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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11322-0.txt b/11322-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c3281b --- /dev/null +++ b/11322-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1587 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11322 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XIII, NO. 359.] SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1829. [Price 2d. + + + + +RUGBY SCHOOL + + +[Illustration: Rugby School.] + + +On the eastern border of Warwickshire, about 13 miles from Coventry, and +16 from Warwick, stands the cheerful town of Rugby, a place of great +antiquity, but of little note previous to the erection of a grammar-school +there, towards the close of the sixteenth century. The circumstances under +which this school was founded, and the rank it has attained among our +classical seminaries, may probably be interesting to the reader. + +Rugby School was founded in the ninth year of Elizabeth, by Lawrence +Sheriff, grocer, of London, chiefly as a free grammar-school for the +children of the parishes of Rugby and Brownsover, and places adjacent. For +the accommodation of the master, who was, "if it conveniently might be, to +be ever a Master of Arts," he bequeathed a messuage at Rugby, in which it +is probable he had himself resided during the last few years of his life, +and he directed that there should be built, near this residence, a fair +and convenient school-house, to defray which expense, and of a contiguous +almshouse, he bequeathed the revenue of the rectory of Brownsover, and a +third portion of twenty-four acres of land, situate in _Lamb's Conduit +Fields_, "near London," and termed the Conduit Close. These eight acres +were of trivial value at the period; and in 1653, the trustees of the +property paid the schoolmaster a salary of 12_l_. a year, and each of the +alms-men 7_s_. 7_d_. In 1686, the Lamb's Conduit property was leased for +fifty years at 50_l_. per annum. The metropolis increased, and stretching +one of its _Briareusian_ arms in this direction, the once neglected field +rose in value, and in 1702 (thirty-four years before the expiration of the +above term) the trustees granted a fresh lease to William (afterwards Sir +William) Milman, of forty-three years, to commence at the termination of +the former lease. Building was not then a mania, and Sir William obtained +his term for 60_l_. per annum; so that until the year 1780, the annual +produce of the estate belonging to the Rugby charity, was only 116_l_. +17_s_. 6_d_.! But, shortly after the grant of an extended term to Sir W. +Milman, handsome streets of family houses sprung up, and it was computed +that a ground-rent of at least 1,600_l_. would accrue to the charity on +the expiration of his lease. A much greater income has, in fact, arisen, +and the revenues will be materially increased on the termination of the +present leases. + +The flourishing finances of this noble institution are well managed by +twelve trustees, chosen from the nobility and gentry of the country.[1] + +The ancient buildings of the Rugby seminary were a humble tenement for the +schoolmaster, a principal school-room, and two or three additional +school-rooms, built at different times, as the finances would allow. These +being found too limited, in 1808 the trustees commenced the erection of +the present structure, from the designs of Mr. Henry Hakewill. It stands +nearly on the same spot as the former humble building, and is composed of +white brick, the angles, cornices, and dressings to the windows and +openings being of Aldborough stone. The style of architecture is that of +the reign of Elizabeth, the period at which the school was founded. The +building is massy, august, and interesting from its graceful disposition +of parts. The principal front is that represented in our engraving, which +extends 220 feet. + +The schools are entered by a gateway opposite the street, which leads to +the principal court, a fine area, 90 feet long by 75 feet wide, with a +plain cloister on the east, south, and west sides. The buildings on the +south of the court comprise the dining hall, belonging to the boys in the +head master's house, and three schools for different classes; those on the +west are occupied by the great school; and on the north are the French and +writing schools. The east side adjoins the offices belonging to the head +master's house. About sixty boys are accommodated here; the remainder +lodge in the houses of the other masters, and in the town of Rugby. + +Lawrence Sheriff, the benevolent founder of this institution, was born at +Brownsover, whence he removed to London, where he kept a grocer's shop in +Newgate-street. A more gratifying portrait of true beneficence than +Sheriff's bequest can scarcely be found in British annals; and this +gratification is greatly enhanced by the justice with which his intentions +have been carried into effect at Rugby. The alms-houses were originally +for four poor old men; but the dwellings have been augmented in proportion +to the increased revenues. + + [1] Their annual meeting is in August, when the examination takes + place. Fourteen exhibitions have been instituted, each of the + exhibitioners being allowed forty pounds per annum to assist in + their support, for seven years, at either university. + + * * * * * + + + +CHOICE HINTS FOR A PLAN TO DISCHARGE THE NATIONAL DEBT. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +"Great events sometimes spring from trivial causes," of the truth of this +adage, no man is, I think, so great a _heretic_, as to express any +doubt--were such the case, it would be by no means difficult to conjure up +a host of evidence, in support of our proposition; but, seeing that "such +things are," let us at once to the point. + +The present age is so rife in whims and proposals, that I am rather +apprehensive, some may doubt the _feasibility_ of the following. +Nevertheless, it is, methinks, quite as good, as many others which +recently were strangled, in struggling for existence. + +In looking over some old pamphlets the other day, I met with the following +"true and particular account" of Mr. Peter Pounce, Postmaster, of +Petersham, and his horse, Prance. + +Now, according to my author (of whose veracity I entreat the reader to use +his own discretion) it seems this Mr. Pounce was an exceedingly good kind +of man, and that his horse, Prance, was also an exceedingly good kind of +horse; moreover, when the postmaster travelled, he usually put up at the +_George_, where there is exceeding good entertainment for both man and +horse. Upon one occasion, being in great haste, Mr. Pounce directed the +ostler not to put Prance into the stable, but to tie him to the brew-house +door. Now, as cruel fate would have it, there was just within the nag's +reach, a tub full of wine lees, which, luckless moment for him, (being +thirsty) he unceremoniously quaffed off in a trice, without even _here's +to you_. + +The consequence was, Prance fell down dead drunk; nay, he acted death so +much to the life, that his master, reckoning him absolutely defunct, had +him flayed, and sold his skin to a tanner, who happened to be drinking in +the alehouse kitchen. Mr. Pounce then walked in a solitary mood to his +home, and communicated the melancholy affair to his good lady, who wept +bitterly at Prance's untimely fate. + +But leaving her to dry her eyes, we return to the nag--the weather being +cold, he was by the loss of his skin, &c. quite sobered, and prudently +trotted to his master's door, at which he whinnied with much clamour for +admission. + +Bless me, my dear, exclaims Mrs. P. our nag's ghost is at the door--I know +him by his whinnies; upon which Mr. Pounce runs with alacrity to the +door, and sure enough there he was--no ghost--but in propriâ personâ +except his skin. In this exigence, the gentleman had four sheep killed +forthwith, and covered the nag with a woollen garment. To make short of +it, the horse rapidly recovered, and bore two tods of wool every year. + +From this narration it is proposed to embrace the manifest advantages +which offer themselves for improving the woollen trade--that great staple +of Britain's wealth, in manner following:-- + +First, then, let an accurate estimate be taken of the number of sheep +annually slaughtered in these kingdoms. + +Secondly.--Let proper officers be appointed to collect these skins into +commodious warehouses. + +Lastly.--That such a number of horses, mares, and geldings as the said +skins will conveniently cover, be flayed (without fear of Mr. Martin!) and +their backs forthwith enveloped in fleece. + +By this arrangement the following benefits will arise to the government +and community:-- + +1. Every horse whose hide was formerly only useful after death, will then +afford an annual profit by producing two tods of wool yearly, without any +loss to the tanner or shoemaker, who will still necessarily have as many +hides as heretofore. + +2. The health of that useful animal the horse, which is probably liable to +more disorders than any other (the human species excepted) will be much +better preserved by woollen than a hairy covering. + +3. There will be little occasion for saddles, &c. as the fleece will +afford a very easy seat, much softer than leather, and well adapted for +ladies and invalids. + +Lastly.--There will be an annual acquisition of about 40 millions +sterling, from this novel mode of procedure, of which please to accept the +following algebraical demonstration:-- + +Let _x_ be the unknown quantity; _a_, the horses; _b_, the sheep; then per +simple equations _x_, plus _a_, plus _b_, minus tods, plus sheepskins, +equal one thousand--then minus sheep, plus horses, minus wool, plus tods, +equal one million. Lastly, horses plus sheep, minus hides, plus fleeces, +in all equal forty millions. + + Quod erat demonstrandum. + +There, reader, if you are still a sceptic, I cannot help it. + +JACOBUS. + + * * * * * + + +ANSWER OF THE LONDON STONE.[2] + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Why hast thou mortal, on my slumber broken, + And dragged my struggling spirit back to earth? + Though "walls have ears," yet stones have never spoken. + Why am I made the object of thy mirth? + Why am I questioned thus to tell my fate, + And primal use? Yet hear--whilst I relate. + + When time was young, and earth was in her prime, + Secure I slept within her spacious womb; + And ages passed--I took no heed of time, + Until some Druid burst my dismal tomb, + And dragged me forth amidst the haunts of man. + And then, indeed my life of woe began. + + And ere great Caesar in triumphant pride, + Led on by conquest, bade Rome's eagles soar + To this fair isle; full many a victim died + Upon my breast, and I was drenched with gore: + For "midst the tangling horrors of the wood," + I stood an altar, stained with human blood. + + I've witnessed scenes, which I now dread to name, + I've seen the captive bound in wicker rods + Expire, midst shouts, to feed the sacred flame, + And glut the fury of offended gods; + Those days soon passed--the gospel's milder ray + Dispelled the gloom, and spread a brighter day. + + Then superstition tottered on her throne, + And hid her head in shades of gloomy night; + Quenched were her fires--her impious fanes o'er thrown, + Her mists dispersed before the Prince of Light, + Then sank my grandeur; in some lonely spot + I slept for years unnoticed and forgot. + + Until Vespasian, by Rome's stern command, + To quench rebellion in my native isle, + Brought his bold legions from a foreign strand, + Our land to torture, and our towers to spoil; + He hewed me in a fashion now unknown, + And dubbed me, what I am, "The London Stone." + + From me, the miles by Britons once were counted, + Close to my side were monies lent and paid; + If princes died--some gaudy herald mounted + Upon my head, and proclamations read; + Till Gresham rose; who used me very ill, + He moved the place of commerce to Cornhill. + + When reeling homewards from the tavern near, + Oft with prince Henry has old honest Jack + Sat on my breast, and I've been doomed to hear + Him talk of valour, and of unpaid sack; + And whilst he talked, the roysterers gave vent, + To peals of laughter and of merriment. + + Yes, I'm the hone that "City's Lord" essayed, + To make the whetstone of his rebel sword; + On me, with mischief rife, rebellious Cade + Sat whilst he thought and dubbed himself a Lord; + And bade my conduit pipe for one whole year + At city's cost, run naught but claret clear.[3] + + I could a tale of harrowing woes reveal, + Whilst York and Lancaster for mastery tried: + When men the ties of nature ceased to feel, + When sires beneath their offsprings' sabres died; + And sires 'gainst children clad themselves in arms, + And England mourned the din of war's alarms. + + Yes, I beheld the beauteous virgin queen, + And all the dauntless heroes of her court; + Where danger threatened, 'midst the danger seen, + Bending their fearless way to Tilbury Fort; + I heard the shouts of joy which Britons gave, + When th' Armada sank beneath the wave. + + I mind, Augusta,[4] well that fatal day, + When to thy ports with dire contagion fraught. + The laden vessel[5] stemmed its gallant way. + And to thy sons the plague disastrous brought; + Quick through thy walls the foul infection spread, + And thou became the city of the dead. + + Scarce ceased the plague--when to my aching sight + Appeared a scene of most terrific woe; + Around me burnt one monstrous blaze of light, + I warmed, and almost melted with its glow; + I burst the chains,[6] which bound me fast, asunder, + And now remain, to learned men a wonder. + + And when the city from her ruins rose, + I soon was left deserted and forlorn; + A porters' bench was raised beneath my nose. + And I became the object of their scorn: + I've heard the rascals, with a vacant stare, + Ask, just like you, what business I had there? + + Few years have passed, since I, by parish sages, + Was called a monstrous nuisance to the street, + And, though I'd borne the brunt of varying ages, + Was doomed for pavement 'neath the horses' feet, + Until a Maiden,[7] near to Sherborne Lane, + Saved me--and rescued London from that stain. + + And now, vain mortal, I have told thee all, + My fate, my primal use, the what and which; + And though my struggling spirit owned thy salt, + Once more I'll slumber in my holy niche, + And "Britain's sun may set," what's that to me, + Since I, stone-blind and dumb, for aye will be. + + J.E. + + [2] See _Ode to London Stone_. MIRROR, No. 357, p. 114. + + [3] See Shakspeare's Henry VI., part 2, act 4, scene 6. + + [4] The ancient name for London. + + [5] The cause of the great plague in 1665, was ascribed to the + importation of infected goods from Holland, where the plague + had committed great ravages the preceding year. + + [6] Stowe in his history describes the London Stone, "fixed in + the ground very deep, fastened with bars of iron and otherwise, + so strongly set that if carts do runne against it through + negligence, the wheels be broken, and the stone itself unshaken." + See No. 64 of the Mirror for an account of London Stone. + + [7] When the church of St. Swithin was repaired in 1798, some of + the parishioners declared the London Stone a nuisance which + ought to be removed. Fortunately, one gentleman, Thomas Maiden, + of Sherborne Laue, interfered and rescued it from annihilation, + and caused it to be placed in its present situation. + + * * * * * + + +HAVER BREAD. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +A correspondent wishes to be informed of the definition of the word +_avver_. In the 15th volume of the "Beauties of England and Wales," it is +alluded to thus:--"This county (Westmoreland) being supposed unfavourable +to the growth of wheat, black oats, called _haver_, and the species of +barley called _bere_, or _bigg_, were the only grains it produced. Of the +_haver_, bread was made, or the species of pottage called hasty pudding; +this bread being made into thin unleavened cakes, and laid up in chests +within the influence of the fire, has the quality of preserving its +sweetness for several months; it is still in common use. The _bigg_ was +chiefly made into malt, and each family brewed its own ale; during the hay +harvest the women drank a pleasant sharp beverage, made by infusing mint +or sage buttermilk in whey, and hence called _whey-whig_. Wheaten bread +was used on particular occasions; small loaves of it were given to persons +invited to funerals, which they were expected "to take and eat" at home, +in religious remembrance of their deceased neighbour; a custom, the +prototype of which is evidently seen in the establishment of the +eucharist, for in this county it still bears its _Saxon name_, _Arvel +bread_, from appull, _full of reverence_, meaning the holy bread used at +the communion." + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SKETCH-BOOK. + + * * * * * + + +BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. + + +Gray, as one of the party of dragoons who attended the Duke of Wellington, +proceeded onward at a sharp pace through the marching columns, which his +grace examined, with a close but quick glance, as he passed on, and after +a march of seven leagues, came up with the Belgian troops under the Prince +of Orange, who had been attacked and pushed back by the French. It was +about seven o'clock; none of the British troops had yet arrived within +some hours' march of the duke. The party of dragoons were ordered to +remain in readiness for duty in a cornfield near the road, on a rising +ground, which commanded a full view of the country in front, while the +duke and his staff proceeded to the left. + +The four biscuits which had been served out to each man at Brussels the +night before, with some cold beef, and the contents of their canteen, +helped to regale the dragoons after their long and rapid march, while the +stout steeds that had borne them found a delightful repast in the high rye +that waved under their noses. Here they beheld passing on the road beside +them many wounded Belgians, and could see before them, at the distance of +a quarter of a mile, the French bayonets glistening over the high fields +of corn, and hear distinctly the occasional discharges of musketry from +tirailleurs. Gray's heart leaped with joy, and he thought no more of +Brussels. + +"What's this place called?" inquired one of the dragoons, generally of his +comrades. + +"Called!