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diff --git a/11282-0.txt b/11282-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..354d1d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/11282-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1607 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11282 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XII, NO. 336.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1828. [PRICE 2d. + + + + + +Richmond Palace + +[Illustration: Richmond Palace] + +Richmond has comparatively but few antiquarian or poetical visiters, +notwithstanding all its associations with the ancient splendour of the +English court, and the hallowed names of Pope and Thomson. Maurice sings, + + To thy sequester'd bow'rs and wooded height, + That ever yield my soul renew'd delight, + Richmond, I fly! with all thy beauties fir'd, + By raptur'd poets sung, by kings admir'd! + +but ninety-nine out of a hundred who visit Richmond, thank the gods they +are not poetical, fly off to the _Star and Garter_ hill, and content +themselves with the inspirations of its well-stored cellars. All this +corresponds with the turtle-feasting celebrity of the modern _Sheen_; but +it ill accords with the antiquarian importance and resplendent scenery of +this delightful country. + +Our engraving is from a very old drawing, representing the palace at +Richmond, as built by Henry VII. The manor-house at Sheen, a little east +of the bridge, and close by the river side, became a _royal palace_ in +the time of Edward I., for he and his successor resided here. Edward III. +died here in 1377. Queen Anne, the consort of his successor, died here in +1394. Deeply affected at her death, he, according to Holinshed, "caused +it to be thrown down and defaced; whereas the former kings of this land, +being wearie of the citie, used customarily thither to resort as to a +place of pleasure, and serving highly to their recreation." Henry V., +however, restored the palace to its former magnificence; and Henry VII. +held, in 1492, a grand tournament here. In 1499, it was almost consumed +by fire, when Henry rebuilt the palace, and gave it the name of RICHMOND. +Cardinal Wolsey frequently resided here; and Hall, in his Chronicles, +says, that "when the common people, and especially such as had been +servants of Henry VII., saw the cardinal keep house in the manor royal at +Richmond, which that monarch so highly esteemed, it was a marvel to hear +how they grudged, saying, 'so a butcher's dogge doth lie in the manor of +Richmond!'"[1] + +Queen Elizabeth was prisoner at Richmond during the reign of her sister +Mary; after she came to the throne, the palace was her favourite +residence; and here she died in 1608. Charles I. formed a large +collection of pictures here; and Charles II. was educated at Richmond. On +the restoration, the palace was in a very dismantled state, and having, +during the commonwealth, been plundered and defaced, it never recovered +its pristine splendour. + +The survey taken by order of parliament in 1649, affords a minute +description of the palace. The great hall was one hundred feet in length, +and forty in breadth, having a screen at the lower end, over which was +"fayr foot space in the higher end thereof, the pavement of square tile, +well lighted and seated; at the north end having a turret, or clock-case, +covered with lead, which is a special ornament to this building." The +prince's lodgings are described as a "freestone building, three stories +high, with _fourteen turrets_ covered with lead," being "a very graceful +ornament to the whole house, and perspicuous to the county round about." +A round tower is mentioned, called the "Canted Tower," with a staircase +of one hundred and twenty-four steps. The chapel was ninety-six feet long +and forty broad, with cathedral-seats and pews. Adjoining the prince's +garden was an open gallery, two hundred feet long, over which was a close +gallery of similar length. Here was also a royal library. Three pipes +supplied the palace with water, one from the white conduit in the new +park, another from the conduit in the town fields, and the third from a +conduit near the alms-houses in Richmond. In 1650, it was sold for +10,000_l_. to private persons. + +All the accounts which have come down to us describe the furniture and +decorations of the ANCIENT PALACE as very superb, exhibiting in gorgeous +tapestry the deeds of kings and of heroes who had signalized themselves +by their conquests throughout France in behalf of their country. + +The site of Richmond Palace is now occupied by noble mansions; but AN OLD +ARCHWAY, seen from _the Green_, still remains as a melancholy memorial of +its regal splendour. + + +[1] Mrs. A.T. Thomson, in her _Memoirs of the Court of Henry the Eighth_, + says, "On the night of the Epiphany (1510), a pageant was introduced + into the hall at Richmond, representing a hill studded with gold and + precious stones, and having on its summit a tree of gold, from which + hung roses and pomegranates. From the declivity of the hill descended + a lady richly attired, who, with the gentlemen, or, as they were then + called, children of honour, danced a morris before the king. On + another occasion, in the presence of the court, an artificial forest + was drawn in by a lion and an antelope, the hides of which were + richly embroidered with golden ornaments; the animals were harnessed + with chains of gold, and on each sat a fair damsel in gay apparel. In + the midst of the forest, which was thus introduced, appeared a gilded + tower, at the end of which stood a youth, holding in his hands a + garland of roses, as the prize of valour in a tournament which + succeeded the pageant!" + + * * * * * + + +EPITOME OF COMETS. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + "Hast thou ne'er seen the Comet's flaming flight?" + +YOUNG. + + +Comets, according to Sir Isaac Newton, are compact, solid, fixed, and +durable bodies: in one word, a kind of planets, which move in very +oblique orbits, every way, with the greatest freedom, persevering in +their motions even against the course and direction of the planets; and +their tail is a very thin, slender vapour, emitted by the head, or +nucleus of the comet, ignited or heated by the sun. + +There are _bearded_, _tailed_, and _hairy_ comets; thus, when the comet is +eastward of the sun, and moves from it, it is said to be _bearded_, +because the light precedes it in the manner of a beard. When the comet is +westward of the sun, and sets after it, it is said to be _tailed_, +because the train follows it in the manner of a tail. Lastly, when the +comet and the sun are diametrically opposite (the earth being between +them) the train is hid behind the body of the comet, excepting a little +that appears around it in the form of a border of hair, or _coma_, it is +called _hairy_, and whence the name of comet is derived. + +For the conservation of the water and moisture of the planets, comets +(says Sir Isaac Newton) seem absolutely requisite; from whose condensed +vapours and exhalations all that moisture which is spent on vegetations +and putrefactions, and turned into dry earth, may be resupplied and +recruited; for all vegetables increase wholly from fluids, and turn by +putrefaction into earth. Hence the quantity of dry earth must continually +increase, and the moisture of the globe decrease, and at last be quite +evaporated, if it have not a continual supply. And I suspect (adds Sir +Isaac) that the spirit which makes the finest, subtilest, and best part +of our air, and which is absolutely requisite for the life and being of +all things, comes principally from the comets. + +Another use which he conjectures comets may be designed to serve, is that +of recruiting the sun with fresh fuel, and repairing the consumption of +his light by the streams continually sent forth in every direction from +that luminary-- + + "From his huge vapouring train perhaps to shake + Reviving moisture on the numerous orbs, + Thro' which his long ellipsis winds; perhaps + To lend new fuel to declining suns, + To light up worlds, and feed th' ethereal fire." + +THOMSON. + +Newton has computed that the sun's heat in the comet of 1680,[2] was, to +his heat with us at Midsummer, as twenty-eight thousand to one; and that +the heat of the body of the comet was near two thousand times as great as +that of red-hot iron. The same great author also calculates, that a globe +of red-hot iron, of the dimensions of our earth, would scarce be cool in +fifty thousand years. If then the comet be supposed to cool a hundred +times as fast as red-hot iron, yet, since its heat was two thousand times +greater, supposing it of the bigness of the earth, it would not be cool +in a million of years. + +An elegant writer in the Guardian, says, "I cannot forbear reflecting on +the insignificance of human art, when set in comparison with the designs +of Providence. In pursuit of this thought, I considered a comet, or in +the language of the vulgar, a blazing star, as a sky-rocket discharged by +a hand that is Almighty. Many of my readers saw that in the year 1680, +and if they were not mathematicians, will be amazed to hear, that it +travelled with a much greater degree of swiftness than a cannon ball, and +drew after it a tail of fire that was fourscore millions of miles in +length. What an amazing thought is it to consider this stupendous body +traversing the immensity of the creation with such a rapidity; and at the +same time wheeling about in that line which the Almighty had prescribed +for it! That it should move in such inconceivable fury and combustion, +and at the same time with such an exact regularity! How spacious must the +universe be, that gives such bodies as these their full play, without +suffering the least disorder or confusion by it. What a glorious show are +those beings entertained with, that can look into this great theatre of +nature, and see myriads of such tremendous objects wandering through +those immeasurable depths of ether, and running their appointed courses! +Our eyes may hereafter be strong enough to command the magnificent +prospect, and our understandings able to find out the several uses of +these great parts of the universe. In the meantime, they are very proper +objects for our imagination to contemplate, that we may form more +extensive notions of infinite wisdom and power, and learn to think humbly +of ourselves, and of all the little works of human invention." Seneca saw +three comets, and says, "I am not of the common opinion, nor do I take a +comet to be a sudden fire; but esteem it among the eternal works of +nature." + +P.T.W. + + +[2] The Comet which appeared in 1759, and which (says Lambert) returned + the quickest of any that we have an account of, had a winter of + seventy years. Its heat surpassed imagination. + + + * * * * * + + + +SONNETS. + +BY LEIGH CLIFFE, AUTHOR OF "PARGA," "THE KNIGHTS OF RITZBERG," &c. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +TO THE SUN. + + + Hail to thee, fountain of eternal light, + Streaming with dewy radiance in the sky! + Rising like some huge giant from the night, + While the dark shadows from thy presence fly. + Enshrin'd in mantle of a varied dye, + Thou hast been chambering in the topmost clouds, + List'ning to peeping, glist'ning stars on high, + Pillow'd upon their thin, aërial shrouds; + But when the breeze of dawn refreshfully + Swept the rude waters of the ocean flood, + And the dark pines breath'd from each leaf a sigh, + To wake the sylvan genius of the wood, + Thou burst in glory on our dazzled sight, + In thy resplendent charms, a flood of golden light! + + +TO THE MOON. + + + Spirit of heaven! shadow-mantled queen, + In mildest beauty peering in the sky, + Radiant with light! 'Tis sweet to see thee lean, + As if to listen, from cloud-worlds on high, + Whilst murmuring nightingales voluptuously + Breathe their soft melody, and dew-drops lie + Upon the myrtle blooms and oaken leaves, + And the winds sleep in sullen peacefulness! + Oh! it is then that gentle Fancy weaves + The vivid visions of the soul, which bless + The poet's mind, and with sweet phantasies, + Like grateful odours shed refreshfully + From angels' wings of glistening beauty, tries + To waken pleasure, and to stifle sighs! + + * * * * * + + +EMBLEM OF WALES. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +It is supposed by some of the Welsh, and in some notes to a poem the +author (Mr. P. Lewellyn) says he has been confidently assured, that the +leek, as is generally supposed to be, is not the original emblem of Wales, +but the sive, or chive, which is common to almost every peasant's garden. +It partakes of the smell and taste of the onion and leek, but is not so +noxious, and is much handsomer than the latter. It grows in a wild state +on the banks of the Wye, infinitely larger than when planted in gardens. +According to the above-mentioned author, the manner in which it became +the national emblem of Cambria was as follows:--As a prince of Wales was +returning victorious from battle, he wished to have some leaf or flower +to commemorate the event; but it being winter, no plant or shrub was seen +until they came to the Wye, when they beheld the sive, which the prince +commanded to be worn as a memorial of the victory. + +_Tipton, Staffordshire._ + +W.H. + + * * * * * + + +HISTORY OF FAIRS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +Fairs, among the old Romans, were holidays, on which there was an +intermission of labour and pleadings. Among the Christians, upon any +extraordinary solemnity, particularly the anniversary dedication of a +church, tradesmen were wont to bring and sell their wares even in the +churchyards, which continued especially upon the festivals of the +dedication. This custom was kept up till the reign of Henry VI. Thus we +find a great many fairs kept at these festivals of dedications, as at +Westminster on St. Peter's day, at London on St. Bartholomew's, Durham on +St. Cuthbert's day. But the great numbers of people being often the +occasion of riots and disturbances, the privilege of holding a fair was +granted by royal charter. At first they were only allowed in towns and +places of strength, or where there was some bishop or governor of +condition to keep them in order. In process of time there were several +circumstances of favour added, people having the protection of a holiday, +and being allowed freedom from arrests, upon the score of any difference +not arising upon the spot. They had likewise a jurisdiction allowed them +to do justice to those that came thither; and therefore the most +inconsiderable fair with us has, or had, a court belonging to it, which +takes cognizance of all manner of causes and disorders growing and +committed upon the place, called _pye powder_, or _pedes pulverizati_. +Some fairs are free, others charged with tolls and impositions. At free +fairs, traders, whether natives or foreigners, are allowed to enter the +kingdom, and are under the royal protection in coming and returning. +They and their agents, with their goods, also their persons and goods, +are exempt from all duties and impositions, tolls and servitudes; and +such merchants going to or coming from the fair cannot be arrested, or +their goods stopped. The prince only has the power to establish fairs of +any kind. These fairs make a considerable article in the commerce of +Europe, especially those of the Mediterranean, or inland parts, as +Germany. The most famous are those of Frankfort and Leipsic; the fairs +of Novi, in the Milanese; that of Riga, Arch-angel of St. Germain, at +Paris; of Lyons; of Guibray, in Normandy; and of Beauclaire, in +Languedoc: those of Porto-Bello, Vera Cruz, and the Havannah, are the +most considerable in America. + +HALBERT. + + * * * * * + + +THE VIRGINAL. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +A rare and beautiful relic of the olden time was lately presented to the +museum of the Northern Institution, by William Mackintosh, Esq. of +Milbank--an ancient virginal, which was in use among our ancestors prior +to the invention of the spinnet and harpsichord. Mary, Queen of Scots, +who delighted in music, in her moments of "joyeusitie" as John Knox +phrases it, used to play finely on the virginal; and her more fortunate +rival, Queen Elizabeth, was so exquisite a performer on the same +instrument, that Melville says, on hearing her once play in her chamber, +he was irresistibly drawn into the room. The virginal now deposited in +the museum formerly belonged to a noble family in Inverness, and is +considered to be the only one remaining in Scotland. It is made of oak, +inlaid with cedar, and richly ornamented with gold. The cover and sides +are beautifully painted with figures of birds, flowers, and leaves, the +colours of which are still comparatively fresh and undecayed. On one part +of the lid is a grand procession of warriors, whom a bevy of fair dames +are propitiating by presents or offerings of wine and fruits. Altogether, +the virginal may be regarded as a fine specimen of art, and is doubly +interesting as a memorial of times long gone by. + +W.G.C. + + * * * * * + + +HERSCHEL'S TELESCOPE. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +Your correspondent, a _Constant Reader_, in No. 330 of the MIRROR, is +informed that the identical telescope which he mentions is now in the +possession of Mr. J. Davies, optician, 101, High-street, Mary-le-bone, +where it may be seen in a finished and perfect state. It is reckoned the +best and most complete of its size in Europe. + +It was ordered to be made for his late majesty George III. as a challenge +against the late Dr. Herschel's; but was prevented from being completed +till some time after. The metals, 9-1/4 inches in diameter, having a +diagonal eye-piece, four eye tubes of different magnifying powers, and +three small specula of various radii, were made by Mr. Watson. + +J.D. + + * * * * * + + +ANCIENT ROMAN FESTIVALS. + + * * * * * + + +OCTOBER. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +The _Augustalia_ was a festival at Rome, in commemoration of the day on +which Augustus returned to Rome, after he had established peace over the +different parts of the empire. It was first established in the year of +Rome 735. + +The _Fontinalia_, or _Fontanalia_, was a religious feast, held among the +Romans in honour of the deities who presided over fountains or springs. +Varro observes, that it was the custom to visit the wells on those days, +and to cast crowns into fountains. This festival was observed on the 13th +of October. + +The _Armilustrum_ was a feast held on the 19th of October, wherein they +sacrificed, armed at all points, and with the sound of trumpets. The +sacrifice was intended for the expiation of the armies, and the +prosperity of the arms of the people of Rome. This feast may be +considered as a kind of benediction of arms. It was first observed among +the Athenians. