ing minister, "is the happiest moment I have enjoyed for years, I have written the last word!" and he then proceeded to return thanks to the great God who had enabled him to accomplish his work.

The closing scene of this worthy pastor's life occurred in the autumn of 1832, at a time when that fell visitant, the cholera, was spreading death and dismay throughout the land. His death was a striking example of resignation and piety. Though Dr. Clarke had showed no fear of this dreadful disease, and voluntariy made several visits into districts affected by it, it was his invariable custom to specially allude to it in the morning and evening devotions of his family, praying that "each and all might be saved from its influence, or that they might be prepared for sudden death."

On Sunday, the 26th of August, Dr. Clarke had promised to preach at Bayswater, and on the Saturday previous proceeded thither. Though apparently cheerful in the evening, he seemed tired and listless, but this was attributed to the fatigue attendant on his journey; on being pressed by a gentleman, who wished him to preach a charity sermon, to fix the day, he answered, "I am not well; I cannot fix a time; I must first see what God is about to do with me.' On his retirement for the night, though symptoms were apparent that indicated the approach of the dreaded disease, they did not appear to have excited any suspicion or alarm either in himself or of his friends. Rising in the morning, the symptoms had not abated, and he expressed a great desire to return home at once. Arrangements were accordingly made. but before they could be completed, all the characteristics of the disease became too painfully apparent Medical men were summoned, who pronounced it a clear case of cholera. Short

as had been the warning, his wife and most of his children had been sent for, and they quickly arrived at the bedside of him who had ever been the most affectionate of husbands and parents; his looks (he was now nearly speechless) evincing his satisfaction at the presence of his beloved ones. The question, "Am I blue?" which he asked, clearly indicated that he was perfectly cognisant of the nature of the malady from which he was suffering. He then gradually sank, and with scarcely any effort of nature to rally, shortly afterwards breathed his last.

He was in the seventieth year of his age.

In addition to the Commentary Dr. Clarke also published a very useful Bibliographical Dictionary, and several other religious works.

28.-DAVID RICARDO, celebrated for his writings and statistics, was born in 1772. Becoming a member of the London Stock Exchange, he accumulated a very large fortune. It is said that his attention was not directed to political economy till somewhat late in life, when he accidentally, at the house of a friend, took up Smith's Wealth of Nations, and he then resolved to devote himself to the study of the subject with which he had now for the first time become acquainted. Mr. Ricardo died in 1820.

THOMAS BEWICK, THE WOOD ENGRAVER.

"A picture is a poem without words."-HORACE.

HOMAS BEWICK, the celebrated wood engraver-whose works are now so valued by amateurs, and for many of whose wood blocks large prices have been paid by collectors-was born i.. 1753, at Cherryburn, in Northumberland; and he is said, in his boyhood days, to have worked in his father's coal-pit. He early evinced considerable talent in drawing-specimens of his chalk scribbling being exhibited on every barn-door and closed window-shutter in the village-and these attracted the notice of Mr. Beilby, an engraver at Newcastle, to whom, after some preliminary inquiries, the youthful genius was apprenticed.

On the expiration of Bewick's apprenticeship-during which he had to perform many menial tasks, and often to live on the most restricted fare-he made a tour on foot through the Lake district; after which he proceeded to London, where he stayed about a year; but it is said he did not add much to the knowledge which he already possessed of his craft. Pining for his native air and rural habits, he returned to Newcastle, to the neighbourhood of which he was always strongly attached, and where indeed he passed the remainder of his life. Shortly after his return home, he entered into partnership with his former master, and from that time forward devoted himself unreservedly to his work. In 1775 he gained the premium from the Society of Arts for one of the illustrations, "The Huntsman and the Old Hound," in Gay's Fables. This book, which appeared some four years later, attracted much attention from the superiority of the engravings, which were all executed by the subject of this memoir, and his brother John.