--Oh, some jaw-breaking Dutch name of a yard long, I suppose," +replied another. "Ax Gentleman Gray--he'll tell you." + +"Well, Mr. Gray, do you know the name of this here place?" + +"I believe," replied Gray, "we are near a point called _Quatre Bras_, or +the four roads." + +"Well," rejoined the other, "if there were half-a-dozen roads, it wouldn't +be too much for these here Flemingers--yon road's not wide enough for +them, you see. Look, here's a regiment o' them coming back!" + +"Ah! poor fellows--we might be in the same situation," observed Gray; +"remember that their force is not strong in comparison with the French, by +the accounts that have been received; better to fall back at the first of +a fight than at the last." + +"I say, Jack," said another, with his mouth full of biscuit, "did you ever +meet with such a devil of a roadster as the _carpolar_ there with the +glazed cocked hat?" + +"Who do you mean?" said Jack. + +"Why the dook, to be sure--how he _did_ give it us on the long road +through the forest." + +"Ay--he's the lad; well, here's God bless his jolly old glazed hat any +way," cried the trooper, swallowing a horn of grog; "he's the boy what has +come from the Peninsula just to gi' 'em a leaf out of his book. He was a +dancing last night--riding like a devil all the morning--and I'll warrant +he'll be fighting all the afternoon by way of refreshing himself." + +"He look'd serious enough this morning though, Master Tom, as he was +turning out." + +"Serious! and so did you; hasn't he enough to make him look serious? Bony, +and all the flower of the French before him. I like to see him look +serious; he's just a thinking a bit, that's all. Look, look, look! where +he is now pelting away up the hill there. My eye! but he's a rum on'." + +"Ay, just as he was in the ould ground," cried an Hibernian. "'Pon my +sowl, I think I'm in Spain agin. There he is, success to him!--an' the +smell o' the powther too so natural." + +"The light troops are pushing on towards that wood," said Gray, fixing his +eyes on a particular spot. + +"Sure enough they are. Ah! we'll soon have the boys up who will set them +off with a flea in their ear." + +"Look--on the rising ground there, about half a mile away, how they are +moving about--that is a train of artillery--see the guns--there is a +regiment of infantry going to the left--do you see their bayonets? A fine +open place here for a battle." + +"Not so good as that which we passed--the plain fields we crossed +immediately after we left the forest of Soignes," said Gray: "however, +that little wood on our right, in front, which runs along the road, is a +good flank, and the village before us is a strong point." + +"Ay, but you see the Belgian troops couldn't keep it; the French have +pushed them out of it." + +"We'll soon have it again, I'll warrant; our men have a fine open ground +here, to give the French a lesson in dancing," cried the corporal of the +party, throwing himself down on his back in the corn. "Here I'll lie and +rest myself; and I don't think I shall be disturb'd by the buzzing of the +blue flies! I'll have a snooze, until the Highlanders shall come up." + +The party remained undisturbed, as the last speaker had intimated, until +about half-past one o'clock; nothing having been done in the way of attack +by the French. During the interval, Gray employed himself in watching +closely the scene around him, and mentally discussing the chances of the +now inevitably approaching fight. + +The hour of struggle was near--the pibroch burst upon the ears of the +troopers, and up they started. + +"Here they come," cried one.--"Here they come," cried another--"the +gallant 42nd; look at the petticoat-devils, how they foot it along!" + +All stood on the highest part of the ground, to witness the arrival of the +troops, who were now within a quarter of a mile of them on the main road. +A hum arose. Belgian officers galloped down the road, and across the +fields in all directions; the duke was seen riding towards his expected +soldiers, and the scene was life at all points. The pibroch's sound grew +louder; and now the bands of the more distant regiments were heard; and +the harmonious bugles of the rifle corps, mingled their sounds with the +others. The long red line of Britons is fully before the sight, like a +giant stream of blood on the ripe and mellow bosom of the earth. Picton is +at its head, and the duke greets the heroic partner of his glory. The +first of the regiments passes close to the troopers, and receives a cheer +from them, which found a return in the relaxing muscles of the hardy +Scots. + +"What corps is that?" inquired one of the group. + +"The Royal Highlanders, the 42nd--don't you see they are turned up with +blue and gold?" replied another. + +"And what's this with the yellow facings?" + +"The old 92nd." + +"And the other Scotch regiment, with the green and gold?" + +"The 79th; three as good kilted corps as ever crossed the Tweed. And +there's the 95th rifle boys, as green as the wood they are going to take. +And there see the 28th,--and the 44th,--and the 32nd;--that's Picton's +division; a glorious set of fellows as ever slept." + +"And who are the fellows all in black?" + +"The bold Brunswick corps, with death's head on their caps--the +_undertakers_ of the French," cried the corporal. + +Never did a young hero gaze on a gallant army with more enthusiastic +feelings, than did Gray upon the troops before him--the sight stirred his +heart-strings. They were within shot of their foe, and half an hour should +see them in the bloody contest. He sighed to think that his own regiment +was not yet come up, with which he might share the glory of the fight. + +One after the other, the corps entered the fields, across the high corn, +from the road, to take up their positions for the battle. Neither cavalry +nor artillery had they to support them--their bayonets were their hopes; +and their wise general placed them accordingly in squares, and at such +distances as that one might support the other, while each would protect +itself, independently, if necessary. The rifle corps now advanced, to open +the business of the day by firing into a field of tirailleurs. The French +were not idle at this time; they advanced in masses--cavalry and infantry; +while a roar of cannon, that almost deafened every ear, covered the +attack. + +"They are coming on the centre," cried Gray: "see the cuirassiers--what a +body of men! Oh! where is our cavalry?" + +"Ay," cried a trooper; "and look, what columns of infantry!" + +All now remained in breathless anxiety, gazing on the approaching masses +of the enemy; not a word was spoken amongst the well-planted squares of +the British. The French are within fifty yards of them, and the battle +begins. + +"There," cried a trooper; "how our men give it to them!--there's a +volley!--look how the horses fall!--see, they can't stand it--hurra!--the +rascals are staggered--the 27th are after them--they deploy into line; +there the French go, with the bayonet at them, helter-skelter. But +observe, at a little distance from them, the enemy's dragoons are at the +42nd--the Scotch open and let them pass; but now they get it right and +left. Down they go; bravo! old Scotland." + +"By heaven!" cried Gray, "here come the Brunswick horse in confusion, +pursued by the cuirassiers along the road, near the village." + +All turned to gaze at the point: it was too true: their leader had fallen; +they had advanced too incautiously, and were therefore obliged to fall +back. + +"Here they come, and the French cavalry are close upon them. But see the +Highlanders in the ditch. Hark! there--they give them a volley. Down +tumble the horsemen!--look! they are in a heap on the ground." + +A shout from the troopers acknowledged the glorious truth. It was the fire +from the 92nd that achieved the triumph. + +The artillery, the musketry, and the shouting of the combatants, became so +deafening, that even the group of troopers unoccupied in the fight, and in +the rear, could scarcely hear each other's voice. Gray's party mounted +their horses now, in order to have a better view of the battle, and from +the situation of the ground on which they were standing, they beheld, in +awful anxiety, rush after rush made against the British infantry, whose +duty was evidently that of firm defence; they beheld wave after wave of +blue ranks advance over the rising bosom of the ground, and saw them +successively battered by the rocks they assaulted--the ground covered with +men and horses by the well-directed fire of the squares. The other +divisions of the English army were fast arriving, and taking up ground on +the left, in spite of the efforts of the French to prevent it, and thus +divide them from their comrades engaged. A "lull," (as the sailors say, +when the storm pauses a little,) took place, and both armies stood, as it +were, looking at each other. But another and more desperate attack soon +followed; the tempest returned with double violence. The mouths of Ney's +numerous cannon opened again; the smoke drifted over on the English, and +under its cover were seen advancing an immense force, for another struggle +with the right of the duke's line, in order to turn it, and possess +themselves of the village. The duke and his staff were in front of the +92nd regiment, and the balls playing on them had knocked down several of +his aides-de-camp. As the foe came near, the artillery ceased, the close +fight began, and several regiments at once poured in their fire: both +sides kept their ground, and hundreds fell at every discharge of musketry. +The duke now, in the pithy and familiar language of the soldier, cried out +to the Scots, "Ninety-second, you must charge these fellows." + +The word was magic; the kilts rushed against the blaze of the tirailleurs! +Their leader and their officer fell amongst them: but, alas! their blood +only enraged the men; fiercely as tigers they rush, and their bayonets +sink into the mass before them. The whole fly before them, while the +victorious Highlanders pursue them almost out of sight of their general. +Alas! many of these heroes fell in their gallant work. + +This glorious charge was beheld by Gray and his comrades with delight; +their shacos waved over their heads, and their cries of exultation fully +showed what a catching thing is the fever of the fight. One of the +dragoons now turned his eyes to the wood on the right, which the French +had possessed themselves of, and exclaimed, "But look, the guards have +come up, and are in the wood. Where did they come from? I didn't see them +before. Hark! how they shout; they are all amongst the trees." + +"Yes, and they'll not soon come back; they'll keep their ground, I'll +warrant," cried the corporal. + +At this moment the troopers were somewhat disarranged by a part of the +earth suddenly flying upwards in a cloud; it was the effect of a +cannon-ball which had struck the ground. They started a few paces +backwards, wiped their faces, and having all passed their jocular +sentiments on the occasion, coolly united again to view and comment on the +action. + +They continued to gaze on the busy and bloody scene, with but few +observations. Mass after mass was advancing against the steady squares of +infantry, and received with roars of musketry; the cavalry of the enemy, +desperate and disappointed, galloped about the close and well-guarded +Britons, cutting at the ranks, and dropping as they cut. Artillery +bellowed upon the unyielding heroes, whose ranks closed up at every point +where the dead had opened them; they cried aloud for the order to advance; +but received the cool and prudent negative of the watchful chief, who, +during the action, was moving from rank to rank, encouraging and elevating +the energies of his men. + +The repeated unsuccessful attacks of the French wore out the patience of +their general, and so thinned his ranks, that he at length ceased to +contend, and drew off his troops from the field, leaving the English +masters of it, and holding every point of the position which they had +taken up in the early part of the day.--_Tales of Military Life_. + + * * * * * + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + + +CHURCH SPIRES. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Mr. Bentham, in his "History of Ely Cathedral," says, that one of the +earliest spires of which we have any account, "is that of old St. Paul's, +finished in the year 1222." This spire was of timber covered with lead; +"but, not long after, they began to build them of stone, and to finish all +their buttresses in the same manner." Mr. Murphy observes that spires were +introduced in the 12th century, about the time that the practice of +burying in churches became general over Europe; and he supposes that the +pyramidal form of the spire, was used as the denotation of a church +comprising a cemetery. This representation he imagines to have been +borrowed "from the ancient Egyptians, who placed the pyramid over their +cemeteries, as denoting the soul under the emblem of a flame of fire, +(whence it is supposed to derive its origin) thus to testify their belief +of its immortality." There are other opinions respecting the origin of +spires. It may appear probable (says Mr. Brewer,) to many persons, that +such an elevated feature of our ancient churches was merely designed in +the simplicity of its first intention, to act as a guide to the place of +worship, when rural roads, throughout the whole country, were devious, and +rendered more obscure by thick masses of forest and woodland. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + +LEAD MINERS. + +[Illustration: Lead Miners.] + + +Lead is found in many countries, but is particularly abundant in England. +The lead-mines in Derbyshire are many, as the Odin, Speedwell, Tideswell +Moor, Dirtlow, &c.; and the ore is not only found in various soils, but +mingled with a variety of substances. The Odin mine, at the foot of Mam +Tor, and near it to the south, is the most celebrated and ancient of any +in the county, being worked by the Saxons, from whom it received its name, +whilst most of the mineral terms used there are of Saxon origin. The +Speedwell mine did not repay the cost of working it; and, therefore, after +an expense of 14,000_l_., and eleven years assiduous labour, was +abandoned. Its interior is worthy the attention of the tourist. + +Our engraving endeavours to represent the costume of women who work in +some of the Derbyshire lead-mines; they are capital figures, to which the +pencil can scarcely do justice; indeed, though this sketch was drawn from +nature, it conveys but an imperfect idea of beings, (_nondescripts_,) who +would assuredly delight Cruikshank. The dress of these women, of whom the +writer saw several emerged from mines a few miles from the Peak, seems +contrived to secure them from the cold and wet attendant upon their +employment. The head is much enwrapped, and the features nearly hidden, in +a muffling of handkerchiefs, over which is put a man's hat, in the manner +of the _paysannes_ of Wales, but not near so neat and stylish; besides, +the Welsh women are generally handsome, and become the hat; but the case +is far different with the _fair_ miners of Derbyshire, at least those whom +I saw, who were complete harridans. A man's coat, of coarse gray or dark +blue cloth, defends the arms, back, throat, and bosom of each _lady_ from +the cold; beneath it, but tucked up all round so as to form a kind of bag, +appears a gown of red stuff, which, set off by a bright green petticoat, +produces an effect singular and amusing; then come the shoes, at least +three inches thick, and long in proportion, bound on to the feet, in some +instances, with handkerchiefs, and thongs, and cords: it is a wonder that +the women can stir in such unwieldy slippers. Our party had stopped to +collect specimens of the lead ore, when the carriages were instantly +surrounded by these females, offering ore, zinc, slick-and-slide, and +various quartz crystals and fluor spars for sale; some of the women were +very old, and one in particular, who had worked in the mine from her +youth, was nearly a hundred years of age, yet she was upright and active, +and wrinkles alone betrayed the fact. + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + + +_The Colosseum_. + + +The curious mechanism by which it is proposed to elevate the visiters at +this emporium of wonders, is as follows: A large bucket or tank of water +will be connected with a movable platform that any number of persons may +be placed in equilibrium with its fluid contents, and directly a +sufficient quantity of water is introduced to produce a preponderance in +the tank, the persons stationed on the platform will ascend.--_The +Atlas_. + + +_Spots on the Sun_. + + +An ingenious individual in Providence has very recently succeeded, by +means of a seven-feet telescope, constructed by himself, on a new +principle, in bringing the entire image of the sun into a darkened room, +upon a white screen, to the size of eight feet in diameter. He writes us +that his astonishment was great when he perceived that every spot now upon +the face of the sun, nine in number, was distinctly transferred to the +screen, and was so plain that he could see every movement of them in their +various and sudden changes. He says he could plainly discover that those +spots were immense bodies of smoke, apparently issuing from volcanoes; and +as they seem occasionally forced upward from the craters, now forming +dense clouds, and now dispersing, considers those phenomena as accounting +for the rapid changes of those spots. The escape of such a vast quantity +of gas from the interior of the body of the sun would, he observes, as it +surrounds that luminary, produce that bright and dazzling appearance which +is the atmosphere of the sun. This theory may not accord with the opinions +of others who have made observations on the subject; but the writer, at +any rate, entertains the strongest belief of its truth. With the same +instrument, which is but just finished, he has also examined the moon, and +states his conviction that that body is covered with perpetual snow and +ice, the dark spots discoverable on its surface being frozen seas, and the +lighter spaces land covered with snow. Those circular places, which have a +rising cone in the centre, he thinks are extinguished volcanoes, as no +clouds are perceptible over the moon's face; which being covered with snow +and ice, accounts, as he imagines, for its clear atmosphere, or for the +absence of an atmosphere. This vast accumulation of ice and snow upon the +moon's surface may be explained, the writer conjectures, by the nature of +the moon's revolutions. He offers to construct instruments of the above +description, by which these phenomena may be observed, at prices from 50 +to 100 dollars; and at the same rate to furnish solar microscopes, on a +new principle, with a magnifying power at 12 feet distance, of +5,184,000.--_Boston Bulletin_. + + +_National Repository_. + + +Nearly two hundred specimens of curious works in arts and manufacture have +already been laid before the committee of this establishment; the opening +of which will take place in a few days. + + +_Iron Trade_. + + +In 1820, the whole iron made in Great Britain was 400,000 tons: in 1827, +it had increased to 690,000 tons, from 284 furnaces. About three-tenths of +this quantity are of a quality suitable for the foundry, which is all used +in Great Britain and Ireland, with the exception of a small quantity +exported to France and America. The other seven-tenths are made into bars, +rods, sheets, &c., of which a large quantity is exported to all parts of +the world.