Generally speaking, in warm latitudes, plants most exquisite to the eye have not that charm of fragrance which makes our own sweet flowers so lovely and so loveable in their decay; but the allegation of "birds without song, and flowers without scent,' does not apply to Madeira, In this island the glorious rose exhales her rich perfume, and at eventide, when the moon invests the landscape with a panoply of silver, the datura, or moon plant, waves its bells, making the air almost faint with its odour.

As for birds, the swallow seems to follow us wherever we go. This creature in southern climates pours forth such a thrilling melody from her tiny throat as she is incapable of displaying in her northern home. This melody is a peculiar trill, long, loud, and clear, as if issuing from a silver bell. We have listened to it evening after evening in Kafirland, and missed it sorely when the songster has departed for "England ho!” and left us in the wilderness.

The canary of the south has not that delicate beauty possessed by our caged pets; it is scarcely more showy than the linnet or jenny-wren, save that its brown coat is tinged here and there with gold; but oh! to hear its song in freedom! High up in the topmost boughs of the sighing acacia sways the little dusky thing, its eye fixed on heaven, and shedding such music on the air as makes one think of Izaak Walton's exclamation, "Lord, what good things hast thou prepared for thy saints in heaven, when thou providest such melody for bad men on earth?"

The food most estimated by the natives of Madeira is pork, the hogs being fed on the hills, whence they are driven by their owners after being marked, that they may be recognised when caught. We have before alluded to the cedar-tree in this island: it grows most luxuriously; and with this beautiful wood the household furniture is made; and many of the rooms being ceiled and otherwise adorned by it, a delicious fragrance is diffused throughout the dwellings, which are usually large and lofty. Despite the natural beauty of the climate the town of Funchal is oppressively warm. The streets are narrow, from a desire to create shade. Commerce, however, drives comfort from her head-quarters, and here every nook and corner seems to be appropriated by the needy goddess. Funchal is one of the noisiest places that can be imagined: the wine-carriers sing in the streets; the bullock-drivers shout to their patient beasts of burden: above, the merry girls call to each other from window to window; here, an idler thrums on a guitar; there, another plays a venerable Scotch or Irish air upon the flute; and thus, all combined, sorely disturb the peace of the valley by day. Rest at night is denied to the traveller who seeks it in Funchal, for the mosquitoes have their share in tormenting the stranger.

In the year 1848 Queen Adelaide visited Madeira for the benefit of her health. Unable to bear much fatigue, Her Majesty was usually borne about in her palanquin, the rest of her party accompanying her on horseback. The Queen lived in great retirement. She had it in contemplation to make a road from Funchal to Camara del Lobos*-a picturesque fishing village a few leagues from Funchal; but the Portuguese surveyors sent in such an extravagant estimate that the idea was abandoned.

The population of Madeira has been estimated at sixty-four thousand; but, owing to the lamentable failure of the vine-to meet the attendant

* The Camara del Lobos-Wolf's Den or Chamber.

Madeira is perhaps in its greatest beauty in the month of September, when the vintage takes place; and this season is followed by the excitement attending the arrival of invalids, who, dreading the advance of our winter, hurry to Madeira about the end of October.

This island has remained in possession of Portugal ever since its discovery by the navigators of that country. In 1807, during the long war, England took care of the defences for the Portuguese Government, and the eleventh regiment of infantry was quartered there.

fatalities of which, England has lately subscribed with her usual liberality-many of the inhabitants have emigrated to Demerara and

Brazil.

THE SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF MUSIC.

THE present age is frequently and emphatically called "the age of progress:" and well it merits the appellation. Whether we turn to the right hand or the left to watch the rapid strides made in almost every department of art, science, and the more sober pursuits of industrial and social life, we behold things that would have filled our ancestors with astonishment, if not dread, from the apprehension of the agency of witchcraft or necromancy. The past half-century has unfolded more wonders in nature and art than the whole eighteen hundred previous years, and the process of discovery is still going on with accelerating force. There is no standing still in these times, both mind and body being kept in a state of continual excitement by the almost daily revelations of hitherto unheard-of wonders, unfolded by the master-minds of the age. The difficulty now is, not what to believe, but what to doubt; and the actual and practical application of the crowning discovery, the electric telegraph, to the ordinary intercommunications, between either nations or individuals, by which time and space are, so far, all but annihilated, has scarcely left us room to question the possibility of anything in science, however marvellous or improbable.

The influence of this most subtle and incomprehensible fluid, electricity, upon mind and the human frame, as well as upon inert matter, is no longer a subject of doubt. Without admitting the truth of electro-biology, we may assume it as a fact that the animal frame is a galvanic battery, and that, whilst it is capable of being acted upon itself by means of external electric power, it also possesses, in a greater or lesser degree, the faculty of acting upon others by an internal but incomprehensible exercise of the same power. The nerves are generally understood to be the media by which this influence is produced; and the extreme susceptibility of this part of the animal economy gives them a peculiar adaptation for the office. The passions themselves are under its control, and joy, sorrow, pleasure, pain, delight, and disgust are probably modifications of the action of the electric fluid upon the nervous system.

The

Perhaps there is no agent, in social or domestic life, by which this power is displayed with greater or more general effect than music; none, we may add, that exercises so beneficial an influence upon the human mind and heart, or is so calculated to harmonize the feelings and calm the passions on the one hand, or rouse them to action on the other. effects attributed by the ancients to music were not all imaginary. We believe firmly in that produced by Orpheus upon cattle, for we have ourselves seen a dog listen with marked complacency to the notes of a flute who would howl piteously if one were played out of tune. On the other hand, we have seen an audience of four thousand persons in Exeter Hall spring simultaneously upon their feet at the performance of that stirring portion of Handel's Messiah'-" His name shall be called Wonderful! Counsellor!" &c., when given with all the weight of seven hundred vocal and instrumental performers.