To Bewick belongs the merit of having revolutionised the art of wood-engraving. It is only necessary to compare the wood-cuts in the books which appeared before his time with some of the beautiful illustrations with which the pages of the Graphic, the Illustrated London News, and numerous other productions have made us familiar, in order to realise what wonderful strides have been made towards perfection in this art. The method which Bewick adopted of producing those delicate effects of light and shade which are so essential to a good and truthful picture is the same in principle as that which is now practised by our engravers, and it was Bewick that first discovered the method of achieving them. The chief works which he illustrated are, among numerous others, Gay's Fables, 1779; Select Fables, 1784; and Fables of Esop and others. But the work which brought him his greatest fame was the History of Quadrupeds. An ardent lover of rural scenery and an earnest student of nature, animate and inanimate-this was a task for which he possessed peculiar qualifications, and in which he took an especial delight. In addition to the careful study of animal life which the country around him afforded, he made a point of visiting the menageries which came into the town, for the purpose of making sketches of the ob jects they contained.

Bewick was one of those men who found his work sufficient to absorb his every energy, and it is to this fact mainly, in conjunction with his undoubted genius, that his great success must be attributed. By his talents and industry he became the first in his professionnever ceasing to sustain, through a long and laborious career, the promise of his early days. He was of a happy and cheerful disposition, caring for little beyond his work and the pleasures and duties of family life. He was an early riser and of a vigorous habit; fond of walking, and of muscular sports and exercise. Thus he always maintained a sound mind in a healthy body. Temperate, scornful of luxury, and above sordid considerations, his life was passed in the healthful happiness which labour alone can confer. Throughout his career, devoted to his art, his last hours found him occupied with a project to improve the morals and taste of the lower classes by a series of prints on a large scale for cottage walls. His last attempt at engraving was a cut,"Waiting for Death," representing an old horse, which was intended to figure in an address on Cruelty. This was executed with great pathos and truth.

When too old to work with the vigorous zeal of former times, Bewick, busied himself with writing an Autobiography. He died of gout at his house, near the Windmill Hills, Gateshead, on November 8th, 1828, at the age of 75, and was buried at Ovingham.

The number of engravings that Bewick executed is very large. Fine copies of his birds and quadrupeds command large prices; and the impression of an elephant, a lion, a tiger, and zebra, which he executed on a large scale to adorn the handbill of a menagerie, are now very rare. As much as twenty guineas have been given for an impression of his celebrated "Bull." dated 1789, and which is considered as Bewick's chef d'œuvre. He had the merit of educating several talented pupils, from whom he received considerable assistance in his many productions.

Full Moon

30th,

BONIS OMNIA BONA-ALL IS GOOD TO THE GOOD.

SUN MOON

"Who largely gives with willing hand,
Or quickly gives with willing heart,
His fame shall spread throughout the land, 5 52r
His memory thence shall ne'er depart."
ANGLO-NORMAN CAROL. 5 49s night 10
230 11

26 F
27 S Duck (the "Thresher poet ") first published 5 55r

his Poems, 1730.

A.M.

13.-The REV. JAMES GRAHAME was born at Glasgow in the year 1765. He studied the law, and practised at the Scottish bar for several years, but at length relinquishing forensic pursuits for clerical, and taking orders in the Church of England, he became curate of Shipton, in Gloucestershire, and also of Sedgefield, in Durham. Among his contributions to literature may be mentioned Sabbath Walks, Biblical Pictures, and also The Sab bath-a poem which is considered one of his best productions; in connec tion with this the following auecresting illustration of the author's dote is told, which affords an inte

modest character. He had written and published the work unknown to his family, and taking a copy home one day he left it lying on the table. His wife took it up shortly afterwards, and commenced reading portions of it aloud-the sensitive author meanwhile walking about the room. At length she broke out into words of praise respecting the poems, adding-"Ah! James, if you could The but write a poem like this!" acknowledgment of the authorship was then made, and the pleasure to each can be readily imagined.

Ill health compelled Grahame to abandou his curacy at the time when he had rendered himself a popular preacher, and when his writings were becoming appreciated. Returning to Scotland, he died there on the His own 13th of September, 1811. lines may be said to portray his feelings on his return to his native

land:

"How pleasant came thy rushing, silver Tweed!

