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are closing,

That enwrap his broad path in the mantle of night;

While (earth's thoughtless sons are in quiet reposing,

Undismay'd at the wrecks that have number'd his flight.

From yon temple, where fashion's bright tapers are lighted,

Her vot❜ries in crowds deck'd with garlands

appear,

And (as yet their warm hopes by no spectres Assemble to dance round the Grave of the affrighted)

Year.

Oh! I hate the stale cup which the idlers have tasted,

When I think of the ills of life's comfortless day;

How the flowers of my childhood their verdure have wasted,

ibly fixed in their orbits-whose coun- | Hark! the wind whistles rudely-the shadows tenance is cheerless and distortedwhose features are pinched and stiffened-whose limbs are stretched to their unelastic and lifeless form-and the moist and chilling sweat of death sitting upon his brow as a thickened dew: conceive such an individual, I say, with a mind racked in unutterable anguish, bereft of every prospect of future felicity, and a sable cloud, more terrible than midnight darkness, hanging over his moral atmosphere, through which he cannot discover the twilight's gleam to animate his torturing soul, or gild the mournful scene; and I ask, who could attempt to portray his agonizing feelings? No human language can convey an accurate representation of such a dismal picture. Imagination herself, with all her treasures of prolific ingenuity, would recoil from the arduous task. But that beneficent Creator who gave man existence, never intended that he should be left in all the unmitigated fury of such a paroxysm of suffering and despair; and he who causeth the rain to fall upon the evil and the good, hath also endowed the minds of the pious and the profane with the glowing principle which forms the subject of the foregoing observations; and, in contemplation of which, well may we all exclaim, that "While there is life there is Hope."

Your's, respectfully,

T. W M. Newington Butts, Dec. 9, 1822.

POETRY.

THE GRAVE OF THE YEAR

And the friends of my youth have been stolen away:

They think not how fruitless the warmest

endeavour

To recall the kind moments, neglected when

near

When the hours that oblivion has cancell'd for

ever

Are interr'd by her hand in the Grave of the
Year.

Since the last solemn reign of this day of re-
flection,

What throngs have relinquish'd life's perishHow many have shed their last tear of dejecing breath!

tion,

And clos'd their dim eyes in the darkness of death!

How many have sudden their pilgrimage ended,

And now the dark pall bath envelop'd their bier!

How many have gently the valley descended, And made their cold bed with the Grave of the Year!

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Where the sod presses damp on their bosoms of clay.

BE compos'd ev'ry toil, and each turbulent Then talk not of bliss while her smile is exmotion

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But the eye shall with lustre unfading be brighten'd,

When it wakes to true bliss in yon orient sphere,

By sunbeams of splendour immortal enlighten'd, Which no more shall go down on the Grave of the Year. AMERICUS.

TIME.

PROUD victor, oh where art thou hast'ning away?

Sure old age will never come o'er thee! What nations have risen, and sunk to decay, And crumbled to ruin before thee!

Where now are the kingdoms of Greece and of Rome,

That once so triumphantly flourish'd? "Hark!" Destiny cries, "They are laid in the tomb,

And all that they boasted hath perish'd. Each from its proud station by Time has been hurl'd,

Who cares not for splendour or glory, And empires that once claim'd the throne of the world,

Now live in the pages of story.

Behold thro' the vista of years that are gone,
Great Athens, aye proud of her honour;"
And look at her now, all deserted and lone,
While the Mussulman tramples upon her.
And where too is Sparta? invincibly brave!
What trophies has she left behind her?
Go search for her now in the land of the slave,
And tell me if ever you find her.
The glittering eagle that swept o'er the flood,
O'er the land and the mountain victorious,
Was stopt in its progress of conquest and
blood,

And now sleeps inactive,-inglorious."
Then what avails power? its lustre is dim,
Foundationless, faithless, and fickle;
For what is a Pompey, a Cæsar, to him,
Who mows down the world with his sickle?
Philosophers still may declare if they please,
Time's a shadow by whom we're forsaken:
What! shadows o'erturn such dominions as
these?

Oh surely they must be mistaken!

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MARY, my girl, if ever I think on thee,-
At morning, and at noon, and evening-tide,-
And ever pray that God above may be,
While on this earth thou art, thy friend and
guide:

No idle prayer is this;-it springs from love,
As pure as ever warm'd a mortal's breast;
As pure, I'd almost said, as feel the blest,
Cloth'd in their snowy robes of bliss above:-
And oh my girl, let it not pass away
Unheeded by thee, as the summer wind,
Or as the showers upon an April day;
But let it have a claim upon thy mind,
Whenever thoughts arise of future years,
That will in joy be pass'd, or grief and tears.

No. 2.

"THIS is a world of sorrow,"-thou and I Have known and felt that these are words too true:

How many thousands are there droop and die, And bid their lovers, parents, friends, adieu,And who can tell but this may be our lot Before next summer's sun in heav'n appear; Before the world shall see another year,

'Tis more like a stream,-like a torrent, that Thou mayst lie low, and I may be forgot ;

goes

Unstopp'd to Eternity's ocean,

Forgot, but not by thee.-Then let us live
And act as though to-morrow were our last;—

Destroying, uprooting, the world as it flows, Think not of faults or errors that are past,

Resistless and strong in its motion.

