We are excavating the site of Nineveh, trying to cut the Isthmus of Panama, to discover a north-west passage, and to remove every other obstruction that presumes to interfere with the freedom of our movements. We recommend St. Paul's to the Geographical Society, or Sir John Ross, or Sir F. Fellowes. But, perhaps, Lord Ellenborough will take pity on the public, and carry off the great west door as a new trophy of his prowess. At all events, if we are to boast of our Cathedral, let it not be a sham one." This is all excellent, so far as the wit goes, and the exposure of the present uselessness of the building. But if the critic in the Times were asked what reforms he would propose to effect in order that 'our Cathedral' might no longer be a sham one'-would he be likely to answer in such a way as to lead us to conclude that if his reforms were carried out, we should no longer have the old question to ask? What if the great west door were opened, what if the man or woman with 'tup-pence on their lips disappeared from the entrance, and we were all free to walk in, and even to walk up and down the nave and under the magnificent dome, gratis, and at all seasonable hours? Cui bono? The question must return. Except the grand blank building, and the statues of Howard, Dr. Johnson, Sir William Jones, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, under the dome-what is there worth looking at, for any man of taste or reflection? Of statues of great murderers-generals and admirals, majors and captains, there is a crowd. What is there to hear? Now and then, the grand peal of the organ, and the voices of Lockey and a few others, charming enough as to the melody; but as to the part they, or the drowsy clergymen, are taking in the worship, you are convinced by their demeanour (so characteristic of all cathedral performers) that their worship-like the Cathedral-is a sham. 'Call it the tomb of the English Church-or the Naval and Military Mausoleum-the Times may well propose that reform of speech, as the matter now stands; but the Times says nothing of the great reforms that ought to take place, if 'some Belzoni' could 'force an entrance into' this giant tomb -or Lord Ellenborough were to carry off the great west door,' as he carried away the gates of the temple of Sumnauth from the Afghans. 6 St. Paul's Cathedral cost the nation 150 years ago, the enormous sum of £1,200,000. 6 It is national property. An enlightened government would provide for its being used to enlighten and elevate the people. Christianity-not the Christianity either of Dr. Pusey or the Evangelicals-teaches that men should be enlightened and elevated. Christianity, as I for one understand it, hails Science, and Art, and Literature, as its great co-workers for rendering mankindwiser and better. And its established teachers have made a partial and blundering admission to that effect, by their acceptance of such a pile as St. Paul's to teach' in, professedly; and by the admission of statuary, and the scanty performance of music, within its walls. But an enlightened government would correct the blunder. It would sweep out the monuments of great murderers, and fill not only the transepts and the space around the pillars of the dome, but the sides of that now desolate nave, with such productions of Art as could not be beheld without the purest and best emotions. We have no national sculpture gallery,' is the perpetual cry of artists and lovers of art. -'We cannot afford to build one,' say statesmen. What need? Why not render St. Paul's the most magnificent sculpture-gallery in the world? If the things you now permit to hold it in idleness, and whom you now pay for being idle there,-pretend alarm, and talk about 'desecration,'-ask them if they are not ashamed of such talk, when they look at the butcher-monuments they have already admitted there. Again if you thirst after the grand harmonies of Handel, the delicious melodies of Haydn, or Mozart's richest combinations of all that is soul-stirring and humanizing in Music,-where must you seek gratification in London? At Exeter Hall, only; for the lover of the old masters finds no food at the Opera-houses,-and mere concert-rooms are too dwarfish for the performance of the loftiest music, with the masses of voice and instruments necessary to embody it worthily. And what is Exeter Hall? A huge warehouse-like room. The new hall at the Euston Square Railway Station is regal-compared with such a tasteless interior of a building. We have no Music Hall worth the name,' say musicians and lovers of music ' and we despair of raising the vast sum that would be necessary to raise one.' But why raise one, while St. Paul's is already the most appropriate national hall for the performance of sacred music? And who ought to object to its being used for that, among its other right purposes? They do perform the music of Handel and Haydn there, now all that is wanted is more of it. Remuneration to the performers, you might secure by very small entrance monies for the immense numbers it would hold. To admit the People gratuitously-or, rather, at the national expense,- -one dare not dream of (even while thus dreaming) in England. We are not in glorious Athens, in the days of Pericles. And Lecture halls, what poor pitiful rooms we have in London! Twenty towns, at least, in the provinces, have lecture rooms that will hold thrice the numbers that any of our accessible lecture rooms will hold in London-for your Exeter Hall is only for the religious, or the well-able-to-pay. If a Government deserved its name and delighted in the intelligence of the People, instead of dreading it-the eloquence