Upon my ear, when, after roaming long

In southern plains, I've reached thy lovely bank!

How bright, renowned Sark! Thy

little streum,

Like ray of columned light chasing

a shower,

Would cross my homeward path, how sweet the sound,

When I, to hear the Doric tongue's reply,

Would ask thy well-known name!"

27. -STEPHEN DUCK, who was known by the name of the" Thresher Poet," was born at Charlton, near Marlborough, in the year 1700.

IT has been observed by a thought- has been done to please him than ful writer" that ingratitude and in if he were a blind man; and has difference sometimes mar the cha-nothing more to say about it than racter of men. A husband returns if he were dumb. Many a loving froni his business at evening. Dur-wife has borne in her heart an abiding his absence the wife has been busy with mind and hands preparing some little surprise, some unexpected pleasure, to make his home more attractive than ever. He enters, seemingly sees no more of what

ing sorrow, day after day, from causes like this, until, in process of time, the fire and enthusiasm of her original nature has burned out, and mutual indifference has spread its pall over the household."

tained what little education he possessed, at the age of fourteen he was employed in the meanest labours of husbandry. During the time he was occupied in this pursuit he forgot all that he had learned, and this was a constantly recurring source of vexation to him. At length, when at the age of twenty-four years, with a wife and family to support, he resolved to recover his lost knowledge-scanty though it had been. Being engaged at work all day, he had but little leisure, and no money or books; but, nevertheless, he set about his plan of self-improvement. By working longer than his fellow labourers he increased his wages, and thus raised the means to accomplish the end he had in view-purchasing books of

arithmetic, and applying himself to that science in the hours when other persons were asleep. With a friend who had passed some years in service in London, and who had brought down with him a few works, they made up a joint stock of books, very small indeed, but sufficient to cherish and develop Duck's natural turn for poetry. The first poetical work he read was Milton's Paradise Lost, and this he perused twice or thrice, with the aid of a dictionary, before he could well understand its language.

It was some time before Duck thought of committing any of his compositions to paper; but having sent a letter in verse to a gentleman, it was shown to several clergymen, who were so pleased with it that they rewarded the author with a small gratuity. From this incident Duck's talents began to be talked about, and encouraged by the praise he received, he resolved to publish seyeral pieces, which were afterwards collected, and issued in the form of a quarto volume.

The attention of Queen Caroline was now attracted to the author who had risen from so humble a position, and she settled upon him a pension of thirty pounds a year-making him also a Yeoman of the Guard. He now applied himself to the study of the Latin language, in which be made considerable progress. Later on he was admittted into holy orders, and was preferred to the living of Byfleet, in Surrey, where he lived happily for several years, being greatly respected by his parishioners.

Although he had thus achieved all that he might have naturally desired, and indeed much more, the termination of Duck's life was a very sad one; for falling into a profound melancholy, accompanied by great depression of spirits, in the year 1756 he drowned himself in the Thamesand thus ended a career which undoubtedly would have ultimately brought him a considerable increase of literary fame.

30.-THE following anecdote is related of GEORGE WHITFIELD, the celebrated preacher:

One day he was preaching in the open fields, as it was his custom to do, when a drummer attached to a recruiting party happened to be present, who made a most determined effort to interrupt the pious work by rudely beating his drum to drown the preacher's voice. Mr. Whitfield spoke very loudly, but his voice was not so powerful as the instrument; he, therefore, addressed the drummer in these words:-" Friend, you and I serve the two greatest masters existing, but in different callings. You beat up for volunteers for King George, I for the Lord Jesus Christ. In God's name, then, don't let us interrupt each other! The world is wide enough for us both, and we may both get recruits in abundance." The gifted preacher's speech had such an effect, that the drummer went away in great good humour, and left the preacher in full possession of the field-thus furnishing an illustration of the truth that gentle and persuasive words are often far more powerful in their effect than harsh and commanding ones.

