six feet five inches in diameter, its rim five and a half inches high, and the flower across fifteen inches. The flower is much injured by a beetle (Thrincius species ?) which destroys completely the inner part; we have counted from twenty to thirty in one flower."

progress up the river Berbice (in British Guiana), | they became we measured a leaf, which was that we arrived at a point where the river expanded and formed a currentless basin some object on the southern extremity of this basin attracted my attention-it was impossible to form any idea what it could be, and animating the crew to increase the rate of paddling, shortly afterwards we were opposite the object which had raised my curiosity- vegetable wonder! All calamities were forgotten: I felt as a botanist, and felt myself rewarded. A gigantic leaf, from five to six feet in diameter, salver-shaped, with a broad rim of a light green above, and a vivid crimson below resting upon the water: quite in character with the wonderful leaf was the luxuriant flower, consisting of many hundred petals, passing in alternate teints from pure white to rose and pink. The smooth water was covered with them; I rowed from one to another, and observed always taken altogether a new character. Science and The promenades of the fashionable world have something new to admire. The leaf on its surface is of a bright green, in form orbiculate, with art are essential to its commonest recreations. this exception opposite its axis, where it is slightly Gardens, to be attractive, must be filled with

bent in its diameter measured from five to six feet: around the margin extended a rim, about three to five inches high, on the inside light green, like the surface of the leaf, on the outside like the leaf's lower part, of a bright crimson. The stem of the flower is an inch thick near the calyx, and is studded with sharp elastic prickles about three-quarters of an inch in length. The calyx is four-leaved, each upward of seven inches in length, and three in breadth at the base; they are thick, white inside, reddish-brown and prickly outside. The diameter of the calyx is twelve to thirteen inches: on it rests the magnificent flower, which, when fully developed, covers completely the calyx with its hundred petals. When it first opens, it is white with pink in the middle, which spreads over the whole flower the more it advances in age, and it is generally found the next day of a pink colour; as if to enhance its beauty, it is sweet-scented: like others of its tribe, it possesses a fleshy disk, and petals and stamens pass gradually into each other, and many petaloid leaves may be observed, which have vestiges of an anther. We met them afterward frequently, and the higher we advanced the more gigantic VOL. VII.-32

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.
[From the National Gazette.]
(Continued from page 215.

MODERN TASTE FOR WILD BEASTS.

"Bears, Lions, and all that."

The characters and dispositions of otters and ostriches, the habits of the hippopotamus, the manners and customs of monkeys and baboons, and the domestic history of the giraffe, the family of which has been recently so fortunately favored with an addition, form the subject of conversation for our young ladies, as a refined medium through which they may hear the soft nonsense of their attendant swains; and, in order to give the whole affair a more striking effect with the multitude, they select the Sabbath for the day of exhibition, at the same time excluding the "people" from a participation in their amusements-all days in the week being alike to the rich and great, and Sunday being the only day in which the mechanic and artisan has leisure to see any thing beyond the ken of his workshop, or breathe a purer air than its heated atmosphere.

TEA AND MUSIC IN THE LAST CENTURY. Ranelagh, sixty years since, was the very acme of fashion-it was the indispensable comfort and support of society-its amusements consisted of walking round the rotundo, like a horse in a mill,

amidst the fumes of tea and coffee, which were
made from kettles of water, boiling on fires in the
centre of the room, and drank by the gallon, in
little pigeon-hole boxes, by the most exalted and
distinguished persons in the realm, whose conver-ing.
sation was just sufficiently mystified by the music
of a particularly bad orchestra to make it safe.

DECADENCE OF VAUXHALL.

FETES OF THE NOBILITY.

Another class of diversion seems to be abandoned, and one which, if Swift's judgement is to be trusted, was at least in his day a very important one as to its popular influence-Street Ballad singA few bawlers and brawlers are occasionally heard, but they are attended to by none, and the ballads now sold in the streets are chiefly, if not entirely, of the serious, sentimental, or delicately mirthful character, which have already become popular at the concerts," or in such dramatic entertainments as have met with the patronage of a judicious public.

