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diff --git a/11112-0.txt b/11112-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e4e325 --- /dev/null +++ b/11112-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1526 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11112 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 13, No. 351.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1829. [PRICE 2d. + + +[Illustration: Macclesfield Bridge, Regent's Park.] + + + +MACCLESFIELD BRIDGE. + + +This picturesque structure crosses the Canal towards the Northern verge +of the Regent's Park; and nearly opposite to it is a road leading to +Primrose Hill, as celebrated in the annals of Cockayne as was the +Palatino among the ancient Romans. + +The bridge was built from the designs of Mr. Morgan, and its +construction is considered to be "appropriate and architectural." Its +piers are formed by cast-iron columns, of the Grecian Doric order, from +which spring the arches, covering the towing-path, the canal itself, and +the southern bank. The _abacus_, or top of the columns, the mouldings or +ornaments of the capitals, and the frieze, are in exceeding good taste, +as are the ample shafts. The supporters of the roadway, likewise, +correspond with the order; although, says Mr. Elmes, the architect, +"fastidious critics may object to the dignity of the pure ancient Doric +being violated by degrading it into supporters of modern arches." The +centre arch is appropriated to the canal and the towing-path, and the +two external arches to foot-passengers, and as communications to the +road above them. Mr. Elmes[1] sums up the merits of the bridge as +follows:--"It has a beautiful and light appearance, and is an +improvement in execution upon a design of Perronet's for an +_architectural_ bridge, that is, a bridge of _orders_. The columns are +well proportioned, and suitably robust, carrying solidity, grace, and +beauty in every part; from the massy grandeur of the abacus, to the +graceful revolving of the beautiful echinus, and to the majestic +simplicity of the slightly indented flutings." He then suggests certain +improvements in the design, which would have made the bridge +"unexceptionably the most novel and the most tasteful in the metropolis. +Even as it is, it is scarcely surpassed for lightness, elegance, and +originality by any in Europe. It is of the same family with the +beautiful little bridge in Hyde Park, between the new entrance and the +barracks." + +We are happy to quote the above praise on the construction of +_Macclesfield Bridge_, inasmuch as a critical notice of many of the +structures in the Regent's Park would subject them to much severe and +merited censure. The forms of bridges admit, perhaps, of more display of +taste than any other species of ornamental architecture, and of a +greater means of contributing to the picturesque beauty of the +surrounding scenery. + + + [1] Letter-press to Jones's "Metropolitan Improvements." + + * * * * * + +TRIBUTES TO THE DEAD, &c. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + + "When our friends we lose, + Our alter'd feelings alter too our views; + What in their tempers, teazed or distress'd, + Is with our anger, and the dead at rest; + And must we grieve, no longer trial made, + For that impatience which we then display'd? + Now to their love and worth of every kind, + A soft compunction turns the afflicted mind; + Virtues neglected then, adored become, + And graces slighted, blossom on the tomb." + +CRABBE. + + +"It was the early wish of Pope," says Dr. Knox, "that when he died, not +a stone might tell where he lay. It is a wish that will commonly be +granted with reluctance. The affection of those whom we leave behind us +is at a loss for methods to display its wonted solicitude, and seeks +consolation under sorrow, in doing honour to all that remains. It is +natural that filial piety, parental tenderness, and conjugal love, +should mark, with some fond memorial, the clay-cold spot where the form, +still fostered in the bosom, moulders away. And did affection go no +farther, who could censure? But, in recording the virtues of the +departed, either zeal or vanity leads to an excess perfectly ludicrous. +A marble monument, with an inscription palpably false and ridiculously +pompous, is far more offensive to true taste, than the wooden memorial +of the rustic, sculptured with painted bones, and decked out with +death's head in all the colours of the rainbow. There is an elegance and +a classical simplicity in the turf-clad heap of mould which covers the +poor man's grave, though it has nothing to defend it from the insults of +the proud but a bramble. The primrose that grows upon it is a better +ornament than the gilded lies on the oppressor's tombstone." + +The Greeks had a custom of bedecking tombs with herbs and flowers, among +which parsley was chiefly in use, as appears from Plutarch's story of +Timoleon, who, marching up an ascent, from the top of which he might +take a view of the army and strength of the Carthaginians, was met by a +company of mules laden with parsley, which his soldiers conceived to be +a very ill boding and fatal occurrence, that being the very herb +wherewith they adorned the sepulchres of the dead. This custom gave +birth to that despairing proverb, when we pronounce of one dangerously +sick, that he has need of nothing but parsley; which is in effect to +say, he's a dead man, and ready for the grave. All sorts of purple and +white flowers were acceptable to the dead; as the amaranthus, which was +first used by the Thessalians to adorn Achilles's grave. The rose, too, +was very grateful; nor was the use of myrtle less common. In short, +graves were bedecked with garlands of all sorts of flowers, as appears +from Agamemnon's daughter in Sophocles:-- + + + "No sooner came I to my father's tomb, + But milk fresh pour'd in copious streams did flow, + And _flowers_ of ev'ry sort around were strow'd." + + +Several other tributes were frequently laid upon graves, as ribands; +whence it is said that Epaminondas's soldiers being disanimated at +seeing the riband that hung upon his spear carried by the wind to a +certain Lacedæmonian sepulchre, he bid them take courage, for that it +portended destruction to the Lacedæmons, it being customary to deck the +sepulchres of their dead with ribands. Another thing dedicated to the +dead was their hair. Electra, in Sophocles, says, that Agamemnon had +commanded her and Chrysosthemis to pay this honour:-- + + + "With drink-off'rings and _locks of hair_ we must, + According to his will, his _tomb_ adorn." + + +It was likewise customary to perfume the grave-stones with sweet +ointments, &c. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + +SONG. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + + I've roam'd the thorny path of life, + And search'd abroad to find. + Amid the blooming flowers so rife, + That germ called peace of mind. + At length a lovely lily caught + My anxious, longing view, + With all the sweets of "Heartsease" fraught, + That fragrant flower was YOU. + + Thy smile to me is Heaven divine, + Thy voice the soul of Love-- + In pity, then, sweet maid, be mine, + My "heartsease" flow'ret prove. + Nor wealth nor power would I attain, + Though uncontrolled and free-- + All other joys to me are pain, + When sever'd, love, from THEE. + + +ELFORD. + + * * * * * + +CHARLES BRANDON, AFTERWARDS DUKE OF SUFFOLK. + +_(For the Mirror.)_ + + +An event in the life of this nobleman gave Otway the plot for his +celebrated tragedy of "The Orphan," though he laid the scene of his play +in Bohemia. It is recorded in the "English Adventures," a very scarce +pamphlet, published in 1667, only two or three copies of which are +extant. The father of Charles Brandon retired, on the death of his lady, +to the borders of Hampshire. His family consisted of two sons, and a +young lady, the daughter of a friend, lately deceased, whom he adopted +as his own child. + +This lady being singularly beautiful, as well as amiable in her manners, +attracted the affections of both the brothers. The elder, however, was +the favourite, and he privately married her; which the younger not +knowing, and overhearing an appointment of the lovers to meet the next +night in her bed-chamber, he contrived to get his brother otherwise +employed, and made the signal of admission himself, (thinking it a mere +intrigue.) Unfortunately he succeeded. + +On discovery, the lady lost her reason, and soon after died. The two +brothers fought, and the elder fell. The father broke his heart a few +months afterwards. The younger brother, Charles Brandon, the +unintentional author of all this family misery, quitted England in +despair, with a fixed determination of never returning. + +Being abroad for several years, his nearest relations supposed him dead, +and began to take the necessary steps for obtaining his estates; when, +roused by this intelligence, he returned privately to England, and for a +time took obscure lodgings in the vicinity of his family mansion. + +While he was in this retreat, the young king, (Henry VIII.), who had +just buried his father, was one day hunting on the borders of Hampshire, +when he heard the cries of a female in distress in an adjoining wood. +His gallantry immediately summoned him to the place, though he then +happened to be detached from all his courtiers, where he saw two +ruffians attempting to violate the honour of a young lady. The king +instantly drew on them; and a scuffle ensued, which