"You can step out here, if you please," said a The Gardens are extensive and beautiful. The man; not the one who had let us in. We stepped entertainments comprise a concert in two parts, out, and my astonishment was great at finding a vaudeville, some miscellaneous entertainments, that I had ascended to the top of the building, and a grand display of fireworks, intermixed with room and all. The room is purposely contrived hydraulic exhibitions; and often a grand scenic to ascend and descend, to save visiters the fatigue display, which in the open air is much more ef of travelling up the all but interminable staircase. fective than on the stage. The Battle of WaterThe gardens surrounding the Colosseum are loo was performed here most effectively with inlaid out with great taste, skill, and effect. Enter- fantry and cavalry, cannons, howitzers, and moring them to the right of the building, you pass tars. The various walks in the garden are well into a splendid conservatory, where is a fine col- laid; the part intended for the grand promenade lection of the most rare and beautiful exotics. is in a blaze of light. In other parts of the gar Pursuing your way for some distance still in the dens, the walks are shady or dark, in order to conservatory, you come to a rotunda, in the cen- give effect to transparencies and scenic designs. tre of which is a fountain admirably constructed, There are also cosmoramic views in the gardens. and in the water beneath gold and silver fish This delightful place of entertainment, the most sporting. To the right of the fountain is the en- fairylike scene that can be imagined which seems trance to a cavern, which looks as black as night. as though it were a page snatched from the roYou enter, and grouping your way along some mance of the Arabian Nights and made real, is dark, uneven, rocky passages, are rewarded by not so fashionable as it was of yore. Still it is the sight of two ingeniously contrived and finely well attended; and, beside the witchery of the executed views; one of a sea grotto, the other of illuminated gardens themselves, the entertaina shipwreck. The motion of the waters, the ments are always excellent, and popular perforstruggling of the vessel with the waves that mers always engaged. It is of this place that the threaten every moment to engulf it, and the roar story of the ham was told. The proprietors anxof the sea, are all exceedingly natural. The sit- iously alive to the main chance, are notorious for uation renders the illusion more complete; every the thin slices of ham that they serve up to their other object is excluded. You are standing in an customers who sup there. Upon one occasion, artificial cavern, and are supposed to see these in hiring a carver they questioned a number of views through a long vista of cave from a fissure applicants as to how far they could make a ham in the rock. Coming from this romantic spot, go in slices, meaning how many plates they could you again enter the rotunda, and proceeding to make out of one. One man replied, that he could the left, enter the fac simile in every minutia of "make a ham cover the whole gardens." He was a Swiss Cottage. The persons in charge of it are immediately engaged. dressed in the costume of Swiss peasants; the furniture is all in accordance. Passing through the several rooms, you come out on an opposite side to that which you entered, in front of an Alpine scene, that is truly astonishing. Before you is a miniature lake-beyond, vast mountain scenes, of a dark and wild character, whereon mountain shrubs are growing, and down which a waterfall gam is coursing which falls into the lake. In the reo W cesses of the mountain there is an eagle, who seems to think his situation perfectly natural. Here is also a bench, upon which the emperor Napoleon often rested. The Alpine view is also on seen through the window of the Swiss Cottage.ban The effect cannot be conceived unless witnessed.

We now come to the greatest pride and ornament of Regent's park-the Zoological Gardens. Nothing can be conceived more delightful than the whole arrangements of this splendid place. The gardens themselves with their rare and beautiful parterres of flowers, shrubberies, lawns, and promenades, are not surpassed by any in the kingdom. Then the birds and animals a vast collection are all appropriately lodged; their dens, paddocks, houses, &c., being made after the model of the buildings of the countries from whence they are brought; and as the immense collection embraces specimens from every known country, the picturesque appearance of the gardens may be easily imagined.

The gardens were opened in 1828, since which they were all formed into convenient slips, and period they have become greatly extended. In part of each slip was cut away to a parallelopiped, order to obtain admission during the week, it is one fifth of an inch square, and therefore the necessary to obtain an order from one of the twenty-fifth part of a square inch in section. The members. These orders are widely circulated following is the table in which the number of through the town. They do not admit a visiter pounds denotes the absolute strength of a square without his paying one shilling at the gate. From inch to astir tom yd h9919e 'ei 1 the great amount of visiters who attend this fa- Fatasst iad to sanas 1897 drei Pounds.7. vorite resort, a considerable revenue is derived.

Some writers consider that the dry-rot is not essentially different from the more common kinds of decay; but there seems to be sufficient reason for the distinction which has usually been drawn. The prevention of the evil has been attempted in various ways, and with some degree of success.

necessary than that of thorough seasoning. But when it is to be exposed to the vicissitudes of weather, and still more when it is to remain in a warm and moist atmosphere, its preservation often becomes extremely difficult. Numerous experiments have been made, and many volumes writ ten, upon the preservation of timber and the prevention of the dry-rot; but the subject is not yet brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The methods which have hitherto been found most successful consist in extracting the sap, in excluding the moisture, and in impregnating the vessels of the wood with antiseptic substances.