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ANECDOTE GALLERY. + + +LORD BYRON AT MISSOLONGHI. + +[The _Foreign Quarterly Review_ gives the following sketch as a +"_pendant_ to Mr. Pouqueville's picture of the poet, given in a +preceding page," and requoted by us in the last No. of the MIRROR. It is +from a History of Greece, by Rizo, a Wallachian sentimentalist of the +first order, and in enthusiasm and exuberance of style, it will perhaps +compare with any previous sketches of the late Lord Byron: but the +romantic interest which Rizo has thrown about these "more last words" +will doubtless render them acceptable to our readers.] + + +For several years a man, a poet, excited the admiration of civilized +people. His sublime genius towered above the atmosphere, and penetrated, +with a searching look, even into the deepest abysses of the human heart. +Envy, which could not reach the poet, attacked the man, and wounded him +cruelly; but, too great to defend, and too generous to revenge himself, +he only sought for elevated impressions, and "_vivoit de grand +sensations_," (which we cannot translate), capable of the most noble +devotedness, and, persuaded that excellence is comprised in justice, he +embraced the cause of the Greeks. Still young, Byron had traversed Greece, +_properly so called_, and described the moral picture of its inhabitants. +He quitted these countries, pitying in his verses the misery of the +Greeks, blaming their lethargy, and despising their stupid submission; so +difficult is it to know a nation by a rapid glance. What was the +astonishment of the poet, when some years later he saw these people, whom +he had thought unworthy to bear the name of Greeks, rise up with +simultaneous eagerness, and declare, in the face of the world, that "they +_would_ again become a nation." Byron hesitated at first; ancient +prepossessions made him attribute this rupture to a partial convulsion, +the ultimate effort of a being ready to breathe the last sigh. Soon new +prodigies, brilliant exploits, and heroic constancy, which sustained +itself in spite of every opposition, proved to him that he had ill-judged +this people, and excited him to repair his error by the sacrifice of his +fortune and life; he wished to concur in the work of regeneration. From +the shores of the beautiful Etruria he set sail for Greece, in the month +of August, 1823. He visited at first the seven Ionian Isles, where he +sojourned some time, busied in concluding the first Greek loan. The death +of Marco Botzaris redoubled the enthusiasm of Byron, and perhaps +determined him to prefer the town of Missolonghi, which already showed +for its glory the tombs of Normann, Kyriakoulis, and Botzaris. Alas! that +town was destined, four months later, to reckon another mausoleum! + +Towards the month of November a Hydriote brig of war, commanded by the +nephew of the brave Criézy, sailed to Cephalonia to take him on board, +and bring him to Missolonghi; but the Septinsular government, not +permitting ships bearing a Greek flag to come into its harbours, Byron +was obliged to pass to Zante in a small vessel, and to join the Greek +brig afterwards, which was waiting for him near Zante. Hardly was Byron +on board when he kissed the mainmast, calling it "_sacred wood_." The +ship's crew astonished at this whimsical behaviour, regarded him in +silence; suddenly Byron turned towards the captain and the sailors, whom +he embraced with tears, and said to them, "It is by this wood that you +will consolidate your independence." At these words the sailors, moved +with enthusiasm, regarded him with admiration. Byron soon reached +Missolonghi: the members of the Administrative Council received him at +the head of two thousand soldiers drawn up in order. The artillery of the +place, and the discharge of musquetry announced the happy arrival of this +great man. All the inhabitants ran to the shore, and welcomed him with +acclamations. As soon as he had entered the town, he went to the hotel of +the Administrative Council, where he was complimented by Porphyrios, +Archbishop of Arta, Lepanto and Etolia, accompanied by all his clergy. +The first words of Byron were, "Where is the brother of the modern +Leonidas?" Constantine Botzaris, a young man, tall and well made, +immediately stepped forward, and Byron thus accosted him:--"Happy mortal! +Thou art the brother of a hero, whose name will never be effaced in the +lapse of ages!" Then perceiving a great crowd assembled under the windows +of the hotel, he advanced towards the casement, and said, "Hellenes! you +see amongst you an Englishman who has never ceased to study Greece in her +antiquity, and to think of her in her modern state; an Englishman who has +always invoked by his vows that liberty, for which you are now making so +many heroic efforts. I am grateful for the sentiments which you testify +towards me; in a short time you will see me in the middle of your +phalanxes, to conquer or perish with you." A month afterwards the +government sent him a deputation, charged to offer him a sword and the +patent of Greek citizenship; at the same time the town of Missolonghi +inscribed him in its archives. For this public act they prepared a solemn +ceremony for him; they fixed beforehand the day--they invited there by +circular letters the inhabitants of the neighbouring districts--and more +than twenty thousand persons arrived at Missolonghi. Byron in a Greek +costume, preceded and followed by all the military, who loved him, +proceeded to the church, where the Archbishop Porphyrios and the bishop +of Rogon, Joseph, that martyr of religion and his country, received him +in the vestibule of the church, clothed in their sacerdotal habits; and, +after having celebrated mass, they offered him the sword and the patent +of citizenship. Byron demanded that the sword should be first dedicated +on the tomb of Marco Botzaris; and immediately the whole retinue, and an +immense crowd, went out of the church to the tomb of that warrior, which +had been ornamented with beautiful marble at the expense of the poet. + +The archbishop placed the sword upon this tomb, and then Byron, to +inspire the Greeks with enthusiasm, advanced with a religious silence, +and stopping all on a sudden, he pronounced this discourse in the Greek +tongue:--"What man reposes buried under this stone? What hollow voice +issues from this tomb? What is this sepulchre, from whence will spring +the happiness of Greece? But what am I saying? Is it not the tomb of +Marco Botzaris, who has been dead some months, and who, with a handful of +brave men, precipitated himself upon the numerous ranks of the most +formidable enemies of Greece? How dare I approach the sacred place where +he reposes--I, who neither possess his heroism nor his virtues? However, +in touching this tomb, I hope that its emanations will always inflame my +heart with patriotism." So saying, and advancing towards the sepulchre, +he kissed it while shedding tears. Every spectator exclaimed, "Lord Byron +for ever!" "I see," added his lordship, "the sword and the letter of +citizenship, which the government offers me; from this day I am the +fellow-citizen of this hero, and of all the brave people who surround me. +Hellenes! I hope to live with you, to fight the enemy with you, and to +die with you if it be necessary." Byron, superior to vulgar prejudice, +saw in the manners of the _pallikares_ an ingenuous simplicity, a manly +frankness and rustic procedure, but full of honour; he observed in the +people a docility and constancy capable of the greatest efforts, when it +shall be conducted by skilful and virtuous men; he observed amongst the +Greek women natural gaiety, unstudied gentleness, and religious +resignation to misfortunes. + +Byron did not pretend to bend a whole people to his tastes and European +habits. He came not to censure with a stern look their costumes, their +dances, and their music; on the contrary, he entered into their national +dances, he learned their warlike songs, he dressed himself like them, he +spoke their language; in a word, he soon became a true _Roumeliote_. +Consequently, he was adored by all Western Greece; every captain +acknowledged him with pleasure as his chief; the proud Souliots gloried +in being under his immediate command. The funds of the first loan being +addressed to him, and submitted to his inspection, gave him influence, +not only over continental Greece, but even over the Peloponnesus; so that +he was in a situation, if not sufficient to stifle discord, at least to +keep it within bounds. Not having yet fathomed the character of all the +chief people, as well civil as military, he was sometimes deceived in the +beginning of his sojourn, which a little hurt his popularity; but being +completely above trifling passions, being able to strengthen by his union +with it the party which appeared to him the most patriotic, he might +without any doubt, with time and experience, have played a part the most +magnificent and salutary to Greece. At first he had constructed, at his +own expense, a fort in the little isle of Xéclamisma, the capture of +which would have given great facilities to the enemies to attack by sea +Missolonghi or Anatoliko. Missolonghi gave to this important fort the +name of "Fort Byron." This nobleman conceived afterwards, studied and +prepared an expedition against the strong place of Lepanto, the capture +of which would have produced consequences singularly favourable. Once in +possession of the means of regularly paying the soldiers, he would have +been able to form a choice body, and take the town, which did not present +any difficulty of attack, either on account of the few troops shut up +there, or the weakness of its fortifications. Byron only waited the +arrival of the loan, to begin his march. + +Thus