roused the _reverie_ +of Charles Brandon, who was taking his morning walk in an adjoining +thicket. He immediately ranged himself on the side of the king, whom he +then did not know; and by his dexterity, soon disarmed one of the +ruffians, while the other fled. + +The king, charmed with this act of gallantry, so congenial to his own +mind, inquired the name and family of the stranger; and not only +repossessed him of his patrimonial estates, but took him under his +immediate protection. + +It was this same Charles Brandon who afterwards privately married +Henry's sister, Margaret, queen-dowager of France; which marriage the +king not only forgave, but created him Duke of Suffolk, and continued +his favour towards him to the last hour of the duke's life. + +He died before Henry; and the latter showed, in his attachment to this +nobleman, that notwithstanding his fits of capriciousness and cruelty, +he was capable of a cordial and steady friendship. He was sitting in +council when the news of Suffolk's death reached him; and he publicly +took that occasion, both to express his own sorrow, and to celebrate the +merits of the deceased. He declared, that during the whole course of +their acquaintance, his brother-in-law had not made a single attempt to +injure an adversary, and had never whispered a word to the disadvantage +of any one; "and are there _any of you_, my lords, who can say as much?" +When the king subjoined these words, (says the historian,) he looked +round in all their faces, and saw that confusion which the consciousness +of secret guilt naturally threw upon them. + +Otway took his plot from the fact related in this pamphlet; but to +avoid, perhaps, interfering in a circumstance which might affect many +noble families at that time living, he laid the scene of his tragedy in +Bohemia. + +There is a large painting of the above incident now at Woburn, the seat +of his Grace the Duke of Bedford; and the old duchess-dowager, in +showing this picture a few years before her death to a nobleman, related +the particulars of the story. + +A CORRESPONDENT. + + + * * * * * + +THE TOPOGRAPHER. + + * * * * * + + +CARMARTHEN. + +_(For the Mirror)_ + + +The best or north-east view of Carmarthen comprises the bridge, part of +the quay, with the granaries and shipping, and in the middle is seen +part of the castle. Few towns can, perhaps, boast of greater antiquity, +or of so many antiquarian remains as Carmarthen, South Wales; although, +I am sorry to say, that their origin and history have not been, I +believe, clearly explained or understood by the literary world. One +would conclude, that as a Welshman is almost proverbially distinguished +for deeming himself illustriously descended, and relating his long +pedigree, he would naturally boast of, and exhibit to the public, some +account of these vestiges of his ancestors; but such is not the case, +and to their shame be it spoken, these ruins are scarcely noticed with +any degree of interest by the inhabitants of Carmarthen. But to my +subject. The name is derived from _caera_, wall, and _marthen_, a +corruption of Merlyn, the name of its founder, who was a great +necromancer and prophet, and held in high respect by the Welsh. There is +a seat hewn out of a rock in a grove near this town, called Merlyn's +Grove, where it is said he studied. He prophesied the fate of Wales, and +said that Carmarthen would some day sink and be covered with water. I +would concur with the author of a "Family Tour through the British +Empire," by attributing his influence, not to any powers in magic, but +to a superior understanding; although some of his predictions have been +verified. The town of Carmarthen is pleasantly situated in a valley +surrounded by hills; it has been fortified with walls and a castle, part +of which remain; so that it appears to have been the residence of many +princes of Wales. It has also been a Roman station, and has the remains +of a Roman prætorium. Amongst its other antiquities are the Grey Friars, +(a monastery,) the Bulwark, (a trench on the side of the town that +fronts the river,) and the Priory. Its modern buildings are, the +monument erected to Sir Thomas Picton, the Guildhall, the two gaols, a +fish and butter market-place, over which is the town fire-bell; the +slaughter-house, similar to the abattoir at Paris, and excellent +shambles, with poultry and potato market-places annexed. The church, +which is an ancient one, has an unattractive exterior; but when you +enter it, I think you will say it can compete with any church for +ancient beauty and ornament. Amongst the tombs in the chancel are those +of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, with the effigies of him and his lady, affording +a specimen of the costume of the reign of Henry VII.; and Sir Richard +Steele, whose remains are discovered by a small, simple tablet. There is +a promenade here, called the Parade, which commands a fine and extensive +view of the surrounding picturesque scenery and of the Towy, where the +coracles may be seen plying about. The town consists of ten principal +streets, noted for being kept clean, and lighted with gas. It is +governed by a mayor, two sheriffs, and twenty councilmen; sends a member +to Parliament, and gives title of marquess to the family of Osborne. It +carries on a great trade in butter and oats; and traffics much with +Bristol by the river Towy, which runs into the sea; whence ships of two +hundred tons burden come up to the town. The bay is very dangerous, +owing to the bar and the quicksands. Its chief manufacture is tin, which +is esteemed the best in the kingdom. It has a small theatre, in +appearance a stable; but it is in contemplation to build a new one, as +also a church; so that you will perceive the march of improvement is +rapidly spreading into Wales, as well as other places. + +W.H. + +P.S. Since I sent you an account of Picton's Monument at Carmarthen, it +has been altered. The statue, bas-reliefs, and ornaments of the Picton +Monument, have been bronzed by the direction of Mr. Nash, on his late +visit to this town. Elegant as this column was before, the effect of the +bronze, and a few other alterations, have so improved its appearance, as +to make it seem a different structure. Nothing now remains to complete +the outside but the names of the different actions in which Sir T. +Picton was engaged during his honourable career. These are to be placed +in bronzed letters on the base. A Latin inscription, already prepared, +together with the arms and a bust of Picton, will ornament the inside of +the building. It certainly is a monument worthy of the hero to whose +memory it has been erected, and of the country by which it has been +raised. + + + * * * * * + +THE SKETCH BOOK. + + * * * * * + + +WATERLOO, THE DAY AFTER THE BATTLE. + +_By an eye witness._ + +[For the following very interesting Narrative, our acknowledgments are +due to the _United Service Journal,_--a work which has just started with +the year, and to which, in the "customary" phrase, we wish "many happy +returns."] + +The summer of 1815 found me at Brussels. The town was then crowded to +excess--it seemed a city of splendour; the bright and varied uniforms of +so many different nations, mingled with the gay dresses of female beauty +in the Park, and the _Allée Verte_ was thronged with superb horses and +brilliant equipages. The _tables d'hôte_ resounded with a confusion of +tongues which might have rivalled the Tower of Babel, and the shops +actually glittered with showy toys hung out to tempt money from the +pockets of the English, whom the Flemings seemed to consider as walking +bags of gold. Balls and plays, routs and dinners were the only topics of +conversation; and though some occasional rumours were spread that the +French had made an incursion within the lines, and carried off a few +head of cattle, the tales were too vague to excite the least alarm. I +was then lodging with a Madame Tissand, on the Place du Sablon, and I +occasionally chatted with my hostess on the critical posture of affairs. +Every Frenchwoman loves politics, and Madame Tissand, who was deeply +interested in the subject, continually assured me of her complete +devotion to the English.--"Ces maudits François!" cried she one day, +with almost terrific energy, when speaking of Napoleon's army. "If they +should dare come to Brussels, I will tear their eyes out!"--"Oh, aunt!" +sighed her pretty niece; "remember that Louis is a conscript!"--"Silence, +Annette. I hate even my son, since he is fighting against the brave +English!"