It is agreed by most writers that the sap of vegetables is the great cause of their fermentation and decay. Hence it appears desirable, if there is any season in which the trunk of a tree is less charged with sap than at others, that this time should be selected for felling it. The middle of summer and the middle of winter are, undoubtedly, the periods when the wood contains least For extracting the sap, the process of watersap. In the months of spring and autumn, in seasoning is recommended. It consists in imwhich the roots prepare sap, but no leaves exist mersing the green timber in clear water for about to expend it, the trunk is overcharged with sap; two weeks, after which it is taken out, and seaand in many instances, as the maple and birch, soned in the usual manner. A great part of the sap will flow out at these seasons if the trunk is sap, together with the soluble and fermentable wounded. In summer, on the contrary, when the matter, is said to be dissolved or removed by this leaves are out, the sap is rapidly expended; and process. Running water is more effectual than in winter, when the roots are dormant, it is spar- that which is stagnant. It is necessary that the ingly produced; so that no surplus of this fluid timber should be sunk, so as to be completely apparently exists. From reasoning a priori, it under water, since nothing is more destructive to would seem that no treatment would be so effec- wood than partial, immersion. Mr. Langton has tual in getting rid of the greatest quantity of sap proposed to extract the sap by means of an airas to girdle the tree, by cutting away a ring of pump, the timber being closed in tight cases, with alburnum, in the early part of summer, thus put-a temperature somewhat elevated, and the sap ting a stop to the further ascent of the sap, and being discharged in vapor by the operation of the then to suffer it to stand until the leaves should pump. It appears extremely probable that if trees have expended, by their growth or transpiration, all were felled in summer, and the buts immediately the fluid which could be extracted by them, pre-placed in water without removing the branches, a viously to the death of the tree. The wood would thus, probably, be found in the driest state to which any treatment could reduce it in the living state. Buffon has recommended stripping the trees of their bark in spring, and felling them in the subsequent autumn. This method is said to harden the alburnum; but the success is not at all certain.

great part of their sap would be expended by the vegetative process alone, and replaced by water. It is well known that branches of plants, if inserted in water, continue for some days to grow, to transpire, and to perform their other functions. This they probably do at the expense of the sap, or assimilated fluid, which was previously in them, while they replace it by the water they consume. This state of things continues until the juices are too far diluted to be capable any longer of sustaining life.

At whatever period timber is felled, it requires to be thoroughly seasoned before it is fit for the purposes of carpentry. This object of seasoning is partly to evaporate as much of the sap as possi- The charring of timber, by scorching or burnble, and thus to prevent its influence in causing ing its outside, is commonly supposed to increase decomposition, and partly to reduce the dimen- its durability; but, on this subject, the results of sions of the wood, so that it may be used without experiment do not agree. Charcoal is one of the inconvenience from its further shrinking. Timber most durable of vegetable substances; but the seasons best when placed in dry situations, where conversion of the surface of wood into charcoal the air has a free circulation round it. Gradual does not necessarily alter the character of the drying is considered a better preservative of wood interior part. As far, however, as it may operate than a sudden exposure to warmth, even of the in excluding worms, and arresting the spreading sun; for warmth, abruptly applied, causes cracks of an infectious decay, like the dry-rot, it is useand flaws, from the sudden and unequal expansion ful. Probably, also, the pyroligneous acid, which produced in different parts. Two or three years' is generated when wood is burnt, may exert a seasoning is requisite to produce tightness and preservative influence. The exclusion of moisdurability in the woodwork of buildings. It must ture, by covering the surface with a coating of be observed that seasoning in the common way paint, varnish, tar, &c., is a well-known preservaonly removes a portion of the aqueous and vola- tive of wood which is exposed to the weather. If tile matter from the wood. The extractive, and care is taken to renew the coat of paint as often other soluble portions still remain, and are liable as it decays, wood on the outside of buildings is to ferment, though in a less degree, whenever the sometimes made to last for centuries. But paintwood reabsorbs the moisture. Such, indeed, is the ing is no preservative against the internal or dryforce of capillary attraction that wood exposed rot. On the contrary, when this disease is begun, to the atmosphere in our climate, never gives up the effect of paint, by choking the pores of wood, all its moisture. and preventing the exhalation of vapors and gases which are formed, tends rather to expedite than prevent the progress of decay. Paint itself is

When wood is to be kept in a dry situation, as in the interior of houses, no other preparation is

rendered more durable by covering it with a coat- in regard to the health of crews, if used in large ing of fine sand. Wood should never be painted quantities about the wood of a ship, may be conwhich is not thoroughly seasoned. The impreg-sidered as doubtful. British Cyclopedia. nation of wood with tar, bitumen, and other resinous substances, undoubtedly promotes its preservation.

MISCELLANY.

