senses half expect a noisy burst, or at least the hum of a great city. The ground on which Vienna stands, as well as most of the country around, is nearly a flat, scarcely raised above the level of the Danube; the whole, however, is bounded at various distances by hills and mountains of considerable elevation, their sides covered with fine woods, sprinkled with châteaur and villas, and ornamented everywhere by the picturesque ruins of decayed castles, the strongholds of feudal ages. Romantic valleys, villages, woods, farms, pastures, and gardens, spread far and wide: the grand and the simple, blending harmoniously together under a clear sunshine, combine to fill up the rich features of the splendid landscape, over which the eye cannot but wander with pleasure. The present Panorama is taken from the church of St. Carlo, in the suburb of Wiedon, on the very verge of the Glacis, which, with its fine trees and verdant lawns, intersected by the Wien, forms the immediate foreground of the view. Directly in front towards the north-west, lies the Bourg or old city, the cathedral nearly in the centre on the highest ground, proudly and prominently presenting itself and its rich Gothic tower far above the surrounding mass of buildings. Facing the Glacis, and within the ancient walls, is the wide-extended façade of the imperial palace, with the emperor's garden, and the extensive grounds of the Volksgarten in front, and a long line of fine houses facing the ramparts; behind is one dense mass of buildings-churches, vast palaces, and immense public edifices-so closely built, that the streets dividing them can scarcely be defined. Towards the left, divided from the city by the broad green girdle of the Glacis, are seen several of the largest suburbs, and the view is closed by the lofty Kahlenberg and other mountains, forming part of a vast chain covered by forests and vineyards, that stretch far towards the south until they fade in the distance. To the right of the city the view extends over a similar range of suburbs, to the refreshing foliage and cool shades of the finely wooded Prater, and the many islands of the Danube. Towards the south and cast the eye commands a vast extent of the suburbs of a somewhat Italian character, in which several churches and public buildings, and many magnificent palaces, are seen; especially the imperial galleries of the two Belvideres, and the palaces and gardens of the Princes Lichtenstein, Schwartzenberg, Metternich, and many others; beyond stretches an agreeable country, thickly studded with villages, villas, and pleasant retreats, and a vast plain spreading in all directions, in some parts to the very verge of the horizon, in others bounded by the mountains of Hungary. A multitude of objects of interest and beauty present themselves at every point; the Danube, now united in one broad stream, is seen winding its course in several parts, the famous villages of Aspern, Essling, Wagram, and Schonbrunn, with the lovely country around, backed by the Brül and Baden hills, and the scarcely visible castle of Pressburg in the extreme distance, all combine to complete the varied and splendid scene. METROPOLITAN EARLY CLOSING ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the members and friends of this Association took place at Exeter Hall on the 8th ultimo; and in spite of the rabble in Trafalgar Square, who thought proper just at that time to ape and caricature recent doings on the continent, and must have scared away many timid individuals, the assemblage was a large one, and the evening went off most satisfactorily. The Evils the Association seek to redress have been so often dwelt on in these pages, that we shall only record that on the occasion to which we refer the chair was taken by the Lord Mayor; and that among the most eloquent speakers in behalf of the good causerepresenting as it were the Church, the Peerage, and the Commoners--were the Lord Bishop of Oxford, the Earl of Harrowby, D. W. Wire, Esq., and Charles Hindley, Esq., M. P. Many other eminent individuals were present, as well as a large body of the most respectable Employers. Among the latter, Mr. Thwaites spoke very feelingly. We shall make an extract from the speech of the Bishop of Oxford-a burst of oratory as remarkable for its flashes of eloquence as for the common sense and mastery of the subject it displayed. If we content ourselves with saying, "This is a great evil," we do little; but if we bring before the eye and mind of those whom we would have to act upon this conclusion, what it is that makes it so great an evil-if we make them feel and remember what it is that we call upon our fellow-creatures to sacrifice by this late-hour system, we may effect much (cheers.) Let us remind them, first of all, that the bodily health must necessarily be sacrificed by it; time of life when the physical frame is expanding itfor it is wholly impossible that young men, just at that self to the full, and requires all the aid