and philosophy of Fox, the wit, the good sense, and liberality of Dawson, the brilliant declamation of Vincent, would attract its fostering care; and it would take measures for throwing open the grandest lecture-room in the metropolis to these ornaments of their age, and inviting the People to crowd around them for instruction. That room is St. Paul's cathedral. But its funereal silence must not be broken, as yet, by soul-moving and heart-bettering descants on the godlike philanthropy of Howard-the genius and patriotism of Milton-the wisdom and goodness of Newton. The old, dull, mechanical lip-service must go on, as yet; and no real instruction be given there. The time will come when Christ's own Christianity will be understood and felt, and every theme that can raise the mind and improve the heart will be conjoined with his own pure lessonsand within the walls of that noble masterpiece of Wren such themes will receive eloquent treatment while enraptured crowds listen. Some of us feel that we are toiling for that day-though we shall not live to see it. With the spread of science and intelligence around us, we cannot doubt-though others think we dream. THOMAS COOPER. "Life Lectures, in London, for the ensuing Week. SUNDAY, May 5, at half-past 7, Literary Institution, John Street, Fitzroy Square. and Genius of Rousseau"-Thomas Cooper. At half-past 7, Hall of Science, (near Finsbury Square,) City Road. " Life, Patriotism, and Writings of Algernon Sydney"--S. M. Kydd. MONDAY, May 6, at half-past 8, Mechanics' Institute, Gould Square, Crutched Friars. Elocutionary Entertainment, by the members of the Elocution Class. At halfpast 8, Pentonville Athenæum, 23, Henry Street. "Objects and Tendencies of Physical Science"-J. S. Hibberd. At half-past 8, Finsbury Hall, Bunhill Row. "Life and Character of Napoleon."-Ambrose M. Hurst. At 8, Soho Mnatul Instruction Society, 2, Little Dean-street. "Character and Poetry of Robert Nicol."-Walter Cooper. WEDNES., May 8, at 8, Hackney Literary and Scientific Institution. "Poetry-Past and Present,"Rey., A. Baynes, M.A., of Nottingham. THINKINGS, FROM JOHN LOCKE. NOVELTY AND TRUTH.-The imputation of novelty is a terrible charge against those who judge of men's heads, as they do of their perukes, by the fashion; and can allow none to be right, but the received doctrines. Truth scarce ever yet carried it by vote anywhere at its first appearance: new opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason, but because they are not already common. But truth, like gold, is not the less so for being newly brought out of the mine. It is trial and examination that must give it price, and not any antique fashion: and though it be not yet current by the public stamp, yet it may for all that, be as old as nature, and is certainly not the less genuine. LOVE OF TRUTH.—He that would seriously set upon the search of truth, ought in the first place to prepare his mind with a love of it: for he that loves it not, will not take much pains to get it, nor be much concerned when he misses it. There is nobody in the commonwealth of learning, who does not profess himself a lover of truth and there is not a rational creature that would not take it amiss to be thought otherwise of. And yet for all this one may truly say, that there are very few lovers of truth for truth's sake, even amongst those who persuade themselves that they are so. How a man may know whether he is so in earnest, is worth enquiry and I think there is one unerring mark of it, viz., the not entertaining any proposition with greater assurance, than the proofs it is built upon will warrant. MISUSE OF LANGUAGE.-Language being the great conduit whereby men convey their discoveries, reasonings, and knowledge, from one to another, he that makes an ill use of it, though he does not corrupt the fountains of knowledge, which are in things themselves, yet he does, as much as in him lies, break or stop the pipes whereby it is distributed to the public use and advantage of mankind. He that uses words without any clear and steady meaning, what does he but lead himself and others into errors? And he that designedly does it, ought to be looked upon as an enemy to truth and knowledge. DIFFERENCE OF MENTAL TESTS.-The mind has a different relish, as well as the palate; and you will as fruitlessly endeavour to delight all men with riches or glory (which yet some men place their happiness in) as you would to satisfy all men's hunger with cheese or lobsters; which though very agreeable and delicious fare to some, are to others extremely nauseous and offensive; and many people would, with reason, prefer the griping of an hungry belly, to those dishes which are a feast to others. Hence it was, I think, that the philosophers of old did in vain inquire, whether summum bonum consisted in riches or bodily delights, or virtue or contemplation? And they might have as reasonably disputed whether the best relish was to be found in apples, plums, or nuts; and have divided themselves into sects upon it. ETERNITY OF SOMETHING.-There is no truth more evident, than that some-thing must be from eternity. I never yet heard of any one so unreasonable, or that could suppose so manifest a contradiction, as a time wherein there was perfectly nothing. This being of all absurdities the greatest, to imagine that pure nothing, the perfect negation and absence of all beings, should ever produce real existence. REASON AND REVELATION.