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rather than increase the immorality and intrigue, now so commonly practised at elections; also that the elector incurred a higher responsibility than to his fellow-men. Mr. G. Kitton declared his decided opinion to be in favour of open voting, maintaining that only the worthless, if any, would be protected by the ballot, and that if the electors claimed irresponsibility, the elected might fairly retort the claim, and carry the same system into the government. At this point the debate was again ad

journed.

On Thursday, the 12th ult. the adjourned debate was conducted with considerable spirit, and at its close, Mr. Tillett summed up the arguments in favour of the ballot in a very decided and energetic manner.

On the 19th ult. Mr. G. Kitton, in an ingenious paper, answered the enquiry, "What is the greatest of earthly blessings?" by claiming that distinguished appellation for the gift of speech and on the 26th, the valuable essay delivered by Mr. Dowson, and the debate which ensued, on the question of national education, formed an admirable sequel to the discussion of a similar subject a few months since.

On the 3rd ult. the Rev. R. F. Elwin concluded his lecture on the laws of motion, and promised to continue his course on mechanics during the months of April and May.

On the 17th ult. Mr. G. S. Everett delivered a very interesting lecture on mining, and exhibited several beautiful specimens of the various ores, with highly finished diagrams illustrative of the system of gold washing, and lead and other minings. He also promised to enter more fully upon the subject of mineralogy on some future occasion.

On the 20th and 24th ults. Mr. J. Innes, Jun. commenced a most instructive course of lectures to the class on chemistry. In his first lecture he entered upon, and illustrated by various experiments, the nature and properties of heat, or caloric; and in his second lecture, the phenomena of chemical affinity and com

bination.

We much regret our inability to insert a fuller report of these lectures, which reflect so much credit upon, and are so beneficial to the interests of this institution.

PRINTED BY J. FLETCHER, UPPER HAYMARKET, NORWICH.

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WHO is there in "broad England" that does not hail the return of May, with the most rapturous delight? From earliest childhood, we have been accustomed to associate every idea of happiness and pleasure with May; and it certainly is the most lovely season of the year. The gentle beauty of the Spring, is heightened and improved by the approach of Summer; and the coolness and freshness of April are so delightfully blended and mingled with the warmth of June, that despite of what sager folks say and sing in praise of this latter month, we would undoubtedly award the palm of loveliness to May.

What we described, as occurring in April, is still to be observed. The latest of our summer birds arrive at the beginning of the month; and all our birds, resident and migratory, are engaged in incubation. The young of some of our warblers are fledged, but many late nesting birds have only eggs at the end of the month. We must here notice an unintentional error we made in March. The fish mentioned as spawning in that month, with the exception of the pike, in reality spawn in this; since many species do not emerge from their winter quarters, in the mud, and beneath aquatic plants, before the middle of April.

The species of insects abroad increase every day; the admiral and orange tip butterflies are numerous in warm and sheltered lanes; that splendid beetle, the rose-chaffer comes forth to feast upon the pride of the gardens; solitary bees, wasps, and others of that class (hymenoptera) are abundant; water insects, as

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boatflies, plungers, &c. appear in ponds and ditches; grasshoppers are seen in the fields; chaffers or May bugs, appear now; in the larva state, these insects are very destructive to the crops of meadow hay, as they live beneath the surface of the ground, and devour the roots of the grass; in destroying these, the rooks do incalculable good to the farmers. Near the end of this month glow-worms shine in close and sheltered lanes; hive bees at the same time frequently swarm.

The beauty of the parterre is much increased, pæonies, irises, rhododendrons, tulips, daylilies, and above all the roses combine with many cultivated indigenous plants in making the garden delightful. Most of the native shrubs which form our hedges, are now in full bloom; whitethorn, bramble, bird cherry, wild roses, and honeysuckles are the principal: the elder, guelder-rose and mountain ash are also in flower, and many trees which began to flower last month continue great part of this. The humbler, but not less beautiful offspring of Flora is far more numerous. On meadows and marshes, we find the forget-me-not, brooklime, yellow iris, various orchises, and the numerous and puzzling tribes of rushes and sedges; in hedgerows there are the goosegrass, vetches, borage, buglos, the cranesbills, briony, and lords and ladies (arum); on wastes the furze, milkwort, and tormentil; and in plantations the lily of the valley, and the woodruff. side these, almost all mentioned in April continue in flower.

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The leafing of our trees is completed in this month. The last trees are the oak, ash, and walnut; others by the time of their foliation have lost their bright tint, and have the deep hues of summer.