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It is to be regretted that the cultivation of this department of science has not at all kept pace with the rest, nor has it been viewed generally in that important light it deserves as a means of refining the mind and taste, and of grafting good habits in the place of bad ones by appealing

to the finer sensibilities of our nature. The English are not, as a nation, musically inclined; a circumstance arising, probably, not so much from want of taste as from their business-like character. There are comparatively few amongst them who do not sincerely love music, but the general bent of the English mind is, strictly speaking, so utilitarian, that they too much look upon everything as involving a loss of time that does not immediately assist in filling their purses; and they consequently regard with a jealous eye any amusement that would lead off the mind from this one great object. The consequence is, that the cultivation of music is left almost entirely to professors and schoolgirls-the latter, in most cases, giving it up entirely when they become mistresses of their own households; that is to say, when they might render it most useful.

This is not as it should be. The very fact that the study of pounds, shillings, and pence occupies so large a share of an Englishman's thoughts makes it the more desirable that he should cultivate a taste for what will raise his mind above such pursuits during the hours devoted to relaxation; and we hold that any one neglecting what will tend to this is guilty of a breach of duty towards his Maker as well as of injustice to himself.

It is not, however, for the higher classes principally that we stand forward to advocate the cultivation of a taste for music. The humbler classes are more beset with temptations to indulge in pursuits of a low and debasing character than the rich, because their means of enjoyment are more limited and less refined, and their house-comforts fewer. Looking around us among our poorer neighbours, we cannot but be convinced that the annals of crime must be greatly augmented by the too frequent absence of all that ever make home desirable, and the want of lawful and refining amusements to fill up the vacuum of their time. We write this because we have seen, as well as read of, instances of reformation produced by the means alluded to. Our readers are probably familiar with the anecdote of the clergyman, who, when complimented by a friend upon the refined manners and good temper of his family, attributed it entirely to the fact that he had instilled a strong love for music into their minds from infancy by adopting the plan of making them sing whenever he saw them inclined to ill humour.

There is no reason to imagine that he overrated its power in effecting such a change. Those among us who have visited any of the infant, ragged, or other public schools established throughout the length and breadth of our land, must have remarked how instantly dull faces brightened and cross looks were banished when the signal for one of their simple songs was given: and we all know what a beautiful effect music has had on ourselves in raising the spirits and soothing the mind when oppressed or irritated. Now, what applies to individuals in this case will hold equally good with the masses; and what we desire to see is a general cultivation of this delightful science amongst all classes, convinced as we are that it would, by raising the general tone of mind, form a powerful barrier to vice. The following instance which has come under our own notice will show that the establishment of musical societies for this purpose is by no means impracticable or difficult; all that is required to effect the object being the co-operation of some spirited lovers of music, who would consent to devote a portion of their time and energy to the work.

It is now about four years since Mr. Waite-" the father of Psalmody,"

as he is called-visited a small neat town in one of the eastern counties, containing a fine old church, about four thousand inhabitants, a spirited corporation (which, by the bye, formerly possessed the valuable privilege of hanging all criminals to the said town appertaining, but which was forfeited by an act of barbarity perpetrated upon an unfortunate convict, arising out of a misconstruction of the sentence passed upon him), and a noble library of well-selected books. Mr. Waite was travelling on a musical mission, the design of which was to raise the character of congregational psalmody, and show that on his plan persons previously unacquainted with music might quickly and easily be taught to sing correctly in parts; thus making this important part of church service a source of real enjoyment.

After delivering an interesting lecture explanatory of the object he had in view, he assembled a class for the purpose of testing his theory amounting to some hundreds. So well did it succeed, that after his departure great regret was expressed that the class should be broken up; and a gentleman residing in the town, who to great taste in music added a sincere desire to turn his talents to account for the public good, having volunteered his services as leader, all who wished to continue the class were invited to come forward.

About fifty responded to the invitation; a society was immediately formed, and rules made and adopted for the maintenance of order amongst them. The subscription for each member is only one penny per week, thus placing it within the reach of the humblest, the music required being provided out of the general fund, with a case to keep it in. The class meet once a-week for practice, devoting an evening alternately to sacred and secular music. They also hold public concerts quarterly during the year, two for the purpose of affording assistance to different charities existing in the town, and two for the benefit of the society. These concerts are always well attended; and so fully is the effort appreciated by the worthy and respectable members of the Town Council that they have granted to the class the use of their public hall for practising, intimating at the time that they "considered the class a public benefit."

The music performed is selected from the works of the best ancient and modern masters; and for the direction of any who may be desirous of making a similar experiment we may state that the anthems, glees, &c., published by Novello in the Musical Times' are those principally chosen. At our last visit to the town the class numbered nearly a hundred, and consisted of about seventeen instrumental and eighty vocal performers.

The money collected by the weekly subscriptions and the quarterly concerts has enabled them, besides purchasing music, to obtain a grand piano and a considerable number of other smaller instruments, and also to pay the hire of an organ, which is fixed at the upper end of the orchestra. The class has also twice testified its gratitude to the leader by a handsome present.

It is not a little interesting at their meetings to look round and observe of what materials it is composed. It comprises all grades of society, from the honest blacksmith, with his horny hand, to the independent gentleman. But notwithstanding this difference of station in life, no liberties are taken, and all mingle harmoniously together upon this truly social platform without fear that the less wealthy should step out of their sphere or forget their position.

Still more interesting and instructive is it to witness the moral effect