THE FAMOUS SCULPTOR-CANOVA.

"The life of an artist is one of thought rather than action; he has to speak of the struggles of mind, rather than the conflict of circumstances."-HONE.

T is not a little remarkable that nearly all the most enthusiastic and determined men of genius have had to conquer adverse external circumstances, and have risen to fame in spite of the obstacles which in some way or other have been placed in the course of their progress. There are many instances which will occur to nearly every reader, of men of enthusiasm and of genius who have been possessed of this indomitable energy and force of character. They are to be found in every branch of life and in every profession. Indeed, it may be said that without this power of perseverance gifts and talents are vain. This is strikingly shown in the case of ANTONIO CANOVA, the eminent Italian sculptor; and his successful artistic career is the more instructive as it furnishes an example of how a comparatively self-taught man may rise to honour and fame.

CANOVA was born at Passagno, an obscure village in the Venetian territory, in the year 1757, his father being a sculptor. He was deprived at an early age of the care of both father and mother, and this circumstance led to his being placed with his grandfather, Pasino, a stone-cutter, who appears to have been superior to the generality of his class. Here the boy soon began to develop a taste for the art in which he afterwards became renowned, and which was fostered by the appreciative affection of his grand-parents. He learned drawing and clay-modelling-and even in those early days-began to try his hand at working in marble. His chief pleasure was to be in the midst of his grandfather's work, and he soon became a useful assistant to him. While thus employed, he was so fortunate as to attract the attention of a Venetian nobleman, Faliero by name, who, struck by his manners, his taste, and his skill, received him into his house and gave him the benefit of a good education-in order to better qualify him for the work for which he had evinced so strong a feeling. He also sent him as an apprentice to Bernardi Torretto, a statuary residing in the neighbourhood. And it is told that shortly after he had been taken into the service of his new master, one day, during his absence, he made the model of two angels in clay, which were so exquisitely done, that Torretto could scarcely believe they were the work of his young pupil. Canova remained with Torretto nearly four years, during which time he acquired considerable skill in the mechanical processes of the art.

In his sixteenth year Canova began the serious study of the art in which he was destined to be famous; and the thoroughness of his character was evidenced by the energetic and whole-souled manner in which he threw himself into his work. It is recorded that he was not content with merely copying the work of others, but always studied nature for himself. The first difficulties of mechanical execution being overcome, he made it a rule never to allow a day to pass which did not mark some progress, or to retire to rest without producing a design. To accomplish the better results in his work he studied anatomy, and took every opportunity of observing the various attitudes of the human figure. Nor was this the extent of his studies; in his desire to qualify himself thoroughly for his profession he made himself master of many branches of general knowledge bearing upon his art, which he considered essential to his success as a sculptor. All this time he was, as he says, "labouring for a pittance," never thinking of wealth, but pursuing his art for its own sake.

It was a proud day for Canova when he received his first cominission, which was for two baskets containing Fruit and Flowers, for a Venetian nobleman, and this, his earliest performance, is still to be seen in Venice. But it was not until he exhibited group of Orpheus and Eurydice (in 1776) that his name became known. This led to several orders-but what was of far greater value to the rising artist the Venetian Senate allowed him a pension of three hundred ducats (about sixty pounds) for the term of three years, to enable him to complete his studies in Rome. In connection with Canova's visit to this city the following anecdote is told :

Having designed and executed with great care a beautiful group of "Dædalus and Icarus," he presented himself with it at the door of the Venetian ambassador. This magnate was at dinner; but, after a painful interval of trembling expectation to the young and modest artist, an Abbé was sent out to pass sentence on it. Viewing it in every light, and examining it with much care, during all which time Canova underwent the tortures of suspense, the Abbé spoke of

10 F Elephants live for two hundred, three hundred, and even four hundred years.

7 18 19

8

7 20

6 12r 9 621

After

24

5 22s 10 14 6 15r 11 28 23 5 178 Mid 6 18r night A.M. 25 2 626

11S (12) Canova died, 1822. 12S 18th Sunday aft. Trinity. 5 14s 13 M Homer, who is supposed to have written nearly 3,000 years ago, alludes to the use of 6 21r 14 Tu, the razor. Lord (Admiral) Hawke died, 1781.—It is told 5 9s 15 W that his father on parting with him when 6 25r he first went to sea, exhorted him to be16Th have well, and "hoped to live to see him a captain. "A captain!" said the boy-"1f I did not think I should come to be an 6.28r admiral, I would not go to sea at all!"