This which we have described is the most conspicuous of what is to be seen. But mere description is very dry:-" come and sec."-We will ramble this fine evening out of the city, and endeavour to enjoy the beauty of the season with the true feelings of naturalists. It is not necessary for us to say where we are going; one companion on such a walk is quite sufficient.

How soon-after leaving behind us those groups of untenanted and almost untenantable, tenements, which are clustered round the old city on every side-how soon we are in the "country;" the flowers cover the hedgebanks in a most cheering profusion, the trees are of a brighter hue, the birds sings in a more lively strain, and every thing appears more beautiful.-Let us turn down this little road-way to the left; and see-between the trees

which shade our path-there is the village church in its little plantation; thither we will direct our steps. This, reader, from early associations, is our favourite walk, and we are mistaken if it be not yours too when once you have enjoyed it. By passing through this field we come to the church yard gate;—here we will rest.

It is just that period of the month, when spring and summer meet; and it is just such an evening as the naturalist of Selborne would have journalized by the expressive term “a sweet even." A refreshing warmth has taken place of the mid-day heat, and there is an air of calm yet overflowing happiness in the little scene before us, that inspires the mind with "a glow of new interest and of warmer attachment" to the Creator.

On whichever side we turn our eyes we see proofs of the Deity; every creature is happy, from the lark, who is hovering over the fields before us with quivering wing, and with swelling throat is pouring out his descant to his Maker, to the caterpillar crawling at our feet, and the little bristly snail (helix hispida) which is feeding upon this violet leaf-all are happy, and all are testifying their joy. Every bird is singing; amid the trees of the plantation surrounding the churchyard, the blackcap, the thrush, and the willow-wren are mingling their songs; the robin, “the sacred bird” is singing from the boughs of this aged ashtree, and the wren, while hunting up an evening meal upon the wall, joins the melody. In yon little copse the blackbird is tuning his mellow throat, and even the nightingale does not disdain to unite in the harmony, but she reserves her richest strains for the solitude of night; from every bush, and every hedge, and every tree, warblers pour forth their lays, and with the monotonous burdon of the cuckoo from the distant wood, and the joyous, but faint sounding scream of the swift, circling high in air, form such a chorus of gratitude and praise to the Eternal, that the heart must be wilfully perverse, if it does not present its tribute of grateful adoration.

Other creatures display their feelings by their "sportive motions, and gratuitous activity." The squirrel is gamboling among the boughs of the beech tree, and by the fence at our side, a little field mouse is running about, so full of joy, that he appears to be unable to contain himself in his delight. The swallow and martin, whose nests are in the village you can just discern

through the trees; leaving that shaded spot, they are skimming round the church with unrivalled ease and gracefulness of flight, and adding their musical twitter to the songs of their more gifted fellow-visitants. Even the insect tribes are happy; the brisk chirp of the grasshopper is heard from the tall grass, and the murmuring hum of the wild bees, who are flying round the violet bank, if haply they may find one lingering bloom, to crown the delicious repasts of the day with sweetness. The butterflies, displaying their gay twits to the almost horizontal sunbeam, and the myriads of diminutive creatures which have just burst into existence, apparently only to flutter in the warm ray, and die,, are all enjoying themselves. Amid so many proofs of the Creator's bounty with every being around us so happy, we cannot contemplate Him, otherwise than the "God of boundless love." What a profusion of beauty is to be seen in the vegetable world; the trees display the rich green of their newly assumed foliage, the hedges are covered with the white blossoms of the hawthorn, and the flowers of the eglantine and honeysuckle are mingling their odours with the perfume of primroses and cowslips, which the gentle breeze bears upon its wings.

Who can behold a scene like this with apathy. Hard is his heart, who looking upon such exuberant happiness, could turn from it, and not feel that God indeed manifests himself here. This beauty too, is found not in this spot alone: over thousands of miles, the same Deity is exercising his power, and benevolence in producing the same results; and the greater part of this extent is never to be seen by man; the eye of the Creator alone beholds it, and he has pronounced it to be "very good.”

How glorious does "the king of day" appear, as he is slowly sinking behind that distant wood. A sunset like this always reminds us of those simple, but beautiful lines, comparing it to the death of the christian.

He makes the sky glow, as he sinks into rest,
And foretels a bright rising again.

See, how the various races of animals are preparing for their rest, after the labors and delights of the day: night brings to them not a cessation, but a variety of pleasure. The rooks with eddying flight, alight on the trees near their pasturage, and and sleep there; the heron with his flagging wings, slowly rising

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