The Brussels _Herald_ gives an account of a curious and costly work of art, which a great landholder of the Walloon Provinces has ordered of the Depaepes, of Bruges. These artists are instructed to copy in Gothic letters _L'Imitation de Jésus Christ_, by the Abbé d'Assance. The work will fill six hundred and seventy pages, each of which will be about three-quarters of a yard in height, by eighteen inches wide. They will have to execute one hundred and fourteen engravings, from the great masters of the Flemish school, Van Eyck, Memling, Pourbus, Classens, &c. The pages on which will be displayed the _Imitation of Jesus Christ_, will be encircled with garlands and other ornaments, in blue and gold.
At the last annual meeting of the NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN, the rank of _Academician_ was conferred on T. Hicks, G.A. Baker, H.K. Brown, J.A. Cropsey, T. Addison Richards, R. Gignoux, P.P. Duggan, Alfred Jones, R.M. Pratt, J.W. Casilear, James Smillie and George W. Flagg. At the same time, Messrs R.W. Hubbard, J. Thompson, and Vincent Colyer, were made associates; and Messrs. Darley, Falconer, Lacombe, Kellogg and Ruggles, honorary members.
But yesterday a naked sod, The dandies sneered from Rotten-row, And cantered o'er it to and fro; And see, 'tis done! As though 'twere by a wizard's rod, A blazing arch of lucid glass Leaps like a fountain from the grass To meet the sun!
A quiet green but few days since, With cattle browsing in the shade, And lo! long lines of bright arcade In order raised; A palace as for fairy prince, A rare paradise, such as man Saw never, since mankind began And built and glazed!
A peaceful place it was but now, And lo! within its shining streets. A multitude, of nations meets: A countless throng, I see beneath the crystal bow, And Gaul and German, Russ and Turk, Each with his native handiwork, And busy tongue.
I felt a thrill of love and awe To mark the different garb of each, The changing tongue, the various speech Together blent. A thrill, methinks like His who saw "All people dwelling upon earth Praising our God with solemn mirth And one consent."
High Sovereign in your Royal state! Captains and Chiefs and Councillors, Before the lofty palace doors Are open set. Hush! ere you pass the shining gate; Hush! ere the heaving curtain draws, And let the Royal pageant pause A moment yet.