Rocks. It is also famous for its lead ore, cork, and white limestone. The limestone is obtained in large blocks, and used in a great many public buildings in England, viz., the Houses of Parliament, Sandringham House, Chatsworth, and Lichfield Cathedral. It is also very durable for monumental purposes, and was used in the building of the Prince Consort's Memorial. The population of Middleton is between 1,000 and 1,100. There is a pretty church, at which about 26 choristers sing on Sundays, and Mr. Norman, the clergyman, takes great pains with them. There is also a good national school, with schoolmaster and mistress, and four pupil-teachers. Middleton by Wirksworth National School, Derbyshire.

G. SAMUEL BIRLEY.

APPLEBY, WESTMORLAND.

APPLEBY is the county town of Westmorland. It stands on the river Eden, and is pleasantly situated amongst hills. It has about 2,000 inhabitants. No particular trade is carried on. The Eden Valley and Settle and Carlisle railways run near it. The former was opened about two years ago: the latter being now constructed. Appleby contains a castle, where_formerly Lady Pembroke resided; but it is now owned by Sir Henry Tufton, and occupied by his steward, Admiral Elliot. Oliver Cromwell once tried to destroy it from a place called St. Nicholas, but a cannon ball only grazed the tower. British School, Appleby.

J. G. BELL.

List of Essayists in Order of Merit.

James Clayton
H. Preston
Eliza Bailey
John S. Brooks
Alfred Mather
John Lowe
Selina Howe
John Connal
H. T. Baugust
G. R. Askew
William Hardwick
Edward Royce
Walter C. Taylor
Frank Whittaker
William Hawley
William Fenton
Edwin Milling
Isabella Hogg
T. P. Edwards
Flora Major
G. Pritchard
R. W. Stewart
William Barnes
Frances Spencer
Henry Walter
Thomas Harrison
James Wood

A Village Boy
F. B. Illingworth
Augustus Bowdor
Robert Cottrall
M. E. Sewell
Annie Haxley
George Ord

C. Bauman
W. H Homer
William Skillington
J. T. Longstaff
W. W. Symons
Millicent Doxey
J. W. Franklin
Samuel Spencer
Annie Burgess
Alexander Polson
F. J. Homer
George Elliott
J. W. Barlow
Thomas Hince
George Owen
Robert Pallister
J. J. Leslie

"Chemicus"

Frederick Harrison

ERICLES, when a certain scolder or railing fellow did revile him, answered not a word again, but went into a gallery; and after, towards night, when he went home, this scolder followed him, raging still more and more, because he saw the other to set nothing by him; and after that he came to his gate,

being a dark night, Pericles commanded one of his servants to light a torch, and to take the scolder home to his own house. He did not only with quietness suffer this brawler patiently, but also recompensed an evil turn with a good turn, and that to his enemy.-Homily against Strife and Contention. Now we will look at this fact in two different lights.

I.-It showed the strength of Pericles. A weak man would have turned round and answered the reviler with words of reviling. Pericles was a man so strong, and could so well command his tongue, that he did not answer him a single word. Even when the railer followed him home, abusing him all the way, Pericles never failed in his patience. He thought: "This poor man perhaps thinks he is doing right, and there may be

some reason for what he says. I will not let him go home in the dark, and lose his way. I will send my servant to light him." Thus he was a strong man.

II.—It showed the discipline he had undergone. Pericles had been provoked before, doubtless, and had given way to anger. But when he came to himself, his anger gave him no satisfaction. He found, what all other men have found, that " anger is a short madness." He had done things when he was angry, that his reason told him were wicked, weak, and foolish. Therefore he had determined to be master of his passions, and not let his passions master him. Every boy will have occasion to imitate Pericles, if he likes, many times in the present year. He will find it a hard thing to do, but it is noble to attempt it. Solomon says: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." And there was a greater than Solomon, Who lived a life to show us how to live, of whom we read that, "when He was reviled He reviled not again; when He suffered He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously."

The Life of Lord Nelson,

(ABRIDGED FROM SOUTHEY'S LIFE.)

CHAPTER III.