--_Repertory of Arts_. + + +_Indian Claystone_. + + +In some parts of India, the claystone contains numerous small _nodules_ or +lumps of clay iron-stone, which seldom exceed the size of a walnut. These +are picked up by the natives, and are smelted by means of charcoal in a +very small, rude furnace, blown by the hand-bellows, common all over +India, and still used in Europe by the Gipsies. Many of the hills composed +of claystone are neatly devoid of vegetation; their surface being bare and +smooth, and of a red or black colour. The soil produced by the action of +the atmosphere is not very productive; and so liable is it, in some +places, to consolidate, when deprived of its moisture, that, if it be not +constantly cultivated, it soon becomes hard and bare, and checks all +vegetation. + + +_Public Improvement_. + + +The spirit of general improvement pervades every part of the continent, +and is even more active in France than in Britain. In Britain, the spirit +of improvement is chiefly evinced in public works, and in the useful arts +and manufactures, and its efforts are characterized much more by +superfluity of wealth than by science or refinement: in Germany this +spirit is evinced in public buildings, in a superior taste, in +agriculture, and education--_Gard. Mag_. + + +_The Himalaya Mountains_. + + +This vast accumulation of sublime peaks, the pinnacles of our globe, is so +extensive, that a plane, resting on elevations 21,000 feet, may be +stretched in one direction as far as the Hindoo Cosh, for upwards of 1,000 +miles, above which rise loftier summits, increasing in height to nearly +6,000 feet more. + + +_To make Gold Size_. + + +Melt one pound of asphaltum, and pour into it another pound of linseed +oil, rendered drying by litharge; add also to it half a pound of red lead +or vermilion. When the varnish becomes thick or pasty, thin it by adding +one pound, or a pound and a half of spirit of turpentine; as more is +required in winter than in summer. + + +_Indian Corn_. + + +Mr. C. Hall Jessop, of Cheltenham, asserts that he "was the first who +recommended the Indian corn for field culture in this country," which he +did "in a letter to G. Talbot, Esq., of Guiting, seven years ago." + + +_Polishing Stones_. + + +The Hindoos polish all kinds of stones by means of powdered _corundrum_, +mixed with melted lac. The mixture being allowed to cool, is shaped into +oblong pieces, of three or four inches in length. The stone is polished by +being sprinkled with water; and at the same time rubbed with three oblong +masses; and the polish is increased by masses being used successively with +finer grains. + + +_Sensitive Plant_. + + +Mr. Burnet and Mr. Mayo have found, that at the moment the sensitive plant +is touched, so as to occasion motion, it _changes colour_. They have also +found that when a sensitive plant has been made to droop, the part in +which the moving power resides is blackened, so as to absorb the light of +the sun; the restoration of the plant to its natural state is much longer +in taking place. + + +_Indian Mills_. + + +In India, granite is hewn into hand-mills for grinding corn; two or four +of which are a load for an ass or a bullock, and are thus carried to the +bazaar for sale. These are the primeval mills of all countries, which are +mentioned in Scripture, and are still common among all uncivilized +nations. + + +_Musk_. + + +Dr. Davey, by some recent experiments, has proved that when musk, in +admixture with quicklime, smells of ammonia, it is impure or adulterated; +and further, that, to preserve it well, it should be made perfectly dry; +but when it is to be used as a perfume, it should be _moistened_. + + +_Loch Lomond_. + + +Mr. Galbraith has recently determined the quantity of water annually +discharged by the river Leven from the basin of Loch Lomond to be about +59,939 cubic feet per minute. Now, as 36 cubic feet of fresh water are +very near equal to a ton, this gives 1,665 tons per minute; and, supposing +the year to be 365 days, 5 hours, 40 minutes, the annual discharge, at +that rate, will be 877,295,085 tons. But as the river was rather below its +average height, one-third may be added to this result; and we have about +1,200,000,000, or twelve hundred millions of tons per annum. + + * * * * * + + + +MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.[8] + + [8] From sources entirely original. + + * * * * * + +SCOTCH MARRIAGES. + + +Our English love-smitten lads and lasses are pretty generally aware of the +facility with which the most awful and holy of all engagements may be +contracted in North Britain. They sometimes make the experiment in their +own persons; and, "by the simplicity of Venus' doves," old boys and old +girls have been known to follow, as fast as post-chaises, horses, and lads +could carry them, close upon the heels of their juniors, (bound on the +same errand,) to the blissful land o' cakes and matrimony. An English +gentleman, known to the writer, was making a few purchases in a shop, +wherein stood three or four other customers. A man and woman entered, and +the former, addressing the master of the shop and his aforesaid customers, +used, as he took the woman's right hand, words to this effect:--"Witness, +ye that are here present, that I (N. or M.) take this woman (N. or M.) for +my wedded wife." In like manner the _sposa_ desired all present to witness +that she took the man for her wedded husband, with her own full +acquiescence in, and approbation of, his determination. The English +gentleman who had witnessed, in silent amazement, this (to him) novel +engagement, was informed, after the departure of the happy couple, that +the marriage was to all intents and purposes valid by Scotch law, having +been solemnized as effectually as if by religious rites, in the presence +of respectable _housekeepers_, who, as such, were efficient witnesses, and +all that were requisite of _ceremonial_ to make the marriage good! + +I give this anecdote as related to me by the gentleman who saw the +incident mentioned; should there be any discrepancies in his relation, I +shall feel obliged by a _correct_ account of the manner of contracting +marriages in Scotland, from any of your correspondents capable of giving +such. + + +CAPUCHIN INTERMENT. + + +A gentleman, who had resided many years abroad, and particularly amongst +the Italian Catholics, once described to me the manner in which the +Capuchins inter the brethren of their order. These defunct _freres_ are +embalmed, arrayed in their peculiar habits, as when living; and in the +vaults of their monastic churches or chapels, ranged upright in niches +formed for this purpose. On certain days, particularly on the Feast of All +Souls, the doors of these cemeteries are opened to the public, who, as a +religious duty, flock in to view these singular and affecting relics of +mortality. The bodies undergo but little alteration in appearance for +centuries; but Mr. M. being tempted to touch the very long nose of one old +fellow, who _looked_ "a leathern Pharoah, grinning in the dark," it +disappeared in a shower of dust beneath his fingers. + + +A PARTY AT PALERMO. + + +"Palermo," said a lady whom I saw immediately after her return from a tour +in Sicily, "is indeed a beautiful city; but I thought some things strange +in the manners of the inhabitants. Mr. H. and myself were invited to a +music-party, at the house of a person in the best society, whereat +appeared most of the ladies in coloured and high morning dresses. Two +_tallow_ candles and a small lamp stood on the piano-forte in the +music-room, and from this room we descended by three or four steps into +another, containing a bed, over which was a shelf; upon the shelf was +placed one bottle of wine and a few glasses; and this being intended +expressly for the ladies, they were expected to go and help themselves +when they pleased; but a fresh bottle of wine was brought when the first +was exhausted." + + +FRENCH COUNTRY LIFE. + + +"The dinner-hour in the country," said a relation of the writer, who +spends a great deal of time in France, "is generally two o'clock, even +when company are invited to partake of the dinner; in which case, the +whole party has quitted the house by six or seven in the evening,--a +custom which ill accords with _English_ ideas of sociability. Three +table-cloths are usually laid upon the table, the first and second of +which are, or may be, removed during the repast; but the third is _never_ +drawn off, except to be changed for a clean one. In England, we pride +ourselves upon the fine mahogany of which our dinner-tables are made; we +endeavour to obtain, in the first instance, an excellent piece of wood, +and to improve it by assiduous rubbing and polishing. In France, it +matters not of what material the table is framed; a cloth is always upon +it; and I have seen the hospitable _board_ of many families of rank +literally formed of _deal_." + + +A DIFFERENCE. + + +"In this part of the world," says a private letter from India, +(Hyderabad,) "we do not talk of striking gongs for dinner, but +_ghuzzies_,--ghong meaning a horse or mare." + + +BOARDING. + + +In Ireland, when a man marries, who cannot afford to treat his friends to +whiskey upon the occasion, they take the door of his house off the hinges, +lay him upon it, and carry him thus upon their shoulders all day. In the +evening he is allowed to return to his deserted bride. This custom is +called "boarding," and is so frequent, as I myself can attest from +personal observation, as to attract but little attention from the +commonalty, and nothing like a mob. + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +THE MAN-MOUNTAIN. + + +We were all--Julia, her aunt, and myself, seated at a comfortable fire on +a December evening. The night was dark, starless, and rainy, while the +drops pattered upon the windows, and the wind howled at intervals along +the house-tops. In a word, it was as gloomy a night as one would wish to +see in this, the most dismal season of the year. Strictly speaking, I +should have been at home, for it was Sunday; and my own habitation was at +too great a distance to justify a visit of mere ceremony on so sacred a +day, and amid such stormy weather. The truth is, I sallied out to see +Julia. + +I verily believe I could write a whole volume about her. She came from the +north country, and was at this time on a visit to her aunt, in whose house +she resided; and in whose dining-room, at the period of my story, we were +all seated round a comfortable fire. Though a prodigious admirer of +beauty, I am a bad hand at describing it. To do Julia justice, however, I +must make the attempt. She was rather under the middle size, (not much,) +blue-eyed, auburn-haired, fair-complexioned, and her shape was of uncommon +elegance and proportion. Neck, bosom, waist, ankles, feet, hands, &c. all +were perfect, while her nose was beautifully Grecian, her mouth sweetness +itself, and her teeth as white and sparkling as pearls. In a word, I don't +believe that wide Scotland could boast of a prettier girl--to say nothing +of merry England and the Isle of Saints. + +It was at this time about eight o'clock: tea had just been over, the tray +removed, and the table put to rights. The star of my attraction was +seated at one side of the fire, myself at the opposite, the lady of the +house in the centre. We were all in excellent humour, and Julia and I eyed +each other in the most persevering style imaginable. Her aunt indeed +rallied us upon the occasion; and I thought Julia never appeared half so +beautiful as now. + +A servant bouncing by accident into a room where a gallant is on his knees +before his mistress, and in the act of "popping the question," is +vexatious. An ass thrusting its head through the broken window of a +country church, and braying aloud while the congregation are busily +chanting "Old Hundred," or some other equally devout melody, is vexatious. +An elderly gentleman losing his hat and wig on a windy day, is vexatious. +A young gentleman attempting to spring over a stile by way of showing his +agility to a bevy of approaching ladies, and coming plump down upon the +broadest part of his body, is vexatious. All these things are plagues and +annoyances sufficient to render life a perfect nuisance, and fill the +world with innumerable heart-breakings and _felo-de-sees_. But bad as they +are, they are nothing to the intolerable vexation experienced by me, (and +I believe by Julia too,) on hearing a slow, loud, solemn stroke of the +knocker upon the outer door. It was repeated once--twice--thrice. We heard +it simultaneously--we ceased speaking simultaneously--we (to wit, Julia +and I) ceased ogling each other simultaneously. The whole of us suspended +our conversation in a moment--looked to the door of the room--breathed +hard, and wondered what it could be. The reader will perhaps marvel how +such an impression could be produced by so very trivial a circumstance; +but if he himself had heard the sound, he would cease to wonder at the +strangeness of our feelings. The knocks were the most extraordinary ever +heard. They were not those petty, sharp, brisk, soda-water knocks given by +little, bustling, common-place men. On the contrary, they were slow, +sonorous, and determinate. What was still more remarkable, they were +_three_ in number, neither more nor less. + +Scarcely had our surprise time to subside, than we heard the outer door +opened by the servant--then it closed--then heavy footsteps, one, two, and +three, were audible in the lobby--then the dining-room door was opened; +and a form which filled the whole of its ample aperture, from top to +bottom, from right to left, made its appearance. It was the figure of a +man, but language would sink under his immensity. Never in heaven, or +earth, or air, or ocean, was such a man seen. He was hugeness itself--bulk +personified--the _beau ideal_ of amplitude. When the dining-room door was +first opened, the glare of the well-lighted lobby gleamed in upon us, +illuminating our whole apartment with increase of lustre; but no sooner +did he set his foot upon the threshold, than the lobby light behind him +was shut out. He filled the whole gorge of the door like an enormous +shade. + +Onward, clothed in black, came the moving mountain, and a very pleasing +monster he was. A neck like that of a rhinoceros sat piled between his +"Atlantean shoulders," and bore upon its tower-like and sturdy stem, a +countenance prepossessing from its good-humour, and amazing for its +plumpness and rubicundity. His cheeks were swollen out into billows of +fat--his eyes overhung with turgid and most majestic lids, and his chin +double, triple, ay quadruple. As for his mouth-- + + "It was enough to win a lady's heart + With its bewitching smile." + +Onward came the moving mountain--shaking the floor beneath his tread, +filling a tithe of the room with his bulk, and blackening every object +with his portentous shadow. + +I was amazed--I was confounded--I was horrified. Not so Julia and her +aunt, who, far from participating in my perturbed emotions, got up from +their seats, smiled with a welcoming nod, and requested him to sit down. + +"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said Julia. + +"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said her aunt. + +"Mr. Tims!" Gracious heavens, and was this the name of the mighty entrant? +Tims! Tims! Tims!--the thing was impossible. A man with such a name should +be able to go into a nut-shell; and here was one that the womb of a +mountain could scarcely contain! Had he been called Sir Bullion O'Dunder, +Sir Theodosius M'Turk, Sir Rugantino Magnificus, Sir Blunderbuss Blarney, +or some other high-sounding name, I should have been perfectly satisfied. +But to be called _Tims_! Upon my honour, I was shocked to hear it. + +Mr. Tims sat him down upon the great elbow-chair, for he was a friend, it +seems, of the family--a _weighty_ one assuredly; but one whose +acquaintanceship they were all glad to court. The ladies, in truth, seemed +much taken with his society. They put fifty questions to him about the +play--the assembly--the sermon--marriages--deaths--christenings, and what +not; the whole of which he answered with surprising volubility. His tongue +was the only active part about him, going as glibly as if he were ten +stones, instead of thirty, and as if he were a _Tims_ in person as well as +in name. In a short time I found myself totally neglected. Julia ceased to +eye me, her aunt to address me, so completely were their thoughts occupied +with the Man-Mountain. + +In about half an hour I began to feel confoundedly uncomfortable. I was a +mere cipher in the room; and what with the appalling bulk of Mr. Tims, the +attention the ladies bestowed upon him, and the neglect with which they +treated me, I sunk considerably in my own estimation. In proportion as +this feeling took possession of me, I experienced an involuntary respect +for the stranger. I admired his intimate knowledge of balls, dresses, +_faux pas_, marriages, and gossip of all sorts--and still more I admired +his bulk. I have an instinctive feeling of reverence towards "Stout +Gentlemen;" and, while contrasting my own puny form with his, I laboured +under a deep consciousness of personal insignificance. From being five +feet eight, I seemed to shrink to five feet one; from weighing ten stones, +I suddenly fell to seven and a half; while my portly rival sat opposite to +me, measuring at least a foot taller than myself, and weighing good thirty +stones, jockey weight. If any little fellow like me thinks of standing +well with his mistress, let him never appear in her presence with such a +gentleman as Mr. Tims. She will despise him to a certainty; nor, though +his soul be as large as Atlas or Teneriffe, will it compensate for the +paltry dimensions of his body. + +What was to be done? With the ladies, it was plain, I _could_ do nothing: +with Mr. Tims, it was equally plain, I _ought_ to do nothing--seeing that, +however much he was the cause of my uneasiness, he was at least the +_innocent_ cause, and therefore neither morally nor judicially amenable to +punishment. From respecting Mr. Tims I came to hate him; and I vowed +internally, that, rather than be annihilated by this enlarged edition of +Daniel Lambert, I would pitch him over the window. Had I been a giant, I +am sure I would have done it on the spot. The giants of old, it is well +known, raised Pelion upon Ossa, in their efforts to scale the throne of +heaven; and tossed enormous mountains at the godhead of Jupiter himself. +Unfortunately for me, Mr. Tims was a mountain, and I was no giant. + +I accordingly got up, and, pretending it was necessary that I should see +some person in the next street, abruptly left the room. Julia--I did not +expect it--saw me to the door, shook hands with me, and said she hoped I +would return to supper when my business was finished. Sweet girl! was it +possible she could prefer the Man-Mountain to me? + +Away I went into the open air. I had no business whatever to perform: it +was mere fudge; and I resolved to go home as fast as I could. + +But I did not go home. On the contrary, I kept strolling about