--This was accompanied with a bow to me; but I own that I +thought Annette's love far more interesting than Madame's Anglicism. + +On the 3rd of June, I went to see ten thousand troops reviewed by the +Dukes of Wellington and Brunswick. Imagination cannot picture any thing +finer than the _ensemble_ of this scene. The splendid uniforms of the +English, Scotch, and Hanoverians, contrasted strongly with the gloomy +black of the Brunswick Hussars, whose veneration for the memory of their +old Duke, could be only be equalled by their devotion to his son. The +firm step of the Highlanders seemed irresistible; and as they moved in +solid masses, they appeared prepared to sweep away every thing that +opposed them. In short, I was delighted with the cleanliness, military +order, and excellent appointments of the men generally, and I was +particularly struck with the handsome features of the Duke of Brunswick, +whose fine, manly figure, as he galloped across the field, quite +realized my _beau ideal_ of a warrior. The next time I saw the Duke of +Brunswick was at the dress ball, given at the Assembly-rooms in the Rue +Ducale, on the night of the 15th of June. I stood near him when he +received the information that a powerful French force was advancing in +the direction of Charleroy. "Then it is high time for me to be off," +said the Duke, and I never saw him alive again. The assembly broke up +abruptly, and in half an hour drums were beating and bugles sounding. +The good burghers of the city, who were almost all enjoying their first +sleep, started from their beds at the alarm, and hastened to the +streets, wrapped in the first things they could find. The most +ridiculous and absurd rumours were rapidly circulated and believed. The +most general impression seemed to be that the town was on fire; the next +that the Duke of Wellington had been assassinated; but when it was +discovered that the French were advancing, the consternation became +general, and every one hurried to the Place Royale, where the +Hanoverians and Brunswickers were already mustering. + +About one o'clock in the morning of the 16th, the whole population of +Brussels seemed in motion. The streets were crowded as in full day; +lights flashed to and fro; artillery and baggage-wagons were creaking in +every direction; the drums beat to arms, and the bugles sounded loudly +"the dreadful note of preparation." The noise and bustle surpassed all +description; here were horses plunging and kicking amidst a crowd of +terrified burghers; there lovers parting from their weeping mistresses. +Now the attention was attracted by a park of artillery thundering +through the streets; and now, by a group of officers disputing loudly +the demands of their imperturbable Flemish landlords; for not even the +panic which prevailed could frighten the Flemings out of a single +stiver; screams and yells occasionally rose above the busy hum that +murmured through the crowd, but the general sound resembled the roar of +the distant ocean. Between two and three o'clock the Brunswickers +marched from the town, still clad in the mourning which they wore for +their old duke, and burning to avenge his death. Alas! they had a still +more fatal loss to lament ere they returned. At four, the whole +disposable force under the Duke of Wellington was collected together, +but in such haste, that many of the officers had not time to change +their silk stockings and dancing shoes; and some, quite overcome by +drowsiness, were seen lying asleep about the ramparts, still holding, +however, with a firm hand, the reins of their horses which were grazing +by their sides. About five o'clock, the word "march" was heard in all +directions, and instantly the whole mass appeared to move +simultaneously. I conversed with several of the officers previous to +their departure, and not one appeared to have the slightest idea of an +approaching engagement. The Duke of Wellington and his staff did not +quit Brussels till past eleven o'clock; and it was not till some time +after they were gone, that it was generally known the whole French army, +including a strong corps of cavalry, was within a few miles of Quatre +Bras, where the brave Duke of Brunswick first met the enemy: + + "And foremost fighting--fell." + +Dismay seized us all, when we found that a powerful French army was +really within twenty-eight miles of us; and we shuddered at the thought +of the awful contest which was taking place. For my own part, I had +never been so near a field of battle before, and I cannot describe my +sensations. We knew that our army had no alternative but to fly, or +fight with a force four times stronger than its own: and though we +could not doubt British bravery, we trembled at the fearful odds to +which our men must be exposed. Cannon, lances, and swords, were opposed +to the English bayonet alone. Cavalry we had none on the first day, for +the horses had been sent to grass, and the men were scattered too widely +over the country, to be collected at such short notice. Under these +circumstances, victory was impossible; indeed, nothing but the stanch +bravery, and exact discipline of the men, prevented the foremost of our +infantry from being annihilated; and though the English maintained their +ground during the day, at night a retreat became necessary. The agony of +the British, resident at Brussels, during the whole of this eventful +day, sets all language at defiance. No one thought of rest or food; but +every one who could get a telescope, flew to the ramparts to strain his +eyes, in vain attempts to discover what was passing. At length, some +soldiers in French uniforms were seen in the distance; and as the news +flew from mouth to mouth, it was soon magnified into a rumour that the +French were coming. Horror seized the English and their adherents, and +the hitherto concealed partizans of the French began openly to avow +themselves; tri-coloured ribbons grew suddenly into great request, and +cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" resounded through the air. These +exclamations, however, were changed to "Vive le Lord Vellington!" when +it was discovered that the approaching French came as captives, not +conquerors. + +Between seven and eight o'clock in the evening, I walked up to the +_Porte de Namur_, where the wounded were just beginning to arrive. +Fortunately some commodious caravans had arrived from England, only a +few days before, and these were now entering the gate. They were filled +principally with Brunswickers and Highlanders; and it was an appalling +spectacle to behold the very soldiers, whose fine martial appearance and +excellent appointments I had so much admired at the review, now lying +helpless and mutilated--their uniforms soiled with blood and dirt--their +mouths blackened with biting their cartridges, and all the splendour of +their equipments entirely destroyed. When the caravans stopped, I +approached them, and addressed a Scotch officer who was only slightly +wounded in the knee.--"Are the French coming, sir?" asked I.--"Egad I +can't tell," returned he. "We know nothing about it. We had enough to do +to take care of ourselves. They are fighting like devils; and I'm off +again as soon as my wound's dressed."--An English lady, elegantly +attired, now rushed forwards--"Is my husband safe?" asked she +eagerly.--"Good God! Madam," replied one of the men, "how can we +possibly tell! I don't know the fate of those who were fighting by my +side; and I could not see a yard round me." She scarcely heeded what he +said; and rushed out of the gate, wildly repeating her question to every +one she met. Some French prisoners now arrived. I noticed one, a fine +fellow, who had had one arm shot off; and though the bloody and mangled +tendons were still undressed, and had actually dried and blackened in +the sun, he marched along with apparent indifference, carrying a loaf of +bread under his remaining arm, and shouting _"Vive l'Empereur!"_ I asked +him if the French were coming.--"Je le crois bien," returned he, +"preparez un souper, mes bourgeois--il soupera à Bruxelles ce +soir."--Pretty information for me, thought I. "Don't believe him, sir," +said a Scotchman, who lay close beside me, struggling to speak, though +apparently in the last agony. "It's all right--I--assure--you--." The +whole of Friday night was passed in the greatest anxiety; the wounded +arrived every hour, and the accounts they brought of the carnage which +was taking place were absolutely terrific. Saturday morning was still +worse; an immense number of supernumeraries and runaways from the army +came rushing in at the _Porte de Namur,_ and these fugitives increased +the public panic to the utmost. _Sauve qui peut!_ now became the +universal feeling; all ties of friendship or kindred were forgotten, and +an earnest desire to quit Brussels seemed to absorb every faculty. To +effect this object, the greatest sacrifices were made. Every beast of +burthen, and every species of vehicle were put into requisition to +convey persons and property to Antwerp. Even the dogs and fish-carts did +not escape--enormous sums were given for the humblest modes of +conveyance, and when all failed, numbers set off on foot. The road soon +became choked up--cars, wagons, and carriages of every description were +joined together in an immovable mass and property to an immense amount +was abandoned by its owners, who were too much terrified even to think +of the loss they were sustaining. A scene of frightful riot and +devastation ensued. Trunks, boxes, and portmanteaus were broken open and +pillaged without mercy; and every one who pleased, helped himself to +what he liked with impunity. The disorder was increased by a rumour, +that the Duke of Wellington was retreating towards Brussels, in a sort +of running fight, closely pursued by the enemy; the terror of the +fugitives now almost amounted to frenzy, and they flew like maniacs +escaping from a madhouse. It is scarcely possible to imagine a more +distressing scene. A great deal of rain had fallen during the night, and +the unhappy fugitives were obliged literally to wade through mud. I had, +from the first, determined to await my fate in Brussels; but on this +eventful morning, I walked a few miles on the road to Antwerp, to +endeavour to assist my flying countrymen. I was soon disgusted with the +scene, and finding all my efforts to be useful, unavailing, I returned +to the town, which now seemed like a city of the dead; for a gloomy +silence