the Yellow Wall,* from the colour of the small roof of varnished tiles with which the top of it is covered. Various public buildings, seen at the same time, and considered as belonging to the emperor, were covered in the same manner. These roofs, uninterrupted by chimneys and indented in the sides and ridges into gentle curves, with an effect more pleasing than would be produced by long straight lines, were adorned with a variety of figures, either in imitation of real objects, or more commonly as mere works of fancy; the whole shining like gold under a brilliant sun, immediately caught the eye with an appearance of grandeur in that part of the buildings where it was not accustomed to be sought for. Immense magazines of rice were seen near the gate; and, looking from it to the left along the city wall, was perceived an elevated edifice, described as an observatory, erected in the former dynasty, by the emperor Young-lo, to whom the chief embellishments of Pekin are said to be owing."

Again, still quoting from the same authority

"As soon as the persons belonging to the embassy had arrived at the eastern side of the Yellow Wall, they turned along it to the right, and found on its northern side much less bustle than in the former street. Instead of shops, all were private houses, not conspicuous in the front. Before each house was a wall or curtain, to prevent passengers from seeing the court into which the street-door opened. This wall is called the Wall of Respect. A halt was made opposite the treble gates, which are nearly in the centre of this northern side of the palace wall. It appeared to enclose a large quantity of ground: it was not level like all the lands without the wall: some of it was raised into hills of steep ascent; the earth taken to form them left broad and deep hollows, now filled with water. Out of these artificial lakes, of which the margins were diversified and irregular, small islands rose, with a variety of fanciful edifices, interspersed with trees. On the hills of different heights the principal palaces for the emperor were erected."

Here we must bring our account to a close, with a hope that ere long Pekin will be as accessible and as well known as any Asiatic city. China is at all times a country of especial interest, but at the present time this interest is greatly deepened by the crisis through which it appears to be passing. Whether the emperor or his rival be ultimately successful, we trust that the struggle which the country is making will nerve its limbs with increased energy, and prepare it for a happier future. Our earnest prayer is, that right may prevail on whichever side it may be, and that China may soon become a Christian, and therefore a civilized and a prosperous nation.

The Chinese name is "The Imperial Wall."

CHARITY begins at home, is a maxim with which selfishness too often tries to veil its own deformity.

THE DISCOVERY OF THE NEW WORLD.-No. II.

THE intense heat of an Italian summer interrupts all business from two o'clock till six, everybody reposing themselves, or resting in the coolest part of their house. Thus, in the family of which we are writing, one was lying on a wooden bench, another upon a sofa in the saloon; the admiral was asleep in his great arm-chair of blue cloth, with brass nails; Christopher alone slept not.

Seated before a table upon which was placed a map of the world, and below a geographical chart, he kept his eyes alternately fixed upon these objects and upon his uncle, whose prolonged sleep, it was evident enough, created in him great impatience. However, he took great care not to awaken his uncle by the slightest noise, and continued his geographical observations.

A violent twinge of the gout having awakened the admiral, he opened his eyes, and remarked with astonishment Christopher's

"Ah, for the grand question to be sure," said the admiral, extending his bad foot upon a stool. "Well, I am listening.' "Are you wide awake yet?" asked Christopher.

"Don't you see I am?"

"I have something very serious to say, uncle; something that requires a great deal of reflection, so you must not answer me at random."

The admiral looked hard at his nephew, putting on a very serious face; then bursting out laughing he added, "Well, speak out."

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The earth is round, uncle, is it not?"

"That is clear as day, boy; well?"

"And you who are an admiral, and a great many others, have never thought of going round it."

"Can one go round it?" said the admiral, shrugging his shoulders.

"If one can sail twenty miles on the sea, why cannot one sail two or three thousand, or as many as there are?"

"Yes! and lose oneself."

"But nobody has ever tried."

"What, to lose themselves?"

"No, uncle, I mean no one has ever tried to go beyond the usual limits of the sea."

"And what good would they get if they were to do so?"

"They would see if there is not another race of people besides ourselves."

"We may know that now," replied the admiral; "if there had been people there we should have known it by this time, they would have come to see us."

