The New Post Office, in St. Martin’s-le-Grand, is fast approaching conclusion, and will constitute one of the most imposing public buildings of the city.  Preparatory to the re-erection of the whole of the Blue Coat School, or Christ’s Hospital, in Newgate Street, a spacious and handsome Hall has been erected, from the designs of Mr. Shaw.

A new Chapel, of novel design, being of an amphitheatrical form, has been recently completed, from the designs of W.  Brooks, architect.  It is seated near the Catholic Chapel, in Finsbury Circus.

* * * * *

THE SKETCH-BOOK.

* * * * *

THE FIRST AND LAST CRIME.

[Blackwood’s Magazine for the current month contains a sketchy article under this title, which displays much of the breadth and vigour of one of Maga’s contributors.  Our extract is in the form of the confession of a reckless, daring spirit, who being imprisoned for murder, commits suicide.  The early developement of his bad passions is admirably drawn, and altogether this is one of the most powerfully written papers that we have lately met with.]

I was the youngest child of three; but before I had attained my tenth year, I was an only one.  I had always been the favourite of both my parents, and now I was their idol.  They hung upon my existence, as a shipwrecked mariner clings to the last floating fragment of the gallant bark that bore him; they lived, but while they held by me, in the rough tossings of the ocean of life.  I was not slow to discover my value in their estimation, or to exercise, in its fullest extent, the capricious tyranny of conscious power.  Almost the earliest impression which my ripening mind received, was a regal immunity from error—­I could do no wrong.

My education was not neglected.  Alas! the only use I have ever made of what I acquired, has been to gild my vices when acted, or refine upon the manner of acting them while in contemplation.  I look back, at this moment, to the period of my life I am describing, as prosperous men recall the day-spring of their fortunes. They, from the proud eminence on which they stand, trace, step by step, in retrospective view, the paths by which they ascended; and I, looking through the dark vista of my by-gone years, behold the fatal series of crimes and follies that stained their progress, stretching to my boyhood.  The gay and frolic irregularities, as they were gently termed, of that untamed age, were the turbid source of the waters of misery in which I am now engulphed, I was a lawless planet, running at will; and the orbit I described laid waste more than one fair region of peace and happiness.