reigned through the streets, like that fearful calm which +precedes a storm; the shops were all closed, and all business was +suspended. During the panic of Friday and Saturday, the sacrifice of +property made by the British residents was enormous. A chest of drawers +sold for five francs, a bed for ten, and a horse for fifty. In one +instance, which fell immediately under my own observation, some +household furniture was sold for one thousand francs, (about 40 l.) for +which the owner had given seven thousand francs, (280 l.) only three +weeks before. This was by no means a solitary instance; indeed in most +cases, the loss was much greater, and in many, houses full of furniture +were entirely deserted, and abandoned to pillage. + +Sunday morning was ushered in by one of the most dreadful tempests I +ever remember. The crashing of thunder was followed by the roar of +cannon, which was now distinctly heard from the ramparts, and it is not +possible to describe the fearful effect of this apparent mockery of +heaven. I never before felt so forcibly the feebleness of man. The rain +was tremendous--the sky looked like that in Poussin's picture of the +Deluge, and a heavy black cloud spread, like the wings of a monstrous +vulture, over Brussels. The wounded continued to arrive the whole of +Saturday night and Sunday morning, in a condition which defies +description. They appeared to have been dragged for miles through oceans +of mud; their clothes were torn, their caps and feathers cut to pieces, +and their shoes and boots trodden off. The accounts they brought were +vague and disheartening--in fact, we could only ascertain that the Duke +of Wellington had late on Saturday taken up his position at Waterloo, +and that there he meant to wait the attack of the French. That this +attack had commenced we needed not to be informed, as the roar of the +cannon became every instant more distinct, till we even fancied that it +shook the town. The wounded represented the field of battle as a perfect +quagmire, and their appearance testified the truth of their assertions. +About two o'clock a fresh alarm was excited by the horses, which had +been put in requisition to draw the baggage-wagons, being suddenly +galloped through the town. We fancied this a proof of defeat, but the +fact was simply thus: the peasants, from whom the horses had been taken, +finding the drivers of the wagons absent from their posts, seized the +opportunity to cut the traces, and gallop off with their cattle. As this +explanation, however, was not given till the following day, we thought +that all was over; the few British adherents who had remained were in +despair, and tri-coloured cockades were suspended from every house. Even +I, for the first time, lost all courage, and my only consolation was the +joy of Annette. "England cannot be much injured by the loss of a Single +battle," thought I; "and as for me, it is of little consequence whether +I am a prisoner on parole, or a mere wanderer at pleasure. I may easily +resign myself to my fate; but this poor girl would break her heart if +she lost her lover, for he is every thing to her." In this manner I +reasoned, but in spite of my affected philosophy, I could not divest +myself of all natural feeling; and when about six o'clock we heard that +the French had given way, and that the Prussians had eluded Grouchè, and +were rapidly advancing to the field, I quite forgot poor Annette, and +thanked God with all my heart. At eight o'clock there was no longer any +doubt of our success, for a battalion of troops marched into the town, +and brought intelligence that the Duke of Wellington had gained a +complete victory, and that the French were flying, closely pursued by +the Prussians. Sunday night was employed in enthusiastic rejoicing. The +tri-coloured cockades had all disappeared, and the British colours were +hoisted from every window. The great bell of St. Gudule tolled, to +announce the event to the surrounding neighbourhood; and some of the +English, who had only hidden themselves, ventured to re-appear. The only +alloy to the universal rapture which prevailed, was the number of the +wounded; the houses were insufficient to contain half; and the churches +and public buildings were littered down with straw for their reception. +The body of the Duke of Brunswick, who fell at Quatre Bras, was brought +in on Saturday, and taken to the quarters he had occupied near the +Chateau de Lacken. I was powerfully affected when I saw the corpse of +one, whom I had so lately marked as blooming with youth and health; but +my eyes soon became accustomed to horrors. On Monday morning, June 19th, +I hastened to the field of battle: I was compelled to go through the +forest de Soignês, for the road was so completely choked up as to be +impassable.--The dead required no help; but thousands of wounded, who +could not help themselves, were in want of every thing; their features, +swollen by the sun and rain, looked livid and bloated. One poor fellow +had a ghastly wound across his lower lip, which gaped wide, and showed +his teeth and gums, as though a second and unnatural mouth had opened +below his first. Another, quite blind from a gash across his eyes, sat +upright, gasping for breath, and murmuring, "De l'eau! de l'eau!" The +anxiety for water, was indeed most distressing. The German "Vaser! +vaser!" and the French "De l'eau! de l'eau!" still seem sounding in my +ears. I am convinced that hundreds must have perished from thirst alone, +and they had no hope of assistance, for even humane persons were afraid +of approaching the scene of blood, lest they should be taken in +requisition to bury the dead; almost every person who came near, being +pressed into that most disgusting and painful service. This general +burying was truly horrible: large square holes were dug about six feet +deep, and thirty or forty fine young fellows stripped to their skins +were thrown into each, pell mell, and then covered over in so slovenly a +manner, that sometimes a hand or foot peeped through the earth. One of +these holes was preparing as I passed, and the followers of the army +were stripping the bodies before throwing them into it, whilst some +Russian Jews were assisting in the spoilation of the dead, by chiseling +out their teeth! an operation which they performed with the most brutal +indifference. The clinking hammers of these wretches jarred horribly +upon my ears, and mingled strangely with the occasional report of +pistols, which seemed echoing each other at stated intervals, from +different corners of the field. I could not divine the meaning of these +shots, till I was informed, that they proceeded from the Belgians, who +were killing the wounded horses. Hundreds of these fine creatures were, +indeed, galloping over the plain, kicking and plunging, apparently mad +with pain, whilst the poor wounded wretches who saw them coming, and +could not get out of their way, shrieked in agony, and tried to shrink +back to escape from them, but in vain. Soon after, I saw an immense +horse (one of the Scotch Greys) dash towards a colonel of the Imperial +Guard, who had had his leg shattered; the horse was frightfully wounded, +and part of a broken lance still rankled in one of its wounds. It rushed +snorting and plunging past the Frenchman, and I shall never forget his +piercing cry as it approached. I flew instantly to the spot, but ere I +reached it the man was dead; for, though I do not think the horse had +touched him, the terror he felt had been too much for his exhausted +frame. Sickened with the immense heaps of slain, which spread in all +directions as far as the eye could reach, I was preparing to return, +when as I was striding over the dead and dying, and meditating on the +horrors of war, my attention was attracted by a young Frenchman, who was +lying on his back, apparently at the last gasp. There was something in +his countenance which interested me, and I fancied, though I knew not +when, or where, that I had seen him before. Some open letters were lying +around, and one was yet grasped in his hand as though he had been +reading it to the last moment. My eye fell upon the words "Mon cher +fils," in a female hand, and I felt interested for the fate of so +affectionate a son. When I left home in the morning, I had put a flask +of brandy and some biscuit into my pocket, in the hope that I might be +useful to the wounded, but when I gazed on the countless multitude which +strewed the field, I felt discouraged from attempting to relieve them. +Chance had now directed my attention to one individual, and I was +resolved to try to save his life. His thigh was broken, and he was badly +wounded on the left wrist, but the vital parts were untouched, and his +exhaustion seemed to arise principally from the loss of blood. I poured +a few drops of brandy into his mouth, and crumbling my biscuit contrived +to make him swallow a small particle. The effects of the dose were soon +visible; his eyes half opened, and a faint tinge of colour spread over +his cheek. I administered a little more, and it revived him so much that +he tried to sit upright. I raised him, and contriving to place him in +such a manner, as to support him against the dead body of a horse, I put +the flask and biscuit by his side, and departed in order to procure +assistance to remove him. I recollected that a short time before, I had +seen a smoke issuing from a deep ditch, and that my olfactory nerves had +been saluted by a savoury smell as I passed. Guided by these +indications, I