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 Pitt's discovery 
of the powder-tax has proved that we can do with- 
out them. 