CONDITION OF THE STAGE.

To Ranelagh succeeded Vauxhall; and, odd enough to say, the report which was recently circulated, that Vauxhall was also gone the way of all "public amusements," induced the writing of this paper. The report, the newspapers tell us, is not true; but whether it be or not, Vauxhall But, perhaps as great an alteration as any which has ceased to be what it was; its amusements and has occurred during the last thirty or forty years the hours at which they are given are varied. is to be found in the theatrical taste of the peoThe custom of supping at Vauxhall is abandon-ple-not to go back to the theatrical reign of ed, and the class of its visiters altered. Thirty Garrick, which terminated now sixty-three years years since it was the resort of the greatest and since. Then there were but two theatres, the gayest. All the leaders of fashion collected seasons of which were limited from the fifteenth around them within its glittering ring crowds, not of September to the fifteenth of May. Then each only of those who belonged to their own immedi- theatre had its destined company of actors, a ate set, but of those who, emulating the gayety change in which, even in an individual instance, of their dresses, and their grace of manner, throng-created a sensation in society. Theatrical repreed the garden to excess. sentations had a strong hold upon the public up to a much later period; in fact, until that which modern liberality denounced as a gross monopoly For this change of things the reason seems to was abolished, and playhouses sprung up in albe the system of producing, even upon a better most every street in the metropolis. and more costly scale, entertainments of a some- We have the theatres, but where are the authors what similar nature in private houses. The fetes and the actors to make them attractive? Monwhich are given now by the nobility "at home," keys, dogs, goats, horses, giants, lions, tigers, eclipse and supersede altogether the attempts at and gentlemen who walk upon the ceiling with gayety and splendors made in public places, which their heads downward, are all very attractive in are regulated by an expectation of profit. The their way, and they will sometimes not always private fete is an affair of one night-the public fill the playhouses. But as to the genuine drama, garden the continuous business of a season. The the public taste has been weaned from it, first by moment, therefore, that it becomes the fashion the multitude of trashy diversions scattered all for the aristocracy by turns to give fetes, their over the town; and secondly by the consequent meeting at any common place of assembly is ren- scattering of the theatrical talent which really dered needless. The people of fashion, therefore, does exist. At each of these minor theatres you do not go to Vauxhall. With all the vaunted in- find some three or four excellent actors worked dependence of our countrymen and countrywo-off their legs night after night, who, if collected men, the love of rank, and the desire to be in any way associated with it, is a universal passion. If the people of fashion choose to stay away, so will the people of no fashion; and down goes the whole affair.

POPULAR CONCERTS.

Another change has occured in "public amusements" within a much shorter period. The refinement of the pleasures of the lower orders, and an exaltation of taste which is very remarkable, is rendered particularly striking the sudden popularity of concerts, and the sudden springing up as adjuncts of what a few years since were very secondary public-houses and tea-gardens, most splendid rooms for their performance-rooms that may vie, from all I hear, with those of Almacks or Hanover Square; while the theatres were deserted when giving dramatic entertainments this season, they were thronged to excess when concerts were performed; and, although the price of admission was but one shilling, fewer disturbances arose than might have been anticipated from such a multitudinous mixture.

into two good companies, as of old, would give us the legitimate drama well and satisfactorily. The people would be glad to see their favorites thus concentrated, and dramatic authors, encouraged by the hope of seeing their plays properly performed, would spring up to furnish us with new food for entertainment.

CAUSES OF DRAMATIC DETERIORATION.