retraced my steps to the spot, and found some Scotch +soldiers sheltered by a hedge, very agreeably employed in cooking a +quantity of beefsteaks over a wood tire, in a French cuirass!! I was +exceedingly diverted at this novel kind of frying-pan, which served also +as a dish; and after begging permission to dip a biscuit in their gravy +for the benefit of my patient, I told my tale, and was gratified by the +eagerness which they manifested to assist me; one ran to catch a horse +with a soft Hussar saddle, (there were hundreds galloping over the +field,) and the rest went with me to the youth, whom we found +surprisingly recovered, though he was still unable to speak. The horse +was brought, and as we raised the young Frenchman to put him upon it, +his vest opened, and his _"livret"_ fell out. This is a little book +which every French soldier is obliged to carry, and which contains an +account of his name, age, pay, accoutrements, and services. I picked it +up, and offered it to my patient--but the young man murmured the name of +"Annette," and fainted. "Annette!" the name thrilled through every +nerve. I hastily opened the _livret,_ and found that it was indeed Louis +Tissand whom I had saved! The rest is soon told. Louis reached Brussels +in safety, and even Madame's selfishness gave way to rapture on +recovering her son. As to Annette--but why perplex myself to describe +her feelings? If my readers have ever loved, they may conceive them. +Louis soon recovered; indeed with such a nurse he could not fail to get +well. When I next visited Brussels, I found Annette surrounded by three +or tour smiling cherubs, to whom I was presented as _le bon Anglais,_ +who preserved the life of their papa. + + + * * * * * + +NOTES OF A READER + + * * * * * + + +GERMAN SCHOOLS. + +A law respecting schools has existed, more or less, in the states of the +south of Germany, for above a century, but which has been greatly +improved within the last thirty years. By this law, parents are +compelled to send their children to school, from the age of six to +fourteen years, where they must be taught reading, writing, and +arithmetic, but where they may acquire as much additional instruction in +other branches as their parents choose to pay for. To many of the +schools of Bavaria large gardens are attached, in which, the boys are +taught the principal operations of agriculture and gardening in their +hours of play; and, in all the schools of the three states, the girls, +in addition to the same instruction as the boys, are taught knitting, +sewing, embroidery, &c. It is the duty of the police and priest (which +may be considered equivalent to our parish vestries) of each commune or +parish, to see that the law is duly executed, the children sent +regularly, and instructed duly. If the parents are partially or wholly +unable to pay for their children, the commune makes up the deficiency. +Religion is taught by the priest of the village or hamlet; and where, as +is frequently the case in Wurtemberg, there are two or three religions +in one parish, each child is taught by the priest of its parents; all of +which priests are, from their office, members of the committee or vestry +of the commune. The priest or priests of the parish have the regular +inspection of the school-master, and are required by the government to +see that he does his duty, while each priest, at the same time, sees +that the children of his flock attend regularly. After the child has +been the appointed number of years at school, it receives from the +schoolmaster, and the priest of the religion to which it belongs, a +certificate, without which it cannot procure employment. To employ any, +person under twenty-one, without such a certificate, is illegal, and +punished by a fixed fine, as is almost every other offence in this part +of Germany; and the fines are never remitted, which makes punishment +always certain. The schoolmaster is paid much in the same way as in +Scotland; by a house, a garden, and sometimes a field, and by a small +salary from the parish, and by fixed rates for the children. + +A second law, which is coeval with the school law, renders it illegal +for any young man to marry before he is twenty-five, or any young woman +before she is eighteen; and a young man, at whatever age he wishes to +marry, must show, to the police and the priest of the commune where he +resides, that he is able, and has the prospect, to provide for a wife +and family.--_London's Mag. Nat. Hist._ + + + * * * * * + +EATING AND WRITING. + + +Ovid, Horace, and Virgil all frequented the tables of the great; Cato +warmed his virtue with wine; Shakspeare kept up his _verve_ with stolen +venison; Steele and Addison wrote their best papers over a bottle; Sir +Walter Scott is famed for good housekeeping; and I know authors who love +to dine like lords. Even booksellers do their spiriting more gently for +good fare, and bid for an author the most spiritedly after dinner. + +There is not a more vulgar mistake than that of confounding good eating +with gluttony and excess. It is not because a man gets twenty or +five-and-twenty guineas per sheet for a dashing article, and has taste +to expend his well-earned cash upon a cook who knows how to dress a +dinner, that he is necessarily to gorge himself like a mastiff with +sheep's paunch. On the contrary, if he means to preserve the powers of +his palate intact, he must "live cleanly as a nobleman should do." The +fat-witted people in the City are not nice in their eating, quantity +being more closely considered by them than quality. There is, I admit, +something in the good man's concluding conjecture, that "the sort of +diet men observe influences their style." I should know an "heavy-wet" +man at the third line; and I can tell to a nicety when Theodore Hook +writes upon claret, and when he is inspired by the over-heating and +acrimonious stimulus of Max. Hayley obviously composed upon tea and +bread and butter. Dr. Philpots may be nosed a mile off for priestly port +and the fat bulls of Basan; and Southey's Quarterly articles are written +on an empty stomach, and before his crudities, like the breath of Sir +Roger de Coverley's barber, have been "mollified by a breakfast."--_New +Monthly Mag._ + + + * * * * * + +SACRED POETRY. + + +Songs and hymns, in honour of their Gods, are found among all people who +have either religion or verse. There is scarcely any pagan poetry, +ancient or modern, in which allusions to the national mythology are not +so frequent as to constitute the most copious materials, as well as the +most brilliant embellishments. The poets of Persia and Arabia, in like +manner, have adorned their gorgeous strains with the fables and morals +of the Koran. The relics of Jewish song which we possess, with few +exceptions, are consecrated immediately to the glory of God, by whom, +indeed, they were inspired. The first Christians were wont to edify +themselves in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs; and though we have +no specimens of these left, except the occasional doxologies ascribed to +the redeemed in the Book of Revelation, it cannot be doubted that they +used not only the psalms of the Old Testament, literally, or +accommodated to the circumstances of a new and rising Church, but that +they had original lays of their own, in which they celebrated the +praises of Christ, as the Saviour of the world. In the middle ages, the +Roman Catholic and Greek churches statedly adopted singing as an +essential part of public worship; but this, like the reading of the +Scriptures, was too frequently in an unknown tongue, by an affectation +of wisdom, to excite the veneration of ignorance, when the learned, in +their craftiness, taught that "Ignorance is the mother of devotion;" and +Ignorance was very willing to believe it. At the era of the Reformation, +psalms and hymns, in the vernacular tongue, were revived in Germany, +England, and elsewhere, among the other means of grace, of which +Christendom had been for centuries defrauded.--_Montgomery._ + + + * * * * * + +SUPERSTITION. + + +Grievously are they mistaken who think that the revival of literature +was the death of superstition--that ghosts, demons, and exorcists +retreated before the march of intellect, and fled the British shore +along with monks, saints, and masses. Superstition, deadly superstition, +may co-exist with much learning, with high civilization, with any +religion, or with utter irreligion. Canidia wrought her spells in the +Augustan age, and Chaldean fortune-tellers haunted Rome in the sceptical +days of Juvenal. Matthew Hopkins, the witch-finder, and Lilly, the +astrologer, were contemporaries of Selden, Harrington, and Milton. +Perhaps there never was a more superstitious period than that which +produced Erasmus and Bacon. _--Blackwood's Mag._ + + + * * * * * + +"FELLOW" FEELING. + + +A "certain exalted personage," as the newspapers would say, commanded +the attendance of a physician, who was only a Licentiate, and, thereby, +struck consternation throughout the whole body of "Fellows." The great +men already in attendance were dreadfully alarmed and confounded by this +terrible subversion of established College etiquette. "Sire!" said one +of them, "we humbly acquaint your Majesty, with all dutiful submission +that as Dr.---- is not a Fellow, it is contrary to rule and custom to +meet him in attendance here."