of fresh air, and relaxation, and recreation, to enable it to grow up into a frame of strength and manhood (Hear, hear), should be compelled instead to be confined for twelve or fourteen hours of the day, kept incessantly standing, incessantly moving, with the attention at the full stretch, without the most serious injury being inflicted on their physical frame. But it is not a mere physical labour which they endure. In the shops of this great metropolis there is a serious and (Hear, hear). And in this there is nothing to repay most fatiguing stress upon their intellectual faculties them for their exertions: it is not like the labour that exercises the intellect and the judgment, as in study, and reading, and storing the mind with knowledge, where refreshment repays and mingles with the labour itself; but it is a constant wearing upon both the bodily and the mental powers (Hear, hear). And this, too, be it remembered, goes on in a confined space, in rooms in which (even if shops had been constructed as they have not been constructed-for the health of those who serve in them rather than for the display of goods exposed for sale) the air is being continually robbed of that which is its nourishing element, in which a subtle poison is being continually breathed into it by the breath of the comers-in, the stayers-in, and the goers-out; so that, in point of that leads to excess and debauchery at the end of the fact, the physical frame suffers an exhaustion far day? What but repressing the higher, and stimuworse than that which results from labour in the lating the lower faculties of the man? (cheers). And open air, or in healthy air, where it even imparts such is the necessary result of this system. As I said strength and health to the well-exercised muscles to the man who raised the objection-" You tell me (Hear, hear). Here the labour is carried on in an that if you were to let the young men out at seven or atmosphere that is hostile to life, an atmosphere eight o'clock, they would go into excess: what do which is continually weakening the frame thus taxed they do when you let them out at nine, or ten, or to the utmost; and these continuous exertions are eleven? (Hear). What healing process has there been the cause of weakness, lassitude, decay, and the seeds in the last three hours? (cheers). My lord, the of premature death are sown in many and many a process is simply this. By continual confinement to constitution which cannot resist these fatal influences the shop, the young man is made incapable of intel(Hear, hear). My lord, this is no fanciful enumera- lectual improvement; he is excluded from social intion of evils-it is not even the cold working out tercourse; and he is thus driven into those fierce upon scientific principles of a certain result: it is more stimulants which are the only things that can stir his than this-it has the seal of a certain and fatal expe- jaded body and his wearied mind (Hear, hear). Many rience. We know that from the country the towns a young man, who, under a different system, might are fed with these supplies of young men-we know have been led to improve those evening hours, or at that comparatively few of these young men after- least to spend them in perfectly harmless and even wards settle in business for themselves we know improving relaxation, has been turned out at last that they are worn out at mid-age by the intensity with a fevered body and a blunted mind, and has and continuousness of a labour to which the God been driven by your ill-treatment into that course who made their frame never meant that frame to be which is destruction to his body and ruin to his soul exposed (loud cheers). But, my lord, it is not only | (Hear, hear). It has been said by a previous speaker the physical evil, great as that is, which makes me that to bring this to bear, the assent of three parties call this a practical evil: there is a necessary intellec- is required-the employers, the employed, and the tual evil connected with it. What right have we, public. I think that the public has a very great deal amidst all the advantages and means for intellectual to do with it; because, if you had not late buyers improvement which this age and this country and you certainly would not have late sellers (cheers). I this metropolis afford, to doom these young men to believe the history of the thing is this: that the a state of service which makes it simply impossible sellers are mainly convinced that they do not, in the that they should obtain any share of intellectual im-long run, make anything in these long hours; I provement? (Hear.) For how is it possible, with believe that the most thoughtful amongst them, to a the most earnest thirst with which one and another man, are convinced that the trade, as a trade, would may burn for the improvement of his intellectual not suffer one jot if the late-hour system were abofaculties, that, after twelve or fourteen hours of this lished to-day; that the same