Star.
London, England, 1825-03-21 00:00:00

DIORAMA, REGENTS PARK.

Saturday we were gratified with a private view of
this beautiful and attractive Eihibition, which opened
this day with the beautiful view of Chartres Cathedral,
so much and so justly admired in the last Eshibitioa,
and a new view of the Ruins of Holyrood Chapel by
moon-light. It is actually impossible to convey by
words any adequate idea of the fascination and perfect
illusion of this magical picture. The scene itself is pic-
turesque to the highest conceivable idea of architectural
representation ; far more so, indeed, from its dilapidated
state (in which wild Nature's vegetative power is be-
ginning to re-assert her triumphs over the frail magni-
ficence of art), than can possibly consist with any en-
tireness, however accompanied, of the Most compli-
cated and magnificent edifice. But the poetry of the
pencil hath touched with its inspirations the realities of
the scene. Not only are the most favourable points of
time and the most favourable state of the atmosphere,
tioonlight, with a partial and incidental haze), selected
for heightening_the solemn grandeur of the objects, and
giving them thrtnost effective relief, a human and living
interest is superaaded to that which is awakened by the
mouldering tombs:that should chronicle the dead, by
e introduction of a beautiful figure in maiden mourn-
(whiter with a zone of black), who
is Held in holy passion still,
Forgets herself to marble !"
over a monamental pedestal, upon which burns a glim-
wring lamp, whose earthly and unsteady light (finely
contrasted with the pale serenity of the lamps of heaven)
quivers and undulates with alternately increasing and
diminishing lustre (as if affected by the motions of the
atmosphere) and gleams or glimmers on the project-
ing superficies of the votive altar upon which it.
rests ; and renders conspicuous in picturesque re-
lief the pensive form that watches it. Nor is this all.
The stars (neither dots of paint, nor spangles of silver
foil) actually scintillate in their spheres, occasionally
obscured and occasionally emerging from the misty
clouds; while the moon gently glides with scarcely
perceptible motion, now through the hazy, now through
the clearer air; and the light reflected upon the walls
and shafts, and shattered architrave, becomes dim or
brilliant in proportion to the clearness or the obscurity
of her course ; so that, if this be painting, however
exquisite, it still is something more ; for the elements
have their motions, though the objects they illuminate
are fixed, and the ether bath its transparency, the stars
their crystalline, and the lamp its vital flame, though
the ruin and its terrene accompaniments have their
opaque solidity.
It is almost impossible to believe that instead of a painting we
do not see the actual_ Chapel before us, and a devotee would al-
most be tempted to step into it to say his prayers.

The DIAMOND frigate has arrived at Portsmouth
from Mexico, having on board Mr. LIONEL HARVEY,
one of the British Commissioners sent to that country.
Tranquillity prevailed throughout Mexico, and- the
Government was jproceeding with such measures as
would tend to consolidate its power. The accounts
from the Mines ate very favourable.
Port-an-Prince Papers to the 9th January state, that
the anniversary of Haytian independence was celebrated
on the la,. during which the President delivered an
address, in which he called on the Senate, the army,
and the people, to " swear to posterity and to the whole
world, to renounce for ever, not only the domination
of France, but that of all other Powers whatever that
may wish to reduce us to submission; and to die rather
than cease to be free and independent."
Dutch and Brussels Papers to the 20th instant have
melted us. The latter inform us, that in consequence
of the reduction of our import duties, a great degree of
activity prevailed in various branches of the manufac-
tures of the Netherlands, particularly in those of iron in
the Province of Liege and Namur. It was gluier-
patted that large exportations of raw iron would *take
place to South America.
Hamburgh Papers to the 16th instant, announce that
the ratifications of the treaty between England and
Sweden for the suppression of the Slave Trade has been
exchanged. Advices from Alexandria to the end of
January represent the cotton-raising speculation of the
niche of Egypt to have.completely succeeded. It was
expected that the next crop of Mako-Cotton alone would
produce above 400.000 bales.
MURDER AND ROBBERY.—Thunday morning, Wil-
liam Glover, residing at a lone souse at Ashford, near
Melton Mowbray,, was discovered murdered, and his
house plundered. The scene of the horrid crime was of
a most affecting nature: his head was literally beaten
.to pieces. It seems.that the old man his for some time
past not lived on'the most friendly terms with his neigh-
bours. He was between 60 and 70 years of age. As
yet there his been no discovery of the perpetrators of
this diabolical dced.—Leicester Paper.