--"A Fellow?" asked his Majesty; "what mean +ye?" The learned physician explained. "Well, make him a Fellow, then," +was his Majesty's quick reply; and he was accordingly made one! + + + * * * * * + +CULTIVATION OF WASTE LANDS. + + +No man at all acquainted with the principles of fertility and the +present state of British tillage, can for a moment doubt that a very +large quantity of waste land is scattered over the different districts +of this country, which is not only susceptible of improvement, but which +would yield an ample return for any amount of labour which could, for +centuries to come, be spared from the cultivation of our own land. To be +fully convinced of this fact, no man need do more than ride twenty miles +in any direction from the metropolis. Let him select whatever road he +may choose for his excursion, and he will find tracts of land, forming +in the aggregate a very considerable quantity, which at this moment +remain in the hands of nature--which man has never made the slightest +effort to reclaim. Even the hebdomadal excursions of the citizen will +conduct him over or near many such scenes. What Gilpin, living within +the sound of Bow-bells, does not know Epping and Hainault Forests, +Hounslow, Putney, and Black Heaths, Brook Green, Turnham Green, +Wandsworth, Esher, Sydenham, Hays, and various other Commons? Within a +circle of twenty miles around the largest and most opulent city in the +world, we thus discover a large quantity of land, which cultivation +would render highly productive, but which, in its present state of +waste, is of little or no value to the public. And this land, situated +in the very outskirts of the metropolis, continues to be utterly +neglected, if not entirely overlooked, at a moment when the whole +kingdom resounds with the groans of those who argue that the population +of this country has outrun the means of subsisting them. As the +traveller advances in his journey from the metropolis, the waste becomes +more extensive, if not more numerous. The English wastes, which amount +to about five millions of acres, are more valuable than those of +Ireland; and these again are more improvable than, the Scotish +wastes.--_Quarterly Rev._ + + + * * * * * + +CHINESE NOVELS. + + +The character of the Chinese novels is the same with that of the better +parts of _Don Quixote, Gil Blas, Tom Jones_, and _Cecilia_. Their +authors address themselves to the reason rather than the imagination of +their readers. The other Asiatic nations, led away by a passion for the +marvellous, have often disfigured the most respectable traditions, and +converted history itself into romance. The Chinese, on the other hand, +may be said to have given their romances the truth of history.--_N. +American Review._ + + * * * * * + +The Canadian Indian females are described as passionately fond of their +children, as submissive slaves, and at the same time affectionately +attached to their husbands. This they evince by _self-immolation_, after +the manner of eastern wives. Among the few poisonous plants of Canada, +is a shrub, which yields a wholesome fruit, but contains in its roots a +deadly juice, which the widow, who wishes not to survive her husband, +drinks. An eye-witness describes its effects; the woman having resolved +to die, chanted her death song and funeral service; she then drank off +the poisonous juice, was seized with shivering and convulsions, and +expired in a few minutes on the body of her husband. + + + * * * * * + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +TWENTY-EIGHT AND TWENTY-NINE. + + + "Rien n'est changé, mes amis!"[2] + CHARLES DIX. + + + [2] I have taken these words for my motto, because they _enable_ me + to tell a story. When the present King of France received his first + address on the return from the emigration, his answer was, "Rien + n'est changé, mes amis; il n'y a qu'un Français de plus." When the + Giraffe arrived in the Jardin des Plantes, the Parisians had a + caricature, in which the ass, and the hog, and the monkey were + presenting an address to the stranger, while the elephant and the + lion stalked angrily away. Of course, the portraits were + recognisable--and the animal was responding graciously, "Rien n'est + changé, mes amis: il n'y a qu'un bête de plus!" + + + I heard a sick man's dying sigh, + And an infant's idle laughter; + The old Year went with mourning by, + The new came dancing after; + Let Sorrow shed her lonely tear, + Let Revelry hold her ladle; + Bring boughs of cypress for the biel. + Fling roses on the cradle; + Mates to wait on the funeral state! + Pages to pour the wine! + And a requiem for Twenty-eight,-- + And a health to Twenty-nine. + + Alas! for human happiness, + Alas! for human sorrow; + Our Yesterday is nothingness, + What else will be our Morrow? + Still Beauty must be stealing hearts, + And Knavery stealing purses; + Still Cooks must live by making tarts, + And Wits by making verses; + While Sages prate and Courts debate, + The same Stars set and shine; + And the World, as it roll'd through Twenty-eight, + Must roll through Twenty-nine. + + Some King will come, in Heaven's good time, + To the tomb his Father came to; + Some Thief will wade through blood and crime + To a crown he has no claim to; + Some Suffering Land will rend in twain + The manacles that bound her, + And gather the links of the broken chain + To fasten them proudly round her; + The grand and great will love, and hate, + And combat, and combine; + And much where we were in Twenty-eight, + We shall be in Twenty-nine. + + O'Connell will toil to raise the Rent, + And Kenyon to sink the Nation; + And Sheil will abuse the Parliament, + And Peel the Association; + And the thought of bayonets and swords + Will make ex-Chancellors merry-- + And jokes will be cut in the House of Lords, + And throats in the County Kerry; + And writers of weight will speculate + On the Cabinet's design-- + And just what it did in Twenty-eight, + It will do in Twenty-nine. + + Mathews will be extremely gay, + And Hook extremely dirty; + And brick and mortar still will say + "Try Warren, No. 30;" + And "General Sauce" will have its puff, + And so will General Jackson-- + And peasants will drink up heavy stuff, + Which they pay a heavy tax on; + And long and late, at many a fête, + Gooseberry champagne will shine-- + And as old as it was in Twenty-eight, + It will be in Twenty-nine. + + And the Goddess of Love will keep her smiles; + And the God of Cups his orgies; + And there'll be riots in St. Giles, + And weddings in St. George's; + And Mendicants will sup like Kings, + And Lords will swear like Lacqueys-- + And black eyes oft will lead to rings, + And rings will lead to black eyes; + And pretty Kate will scold her mate. + In a dialect all divine-- + Alas! they married in Twenty-eight,-- + They will part in Twenty-nine! + + John Thomas Mugg, on a lonely hill, + Will do a deed of mystery-- + The Morning Chronicle will fill + Five columns with the history; + The Jury will be all surprise, + The Prisoner quite collected-- + And Justice Park will wipe his eyes, + And be very much affected; + And folks will relate poor Corder's fate, + As they hurry home to dine, + Comparing the hangings of Twenty-eight + With the hangings of Twenty-nine. + + A Curate will go from the house of prayer + To wrong his worthy neighbour, + By dint of quoting the texts of Blair, + And singing the songs of Weber; + Sir Harry will leave the Craven hounds, + To trace the guilty parties-- + And ask of the Court five thousand pounds, + To prove how rack'd his heart is: + An Advocate will execrate + The spoiler of Hymen's shrine-- + And the speech that did for Twenty-eight + Will do for Twenty-nine. + + My Uncle will swathe his gouty limbs, + And tell of his oils and blubbers; + My Aunt, Miss Dobbs, will play longer hymns, + And rather longer rubbers; + My Cousin in Parliament will prove + How utterly ruin'd trade is-- + My Brother at Eton will fall in love + With half a hundred ladies; + My Patron will sate his pride from plate. + And his thirst from Bordeaux vine-- + His nose was red in Twenty-eight,-- + 'Twill be redder in Twenty-nine! + + And oh! I shall find, how, day by day. + All thoughts and things look older-- + How the laugh of Pleasure grows less gay, + And the heart of Friendship colder; + But still I shall be what I have been, + Sworn foe to Lady Reason, + And seldom troubled with the spleen, + And fond of talking treason; + I shall buckle my skait, and leap my gate, + And throw, and write, my line-- + And the woman I worshipped in Twenty-eight, + I shall worship in Twenty-nine! + +_New Monthly Magazine._ + + + * * * * * + +MORAL EFFECT OF ROME UPON THE TRAVELLER. + + +Those only who have lived in Rome can duly estimate the potent and +lasting impression produced upon the mind of a thinking man, by a +residence in this capital of the ancient world. The daily contemplation +of so many classical and noble objects elevates and purifies the soul, +and has a powerful tendency to allay the inconsiderate fervours and +impetuosities of youth, to mature, and consolidate the character. I am +already so altered, and, I have the vanity to think, so improved a man +since my arrival here, that there are times when I almost doubt my own +identity, and imagine that, by some preternatural agency, I have been +born over again, and have had new blood and new vitality infused into my +frame. + +The gratifications of a residence in Rome are inexhaustible. At every +turn I discover some new evidence of the power and magnificence of her +ancient inhabitants, and vivid sensations of delight and awe rapidly +succeed each other. This venerable metropolis is the tomb and monument, +not of princes, but of nations; it illustrates the progressive stages of +human society, and all other cities appear modern and unfinished in +comparison. + +Exploring this forenoon the vicinity of Monte Palatino, I discovered in +an obscure corner, near the temple of Romulus, the time-hallowed spring +of Juturna, rising with crystal clearness near the Cloaca maxima, into +which it flows unvalued and forgotten. I refreshed myself in the mid-day +heat by drinking its pure lymph from the hollow of my hand, and gazed +with long and insatiable delight upon the memorable fountain. This +sacred spot is surrounded and obscured by contiguous buildings, and the +walls are luxuriantly fringed and mantled with mosses, lichens, and +broad leaved ivy. The proud aqueducts of the expanding city diminish the +value and importance of this spring, but it was unquestionably the +ruling motive which determined Romulus, or possibly an earlier colony of +Greeks, to take root here, as within the wide compass of the Roman walls +there is no other source of pure water.