17 F

18S

19

Lord Palmerston died, 1865. His public 5 Os

funeral took place on the 27th.

5 4s

Sets

P.M.

5 25

19th Sunday aft. Trinity. 6 32r

20 M Muratori (Italian historian) born, 1672.4 56s

21 Tu Battle of Trafalgar, and death of Lord Nel- 6 36r 22 W superstitious faith in the horse-shoe, and 4 52s 11 3

sou, 1805.-It is said that Nelson had a

there was one nailed to the mast of the

"I love the sailor-his eventful lifeHis generous spirit-his contempt of danger."-COTTON.

23 Th

ship Victory.

24F

25 S

26

20th Sunday aft. Trinity. 4 44s

27 M Captain Cook born, 1728.-Savagely mur- 6 46r dered by the natives of Owhyhee in 1779.

28 Tu John Locke died, 1704.

4 40s

29 W Fatal riots at Bristol in consequence of House 6 50r of Lords rejecting the Reform Bill, 1831.

30 Th Macknight (Scotch divine) born, 1721. 31F Gervase Spencer died, 1763.

4 36s

6 54r

P.M. 16

NOTES TO THE CALENDAR.

20.-LUDOVICO ANTONIO MURATORI, an eminent Italian historian and antiquary, in addition to being a most learned and laborious writer, was an exceedingly charitable man, and in his beneficence to the poor, scarcely anyone in his station ever surpassed him. He was born in the year 1672 at Vignola, in the Modenese, where he received his education. Devoting himself to literature, he paid no attention to his future pros

pects in life, but two of his friends of the Ambrosian Library at Milan. procured for him the post of keeper and archivist to the duke of Modena. Subsequently he became librarian Having in the earlier part of his career been ordained a priest, he was presented to a benefice in the church of St. Maria Pomposa, in Modena, where he conducted himself so as to afford a model for his brethren in the priesthood. In addition to repeated benefactions to his church he not only rebuilt it at his sole cost, but was equally liberal in his gifts to other churches. The greater portion

of his time was spent in visiting the

sick; and if he saw destitute persons in the streets suffering from cold and hunger, he would take them to his own house, and give them not only food and raiment, but also good

advice, and if they were found

worthy of it, further assistance. A health, maintained by temperance nearly uninterrupted condition of and exercise, enabled Muratori to continue his labours till a very advanced period of life. On examining his accounts after his death, it was found he had expended much more upon his churches and the poor belonging to them than he had received from all his benefits conjointly-so that the sums he devoted to his charity

must have been derived from the sums he received for his literary

productions, which were extremely 1750.

voluminous. He died in January,

JOHN LOCKE, possessed great know28.-THAT eminent philosopher, ledge of the world, and was intimately conversant with the business of it. He was prudent without being cunning; and while winning the esteem of all by his uprightness, his gentle manners not only gained him the respect of his inferiors, the esteem of his equals, but won for him the friendship and confidence of

persons of the highest quality. Civility he considered to be not only a duty of humanity, but of the Christian profession. He was charitable to the poor, excepting such as were had a great compassion for those who idle, or exceedingly dissolute; and misfortune; or for those who, after

had been overtaken by unavoidable

they had laboured as long as their strength would permit, were reduced to poverty. He said that it was not enough to keep them from starving, but that a suitable provision ought to be made sufficient to render them comfortable in their old age, In his friendships he was warm and steady; and, therefore, at all times felt a strong indignation against any discovery of treachery or insincerity in those in whom he confided. is said that a particular person with whom he had contracted an

It