OON after the events described in the last chapter, in 1781, Nelson was appointed to the command of the Janus, of forty-four guns; but he was so reduced by illness that he was compelled to return to England. As soon as he was better he applied for employment, and was sent to the North Seas, and kept there the whole winter. It was very cruel and thoughtless of the Admiralty to send one who had been suffering from the intense heat of the tropics to the frozen regions of the north, and Nelson felt the injustice keenly, but complaint would have been unavailing.

When they anchored off Elsinore, the Danish admiral sent on board, desiring to be informed what ships had arrived, and to have their force written down. "The Albemarle," said Nelson to the messenger, "is one of his Britannic Majesty's ships. You are at liberty, sir, to count the guns as you go down the side; and you may assure the Danish admiral that, if necessary, they shall all be well served."

The next place to which he was ordered was Canada. Shortly after, Lord Hood introduced him to Prince William Henry (afterwards William IV.), and told the prince if he wished to ask any questions concerning naval tactics, Captain Nelson could give him as much information as any officer in the fleet. Prince William, who, to his own honour, became from that time the firm friend of Nelson, describes him as appearing the merest boy of a captain he had ever seen. But his address and conversation were very pleasing; and when he spoke on naval subjects it was with an enthusiasm that showed he was no common being. Shortly afterwards peace was proclaimed, and Nelson returned to England.

In 1784, Nelson was appointed to the command of the Boreas, going to the Leeward Islands. His ship was full of young midshipmen, of whom there were not less than thirty on board; and happy were they whose lot it was to be placed with such a captain. If he perceived that a boy was afraid at first going aloft, he would say to him in a friendly manner, "Well, sir, I am going a race to the mast-head, and beg that I may meet you there." The poor little fellow instantly began to climb, and got up how he could-Nelson never noticed in what manner; but when they met at the top spoke cheerfully to him, and would say how much any person was to be pitied who fancied that getting up was either dangerous or difficult. When Nelson arrived in the West Indies, he found himself second in command, and this brought him into a dispute with the admiral; but the Admiralty approved his conduct. In some conversation with General Shirley on enforcing the Navigation Act, the soldier remarked "that old generals were not in the habit of taking advice from young gentlemen." "Sir," replied Nelson, "I am as old as the Prime Minister of England (Mr. Pitt, who was Prime Minister at the age of 21), and think myself as capable of commanding one of his Majesty's ships as that minister is of governing the State."

It was afterwards acknowledged that in his action in the matter Nelson was right, and the admiral and General Shirley wrong. Instead, however, of thanking him for his exertions in this question, the Treasury thanked the commander-in-chief for his activity and zeal in protecting the commerce of Great Britain.

In 1787, Nelson was married to Mrs. Nisbet, and it was feared by some of his friends that he would therefore leave the navy. But Nelson ever regarded that his country had the first claim on his services. In June, 1787, he returned to England, where he was not treated according to his deserts. He was at this time determined to leave the navy; but being presented by Lord Howe to King George III., and received by that monarch in a gracious manner, his resentment died away.

In 1788, Nelson took his wife to visit his father at his parsonage. The sight of his son, he declared, had given him new life. At the earnest request of his father, who was old, and suffering from palsy and asthma, Nelson remained some time with him. He was at this time harassed by the threats of some Americans to prosecute him for obliging them to conduct their trade lawfully in the West Indies. The Government, however, on this point resolved to support him, so his fears were set at rest. He remained without employment till the winter of 1792, when he once more offered his services, adding that if their lordships should be pleased to appoint him to a cockle-boat he should feel satisfied. He received no satisfactory answer to this letter, but by the interest of Prince William, Duke of Clarence, and Lord Hood, was appointed, in January, 1793, to the command of the Agamemnon, of sixty-four guns.

The Agamemnon was ordered to the Mediterranean Sea, forming part of a squadron under the command of Lord Hood. At this time the French had conquered the island of Corsica; but they were detested by the people, who desired to place themselves under the protection of Great Britain. Lord Hood, the admiral, wished to take the town of Bastia from the French; but the general who commanded the soldiers did not think it possible, and refused to help him. At this Nelson exclaimed: "What the general could have seen to make a retreat necessary I cannot comprehend. A thousand men would certainly take Bastia ; with five hundred and the Agamemnon I would attempt it. My