from street +to street, sometimes thinking upon Julia, sometimes upon Mr. Tims. The +night was of the most melancholy description--a cold, cloudy, windy, rainy +December night. Not a soul was upon the streets excepting a solitary +straggler, returning hither and thither from an evening sermon, or an +occasional watchman gliding past with his lantern, like an incarnation of +the Will-o'-wisp. I strolled up and down for half an hour, wrapped in an +olive great-coat, and having a green silk umbrella over my head. It was +well I chanced to be so well fortified against the weather; for had it +been otherwise, I must have been drenched to the skin. Where I went I know +not, so deeply was my mind wound up in its various melancholy cogitations. +This, however, I do know, that, after striking against sundry lamp-posts, +and overturning a few old women in my fits of absence, I found myself +precisely at the point from which I set out, viz. at the door of Julia's +aunt's husband's house. + +I paused for a moment, uncertain whether to enter, and, in the meantime, +turning my eyes to the window, where, upon the white blind, I beheld the +enormous shadow of a human being. My flesh crept with horror on witnessing +this apparition, for I knew it to be the shadow of the Man-Mountain--the +dim reflection of Mr. Tims. No other human being could cast such a shade. +Its proportions were magnificent, and filled up the whole breadth of the +window-screen; nay, the shoulders shot away latterly beyond its utmost +limits, and were lost in space, having apparently nothing whereon to cast +their mighty image. On beholding this vast shade, my mind was filled with +a thousand exalted thoughts. + +I paused at the door for sometime, uncertain whether to enter; at last my +mind was made up, and I knocked, resolved to encounter the Man-Mountain a +second time, and, if possible, recover the lost glances of Julia. On +entering the dining-room, I found an accession to the company in the +person of our landlord, who sat opposite to Mr. Tims, listening to some +facetious story, which the latter gentleman seemed in the act of relating. +He had come home during my absence, and, like his wife and her niece, +appeared to be fascinated by the eloquence and humour of his stout friend. +At least, so I judged, for he merely recognised my presence by a slight +bow, and devoted the whole of his attention to the owner of the mighty +shadow. Julia and her aunt were similarly occupied, and I was more +neglected than ever. + +Perhaps the reader may think that there was something ludicrous in the +idea of such a man being in love. Not at all--the notion was sublime; +almost as sublime as his shadow--almost as overwhelming as his person. +Conceive the Man-Mountain playing the amiable with such a delicate young +creature like Julia. Conceive him falling on his knees before +her--pressing her delicate hand, and "popping the question," while his +large round eyes shed tears of affection and suspense, and his huge sides +shook with emotion! Conceive him enduring all the pangs of love-sickness, +never telling his love; "concealment, like a worm in the bud, preying upon +his damask cheek," while his hard-hearted mistress stood disdainfully by, +"like pity on a monument, _smiling_ at grief." Above all, conceive him +taking the lover's leap--say from Dunnet or Duncansby-head, where the +rocks tower four hundred feet above the Pentland Firth, and floundering in +the waters like an enormous whale; the herring shoals hurrying away from +his unwieldy gambols, as from the presence of the real sea-born leviathan. +Cacus in love was not more grand, or the gigantic Polyphemus, sighing at +the feet of Galatea, or infernal Pluto looking amiable beside his ravished +queen. Have you seen an elephant in love? If you have, you may conceive +what Mr. Tims would be in that interesting situation. + +Supper was brought in. It consisted of eggs, cold veal, bacon-ham, and a +Welsh rabbit. I must confess, that, perplexed as I was by all the previous +events of the evening, I felt a gratification at the present moment, in +the anxiety to see how the Man-Mountain would comport himself at table. I +had beheld his person and his shadow with equal admiration, and I doubted +not that his powers of eating were on the same great scale as his other +qualifications. They were, indeed. Zounds, how he did eat! Cold veal, +eggs, bacon-ham, and Welsh rabbit, disappeared "like the baseless fabric +of a vision, and left not a wreck behind;" so thoroughly had nine-tenths +of them taken up their abode in the _bread basket_ (vide Jon Bee) of the +Man-Mountain; the remaining tenth sufficed for the rest of the company, +viz. Julia, her aunt, her aunt's husband, and myself. + +Liquor was brought in, to wit, wine, brandy, whisky, and rum. I felt an +intense curiosity to see on which of the four Mr. Tims would fix his +choice. He fixed upon brandy, and made a capacious tumbler of hot toddy. I +did the same, and asked Julia to join me in taking a single glass--I was +forestalled by the Man-Mountain. I then asked the lady of the house the +same thing, but was forestalled by her husband. + +Meanwhile, the evening wearing on, the ladies retired, and Mr. Tims, the +landlord, and myself, were left to ourselves. This was the signal for a +fresh assault upon the brandy-bottle. Another tumbler was made--then +another--then a fourth. At this period Julia appeared at the door, and +beckoned upon the landlord, who arose from table, saying he would rejoin +us immediately. Mr. Tims and I were thus left alone, and so we continued, +for the landlord, strange to say, did not again appear. What became of him +I know not. I supposed he had gone to bed, and left his _great_ friend and +myself to pass the time as we were best able. + +We were now commencing our fifth tumbler, and I began to feel my whole +spirit pervaded by the most delightful sensations. My heart beat quicker, +my head sat more lightly than usual upon my shoulders; and sounds like the +distant hum of bees, or the music of the spheres, heard in echo afar off, +floated around me. There was no bar between me and perfect happiness, but +the Man-Mountain, who sat on the great elbow-chair opposite, drinking his +brandy-toddy, and occasionally humming an old song with the utmost +indifference. + +It was plain that he despised me. While any of the others were present he +was abundantly loquacious, but now he was as dumb as a fish--tippling in +silence, and answering such questions as I put to him in abrupt +monosyllables. The thing was intolerable, but I saw into it: Julia had +played me false; the "Mountain" was the man of her choice, and I his +despised and contemptible rival. + +These ideas passed rapidly through my mind, and were accompanied with +myriads of others. I bethought me of every thing connected with Mr. +Tims--his love for Julia--his elephantine dimensions, and his shadow, +huge and imposing as the image of the moon against the orb of day, during +an eclipse. Then I was transported away to the Arctic sea, where I saw him +floundering many a rood, "hugest of those that swim the ocean stream." +Then he was a Kraken fish, outspread like an island upon the deep: then a +mighty black cloud affrighting the mariners with its presence: then a +flying island, like that which greeted the bewildered eyes of Gulliver. At +last he resumed his human shape, and sat before me like "Andes, giant of +the Western Star," tippling the jorum, and sighing deeply. + +Yes, he sighed profoundly, passionately, tenderly; and the sighs came from +his breast like blasts of wind from the cavern of Eolus. By Jove, he was +in love; in love with Julia! and I thought it high time to probe him to +the quick. + +"Sir," said I, "you must be conscious that you have no right to love +Julia. You have no right to put your immense body between her and me. She +is my betrothed bride, and mine she shall be for ever." + +"I have weighty reasons for loving her," replied Mr. Tims. + +"Were your reasons as weighty as your person, you _shall not_ love her." + +"She _shall_ be mine," responded he, with a deeply-drawn sigh. "You +cannot, at least, prevent her image from being enshrined in my heart. No, +Julia! even when thou descendest to the grave, thy remembrance will cause +thee to live in my imagination, and I shall thus write thine elegy: + + I cannot deem thee dead--like the perfumes + Arising from Judea's vanished shrines + Thy voice still floats around me--nor can tombs + A thousand, from my memory hide the lines + Of beauty, on thine aspect which abode, + Like streaks of sunshine pictured there by God. + +She shall be mine," continued he in the same strain. "Prose and verse +shall woo her for my lady-love; and she shall blush and hang her head in +modest joy, even as the rose when listening to the music of her beloved +bulbul beneath the stars of night." + +These amorous effusions, and the tone of insufferable affectation with +which they were uttered, roused my corruption to its utmost pitch, and I +exclaimed aloud, "Think not, thou revivification of Falstaff--thou +enlarged edition of Lambert--thou folio of humanity--thou Titan--thou +Briareus--thou Sphynx--thou Goliath of Gath, that I shall bend beneath thy +ponderous insolence?" The Mountain was amazed at my courage; I was amazed +at it myself; but what will not Jove, inspired by brandy, effect? + +"No," continued I, seeing the impression my words had produced upon him, +"I despise thee, and defy thee, even as Hercules did Antaeus, as Sampson +did Harapha, as Orlando did Ferragus. 'Bulk without spirit vast,' I fear +thee not; come on." So saying, I rushed onward to the Mountain, who arose +from his seat to receive me. The following passage from the Agonistes of +Milton will give some idea of our encounter: + + "As with the force of winds and water pent, + When mountains tremble, these two massy pillars, + With horrible convulsion to and fro, + He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew + The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder, + Upon the heads of all who sat beneath." + +"Psha!" said Julia, blushing modestly, "can't you let me go?" Sweet Julia, +I had got her in my arms. + +"But where," said I, "is Mr. Tims?" + +"Mr. who?" said she. + +"The Man-Mountain." + +"Mr. Tims!--Man-Mountain!" resumed Julia, with unfeigned surprise. "I know +of no such persons. How jocular you are to-night--not to say how ill-bred, +for you have been asleep for the last five minutes!" + +"Sweet, sweet Julia!" + +A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN. + +_Blackwood's Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + +SONG. + +BY T. CAMPBELL. + + + 'Tis now the hour--'tis now the hour + To bow at Beauty's shrine; + Now whilst, our hearts confess the power + Of woman, wit, and wine; + And beaming eyes look on so bright, + Wit springs--wine sparkles in their light. + + In such an hour--in such an hour, + In such an hour as this, + While Pleasure's fount throws up a shower + Of social sprinkling bliss, + Why does my bosom heave the sigh + That mars delight?--She is not by! + + There was an hour--there was an hour + When I indulged the spell + That Love wound round me with a power + Words vainly try to tell-- + Though Love has fill'd my checker'd doom + With fruits and thorns, and light and gloom-- + + Yet there's an hour--there's still an hour + Whose coming sunshine may + Clear from the clouds that hang and lower + My fortune's future day; + That hour of hours beloved will be, + That hour that gives thee back to me! + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered tifles." + SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +What will our civic friends say to this, about the date of 1686?--"Among +other policies of assurance which appear at the Exchange, there is one of +no ordinary nature; which is, that Esquire Neale, who hath for some time +been a suitor to the rich Welsh widow Floyd, offers as many guineas as +people will take to receive thirty for each one in case he marry the said +widow. He hath already laid out as much as will bring him in 10 or 12,000 +guineas; he intends to make it 30,000, and then to present it to the lady +in case she marry him; and any one that will accept of guineas on that +condition may find as many as he pleases at Garraway's +coffee-house."--_Ellis Correspondence_. + + * * * * * + + +PAT O'KELLY, THE IRISH POET. + + + Three poets, of three different nations born, + With works immortal do this age adorn; + Byron, of England--Scott, of Scotia's blood--And, + Erin's pride, O'Kelly, great and good. + 'Twould take a Byron and a Scott, I tell ye, + Roll'd up in one, to make a Pat O'Kelly. + _Legends of the Lakes_. + + * * * * * + + +IRISH NAMES, MADE ENGLISH. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + _Macnamara_, son of a sea-hound. + _Macmahon_, son of a bear. + _Brien_, the force of water. + _Kennedy_, wearing a helmet. + _Horan_, the gold of poetry. + _Sullivan_, having but one eye. + _Gallagher_, the helper of Englishmen. + _Riordan_, a royal salmon. + _Lysaght_, a hired soldier. + _Finnoala_, white-shouldered. + _Una_, matchless. + _Farrell_, a fair man. + _Mohairey_, an early riser. + _Naghten_, a strong person. + _Trayner_, a strong man. + _Keeffe_, mild. + _Keating_, a shower of fire. + _Kinahan_, a moss trooper. + _Kearney_, a soldier. + _Leahy_, a champion. + _Macaveely_, son of the hero. + _Ardil_, of high descent. + _Dermid_, a god in arms. + _Toraylagh_, like a tower. + _Cairbre_, a royal person. + _Flinn_, red haired. + _Dwyer_, a dark man. + _Docharty_, dangerous. + _Mullane_, broad head. + _Cullane_, broad poll. + _Flaherty_, a powerful chief. + _Lalor_, or _Lawler_, one who speaks by halves. + _Tierney_, a lord. + _Bulger_, a Dutchman. + _Dougal_, a Dane. + _Mac Intosh_, son of the chief. + _Mac Tagart_, son of the priest. + _Mac'Nab_, son of the abbot. + _Mac Clery_, son of a clerk. + _Mac Lure_, son of a tailor. + _Macgill_, son of a squire. + _Macbrehane_, son of a judge. + _Mac Tavish_, son of a savage. + _Goff_, or _Gough_, smith. + _Galt_, a Protestant. + _Gillespie_, the bishop's squire. + +The whole of the above are literal translations without having recourse to +_fancy_, or _torturing the originals_; thus, _Macnamara_, called in Irish +_Mac Conmara_, from _mac_, a son, _con_, the genitive case of _cu_, a +hound, and _mara_, the genitive case of _muir_, the sea; and so of the +rest. It is proper, however, to observe, that although the name of +_Keating_ sounds exactly in Irish a "_shower of fire_" yet as the Keatings +came at first from England, this cannot be the real origin of that name. +All the rest are literally correct. + +H.S. + + * * * * * + + +ONIONS. + + +Lord Bacon tells us of a man who fasted five days, without meat, bread, or +drink, by smelling a wisp of herbs, among which were strong _onions_. + + * * * * * + +PURCHASERS of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their sets are +informed, that every Volume is complete in itself, and may be purchased +separately. 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 XII. in boards, price £3. 5_s_. half bound, £4. +2_s_. 6_d_. + + * * * * * + + +LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS. + +CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, near +Somerset House. + +The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. 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Price 1s. 8d. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction., by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11322 *** diff --git a/11322-h/11322-h.htm b/11322-h/11322-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e3e98f --- /dev/null +++ b/11322-h/11322-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1693 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + + <title>The Mirror of Literature, Issue 359.</title> + + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + + .note, .footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + + .poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + + .figure + {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure img + {border: none;} + .figure p + + .side { float:right; + font-size: 75%; + width: 25%; + padding-left:10px; + border-left: dashed thin; + margin-left: 10px; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-weight: bold; + font-style: italic;} + --> + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11322 ***</div> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>[pg 145]</span> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>Vol. XIII. No. 359.</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1829.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>RUGBY SCHOOL</h2> + + +<div class="figure" style="width:100%;"><a href="images/359-1.png"><img width ="100%" src="images/359-1.png" alt="RUGBY SCHOOL"/></a><h3>RUGBY SCHOOL</h3></div> + +<p>On the eastern border of Warwickshire, about 13 miles from Coventry, and +16 from Warwick, stands the cheerful town of Rugby, a place of great +antiquity, but of little note previous to the erection of a grammar-school +there, towards the close of the sixteenth century. The circumstances under +which this school was founded, and the rank it has attained among our +classical seminaries, may probably be interesting to the reader.</p> + +<p>Rugby School was founded in the ninth year of Elizabeth, by Lawrence +Sheriff, grocer, of London, chiefly as a free grammar-school for the +children of the parishes of Rugby and Brownsover, and places adjacent. For +the accommodation of the master, who was, "if it conveniently might be, to +be ever a Master of Arts," he bequeathed a messuage at Rugby, in which it +is probable he had himself resided during the last few years of his life, +and he directed that there should be built, near this residence, a fair +and convenient school-house, to defray which expense, and of a contiguous +almshouse, he bequeathed the revenue of the rectory of Brownsover, and a +third portion of twenty-four acres of land, situate in <i>Lamb's Conduit +Fields</i>, "near London," and termed the Conduit Close. These eight acres +were of trivial value at the period; and in 1653, the trustees of the +property paid the schoolmaster a salary of 12<i>l</i>. a year, and each of the +alms-men 7<i>s</i>. 7<i>d</i>. In 1686, the Lamb's Conduit property was leased for +fifty years at 50<i>l</i>. per annum. The metropolis increased, and stretching +one of its <i>Briareusian</i> arms in this direction, the once neglected field +rose in value, and in 1702 (thirty-four years before the expiration of the +above term) the trustees granted a fresh lease to William (afterwards Sir +William) Milman, of forty-three years, to commence at the termination of +the former lease. Building was not then a mania, and Sir William obtained +his term for 60<i>l</i>. per annum; so that until the year 1780, the annual +produce of the estate belonging to the Rugby charity, was only 116<i>l</i>. +17<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>.! But, shortly after the grant of an extended term to Sir W. +Milman, handsome streets of family houses sprung up, and it was computed +that a ground-rent of at least 1,600<i>l</i>. would accrue to the charity on +the expiration of his lease. A much greater income has, in fact, arisen, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>[pg 146]</span> +and the revenues will be materially increased on the termination of the +present leases.