J

way with safety, we therefore took fresh resolution, and on we went to a corner, where was placed an old, slippery, rotten ladder, which we ventured to descend. At the bottom we perceived ourselves at the entrance of another passage, which was rather dismal, but not wholly without beauty. A wide, gradual descent led us into a noble vault, with a bottom of fine, green, glossy marble, over which we were obliged to slide on our seats, and with difficulty could keep ourselves from going too fast, and tumbling over one another. The walls and arch of the roof is as smooth in most places as if chiseled by a skilful workman, and are formed of a glistening red and white granite, supported in several places. with columns of a deep, blood-coloured, shining porphyry. Here, to our terror, we lost sight of the two guides that went before us, and at the end of the passage found ourselves at the brink of another precipice, the bottom of which we reached by the help of a ladder, not much better than the former.

Had not the dread of falling taken up my attention, I should have admired many of the natural ornaments of this obscure cavity. The rock to which the ladder was fixed was one mass of red marble, covered with white branches of rock crystal, and might be compared, from the hue of the rock behind, to an immense sheet of amethysts. From the foot of this ladder we were compelled to slide, face downwards, through another shallow vault of polished green and white marble, for about twenty feet, and we then rejoined our guides, who prudently gave us some refreshment, to enable us to face

the dangers we had yet to encounter.

After this we

advanced through a narrow, slanting passage of rough, coarse stone, so much resembling snakes curled round, that nothing was wanting but a hissing sound to make us fancy that thousands of those noisome reptiles surrounded us. There was still another terrible precipice to pass; but as we heard that it was the last, we made no hesitation of descending the ladder. After this, we proceeded upon even ground for about forty yards, when we were again entreated by our guides to fasten the ropes about our waists; not for the purpose of suspending us over a height, but as a means of security against the lakes and deep waters that are numerous in this part of the cavern. At length we reached the last passage. The dismal gloom that prevailed here, might furnish images for a poetical description of Tartarus. The sides and roof were formed of black stone, and the way so rugged, that we were often obliged to slide upon our backs. The angles of the rocks cut our clothes, and bruised our flesh in a miserable manner. Though

I believed myself so near the object of my curiosity, I wished sincerely that I had never been allured, by the accounts of travellers, to venture into such a horrible place, when suddenly we lost sight of four out of our six guides. The want of their torches increased the melancholy gloom; and the supposition that they had fallen into some of the black pools of water that abound here, added to the apprehension for our own safety, as well as concern for their fate. The two remaining guides assured us that their companions were safe, and

To

that we should soon be rewarded for all we had suffered, if we would but advance. Our passage was now become very narrow, and we were obliged to crawl on all fours over rugged rocks, when, hearing a little hissing noise, in an instant we were left in utter darkness. our inexpressible terror, the guides told us that they had accidentally dropped their torches into one of the pools; but that there was no danger in crawling forward, as we should soon overtake their fellows I gave myself up for lost, and expected that I must perish in this dreadful cavern. Whilst I thus yielded to despair, one of the guides came to me, blindfolded me with his hand, and dragged me a few paces forward. I imagined his design was to rob and murder me; however, in the midst of my panic, he lifted me over a huge stone, and set me on my feet, withdrawing his hand from my eyes at the same time. What words can express my transport and astonishment: instead of darkness and despair, all was splendour and magnificence. The six guides welcomed me into the Grotto of Antiparos. Those whom we had missed, only went before to prepare the grotto for our reception, which was illuminated with fifty torches, and produced an effect no words can describe. Imagine yourself in an arched cavern, 485 yards deep, 120 yards wide, 113 long, and, as near as we could measure by the eye, about 60 yards high, lined on every part with brilliant crystallised white marble, and well illuminated. The roof is a grand vaulted arch, hung all over with pendant icicles of shining white marble, some of them ten feet long; and covered with clusters of the

same material, resembling festoons and garlands of flowers, glittering like precious stones. From the sides of the arch proceed fantastic forms of the same glittering spar, that fancy will easily shape into trees, entwined with flowers and climbing shrubs; and in some parts the congelations have taken the appearance of the meanders of a winding stream. The floor, though rough and uneven, is full of crystals of all colours.

"It is impossible to convey any adequate idea of the splendours of this natural temple, the ornaments of which are formed of the droppings of water, that, in great length of time, become congealed into a kind of brilliant spar.

"Having contemplated this charming spectacle with delight, and raised our aspirations to that Being, whose creative powers are displayed in the most obscure, as well as in the most visible part of his works, we returned, impressed with the conviction, that no good can be attained without difficulty and perseverance."

ECCENTRIC CHARACTERS.

DECORUM is a quality adapted to every station in life. It consists of a conformity to order and consistency of character; and is equally becoming in high and low, old and young, and in either sex.

Decorum requires that every one should keep his own place, and not intrude upon the limits of another. The upper classes should preserve the dignity of manners that is the distinction of their rank: the lower, whilst they do nothing to debase themselves, should avoid aping airs of gentility, which they have never been taught to practise. The old vainly endeavour to conceal their wrinkles and gray hairs by paint and artifice, which only expose them to ridicule, where they might claim respect.

The absurdity of an effeminate man or masculine woman, is too obvious to need observation. Yet, it must be confessed, that singularity is sometimes attached to a considerable degree of merit; which, in a few particular cases, may make an apology for deviating from the customary track. Though, let me warn my readers, that few indeed are the circumstances that authorise a man of sense to assume the title of an odd fellow.

Gilbert Wakefield, in his memoirs, mentions the eccentricities of the Rev. George Harvest, Fellow of Magdalen College, Cambridge, with so much humour, I cannot deny myself the desire of inserting them, nearly in his own words. This gentleman possessed a solid understanding and strict moral rectitude; but exposed himself to the jests of his acquaintance, by an extreme absence to the objects before him, and an entire inattentention to the common forms of behaviour.

"Mr. Harvest," says Mr. Wakefield, "passed much of his time in the family of lord O—, his parishioner, and was not unfrequently exhibited to the visitors as a