SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN'S PLAN

FOR REBUILDING LONDON. London, the vast metropolis of the British empire, has long since attained that height of glory and magnificence which places it immeasurably above all other cities in the world. Its superiority is not derived alone from its extent, or the amount of its population; it is equally pre-eminent for the beauty of its edifices, the convenience of its spacious streets, and the comfort of its houses; its markets are supplied with abundance of the best provisions in the world. It is the commercial emporium of the world, and the strongest bulwark of English liberty. It is ruled by magistrates, who, as a body, are more liberal, enlightened, and upright, than those of any foreign city. Its supply of gas, water, coals, and police, may fearlessly challenge the world; and its still-increasing grandeur suggests to the mind the prediction of the future destiny, surpassing even the fabulous creations of the poet!

The extent and importance of this city have been gradually increasing during more than a thousand years; but the modern erections and improvements commenced after the great fire in 1606, which reduced the city to a heap of ashes.

That awful calamity destroyed the buildings which covered 436 acres of ground, containing 600 streets, 13,200 dwelling houses, 89 churches, the city gates, Guildhall, many public structures, hospitals, schools, &c. After the fire, when the scene of devastation could be surveyed without danger, the eye of genius saw, by anticipation, a glorious city arise from the smoking ruins. A man appeared at the time destined by Providence as the instrument for converting the calamity into a blessing, and rebuilding the city in a style which should insure the future comfort and health of its inhabitants, and at the same time make it the most magnificent city in the world. This man was Sir Christopher Wren, and it is greatly to be regretted that his noble plan for rebuilding the city was not carried into execution. A glance at the ground plan (see front page) will show that many of the recent alterations about London Bridge, and those in contemplation at the Exchange, Farringdon Street, and many other places, are in accordance with the plan of Sir Christopher Wren, which he laid before King Charles the Second. It met the approval of that monarch, but the petty cavils and obstinacy of the citizens prevented its being carried into execution.

We extract the following description of

Sir Christopher Wren's plan from Allen's "History and Antiquities of London."

"From that part of Fleet Street which escaped the fire, a straight street of 90 feet wide was to extend, and, passing by the south side of Ludgate, was to end gracefully in a piazza on Tower Hill.

In the middle of Fleet Street was to be a circular area surrounded with a piazza, the centre of eight ways, where, at one station, were to meet the following streets :—The first, straight forward, quite through the city; the second, obliquely, towards the right hand, to the beginning of the quay that was to run from Bridewell Dock to the Tower; the third, obliquely on the left, to Smithfield; the fourth, straight forward on the right, to the Thames; the fifth, straight on the left, to Hatton Garden and Clerkenwell; the sixth, straight backwards to Temple Bar; the seventh, obliquely on the right, to the walks of the Temple; the eighth, obliquely on the left, to Cursitor's Alley.

On passing down Fleet Street, and Ludgate Hill, Ludgate prison was to stand on the left side of the street, where a triumphal arch was to be formed, instead of the gate, in honour of King Charles IL, the founder of the new city; and the Cathedral of St. Paul was to be situated where it now stands, surrounded by a triangular piazza.

Leaving St. Paul's on the left, a straight street was to extend directly to the Tower, adorned all the way, at proper distances, with parish churches; and leaving that edifice to the right, the other great branches were to lead to the Royal Exchange, which was to be seated in the middle of a piazza, between two great streets, the one from Ludgate, leading to the south front, and another from Holborn, through Newgate, and thence straight to the north front.

This excellent scheme was demonstrated to be practicable, without the least infringement on any person's property; for by leaving out the church-yards, &c, which were to be removed at a distance from the town, there would have been sufficient room both for the augmentation of the streets, the disposition of the churches, halls, and all public buildings, and to have given every proprietor full satisfaction; for though few of them would have been seated exactly upon the very same ground they possessed before the fire, yet none would have been thrown at any considerable distance from it; but the obstinacy of great part of the citizens, in refusing to recede from the right of rebuilding their houses on the old fours datinns, was an insurmountable obstacle to the execution of this noble scheme, which would certainly have rendered the city of London one of the most magnificent in the universe."

Reference to the Plan (B).

The lightest part of the plan shows the extent of the fire; the black places show the intended site of the principal public buildings:—

1. Temple Bar, 12, 13, 14. Piaizas

2, 3, 4. Law Courts. 15, 16. Bishopsgate.

5. Fleet Bridge. 17. Mooregate.

6. Ludgate. 18. Cripplegate.

7. Markets. M. Charter House.

8. Newgate. 27. Clerkenwell.

9. Holborn Bridge. 31. Moorfields. 10. Hatton Street, 32. Smithfield.

ON LIFE ASSURANCE. We approach this subject deeply impressed with its vast importance, and the high responsibility incurred by every public writer who possesses the power of exercising any degree of influence upon public opinion; and we are fully sensible of the number and magnitude of the difficulties to be overcome, and the problems to be solved, before it is possible to arrive at that enlightened circumspection and accurate knowledge of facts, necessary in the investigation of so complicated a question :—a question which not only involves the happiness or misery of thousands of families, but, in its ultimate consequences, seems destined materially to affect the future condition of every class of society. We therefore admonish the reader to proceed with the utmost caution in his enquiries, and read with prudent and salutary suspicion, not only the alluring advertisements of interested companies, but even the most disinterested and learned works which treat upon this profound and vital question.

