ere. Her thousand fruits clustered under
transparent concaves. Grapes that might have moved Bacchus to press
them with his rosy lips--peaches, melons, shiny currants, inviting
strawberries, and crowning pineapples--all worthy the pencil of a
Lance--glorious as the painting of nature, mockingly tempted us to
seize the fairy prizes--reminding us of an anecdote of Swift. The
facetious dean, with several friends, was invited to walk the
rounds, and admire the delicious fruit bending the countless trees
to the earth in the orchard of an "old acquaintance," who kindly
pointed out to his most admiring guests the charming sweets by which
they were surrounded; but, "sour grapes to them"--asked them not to
make themselves "at home," nor offered pear nor apple. This was too
much for Swift, who had a happy knack of inventing scraps of poetry
to suit his purposes, and thus applied himself on the occasion; "I
remember that my old grandmother had a saying:--

"Always take a peach
When within your reach."

Action suited to the words quickly followed. The quick arch wit of
St. Patrick's put forth his hand, and his good example was followed
by all the company, who each took a peach, when within his reach.
Now, we must confess that we were almost tempted to essay a similar
feat of onslaught on Mrs. Peachey's magic garden, but were,
fortunately for all future sight-seers, withheld by the
consciousness that those many rainbow liveried sweets to the eye,
were not for ourselves or Covent-garden, but were the triumphs of a
skilful artiste.

And are these the works that have been, which are refused a fitting
place in the high field of universal, peaceful rivalry and
competition in the Crystal Palace for the works _of all nations_?
What! Can this be possible? Here are the works _of our own nation
not there_--excluded! Surely for the credit of the Exhibition--for
the honorable name of the Executive Committee, there should be
enquiry. The works cannot be said to be excluded upon their merits,
for they have not been inspected by the authorities. There was, nay,
there is room enough in the building in Hyde Park for this peerless
and costly challenge of an English woman as an artiste. England in
fair competition against the world! We looked for these gems of art
in the Crystal Hall--but found t