quantity of goods would wearing toil, when it has been known (I grant this is be sold in a reasonable limit, and without sacrificing an extreme case, but if it is so, it borders upon a multi- the sellers, as are now sold in an unreasonable time, tude of others which are not extremes) that at the end and with the sacrifice of the sellers. But though of the time, a young man has actually fallen asleep on this is true of the trade at large, there is a promise the stairs as he went up to his bed-room, so tho- of some small immediate result to those who keep roughly was he worn out with the labour of the day their shops open after the neighbouring shops have (Hear, hear)-how, I ask, is it possible that at the closed (Hear, hear); and thus, two or three indiviend of such a day there can be anything like intellec-duals who are not generous enough to say, "We will tual improvement? (Hear). And those who know the details of the business also know that if this is impossible at the end of the day from physical exhaustion, in the course of the day it is equally impossible from the very nature of the business itself. If an interval of a moment or two occur, during which a customer does not come in, the young man cannot apply himself to reading, for he must be ready at the very first beck of the customer, or the shop will get a bad name (Hear, hear). There is another evil beyond this. The system is not only fatal to intellectual improvement; it is fatal to all the healthier play of social improvement as well. How is it possible for these men, when their day is thus consumed in labour, to cultivate those habits of social intercourse which God bas meant to be at once the rest and the purifier of the heart of man? (cheers). We know that this is impossible. And this brings me to what I think the most important part of the question. It was said to me by a tradesman in a provincial town, in the diocese with which I am connected, and where I took part in a meeting on this subject-he said, "I object to this; because if the young men are let out at an earlier hour in the evening, they will only be let out for mischief." I met the assertion, as I meet it now, by saying that I thought it contrary both to reason and to experience to advance such an argument (Hear, hear). It is contrary to reason, because what is it | share with our neighbours in the first possible and immediate loss, rather than try to make a temporary gain out of their possible loss," are the means of keeping open the multitude of shops around them, and of preventing the adoption of this healthy and desirable system (Hear, hear). It mainly rests with the public to bring those few to reason (cheers). It ought to be the deep and general conviction of the buyers that they are doing an inhuman act by buying late, when it was in their power to have bought early. Not only ought they to say, "We will not go out and buy late,' but" We will not buy, even in the day time, at the shops which we know keep open till late hours" (cheers). And thus, I think, it depends greatly upon the public to settle this question. We ought all to regard it as a duty, in our own sphere, and according to our own power, to set our faces, by all lawful means, against that system which is inflicting so great and so needless an evil upon those round about us (cheers). FASHIONS FOR APRIL. My letter of this month usually regards the future rather than the actual state of our toilettes; for unless the weather is remarkably fine, we are always till nearly the end of April rather warmly clad in out-door dress, our lightest costume being merely that of the demi-saison. But though we have not assumed our spring-dresses, they are generally prepared, or nearly so. Now, however, owing to the Revolution, there is little as yet actually decided. Longchamps has been going out of vogue for several years past, and it is believed that this season it will be even worse attended than usual. But whatever change may have taken place in our national character-and no doubt there has been a very great one during the last half century-the ladies at least are as much as ever under the dominion of La Mode. Whether the government is a Monarchy or a Republic, she will always be the absolute queen of the fair; and her ordinances will be as religiously observed in every department of the toilette as ever they were in the palmiest days of the Old Monarchy. The materials for public promenade chapeaux and capotes are still the same as last month; but velvet ones are much less seen than those of velours épinglé or satin; the latter, indeed, have, for the last two or three seasons, been adopted much later in the season than usual. Capotes are generally composed of satin; the shape most in favour is the one I have sent for our first plate; those of a close form being now almost entirely confined to early morning dress. Several white satin ones have the material laid on plain, but the exterior of the brim is decorated with four or