</p> + +<p>The flourishing finances of this noble institution are well managed by +twelve trustees, chosen from the nobility and gentry of the country.<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> + +<p>The ancient buildings of the Rugby seminary were a humble tenement for the +schoolmaster, a principal school-room, and two or three additional +school-rooms, built at different times, as the finances would allow. These +being found too limited, in 1808 the trustees commenced the erection of +the present structure, from the designs of Mr. Henry Hakewill. It stands +nearly on the same spot as the former humble building, and is composed of +white brick, the angles, cornices, and dressings to the windows and +openings being of Aldborough stone. The style of architecture is that of +the reign of Elizabeth, the period at which the school was founded. The +building is massy, august, and interesting from its graceful disposition +of parts. The principal front is that represented in our engraving, which +extends 220 feet.</p> + +<p>The schools are entered by a gateway opposite the street, which leads to +the principal court, a fine area, 90 feet long by 75 feet wide, with a +plain cloister on the east, south, and west sides. The buildings on the +south of the court comprise the dining hall, belonging to the boys in the +head master's house, and three schools for different classes; those on the +west are occupied by the great school; and on the north are the French and +writing schools. The east side adjoins the offices belonging to the head +master's house. About sixty boys are accommodated here; the remainder +lodge in the houses of the other masters, and in the town of Rugby.</p> + +<p>Lawrence Sheriff, the benevolent founder of this institution, was born at +Brownsover, whence he removed to London, where he kept a grocer's shop in +Newgate-street. A more gratifying portrait of true beneficence than +Sheriff's bequest can scarcely be found in British annals; and this +gratification is greatly enhanced by the justice with which his intentions +have been carried into effect at Rugby. The alms-houses were originally +for four poor old men; but the dwellings have been augmented in proportion +to the increased revenues.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>CHOICE HINTS FOR A PLAN TO DISCHARGE THE NATIONAL DEBT.</h2> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<p>"Great events sometimes spring from trivial causes," of the truth of this +adage, no man is, I think, so great a <i>heretic</i>, as to express any +doubt—were such the case, it would be by no means difficult to conjure up +a host of evidence, in support of our proposition; but, seeing that "such +things are," let us at once to the point.</p> + +<p>The present age is so rife in whims and proposals, that I am rather +apprehensive, some may doubt the <i>feasibility</i> of the following. +Nevertheless, it is, methinks, quite as good, as many others which +recently were strangled, in struggling for existence.</p> + +<p>In looking over some old pamphlets the other day, I met with the following +"true and particular account" of Mr. Peter Pounce, Postmaster, of +Petersham, and his horse, Prance.</p> + +<p>Now, according to my author (of whose veracity I entreat the reader to use +his own discretion) it seems this Mr. Pounce was an exceedingly good kind +of man, and that his horse, Prance, was also an exceedingly good kind of +horse; moreover, when the postmaster travelled, he usually put up at the +<i>George</i>, where there is exceeding good entertainment for both man and +horse. Upon one occasion, being in great haste, Mr. Pounce directed the +ostler not to put Prance into the stable, but to tie him to the brew-house +door. Now, as cruel fate would have it, there was just within the nag's +reach, a tub full of wine lees, which, luckless moment for him, (being +thirsty) he unceremoniously quaffed off in a trice, without even <i>here's +to you</i>.</p> + +<p>The consequence was, Prance fell down dead drunk; nay, he acted death so +much to the life, that his master, reckoning him absolutely defunct, had +him flayed, and sold his skin to a tanner, who happened to be drinking in +the alehouse kitchen. Mr. Pounce then walked in a solitary mood to his +home, and communicated the melancholy affair to his good lady, who wept +bitterly at Prance's untimely fate.</p> + +<p>But leaving her to dry her eyes, we return to the nag—the weather being +cold, he was by the loss of his skin, &c. quite sobered, and prudently +trotted to his master's door, at which he whinnied with much clamour for +admission.</p> + +<p>Bless me, my dear, exclaims Mrs. P. our nag's ghost is at the door—I know +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>[pg 147]</span> +him by his whinnies; upon which Mr. Pounce runs with alacrity to the +door, and sure enough there he was—no ghost—but in propriâ personâ +except his skin. In this exigence, the gentleman had four sheep killed +forthwith, and covered the nag with a woollen garment. To make short of +it, the horse rapidly recovered, and bore two tods of wool every year.</p> + +<p>From this narration it is proposed to embrace the manifest advantages +which offer themselves for improving the woollen trade—that great staple +of Britain's wealth, in manner following:—</p> + +<p>First, then, let an accurate estimate be taken of the number of sheep +annually slaughtered in these kingdoms.</p> + +<p>Secondly.—Let proper officers be appointed to collect these skins into +commodious warehouses.</p> + +<p>Lastly.—That such a number of horses, mares, and geldings as the said +skins will conveniently cover, be flayed (without fear of Mr. Martin!) and +their backs forthwith enveloped in fleece.</p> + +<p>By this arrangement the following benefits will arise to the government +and community:—</p> + +<p>1. Every horse whose hide was formerly only useful after death, will then +afford an annual profit by producing two tods of wool yearly, without any +loss to the tanner or shoemaker, who will still necessarily have as many +hides as heretofore.</p> + +<p>2. The health of that useful animal the horse, which is probably liable to +more disorders than any other (the human species excepted) will be much +better preserved by woollen than a hairy covering.</p> + +<p>3. There will be little occasion for saddles, &c. as the fleece will +afford a very easy seat, much softer than leather, and well adapted for +ladies and invalids.</p> + +<p>Lastly.—There will be an annual acquisition of about 40 millions +sterling, from this novel mode of procedure, of which please to accept the +following algebraical demonstration:—</p> + +<p>Let <i>x</i> be the unknown quantity; <i>a</i>, the horses; <i>b</i>, the sheep; then per +simple equations <i>x</i>, plus <i>a</i>, plus <i>b</i>, minus tods, plus sheepskins, +equal one thousand—then minus sheep, plus horses, minus wool, plus tods, +equal one million. Lastly, horses plus sheep, minus hides, plus fleeces, +in all equal forty millions.</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Quod erat demonstrandum.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>There, reader, if you are still a sceptic, I cannot help it.</p> + +<p>JACOBUS.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>ANSWER OF THE LONDON STONE.<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a></h2> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Why hast thou mortal, on my slumber broken,</p> +<p class="i6">And dragged my struggling spirit back to earth?</p> +<p class="i4">Though "walls have ears," yet stones have never spoken.</p> +<p class="i6">Why am I made the object of thy mirth?</p> +<p class="i4">Why am I questioned thus to tell my fate,</p> +<p class="i4">And primal use? Yet hear—whilst I relate.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">When time was young, and earth was in her prime,</p> +<p class="i6">Secure I slept within her spacious womb;</p> +<p class="i4">And ages passed—I took no heed of time,</p> +<p class="i6">Until some Druid burst my dismal tomb,</p> +<p class="i4">And dragged me forth amidst the haunts of man.</p> +<p class="i4">And then, indeed my life of woe began.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">And ere great Caesar in triumphant pride,</p> +<p class="i6">Led on by conquest, bade Rome's eagles soar</p> +<p class="i4">To this fair isle; full many a victim died</p> +<p class="i6">Upon my breast, and I was drenched with gore:</p> +<p class="i4">For "midst the tangling horrors of the wood,"</p> +<p class="i4">I stood an altar, stained with human blood.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I've witnessed scenes, which I now dread to name,</p> +<p class="i6">I've seen the captive bound in wicker rods</p> +<p class="i4">Expire, midst shouts, to feed the sacred flame,</p> +<p class="i6">And glut the fury of offended gods;</p> +<p class="i4">Those days soon passed—the gospel's milder ray</p> +<p class="i4">Dispelled the gloom, and spread a brighter day.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Then superstition tottered on her throne,</p> +<p class="i6">And hid her head in shades of gloomy night;</p> +<p class="i4">Quenched were her fires—her impious fanes o'er thrown,</p> +<p class="i6">Her mists dispersed before the Prince of Light,</p> +<p class="i4">Then sank my grandeur; in some lonely spot</p> +<p class="i4">I slept for years unnoticed and forgot.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Until Vespasian, by Rome's stern command,</p> +<p class="i6">To quench rebellion in my native isle,</p> +<p class="i4">Brought his bold legions from a foreign strand,</p> +<p class="i6">Our land to torture, and our towers to spoil;</p> +<p class="i4">He hewed me in a fashion now unknown,</p> +<p class="i4">And dubbed me, what I am, "The London Stone."</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">From me, the miles by Britons once were counted,</p> +<p class="i6">Close to my side were monies lent and paid;</p> +<p class="i4">If princes died—some gaudy herald mounted</p> +<p class="i6">Upon my head, and proclamations read;</p> +<p class="i4">Till Gresham rose; who used me very ill,</p> +<p class="i4">He moved the place of commerce to Cornhill.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">When reeling homewards from the tavern near,</p> +<p class="i6">Oft with prince Henry has old honest Jack</p> +<p class="i4">Sat on my breast, and I've been doomed to hear</p> +<p class="i6">Him talk of valour, and of unpaid sack;</p> +<p class="i4">And whilst he talked, the roysterers gave vent,</p> +<p class="i4">To peals of laughter and of merriment.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Yes, I'm the hone that "City's Lord" essayed,</p> +<p class="i6">To make the whetstone of his rebel sword;</p> +<p class="i4">On me, with mischief rife, rebellious Cade</p> +<p class="i6">Sat whilst he thought and dubbed himself a Lord;</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>[pg 148]</span> +<p class="i4">And bade my conduit pipe for one whole year</p> +<p class="i4">At city's cost, run naught but claret clear.<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I could a tale of harrowing woes reveal,</p> +<p class="i6">Whilst York and Lancaster for mastery tried:</p> +<p class="i4">When men the ties of nature ceased to feel,</p> +<p class="i6">When sires beneath their offsprings' sabres died;</p> +<p class="i4">And sires 'gainst children clad themselves in arms,</p> +<p class="i4">And England mourned the din of war's alarms.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Yes, I beheld the beauteous virgin queen,</p> +<p class="i6">And all the dauntless heroes of her court;</p> +<p class="i4">Where danger threatened, 'midst the danger seen,</p> +<p class="i6">Bending their fearless way to Tilbury Fort;</p> +<p class="i4">I heard the shouts of joy which Britons gave,</p> +<p class="i4">When th' Armada sank beneath the wave.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I mind, Augusta,<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> well that fatal day,</p> +<p class="i6">When to thy ports with dire contagion fraught.</p> +<p class="i4">The laden vessel<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> stemmed its gallant way.</p> +<p class="i6">And to thy sons the plague disastrous brought;</p> +<p class="i4">Quick through thy walls the foul infection spread,</p> +<p class="i4">And thou became the city of the dead.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Scarce ceased the plague—when to my aching sight</p> +<p class="i6">Appeared a scene of most terrific woe;</p> +<p class="i4">Around me burnt one monstrous blaze of light,</p> +<p class="i6">I warmed, and almost melted with its glow;</p> +<p class="i4">I burst the chains,<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> which bound me fast, asunder,</p> +<p class="i4">And now remain, to learned men a wonder.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">And when the city from her ruins rose,</p> +<p class="i6">I soon was left deserted and forlorn;</p> +<p class="i4">A porters' bench was raised beneath my nose.</p> +<p class="i6">And I became the object of their scorn:</p> +<p class="i4">I've heard the rascals, with a vacant stare,</p> +<p class="i4">Ask, just like you, what business I had there?</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Few years have passed, since I, by parish sages,</p> +<p class="i6">Was called a monstrous nuisance to the street,</p> +<p class="i4">And, though I'd borne the brunt of varying ages,</p> +<p class="i6">Was doomed for pavement 'neath the horses' feet,</p> +<p class="i4">Until a Maiden,<a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> near to Sherborne Lane,</p> +<p class="i4">Saved me—and rescued London from that stain.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">And now, vain mortal, I have told thee all,</p> +<p class="i6">My fate, my primal use, the what and which;</p> +<p class="i4">And though my struggling spirit owned thy salt,</p> +<p class="i6">Once more I'll slumber in my holy niche,</p> +<p class="i4">And "Britain's sun may set," what's that to me,</p> +<p class="i4">Since I, stone-blind and dumb, for aye will be.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i10"> J.E.</p> + </div> </div> + + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>HAVER BREAD.</h2> + +<h4>(<i>To the Editor of the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<p>A correspondent wishes to be informed of the definition of the word +<i>avver</i>. In the 15th volume of the "Beauties of England and Wales," it is +alluded to thus:—"This county (Westmoreland) being supposed unfavourable +to the growth of wheat, black oats, called <i>haver</i>, and the species of +barley called <i>bere</i>, or <i>bigg</i>, were the only grains it produced. Of the +<i>haver</i>, bread was made, or the species of pottage called hasty pudding; +this bread being made into thin unleavened cakes, and laid up in chests +within the influence of the fire, has the quality of preserving its +sweetness for several months; it is still in common use. The <i>bigg</i> was +chiefly made into malt, and each family brewed its own ale; during the hay +harvest the women drank a pleasant sharp beverage, made by infusing mint +or sage buttermilk in whey, and hence called <i>whey-whig</i>. Wheaten bread +was used on particular occasions; small loaves of it were given to persons +invited to funerals, which they were expected "to take and eat" at home, +in religious remembrance of their deceased neighbour; a custom, the +prototype of which is evidently seen in the establishment of the +eucharist, for in this county it still bears its <i>Saxon name</i>, <i>Arvel +bread</i>, from appull, <i>full of reverence</i>, meaning the holy bread used at +the communion."</p> + +<p>P.T.W.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>THE SKETCH-BOOK.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3>BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.</h3> + + +<p>Gray, as one of the party of dragoons who attended the Duke of Wellington, +proceeded onward at a sharp pace through the marching columns, which his +grace examined, with a close but quick glance, as he passed on, and after +a march of seven leagues, came up with the Belgian troops under the Prince +of Orange, who had been attacked and pushed back by the French. It was +about seven o'clock; none of the British troops had yet arrived within +some hours' march of the duke. The party of dragoons were ordered to +remain in readiness for duty in a cornfield near the road, on a rising +ground, which commanded a full view of the country in front, while the +duke and his staff proceeded to the left.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>[pg 149]</span> +<p>The four biscuits which had been served out to each man at Brussels the +night before, with some cold beef, and the contents of their canteen, +helped to regale the dragoons after their long and rapid march, while the +stout steeds that had borne them found a delightful repast in the high rye +that waved under their noses. Here they beheld passing on the road beside +them many wounded Belgians, and could see before them, at the distance of +a quarter of a mile, the French bayonets glistening over the high fields +of corn, and hear distinctly the occasional discharges of musketry from +tirailleurs. Gray's heart leaped with joy, and he thought no more of +Brussels.</p> + +<p>"What's this place called?" inquired one of the dragoons, generally of his +comrades.</p> + +<p>"Called!—Oh, some jaw-breaking Dutch name of a yard long, I suppose," +replied another. "Ax Gentleman Gray—he'll tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Gray, do you know the name of this here place?"</p> + +<p>"I believe," replied Gray, "we are near a point called <i>Quatre Bras</i>, or +the four roads."</p> + +<p>"Well," rejoined the other, "if there were half-a-dozen roads, it wouldn't +be too much for these here Flemingers—yon road's not wide enough for +them, you see. Look, here's a regiment o' them coming back!"</p> + +<p>"Ah! poor fellows—we might be in the same situation," observed Gray; +"remember that their force is not strong in comparison with the French, by +the accounts that have been received; better to fall back at the first of +a fight than at the last."</p> + +<p>"I say, Jack," said another, with his mouth full of biscuit, "did you ever +meet with such a devil of a roadster as the <i>carpolar</i> there with the +glazed cocked hat?"</p> + +<p>"Who do you mean?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Why the dook, to be sure—how he <i>did</i> give it us on the long road +through the forest."