he led an agreeable life in the midst of a nation which he aimed at +saving. Enchanted with the bravery of the Souliots, and their manners, +which recalled to him the simplicity of Homeric times, he assisted at +their banquets, extended upon the turf; he learnt their pyrrhic dance, +and he sang in unison the airs of Riga, harmonizing his steps to the +sound of their national mandolin. Alas! he carried too far his benevolent +condescension. Towards the beginning of April he went to hunt in the +marshes of Missolonghi. He entered on foot in the shallows; he came out +quite wet, and, following the example of the _pallikares_ accustomed to +the _malaria_, he would not change his clothes, and persisted in having +them dried upon his body. Attacked with an inflammation upon the lungs, +he refused to let himself be bled, notwithstanding the intreaties of his +physician, of Maurocordato and all his friends. His malady quickly grew +worse; on the fourth day Byron became delirious; by means of bleeding he +recovered from his drowsiness, but without being able to speak; then, +feeling his end approaching, he gave his attendants to understand that he +wished to take leave of the captains and all the Souliots. As each +approached, Byron made a sign to them to kiss him. At last he expired in +the arms of Maurocordato, whilst pronouncing the names of his daughter +and of Greece. His death was fatal to the nation, which it plunged in +mourning and tears. + + * * * * * + + +MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + * * * * * + +CEREMONIES RELATING TO THE HAIR. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Among the ancient Greeks, all dead persons were thought to be under the +jurisdiction of the infernal deities, and therefore no man (says Potter) +could resign his life, till some of his hairs were cut to consecrate to +them. During the ceremony of laying out, clothing the dead, and sometimes +the interment itself, the hair of the deceased person was hung upon the +door, to signify the family was in mourning. It was sometimes laid upon +the dead body, sometimes cast into the funeral pile, and sometimes placed +upon the grave. Electra in Sophocles says, that Agamemnon had commanded +her and Chrysothemis to pay him this honour:-- + + "With drink-off'rings and _locks_ of _hair_ we must, + According to his will, his _tomb_ adorn." + +Candace in Ovid bewails her calamity, in that she was not permitted to +adorn her lover's tomb with her locks. + +At Patroclus's funeral, the Grecians, to show their affection and +respect to him, covered his body with their hair; Achilles cast it into +the funeral pile. The custom of nourishing the hair on religious +accounts seems to have prevailed in most nations. Osiris, the Egyptian, +consecrated his hair to the gods, as we learn from Diodorus; and in +Arian's account of India, it appears it was a custom there to preserve +their hair for some god, which they first learnt (as that author +reports) from Bacchus. + +The Greeks and Romans wore false hair. It was esteemed a peculiar honour +among the ancient Gauls to have long hair. For this reason Julius Caesar, +upon subduing the Gauls, made them cut off their hair, as a token of +submission. In the royal family of France, it was a long time the +peculiar mark and privilege of kings and princes of the blood to wear +long hair, artfully dressed and curled; every body else being obliged to +be polled, or cut round, in sign of inferiority and obedience. In the +eighth century, it was the custom of people of quality to have their +children's hair cut the first time by persons they had a particular +honour and esteem for, who, in virtue of this ceremony, were reputed a +sort of spiritual parents or godfathers to them. In the year 1096, there +was a canon, importing, that such as wore long hair should be excluded +coming into church when living, and not be prayed for when dead. +Charlemagne wore his hair very short, his son shorter; Charles the _Bald_ +had none at all. Under Hugh Capet it began to appear again; this the +ecclesiastics were displeased with, and excommunicated all who let their +hair grow. Peter Lombard expostulated the matter so warmly with Charles +the Young, that he cut off his own hair; and his successors, for some +generations, wore it very short. A professor of Utrecht, in 1650, wrote +expressly on the question, Whether it be lawful for men to wear long +hair? and concluded for the negative. Another divine, named Reeves, who +had written for the affirmative, replied to him. In _New_ England a +declaration was inscribed in the register of the colony against the +practice of wearing long hair, which was principally levelled at the +Quakers, with unjust severity. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +Pagoda in Kew Gardens. + +[Illustration: Pagoda in Kew Gardens.] + + +In one of the wildernesses of Kew Gardens stands the _Great Pagoda_, +erected in the year 1762, from a design in imitation of the Chinese Taa. +The base is a regular octagon, 49 feet in diameter; and the +superstructure is likewise a regular octagon on its plan, and in its +elevation composed of 10 prisms, which form the 10 different stories of +the building. The lowest of these is 26 feet in diameter, exclusive of +the portico which surrounds it, and 18 feet high; the second is 25 feet +in diameter, and 17 feet high; and all the rest diminish in diameter and +height, in the same arithmetical proportion, to the ninth story, which is +18 feet in diameter and 10 feet high. The tenth story is 17 feet in +diameter, and, with the covering, 20 feet high, and the finishing on the +top is 17 feet high; so that the whole structure, from the base to the +top of the fleuron, is 163 feet. Each story finishes with a projecting +roof, after the Chinese manner, covered with plates of varnished iron of +different colours, and round each of them is a gallery enclosed with a +rail. All the angles of the roof are adorned with large dragons, eighty +in number, covered with a kind of thin glass of various colours, which +produces a most dazzling reflection; and the whole ornament at the top is +double gilt. The walls of the building are composed of very hard bricks; +the outside of well-coloured and well-matched greystocks, (bricks,) +neatly laid. The staircase is in the centre of the building. The prospect +opens as you advance in height; and from the top you command a very +extensive view on all sides, and, in some directions, upwards of forty +miles distant, over a rich and variegated country. + + * * * * * + + +FINE ARTS + + * * * * * + +MR. HAYDON'S PICTURE OF "CHAIRING THE MEMBERS." + + +In our last volume we were induced to appropriate nearly six of our +columns to a description of Mr. Haydon's Picture of the Mock Election in +the King's Bench Prison--or rather _the first_ of a series of pictures to +illustrate the Election, the subject of the present notice being the +Second, or the Chairing of the Members, which was intended for the +concluding scene of the burlesque. It will, therefore, be unnecessary for +us here to give any additional explanation of the real life of these +paintings, except so far as may be necessary to the explanation of the +present picture. + +The "_Chairing_" was acted on a water butt one evening, but was to have +been again performed in more magnificent costume the next day; just, +however, as all the actors in this eccentric masquerade, High Sheriff, +Lord Mayor, Head Constable, Assessor, Poll Clerks, and Members, were +ready dressed, and preparing to start, the marshal interfered, stopped +the procession, and, after some parley, was advised to send for the +guards. + +"About the middle of a sunny day," says Mr. Haydon, "when all was quiet, +save the occasional cracking of a racket ball, while some were reading, +some smoking, some lounging, some talking, some occupied with their own +sorrows, and some with the sorrows of their friends, in rushed six fine +grenadiers with a noble fellow of a sergeant at their head, with bayonets +fixed, and several rounds of ball in their cartouches, expecting to meet +(by their looks) with the most desperate resistance." + +"The materials thus afforded me by the entrance of the guards, I have +combined in one moment;" or "I have combined in one moment what happened +at different moments; the _characters_ and _soldiers are all portraits_. +I have only used the poets and painters' license, to make out the second +part of the story, a part that happens in all elections, viz. the +chairing of the successful candidates." + +"In the corner of the picture, on the left of the spectator, are three +of the guards, drawn up across the door, standing at ease, with all the +self-command of soldiers in such situations, hardly suppressing a laugh +at the ridiculous attempts made to oppose them; in front of the guards, +is the commander of the enemy's forces; viz.