As a theory, the philanthropist, the moral philosopher, and the political economist, and indeed every friend to the well-being of society, must acknowledge the excellence of Life Assurance Institu

tions. All those who possess only a life interest in their incomes, may, by a small annual sacrifice, secure an inheritance, and the best of all possible protection for those who are dear to them, when their own fragile existence shall have vanished from the world. This class includes kings', clerks, clergymen, officers, doctors, lawyers, and every description of artificers and tradesmen; — even the egotist (that unhappy being, who seeks only his own enjoyment, and therefore finds none) may purchase, and in some measure deserve the gratitude and affection of those with whom he is compelled or inclined to dwell, by affecting a small pittance of his income to the insurance of his life in their favour.

( To be continued.)

SUPPOSED EARTHQUAKE NEAR

LYME. On Christmas Eve, about six o'clock, the residents in the houses and cottages along the coast, between Lyme and Seaton, were alarmed by a convulsion of the earth, attended by fearful sounds: this was succeeded by reiterations of the phenomena, and it was soon ascertained that a course of mischief was in serious operation. On arriving at a part of the coast called Dow. lands, a quarter of a mile from the sea, it was found that a large portion of land, on which there were several cottages, orchards, and a coppice, had been separated from their sites, leaving huge chasms in a lateral direction along the coast between Sidmouth and Seaton, to the extent of upwards of four miles. The convulsions of the earth continued, at various intervals, from the night of Tuesday, the 24th December, to Friday evening, the 27th, having, within that interval, occasioned the prostration and subsidence of buildings of various descriptions, and the displacement of large tracts of soil, besides a loss of property to a considerable extent; among the sufferers by which is Mrs. Inman, of Bishop's Hull, whose loss is estimated at upwards of 2,000/. Mr. Hallett, of Axmouth, and Mrs. Dare, also suffered heavily by the event. A huge rock, fifty feet high, appears in the sea off Culverhole, nearly a quarter of a mile from the spot where the principal scene of mischief presents itself. The soundings were taken around the newly-formed rock on Saturday. No lives were lost by the event, although several of the occupants of cot

* William IV. insured his life in favour of certain branches of his family.

tagee, who had left home to spend their Christinas Kve, found, to their great astoninhment on their return, no other vestiges of their dwellings but those presentad hy the roofs and chimneys discernible above the chasms in which their habitations were engulphed. The new road from Charmouth to Lyme is utterly destroyed. The visitation, beside the destruction of property, has occasioned great alarm and anxiety among the owners of buildings and estates in the vicinity. Multitudes of persons, from all parts, have been for several days past rushing into Lyme, Seatori, and Charmouth, eager to ascertain the nature and extent of the catastrophe. The total loss of property is es. timated at 6,00:)/. The cliffs on the coast do not appoar to have suffered any disruption, all the mischief being inland.— Taunton Courier.

ON THE CIRCULATION OF THE

BLOOD. [the following interesting and instructive Lectures were delivered before the pupils at Miss Turk's school, Walworth, Nov. 1838, by Mr. J. S. Dalton. They have not been published before, and we feel obliged to the author for selecting this work as the medium of their first appearance.]

Having been requested to deliver before you a short course of lectures on the "Principles of Physiology," I propose, if you please, this evening to commence, by bringing under consideration the principal phenomena connected with the circulation of the blood. Physiology is a subject which so seldom engages the attention of ladies, more particularly as a branch of necessary education, that I feel it will be advisable for me to preface the lecture with a few observations, showing how foolish and injurious the prejudice has been, which would prevent you becoming acquainted with those natural laws, on which depend the preservation of health, and the enjoyment of that happiness, which cannot be secured without it. I trust I shall be able to do this in a manner which will prove to you, that there is nothing either uupleasing or offensive in this kind of knowledge when properly brought before you, but that, on the contrary, it abounds with instances of the most beautiful applications of science, and of mechanical contrivances, which cannot be contemplated without advantage and pleasure. I am aware that many persons consider it is quite unnecessary that ladies should acquire this kind of information,

and it is so indelicate that it should be entirely excluded from their education; but the importance of it, more particularly to ladies, I will prove to you by a short extract from the work of a celebrated physician, " The Principles of Physiology, applied to the Preservation of Health, by Dr. Andrew Combe;" and I will leave you to judge for yourselves, after the conclusion of the lecture, whether there is anything in the slightest degree indelicate, or, indeed, calculated to offend the most fastidious delicacy, in the language or the diagrams which I shall use to explain the " Circulation of the Wood," the principal subject for our consideration this evening.