The flower of the valley,-the oak of the grove,

The cottagers' meek habitation,-
And populous cities, with temples of Jove,
Must share in the dread desolation.

The place is desert where a nation was seen,
With thousands of souls to defend her,
Since Time like a whirlwind hath swept o'er
the scene,

Destroying her glory and splendour.

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But act upon the rule, "forget, forgive :"-
Thus may I prove a blessing unto thee,
And thou wilt be "earth's greatest good" to

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VIEW, AND SUMMARY, OF MR. OWEN'S PLAN,

FOR THE PERMANENT RELIEF OF THE WORKING CLASSES.

AMONG the various plans that have been proposed for relieving the poor, during the late years of distress, those exhibited by Robert Owen, Esq. of New Lanark, have excited the greatest share of attention. Of this distinguished philanthropist, we gave a portrait and a memoir in the preceding volume of the Imperial Magazine. On the plan which is here presented to the reader, it is proposed to establish a community at Motherwell, near New Lanark, under the immediate inspection of this benevolent gentleman. Of this plan, we shall briefly describe the outline, and state the principal advantages that are expected to result from its adoption.

In the centre of from 600 to 1200 acres of land, it is proposed to erect a large square, capable of accommodating about 1200 persons, men, women,

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and children. To give both children and adults the best education, consisting of the introduction of every circumstance favourable to the formation of good character, and the exclusion of whatever might be productive of a contrary result.

Each person, according to his ability, to labour for the good of the whole, their employment being directed by an economical arrangement, which shall combine their interests-unite their exertions-provide for the beneficial introduction of scientific improvements, and diminish expenditure. The proceeds will be applied to the payment of rent, interest, taxes, and expenses of the establishment to the return of the capital originally invested, and to provide for the probable increase of the establishment.

The system of education has already been proved to be efficacious by the extensive experiment at New Lanark: the thousands of visitors to that spot bear ample testimony to the happiness that reigns there. That the establishment will pay its expenses, will be evident from the following calculations :

The buildings have been accurately designed, working drawings for the builders prepared, and every expense attending their erection has been estimated with great care, at the present cost of materials and labour in the city of Glasgow, being the nearest extensive market for these articles to the proposed establishment, and 10 per cent. on the whole has been added for contingencies.

The cost of these erections has been found to be about

To which add, for furnishing the apartments, &c. of 300 families
Fitting up school-room, and places of worship for Dissenters

Ditto church

Ditto infirmary

Ditto lecture-room

Ditto inn

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£ s. d. 34,260 0 0 3,600 0 0

0 0

300

400 0

200 0

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240 0 0 500 0 0

500 0

£40,000 0

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2,000 0 0 1,500 0 0

750 0 0 6,000 0

500

£10,750 0 0

Now, in the working population of 1200 individuals, there appears, from the most accurate data that can be attained, an average of

248 individuals, male and female, under 10 years of age,

178 ditto

719 ditto

55 ditto

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In the following calculation the labour of the 248 children, under ten years of age, is not taken into account, nor the labour of 32 individuals employed in various domestic purposes and superintendence, nor of 35 who are supposed to be at all times ineffective, either from indisposition or other causes. The annual value of the labour of the community will then be as follows:165 individuals from 10 to 15, at 4s. per week

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By an accurate calculation made in the expenditure of the working classes, at New Lanark, whose population is well known to be sufficiently supplied, it is found that the average expenditure of each family does not exceed 451. per annum, including rent and all expenses. Value of the labour of 300 families, as above 300 families, at 457. per annum

Surplus

19,916 0 13,500 0

0 0

£6,416 0 0

From the preceding calculations it is evident, that the inhabitants of these establishments will be in full possession, even at the commencement of their exertions, of far more substantial advantages than are now acquired by many of the middle classes at an expenditure of several hundreds per annum.

The difference between the condition of the working classes in the manufacturing towns, and in the proposed villages, may be thus contrasted:

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In the proposed Villages.

The poor and working classes will live in dwellings formed into a large square, rendered in every way convenient, and usefully ornamented.

They will be surrounded by gardens -have abundance of space in all directions to keep the air healthy and pleasant; they will have walks and plantations before them, within the square, and well cultivated ground kept in good order around, as far as the eye can reach. In consequence of the principle of mutual co-operation being understood and practised to its full extent, the necessaries and comforts of life are enjoyed by all in abundance.

Under the proposed arrangements, the same trouble will provide for 1000 as it now requires for one family; and all articles will be procured on the best terms.

The best provisions will be cooked in the best manner, under arrangements that will enable five or six individuals easily to prepare provisions for 1000.

The parents will be healthfully and pleasantly occupied, not more than eight hours in the day.

Under the arrangements proposed, no bad time can occur from a change of markets, or from any commercial uncertainties, as the parties will always have a plentiful stock of all things necessary.

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