(female attendants) readily permitted them again to swing in their former

cots.

Our first morning in Stockholm was devoted to ascending the dome of the handsome St. Catherine Church, which, being situated on very high ground, commands a magnificent view of the city, and all the beauties of its noble position. Several of the islands, on which various portions of the capital are built, could from this position be distinctly seen, separated from each other by inlets of the sea; and the smaller of these channels are occasionally spanned by bridges, thrown across from one island to the other. We likewise beheld in the port, immediately below where we were situated, a considerable number of merchant vessels employed in loading and unloading their cargoes: farther to the East appeared some Swedish men-ofwar, the more elegant forms of which were seen to advantage, reflected in the smooth water of the Baltic: the beautiful Mälar sea lay to the West, and a vast number of passage-boats were to be seen moving about in all directions. Many of these boats were rowed by sturdy Dalecarbian women, and, though it may be highly ungallant to cast any reflection on the charms of a whole tribe of females, yet must I presume to say, that their power over the oar is evidently much greater than any they could ever hope to exercise over the sentiments of the heart. Stockholm as thus beheld, with all the advantages of the verdure, tranquillity, and sunshine of summer, forms, certainly, one of the most beautiful coups-d'œil that is to be met with, and the occasion of this beautiful panoramic view is recorded by me as a red-letter day, which time cannot readily efface from memory's tablet. In walking round the dome of the St. Catherine Church, we got into conversation with the sentinel, whose business it is here, and in all the wood-built towns of the north, to watch incessantly for the first indication of fire, and to communicate an alarm by means of bells. It appears that such wooden buildings as fall a sacrifice to either fire or time, are now no longer permitted to be rebuilt of the same material in Stockholm, and in consequence of this regulation the duties of these guardian angels of the city are yearly becoming less onerous. Before returning home we were conducted by our valet de place to a jetty which projects into the Baltic sea, and around which we found a curious description of floating-market for fish, butter, cheese, milk, vegetables, fruit, &c. The country market-boats, which bring these various articles from a distance, lie alongside of the quay, and are, in effect, so many shops, where weights and measures are in much greater requisition than they appear to be in the provision shops of the city. The well-boats which, being half full of water, contain living fish, floating in their native element, are, however, the chief curiosities of the place, and the women in charge of two or three of these, mistaking us no doubt for housekeeping purchasers, proceeded to drag, by means of a little net attached to a pole, a variety of their scaly prisoners out of the water, and caused them to exhibit their various points of plumpness and agility immediately before our eyes. Not happening to be learned in ichthyology I shall not attempt to repeat the names of those that were thus introduced to us, but it may be permitted to remark that on being taken out of their proper element, the twist of one sort, the leap of another, and the quiver of a third, were, no doubt, all meant to express their various emotions on the occasion, according to the most polite manner of the deep. I am not aware whether it be orthodox to sympathise with the sufferings of the natives of another element, but, if it be so, the ladies of Stockholm, in resorting to this market, must, no doubt, feel some difficulty in ordering so many executions as must be necessary for the daily supply of their tables. It might perhaps seem hypercritical to object to this realisation of "fish all

alive," by which venders so often falsely endeavour to tempt our palates at home; but the Swedish mode is not, in point of practice, either so convenient or agreeable as might be imagined in regard to the facility of selection, besides which it occasionally results in a piscatory cannibalism, by leaving the prisoners in these floating receptacles, in the absence of other food, to prey upon each other.