-If anything shall be thought revelation, which is contrary to the plain principles of reason, and the evident knowledge the mind has of its own clear and distinct ideas, there reason must be hearkened to, as a matter within its province. Since a man can never have so certain a knowledge, that a proposition, which contradicts the clear principles and evidence of his own knowledge, was divinely revealed, or that he understands the words rightly wherein it is delivered, as he has that the contrary is true; and so is bound to consider and judge of it as a matter of reason, and not swallow it, without examination, as a matter of form. HOPE.-Hope is that pleasure in the mind which every one finds in himself, upon the thought of a profitable future enjoyment of a thing which is apt to delight him. SPRING. SPEED thee, chaste virgin of the pea-bud cheek Gainsborough, 1833. SONNET TO SPRING. Welcome, most hopeful season of the year,— Lists with a tender joy the wild-bird's note, On hill and plain,-by forest, wood, and brake. The brightening earth, and sky, and softening gale, And all their varied life, thy gentle presence hail! Thornton, near Bradford. THOMAS COOPER. JOHN ACKROYD. To Correspondents. **Correspondents will please address "Thomas Cooper, 5, Park Row, Knightsbridge, London." S. M. CARTHY.-Apply to Dr. Viettinghoff, Homoeopathic and Mesmeric Medical Establishment, 10, Chadwell Street, Myddleton, Square, Clarkenwell; or, to Mr. E. Elliot, Professor of Mesmerism for the cure of Diseases, 29, College-street, Dowgate Hill, City. THOS. PARKER.-They wrote thus because they could not help it. If the writer enquires and reflects, he will understand that, and not be angry with them. W. E. ADAMS.-We may take up the subject some time: it does not seem urgent at present. G. H., Market Rasen; J. B., Barnsley; Tyro'; Alcous the Younger'; T. L., Portsmouth; O. S. B., St. Bees. Their poetry is most respectfully declined. THOMAS ROOKE.--The Bible with 40,000 emendations is published by Bagster, Paternoster Row. D. C. Answer next week. H.W.N." The Pioneer Metropolitan Association for promoting the practice of decomposing the Dead by the agency of Fire," will hold a Public Meeting at the City of London Mechanics' Institute, Gould Square, Crutched Frlars, on Friday in the present week, (3rd of May,) at eight o'clock in the evening. THE AGE OF CHIVALRY. AN ORATION, DELIVERED AT THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER MECHANICS' INSTITUTE AND OTHER LONDON INSTITUTIONS. BY THOMAS COOPER. (Continued from last number.) Metal rings, or scales, sewn on leather or coarse cloth, appear to have formed the first species of defensive armour worn in Europe, after the various northern tribes had divided among them the sovereignty of the ancient Roman Empire. This seems to have been improved into chain-mail, and scale-mail: the former constituting a brief shirt, composed of intricate rings, something like those of a steel purse: the latter also being connected together independent of the leathern or cloth suit worn underneath. The steel shirt was gradually improved till it fitted the arms and legs, as well as the body; and the Spanish armourers were famous for their excellence in constructing these suits. Upon the chain-mail, plates of iron or steel began to be affixed at the breast, and over the thighs and arms; and, at length, this mixed harness gave way to the complete case of plates of steel. villanous saltpetre was When "Digg'd out of the bowels of the harmless earth," and balls and bullets came into use, plate after plate of steel was gradually laid aside, till the leathern or buff-coat only remained, as in the beginning. You may observe this process of stripping in the valuable show of our Horse Armoury' of the Tower-where the last Stuart, with his huge boots, buffcoat, and patches of steel, looks, one had almost said, 'like a hog in armour' so uncouth is his figure compared with the chivalrous forms of the earlier kings and knights. Defensive armour eventually disappeared-until our Life Guards were opposed to the French Cuirassiers, who wore steel at the breast, in the battle of Waterloo, and beat them without any such defence: it was then judged proper, by a strange sort of wisdom, to give the Guards the cuirasses they now wear! At the period of the Norman Conquest, body armour consisted either of a stiff frock, or tunic, of leather, covered with rings, or otherwise with lozenges of steel or mascles, as they were called,--or otherwise of a covering of the same materials, but forming both jacket and breeches. The former was called the hauberk, the latter a haubergeon. With the hauberk, were worn chausses, or pantaloons of similar materials. With either a hood was worn, fastened round the forehead by leather straps, and of a piece with either the hauberk or haubergeon. Heavy armed shoes defended the feet, and the ankles, up to the knees, were covered by the hose, composed of bands of different colours, which were crossed. William the Conqueror, you may remember, used to call his son Robert, who was short-legged, 'Curt-hose.' The shield was of various shapes, as it continued to be, during succeeding centuries. The helmet, was worn over the hood, and, in that time was conical in shape, and was open at the face, having only the curious nasal piece--a broad piece of iron projecting before the nose: this whimsical appurtenance-for so it looks in pictures-was discontinued after king Stephen was taken prisoner, at the battle of Lincoln, by a knight who held him down by the nasal, after he had been stricken to the earth. The lance, with its streamer, was the general weapon of the Norman chivalry; but the long cutting sword was a frequent weapon-and the Conqueror's own two-handed sword, it is said, none could wield but himself. The iron mace, a short, but very massive |