</p> + +<p>"Ay—he's the lad; well, here's God bless his jolly old glazed hat any +way," cried the trooper, swallowing a horn of grog; "he's the boy what has +come from the Peninsula just to gi' 'em a leaf out of his book. He was a +dancing last night—riding like a devil all the morning—and I'll warrant +he'll be fighting all the afternoon by way of refreshing himself."</p> + +<p>"He look'd serious enough this morning though, Master Tom, as he was +turning out."</p> + +<p>"Serious! and so did you; hasn't he enough to make him look serious? Bony, +and all the flower of the French before him. I like to see him look +serious; he's just a thinking a bit, that's all. Look, look, look! where +he is now pelting away up the hill there. My eye! but he's a rum on'."</p> + +<p>"Ay, just as he was in the ould ground," cried an Hibernian. "'Pon my +sowl, I think I'm in Spain agin. There he is, success to him!—an' the +smell o' the powther too so natural."</p> + +<p>"The light troops are pushing on towards that wood," said Gray, fixing his +eyes on a particular spot.</p> + +<p>"Sure enough they are. Ah! we'll soon have the boys up who will set them +off with a flea in their ear."</p> + +<p>"Look—on the rising ground there, about half a mile away, how they are +moving about—that is a train of artillery—see the guns—there is a +regiment of infantry going to the left—do you see their bayonets? A fine +open place here for a battle."</p> + +<p>"Not so good as that which we passed—the plain fields we crossed +immediately after we left the forest of Soignes," said Gray: "however, +that little wood on our right, in front, which runs along the road, is a +good flank, and the village before us is a strong point."</p> + +<p>"Ay, but you see the Belgian troops couldn't keep it; the French have +pushed them out of it."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon have it again, I'll warrant; our men have a fine open ground +here, to give the French a lesson in dancing," cried the corporal of the +party, throwing himself down on his back in the corn. "Here I'll lie and +rest myself; and I don't think I shall be disturb'd by the buzzing of the +blue flies! I'll have a snooze, until the Highlanders shall come up."</p> + +<p>The party remained undisturbed, as the last speaker had intimated, until +about half-past one o'clock; nothing having been done in the way of attack +by the French. During the interval, Gray employed himself in watching +closely the scene around him, and mentally discussing the chances of the +now inevitably approaching fight.</p> + +<p>The hour of struggle was near—the pibroch burst upon the ears of the +troopers, and up they started.</p> + +<p>"Here they come," cried one.—"Here they come," cried another—"the +gallant 42nd; look at the petticoat-devils, how they foot it along!"</p> + +<p>All stood on the highest part of the ground, to witness the arrival of the +troops, who were now within a quarter of a mile of them on the main road. +A hum arose. Belgian officers galloped down the road, and across the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>[pg 150]</span> +fields in all directions; the duke was seen riding towards his expected +soldiers, and the scene was life at all points. The pibroch's sound grew +louder; and now the bands of the more distant regiments were heard; and +the harmonious bugles of the rifle corps, mingled their sounds with the +others. The long red line of Britons is fully before the sight, like a +giant stream of blood on the ripe and mellow bosom of the earth. Picton is +at its head, and the duke greets the heroic partner of his glory. The +first of the regiments passes close to the troopers, and receives a cheer +from them, which found a return in the relaxing muscles of the hardy +Scots.</p> + +<p>"What corps is that?" inquired one of the group.</p> + +<p>"The Royal Highlanders, the 42nd—don't you see they are turned up with +blue and gold?" replied another.</p> + +<p>"And what's this with the yellow facings?"</p> + +<p>"The old 92nd."</p> + +<p>"And the other Scotch regiment, with the green and gold?"</p> + +<p>"The 79th; three as good kilted corps as ever crossed the Tweed. And +there's the 95th rifle boys, as green as the wood they are going to take. +And there see the 28th,—and the 44th,—and the 32nd;—that's Picton's +division; a glorious set of fellows as ever slept."</p> + +<p>"And who are the fellows all in black?"</p> + +<p>"The bold Brunswick corps, with death's head on their caps—the +<i>undertakers</i> of the French," cried the corporal.</p> + +<p>Never did a young hero gaze on a gallant army with more enthusiastic +feelings, than did Gray upon the troops before him—the sight stirred his +heart-strings. They were within shot of their foe, and half an hour should +see them in the bloody contest. He sighed to think that his own regiment +was not yet come up, with which he might share the glory of the fight.</p> + +<p>One after the other, the corps entered the fields, across the high corn, +from the road, to take up their positions for the battle. Neither cavalry +nor artillery had they to support them—their bayonets were their hopes; +and their wise general placed them accordingly in squares, and at such +distances as that one might support the other, while each would protect +itself, independently, if necessary. The rifle corps now advanced, to open +the business of the day by firing into a field of tirailleurs. The French +were not idle at this time; they advanced in masses—cavalry and infantry; +while a roar of cannon, that almost deafened every ear, covered the +attack.</p> + +<p>"They are coming on the centre," cried Gray: "see the cuirassiers—what a +body of men! Oh! where is our cavalry?"</p> + +<p>"Ay," cried a trooper; "and look, what columns of infantry!"</p> + +<p>All now remained in breathless anxiety, gazing on the approaching masses +of the enemy; not a word was spoken amongst the well-planted squares of +the British. The French are within fifty yards of them, and the battle +begins.</p> + +<p>"There," cried a trooper; "how our men give it to them!—there's a +volley!—look how the horses fall!—see, they can't stand it—hurra!—the +rascals are staggered—the 27th are after them—they deploy into line; +there the French go, with the bayonet at them, helter-skelter. But +observe, at a little distance from them, the enemy's dragoons are at the +42nd—the Scotch open and let them pass; but now they get it right and +left. Down they go; bravo! old Scotland."</p> + +<p>"By heaven!" cried Gray, "here come the Brunswick horse in confusion, +pursued by the cuirassiers along the road, near the village."</p> + +<p>All turned to gaze at the point: it was too true: their leader had fallen; +they had advanced too incautiously, and were therefore obliged to fall +back.</p> + +<p>"Here they come, and the French cavalry are close upon them. But see the +Highlanders in the ditch. Hark! there—they give them a volley. Down +tumble the horsemen!—look! they are in a heap on the ground."</p> + +<p>A shout from the troopers acknowledged the glorious truth. It was the fire +from the 92nd that achieved the triumph.</p> + +<p>The artillery, the musketry, and the shouting of the combatants, became so +deafening, that even the group of troopers unoccupied in the fight, and in +the rear, could scarcely hear each other's voice. Gray's party mounted +their horses now, in order to have a better view of the battle, and from +the situation of the ground on which they were standing, they beheld, in +awful anxiety, rush after rush made against the British infantry, whose +duty was evidently that of firm defence; they beheld wave after wave of +blue ranks advance over the rising bosom of the ground, and saw them +successively battered by the rocks they assaulted—the ground covered with +men and horses by the well-directed fire of the squares. The other +divisions of the English army were fast arriving, and taking up ground on +the left, in spite of the efforts of the French to prevent it, and thus +divide them from their comrades engaged. A "lull," (as the sailors say, +when the storm pauses a little,) took place, and both armies stood, as it +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>[pg 151]</span> +were, looking at each other. But another and more desperate attack soon +followed; the tempest returned with double violence. The mouths of Ney's +numerous cannon opened again; the smoke drifted over on the English, and +under its cover were seen advancing an immense force, for another struggle +with the right of the duke's line, in order to turn it, and possess +themselves of the village. The duke and his staff were in front of the +92nd regiment, and the balls playing on them had knocked down several of +his aides-de-camp. As the foe came near, the artillery ceased, the close +fight began, and several regiments at once poured in their fire: both +sides kept their ground, and hundreds fell at every discharge of musketry. +The duke now, in the pithy and familiar language of the soldier, cried out +to the Scots, "Ninety-second, you must charge these fellows."</p> + +<p>The word was magic; the kilts rushed against the blaze of the tirailleurs! +Their leader and their officer fell amongst them: but, alas! their blood +only enraged the men; fiercely as tigers they rush, and their bayonets +sink into the mass before them. The whole fly before them, while the +victorious Highlanders pursue them almost out of sight of their general. +Alas! many of these heroes fell in their gallant work.</p> + +<p>This glorious charge was beheld by Gray and his comrades with delight; +their shacos waved over their heads, and their cries of exultation fully +showed what a catching thing is the fever of the fight. One of the +dragoons now turned his eyes to the wood on the right, which the French +had possessed themselves of, and exclaimed, "But look, the guards have +come up, and are in the wood. Where did they come from? I didn't see them +before. Hark! how they shout; they are all amongst the trees."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and they'll not soon come back; they'll keep their ground, I'll +warrant," cried the corporal.</p> + +<p>At this moment the troopers were somewhat disarranged by a part of the +earth suddenly flying upwards in a cloud; it was the effect of a +cannon-ball which had struck the ground. They started a few paces +backwards, wiped their faces, and having all passed their jocular +sentiments on the occasion, coolly united again to view and comment on the +action.</p> + +<p>They continued to gaze on the busy and bloody scene, with but few +observations. Mass after mass was advancing against the steady squares of +infantry, and received with roars of musketry; the cavalry of the enemy, +desperate and disappointed, galloped about the close and well-guarded +Britons, cutting at the ranks, and dropping as they cut. Artillery +bellowed upon the unyielding heroes, whose ranks closed up at every point +where the dead had opened them; they cried aloud for the order to advance; +but received the cool and prudent negative of the watchful chief, who, +during the action, was moving from rank to rank, encouraging and elevating +the energies of his men.</p> + +<p>The repeated unsuccessful attacks of the French wore out the patience of +their general, and so thinned his ranks, that he at length ceased to +contend, and drew off his troops from the field, leaving the English +masters of it, and holding every point of the position which they had +taken up in the early part of the day.—<i>Tales of Military Life.</i></p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3>CHURCH SPIRES.</h3> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<p>Mr. Bentham, in his "History of Ely Cathedral," says, that one of the +earliest spires of which we have any account, "is that of old St. Paul's, +finished in the year 1222." This spire was of timber covered with lead; +"but, not long after, they began to build them of stone, and to finish all +their buttresses in the same manner." Mr. Murphy observes that spires were +introduced in the 12th century, about the time that the practice of +burying in churches became general over Europe; and he supposes that the +pyramidal form of the spire, was used as the denotation of a church +comprising a cemetery. This representation he imagines to have been +borrowed "from the ancient Egyptians, who placed the pyramid over their +cemeteries, as denoting the soul under the emblem of a flame of fire, +(whence it is supposed to derive its origin) thus to testify their belief +of its immortality." There are other opinions respecting the origin of +spires. It may appear probable (says Mr. Brewer,) to many persons, that +such an elevated feature of our ancient churches was merely designed in +the simplicity of its first intention, to act as a guide to the place of +worship, when rural roads, throughout the whole country, were devious, and +rendered more obscure by thick masses of forest and woodland.</p> + +<p>P.T.W.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>[pg 152]</span> + +<h2>LEAD MINERS.</h2> + +<div class="figure" style="width:100%;"><a href="images/359-2.png"><img width ="100%" src="images/359-2.png" alt="LEAD MINERS"/></a><h3>LEAD MINERS</h3></div> + +<p>Lead is found in many countries, but is particularly abundant in England. +The lead-mines in Derbyshire are many, as the Odin, Speedwell, Tideswell +Moor, Dirtlow, &c.; and the ore is not only found in various soils, but +mingled with a variety of substances. The Odin mine, at the foot of Mam +Tor, and near it to the south, is the most celebrated and ancient of any +in the county, being worked by the Saxons, from whom it received its name, +whilst most of the mineral terms used there are of Saxon origin. The +Speedwell mine did not repay the cost of working it; and, therefore, after +an expense of 14,000<i>l</i>., and eleven years assiduous labour, was +abandoned. Its interior is worthy the attention of the tourist.</p> + +<p>Our engraving endeavours to represent the costume of women who work in +some of the Derbyshire lead-mines; they are capital figures, to which the +pencil can scarcely do justice; indeed, though this sketch was drawn from +nature, it conveys but an imperfect idea of beings, (<i>nondescripts</i>,) who +would assuredly delight Cruikshank. The dress of these women, of whom the +writer saw several emerged from mines a few miles from the Peak, seems +contrived to secure them from the cold and wet attendant upon their +employment. The head is much enwrapped, and the features nearly hidden, in +a muffling of handkerchiefs, over which is put a man's hat, in the manner +of the <i>paysannes</i> of Wales, but not near so neat and stylish; besides, +the Welsh women are generally handsome, and become the hat; but the case +is far different with the <i>fair</i> miners of Derbyshire, at least those whom +I saw, who were complete harridans. A man's coat, of coarse gray or dark +blue cloth, defends the arms, back, throat, and bosom of each <i>lady</i> from +the cold; beneath it, but tucked up all round so as to form a kind of bag, +appears a gown of red stuff, which, set off by a bright green petticoat, +produces an effect singular and amusing; then come the shoes, at least +three inches thick, and long in proportion, bound on to the feet, in some +instances, with handkerchiefs, and thongs, and cords: it is a wonder that +the women can stir in such unwieldy slippers. Our party had stopped to +collect specimens of the lead ore, when the carriages were instantly +surrounded by these females, offering ore, zinc, slick-and-slide, and +various quartz crystals and fluor spars for sale; some of the women were +very old, and one in particular, who had worked in the mine from her +youth, was nearly a hundred years of age, yet she was upright and active, +and wrinkles alone betrayed the fact.</p> + +<p>M.L.B.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3><i>The Colosseum.</i></h3> + + +<p>The curious mechanism by which it is proposed to elevate the visiters at +this emporium of wonders, is as follows: A large bucket or tank of water +will be connected with a movable platform that any number of persons may +be placed in equilibrium with its fluid contents, and directly a +sufficient quantity of water is introduced to produce a preponderance in +the tank, the persons stationed on the platform will ascend.—<i>The +Atlas.</i></p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>[pg 153]</span> +<h3><i>Spots on the Sun.</i></h3> + + +<p>An ingenious individual in Providence has very recently succeeded, by +means of a seven-feet telescope, constructed by himself, on a new +principle, in bringing the entire image of the sun into a darkened room, +upon a white screen, to the size of eight feet in diameter. He writes us +that his astonishment was great when he perceived that every spot now upon +the face of the sun, nine in number, was distinctly transferred to the +screen, and was so plain that he could see every movement of them in their +various and sudden changes. He says he could plainly discover that those +spots were immense bodies of smoke, apparently issuing from volcanoes; and +as they seem occasionally forced upward from the craters, now forming +dense clouds, and now dispersing, considers those phenomena as accounting +for the rapid changes of those spots. The escape of such a vast quantity +of gas from the interior of the body of the sun would, he observes, as it +surrounds that luminary, produce that bright and dazzling appearance which +is the atmosphere of the sun. This theory may not accord with the opinions +of others who have made observations on the subject; but the writer, at +any rate, entertains the strongest belief of its truth. With the same +instrument, which is but just finished, he has also examined the moon, and +states his conviction that that body is covered with perpetual snow and +ice, the dark spots discoverable on its surface being frozen seas, and the +lighter spaces land covered with snow. Those circular places, which have a +rising cone in the centre, he thinks are extinguished volcanoes, as no +clouds are perceptible over the moon's face; which being covered with snow +and ice, accounts, as he imagines, for its clear atmosphere, or for the +absence of an atmosphere. This vast accumulation of ice and snow upon the +moon's surface may be explained, the writer conjectures, by the nature of +the moon's revolutions. He offers to construct instruments of the above +description, by which these phenomena may be observed, at prices from 50 +to 100 dollars; and at the same rate to furnish solar microscopes, on a +new principle, with a magnifying power at 12 feet distance, of +5,184,000.—<i>Boston Bulletin.</i></p> + + +<h3><i>National Repository.</i></h3> + + +<p>Nearly two hundred specimens of curious works in arts and manufacture have +already been laid before the committee of this establishment; the opening +of which will take place in a few days.</p> + + +<h3><i>Iron Trade.</i></h3> + + +<p>In 1820, the whole iron made in Great Britain was 400,000 tons: in 1827, +it had increased to 690,000 tons, from 284 furnaces. About three-tenths of +this quantity are of a quality suitable for the foundry, which is all used +in Great Britain and Ireland, with the exception of a small quantity +exported to France and America. The other seven-tenths are made into bars, +rods, sheets, &c., of which a large quantity is exported to all parts of +the world.