here and there shaped by the imagina tion into grand and weird figures— among them the eagle, the lion's head, and the heroic countenance of Wash ington : when you have taken in the proportions and circumstances of this elevated and wide span of rock — so wide that the skies seem to slope from it to the horizon—you are called to in vestigate other features of the scene which strain the mind and the eyesight less, and are distributed around in al most endless variety. Looking through the arch, the eye is engaged with a va rious vista. Just beyond rises the fray ed, unseamed wall of rock ; the purple mountains stand out in the background : beneath them is a row of hills and mat ted woods enclosing the dell below, while the creek coursing away from them appears to have been fed in their recesses. A few feet above the bridge the stream deflects, and invites to a

THE

149

point of view of the most curious effect. Taking a few steps backward, we see the interval of sky between the great abutments gradually shut out : thus ap parently joined or lapped over, they give the effect of the face of a rock, with a straight seam running down it, and the imagination seizes the picture as of mighty gates closed upon us, and leaving no outlet from the contracted circle of mountains and hills. Now let us move across to a position fronting where these gates apparently close. Slowly they seem to swing open on un seen and noiseless hinges ; wider and wider grows the happy interval of sky, until at last wide open stands the gate way raised above the forest, resting as it were on the brow of heaven—a world lying beyond it, its rivers and its hills expanding themselves to the light and splendor of the unshadowed day. Edward A. Pollard.

EMPEROR ALEXANDER.

IN February last, returning from Washington to Philadelphia, Mr. Jay Cooke found as his companions the Russian and Spanish ministers and some of their attaches. An interesting conversation upon the subject of our great rebellion took place, and mutual inquiries were made as to various inci dents and circumstances connected with each of these countries—Russia, Spain and the United States. M. de Catacazy, the Russian minister, was partic ularly eloquent when describing his own country and its institutions, and especially ardent in expressions of love and affection for the Emperor Alexan der. An incident showing the regard and sympathy felt for the United States by the emperor is worthy of being re lated : When M. de Catacazy was sum moned to the Imperial palace to receive his instructions before sailing for Amer

ica, he found the emperor engaged in writing a letter to the empress, who was absent. The emperor soon completed his letter, and turned to converse with the minister, his whole manner show ing the earnestness and affability of his nature. " I have sent for you," said the emperor, "to give you instructions as to the conduct of your mission. I wish you to assure the American nation of our earnest and hearty sympathy and respect. Whatever you can do to draw the two nations more closely to gether, and to unite our interests more and more inseparably, you will be ex pected to do. The friendship between the two nations has been, and must continue to be, based on reciprocal ap preciation and discretion. All my in structions are summed up in these few words. I have nothing more to say." In further continuing the conversa