That tragedy-except ranting tragedy, attractive still to private schoolboys and apprenticesis out of fashion, may be attributable to the change of popular feeling as to sentimentality. There is now no such thing to be found as sentiment. Enlightenment and education have driven it out of society. The griefs of lovers, and the sorrows of their mistresses, have now become matters of jest. The love which in other days made youth sentimental has become a matter either of mere passion or sheer profit. Folks marry, either because they think it will be snug and comfortable, or serviceable and convenient; the whine of a stage heroine, or the sobbings of a half-crazed hero, have no more effect, except to

with the most solemn ceremony in the morning, doing that in the evening which, in these days, subjects men to all sorts of pains and penalties; and for the prohibition and detection of which, a bill, now before Parliament, is, to arm the police with the power of breaking into the houses of her Majesty's lieges at all hours of the day and night.*

CARDS AND RACING.

produce laughter, than the "delicate distresses" | find the sovereign, after attending Divine service of the interesting Delias, and Celias, and Julias, and Amelias, of the respectable and venerated firm of Messrs. Lane & Newman of other days. Another cause for this defection will be found in the vast increase of social and domestic accomplishments in this country. There is scarcely a girl in ordinarily good society who does not play and sing better than the professors of either art did half a century since. In these combinations they are assisted by the young men of the day, Another change of amusements is observable and, together, make to themselves, in their own from the disappearance of cards in general sociehouses, amusements, not the less agreeable for ty. Young people seldom or ever play cards; being of their own formation. And that, too, is and as, in the present state of the world, old ones another very striking change which has been are rarely to be seen, the diversion has become worked in higher society in a very short period-scarce. Cards are played, but then they are playI mean the almost universal adoption of the study ed by particular persons for particular purposes; of music, vocal and instrumental, by the first rank but, taking the whole round of society, they cease in the country. The thyrsis of Bacchus has yield- to form, as they did when accomplishments were ed to the lyre of Apollo; and the fashionable ab- more rare, an essential portion of all evening enstemiousness from wine after dinner, amounting tertainments. almost to a system of rigid teetotalism, affords to the fair amateurs of the evening ample opportunities of availing themselves of the talents of their "brethren" in accomplishments which, forty or fifty years ago, would have been held unworthy of their rank and station.

EATING AND DRINKING.

Another remarkable alteration in the "amusements" of the metropolis is, almost entire annihilation of taverns and coffee houses. As an adjunct to a hotel, a coffee room for the accommodation of its inmates may yet be generally found; but a tavern coffee room, for the reception of promiscuous "dinners," is indeed a rarity, except in the city, where the appetites of men of business must be satisfied, and where the club system does not prevail to any great extent; but, even there, the refreshment taken is, in these refined times, administered in the way of luncheon, the recipients retiring to dinner at their "villas," "lodges," "cottages," and "pavilions" at Ilford, or Snaresbrook, or Stratford-le-Bow, or some other of the romantic villages so popular with the mercantile orientals of the metropolis.

Racing seems to maintain its ground, and so it ought, as being essential to the preservation of our national breed of horses; although, what with the increase of railroads, and the heavy purchases made by foreigners, the "stock" is likely to be diminished to a degree which cannot fail to alarm those who know how considerable were the advantages derived by our cavalry during the last war from the superior manner in which they were mounted.

PUGILISM AND COCK-FIGHTING.

Prize-fighting, or pugilism, as it is "genteely" called, has fallen into decay, owing, in a great degree, to the want of confidence in its patrons as regarded their proteges. Brutal as amusements" seemed, it was always justified by its advocates on the ground that it kept up the British spirit, which in case of quarrel, brought the contending parties to a manly conflict, in contradis tinction to the insidious and assassin-like conduct of nations in which the "fistic art" was neither encouraged nor even known. How far those who maintained this doctrine were correct, in their support of it, it is impossible to say; but certain it is, that, since the disappearance of the "ring," scarcely a week elapses which does not bring beThe spread and increase of clubs are remarka-fore our magistrates one or two cases of stabbing, ble signs of the times; their uses and advantages are such as to make one wonder, not only why such things were not established years ago, but how men about town existed without them. White's, Brookes's and Boodle's were the clubs of London for very many years.

CLUBS AND GAMING.

a crime hitherto most rare in England.