—<i>Repertory of Arts</i>.</p> + + +<h3><i>Indian Claystone</i>.</h3> + + +<p>In some parts of India, the claystone contains numerous small <i>nodules</i> or +lumps of clay iron-stone, which seldom exceed the size of a walnut. These +are picked up by the natives, and are smelted by means of charcoal in a +very small, rude furnace, blown by the hand-bellows, common all over +India, and still used in Europe by the Gipsies. Many of the hills composed +of claystone are neatly devoid of vegetation; their surface being bare and +smooth, and of a red or black colour. The soil produced by the action of +the atmosphere is not very productive; and so liable is it, in some +places, to consolidate, when deprived of its moisture, that, if it be not +constantly cultivated, it soon becomes hard and bare, and checks all +vegetation.</p> + + +<h3><i>Public Improvement</i>.</h3> + + +<p>The spirit of general improvement pervades every part of the continent, +and is even more active in France than in Britain. In Britain, the spirit +of improvement is chiefly evinced in public works, and in the useful arts +and manufactures, and its efforts are characterized much more by +superfluity of wealth than by science or refinement: in Germany this +spirit is evinced in public buildings, in a superior taste, in +agriculture, and education—<i>Gard. Mag</i>.</p> + + +<h3><i>The Himalaya Mountains</i>.</h3> + + +<p>This vast accumulation of sublime peaks, the pinnacles of our globe, is so +extensive, that a plane, resting on elevations 21,000 feet, may be +stretched in one direction as far as the Hindoo Cosh, for upwards of 1,000 +miles, above which rise loftier summits, increasing in height to nearly +6,000 feet more.</p> + + +<h3><i>To make Gold Size</i>.</h3> + + +<p>Melt one pound of asphaltum, and pour into it another pound of linseed +oil, rendered drying by litharge; add also to it half a pound of red lead +or vermilion. When the varnish becomes thick or pasty, thin it by adding +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>[pg 154]</span> +one pound, or a pound and a half of spirit of turpentine; as more is +required in winter than in summer.</p> + + +<h3><i>Indian Corn.</i></h3> + + +<p>Mr. C. Hall Jessop, of Cheltenham, asserts that he "was the first who +recommended the Indian corn for field culture in this country," which he +did "in a letter to G. Talbot, Esq., of Guiting, seven years ago."</p> + + +<h3><i>Polishing Stones.</i></h3> + + +<p>The Hindoos polish all kinds of stones by means of powdered <i>corundrum</i>, +mixed with melted lac. The mixture being allowed to cool, is shaped into +oblong pieces, of three or four inches in length. The stone is polished by +being sprinkled with water; and at the same time rubbed with three oblong +masses; and the polish is increased by masses being used successively with +finer grains.</p> + + +<h3><i>Sensitive Plant.</i></h3> + + +<p>Mr. Burnet and Mr. Mayo have found, that at the moment the sensitive plant +is touched, so as to occasion motion, it <i>changes colour</i>. They have also +found that when a sensitive plant has been made to droop, the part in +which the moving power resides is blackened, so as to absorb the light of +the sun; the restoration of the plant to its natural state is much longer +in taking place.</p> + + +<h3><i>Indian Mills.</i></h3> + + +<p>In India, granite is hewn into hand-mills for grinding corn; two or four +of which are a load for an ass or a bullock, and are thus carried to the +bazaar for sale. These are the primeval mills of all countries, which are +mentioned in Scripture, and are still common among all uncivilized +nations.</p> + + +<h3><i>Musk.</i></h3> + + +<p>Dr. Davey, by some recent experiments, has proved that when musk, in +admixture with quicklime, smells of ammonia, it is impure or adulterated; +and further, that, to preserve it well, it should be made perfectly dry; +but when it is to be used as a perfume, it should be <i>moistened</i>.</p> + + +<h3><i>Loch Lomond.</i></h3> + + +<p>Mr. Galbraith has recently determined the quantity of water annually +discharged by the river Leven from the basin of Loch Lomond to be about +59,939 cubic feet per minute. Now, as 36 cubic feet of fresh water are +very near equal to a ton, this gives 1,665 tons per minute; and, supposing +the year to be 365 days, 5 hours, 40 minutes, the annual discharge, at +that rate, will be 877,295,085 tons. But as the river was rather below its +average height, one-third may be added to this result; and we have about +1,200,000,000, or twelve hundred millions of tons per annum.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.<a id="footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a></h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3>SCOTCH MARRIAGES.</h3> + + +<p>Our English love-smitten lads and lasses are pretty generally aware of the +facility with which the most awful and holy of all engagements may be +contracted in North Britain. They sometimes make the experiment in their +own persons; and, "by the simplicity of Venus' doves," old boys and old +girls have been known to follow, as fast as post-chaises, horses, and lads +could carry them, close upon the heels of their juniors, (bound on the +same errand,) to the blissful land o' cakes and matrimony. An English +gentleman, known to the writer, was making a few purchases in a shop, +wherein stood three or four other customers. A man and woman entered, and +the former, addressing the master of the shop and his aforesaid customers, +used, as he took the woman's right hand, words to this effect:—"Witness, +ye that are here present, that I (N. or M.) take this woman (N. or M.) for +my wedded wife." In like manner the <i>sposa</i> desired all present to witness +that she took the man for her wedded husband, with her own full +acquiescence in, and approbation of, his determination. The English +gentleman who had witnessed, in silent amazement, this (to him) novel +engagement, was informed, after the departure of the happy couple, that +the marriage was to all intents and purposes valid by Scotch law, having +been solemnized as effectually as if by religious rites, in the presence +of respectable <i>housekeepers</i>, who, as such, were efficient witnesses, and +all that were requisite of <i>ceremonial</i> to make the marriage good!</p> + +<p>I give this anecdote as related to me by the gentleman who saw the +incident mentioned; should there be any discrepancies in his relation, I +shall feel obliged by a <i>correct</i> account of the manner of contracting +marriages in Scotland, from any of your correspondents capable of giving +such.</p> + + + +<h3>CAPUCHIN INTERMENT.</h3> + + +<p>A gentleman, who had resided many years abroad, and particularly amongst +the Italian Catholics, once described to me the manner in which the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page155" name="page155"></a>[pg 155]</span> +Capuchins inter the brethren of their order. These defunct <i>freres</i> are +embalmed, arrayed in their peculiar habits, as when living; and in the +vaults of their monastic churches or chapels, ranged upright in niches +formed for this purpose. On certain days, particularly on the Feast of All +Souls, the doors of these cemeteries are opened to the public, who, as a +religious duty, flock in to view these singular and affecting relics of +mortality. The bodies undergo but little alteration in appearance for +centuries; but Mr. M. being tempted to touch the very long nose of one old +fellow, who <i>looked</i> "a leathern Pharoah, grinning in the dark," it +disappeared in a shower of dust beneath his fingers.</p> + + +<h3>A PARTY AT PALERMO.</h3> + + +<p>"Palermo," said a lady whom I saw immediately after her return from a tour +in Sicily, "is indeed a beautiful city; but I thought some things strange +in the manners of the inhabitants. Mr. H. and myself were invited to a +music-party, at the house of a person in the best society, whereat +appeared most of the ladies in coloured and high morning dresses. Two +<i>tallow</i> candles and a small lamp stood on the piano-forte in the +music-room, and from this room we descended by three or four steps into +another, containing a bed, over which was a shelf; upon the shelf was +placed one bottle of wine and a few glasses; and this being intended +expressly for the ladies, they were expected to go and help themselves +when they pleased; but a fresh bottle of wine was brought when the first +was exhausted."</p> + + +<h3>FRENCH COUNTRY LIFE.</h3> + + +<p>"The dinner-hour in the country," said a relation of the writer, who +spends a great deal of time in France, "is generally two o'clock, even +when company are invited to partake of the dinner; in which case, the +whole party has quitted the house by six or seven in the evening,—a +custom which ill accords with <i>English</i> ideas of sociability. Three +table-cloths are usually laid upon the table, the first and second of +which are, or may be, removed during the repast; but the third is <i>never</i> +drawn off, except to be changed for a clean one. In England, we pride +ourselves upon the fine mahogany of which our dinner-tables are made; we +endeavour to obtain, in the first instance, an excellent piece of wood, +and to improve it by assiduous rubbing and polishing. In France, it +matters not of what material the table is framed; a cloth is always upon +it; and I have seen the hospitable <i>board</i> of many families of rank +literally formed of <i>deal</i>."</p> + + +<h3>A DIFFERENCE.</h3> + + +<p>"In this part of the world," says a private letter from India, +(Hyderabad,) "we do not talk of striking gongs for dinner, but +<i>ghuzzies</i>,—ghong meaning a horse or mare."</p> + + +<h3>BOARDING.</h3> + + +<p>In Ireland, when a man marries, who cannot afford to treat his friends to +whiskey upon the occasion, they take the door of his house off the hinges, +lay him upon it, and carry him thus upon their shoulders all day. In the +evening he is allowed to return to his deserted bride. This custom is +called "boarding," and is so frequent, as I myself can attest from +personal observation, as to attract but little attention from the +commonalty, and nothing like a mob.</p> + +<p>M.L.B.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.</h2> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>THE MAN-MOUNTAIN.</h3> + + +<p>We were all—Julia, her aunt, and myself, seated at a comfortable fire on +a December evening. The night was dark, starless, and rainy, while the +drops pattered upon the windows, and the wind howled at intervals along +the house-tops. In a word, it was as gloomy a night as one would wish to +see in this, the most dismal season of the year. Strictly speaking, I +should have been at home, for it was Sunday; and my own habitation was at +too great a distance to justify a visit of mere ceremony on so sacred a +day, and amid such stormy weather. The truth is, I sallied out to see +Julia.</p> + +<p>I verily believe I could write a whole volume about her. She came from the +north country, and was at this time on a visit to her aunt, in whose house +she resided; and in whose dining-room, at the period of my story, we were +all seated round a comfortable fire. Though a prodigious admirer of +beauty, I am a bad hand at describing it. To do Julia justice, however, I +must make the attempt. She was rather under the middle size, (not much,) +blue-eyed, auburn-haired, fair-complexioned, and her shape was of uncommon +elegance and proportion. Neck, bosom, waist, ankles, feet, hands, &c. all +were perfect, while her nose was beautifully Grecian, her mouth sweetness +itself, and her teeth as white and sparkling as pearls. In a word, I don't +believe that wide Scotland could boast of a prettier girl—to say nothing +of merry England and the Isle of Saints.</p> + +<p>It was at this time about eight o'clock: tea had just been over, the tray +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page156" name="page156"></a>[pg 156]</span> +removed, and the table put to rights. The star of my attraction was +seated at one side of the fire, myself at the opposite, the lady of the +house in the centre. We were all in excellent humour, and Julia and I eyed +each other in the most persevering style imaginable. Her aunt indeed +rallied us upon the occasion; and I thought Julia never appeared half so +beautiful as now.</p> + +<p>A servant bouncing by accident into a room where a gallant is on his knees +before his mistress, and in the act of "popping the question," is +vexatious. An ass thrusting its head through the broken window of a +country church, and braying aloud while the congregation are busily +chanting "Old Hundred," or some other equally devout melody, is vexatious. +An elderly gentleman losing his hat and wig on a windy day, is vexatious. +A young gentleman attempting to spring over a stile by way of showing his +agility to a bevy of approaching ladies, and coming plump down upon the +broadest part of his body, is vexatious. All these things are plagues and +annoyances sufficient to render life a perfect nuisance, and fill the +world with innumerable heart-breakings and <i>felo-de-sees</i>. But bad as they +are, they are nothing to the intolerable vexation experienced by me, (and +I believe by Julia too,) on hearing a slow, loud, solemn stroke of the +knocker upon the outer door. It was repeated once—twice—thrice. We heard +it simultaneously—we ceased speaking simultaneously—we (to wit, Julia +and I) ceased ogling each other simultaneously. The whole of us suspended +our conversation in a moment—looked to the door of the room—breathed +hard, and wondered what it could be. The reader will perhaps marvel how +such an impression could be produced by so very trivial a circumstance; +but if he himself had heard the sound, he would cease to wonder at the +strangeness of our feelings. The knocks were the most extraordinary ever +heard. They were not those petty, sharp, brisk, soda-water knocks given by +little, bustling, common-place men. On the contrary, they were slow, +sonorous, and determinate. What was still more remarkable, they were +<i>three</i> in number, neither more nor less.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had our surprise time to subside, than we heard the outer door +opened by the servant—then it closed—then heavy footsteps, one, two, and +three, were audible in the lobby—then the dining-room door was opened; +and a form which filled the whole of its ample aperture, from top to +bottom, from right to left, made its appearance. It was the figure of a +man, but language would sink under his immensity. Never in heaven, or +earth, or air, or ocean, was such a man seen. He was hugeness itself—bulk +personified—the <i>beau ideal</i> of amplitude. When the dining-room door was +first opened, the glare of the well-lighted lobby gleamed in upon us, +illuminating our whole apartment with increase of lustre; but no sooner +did he set his foot upon the threshold, than the lobby light behind him +was shut out. He filled the whole gorge of the door like an enormous +shade.</p> + +<p>Onward, clothed in black, came the moving mountain, and a very pleasing +monster he was. A neck like that of a rhinoceros sat piled between his +"Atlantean shoulders," and bore upon its tower-like and sturdy stem, a +countenance prepossessing from its good-humour, and amazing for its +plumpness and rubicundity. His cheeks were swollen out into billows of +fat—his eyes overhung with turgid and most majestic lids, and his chin +double, triple, ay quadruple. As for his mouth—</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">"It was enough to win a lady's heart</p> +<p class="i4">With its bewitching smile."</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>Onward came the moving mountain—shaking the floor beneath his tread, +filling a tithe of the room with his bulk, and blackening every object +with his portentous shadow.</p> + +<p>I was amazed—I was confounded—I was horrified. Not so Julia and her +aunt, who, far from participating in my perturbed emotions, got up from +their seats, smiled with a welcoming nod, and requested him to sit down.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said Julia.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said her aunt.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tims!" Gracious heavens, and was this the name of the mighty entrant? +Tims! Tims! Tims!—the thing was impossible. A man with such a name should +be able to go into a nut-shell; and here was one that the womb of a +mountain could scarcely contain! Had he been called Sir Bullion O'Dunder, +Sir Theodosius M'Turk, Sir Rugantino Magnificus, Sir Blunderbuss Blarney, +or some other high-sounding name, I should have been perfectly satisfied. +But to be called <i>Tims</i>! Upon my honour, I was shocked to hear it.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tims sat him down upon the great elbow-chair, for he was a friend, it +seems, of the family—a <i>weighty</i> one assuredly; but one whose +acquaintanceship they were all glad to court. The ladies, in truth, seemed +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>[pg 157]</span> +much taken with his society. They put fifty questions to him about the +play—the assembly—the sermon—marriages—deaths—christenings, and what +not; the whole of which he answered with surprising volubility. His tongue +was the only active part about him, going as glibly as if he were ten +stones, instead of thirty, and as if he were a <i>Tims</i> in person as well as +in name. In a short time I found myself totally neglected. Julia ceased to +eye me, her aunt to address me, so completely were their thoughts occupied +with the Man-Mountain.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour I began to feel confoundedly uncomfortable. I was a +mere cipher in the room; and what with the appalling bulk of Mr. Tims, the +attention the ladies bestowed upon him, and the neglect with which they +treated me, I sunk considerably in my own estimation. In proportion as +this feeling took possession of me, I experienced an involuntary respect +for the stranger. I admired his intimate knowledge of balls, dresses, +<i>faux pas</i>, marriages, and gossip of all sorts—and still more I admired +his bulk. I have an instinctive feeling of reverence towards "Stout +Gentlemen;" and, while contrasting my own puny form with his, I laboured +under a deep consciousness of personal insignificance. From being five +feet eight, I seemed to shrink to five feet one; from weighing ten stones, +I suddenly fell to seven and a half; while my portly rival sat opposite to +me, measuring at least a foot taller than myself, and weighing good thirty +stones, jockey weight. If any little fellow like me thinks of standing +well with his mistress, let him never appear in her presence with such a +gentleman as Mr. Tims. She will despise him to a certainty; nor, though +his soul be as large as Atlas or Teneriffe, will it compensate for the +paltry dimensions of his body.