With regard to the importance of physiological knowledge, or a knowledge of the laws on which our health depends, Dr. Combe observes, "It has been objected, that to teach any one how to take care of his own health, is sure to do harm, by making him constantly think of this and the other precaution, to the utter sacrifice of every noble and generous feeling, and to the certain production of hypochondriacal peevishness and discontent. The result, however, is exactly the reverse; and it would be a singular anomaly in the constitution of the moral world were it otherwise. He who is instructed in, and familiar with, grammar and orthography, writes and spells so easily and accurately, as scarcely to be conscious of attending to the rules by which he is guided; while he, on the contrary, who is not instructed in either, and knows not how to arrange his sentences, toils at the task, and sighs at every line. The same principle holds in regard to health. He who is acquainted with the general constitution of the human body, and with the laws which regulate its action, sees at once his true position when exposed to the causes of disease, decides what ought to be done, and thereafter feels himself at liberty to devote his undivided attention to the calls of higher duties. Hut it is far otherwise with the person who is destitute of this information, uncertain of the nature and extent of the danger, he knows not to which hand to turn, and either lives in the fear of mortal disease, or, in his ignorance, resorts to irrational and hurtful precautions, to the certain neglect of those which he ought to use. It is ignorance, therefore, and not knowledge, which renders an individual full of fancies and apprehensions, and robs him of his usefulness. It would be a stigma on the Creator's wisdom, if true knowledge weakened the understanding, and led to injurions results. And accordingly, the genuine hypochondriac, whose blind credulity leads him to the implicit adoption of every monstrous specific, is not the person who has gained wholesome knowledge by patient study in the field of nature; but he, and he alone, who has derived his notions of the human constitution, and of the laws of nature, from the dark recesses of his own crude imagination. Those who have had the most extensive opportunities of forming an opinion on this subject from experience, bear unequivocal testimony to the advantages which knowledge confers in saving health and life, time and anxiety. Thus Dr. Ileddoes, in alluding to the delicate constitutions of females of the higher ranks in this country, remarks, that he cannot "conceive how they can be rendered more hardy, or less nervous, if that term is preferred, ttheneise than by being seasonably taught the principles of self^manazemenl," and adds, that he specifies the principles, "because little good can be expected, unless we proceed, as in other instances, where we exhibited to sense that connexion between cause and effect, which constitutes the order of nature.

It is my intention on the present occasion, and in the future lectures I shall have the pleasure of delivering here, toact on the excellent advice of Dr. Beddoes, and, by explaining "the principles of physiology, enable you to understand the more important operations of the animal economy, and, I trust, excite such a desire of knowing more of the subject, as will induce you to refer to some of the many excellent treatises that have been published on this subject, principally for the instruction of ladies, and which I shall subsequently allude to more particularly.

"The circulation of the blood," is the term used to explain that wonderful action which is constantly going on within us, by which the blood is propelled from the heart over the whole body, and returned again to the point from which it started, after performing the many important offices required of it in its passage. Defore describing how the blood circulates, it will be well, perhaps, for me to describe briefly a few of the important offices it performs during its circulation, both because they will best illustrate the importance of a knowledge of the subject, and also because they will inform you how surpassingly wonderful are many of the processes constantly going on in our systems, of which most persons are completely ignorant.

The first use of the circulation is to sup

ply the vital fluid to the different organs of the body, so that the latter may be adequately nourished,—that the loss of substance which is continually occurring may be renewed—and that the various structures may receive a sufficient supply of nourishment to enable them to increase in size as they may be required, and to remain in it state of health.

It is a well-ascertained fact, though it may not perhaps be popularly known, that our bodies are not the same any two moments together. We are continually changing, and our bodies of today probably do not contain a single particle of the substance of which they were composed some six or seven years ago. In fact, as far as our bodies are concerned, we are entirely different individuals; and as the change is continually taking place, we are not really the same persons to-day that we were yesterday, or even that we were when I commenced this lecture. When Hamlet exclaimed,

"Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,"

he was not aware that the process was really taking place, though not quite so rapidly as he desired. Yet such was the fact, and the rapidity of the action, considering that we are quite insensible of it, is indeed surprising. The loss of the body in substance is principally by perspiratiott; not that kind of perspiration alone which has been so emphatically characterized in Holy Writ, as "the sweat of the brow" (or as a polite Frenchman termed it, " the perspiration of the eyebrows"); this is called sensible perspiration. But there is another kind, by which the body sustains a still greater loss of substance—namely, insensible perspiration, which is so called because we do not so palbably perceive it as we do the former. You will probably be surprised to learn, that of every eight pounds of substance lost by the body, five are lost by this means; and that in the course of twenty-four hours every person, on an average, loses from three to six pounds from this cause. The manner in which this was proved, I shall take the liberty of reading to you from a paper of mine, published in one of the periodicals some time since on this subject. Insensible perspiration, though not directly visible to the sight, may easily be rendered apparent by placing our hands upon a cool metal surface, or upon a looking-glass ; we shall then perceive a slight moisture which has proceeded from them. This is the insensible perspiration ; and when it is recollected that it is constantly being given