The constellations in the southern hemisphere afford to our antipodes a splendid prospect, different from those in the northern, and excelling them in brilliancy and richness; among others, the one last specified, (and with which the observations on this hemisphere are concluded,) is remarkable for its vivid beauty; it has been referred to with uncommon feeling by Humboldt, the celebrated traveller, and made the subject of verse by one of the sweetest poetesses of the present day, (Mrs. Hemans). The former in his travels in South America, thus speaks of it. the first time," he observes,

"We saw distinctly, for "the Cross of the South,

only in the night of the 4th and 5th of July, in the

sixteenth degree of latitude: it was strongly inclined, and appeared from time to time between the clouds; the centre of which furrowed by uncondensed lightnings, reflected a silver light. The pleasure felt on discovering the Southern Cross was warmly shared by such of the crew as had lived in the colonies. In the solitude of the seas we hail a star as a friend, from whom we have been long separated. Among the Portuguese and the Spaniards peculiar motives seem to increase this feeling; a religious sentiment attaches them to a constellation, the form of which recals the sign of the faith planted by their ancestors in the deserts of the New World. The two great stars which mark the summit and the foot of the cross have nearly the same right ascension, it follows that the constellation is almost perpendicular at the moment when it passes the meridian. This circumstance

is known to every nation that lives beyond the tropics, or in the southern hemisphere. It is known at what hour of the night, in different seasons, the Southern Cross is erect, or inclined. It is a time-piece, that advances very regularly nearly four minutes a day; and no other group of stars exhibits to the naked eye, an observation of time so easily made. How often have we heard our guides exclaim in the savannas of Venezuela, or in the deserts extending from Lima to Truxillo, 'Midnight is past, the Cross begins to bend!' How often these words reminded us of that affecting scene, where Paul and Virginia, seated near the source of the river of Lataniers, conversed together for the last time; and when the old man, at the sight of the Southern Cross, warns them, that it is time to separate."

THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

In the silence and grandeur of midnight I tread,
Where savannahs in boundless magnificence spread;
And bearing sublimely their snow-wreaths on high
The far Cordilleras unite with the sky.

The fern-tree wanes o'er me, the fire-fly's red light
With its quick glancing splendour illumines the night;
And I read, in each tint of the skies and the earth,
How distant my steps from the land of my birth.

But to thee, as thy lode-stars resplendently burn
In their clear depths of blue, with devotion I turn,
Bright Cross of the South! and beholding thee shine,
Scarce regret the loved land of the olive and vine.

Thou recallest the ages when first o'er the main
My father unfolded the streamer of Spain,
And planted their faith in the regions that see
Its unperishing symbol emblazoned in thee.

How oft, in their course o'er the oceans unknown

Where all was mysterious and awfully lone,

Hath their spirit been cheered by thy light, when the deep
Reflected its brilliance, in tremulous sleep!

As the vision that rose to the lord of the world,
When first his bright banner of faith was unfurled ;
E'en such, to the heroes of Spain, when their prow
Made the billows the path of their glory, wert thou!

And to me, as I traverse the world of the west,
Thro' deserts of beauty, in stillness that rest;
By forests and rivers untamed in their pride,
Thy beams have a language, thy course is a guide.

T

Shine on! my own land is a far distant spot,

And the stars of thy sphere can enlighten it not;
And the eyes which I love, tho' e'en now they may be
O'er the firmament wandering, can gaze not on thee!

But thou to my thoughts art a pure blazing shrine,
A fount of bright hopes and of visions divine;
And my soul like an eagle exulting and tree
Soars high o'er the Andes, to mingle with thee!

Mrs. Hemans.

The following interesting correspondence is in the same spirit with the preceding beautiful poem, and occurred between a father in England and his youthful son, an officer in the Royal Navy, then stationed at Rio Janeiro, South America; the former, at the conclusion of one of his letters, introduced the following:

"Direct your eyes to where the Sun,
Shines with meridian force, at One;
Just at that spot, some thousand miles,
I trust my Henry lives and smiles."

To this affectionate parental reminiscence, the following acknowledgment was returned:

"If yon glorious luminary,

Reminds you of your absent Harry;
Rely upon it, when I see

The glorious sun, I'll think of Thee."