--a little boy with a tin +sword, on regular guard position, ready to receive and oppose them, with +a banner of 'Freedom of Election,' hanging on his sabre; behind him +stands the Lord High Sheriff, affecting to charge the soldiers with his +mopstick and pottle. He is dressed in a magnificent suit of decayed +splendour, with an old court sword, loose silk stockings, white shoes, +and unbuckled knee-bands; his shoulders are adorned with white bows, and +curtain rings for a chain, hung by a blue ribbon from his neck. Next to +him, adorned with a blanket, is a character of voluptuous gaiety, +helmeted by a saucepan, holding up the cover for a shield, and a bottle +for a weapon. Then comes the Fool, making grimaces with his painted +cheeks, and bending his fists at the military; while the Lord Mayor with +his white wand, is placing his hand on his heart with mock gravity and +wounded indignation at this violation of _Magna Charta_ and civil +rights. Behind him are different characters, with a porter pot for a +standard, and a watchman's rattle; while in the extreme distance, behind +the rattle, and under the wall, is a ragged Orator addressing the +burgesses on this violation of the privileges of Election. + +"Right over the figure with a saucepan, is a Turnkey, holding up a key +and pulling down the celebrated Meredith; who, quite serious, and +believing he will really sit in the House, is endeavouring to strike the +turnkey with a champagne glass. The gallant member is on the shoulders of +two men, who are peeping out and quizzing. + +"Close to Meredith is his fellow Member, dressed in a Spanish hat and +feather, addressing the Sergeant opposite him, with an arch look, on the +illegality of his entrance at elections, while a turnkey has taken hold +of the member's robe, and is pulling him off the water butt with violence. + +"The sergeant, a fine soldier, one of the heroes of Waterloo, is smiling +and amused, while a grenadier, one of the other three under arms, is +looking at his sergeant for orders. + +"In the corner, directly under the sergeant, is a dissipated young man, +addicted to hunting and sports, without adequate means for the enjoyment, +attended by his distressed family. He, half intoxicated, has just drawn a +cork, and is addressing the bottle, his only comfort, while his daughter +is delicately putting it aside and looking with entreaty at her father. + +"The harassed wife is putting back the daughter, unwilling to deprive the +man she loves, of what, though a baneful consolation, is still one; while +the little, shoeless boy with his hoop, is regarding his father with that +strange wonder, with which children look at the unaccountable alteration +in features and expression, that takes place under the effects of +intoxication. + +"Three pawnbroker's duplicates, one for the child's shoes, 1_s_. 6_d_., +one for the wedding ring, 5_s_., and one for the wife's necklace, 7_l_., +lie at the feet of the father, with the Sporting Magazine; for drunkards +generally part with the ornaments or even necessaries of their wives and +children before they trespass on their own. + +"At the opposite corner lies curled up the Head Constable, hid away under +his bed-curtain, which he had for a robe, and slyly looking, as if he +hoped nobody would betray him. By his side is placed a table, with the +relics of a luxurious enjoyment, while a washing tub as a wine cooler, +contains, under the table, Hock, Champagne, Burgundy, and a Pine. + +"Directly over the sergeant, on the wall, are written, 'The _Majesti_ +of the _Peepel_ for ever--huzza!'--'No military at Elections!' and 'No +Marshal!'--on the standards to the left, are '_Confusion to Credit, and +no fraudulent Creditors_.' In the window are a party with a lady smoking +a hookah; on the ledge of the window, "Success to the detaining Creditor!" +--At the opposite window is a portrait of the Painter, looking down on +the extraordinary scene with great interest--underneath him is, 'Sperat +infestis.' + +"On a board under the lady smoking, is written the order of the Lord +Mayor, enjoining _Peace_, as follows:-- + + "Banco Regis, + Court House, July 16, + In the Sixth year of the + Reign of GEORGE IV. + +"Peremptorily ordered-- + + "That the Special Constables and Headboroughs + of this ancient Bailwick do take into + custody all Persons found in any way committing + a breach of the Peace, during the Procession + of Chairing the Members returned to represent + this Borough. + + "SIR ROBERT BIRCH, (Collegian) Lord Mayor. + +"'A New Way to pay Old Debts,'--is written over the first turnkey; and +below it, 'N.B. A very old way, discovered 3394 years B.C.;' and in the +extreme distance, over a shop, is--'Dealer in every thing genuine.' + +"While the man beating the long drum, at the opposite end, another the +cymbals, and the third blowing a trumpet, with the windows all crowded +with spectators, complete the composition, with the exception of the +melancholy victim behind the High Sheriff. + +"I recommend the contemplation of this miserable creature, once a +gentleman, to all advocates of imprisonment for debt. First rendered +reckless by imprisonment--then hopeless--then sottish--and, last of all, +from utter despair of freedom, insane! Round his withered temples is a +blue ribbon, with 'Dulce est pro Patriâ mori,' (it is sweet to die for +one's country); for he is baring his breast to rush on the bayonets of +the guards, a willing sacrifice, as he believes, poor fellow, for a great +public principle. In his pocket he has three pamphlets, 'On Water +Drinking, or The Blessings of Imprisonment for Debt,'--and Adam Smith's +'Moral Essays.'--Ruffles hang from his wrists, the relics of former days, +rags cover his feeble legs, one foot is naked, and his appearance is that +of a decaying being, mind and body." + +Such is Mr. Haydon's "Explanation" of his own Picture; and it only +remains for us to give the reader some idea of its most prominent +beauties. As a whole, it is very superior to the "Election," highly as we +were disposed to rate the merits of that performance. The style is +masterly throughout, and every shade of the colouring has all the depth +and richness which characterize works of real genius. There is a spirit +in every touch which differs as much from the softened and soulless +compositions of certain modern artists, as does the florid architecture +of the ancients from the starved proportions of these days, or the rich +and graceful style of the Essayists from the fabrications of little, +self-conceited biographers. In short, the whole scene is dashed off in the +first style of art; the subject and humour are all over English--true to +nature, and so forcible as to seize on the attention of the most listless +beholder. + +We must notice a few of the details. The three guards are foremost in the +picture, and in merit; the struggle in their countenances between +discipline and a sense of the ludicrous scene before them is admirably +represented; as well as the little urchin with his tin sword. The centre +figure of the High Sheriff, with his tattered and faded finery of office, +is equally clever; but the skill with which the artist has contrived to +express his forced mirth, and mopstick bravado, is still more forcible. +The troubled countenance of the Lord Mayor is an excellent portrait of +the indignation of little authority when perturbed by men of greater +place. The faces of the turnkey and the sergeant are likewise admirable; +and that of the soldier looking towards the latter for orders, is like an +excellent piece of byplay in the farce. The drunken patriot, behind the +High Sheriff, is well entitled to the attention which the artist, in his +explanation, suggests; but the spectator must not dwell too long on this +sorrowful wreck of fallen nature. The group in the foreground of the +right hand corner, is an episode which must not be omitted, for it +corresponds with the fine portrait in the same situation in the "Election" +picture. The reckless dissipation of the fine, young fox-hunter, the half +intoxicated chuckle with which he holds the bottle, the grief of his +daughter and wife, and the little shoeless boy with his hoop, are finely +contrasted with the rich humour and extravagant burlesque of all around +them. The slyness of the Head Constable, in the left hand corner, half +smothered in his mock robes, is expressively told; and the painter is a +capital likeness. + +From the success of Mr. Haydon in the particular line of art requisite +for scenes of real humour, it is not unlikely that his execution of the +first picture, the "Election" may prove one of the most fortunate events +in his professional career, and turn out to be one of the "sweet uses of +adversity," by eliciting talent which he probably did not believe himself +to possess. Much as we admire this style of art, we can but deplore that +purchasers cannot be found for such pictures as his _Entry into +Jerusalem_, and _Judgment of Solomon_, both which, with two others, are +exhibited in the room with the Chairing of the Members. Out of the scores +of new churches which are yearly completed, surely some altar-pieces +might be introduced with propriety; and when we consider the peculiar +influence which such scenes as those chosen by Mr. Haydon are known to +possess over the human heart, we do not think their entire exclusion from +modern churches contributes to their devotional character. + +Such pictures are intended for better purposes than mere seclusion in +large galleries and mansions, of which there are but comparatively few in +England; and it is always with regret that we see these noble efforts of +art in such profitless situations. Occasionally a nobleman, or parochial +taste, introduces a valuable painted window, and sometimes an altarpiece +into a church; but we wish the practice were more general. + + * * * * * + + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS + + * * * * * + +ENGLAND IN THE DAYS OF GOOD "QUEEN BESS." + + +The misery and mendicity which prevailed in this country before the +provisions of the poor laws in the time of Elizabeth became duly enforced, +might be proved by the following extract from a curious old pamphlet, +which describes, in very forcible language, the poverty and idleness +which prevailed in one of the fairest and most fertile districts of the +kingdom, viz.