ered in many a young artist (both engravers and painters) to the notice of the world who might else have gone on struggling in obscurity. They have also been the means of rewarding the ta lents of our most eminent engravers in a way which no other pub lications could have done.-The Annuals for 1841, are, if we may believe the London critics, in no ways inferior to those of last year, either in an artistical or literary point of view, and that is, saying not a little for them.

In standard literature there are some novelties announced, amongst which we find a new edition of Swift's works with a Life by Roscoe; a new edition of Pilkington's Dictionary of Painters, under the auspices of Allen Cunningham; a fresh issue of the Penny Magazine on a more convenient scale and on better paper. Captains Marryatt and Basil Hall have each produced a work of a miscellaneous nature, the former one entitled Olla Podrida," the latter "Patchwork," they appear not to have created any great sensation. Some account of My Cousin Nicholas, by Ingoldsly; Compton Audley, by Lord William Lennox; Greville, or a Season at Paris, by Mrs. Gore; The Monied Man, or the Lesson of a Life, by Horace Smith; Narrative of a three month's marcḥ in India. The Princess Royal, a Satire. Satan in Love, a Poem and a host of others which, as that great Orator George Robins would say, are too numerous for insertion; all these have issued from the Press within a few weeks: Amongst them is a small volume of "Poems," by Lady Flora Hastings, which, however interesting and mexceptionable in themselves (aud we are told that they are marked by a tone of fervent, yet cheerful piety,") had better, we think, never have been published under all the circumstance of her case.

Among the many literary novelties at, home, we must notice a Journal devoted to Indian affairs, bearing the title of the " British Indian Advocate," the first number of which made its appearance with the new year. We shall be glad to receive a copy of it. The only Theatrical novelty of importance is Bulwer's Play of "Money" which, it would seem, is drawing plenty of that commodity to the treasury of the Haymarket. The London journals speak jít very high terms of the Pantomimes produced this year, some

which appear to have been got up with great splendour and with more than usual mechanical skill in the tricks.-We regret having to record another failure attending the efforts of the supporters of - our National Opera. After a short and unsatisfactory concern the company of the Princes' Theatre have terminated their performances.

"Master Humphrey's Clock" continues to be wound up every week in the Strand, with great punctuality, and has just struck "sixty." The opinion which we formed of this work, upon the perusal of the first few chapters, has certainly been borne out by the succeeding portion of it. Boz is evidently "making a book" rather than writing a work :-laboring for himself more than the public; and the artist, when he engraved the ornamental wrapper to the work, seems to have had some prophetic warnings, for he has made the hands of the clock point towards "Number One." We do not question the right of Boz to make as much as he can by bis pen, but as readers we grumble at having a work of genius (for such it is after all,) diluted with wearying puerilities to about six times its proper bulk. We dislike the style, the incidents, and with some exceptions, the character of "Master Humphrey's Clock :" its harsh, rusty clickings sound in unnatural contrast with the merry chimes of the Pickwick and Nickleby hours.

In the Eastern world literature is not altogether neglected, one of the best signs of which is the publication of numerous journals and magazines for the special instruction of the natives of India, some of them, too, conducted by Asiaties. Half a dozen such have been started within as many months; and in our own little island we have seen three rising and prospering. A fourth is to appear this month. But where is the "Ceylon Review ?" The "Ides of March" are passed: the deed remains undone. Are we to have no Big Brother? Is Lanka to possess no Quarterly clad in Buff or Blue ? We recollect seeing a fair proportion of names on the subscription list, as many we opine, as we started with. Doubtless its obstacles are of a literary nature. We know from experience the difliculty of collecting original matter in a small society.

If we have not the "Review" however, we have the "Ceylon Almanac," a very useful publication which has appeared with its 'accustomed contents and regularity. While admitting its utility, we

would also suggest there are several things wanting in it. A Chronological Table,-a sort of "Tablet of Memory" of the differ ent events connected with our Island-the Cinghalese weights and measures converted into British,-and an account of the land disposed of by Government, are among the information we in vain look for-in the Almanac.

"

The Geography and Statistics of Asia by 'Major Jervis" will fill up a great void in the history of our Eastern possessions. From the Prospectus it promises to be a most valuabie acquisition to Colonial literature. We fully concur with the Projector in the great want of sound statistical information relative to our Colonies: the little that has been written about them is either by casual ob servers or by parties at a distance, who are unable to judge of the real character of their information. If the absence of statistical data be felt any where, it surely must in Ceylon, of which perhaps less is known than of any of the British possessions. We believé however, that we may say a work upon this Island, of a some what similar nature to the above, is aheady under consideration.

TO A LADY ON THE BIRTH OF HER FIRST BORN.

It is a glad and joyous time, when first the snowy brow
Is flushed as gentle hips respond, the deep impassioned vow,
When sparkling eyes are beaming forth, the glances soft and sweet
And guileless hearts and youthful lips, in thrilling union meet.

It is a glad and joyous time when ripen'd love is felt
And deep and burning whisperings in broken murmurs melt,
When all of life and all of hope on one great cast is thrown
And years of bright unshaded bliss, seem centred in a tone.

It is a glad and joyous time, when at the Altar side
The lover breathes the holy vows, and claims the blushing bride,
When fancy soars on lightsone wing and paints the future bright
As glowing Summer's meadows fair, instinct with life and light.