Cock-fighting, associated ever in the minds of the humane with the memory of the amiable Mr. Ardesoif, is punishable by law; and not only punishable, but has recently been punished by the magistrates of our native country. Bull and bear But these clubs were clubs of amusement, pol- baiting have also disappeared; but archery and itics, and play, not the matter-of-fact meeting hawking have of late years shown themselves in places of general society, nor offering the exten- a state of revivification, equal in wisdom and sive and economical advantages of breakfast, din- utility to the active endeavors in progress to rener, and supper, now afforded by the present race store the ancient Welch language in the princiof establishments. And, connected with this sub-pality.

ject in some degree, what a wonderful change in The room in St. James's appropriated to the play was rethe state of affairs has taken place since it was markably dark, and conventionally called by the inmates of the custom for the king to play hazard publicly the palace, hell. Whence, and not, as generally supposed, at St. James's palace on Twelfth Night. from their own demerits, all the gaming-houses in London are Those who play or The custom of hazard playing was discontinu-designated by the same fearful name. have played English hazard, will recollect that, for a similar ed after the accession of George III; but it is odd inconsequent reason, the man who raked up the dice and callenough, upon looking back only eighty years, to led the odds was called "the groom porter."

66

AQUATIC EXERCISE,

&c.

the

The fashion necessarily occupies a cetain porRowing, or, as it classically called, "boating," tion of the time that in other days was devoted to matters of less importance; and the whole prooccupies a very distinguished position among amusements" of the day. At the beginning of gressive race of Bandalores, Devils on Sticks, the last century, and up to the middle of it, this Fizgigs, and other inventions of harmless playfulness, have given way to pen, ink, and paper, aquatic exercise" was by no means in repute. the increased consumption of which, in this way, The stiff skirts and gold-laced waistcoats of the is as advantageous to the morals and information dandies of those days were as ill suited to its en- of the reading world as it is advantageous to the joyment as their manners and habits were to the associations which it naturally induces. It is one of those recreations, however, which, by uniting exercise with recreation, produces both health and pleasure, not, however, as we too frequently see, altogether unattended by danger.

national revenue.

THE GRAND CLIMACTERIC.

One "public amusement seems to have held its place ever since its first establishment in this country-the Opera; it rose in splendor, and The tournament is in progress of revival, and though time rolls on, it remains bright and fixed, the autumnal display at Lord Eglinton's promises the sun of the world of fashion, which it cheers most striking results. It is to be hoped that real- and charms in a degree not quite intelligible to ly serious casualties may not result from it, al- those who bask in its rays, neither constantly nor though the effects produced upon one or two of systematically, and who are strangers to the varithe knights in the rehearsal have not been alto-ous associations which form its principal charm gether trivial. for its habitual frequenters. But, with this ex

BELLES IN DIVING bells, and the faIR AT THE FAIRS. ception, we cannot but be forcibly stricken by the mutations, some of which I have here noticed, inA very casual glance over the list of exhibitions, tending to return to the subject with reference which are now thronged with visiters, will satisfy to other great changes, different from, but still any one of the total change which the national having connexion with, those already remarked genius and character have undergone during the period to which we are referring.

In the place of trivial and useless shows with which the public mind was wont to be amused and satisfied, we now find those galleries thronged in which are displayed upon the most extensive scale the wonders of Nature, and the latest and most important discoveries in art and science, and behold ladies of the most timid nature plunging into the depths of an artificial sea, in all the equivocal security of a diving bell, without doubt or hesita

tion.

One "public amusement," exceedingly popular in other days, has quite subsided-"the fair." A century back, Bartholomew fair, Southwark fair, and May fair-the site of the last, how changed! -held a very distinguished place among popular diversions.

To these fairs, as fashionable, succeeded auctions, which continued the "rage" for many years, to which, says a writer of the time, "fine ladies go to get the better of some idle hours, and gentlemen follow them; both are obliged in honor to bid for something, though ever so unnecessary; and when they are so happy as to meet with a delicious bargain, they do not know what to do with their purchase, and would give fifty per cent. to have this piece of good fortune taken off their hands."

AUTHOR SHIP.

upon.

MICROSCOPIC VEGETATION.

FUNGI AND MOSSES.