five biais of white velours épinglé: a wreath of small damask roses without foliage encircles the bottom of the crown; coques of satin ribbon of the same hue, and long brides, decorate the interior of the brim. Several capotes, composed of rose-coloured, green, and citron velours épinglé, are lined with satin, of a lighter shade of the same. Some have the interior of the brim trimmed with blonde lace and ribbon, in the cap style: a novel, and much prettier garniture, is composed of puffs of tulle, intermixed with small fruit-blossoms; the exterior is decorated with flowers, or with a mixture of flowers and lace, and in some instances with lace only. I have seen, also, a good many relours épinglé capotes, lined with satin, of a different colour; the interior is trimmed with bouillonnés of blonde; the exterior is decorated either with ribbons striped or shaded in the colour of the capote and the lining, or else with a wreath of flowers. The few velvet chapeaux that still retain their vogue in public promenade dress are of quiet colours, and lined with velvet or velours épinglé of a different hue: they are always trimmed with feathers, I refer to our first plate for one of the most elegant models of these chapeaux. Those of velours épinglé and satin are, generally speaking, of a more showy description: the brims are shorter; they are round and open. A good many of those composed of rose or citron relours épinglé have the exterior trimmed with a lappet of point d'Angleterre it is placed carelessly, and rather backward on the crown; and the ends are attached on the brim, close to the point of the barolet. A large full-blown rose, either red or yellow, according to the colour of the chapeau, is placed on one side of the exterior, and partially veiled by the edge of the lappet. The interior of the brim is trimmed on each side with a tuft of small flowers placed very low. I do not remember a season in which lace, both black and white, was so much in vogue for the trimmings of chapeaux : a good many satin ones, both pink and lemon colour, are decorated with fanchons of black lace; they are of a small size, and arranged somewhat in a novel manner, forming a drapery on the crown, the ends turning in a kind of rosette at the bottom of it on each side: a twisted band of ribbon, passing round the crown under the rosettes, is disposed in a full chou over the bavolet: a similar one is inserted in each rosette. Half-wreaths of small flowers decorate the interior of the brim. The only decided change that has as yet taken place in pardessus is, that those trimmed with fur are but little seen, and that Cashmere shawls are at this moment more in vogue than pardessus of any kind: they are always fashionable in spring and autumn. Long shawls, of blue or orange grounds, with very rich patterns, are preferred. The redingote form retains its vogue both for morning dress and the promenade: some, that have recently appeared for the first, are composed of pekin satiné. The corsages, made quite up to the throat, and tight to the shape, are trimmed en cœur on each side with ribbon à la vielle. It is continued en tablier on the skirt, and the centre both of the corsage and skirt is ornamented with a row of brandebourgs: they are of a new kind, and extremely pretty. Caps are still more in favour than they were last month; those for negligé are composed of plain tulle, bordered with lace: some are trimmed with narrow velvet ribbon; others with satin ribbon. Flowers are never adopted in early morning dress. Nothing can be prettier or more becoming than caps as they are at present: some of those adopted in home dress are composed of lace, disposed in spiral rows on a foundation of tulle: the garniture is satin ribbon and pink velours épinglé. This style of cap, long at the ears, and with the lace on the throat, is calculated for ladies with long necks; but those composed only of a fond of lace, formed by three falls, with tufts of flowers in the interior, are more generally becoming. The only alteration in the materials of halfdress robes is, that those composed of velvet are beginning to be laid aside. Satin robes are rather in a majority, but the rich silks of which I have spoken in the beginning of the season retain their vogue. The redingote form is still the most prevalent: the corsages are all high, and, with very few exceptions, close in front. The plainness of this style is relieved either by revers or by passementerie. Every day brings us new garnitures of this latter kind: their variety gives an appearance of novelty to the dresses; but the forms, with one exception, are the same as they have been for a long time-that exception is the robe Princesse, given in our first plate; it has been introduced by one of our most celebrated Lionnes, and may probably become decidedly fashionable; but its vogue is not yet absolutely determined. As the corsage and skirt are in one piece, the latter is so excessively gored, that it sits very closely