popular than ever they were before throughout the British dominions , the United States , and even threatening to become denizens of France . A mutual love of Shakspere would be no slight bond of alliance betiveen the tivo

peoples . The Royal Geographical Society and the Foreign Office have each given the sum of £ 100 towards the expense of furnishing an armed force to protect Captain Speke from the hostile tribes in the North of Africa , in his present endeavours to reach the sources of the Nile , Eugene Verboeckhoven , the Flemish painter of animals ¦ and amlscapes , we regret tu hear , hna loob hia cj-oei glit—almost tbo Igreatest loss an artist can suffer .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE DYING YEAR . By DIAGOEAS . Fareivell I old year . Hark , the bells , with merry din , Ring the old year out And the neAV year in . When old friends part ,

Hope lurks in their adieu , And the fondly loving heart Trusts the friendship to renew . But though , old year , Ar'fc passing from our sight , Thy SOITOAVS and thy joys NOAV are o'er ; Thy trials and thy triumphs

With time take their flight , And , like old Father Time , Beturn no more . Thy hours of bliss have flown—Swiftly stealing—Away , aivay , on pinions bright And pure . And heavenly joys ever in their fliht

g Revealing , Too bright to last , too loi'ely - To endure . And though , with hearts quick beating , And arms extended , We court thy stay , Thou , onward fleeting , With memories blended

, Still haste aivay . Thus years roll on , And each that passeth Some treasured happiness Doth snatch away . Yes , years roll on—

Poetry.

But are there none That bear griefs ivith them On their backward li-ay ? Oh I graceless heart , Returning griefs mar not thy rest . If joys depart , Dark care fleets by . Time hath a balm to heal thheart .

y And , hush ! thy sigh ; Or , if a sting remains , The honey dew Of memory siveet Shall soothe thy pains , And hope renew 1 Yesyears roll

on—, See that ye send not forth Dark and sad records To be borne on high , . But noble thoughts And deed of worth , To swell the annals of eternity 1 December 31 , I 860

Victoria (Australia) To England.

VICTORIA ( AUSTRALIA ) TO ENGLAND .

AN OPE SOS THESE TIMES . By the Author of "Bernard . " Land of my birth , Britannia's Isle , Where liberty and order smile , Still , though a southern clime I roam , I fondly call thee " mother ,- " "home , " And proudly hang upon thy hreast ,

In thy wide-circling arms caressed . Land of the ivise , the good , the brave , Who for thy gifts thy glory gave , Long may'st thou boast a numerous seed . To emulate each noble deed , By their illustrious virtue done , By their undaunted courage Avon . Such service as I can pay ,

Worthier , perchance , some future day . In Counsel , may thy senators be wise , And strong , what wisdom dictates to fulfil ; For thee , not for themselves , their schemes devise , The good maturing , and uprooting ill ; Making truth , freedom , right , The basis of thy laws , Ignoring monied might

When justice claims the cause ; Holding the balance o'er the land With an impartial , steady hand . In teaching , let it be thy aim The moral sense to cultivate , That as authority may claim , The conscience may adjudicate . In Commercemay freedom and fairness prevail

, , And breezes propitious fill each spreading sail , Thy products impelling to realms o ' er the sea , Or from them conveying their products to thee . May kind Heaven be near thee , With prosperity cheer thee , Thy dominion ever uphold ; And while true to your charter , With all nations you barter

, Seek their profit as AVCII as their gold . In peace , may all its blessings prove , And to the olive-bearing dove A due submission pay ; That , unprovoked by any slight , She may not take a hasty flight , But long protract her stay .

In arms ( for war's rough work the world Has not yet finished Its flags , no more to be unfurled , And engines to oblivion hurled , From lust diminished ) , Let every fight Be for the right : Yet , in a cause that ' s just , Haste not its fate to tell ; Fight not , till fight you must , And when you fight , fight Avell .