THE MORMON BIBLE.

year

Old Testament is the most ancient book in the world, he imitated its style as nearly as possible. His sole object in writing this historical romance was to amuse himself and neighbors. This THE Boston Recorder of April 5th contains the was about the 1812. Hull's surrender at following singular development of the origin and Detroit, occurred near the same time, and I rehistory of the Mormon Bible. It accounts most collect the date well from that circumstance. As satisfactorily for the existence of the book, a fact he progressed in his narrative, the neighbors which heretofore it has been difficult to explain. would come in from time to time to hear portions It was difficult to imagine how a work containing read, and a great interest in the work was excited so many indications of being the production of a among them. It claimed to have been written by cultivated mind, should be connected with knave- one of the lost nation, and to have been recovered ry so impudent, and a superstition so gross, as from the earth, and, assumed the title of "Manuthat which must have characterized the founders script Found." The neighbors would often inof this pretended religious sect. The present quire how Mr. S. progressed in deciphering "the narrative, which, independently of the attestations manuscript ;" and when he had a sufficient porannexed, appears to be by no means improbable, tion prepared he would inform them, and they was procured from the writer by the Rev. Mr. would assemble to hear it read. He was enabled, Stow, of Holliston, who remarks that he has "had from his acquaintance with the classics and anoccasion to come in contact with Mormonism in cient history, to introduce many singular names, its grossest forms." It was communicated by him for publication in the Recorder.

As this book has excited much attention, and has been put up by a certain new sect, in the place of the sacred scriptures, I deem it a duty which I owe to the public, to state what I know touching its origin. That its claims to a divine origin are wholly unfounded, needs no proof to a mind unperverted by the grossest delusions. That any sane person should rank it higher than any other merely human composition, is a matter of the greatest astonishment: yet it is received as divine by some who dwell in enlightened New England, and even by those who sustained the character of devoted Christians.

which were particularly noticed by the people and could be easily recognised by them. Mr. Solomon Spaulding had a brother, Mr. John Spaulding, residing in the place at the time, who was perfectly familiar with this work, and repeatedly heard the whole of it read. From New Salem he removed to Pittsburgh, Pa. Here Mr. S. found an acquaintance and friend in the person of Mr. Patterson, an editor of a newspaper. He exhibited his manuscript to Mr. P., who was very much pleased with, and borrowed it for perusal, He retained it a long time, and informed Mr. S. that if he would make out a titlepage and preface he would publish it, and it might be a source of profit. This Mr. S. refused to do, for reasons I cannot now state.

Learning recently that Mormonism has found its way into a church in Massachusetts, and has Sidney Rigdon, who has figured so largely in impregnated some of its members with its gross the history of the Mormons, was at this time condelusions, so that excommunication has become nected with the printing-office of Mr Patterson, necessary, I am determined to delay no longer as is well known in that region, and as Rigdon doing what I can to strip the mask from this himself has frequently stated. Here he had ample monster of sin, and to lay open this pit of abom- opportunity to become acquainted with Mr. Spaul inations: Reverend Solomon Spaulding, to whom ding's manuscript, and to copy it if he chose. It I was united in marriage in early life, was a grad- was a matter of notoriety and interest to all who uate of Dartmouth college, and was distinguished were connected with the printing establishment. for a lively imagination and a great fondness for At length the manuscript was returned to its au history. At the time of our marriage, he resided thor, and soon after we removed to Amity, Wash. in Cherry Valley, N. Y. From this place we re-ington county, Pa., where Mr. Spaulding deceased moved to New Salem, Ashtabula county, Ohio; in 1816. The manuscript then fell into my hands sometimes called Conneaut, as it is situated upon Conneaut creek. Shortly after our removal to this place, his health sunk, and he was laid aside from active labors. In the town of New Salem, there are numerous mounds and forts, supposed by many to be the dilapidated dwellings and fortifications of a race now extinct. These ancient relics arrest the attention of the new settlers, and become objects of research for the curious. Numerous implements were found, and other articles, evincing great skill in the arts. Mr. Spaulding being an educated man, passionately fond of history, took a lively interest in these developments of antiquity; and in order to beguile the hours of retirement, and furnish employment for his lively imagination, he conceived the idea of giving an historical sketch of this long lost race. Their extreme antiquity, of course, would lead him to write in the most ancient style, and as the

and was carefully preserved. It has frequently been examined by my daughter, Mrs. M'Kenstry, of Monson, Mass., with whom I now reside, and by other friends. After the "Book of Mormon" came out, a copy of it was taken to New Salem, the place of Mr. Spaulding's former residence, and the very place where the "Manuscript Found" was written.

A woman preacher appointed a meeting there, (New Salem) and in the meeting read and repeat! ed copious extracts from the "Book of Mormon." The historical part was immediately recognised by all the older inhabitants, as the identical work of Mr. Spaulding, in which they had been so deeply interested years before. Mr. John Spaulding was present, who is an eminently pious man, and recognised perfectly the work of his brother. He was amazed and afflicted, that it should have been perverted to so wicked a purpose. His grief found