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1852.] THE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE. * * We copy the following interesting account of the New Crystal Palace, Irotn the Spirit of the Times: Although the works of this new ex periment lire being carried on with extra ordinary rapidity, there are great doubts in some quarters, owing to the immensi ty of the undertaking, whether it can be got ready by the Ist of May next. The permanent character of the building, its lofty proportions, the inequalities of the ground on which it stands, the exposure of so elevated a sight, and the difficulty of accommodating a vast number of work men in such a spot —all present obsta cles of a serious kind. The economy of time also in undertakings of this sort has its limits, for things done in a hurry en tail extra cost for speed, and are gener ally found defective. Taking all this into consideration, and remembering the great strain by which the building in Hyde Park was got ready, it seems un wise in the company to bind themselves to the Ist of May as their opening day. They have no body of volunteers behind their backs, like the 10,000 exhibitors be hind the royal commission, to furnish the vast interior as soon as it is covered in. They must do the whole, or nearly the whole, work of filling up themselves; and not only have they this task within, but outside also they have more than 100 acres of land to lay out in the most elaborate stvle of gardening. In this garden there will be a system of foun tains nearly five times as extensive as those of Versailles on grand days. There will be every kind of ornamental device known in works of this sort, and all car ried out on the most splendid scale. While the grounds become more elabo rately dressed as they approach the build ing, the fountains become more numerous, varied, and wonderful as they recede from it. Supplied from great reservoirs placed on the summits of huge towers, 256 feet high, at either end of the build ing, the waters will first be seen as cas cades tumbling through the arches of the first terrace on the right and left of the grand central archway. As they descend, instead of passing beneath, they will ap pear to bound over the archways of the lowest terrace, so that visitors may walk under them as at Niagara. On each side of the principal approach they will hurry along in roaring cataracts or rapids, til ling innumerable tatta-shaped fountains in their way, and at last terminating far down in the park in two large basins, 380 feet broad, in the centre of which will be formed pyramidal fountains of about 180 jets each, the largest throw ing water to the height of 230 feet —dan- cing fountains around these, four in num ber, rising 130 feet, and outside of them, again, 16 others, going 90 feet high. SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE. There is nothing of the kind in the world at all approaching in magnificence the display of water-works contemplated by the plans at this point. GARRICK AND THE DEATH OF WOLFE. Mr. West’s justly admired picture, the Death of General Wolfe, at once raised the painter to a summit of reputation un attained before, and, by affording an am ple subject for the talents of Woollet, laid that foundation of an English school of engraving, which brought the art to its present perfection in that country. When this affecting picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy, Mr Garrick went one morning early, that he might review the exhibition uninterrupted by the crowd, which constantly attended at the fashion able hours. A considerable, party was in the room, drawn there, at that hour, by the same motive. Os this number was a young lady, whose personal beau ty appeared not to be her only accom plishment. The remarks she made on many of the pictures showed a delicate taste, and considerable knowledge of the arts. They were attended to with [ pleasure by her friends; and Mr. Gar- I rick, then unknown to most of the com pany, paid some handsome compliments to her judgement. The Death of Wolfe drew the highest encomiums from every spectator. The young lady was particu lar in her commendation, but thought the expression not absolutely perfect; there was a something wanting in the Gene ral’s countenance, which she could not easily describe ; there was in that coun tenance, a languor too happily portrayed. The company was dissatisfied with this i opinion, and her friends appeared con cerned on her account. Garrick, who ; had listened, attentively, and viewed the picture with acute penetration, begged leave to offer something in support of the lady’s opinion, which he hoped to convince the company was not alto gether erroneous. The ladv, he ob served, had remarked that there was something wanting in the General’s coun tenance ; of that something he would en deavour to supply an idea. He immedi ately placed himself in the attitude so judiciously chosen by the painter, sup ported by two gentlemen of the compa ny ; and displayed, in his own face, the ! exact countenance depicted by the artist. He then assumed a most animated ex pression of that transient rapture which history records the dying hero to have felt at the joyful words “They run !” “Who run 1” “The French !” He main tained the representation a sufficient length of time for every one present to compare, and feel, the astonishing effect of his inimitable performance. A burst of applause followed, which, he politely declared, was justly due to the discern ment of the lady, who had suggested, perhaps, the only improvement of which that masterly work was susceptible. \Arvines Cyclopaedia of Anecdotes. Lesson lor Sunday. December 12. THE .xUTHOR OF TuE NEW BIRTH. “Which were born of God.”—John i- 13. How mysterious and inexplicable to carnal reason are many of the doctrines of Christianity ! Such is that of the new i birth ; and the language of the natural man concerning it, is “How can these ( things be?” The Scriptures make known to us the fact, though they do not explain ! to us the precise mode of the Spirit’s ope i rations in regeneration. John iii. 8. Observe. The Author of tiie new birth. The melancholy description given us of the j wickedness and depravity of man in his natural state, plainly demonstrate to us ! that be cannot effect this change himself; | it is by the will of God, as the moving | cause; and the word of life, as the in ! strumental means; therefore, it is said, “Os his own will begat he us with the I word of truth.” Every thing in the new | birth is his workmanship. He gives the new heart, opens the eyes in the commu nication of light, and the ears to receive instruction ; he gives anew name and a | new nature; he puts his fear in our ! hearts; We love him, because he first loved usfaith is his gift; Christ is ; exalted to give repentance and the remis j siou of sins; he imparts joy, and the joy of the Lord is their strength; he taught them the language they speak, and first I enabled them to cry, though in broken accents, “Abba, Father;” he works in 1 them to will and to do, and without him they can do nothing. Every one, but an | atheistical sceptic, will grant that in the animal world the principles of life and motion is from God; and in the rational creation, our souls, with their powers and faculties, are derived from the same Di vine Being. Now. if every thing that lives received its life from God, the foun tain of life, how unreasonable would it be to suppose that the Christian could re ceive his spiritual existence from any other source. The same power and wisdom that were necessary in forming man in the Divine likeness, are requisite in re impressing the image of God on his soul. How can we call in question the Uivine agency employed in this work, when stones are raised up as children to Abra | ham, lions are changed into lambs, and ! the dead are raised to life? The finger ; of God is here; this is the Lord’s doing, , and it “is marvellous in our eyes.” “I am thy father’s spirit,” as the bot tle said to the boy when he found it hid in the woodpile, and wondered what it was. 275