In the evening we proceeded to that pleasant evening resort, the Djurgard, or Park, which is well wooded, and presents an agreeable variety of surface and scenery. This pretty drive, being bounded on more than one side by arms of the Baltic, possesses all the advantage which an abundance of water can bestow upon its verdant attractions, besides which, of comfortable cafés, and ornamental country-houses, there are here not a few. We were fortunate enough to meet her majesty the queen, taking her usual evening drive through the park, and though it might now be difficult to discover its remains, yet a Swedish gentleman, who made one of our party, assured us that she has been very beautiful. Her majesty was, we were informed, with some difficulty persuaded to follow her husband to Sweden, and long deplored, and still regrets, the loss of that refined and congenial society with which she was long familiar in the gay saloons of Paris. It thus appears, that even an elevation to a throne is incapable of atoning for the loss of those social enjoyments and friendly sympathies, which, while possessed, are often but too lightly regarded. On another occasion we had the honour of saluting, in his drive, old Bernadotte himself, as Charles XIV. of Sweden. His majesty's appearance is exceedingly hale for a veteran of seventy-three years of age, and he is still possessed of a quickness of eye, which in his more youthful days may readily be supposed to have often proved formidable to his enemies on the battle-field. The king's present subjects appear to feel particularly proud of his achievements in war, and love to record for him a long and very brilliant list of victories. Indeed, one gentleman with whom we met went so far as to say, that the military career of Bernadotte had been more brilliant than even that of Napoleon, inasmuch, as having commanded in half a hundred battles, he had never been once unsuccessful. The emperor, it is well known, had begun to entertain a feeling of jealousy and dislike towards Bernadotte before his acceptance of that regency by which he was destined within a few years to ascend the throne of Sweden.

NEW THEORY OF COLONISATION.

AN article bearing this title, in the last number of the Edinburgh Review, contains the following passage in reference to the new colony of South Australia:

"It is honourable to all parties concerned in this enterprise, that the protection of the aborigines has, from the first, formed a main feature of the scheme, and it may be regarded as a fair experiment, not only to test the practical working of the new theory of colonisation, -but to try whether the decline and rapid extermination, either by violence or by disease of the native races, be an unavoidable, as it has hitherto been an unvariable, consequence of white men settling upon their shores. Unless it can be shown that these races are already in decay; that their business on earth has already been accomplished, and that they were destined, from the beginning, to die out in these times, and leave room for a superior people, - we may well doubt whether civilisation carries with it any divine commission to undertake so awful a responsibility; and we could have wished to see the results of this experiment before we proceeded further in the course. On this account we cannot but regret the measures which have forced us into the colonisation of New Zealand, before the success

of the precautions taken in South Australia has been fairly proved; neither can we regard without apprehension, the example which has been thus set of a few private speculators compelling the authorities of the country to undertake one of two responsibilities, either to assume the control of an enterprise which they disapprove; or, by refusing, to leave the undertakers of it without any control whatever, -a course which certainly might, and probably would, lead to disorders and aggressions, against which the good intentions of the projectors are no security. In this case, however (whatever measures may be taken against a repetition of it), the decision appears to have been inevitable; and the colony of New Zealand is already planted, with every prospect, we trust, of advantage to Great Britain; though, too probably, to the destruction of the finest of the aboriginal races that has yet been discovered."

We rejoice to find this subject making way at last amidst the multitude of topics, political and commercial, that absorb the attention of the people of this country. It is a remarkable fact, that while Great Britain has been the greatest coloniser on the face of the earth — her flag being planted in so many various climates, that, according to the familiar boast, the sun never sets upon her possessions-she derived, notwithstanding, so little wisdom from her long experience, that it is only very recently she has made any approach towards sound principles in the establishment and government of new colonies. South Australia is, in fact, the first instance of a methodical attempt to carry out a colonial undertaking with a due regard to the interests of the settlers and the natives; but it remains yet to be seen whether the model colony is destined to realise the theory upon which it was projected.

But we specially direct attention to the passage above cited for the sake of the strong reference it makes to the aborigines. Whatever else was thought of in the formation of new settlements, whatever pains might have been taken to found cities, create markets, and force the resources of the soil to the utmost point of profit, the aborigines in every case have been defrauded and abused, and in some cases wholly extirpated. Legislation has never reached them, and the progress of colonisation has, consequently, been a history of cruelty, spoliation, and slaughter. Even in New Zealand, it is much to be feared the work of destruction has already begun. The settlers are pressing fast upon the retreating footsteps of the natives; and unless the government speedily interpose to preserve them, there is hardly any doubt that they must ultimately perish by disease and famine. The New Zealander at this moment exclaims to the white settlers, " You may be very good men, but you have got all our lands."