--_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + + * * * * * + +SONG, BY T. CAMPBELL + + + When Love came first to Earth, the SPRING + Spread rose-buds to receive him. + And back he vow'd his flight he'd wing + To Heaven, if she should leave him. + + But SPRING departing, saw his faith + Pledg'd to the next new comer-- + He revell'd in the warmer breath + And richer bowers of SUMMER. + + Then sportive AUTUMN claim'd by rights + An Archer for her lover, + And even in WINTER'S dark, cold nights + A charm he could discover. + + Her routs and balls, and fireside joy, + For this time were his reasons-- + In short, Young Love's a gallant boy, + That likes all times and seasons. + +_New Monthly Magazine._ + + + * * * * * + +SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. + + +College! how different from school! Never believe a great, broad-faced, +beetle-browed Spoon, when he tells you, with a sigh that would upset a +schooner, that the happiest days of a man's life are those he spends at +school. Does he forget the small bed-room occupied by eighteen boys, the +pump you had to run to on Sunday mornings, when decency and the usher +commanded you to wash? Is he oblivious of the blue chalk and water they +flooded your bowels with at breakfast, and called it milk? Has he lost +the remembrance of the Yorkshire pudding, vulgarly called choke-dog, of +which you were obliged to eat a pound before you were allowed a slice +of beef, and of which, if you swallowed half that quantity, you thought +cooks and oxen mere works of supererogation, and totally useless on the +face of the earth? Has the fool lost all recollection of the prayers in +yon cold, wet, clay-floored cellar, proudly denominated the chapel? has +he forgot the cuffs from the senior boys, the pinches from the second +master? and, _in fine_, has he forgot the press at the end of the +school-room, where a cart-load of birch was deposited at the beginning +of every half year, and not a twig left to tickle a mouse with, long +before the end of it? He talks of freedom from care--what a negative +kind of happiness! Let him cut off his hand, he will never hurt his +nails. Let him enclose an order for all his money even unto us, and no +more will he be troubled with cares about the Stocks--no more will he be +teased with calculations on the price of grain. All that raving about +school-boys is perfect nonsense--it is the most miserable period of a +human being's life. Poor, shivering, trembling, kicked, buffetted, +thumped, and starved little mortals! We never see a large school but we +feel inclined to shoot them all, masters, ushers, and door-keepers +included, merely to put them out of pain. + +But at College, how different!--_There_, a man begins to feel that it is +a matter of total indifference to him whether he sit on a hard wooden +bench, or a soft stuffed chair; _there_, the short coat is discarded, +and he stalks about with the air of a three-tailed bashaw, as his own +two, generally, at first, are prolonged a little below the knee; +_there_, his penny tart, which he bought on Saturdays at the door of the +school, is exchanged for a dessert from Golding's; his beer, which he +occasionally imbibed at the little pot-house, two miles beyond the +school bounds, is exchanged for his wine from Butler's.--Books from +Talboy's, the most enterprising of bibliopoles, supply the place of the +tattered Dictionary he brought to the University, which, after being +stolen when new, and passing, by the same process, through twenty hands, +is at last, when fluttering in its last leaves, restolen by the original +proprietor, who fancies he has made a very profitable "nibble." The trot +he used to enjoy by stealth on the butcher's broken-kneed pony, is +succeeded now by a gallop on a steed of Quartermain's; and he is +delighted to find that horse and owner strive which shall be the +softest-mouthed and gentlest charger. The dandy mare, we suppose, has +many long years ago made fat the great-grandfathers of the present race +of dogs; and old Scroggins, we imagine, has been trod to pieces in boots +and shoes, the very memory of which departed long, long before they were +paid for. Of old Scroggins--as Dr. Johnson says--and of his virtues, let +us indulge ourself in the recollection. Though not formed in the finest +mould, or endowed with the extremity of swiftness, his pace was sure and +steady--equal to Hannibal in endurance of fatigue; and, like that +celebrated commander, his aspect was rendered peculiarly fierce and +striking by a blemish in his eye; not ignorant of the way to Woodstock +was the wall-eyed veteran; not unacquainted with the covers at Ditchley; +not unaccustomed to the walls at Hethrop: but Dandy and Scroggins have +padded the hoof from this terrestrial and unstable world--peace to their +manes!--_Blackwood's Magazine._ + + + * * * * * + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + +_Friction of Screws and Screw-presses._ + +An examination of the friction in screws having their threads of various +forms, has led M. Poncelet to this very important conclusion, namely, +that the friction in screws with square threads is to that of equal +screws with triangular threads, as 2.90 to 4.78, proving a very +important advantage of the former over the latter, relative to the loss +of power incurred in both by friction.--_Brande's Journal._ + + +_Fulminating Powder._ + +According to M. Landgerbe, a mixture of two parts nitre, two parts +neutral carbonate of potash, one part of sulphur, and six parts of +common salt, all finely pulverized, makes a very powerful fulminating +powder. M. Landgerbe adopts the extraordinary error of supposing that +these preparations act with more force downwards than in any other +direction.--_Bull. Univ._ + + +_Aurora Borealis._ + +An aurora borealis was seen from North End, Hampstead, near London, from +about seven o'clock until eleven, on the evening of Dec. 1. It generally +appeared as a light resembling twilight, but shifting about both to the +east and the west of north, and occasionally forming streams which +continued for several minutes, and extended from 30 to 40 degrees high. +The light on the horizon was not more than 12 or 15 degrees in +height.--_Brande's Journal._ + + +_Paper Linen._ + +According to the Paris papers, a new invention, called _papier linge_, +has lately attracted much attention. It consists of a paper made closely +to resemble damask and other linen, not only to the eye, but even to the +touch. The articles are used for every purpose to which linen is +applicable, except those requiring much strength and durability. The +price is low, a napkin costs only five or six centimes (about a +halfpenny), and when dirty, they are taken back at half-price. A good +sized table-cloth sells for a franc, and a roll of paper with one or two +colours for papering rooms or for bed curtains, may be had for the same +price. + + +_Maturation of Wine._ + +M. de St. Vincent, of Havre, states, from his own experience of long +continuance, that when bottles containing wine are closed by tying a +piece of parchment or bladder over their mouths, instead of using corks +in the ordinary manner, the wine acquires, in a few weeks only, those +qualities which is only given by age in the ordinary way after many +years.--_Nouveau Jour, de Paris._ + + +_Indications of Wholesomeness in Mushrooms._ + +Whenever a fungus is pleasant in flavour and odour, it may be considered +wholesome; if, on the contrary, it have an offensive smell, a bitter, +astringent, or styptic taste, or even if it leave an unpleasant flavour +in the mouth, it should not be considered fit for food. The colour, +figure, and texture of these vegetables do not afford any characters on +which we can safely rely; yet it may be remarked, that in colour, the +pure yellow, gold colour, bluish pale, dark or lustre brown, wine red, +or the violet, belong to many that are esculent; whilst the pale or +sulphur yellow, bright or blood red, and the greenish, belong to few but +the poisonous. The safe kinds have most frequently a compact, brittle +texture; the flesh is white; they grow more readily in open places, such +as dry pastures and waste lands, than in places humid or shaded by wood. +In general, those should be suspected which grow in caverns and +subterranean passages, on animal matter undergoing putrefaction, as well +as those whose flesh is soft or watery.