round the hipsmore so, indeed, than is generally becoming; for, though the form is admirably calculated to display the beauties of the shape, it will equally shew the defects. Whether it become generally fashionable or not, it is certain that some alteration has already taken place in the skirts of | dresses: they are shorter for the promenade and in morning dress, both at the back and front; and though the demi-train is still retained in evening dress, they are shortened sufficiently in front to display not only the satin slipper, but the whole of the foot. I am assured that a reduction in the enormous width of skirts will take place in all the new spring robes, but to what extent is not yet determined. The robe Princesse is worn only in morning or home dress. It may be rendered more dressy than the one I have given, by a different style of trimming. Some have the seams of the corsage and front of the skirt decorated with ribbon of the same colour, drawn full, and edged with very narrow effilé or black lace. The seam down the centre is trimmed with a row of openworked silk buttons. Others have the seams covered with narrow passementerie, resembling a light embroidery--I mean the side-seams: the centre one is decorated with noeuds of passementerie; they are of a round form, with open work in the middle. In several instances the sleeves are a three-quarter length, open, and rounded at the bottom: they are always finished to correspond with the trimming of the robe. High corsages retain their vogue in dinner dress, though they are not universally adopted. A favourite style of trimming for these dresses is that I have given in the fourth figure of the first plate. Dinner robes are generally composed of satin; a few coloured velvet ones appear, but very few. A good many are made without any trimming round the border; these are generally of the demi-redingote form; the corsages à la Vierge, tight to the shape, and rounded at the bottom: they are trimmed en revers, with stamped velvet of very rich patterns. This trimming is con tinued en tablier on the skirt. If trimming is worn round the border, it is composed of black lace, or coloured blonde lace flounces, or else very rich fringe. Taffetas divide the vogue in evening dress with the rich winter silks which I spoke of in the beginning of the season. Some robes that were much admired lately at a soirée given by an English lady of high rank, were composed of taffetas. One, pale pink, had the corsage rather high on the shoulders: it opened in a low cœur on the bosom, over a lace guimpe, and was trimmed with a fall of lace laid on flat en revers. The bottom was moderately pointed. Short tight sleeves, descending to the elbow: they are rendered full at the lower part by three volants, festooned and embroidered round the edges: the upper one is headed by a very narrow ruche. The skirt is trimmed with five flounces to correspond, but deeper considerably than those on the sleeve, so that the trimming mounts above the knee. Another robe of a bright full shade of blue was trimmed in a style equally novel and pretty, A very deep flounce of Mechlin lace was looped at each side by a wreath of very narrow blue satin and relours épinglé ribbons, tastefully intermingled and enlaced. A blue satin bouillonnée headed the flounces: a single fall of lace, through which a blue ribbon was run, encircled the top of the corsage: it was closed by a knot of the same, with a brilliant brooch in the centre. Caps are very much in favour both in dinner and evening dress: some of the prettiest in the latter are composed of pink crape, covered with lace, and trimmed in front with a rose with buds and foliage. Others, of a still lighter kind, are composed only of a foundation of tulle, bordered with blonde lace, placed quite at the back of the head, and sustained at each side by a tuft of flowers without foliage. I may cite, also, chapeaux of tulle bouillonnée à la neige. The name is not misapplied, for the bouillons really do not look unlike flakes of snow. The chapeaux are put very far back on the head, and trimmed with bouquets of apple or other fruit-blossoms, mingled with early wildflowers. Turbans, of gauze or crêpe lisse, are likewise very much in favour; they are very small, placed quite at the back of the head, so as to entirely display the front hair, and short enough to shew the tip of the ear. This style of turban is novel, and has also a very youthful appearance. I have nothing new to say of ball-dress, except that flowers are expected to be this year even more than usually in favour for it; and if the coiffure is adorned with flowers, the garniture of the robe must correspond. Some of the new ones are wreaths of foil (their effect is very brilliant by candle-light), wreaths of lotus flowers; others are composed of the flowers of the purple cactus, or rhododendron. There are also several of violets, snowdrops, and other early flowers. Although the forms of chapeaux and capotes |