Literature.

giving plain directions for excercises which must tend much to their future welfare . Indeed the number is full of excellent articles , and to prove that "the Normans and Saxons , " of which we have before expressed a favourable opinion , is something more than a mere tale , we extract the following graphic description of the death of William the Conqueror : —

When stretched on a bed , from which he felt there was no probability of his rising , William reflected seriously on his past life , and regarded many actions in a very different light from that in wliich he had been in the habit of viewing them during the years of health and vigour . Eager to make atonement , he caused money to he given to the poor , and to be sent to the religious houses of England and Mantes to rebuild the churches which , by his orders , had been hurned . At the same time he ordered the prison-doors to be

opened , and freedom to be given to captives , among whom were "Wulnoth , brother of Harold ; Morkar , brother of Edwin ; and William ' s own brother , Ode of Bayeux . It was now AVednesday , the Sth of September , 1087 , and the Conqueror became aware that he was on the point of passing that bourne from which no traveller returns . But still he seems to have remained somewhat unconvinced of the vanity of sublunary greatness . Ordering the officers of his household to repair to his chamberheweak as he

, , was , delivered an harangue of some length on his military achievements , dilated on the renown he had acquired as a ruler of men , and dictated his last will to his sons . Uobert Curthose was at Abbeville ; but William Eufus and Henry Beauclerc were by the bed of their dying father . "I leave Normandy , " said the Conqueror , " to my eldest son , JRoberfc , in accordance with the wishes of the Normans ; bnt wretched will be the land subject to his rule .

As for England , I leave it to no one , because I acquired it by force and bloodshed . I replace it in God's hands , wishing that my son William , who has ever been obedient to me , may , if it please God , obtain that kingdom and prosper in it . - ' And , " said Henry , stepping forward and speaking with energy , " what , then , will you give me , my father ? " " give thee ? " replied William ; " I give thee five thousand pounds in silver from my treasury . " ' But , " said Henry , " what can I do with the money if I have neither house

not land ? " "Be content my son , " answered the Conqueror , " and have confidence in God . Allow thine elder brothers to precede thee . Thy time will come after theirs . " This scene having been enacted , William awaited that pale spectre which comes with impartiality to the cottages of the poor and the castles of kings . Nor was his patience severely tried . At sunrise , on . Thursday morning , he awoke from the feverish slumber in which he passed the last night his irit was to spend on earth . It was bright and clear ; the rising

sp sun shone on the storied windows of the priory , the bells were ringing , and the monks were singing a Latin hymn to the hour of prime . " What means that noise ? " inquired William , in faint accents . "They are ringing prime afc the church of St . Mary , " was the answer . "Ha 1 " faltered William ; and then , adding , "I commend my soul to Mary , the Holy Mother of God , " he raised his hands to Heaven , and instantly expired .

The Boys' Own Library—Wild Sports of the World , No . 6 . S . O . Beeton , Strand . We can add nothing to what we have formerly said in commendation of this work , which must become a favourite with every boy into whose hands it falls .

Antiquarian , Ethnological , and other Mesearches in New Granada , Eqaador , Peru , and Chili , with Observations on the Pre-IncciA-ial , Incarial , and other Monuments of Peruvian Nations . By WILLIAM BOLLAERT , E . R . G . S ., & c . Triibner & Co ., Paternoster-row . This is a remarkable work , and one that evidences a large

amount of talent and industry in its composition . The author states that the publication of the " Manual of Ethnological Enquiry" in 1852 , gave him " methodical instruction on the subject of ethnology , " and he certainly appears fco have turned it to the best advantage . The main object of Mr . Bollaert appears to have been to examine and separate the pre-Muisca from the Muiza civilization of New Granada and the pre-Incarial from the Incarial of Peru—also describing the early history of Quito before ifc was conquered by the Incas . In pursuance of his plan , he commences

with an interesting history of the Chibchas or Musicas , translated from the Prench work of Col . Acosta , describing the geography of the country , now known as New Granada , and which we believe to be quite new to the English readers . Interesting as this history is , our space will not permit us to follow it in detail ; but we extract the following as to the origin of the belief in the El Dorado which , in the

early part of the Spanish conquests in America , led so many from their homes to seek for that , which , excepting through the sweat of the brow , has ever proved as great a . delusion as the philosopher ' s stone .