With the assistance of the microscope we are enabled to observe the peculiar structure of these singular productions, and to notice the economy of the more minute species. The smaller species of Fungi could never have been properly understood without the aid of the microscope, and, before the invention of that instrument, the appearance they presented when in collected masses was described by the terms canker, mouldiness, &c., terms which conveyed no definite meaning. These minute fungi are constantly found on decaying vegetable and animal substances, or covering the damp walls of cellars and caves, and flourishing in those places which are unfit for the sup port of the more perfect vegetables. The diseases to which corn and many kinds of grass are subject, have their origin in different species of these parasitic plants.

The immense number of species already discov. ered, and the singular forms they assume, togeth er with the various modes in which they are propagated, renders this order of vegetable productions an endless source of delightful observation All these frivolties have vanished; ladies of to the inquiring mind. We have selected one of the present day contrive to have few, if any, idle the most common species to illustrate this subhours. It appears to be the boast and pride of ject, the Common Ascobolus; it is met with the present race to be fully occupied. Thirty throughout the whole year. This fungus is of a years ago, every lady was her own shoemaker, greenish colour, and varies in form according to every boudoir was turned into a workshop, and its age. At first it is a globular substance, about the whole fashionable world converted into a race the size of a pin's head; as it increases in age it of clickers and closers. Now, every body writes gradually opens, and forms a kind of cup; at books; formerly, a man, and especially a woman, who had written a book, was a remarkable person; now, in good society, the remarkable person is he or she who has not written a book.

length its upper surface becomes perfectly flat, with the exception of a raised margin; at this period of its growth, the vessels which contain the seeds may be seen like so many minute black

seeds, or sporidia; but the most singular part of the history of this plant, is the manner in which these seeds are distributed: the seed-vessel, as we have already said, appears at first like a minute black point; this gradually rises from the surface of the fungus, until, when the seeds are ripe, it suddenly bursts and distribut. s its con ents over the ground.

ap

The next engraving represents the Star-like Sphærobolus; it is not common, but is found occasionally on rotten wood, &c. The natural pearance of the plant is shown in the upper figure The figure immediately beneath shows four young specimens, much magnified at this time they are covered with a kind of white down; from this, however, they gradually emerge as they become mature. The seed-vessel in this species is in the form of a small ball, and is contained within the body of the plant. Figure a represents one of these fungi cut in half, so as to show the situation of the seed-vessel. The substance of the plant itself, it will be seen, is formed of several layers, or lamina. As soon as the seed is mature, the upper part of the fungus splits into from five to

Large Shining Cecithospora.

the upper figure in the engraving is a section of When magnified, its structure is very curious: one of these plants; it contains three seed-vessels, but in some plants the number amounts to five. The seeds, when ripe, are discharged in a stream from one end of these vessels; sometimes, as shown in the lower figure, the seed escapes from both ends of the pods.

The minute parasitic Stilbum has been found as the parasite upon a parasite, obtaining its nourishment from another species of fungus, which, in its turn, obtained its nutriment from the rotten wood on which it was growing. The seeds in this species are dispersed immediately from the rounded head of the plant itself.

The least Esaria is another parasitic fungus, growing upon a plant of its own order; it has been gathered in damp places in woods, in the spring.

Star-Like Sphærobolus.

Minute parasitic stilbum.

seven equal portions, leaving the seed-vessel exposed to the air. It is now that a curious provision of nature for the dispersion of the seed comes into action: the inner lining on which the seedvessel rests, is suddenly, with a jerk, turned inside out, and the little ball is thrown to a considerable distance (figure 6), leaving the parent plant empty, and its inner lining inverted, and forming a domelike top to the fungus (figure c). It is wonderful that so great a degree of power should exist in a substance not larger than the head of a pin, since The Sycamore petiol Peziza was found on the not only is it necessary that the ball of seed should be thrown to some distance, but it has also to over-leaf-stalk of the sycamore. In dry weather noth come a resistance at the opening, which is small-ing is perceptible but oblong or elliptical black spots. In moist weather the plant makes its ap er than the diameter of the ball.

Least Esaria.