"You suppose, then, that they are more intelligent than we are, that they should attempt the voyage?"

At this unexpected reply the admiral raised his face quickly upon his nephew, who, not perceiving it, continued: "Now, suppose, uncle, that there were men at Cogoreo and men at Pavia: well, if the men of Cogoreo, or those of Pavia, never thought of making the journey from one of these towns to the other, how should they know that they were neighbours?"

"What are you at, boy?" replied the admiral, getting more and more astonished.

"Do you see this map of the world, uncle; look how one side of it is inhabited and the other empty. How can one suppose that God has left this immense piece of the globe deserted? It is quite impossible; God has made everything for use. say anything, dear uncle; am I talking nonsense?"

You don't

"Really," said the admiral, looking quite stupified, “you are making such ridiculous observations; why should there be inhabitants in any other portion of the globe besides our own?”

"But why should there not be, uncle?"

"Why should there not be? why should there not be?" repeated the admiral, getting more and more embarrassed, and trying to hide it by his brusque manner.

"Well! you have not told me, uncle, why there should not be people on the other side of the globe," continued Christopher. "Because there are none."

"And how do you know that, since nobody has been to see?" The admiral opened his mouth to speak; two or three times he began, and at last he said in a rough tone of voice, “Will you go and see?"

“That is just what I shall do, uncle.”

"You are a fool!" said the admiral; "why do you not go and see if there are men in the moon?"

"Because I do not think there is any road of communication,” replied the child, with the serious manner of a person of much greater years.

"You are a fool!" again repeated the admiral.

"Have you ever read Ptolemy, uncle?”

"Look at my hands, burnt with the sun; my tanned complexion, my hair, white long before its time; the wounds with which my body is covered; think of the leg that I left in the Straits of Gibraltar, and then ask yourself whether a man like me has had time to thumb books."

"If you had read Ptolemy," replied Christopher, not the least disconcerted

"First tell me who is Ptolemy?" interrupted the admiral. "Is he an admiral, a general, or even a midshipman?"

"It is an old book, uncle, that I read in Father Pablo's booth at Pavia; it was from that book that I first got my geographical knowledge, and he teaches some beautiful things I can assure you. He first gave me the idea of becoming a sailor."

"And who put into your head these worlds that do not exist?" "Worlds that are not known, you mean, uncle, which is a very different thing from not existing."

"Much the same, much the same!" said the admiral, laughing. "But as you have learnt so much, Christopher, perhaps you have heard of a certain man called Marco Polo, who travelled through the East in search of unknown countries, and found nothing, but was nearly lost himself.”

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Well, then, I shall go to the West; but here comes my father; you know I have said all this to you in confidence, uncle.” "I am sorry for it, boy, for I should have amused your family with an account of your adventurous projects."

"I have just seen the master of a large barque," said Signor Dominick, who entered that moment, addressing his son. "He consents to take you on board, Christopher; you are to be ready by to-morrow morning, as he is going to Marseilles directly.”

"You can beg him to go on a little further, can't you, Christopher? to those unknown countries that you know of," said the admiral, winking his eye maliciously.

Christopher blushed deeply, but said nothing; the poor child felt himself lowered by seeing thus turned into ridicule ideas that, to his young and deep imagination, seemed so beautiful and almost religious.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS,

The following morning found Christopher at the place appointed by the captain of the barque in which he was going to sail. He embarked soon after his arrival: the art of navigation was but little known in those days, but Christopher nevertheless found means during the many voyages he took to acquire some knowledge of it.

Always intent upon his grand idea of discovering a new world, Christopher Columbus passed nearly forty years of his life in visiting the known parts of the world; strengthening himself every day more and more in the probability of his project being realized, he went to Lisbon, where were assembled the men of all nations who were most skilled in geography and navigation; for the Portuguese were then the most advanced in the knowledge of this latter science. Having established himself at Lisbon, with his brother Bartholomew, he married the daughter of a Portuguese captain. Talking continually of the one idea that was fixed in his mind, Peter Corea, a relation of his wife, told