MUSEUMS. 



319 



show, by sundry documents, which have reached 

 me through the medium of the press, that, if they 

 be allowed to drive their new-fashioned vehicles on 

 our good old zodiac much longer, they will disfigure 

 it in such a manner that, at last, we shall not be 

 able to distinguish the Bull from the Ram, or the 

 beautifully tapering fingers on the hand of the Vir- 

 gin, from the rough and crooked claws which arm 

 the shell-bound body of the Crab. 



ON MUSEUMS. 



These are the times for scientific discoveries. 

 Till lately, we went fastest on a race-horse; but 

 now we go faster still upon a rail. In our days, 

 an Italian has put many thousand pounds of English 

 money into his pocket, for imparting to Mr. Bull 

 the important secret that we can have as good music 

 with one fiddle-string as we formerly had with four. 

 Witches can now go through the air without the aid 

 of broom -staff*, by applying to Mrs. Graham, the 

 aeronautess. A piece of stamped paper from Thread- 

 needle Street is as eagerly sought after as the 

 purest gold of Peru. Vessels are now made to 

 go both against wind and tide; a thing deemed 

 utterly impossible in brave Commodore Trun- 

 nion's day. It was once indispensably necessary 

 for Englishmen to wear tails (either club or 

 pig) on the nape of the neck : Billy Pitfs discovery 

 of the powder- tax has proved that we can do with- 

 out them. 