-- + +The Golden Vale in Herefordshire, (being ye pride of al that country,) +being the richest yet (for want of employment) the plentifullest place of +poore in the kingdom--yielding two or three hundred folde; the number so +increasing (idleness having gotten the upper hand;) if trades bee not +raised--beggery will carry such reputation in my quarter of the country, +as if it had the whole to halves. + +There bee, says this author, within a mile and a halfe from my house +every waye, five hundred poore habitations; whose greatest meanes consist +in spinning flaxe, hemp, and hurdes. They dispose the seasons of the +yeare in this manner; I will begin with May, June, and July, (three of +the merriest months for beggers,) which yield the best increase for their +purpose, to raise multitudes: whey, curdes, butter-milk, and such belly +provision, abounding in the neighbourhood, serves their turne. As wountes +or moles hunt after wormes, the ground being dewable, so these idelers +live intolerablie by other meanes, and neglect their painfull labours by +oppressing the neighbourhood. August, September, and October, with that +permission which the Lord hath allowed the poorer sorte to gather the +eares of corne, they do much harme. I have seen three hundred leazers or +gleaners in one gentleman's corn-field at once; his servants gathering +and stouking the bound sheaves, the sheaves lying on the ground like dead +carcases in an overthrown battell, they following the spoyle, not like +souldiers (which scorne to rifle) but like theeves desirous to steale; so +this army holdes pillaging, wheate, rye, barly, pease, and oates; oates, +a graine which never grew in Canaan, nor AEgypt, and altogether out of +the allowance of leazing. + +Under colour of the last graine, oates, it being the latest harvest, +they doe (without mercy in hotte bloud) steale, robbe orchards, gardens, +hop-yards, and crab trees; so what with leazing and stealing, they doe +poorly maintaine themselves November, December, and almost all January, +with some healpes from the neighbourhood. + +The last three moneths, February, March, and Aprill, little labour serves +their turne, they hope by the heat of the sunne, (seasoning themselves, +like snakes, under headges,) to recover the month of May with much +poverty, long fasting, and little praying; and so make an end of their +yeares travel in the Easter holy days. + + * * * * * + + +BEGGARS. + + +In the earlier periods of their history, both in England and Scotland, +beggars were generally of such a description as to entitle them to the +epithet of _sturdy_; accordingly they appear to have been regarded often +as impostors and always as nuisances and pests. "Sornares," so violently +denounced in those acts, were what are here called "masterful beggars," +who, when they could not obtain what they asked for by fair means, seldom +hesitated to take it by violence. The term is said to be Gaelic, and to +import a soldier. The life of such a beggar is well described in the +"Belman of London," printed in 1608--"The life of a beggar is the life of +a souldier. He suffers hunger and cold in winter, and heate and thirste +in summer; he goes lowsie, he goes lame; he is not regarded; he is not +rewarded; here only shines his glorie. The whole kingdome is but his walk; +a whole cittie is but his parish. In every man's kitchen is his meate +dressed; in every man's sellar lyes his beere; and the best men's purses +keepe a penny for him to spend." + + * * * * * + + +CURIOUS MANORIAL CUSTOM. + + +At King's Hill, about half a mile north-east of Rocford Church, Essex, is +held what is called the _Lawless Court_, a whimsical custom, the origin +of which is not known. On the Wednesday morning next after Michaelmas day, +the tenants are bound to attend upon the first cock-crowing, and to kneel +and do their homage, without any kind of light, but such as heaven will +afford. The steward of the court calls all such as are bound to appear, +with as low a voice as possible, giving no notice when he goes to execute +his office; however, he that does not give an answer is deeply amerced. +They are all to whisper to each other, nor have they any pen and ink, but +supply that deficiency with a coal; and he that owes suit and service, +and appears not, forfeits to the lord of the manor double his rent every +hour he is absent. + +A tenant, some years ago, forfeited his land for non attendance, but was +restored to it, the lord taking only a fine. + +HALBERT H. + + * * * * * + + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS + + * * * * * + +THE PET DOG. + + +Dogs, when they are sure of having their own way, have sometimes ways as +odd as those of the unfurred, unfeathered animals, who walk on two legs, +and talk, and are called rational. My beautiful, white greyhound, +Mayflower, for instance, is as whimsical as the finest lady in the land. +Amongst her other fancies, she has taken a violent affection for a most +hideous stray dog, who made his appearance here about six months ago, +and contrived to pick up a living in the village, one can hardly tell +how. Now appealing to the charity of old Rachael Strong, the +laundress--a dog-lover by profession; now winning a meal from the +light-footed and open-hearted lasses at the Rose; now standing on his +hind-legs to extort, by sheer beggary, a scanty morsel from some pair of +"drowthy cronies," or solitary drover, discussing his dinner or supper +on the alehouse-bench; now catching a mouthful, flung to him in pure +contempt by some scornful gentleman of the shoulder-knot, mounted on his +throne, the coach-box, whose notice he had attracted by dint of +ugliness; now sharing the commons of Master Keep the shoemaker's pigs; +now succeeding to the reversion of the well-gnawed bone of Master Brow +the shopkeeper's fierce house-dog; now filching the skim-milk of Dame +Wheeler's cat:--spit at by the cat; worried by the mastiff; chased by +the pigs; screamed at by the dame; stormed at by the shoemaker; flogged +by the shopkeeper; teased by all the children, and scouted by all the +animals of the parish;--but yet living through his griefs, and bearing +them patiently, "for sufferance is the badge of all his tribe;"--and +even seeming to find, in an occasional full meal, or a gleam of +sunshine, or a whisp of dry straw, on which to repose his sorry carcass, +some comfort in his disconsolate condition. + +In this plight was he found by May, the most high-blooded and +aristocratic of greyhounds; and from this plight did May rescue him;-- +invited him into her territory, the stable; resisted all attempts to +turn him out; reinstated him there, in spite of maid, and boy, and +mistress, and master; wore out every body's opposition, by the activity +of her protection, and the pertinacity of her self-will; made him sharer +of her bed and her mess; and, finally, established him as one of the +family as firmly as herself. + +Dash--for he has even won himself a name amongst us, before he was +anonymous--Dash is a sort of a kind of a spaniel; at least there is in +his mongrel composition some sign of that beautiful race. Besides his +ugliness, which is of the worst sort--that is to say, the shabbiest--he +has a limp on one leg that gives a peculiarly one-sided awkwardness to +his gait; but, independently of his great merit in being May's pet, he +has other merits which serve to account for that phenomenon--being, +beyond all comparison the most faithful, attached, and affectionate +animal that I have ever known; and that is saying much. He seems to think +it necessary to atone for his ugliness by extra good conduct, and does so +dance on his lame leg, and so wag his scrubby tail, that it does any one, +who has a taste for happiness, good to look at him--so that he may now be +said to stand on his own footing. We are all rather ashamed of him when +strangers come in the way, and think it necessary to explain that he is +May's pet; but amongst ourselves, and those who are used to his +appearance, he has reached the point of favouritism in his own person. I +have, in common with wiser women, the feminine weakness of loving +whatever loves me--and, therefore, like Dash. His master has found out +that Dash is a capital finder, and, in spite of his lameness, will hunt a +field, or beat a cover with any spaniel in England--and, therefore, _he_ +likes Dash. The boy has fought a battle, in defence of his beauty, with +another boy, bigger than himself, and beat his opponent most handsomely-- +and, therefore, _he_ likes Dash; and the maids like him, or pretend to +like him, because we do--as is the fashion of that pliant and imitative +class. And now Dash and May follow us every where, and are going with us +now to the Shaw, or rather to the cottage by the Shaw, to bespeak milk +and butter of our little dairy-woman, Hannah Bint--a housewifely +occupation, to which we owe some of our pleasantest rambles--_Miss +Mitford_.