s to elevate their
taste, was honoured by the visits of 133.5, producing 5 pounds 13s. 6d.,
being a reward for painting two of his finest works, 'Aristides and
Nero.' HORACE VERNET, LA ROCHE, INGRES, CORNELIUS, HESS, SNORR, and
SCHEFFER, hasten to this glorious country of fresco and patronage, and
grand design, if you have a tender fancy to end your days in a Whig
Union."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The last Post Office Bellman--The "Corn Law" Act--Sir Walter Scott's
monument--The Irish famine--The Duke of Wellington's statue--Gun
cotton--Introduction of ether--Model dwelling houses--Baths and
Wash-houses--Smithfield Cattle market--"The Bull Fight of
Smithfield"--The first submarine telegraph.

_The Illustrated London News_, of 27 June, gives us "THE LETTER CARRIER'S
LAST KNELL.--We have just lost another of what poor Thomas Hood called,
'Those evening bells.' The Postmaster General having issued his fiat for
the abolition of 'ringing bells' by the Letter Carriers, the last knell
was rung out on the evening of Wednesday last; and, as a memorial of the
departure of what appeared to most persons, a very useful practice, our
artist has sketched a Letter Carrier, on his last evening call at our
office; and another hand has appended the following lament:

The Dustman was first to forego his brass clapper,
The Muffinboy speedily followed his shade;
And, now, 'tis the Postman--that double-tongued rapper--
Must give up his Bell for the eve's promenade.
"_Tantae Animis_?' sage Legislators!
Why rage against trifles like these? Prithee tell,
Why leave the solution to rude commentators,
Who say, that at home, you've enough in one _Belle_?"

On 26 June the Royal Assent was given to an Act (9-10 Vic., c. 22),
called "An Act to amend the Laws relating to the Importation of Corn."
This regulated the duty on corn by a sliding scale of prices, which was
to be in force until 1 Feb., 1849, when it was fixed at 1s. per quarter.
The passing of this Act caused general rejoicing throughout the country,
and put an end to a great deal of political rancour.

[Picture: The last Post Office Bellman. Ill. Lon. News, 27 June, 1846]

The inauguration of Sir Walter Scott's Monument, at Edinburgh, took place
on 15 Aug., the anniversary of his birth. It was erected in 1840-44,
after designs by Mr. George M. Kemp, at a cost of 15,650 pounds. It is
cruciform, with a Gothic spire, chiefly modelled on the det