"Soon shall thy arm, unconquer'd Steam, afar Drag the slow barge, or drive the rapid car; Or, on wide-waving wings expanded bear The flying chariot through the fields of air,[1] Fair crews triumphant leaning from above, Shall wave their fluttering 'kerchiefs as they move; Or warrior bands alarm the gaping crowd, And armies shrink beneath the shadowy cloud: So mighty Hercules o'er many a clime Waved his huge mace in virtue's cause sublime; Unmeasured strength with early art combined, Awed, served, protected, and amazed mankind." A distinguished photographer imagines that he has traced the foreshadowing of his delightful science in the following passage from our great epic poet: "With one touch virtuous Th' arch-chemic sun, so far from us remote, Produces." _Paradise Lost_, b. iii. v. 608. ----- Footnote 1: Darwin projected an "aërial steam-carriage," in which he proposed to use wings similar to those of a bird, to which motion was to be given by a gigantic power worked by high-pressure steam, though the details of his plan were not bodied forth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONSTRUCTION OF THE THAMES TUNNEL. When the ingenious Miss Pardoe visited Constantinople in 1836, she was not less surprised than gratified by the inquiry of an Albanian chief, as to the probable completion of the Thames tunnel. This, however, is but one of the many instances of the anxiety with which the great work was watched throughout continental Europe. In Egypt, too, where a new country is rising, phoenix-like, upon the ashes of the old world, the progress of the tunnel was regarded with like curiosity; participated, indeed, throughout the civilised world. This interest is fully attested by the visitors' book at the Tunnel, wherein are inscribed the names of scientific men belonging to nearly every city of importance. The engineer of this great work, Mr. (afterwards Sir) Mark Isambard Brunel, completed his design in 1823; and amongst those who then regarded it as practicable were the Duke of Wellington and the late Dr. Wollaston. The works were commenced in 1825, and the Tunnel itself in 1826; and by March, 1827, it had advanced about one-third of the whole length. All proceeded well till May 18, when the river burst into the Tunnel with such velocity and volume, as to fill it in fifteen minutes; but, although the men were at work, no lives were lost. The hole, thirty-eight feet deep, was closed with bags of clay and hazel-rods, the water pumped out, and the works resumed in September. On Jan. 12, 1828, the river broke in a second time, and filled the Tunnel in less than ten minutes; when the rush of water brought with it a strong current of air