--_Month. Mag_. + + * * * * * + + +FROM THE ROMAIC. + + + When we were last, my gentle Maid, + In love's embraces twining, + 'Twas Night, who saw, and then betray'd! + "Who saw?" Yon Moon was shining. + A gossip Star shot down, and he + First told our secret to the Sea. + + The Sea, who never secret kept, + The peevish, blustering railer! + Told it the Oar, as on he swept; + The Oar informed the Sailor. + The Sailor whisper'd it to his fair, + And she--she told it every where! + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + + * * * * * + +EELS. + + +The problem of the generation of eels is one of the most abstruse and +curious in natural history; but we have been much pleased, and not a +little enlightened, by some observations on the subject in Sir Humphrey +Davy's delightful little volume, _Salmonia_, of which the following is +the substance:-- + +Although the generation of eels occupied the attention of Aristotle, and +has been taken up by the most distinguished naturalists since his time, +it is still unsolved. Lacepède, the French naturalist, asserts, in the +most unqualified way, that they are _viviparous_; but we do not remember +any facts brought forward on the subject. Sir Humphrey then goes on to +say--This is certain, that there are two migrations of eels--one up and +one down rivers, one _from_ and the other _to_ the sea; the first in +spring and summer, the second in autumn or early winter. The first of +very small eels, which are sometimes not more than two or two and a half +inches long; the second of large eels, which sometimes are three or four +feet long, and which weigh from 10 to 15, or even 20 lbs. There is great +reason to believe that all eels found in fresh water are the results of +the first migration; they appear in millions in April and May, and +sometimes continue to rise as late even as July and the beginning of +August. I remember this was the case in Ireland in 1823. It had been a +cold, backward summer; and when I was at Ballyshannon, about the end of +July, the mouth of the river, which had been in flood all this month, +under the fall, was blackened by millions of little eels, about as long +as the finger, which were constantly urging their way up the moist rocks +by the side of the fall. Thousands died, but their bodies remaining moist, +served as the ladder for others to make their way; and I saw some +ascending even perpendicular stones, making their road through wet moss, +or adhering to some eels that had died in the attempt. Such is the energy +of these little animals, that they continue to find their way, in immense +numbers, to Loch Erne. The same thing happens at the fall of the Bann, +and Loch Neagh is thus peopled by them; even the mighty Fall of +Shaffausen does not prevent them from making their way to the Lake of +Constance, where I have seen many very large eels. There are eels in the +Lake of Neufchatel, which communicates by a stream with the Rhine; but +there are none in the Lake of Geneva, because the Rhone makes a +subterraneous fall below Geneva; and though small eels can pass by moss +or mount rocks, they cannot penetrate limestone rocks, or move against a +rapid descending current of water, passing, as it were, through a pipe. +Again: no eels mount the Danube from the Black Sea; and there are none +found in the great extent of lakes, swamps, and rivers communicating with +the Danube--though some of these lakes and morasses are wonderfully +fitted for them, and though they are found abundantly in the same +countries, in lakes and rivers connected with the ocean and the +Mediterranean. Yet, when brought into confined water in the Danube, they +fatten and thrive there. As to the instinct which leads young eels to +seek fresh water, it is difficult to reason; probably they prefer warmth, +and, swimming at the surface in the early summer, find the lighter water +warmer, and likewise containing more insects, and so pursue the courses +of fresh water, as the waters from the land, at this season, become +warmer than those from the sea. Mr. J. Couch, in the Linnaean +Transactions, says the little eels, according to his observation, are +produced within reach of the tide, and climb round falls to reach fresh +water from the sea. I have sometimes seen them in spring, swimming in +immense shoals in the Atlantic, in Mount Bay, making their way to the +mouths of small brooks and rivers. When the cold water from the autumnal +flood begins to swell the rivers, this fish tries to return to the sea; +but numbers of the smaller ones hide themselves during the winter in the +mud, and many of them form, as it were, masses together. Various authors +have recorded the migration of eels in a singular way; such as Dr. Plot, +who, in his History of Staffordshire, says they pass in the night across +meadows from one pond to another; and Mr. Arderon, in the Philosophical +Transactions, gives a distinct account of small eels rising up the +flood-gates and posts of the water-works of the city of Norwich; and +they made their way to the water above, though the boards were smooth +planed, and five or six feet perpendicular. He says, when they first +rose out of the water upon the dry board, they rested a little--which +seemed to be till their slime was thrown out, and sufficiently +glutinous--and then they rose up the perpendicular ascent with the same +facility as if they had been moving on a plane surface.--There can, I +think, be no doubt that they are assisted by their small scales, which, +placed like those of serpents, must facilitate their progressive motion; +these scales have been microscopically observed by Lewenhoeck. Eels +migrate from the salt water of different sizes, but I believe never when +they are above a foot long--and the great mass of them are only from two +and a half to four inches. They feed, grow, and fatten in fresh water. +In small rivers they seldom become very large; but in large, deep lakes +they become as thick as a man's arm, or even leg; and all those of a +considerable size attempt to return to the sea in October or November, +probably when they experience the cold of the first autumnal rains. +Those that are not of the largest size, as I said before, pass the +winter in the deepest parts of the mud of rivers and lakes, and do not +seem to eat much, and remain, I believe, almost torpid. Their increase +is not certainly known in any given time, but must depend upon the +quantity of their food; but it is probable they do not become of the +largest size from the smallest in one or even two seasons; but this, as +well as many other particulars, can only be ascertained by new +observations and experiments. Block states, that they grow slowly, and +mentions that some had been kept in the same pond for fifteen years. As +very large eels, after having migrated, never return to the river again, +they must (for it cannot be supposed that they all die immediately in +the sea) remain in salt water; and there is great probability that they +are then confounded with the conger, which is found from a few ounces to +one hundred pounds in weight. + + * * * * * + + +At Munich, every child found begging is taken to a charitable +establishment; the moment he enters his portrait is given to him, +representing him in his rags, and he promises by oath to keep it all his +life. + + * * * * * + + +INFANCY. + + +[This is _one_ of the gems of the quarto volume of poetry recently +published by the author of the "Omnipresence of the Deity;" but in our +next we intend stringing together a few of the resplendent beauties which +illumine almost every page.] + + + On yonder mead, that like a windless lake + Shines in the glow of heaven, a cherub boy + Is bounding, playful as a breeze new-born, + Light as the beam that dances by his side. + Phantom of beauty! with his trepid locks + Gleaming like water-wreaths,--a flower of life, + To whom the fairy world is fresh, the sky + A glory, and the earth one huge delight! + Joy shaped his brow, and Pleasure rolls his eye, + While Innocence, from out the budding lip + Darts her young smiles along his rounded cheek. + Grief hath not dimm'd the brightness of his form, + Love and Affection o'er him spread their wings, + And Nature, like a nurse, attends him with + Her sweetest looks. The humming bee will bound + From out the flower, nor sting his baby hand; + The birds sing to him from the sunny tree; + And suppliantly the fierce-eyed mastiff fawn + Beneath his feet, to court the playful touch. + + To rise all rosy from the arms of sleep, + And, like the sky-bird, hail the bright-cheek'd morn + With gleeful song, then o'er the bladed mead + To chase the blue-wing'd butterfly, or play + With curly streams; or, led by watchful Love, + To hear the chorus of the trooping waves, + When the young breezes laugh them into life! + Or listen to the mimic ocean roar + Within the womb of spiry sea-shell wove,-- + From sight and sound to catch intense delight, + And infant gladness from each happy face,-- + These are the guileless duties of the day: + And when at length reposeful Evening comes, + Joy-worn he nestles in the welcome couch, + With kisses warm upon his cheek, to dream + Of heaven, till morning wakes him to the world. + + The scene hath changed into a curtain'd room, + Where mournful glimmers of the mellow sun + Lie dreaming on the walls! Dim-eyed and sad, + And dumb with agony, two parents bend + O'er a pale image, in the coffin laid,-- + Their infant once, the laughing, leaping boy, + The paragon and nursling of their souls! + Death touch'd him, and the life-glow fled away, + Swift as a gay hour's fancy; fresh and cold + As winter's shadow, with his eye-lids seal'd, + Like violet-lips at eve, he lies enrobed + An offering to the grave! but, pure as when + It wing'd from heaven, his spirit hath return'd, + To lisp his hallelujahs with the choirs + Of sinless babes, imparadised above. + +_Death, a Poem, by R. Montgomery._ + + * * * * * + + +THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. + + + What a fashionable place + Soon the Regent's Park will grow! + Not alone the human race + To survey its beauties go; + Birds and beasts of every hue, + In order and sobriety, + Come, invited by the Zo- + Ological Society. + + Notes of