TO THE SPIRIT OF EVENING. (_For the Mirror._) Mild genius of the silent eve! Thy pathway through the radiant skies, Is the rich track which sunbeams weave With all their varied, mingling, dyes, Ere yet the lingering sun has fled, Or glory left the mountain's head. Yet not one ray of sunset's hue Illumes thy silent, peaceful train; And scarce a murmur trembles through The woods, to hail thy gentle reign, Save where the nightingale, afar, Sings wildly to thy lonely star. Yet gentlest eve, attending thee, Come meek devotion, peace, and rest, Mild contemplation, memory, And silence with her sway so blest; And every mortal wish and thought, By thee to holiest peace is wrought. Thine airs that crisp the quiet stream, Are soft as slumbering infants' breath: The trembling stars, that o'er thee beam, Are pure as Faith's own crowning wreath: And e'en thy silence has for me A charm more sweet than melody. Oh gentle spirit, blending all The beauties parting day bestows, With deeper hues that slowly fall, To shadow Nature's soft repose; So sweet, so mild, thy transient sway, We mourn it should so soon decay. But like the loveliest, frailest things We prize on earth, thou canst not last; For scarce thine hour its sweetness brings To soothe, and bless us, e'er 'tis past; And night, dull cheerless night destroys Thy tender light, and peaceful joys. SYLVA. * * * * * TRAVELLING NOTES IN SOUTH WALES. (_To the Editor._) I observe a communication respecting my little note on the shrimp in one of your recent Numbers. Whether shrimps or not, I was not aware of my error, for they closely resembled them, and were not "as different as possible," as H.W. asserts. Every person too, must have remarked the agility of the old shrimp when caught. They were besides of various sizes, many being much larger that what H.W. means as the "sea flea." Perhaps H.W. will be good enough to describe the size of the latter when he sends his history of the shrimp. With regard to the "encroachers," my information must have been incorrect. I had omitted, accidentally however, in the hurry of writing, to add "if undisturbed for a certain period," to the passage quoted in page 20 of your No. 529. In North Wales, some years ago, there were some serious disturbances concerning an invasion of the alleged rights of the peasantry, but I do not now remember the particulars. Few things by the way, have been attended with more mischievous effects in England than the extensive system of inclosures which has been pursued within the last thirty years. No less than 3,000 inclosure acts have been passed during that period; and nearly 300,000 acres formerly common, inclosed: from which the poor cottager was once enabled to add greatly to his comfort, and by the support thus afforded him, to keep a cow, pigs, &c.