thinking that nobody knows anything but themselves. I heard my master say that he expected that I should some day tumble down the ha-ha; whereas I would have him to know that I can discern a precipice from plain ground as well as himself. Sometimes my master repeats with much seeming triumph the following lines, which occasion a loud laugh.

Timotheus placed on high

Amidst the tuneful choir,

With flying fingers touched the lyre.

For my part I see no wit in the application; nor know whence the verses are quoted, perhaps from some prophet of his own, who, if he penned them for the sake of ridiculing tortoises, bestowed his pains, I think, to poor purposes. These are some of my grievances; but they sit very light on me in comparison of what remains behind. Know then, tender-hearted lady, that my greatest misfortune, and what I have never divulged to any one before, is the want of society of my own kind. This reflection is always uppermost in my own mind, but comes upon me with irresistible force every spring. It was in the month of May last that I resolved to elope from my place of confinement, for my fancy had represented to me that probably many agreeable tortoises of both sexes might inhabit the heights of Baker's Hill, or the extensive plains of the neighbouring meadow, both of which I could discern from the terrace.

One sunny morning, therefore, I watched my opportunity, found the wicket open, eluded the

vigilance of Thomas Hoar, and escaped into the saint-foin, which began to be in bloom, and thence into the beans. I was missing eight days, wandering in this wilderness of sweets, and exploring the meadow at times. But my pains were all to no purpose; I could find no society such as I wished and sought for. I began to grow hungry, and to wish myself at home. I therefore came forth in sight, and surrendered myself up to Thomas, who had been inconsolable in my absence. Thus, Madam, have I given you a faithful account of my satisfactions and sorrows, the latter of which are mostly uppermost. You are a lady, I understand, of much sensibility. Let me therefore, make my case your own in the following manner; and then you will judge of my feelings.

Suppose you were to be kidnapped away tomorrow, in the bloom of your life, to a land of Tortoises, and were never to see again for fifty years a human face! Think on this, dear lady, and pity your sorrowful reptile,

TIMOTHY.

Gilbert White.

LXXIII.

A VISIT TO A MONASTERY.

OUR journey during the forenoon was only twelve or fourteen miles, to Steyer, through most agreeable by-roads and a country not only much

broken and diversified, but with extensive prospects closed up by the Styrian Mountains.

We remained there only long enough to dine, and then, through an uncommonly rich, wellcultivated country, we came to Kremsmünster, another grand Benedictine monastery, larger even than either of the others we had seen. We found it standing on a hillside, with its little village, as usual, gathered under its protection, the pretty, rapid stream of the Krems brawling below, and a wide, rich valley running up beyond, until it is grandly closed up by snow-clad mountains, grouped together in very picturesque forms.

We drove through a part of the irregular buildings that compose the wide extent of the monastery, and crossing two large courts,-where we found on all sides proofs that it was a gymnasium as well as a convent,-were brought to the part inhabited by the Prelate. We were carried at once to his apartments, and found him an old man, nearly seventy, or quite seventy years old, broken with age, and talking so imperfectly from want of teeth, that he could not be readily understood. received us very kindly, and the proper officer having made his appearance, we were asked how many rooms we needed, and were immediately shown to a suite of five excellent ones, large enough to make a dozen such as are used and built nowa-days. After we had refreshed ourselves, we were invited to see the establishment.

He

It dates from 770, but the buildings have been erected at different times, chiefly between 1300

and 1690, and are spread very irregularly over a wide space of ground. The number of monks is eighty-four, forty of whom reside in the house, and the rest are priests in parishes. The monastery has, besides, a gymnasium, where above two hundred and fifty young men are in a constant course of education, gratis, fifty of whom are entirely supported by the Emperor, and a part of the rest by the funds of the institution. We went first to the

church. It was originally of Gothic architecture, as its proportions still show, but about one hundred and thirty or one hundred and forty years ago it was changed, according to the perverse fashion of the times, into an Italian-looking structure, and nearly spoilt. It will hold about two thousand persons. From the church we were carried to see a large court, in which were five enormous stone reservoirs of water, supplied by living fountains and filled with some thousands of fish,-trout, and all sorts of fresh-water fish,-who were disporting themselves there, and fed for the table of the monastery. It was a pretty sight and a very extraordinary one, considering the amount of ground covered by this truly monastic luxury, and the number of fish it contained. From this court we passed into the garden, whose formal walks often. gave us fine views of the picturesque country about us, and of the Styrian Mountains. . . Their green houses were very good, and the conservatory for fig-trees very ample. But it was now suppertime, and we were led to the prelate's apartments, where we found Professor Heinrich, to whom we

had brought letters, and who, as the head of the part devoted to education, and having the especial oversight of the Emperor's scholars, is a very efficient person in the monastery. He is about forty years old, and evidently a man of an active, vigilant mind. Immediately after we arrived in the prelate's parlour, "The master of the kitchen," a round, fat, burly old monk, came in, and very ceremoniously announced that supper was ready. The prelate desired Mrs. T. to follow the rubicund official, and then preceding the rest of us, we all rather solemnly marched to the supper, which we found served in an enormous hall of marble, about sixty feet high and wide, and long in proportion. As we entered it, I perceived the other officials of the monastery standing together on the opposite side of the hall. The prelate and our party bowed to them, and the two parties advanced, in parallel lines, up the different sides of the hall, till we had traversed about one half of it. There we all stopped, and each asked a silent blessing, the monks crossed themselves, we bowed all round, and then traversing the rest of the hall were arranged at table, on each side of the prelate, rather `ceremoniously. We were twelve in all, and seemed lost in the vast and splendid hall. The monks were of course among the elders, for they hold the offices of the monastery, but they were ordinary, dull-looking persons in general. The supper consisted of five courses, including soup, and was only moderately good; but there was a bottle of good wine for each, which the monks in general finished.