invitation go + To the west and to the east. + Begging of the Hippopo- + Tamus here to come and feast: + Sheep and panthers here we view, + Monstrous contrariety! + All united by the Zo- + Ological Society. + + Monkeys leave their native seat, + Monkeys green and monkeys blue, + Other monkeys here to meet, + And kindly ask, "Pray how d'ye do?" + From New Holland the emu, + With his better moiety, + Has paid a visit to the Zo- + Ological Society. + + Here we see the lazy tor- + Toise creeping with his shell, + And the drowsy, drowsy dor- + Mouse dreaming in his cell; + Here from all parts of the U- + Niverse we meet variety, + Lodged and boarded by the Zo- + Ological Society. + + Bears at pleasure lounge and roll, + Leading lives devoid of pain, + Half day climbing up a poll, + Half day climbing down again; + Their minds tormented by no su- + Perfluous anxiety, + While on good terms with the Zo- + Ological Society. + + Would a mammoth could be found + And made across the sea to swim! + But now, alas! upon the ground + The bones alone are left of him: + I fear a hungry mammoth too, + (So monstrous and unquiet he.) + By hunger urged might eat the Zo- + Ological Society! + +_The Christmas Box._ + + * * * * * + + +INSECTS. + + +One great protection against all creeping things is, to stir the ground +very frequently along the foot of the wall. That is their great place of +resort; and frequent stirring and making the ground very fine, disturbs +the peace of their numerous families, gives them trouble, makes them +uneasy, and finally harasses them to death. + +_Cobbett's English Gardener._ + + * * * * * + + +SIR W. TEMPLE'S GARDEN. + + +It was formerly the fashion to have a sort of canal, with broad grass +walks on the sides, and with the water coming up to within a few inches +of the closely shaven grass; and certainly few things were more beautiful +than these. Sir William Temple had one of his own constructing in his +gardens at Moor Park. On the outsides of the grass-walks were borders of +beautiful flowers. I have stood for hours to look at this canal, which +the good-natured manners of those days had led the proprietor to make an +opening in the outer wall in order that his neighbours might enjoy the +sight as well as himself; I have stood for hours, when a little boy, +looking at this object; I have travelled far since, and have seen a great +deal; but I have never seen any thing of the gardening kind so beautiful +in the whole course of my life--_Ibid_. + + * * * * * + + +BULBOUS ROOTS. + + +In glasses filled with water, bulbous roots, such as the hyacinth, +narcissus, and jonquil, are blown. The time to put them in is from +September to November, and the earliest ones will begin blowing about +Christmas. The glasses should be blue, as that colour best suits the +roots; put water enough in to cover the bulb one-third of the way up, +less rather than more; let the water be soft, change it once a week, and +put in a pinch of salt every time you change it. Keep the glasses in a +place moderately warm, and _near to the light_. A parlour window is a +very common place for them, but is often too warm, and brings on the +plants too early, and causes them to be weakly.--_Ibid_. + + * * * * * + +TRAVELLING INVALIDS. + + +We cannot refrain from stating our belief, and this on the authority of +intelligent physicians, as well as from personal observation, that much +mischief is done by committing invalids to long and precarious journeys, +for the sake of doubtful benefits. We have ourselves seen consumptive +patients hurried along, through all the discomforts of bad roads, bad +inns, and indifferent diet, to places, where certain partial advantages +of climate poorly compensated for the loss of the many benefits which +home and domestic care can best afford. We have seen such invalids lodged +in cold, half-furnished houses, and shivering under blasts of wind from +the Alps or Apennines, who might more happily have been sheltered in the +vales of Somerset or Devon. On this topic, however, we refrain from +saying more--further than to state our belief, that much misapprehension +generally prevails, as to the comparative healthiness of England, and +other parts of Europe. Certain phrases respecting climate have obtained +fashionable currency amongst us, which greatly mislead the judgment as to +facts. The accurate statistical tables, now extended to the greater part +of Europe, furnish more secure grounds of opinion; and from these we +derive the knowledge, that there is no one country in Europe where the +average proportion of mortality is so small as in England. Some few +details on this subject we subjoin,--tempted to do so by the common +errors prevailing in relation to it. + +The proportion of deaths to the population is nearly one-third less in +England than in France. Comparing the two capitals, the average mortality +of London is about one-fifth less than that of Paris. What may appear a +more singular statement, the proportion of deaths in London, a vast and +luxurious metropolis, differs only by a small fraction from that of the +whole of France; and is considerably less than the average of those +Mediterranean shores which are especially frequented by invalids for the +sake of health. In Italy, the proportion of deaths is a full third +greater than in England; and even in Switzerland and Sweden, though the +difference be less, it is still in favour of our own country.--_Q. Rev_. + + * * * * * + + +NEWSPAPER LOVE. + + +The paper so highly esteemed, entitled, _The Courier de l'Europe_, +originated in the following circumstances:-- + +"Monsieur Guerrier de Berance was a native of Auvergne, whose fortune in +the origin was very low, but who by his intrigues succeeded in gaining +the place of Procureur General of the Custom-house. He married two wives; +the name of the last was Millochin, who was both young and handsome. She +soon began to find out that her husband was very disagreeable; and what +caused her more particularly to remark his faults was her contrasting him +with M. Cevres de la Tour, with whom she fell most desperately in love. +This passion became so violent, that Madame Guerrier fled into England +with her lover, who, in his turn, left his wife behind him in Paris. The +finances of these two lovers growing rather low, M. Sevres de la Tour, +who was a man of talent, thought, as a plan to enrich himself, to turn +editor to a newspaper, and for this purpose started the _Courier de +l'Europe_, which succeeded beyond his most sanguine hopes. Disgust, which +commonly follows these sort of unions, caused Madame Guerrier to be +deserted by her lover, and she was obliged to turn a teacher of languages +for her subsistence.--_The Album of Love_. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." + +SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +REPLY TO THE DIRGE ON MISS ELLEN GEE, OF KEW. + +(_See Mirror, page 223_.) + + + Forgive, ye beauteous maids of Q, + The much relenting B, + Who vows he never will sting U, + While sipping of your T. + + One nymph I wounded in the I, + The charming L N G, + The fates impell'd, I know not Y, + The luckless busy B. + + And oh recall the sentence U + Pass'd on your humble B, + Let me remain at happy Q, + Send me not o'er the C. + + And I will mourn upon A U, + The death of L N G, + And all the charming maids of Q + Will pity the poor B. + + I will hum soft her L E G, + The reason some ask Y, + Because the maiden could not C, + By me she lost her I. + + To soothe ye damsels I'll S A, + Far sooner would I B + Myself in funeral R A, + Than wound one fair at T. + +F.H. + + * * * * * + + +THE BITER BIT. + + +In the reign of Charles II. a physician to the court was walking with the +king in the gallery of Windsor Castle, when they saw a man repairing a +clock fixed there. The physician knowing the king's relish for a joke, +accosted the man with, "My good friend, you are continually doctoring +that clock, and yet it never goes well. Now if I were to treat my +patients in such a way, I should lose all my credit. What can the reason +be that you mistake so egregiously?" The man dryly replied, "The reason +why you and I, Sir, are not upon a par is plain enough--the sun discovers +all my blunders, but the earth covers yours." + +G.I.F. + + * * * * * + + +EPITAPH. + + +On a tablet in the outside wall of the old church, at Taunton, in +Somersetshire, is the following on "James Waters, late of London, +aged 49." + + Death traversing the western road, + And asking where true merit lay, + Made in this town a short abode, + Then took this worthy man away. + +W.R. + + * * * * * + + +LIFE. + + + Grass of levity, + Span in brevity, + Flower's felicity, + Fire of misery, + Wind's stability + Is mortality. + + * * * * * + + +NOTICE FROM THE PUBLISHER. + +Purchasers of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their volumes, are +informed that the whole of the numbers are now in print, and can be +procured by giving an order to any Bookseller or Newsvender. + +Complete sets Vol I. to XI. in boards, price £3. 19_s_. 6_d_ half bound, +£3. 17_s_. + + * * * * * + + +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 + Almoran and Hamet ....................... 0...6 + Elizabeth, or the Exiles of Siberia ..... 0...6 + The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne ...... 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...0 + Edward, by Dr. Moore .................... 2...6 + Roderick Random ......................... 2...6 + The Mysteries of Udolpho ................ 3...6 + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11282 *** |