"At the period when the chief of Guatavita was an independent one , he made , annually , a solemn sacrifice , which for its singularity contributed to give celebrity to this lake , even to distant lands , and . was the origin of the belief in the El Dorado ; in search of which , so many years and so much money was thrown away . On the appointed day , he anointed his body with turpentine ( resin ) , then rolled himself up in gold-dust ; thus gilded and resplendent , he embarked on the raft , surrounded hy the Xeques , and in the midst

of music and singing of the crowds covering the declivities , arrived at the centre . The chief deposited the offerings of gold , emeralds , and other precious objects , and he , at the same time , threw himself into the waters to bathe . At this moment , the neighbouring hills resounded with acclamations . This religious ceremony being over , they commenced dancing , singing , and drinking . In their monotonous songs they repeated the ancient history of their countryand what they knew of its deitiesheroesbattlesand

, , , , other memorable events , which were thus transmitted to posterity . At the door of the chief ' s dwelling , who presided at the feasts , sat two naked Indians , playing upon the chirimia , a wind instrument , sad and shrill , covered only with a fishing net , which was thesymbol of death , for , they said , we should never lose sight of death , especially in times of rejoicing . "

After describing the Panama railway , which has reduced the passage between British Columbia and England from six months to forty days , and the vast riches of the district in former times , and much of which remains yet to be developed , we have the following accounts of recent discoveries of various objects of gold in Chiriqui in Indian graves or huacas .

" Much excitement was lately occasioned at Panama by fche accidental opening of Indian graves in the Chiriqui district , 150 miles distant , and the discovery therein of large quantities of golden images . As there are supposed to be many thousands of these graves equally wealthy , hundreds of persons had gone thither , and thousands of dollars worth had been taken out and sent to Panama .

" A bat , with outspread wings and legs , having a dragon-like head , surmounted by four horns , curling inwards , of the purest gold , and . weighed six ounces . A frog with large protruding eyes , the eyeballs being enclosed in the sockets like the balls in sleigh balls ; this is alloyed with copper , and weighed about two-and-a-half ounces . Has the body and legs of an alligator , with the head and . ears of a lamb , only with an enormous month and dragon-like teethand weighed about two ounces . An idol of hideous and

, obscene conception , with legs and arms extended ; the head flat ,, having a fan-like crown afc the back , a wide open mouth , and a hooked nose , under . which curls something like the latest form of moustache . This weighed about two ounces , and was of pure gold . "Besides these , there were a frog , an eagle , very small twin frogs ,, an armadillo , and a small bell .

" The accounts we continue to receive of the wealth of the huacas , in golden images , are every day growing more wonderful . A hat has been found of very fine gold and great weight ; also a " gold woman . " It is the poorer class of people who are turning up the graves , and selling the gold images at from 3 to 4 dollars the ounce . These tombs are of great extent , some of them having contained many hundreds of bodies . The gold is contained inearthen vessels , by the side of the body . The ground where the

huacas are is covered with trees , and it was by the falling of a large tree , growing out of the top of a mound , thafc fche deposits , were discovered . The roots of the tree took -with them the earth and mason-wotk of one of the mounds , leaving the gold exposed , which was accidently seen by a man when passing close to it-Many of these golden objects reached London , but soon found their way into the melting pot . "In Novemberthis Messrs . Pixley and Co . allowed me to

, year , examine five thin circular gold plates , from Chiriqui , weighing 7 -ft ozs . The largest had seven circular embossments ( these had been battered , and any figures that may have been there were obliterated ) , and was 7 iin . in diameter ; two were 6 iin . in diameter ; the other two 4 i ; these were plain . The plates appeared to be alloyed with silver , and probably used as breast plates . " -