--_Brande's Journal._ + + +_Zoological Society._ + +Dr. Brookes, in his address to the recent anniversary meeting of the +Zoological Society, stated that the _Museum_ already contains 600 +species of mammalia, 4,000 birds, 1,000 reptiles and fishes, 1,000 +testacea and Crustacea, and 30,000 insects. During the last seven +months, the _Gardens_ and Museum have been visited by upwards of 30,000 +persons. The vivarium contains upwards of 430 living quadrupeds and +birds. The expenses of the past year have been 10,000 l., partly +contributed by the admission of the public, and still more largely by +the members of the Society, who already exceed 1,200 in number. These +are gratifying facts to every lover of natural history, as they serve to +indicate the progress of _zoology_ in this country--a study which it has +ever been our aim to identify with the pages of the MIRROR. + + + * * * * * + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + + +ENGLISH ROADS. + + +The roads of England are the marvel of the world. The improvements which +have been effected during a century would be almost miraculous, did we +not consider that they had been produced by the spirit and intelligence +of the people, and were in no degree dependant upon the apathy or +caprice of the ruling power. The first turnpike-road was established by +an act of the 3rd Charles II. The mob pulled down the gates; and the new +principle was supported at the point of the bayonet. But long after that +period travelling was difficult and dangerous. In December, 1703, +Charles III. king of Spain, slept at Petworth on his way from Portsmouth +to Windsor, and Prince George of Denmark went to meet him there by +desire of the queen. In the relation of the journey given by one of the +prince's attendants, he states, "We set out at six in the morning, by +torchlight, to go to Petworth, and did not get out of the coaches (save +only when we were overturned or stuck fast in the mire) till we arrived +at our journey's end. 'Twas a hard service for the prince to sit +fourteen hours in the coach that day without eating any thing, and +passing through the worst ways I ever saw in my life. We were thrown but +once indeed in going, but our coach, which was the leading one, and his +highnesses body coach, would have suffered very much, if the nimble +boors of Sussex had not frequently poised it, or it with their +shoulders, from Godalming almost to Petworth; and the nearer we +approached the duke's house, the more inaccessible it seemed to be. The +last nine miles of the way cost us six hours' time to conquer them; and, +indeed, we had never done it, if our good master had not several times +lent us a pair of horses out of his own coach, whereby we were enabled +to trace out the way for him." Afterwards, writing of his departure on +the following day from Petworth to Guildford, and thence to Windsor, he +says, "I saw him (the prince) no more, till I found him at supper at +Windsor; for there we were overturned, (as we had been once before the +same morning,) and broke our coach; my Lord Delaware had the same fate, +and so had several others."--Vide Annals of Queen Anne, vol. ii. +Appendix, No. 3. + +In the time of Charles, (surnamed the Proud,) Duke of Somerset, who died +in 1748, the roads in Sussex were in so bad a state, that, in order to +arrive at Guildford from Petworth, travellers were obliged to make from +the nearest point of the great road leading from Portsmouth to London. +This was a work of so much difficulty, as to occupy the whole day; and +the duke had a house at Guildford which was regularly used as a +resting-place for the night by any of his family travelling to London. A +manuscript letter from a servant of the duke, dated from London, and +addressed to another at Petworth, acquaints the latter that his grace +intended to go from London thither on a certain day, and directs that +"the keepers and persons who knew the holes and the sloughs must come to +meet his grace with lanterns and long poles to help him on his way." + +The late Marquess of Buckingham built an inn at Missenden, about forty +miles from London, as the state of the roads compelled him to sleep +there on the way to Stow--a journey which is at present performed +between breakfast and dinner. + + + * * * * * + +THE GATHERER. + + + +A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. + +SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +Sir Joseph Banks used to tell a story of his being at Otaheite with +Capt. Cook, when it was accidentally discovered to be the king's +birth-day, on which it was suddenly agreed to have a jollification; +every soul on board got fuddled, except three men who were on duty. The +next day they came on deck, and begged to speak to the captain. "Well," +said the captain, "what have you got to say?"--"Please your honour, you +were all drunk yesterday, all except we three; will your honour be +pleased to allow us to get drunk to-day?" Sir Joseph, who was standing +by, was so tickled with the oddity of the request, that he begged they +might be indulged, and that he would subscribe two bottles of rum and +two bottles of brandy. The boon was granted, and in less than three +hours, these messmates balanced accounts, being as drunk as their hearts +could wish.--_Mr Wadd._ + + + * * * * * + +MADEMOISELLE MARS. + + +Some time after Napoleon's return to Paris, in 1815, as he was passing +the troops in review at the Place Carousel, he happened to see the +celebrated Mademoiselle Mars, stationed among the troops, in order to +view the imposing military spectacle. The emperor, approaching the spot, +and addressing her, said, "What do you do here, Mademoiselle? this is no +place for you."--"Sire," answered the witty and animated daughter of +Thalia, "I come to behold a real hero; I am tired of seeing mock ones +upon the stage." + +INA. + + + * * * * * + + +Some years ago the following inscription, engraved on the fragment of a +stone, was discovered amongst the relics of an antiquarian, and was +considered by him as a great curiosity, and enhanced in value by its +translation having puzzled the best scholars of the age:-- + + + BENE. + A.T.H. T.H. I.S.S.T. + ONERE. POS. ET + H. CLAUD. COSTER. TRIP + E. SELLERO + F. IMP + IN. GT. ONAS. DO + TH. HI + S. C. + ON. SOR. + T. I. A. N. E. + + +Some supposed it to refer to the Emperor Claudian, till a lad one day +spelt it out: "Beneath this stone reposeth Claud Coster, tripe-seller, +of Impington, as doth his consort Jane." R. B. + + + * * * * * + +DRINKING. + + +Captain John Graunt, in his Observations on the Bills of Mortality, +says, that of 229,250 persons, who died in twenty years, only _two_ are +put to the account of _excessive drinking_. But, perhaps, if the matter +were truly stated, a great many of the dropsies, apoplexies, and palsies +ought to have been placed under that head. It is not impossible that +those who had the charge of rendering these accounts, might have +entertained the opinion of old Dick Baldwyn, who stoutly maintained that +no man ever died of drinking. "Some puny things," said he, "have died +learning to drink, but no man ever died of drinking!" Now, this was no +mean authority; for he spoke from great practical experience, and was +moreover many years treasurer of St. Bartholomew's Hospital.--_Mr. +Wadd--in Brande's Journal._ + + + * * * * * + +The "Sunday Times" of the 28th ult. has the following paragraph +inserted:-- + + +_Typographical Errors._ + +The New Times speaks (some time ago) of a "Party given by the Duke of +_Pork_!" Another paper, of "Proceedings in the Court of Common +_Fleas_!" and the _Morning Chronicle_ of Tuesday last speaks of "an +atrocious _Bobbery_!" The cream of this criticism on others is, that the +very same paper has the following paragraph:--"_Fleet Prison, Dec. +26th._ Died last night, about 12 o'clock, the Rev. Mr. Chaundy, in the +meridian of life. This makes the ninth death which has happened in the +Fleet since the 29th of April last. The free use of spirituous liquors +is the cause of so much MORALITY in the prison." + +BONAS. + + + * * * * * + +A "MELTING SUBJECT." + + +M. Tissot, a celebrated French physician, who was the intimate friend of +Zimmerman, relates the case of a literary gentleman, who would never +venture near a fire, from imagining himself to be made of butter, and +being fearful he should melt. + + + * * * * * + + "There are whom heaven has bless'd with store of wit, + Yet want as much again to manage it." + + + * * * * * + +LIMBIRD'S EDITION OF THE + +_Following Novels are already Published:_ + + + _s. d._ + + Mackenzie's Man of Feeling ... 0 6 + Paul and Virginia ... 0 6 + The Castle of Otranto ... 0 6 + Alaeoran and Hamet ... 0 6 + Elizabeth, or the Exiles of Siberia ... 0 6 + The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayna ... 0 6 + Rasselas ... 0 8 + The Old English Baron ... 0 8 + Nature and Art ... 0 8 + Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield ... 0 10 + Sicilian Romance ... 1 0 + The Man of the World ... 1 0 + A Simple Story ... 1 4 + Joseph Andrews ... 1 6 + Humphry Clinker ... 1 8 + The Romance of the Forest ... 1 8 + The Italian ... 2 0 + Zeluco, by Dr. Moore ... 2 6 + Edward, by Dr. Moore ... 2 6 + Roderick Random ... 2 6 + The Mysteries of Udolpho ... 3 6 + + +_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, London; sold by +ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; and by all Newsmen and +Booksellers._ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, No. 351, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11112 *** |