Beautiful Lake! most lovely Windermere! 
  Thou mirror to the mountains that enclose
  Thy shores with zone magnificent;—­in storm,
  Or calm—­when summer wantons with thy waves,
  Or winter clouds thy crystal brow with gloom,
  Oh! mayst thou still entrance the wanderer’s eye,
  And keep congenial quiet in his soul. 
  Thy fairy haunts, where solitude pervades
  The feelings like a spirit, might allure
  Some visionary youth to muse beneath
  The rocks empurpled with the sunny beam,
  And blend the music of his harp with thine
  In gentlest murmurs,—­consecrated Lake!

G.R.C.

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NEW BOOKS.

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PETER THE GREAT.

(Concluded from page 303.)

His attention was forcibly attracted to the magnificent building of Greenwich Hospital, which, until he had visited it, and seen the old pensioners, he had some difficulty in believing to be any thing but a royal palace.  King William having one day asked him how he liked his hospital for decayed seamen, the Tzar answered, “If I were the adviser of your Majesty, I should counsel you to remove your court to Greenwich, and convert St. James’s into a hospital.”

It being term time while the Tzar was in London, he was taken into Westminster Hall; he inquired who all those busy people in black gowns and flowing wigs were, and what they were about?  Being answered, “They are lawyers, sir;”—­“Lawyers!” said he, with marks of astonishment, “why, I have but two in my whole dominions, and I believe I shall hang one of them the moment I get home."[1]

    [1] Gentleman’s Mag. vol. vii.

In the first week of March, vice-admiral Mitchell was ordered to repair forthwith to Spithead, and, taking several ships (eleven in number) under his command, hoist the blue flag at the fore-topmast head of one of them.  It is not stated for what purpose these vessels were put under his command, nor was any public order given.  But the Postman,[2] under date of 26th March, says, “On Tuesday the Tzar of Muscovy went on board admiral Mitchell, in his Majesty’s ship the Humber, who presently hoisted sail and put to sea from Spithead, as did also his Majesty’s ships the Restauration, Chichester, Defiance, Swiftsure, York, Monmouth, Dover, Kingston, Coventry, Seaforth, and Swan.”  And the Flying-post, or Postmaster,[3] has the following intelligence:  “The representation of a sea engagement was excellently performed before the Tzar of Muscovy, and continued a considerable time, each ship having twelve pounds of powder allowed; but all their bullets were locked up in the hold, for fear the sailors should mistake.”  It is stated in the logs of the Humber and the Kingston that they had two sham fights; that the ships were divided into two squadrons, and every ship took her opposite and fired three broad-sides aloft and one alow without shot.  The Tzar was extremely pleased with the performance.  It is said, indeed, he was so much delighted with every thing he saw in the British navy, that he told admiral Mitchell he considered the condition of an English admiral happier than that of a Tzar of Russia.[4]