the Virgin Mary, which was originally the altar-piece in the church of St. Luke.-" St. Luke," observes a recent traveller, "has all the fire, the glow, the inspiration of commanding genius. It struck me the most extraordinary the first time I beheld it. I was then fresh from England, where, excepting the cartoons, we have nothing worthy the name of Raphael: I had seen none of the treasures of his genius which Rome contains, and I actually dreamt of this figure."

The scull has been poetically called "the palace of the soul;" and the scull of Raphael will be of still greater interest to the reader of the following biographical particulars of the illustrious painter.

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino) was born at Urbino, in 1483, and was the son of a painter of no great estimation. After a course of studies in painting, Raphael was, in 1508, invited by Pope Julius II. to paint, in fresco, the chambers of the Vatican. Here he painted his famous picture of the School of Athens. He was also employed by a rich banker at Rome, Agostino Chigi, for whose family chapel he painted some of his most beautiful pieces; but a passion which he conceived for a beautiful young woman, the daughter of a baker, who thence took the name of La Belle Fornarina, causing him to withdraw to her house, Chigi invited her to his palace, that the painter might undergo no interruption.

Raphael was distinguished as an architect, and in part built the galleries of the Vatican. He was also superintendent of the building of St. Peter's; and made designs for some tapestry, which designs being on large sheets of paper, are called cartoons, from the Italian word cartona, or paper. Of these splendid drawings we have already spoken. Another celebrated labour of art is Raphael's picture of the Transfiguration. He also commenced an apartment in the Vatican called the Hall of Constantine; but was prevented finishing

it by his untimely death, which took place on his thirtyseventh birth-day, 1520. Leo, the pope, who had been his chief patron, testified great emotion at the news of his decease, and caused his body to lie in state, in a hall, in which was placed his picture of the Transfiguration. He was buried in the church of the Rotundo, at Rome, and Cardinal Bembo wrote his epitaph.

Raphael was handsome, and of a mild and amiable character; but his immoderate attachment to the fair sex induced him to decline matrimony, though Cardinal Bibliana offered him one of his nieces.

Raphael's greatest works are his frescoes in the Vatican. His oil pictures are every where most highly prized; and more than 740 pieces have been engraved from the designs of Raphael.

BONAPARTE'S MILITARY CARRIAGE.

It is a curious fact, that the fall of this memorable chieftain may be traced to the hour in which he entered the vehicle here described, which was publicly exhibited for several months at Bullock's Museum, Piccadilly. It was as fatal to him as the chariots of the sun had been to Phaeton. The vehicle remains, but what has become of the charioteer? It was this carriage that conveyed Napoleon to the shore of France at his former exile; it was in this that he made his excursions in Elba; in it he returned to his recovered capital; and it was this which bore him to the fatal field of Waterloo!

These circumstances and reflections present themselves with peculiar force to the mind, when the object itself is brought within view, as well as under contemplation.

The exterior of the carriage is, in many respects, very like the modern English travelling chariots. The colour is a dark blue, with a handsome bordered ornament in gold; but the

imperial arms are emblazoned on the pannels of the doors. It has a lamp at each corner of the roof, and there is one lamp fixed at the back, which can throw a strong light into the interior.

In the front there is a great projection; the utility of which is very considerable. Beyond this projection, and nearer to the horses, is a seat for the coachman. This is ingeniously contrived so as to prevent the driver from viewing the interior of the carriage; and it is also placed so as to afford to those who are within, a clear sight of the horses, and of the surrounding country. There are two sabre cuts, which were aimed at the coachman when the carriage was taken.

The pannels of the carriage are bullet proof; at the hinder part is a projecting sword case; and the pannel at the lower part of the back is so contrived, that it may be let down, and thereby facilitate the addition or removal of conveniences, without disturbing the traveller.

The under-carriage, which has swan-neck iron cranes, is of prodigious strength; the springs are semicircular, and each of them seems capable of bearing half a ton; the wheels, and more particularly the tire, are also of great strength. The pole is contrived to act as a lever, by which the carriage is kept on a level in every kind of road. The under-carriage and wheels are painted in vermillion, edged with the colour of the body, and heightened with gold. The harness is very little worthy an imperial equipage; it bears strong marks of its service in the Russian campaign, and its former uses are to be recognised only by the bees, which are to be seen in several places.

The interior deserves particular attention, for it is adapted to the various purposes of a kitchen, a bed-room, a dressingroom, an office, and an eating-room.

The seat has a separation; but whether for pride or convenience, can only be conjectured.

In front of the seat are compartments for every utensil of probable utility; of some there are two sets, one of gold, the other of silver. Among the gold articles are a tea-pot, coffeepot, sugar-basin, cream-ewer, coffee-cup and saucer, slop-basin, candlesticks, wash-hand basin, plates for breakfast, &c.; each article is superbly embossed with the imperial arms, and engraved with his favourite N: and by the aid of the lamp, any thing could be heated in the carriage.

Beneath the coachman's seat is a small box, about two feet and a half long, and about four inches square; this contains a bedstead of polished steel, which could be fitted up within one or two minutes; the carriage contained mattrasses, and the other requisites for bedding, of very exquisite quality; all of them commodiously arranged. There are also articles for strict personal convenience, made of silver, fitted into the carriage.

A small mahogany case, about ten inches square by eighteen long, contains the peculiar necessaire of the ex-emperor. It is somewhat, in appearance, like an English writing-desk; having the imperial arms most beautifully engraved on the cover. It contains nearly one hundred articles, almost all of them of solid gold.

The liquor case, like the necessaire, is made of mahogany; it contains two bottles; one of them still has the rum which was found in it at the time; the other contains some extremely fine old Malaga wine. Various articles of perfumery are among the luxuries which remain; and notwithstanding Napoleon's wish to discourage British manufactures, there are nevertheless some Windsor soap, and some English court plaster; of eau de Cologne, eau de lavande, salt spirit, &c.; these are sufficient to show, that perfumers were not disregarded.

There is a writing-desk, which may be drawn out so as to write whilst the carriage is proceeding; an inkstand, pens, &c.

were found in it; and here was found the ex-emperor's celebrated portfolio.

In the front there are also many smaller compartments, for maps and telescopes; on the ceiling of the carriage is a network for carrying small travelling requisites.

On one of the doors of the carriage are two pistol holsters in which were found pistols, that had been manufactured at Verseilles; and in a holster, close to the seat, a double barrelled pistol was also found; all the pistols were found loaded. On the side there hung a large silver chronometer with a silver chain; it is of the most elaborate workmanship.

The doors of the carriage have locks and bolts; the blinds, behind the windows, shut and open by means of a spring, and may be closed so as to form a barrier almost impenetrable.

On the outside of the front windows is a roller-blind made of strong painted canvass; when pulled down, this will exclude rain or snow, and therefore secure the windows and blinds from being blocked up, as well as prevent the damp from penetrating.

All the articles which have been enumerated, still remain with the carriage; but when it was taken, there were a great number of diamonds, and treasure, in money, &c. of immense value.--BULLOCK's Curiosities.

PROGRESS OF THE MARVELLOUS.

THE Nuremberg Correspondent gives an account of a gigantic Vat, made for Stretton & Co., the London Brewers, which, it says, is 34 feet high and 96 in diameter, and quite outdoes the famous ton of Heidelberg. This stupendous vat is stated by the same authority to have been installed in the brewery by dining 796 persons within its bounds at once, with abundance of elbow-room!