But purer joy than pen may trace, or words alone may speak
The mother feels when first her lip, is on her Infant's cheek,
When first she marks the playful smiles that dwell in dimples there
And offers up with throbbing heart, a mother's fervent prayer.

Oh! sweet must be a mother's task, to watch each opening grace
The almost imperceptible, yet certain growth to uace;

When all is peace and innocence, and moments lightly roll
And gems
bedeck the infant mind, the sunlight of the soul.

Let anguish rend the aching heart, let passion scorch the brain
And long and lingering years drag out, their weary length of pain;
Though love be frail and friendship false, and pleasure change to gall
A mother's deep undying love, still triumphs over all,

Be thine the blest and happy lot, thy gentle child to rear,
And see thy love still more repaid, in each succeeding year,
And as thou gazest back upon, life's bright and sunny plain
Ne'e feel the grating memory of one unbanished pain.

A TRIP TO MATURA.

Name-Antiquities-Customs

and

X.

manners-Religion-Animals,

birds, fish, insects, serpents--Face of the Country, soil, agriculture —Commerce, Coral stones, &c.—Climate, Monsoons.

There are but few things worthy the observation of the traveller from the Town of Colombo up to the extensive Cinnamon gardens of Morottoo, Leaving Galle-face, and passing through Colpetty, Wellawatte, Mount Lavinia, Pantura, Caltura, Bentotie and Galle, amidst the Cocoa groves and bread-fruit trees which surround every village, hamlet and dwelling-house, we come to Matura, a beautiful and healthy, but a scantily peopled district. At the distance of four miles from Matura is Dondera Head, or, as it is generally called, Dehundere.

1. Dondera Head, the Southern Cape of Ceylon, like many other tlaces in this Island, is known by several names. The English call p Dondera Head or Cape Dondera. Dewandere or Dehundere (the Island's end) is the name by which this place is known amongst the natives. In the Nampotte which is the only spelling book extant among the Singhalese, it is called Dewi-nuwere (the Godly city) either from the circumstance of its having once been the at of Kaluna Dalussa's government; a prince to all intents and purposes (who reigned about A. D. 648) but one to whom divine perfections are attributed by the natives, or from the existence of a beautiful temple dedicated to Derol God.

2. The most remarkable of the antiquities still extant at Dondra Head, is a beautiful temple of Buddha. The next in importance are a few slabs of marble, which have on them inscriptions in characters which are now almost unknown. At the distance of a few yards from the Buddhist temple, are the remains of a very large building. Upwards of 300 pillars and a door, neatly inade of marble,

stand on the spot. That is a miracle of our God," said one of the natives, pointing out to the door above mentioned. I asked him how he could call it a miracle? To which he replied: "the tree mendous slab of marble which is laid over the two door-posts, is not in any way fixed to them, and as long as we believe on our God it will not come down!!" Why, I don't beleive on your God, aud will it therefore come upon my head?" asked I, "weze I to cross its thresh-hold?" My friend uttered not a single word in reply. I thence went and examined the door-posts, and the slab which stood upon them. They were exquisitely well made. "Captain Forbes" demonstrated that the Singhalese a few centuries ago had used the wedge and the chisel for splitting and shaping those huge blocks of marbles, after the manner introduced into Britain in the nineteenth century.” This demonstration' will fully be borne out by a careful observation of the numerous monuments still visible on the southwest of Ceylon, not to mention south-east. * Besides the pillars and the door mentioned above, there is a small temple (dedicated to Devol God), made wholly of marble. It is very neatly made. It is shaded with trees, the floor is covered with weeds; and at present it is the abode of serpents. The temple of Buddha has lately been repaired at the expense of the Buddhists. It is a beautiful bat dark building. A lamp is constantly burning in this temple. The image of Buddka, which is 27 feet in length, is made in a sleeping posture. The only commodious and substantial building of the natives, is a Bungalow of the Dondra Modliar.

3, The manners of the intelligent portion of the community are gentle and mild; but those of the less informed are more easily conceived than expressed; for there is a striking similarity between all semi-barbarous nations. Que of the principal features in the character of the natives is their "extreme apathy." The people who live about the country are still barbarous, Most of them are wretchedly poor, astonishingly ignorant, and grossly superstitious. They are destitute of moral feeling-are habitual drunkards and gamblers; and notorious robbers. Many of them are neither Buddhists nor Christians; and are quite indifferent about their Sal-. vation. They would often boldly say-"What care we of Hell or Heaven? If we are to go to Hell, we will; for Hell too must have some one in it," Some of the people about the interioare so stupid, that often in a court of justice upon being asked the day on which a certain occurrence took place, they have replied "we don't know." It an ignorant native be asked what was the distance from such an object to such a place?' he would say

statue

་

In the District of Welligamme about 20 miles south of Galle, is a of an ancient King-excavated from the side of a buge mass of warble. It is about 10 feet high, and looks very beautiful. It is called Kutteraje-galle (the statue of the leprous King,) very probably from the cir cumstance of its having some eruptions on its feet. The natives who take a journey through Welliganme, are 80 foolish as now-and-then to offer money, rice, &c., to this statue.