We maintain that no act of colonisation is justifiable unless it respects the lives and properties of the native inhabitants; and that in all such proceedings protective measures ought to be adopted with sincerity and carried out with vigour, for the purpose not only of shielding the aborigines from aggression and demoralisation, but for ensuring to them all the rights of British subjects. This is the great principle to be acted upon in our colonial administration, affording to the colonists the best guarantee for their own security, by satisfying the just demands, improving the circumstances, and elevating the character of the natives with whom they are brought into connection. The Aborigines' Protection Society, instituted for the purpose of watching the interests of the native races, is labouring zealously to diffuse information on this subject, and to obtain the correction of existing evils, as well as to prevent their recurrence. The proceedings of this excellent society are of the deepest interest to the friends of humanity; and, contenting ourselves for the present with a brief allusion to the general question, we hope next month to enter upon it at a length proportionate to its importance.

THE

MONTHLY CHRONICLE.

TO THE QUEEN.

UPON THE STRANGE ATTEMPT MADE ON THE LIVES OF HER MAJESTY AND PRINCE ALBERT.

[It may be proper to state, that the following verses were written at the time of the event, but withheld from publication, in consequence of certain doubts expressed relative to the criminal before his trial.]

VOL. VI.

RECOVERING with one breath, one joy, one prayer,
From sudden horror, such as lifts the hair,
Three kingdoms bless thee, lady, and thy life;
Bless thee as queen; bless thee as child and wife ;
Bless thee as their own kin. Thy consort too,
Him as thyself; for both in one they view;
Yet thee the most, as theirs. Fathers and mothers,

As daughter, bless thee; as a sister, brothers;

Bridegrooms as bride, oh! with what thoughts the last!

With what embraces, trembling for the past!

Shuddering to think how madness might have torn
The dearest burden which on earth is borne.
Every least class, and every time of life,

Thrill'd for the gentle prince and the young wife,—
Themselves not childless now. The driest cheek
Of daily sorrow felt its eyes grow weak;
The poor (Oh Madam! you can think of those)
For her forgot the scorners of their woes;
And Madness self, with twice bewilder'd eye,
Star'd at the light fantastic prodigy,

That with no cheek made pale, nor spirit stung,
Lay lurking to destroy two hearts as young.

Great God! to picture what a pass was there!
How but that moment, to the gladsome air
Issuing for health and pleasure from her door,
Home at her back, and homage all before,

0

Loving and just, that takes the poor man's part,
Full of all impulses of good and true,-

To picture them, I say, thus borne, those two,
The few months' wife, and mild and manly spouse,
Bending to those who bend, with pleasant brows,
Through avenues of hearts, and paths of green;
And suddenly, when not a cloud was seen
In heaven above, or human face below,
Thus to be dash'd at with a deadly blow!
To have harsh bullets horribly displace
Their summer air, and see a murderous face,
And feel their gentle foreheads, in despite
Of their brave hearts, bow'd dowwnard in affright,
Dark, as though noon had stumbled into night!
Not long. The bravest well may start to see,
For the first time, the face of Enmity
And earnest Death: but to be brave indeed
Is to fling horror, when he leaps strong-kneed
On the blind neck; and rising, like those two,
One's honest path with nobler will pursue;
To go, as they did, and forestall the fears

Of a good mother, and kiss down her tears!

And then that same day, and the next, and next,

With sweet audacity, and unperplex'd,

Resume the world, and know themselves twice strong For the tried gold and the detested wrong.

Poor wretch, how camst thou, and for what? Misbred

From veins as mad, or a discordant bed?

To give the world a lesson, and a fear,

So loud, that custom's deafest blocks may hear?