Beautiful! beautiful!--On they float Those lyre-like bells--a soul in each note, A tongue in each tone of the elfin chime, To carol the bliss of our fadeless clime. Beautiful! beautiful!--halcyon rest Breathe they to the weary, woe-worn breast; Lost in their song is the dream of Earth's dree, Companion dear! and they're singing for thee. Beautiful! beautiful!--thou shalt feel Their eloquent music from thee steal Those darkling thoughts, that should mournfully twine With the light, the life, and the joy--_now_ thine. Beautiful! beautiful!--each glad bell Sings to thy soul--'Thou hast borne thee well: The toil, the strife, and the tempest are o'er, And thy rest is won--on the Deathless Shore.' M.L.B. * * * * * SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. * * * * * MR. HUNT, M.P. FOR PRESTON. (_From Speakers and Speeches in Parliament, in the New Monthly Magazine._) Feb. 3. Mr. Hunt.--I was particularly curious to witness the _debut_ of the Hon. Member for Preston, in an assembly so little accustomed, as that so long misnamed the House of Commons, to such an out-and-outer of the Demos coming between the wind and their nobility--to see whether any _gaucherie_ of manner would betray an uneasy consciousness of his not being quite at ease among those scions of aristocracy, who occupy benches originally intended for the virtual representatives of the people. Mr. Hunt, on the whole, bore himself well; and, by a total absence of affectation, of either tone or manner--that surest test of the gentleman, at least of Nature's forming--disappointed his audience of their ready smiles at demagogue vulgarity. But once, and that for a moment, did his self-possession seem to fail him while going through the ceremonies preceding a new member's taking his seat. After the member has signed his name and taken the oaths, he is formally introduced by the Clerk of the House to the Speaker, who usually greets the new trespasser on his patience by a shake of the hands. This ceremony is in general performed by the present Speaker with a gloved hand towards those not particularly distinguished by wealth or pedigree. When the new member for Preston was introduced to him, he was in the act of taking snuff, with his glove off. Mr. Hunt made a bow, not remarkable for its graceful repose, at a distance--apprehensive, as it struck me, that the acknowledgment would be that of a _noli me tangere_, exclusive. He was agreeably disappointed: the Speaker gave him his ungloved hand at once, in a manner almost cordial; and Mr. Hunt took his seat, evidently pleased by the flattering courteousness of his reception.