</p> + +<p>What was to be done? With the ladies, it was plain, I <i>could</i> do nothing: +with Mr. Tims, it was equally plain, I <i>ought</i> to do nothing—seeing that, +however much he was the cause of my uneasiness, he was at least the +<i>innocent</i> cause, and therefore neither morally nor judicially amenable to +punishment. From respecting Mr. Tims I came to hate him; and I vowed +internally, that, rather than be annihilated by this enlarged edition of +Daniel Lambert, I would pitch him over the window. Had I been a giant, I +am sure I would have done it on the spot. The giants of old, it is well +known, raised Pelion upon Ossa, in their efforts to scale the throne of +heaven; and tossed enormous mountains at the godhead of Jupiter himself. +Unfortunately for me, Mr. Tims was a mountain, and I was no giant.</p> + +<p>I accordingly got up, and, pretending it was necessary that I should see +some person in the next street, abruptly left the room. Julia—I did not +expect it—saw me to the door, shook hands with me, and said she hoped I +would return to supper when my business was finished. Sweet girl! was it +possible she could prefer the Man-Mountain to me?</p> + +<p>Away I went into the open air. I had no business whatever to perform: it +was mere fudge; and I resolved to go home as fast as I could.</p> + +<p>But I did not go home. On the contrary, I kept strolling about from street +to street, sometimes thinking upon Julia, sometimes upon Mr. Tims. The +night was of the most melancholy description—a cold, cloudy, windy, rainy +December night. Not a soul was upon the streets excepting a solitary +straggler, returning hither and thither from an evening sermon, or an +occasional watchman gliding past with his lantern, like an incarnation of +the Will-o'-wisp. I strolled up and down for half an hour, wrapped in an +olive great-coat, and having a green silk umbrella over my head. It was +well I chanced to be so well fortified against the weather; for had it +been otherwise, I must have been drenched to the skin. Where I went I know +not, so deeply was my mind wound up in its various melancholy cogitations. +This, however, I do know, that, after striking against sundry lamp-posts, +and overturning a few old women in my fits of absence, I found myself +precisely at the point from which I set out, viz. at the door of Julia's +aunt's husband's house.</p> + +<p>I paused for a moment, uncertain whether to enter, and, in the meantime, +turning my eyes to the window, where, upon the white blind, I beheld the +enormous shadow of a human being. My flesh crept with horror on witnessing +this apparition, for I knew it to be the shadow of the Man-Mountain—the +dim reflection of Mr. Tims. No other human being could cast such a shade. +Its proportions were magnificent, and filled up the whole breadth of the +window-screen; nay, the shoulders shot away latterly beyond its utmost +limits, and were lost in space, having apparently nothing whereon to cast +their mighty image. On beholding this vast shade, my mind was filled with +a thousand exalted thoughts.</p> + +<p>I paused at the door for sometime, uncertain whether to enter; at last my +mind was made up, and I knocked, resolved to encounter the Man-Mountain a +second time, and, if possible, recover the lost glances of Julia. On +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>[pg 158]</span> +entering the dining-room, I found an accession to the company in the +person of our landlord, who sat opposite to Mr. Tims, listening to some +facetious story, which the latter gentleman seemed in the act of relating. +He had come home during my absence, and, like his wife and her niece, +appeared to be fascinated by the eloquence and humour of his stout friend. +At least, so I judged, for he merely recognised my presence by a slight +bow, and devoted the whole of his attention to the owner of the mighty +shadow. Julia and her aunt were similarly occupied, and I was more +neglected than ever.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the reader may think that there was something ludicrous in the +idea of such a man being in love. Not at all—the notion was sublime; +almost as sublime as his shadow—almost as overwhelming as his person. +Conceive the Man-Mountain playing the amiable with such a delicate young +creature like Julia. Conceive him falling on his knees before +her—pressing her delicate hand, and "popping the question," while his +large round eyes shed tears of affection and suspense, and his huge sides +shook with emotion! Conceive him enduring all the pangs of love-sickness, +never telling his love; "concealment, like a worm in the bud, preying upon +his damask cheek," while his hard-hearted mistress stood disdainfully by, +"like pity on a monument, <i>smiling</i> at grief." Above all, conceive him +taking the lover's leap—say from Dunnet or Duncansby-head, where the +rocks tower four hundred feet above the Pentland Firth, and floundering in +the waters like an enormous whale; the herring shoals hurrying away from +his unwieldy gambols, as from the presence of the real sea-born leviathan. +Cacus in love was not more grand, or the gigantic Polyphemus, sighing at +the feet of Galatea, or infernal Pluto looking amiable beside his ravished +queen. Have you seen an elephant in love? If you have, you may conceive +what Mr. Tims would be in that interesting situation.</p> + +<p>Supper was brought in. It consisted of eggs, cold veal, bacon-ham, and a +Welsh rabbit. I must confess, that, perplexed as I was by all the previous +events of the evening, I felt a gratification at the present moment, in +the anxiety to see how the Man-Mountain would comport himself at table. I +had beheld his person and his shadow with equal admiration, and I doubted +not that his powers of eating were on the same great scale as his other +qualifications. They were, indeed. Zounds, how he did eat! Cold veal, +eggs, bacon-ham, and Welsh rabbit, disappeared "like the baseless fabric +of a vision, and left not a wreck behind;" so thoroughly had nine-tenths +of them taken up their abode in the <i>bread basket</i> (vide Jon Bee) of the +Man-Mountain; the remaining tenth sufficed for the rest of the company, +viz. Julia, her aunt, her aunt's husband, and myself.</p> + +<p>Liquor was brought in, to wit, wine, brandy, whisky, and rum. I felt an +intense curiosity to see on which of the four Mr. Tims would fix his +choice. He fixed upon brandy, and made a capacious tumbler of hot toddy. I +did the same, and asked Julia to join me in taking a single glass—I was +forestalled by the Man-Mountain. I then asked the lady of the house the +same thing, but was forestalled by her husband.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the evening wearing on, the ladies retired, and Mr. Tims, the +landlord, and myself, were left to ourselves. This was the signal for a +fresh assault upon the brandy-bottle. Another tumbler was made—then +another—then a fourth. At this period Julia appeared at the door, and +beckoned upon the landlord, who arose from table, saying he would rejoin +us immediately. Mr. Tims and I were thus left alone, and so we continued, +for the landlord, strange to say, did not again appear. What became of him +I know not. I supposed he had gone to bed, and left his <i>great</i> friend and +myself to pass the time as we were best able.</p> + +<p>We were now commencing our fifth tumbler, and I began to feel my whole +spirit pervaded by the most delightful sensations. My heart beat quicker, +my head sat more lightly than usual upon my shoulders; and sounds like the +distant hum of bees, or the music of the spheres, heard in echo afar off, +floated around me. There was no bar between me and perfect happiness, but +the Man-Mountain, who sat on the great elbow-chair opposite, drinking his +brandy-toddy, and occasionally humming an old song with the utmost +indifference.</p> + +<p>It was plain that he despised me. While any of the others were present he +was abundantly loquacious, but now he was as dumb as a fish—tippling in +silence, and answering such questions as I put to him in abrupt +monosyllables. The thing was intolerable, but I saw into it: Julia had +played me false; the "Mountain" was the man of her choice, and I his +despised and contemptible rival.</p> + +<p>These ideas passed rapidly through my mind, and were accompanied with +myriads of others. I bethought me of every thing connected with Mr. +Tims—his love for Julia—his elephantine dimensions, and his shadow, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>[pg 159]</span> +huge and imposing as the image of the moon against the orb of day, during +an eclipse. Then I was transported away to the Arctic sea, where I saw him +floundering many a rood, "hugest of those that swim the ocean stream." +Then he was a Kraken fish, outspread like an island upon the deep: then a +mighty black cloud affrighting the mariners with its presence: then a +flying island, like that which greeted the bewildered eyes of Gulliver. At +last he resumed his human shape, and sat before me like "Andes, giant of +the Western Star," tippling the jorum, and sighing deeply.</p> + +<p>Yes, he sighed profoundly, passionately, tenderly; and the sighs came from +his breast like blasts of wind from the cavern of Eolus. By Jove, he was +in love; in love with Julia! and I thought it high time to probe him to +the quick.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said I, "you must be conscious that you have no right to love +Julia. You have no right to put your immense body between her and me. She +is my betrothed bride, and mine she shall be for ever."</p> + +<p>"I have weighty reasons for loving her," replied Mr. Tims.</p> + +<p>"Were your reasons as weighty as your person, you <i>shall not</i> love her."</p> + +<p>"She <i>shall</i> be mine," responded he, with a deeply-drawn sigh. "You +cannot, at least, prevent her image from being enshrined in my heart. No, +Julia! even when thou descendest to the grave, thy remembrance will cause +thee to live in my imagination, and I shall thus write thine elegy:</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I cannot deem thee dead—like the perfumes</p> +<p class="i6">Arising from Judea's vanished shrines</p> +<p class="i4">Thy voice still floats around me—nor can tombs</p> +<p class="i6">A thousand, from my memory hide the lines</p> +<p class="i4">Of beauty, on thine aspect which abode,</p> +<p class="i4">Like streaks of sunshine pictured there by God.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>She shall be mine," continued he in the same strain. "Prose and verse +shall woo her for my lady-love; and she shall blush and hang her head in +modest joy, even as the rose when listening to the music of her beloved +bulbul beneath the stars of night."</p> + +<p>These amorous effusions, and the tone of insufferable affectation with +which they were uttered, roused my corruption to its utmost pitch, and I +exclaimed aloud, "Think not, thou revivification of Falstaff—thou +enlarged edition of Lambert—thou folio of humanity—thou Titan—thou +Briareus—thou Sphynx—thou Goliath of Gath, that I shall bend beneath thy +ponderous insolence?" The Mountain was amazed at my courage; I was amazed +at it myself; but what will not Jove, inspired by brandy, effect?</p> + +<p>"No," continued I, seeing the impression my words had produced upon him, +"I despise thee, and defy thee, even as Hercules did Antaeus, as Sampson +did Harapha, as Orlando did Ferragus. 'Bulk without spirit vast,' I fear +thee not; come on." So saying, I rushed onward to the Mountain, who arose +from his seat to receive me. The following passage from the Agonistes of +Milton will give some idea of our encounter:</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">"As with the force of winds and water pent,</p> +<p class="i4">When mountains tremble, these two massy pillars,</p> +<p class="i4">With horrible convulsion to and fro,</p> +<p class="i4">He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew</p> +<p class="i4">The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder,</p> +<p class="i4">Upon the heads of all who sat beneath."</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>"Psha!" said Julia, blushing modestly, "can't you let me go?" Sweet Julia, +I had got her in my arms.</p> + +<p>"But where," said I, "is Mr. Tims?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. who?" said she.</p> + +<p>"The Man-Mountain."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tims!—Man-Mountain!" resumed Julia, with unfeigned surprise. "I know +of no such persons. How jocular you are to-night—not to say how ill-bred, +for you have been asleep for the last five minutes!"</p> + +<p>"Sweet, sweet Julia!"</p> + +<p>A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN.</p> + +<p><i>Blackwood's Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>SONG.</h3> + +<h4>BY T. CAMPBELL.</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">'Tis now the hour—'tis now the hour</p> +<p class="i6">To bow at Beauty's shrine;</p> +<p class="i4">Now whilst, our hearts confess the power</p> +<p class="i6">Of woman, wit, and wine;</p> +<p class="i4">And beaming eyes look on so bright,</p> +<p class="i4">Wit springs—wine sparkles in their light.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">In such an hour—in such an hour,</p> +<p class="i6">In such an hour as this,</p> +<p class="i4">While Pleasure's fount throws up a shower</p> +<p class="i6">Of social sprinkling bliss,</p> +<p class="i4">Why does my bosom heave the sigh</p> +<p class="i4">That mars delight?—She is not by!</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">There was an hour—there was an hour</p> +<p class="i6">When I indulged the spell</p> +<p class="i4">That Love wound round me with a power</p> +<p class="i6">Words vainly try to tell—</p> +<p class="i4">Though Love has fill'd my checker'd doom</p> +<p class="i4">With fruits and thorns, and light and gloom—</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Yet there's an hour—there's still an hour</p> +<p class="i6">Whose coming sunshine may</p> +<p class="i4">Clear from the clouds that hang and lower</p> +<p class="i6">My fortune's future day;</p> +<p class="i4">That hour of hours beloved will be,</p> +<p class="i4">That hour that gives thee back to me!</p> + </div> </div> + +<p><i>New Monthly Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>THE GATHERER.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">"A snapper-up of unconsidered tifles."</p> +<p class="i8">SHAKSPEARE.</p> + </div> </div> + +<hr /> + + +<p>What will our civic friends say to this, about the date of 1686?—"Among +other policies of assurance which appear at the Exchange, there is one of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>[pg 160]</span> +no ordinary nature; which is, that Esquire Neale, who hath for some time +been a suitor to the rich Welsh widow Floyd, offers as many guineas as +people will take to receive thirty for each one in case he marry the said +widow. He hath already laid out as much as will bring him in 10 or 12,000 +guineas; he intends to make it 30,000, and then to present it to the lady +in case she marry him; and any one that will accept of guineas on that +condition may find as many as he pleases at Garraway's +coffee-house."—<i>Ellis Correspondence.</i></p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>PAT O'KELLY, THE IRISH POET.</h3> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Three poets, of three different nations born,</p> +<p class="i4">With works immortal do this age adorn;</p> +<p class="i4">Byron, of England—Scott, of Scotia's blood—And,</p> +<p class="i4">Erin's pride, O'Kelly, great and good.</p> +<p class="i4">'Twould take a Byron and a Scott, I tell ye,</p> +<p class="i4">Roll'd up in one, to make a Pat O'Kelly.</p> +<p class="i8"><i>Legends of the Lakes.</i></p> + </div> </div> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>IRISH NAMES, MADE ENGLISH.</h3> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"><i>Macnamara</i>, son of a sea-hound.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macmahon</i>, son of a bear.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Brien</i>, the force of water.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Kennedy</i>, wearing a helmet.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Horan</i>, the gold of poetry.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Sullivan</i>, having but one eye.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Gallagher</i>, the helper of Englishmen.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Riordan</i>, a royal salmon.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Lysaght</i>, a hired soldier.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Finnoala</i>, white-shouldered.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Una</i>, matchless.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Farrell</i>, a fair man.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mohairey</i>, an early riser.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Naghten</i>, a strong person.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Trayner</i>, a strong man.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Keeffe</i>, mild.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Keating</i>, a shower of fire.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Kinahan</i>, a moss trooper.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Kearney</i>, a soldier.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Leahy</i>, a champion.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macaveely</i>, son of the hero.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Ardil</i>, of high descent.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Dermid</i>, a god in arms.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Toraylagh</i>, like a tower.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Cairbre</i>, a royal person.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Flinn</i>, red haired.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Dwyer</i>, a dark man.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Docharty</i>, dangerous.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mullane</i>, broad head.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Cullane</i>, broad poll.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Flaherty</i>, a powerful chief.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Lalor</i>, or <i>Lawler</i>, one who speaks by halves.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Tierney</i>, a lord.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Bulger</i>, a Dutchman.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Dougal</i>, a Dane.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Intosh</i>, son of the chief.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Tagart</i>, son of the priest.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac'Nab</i>, son of the abbot.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Clery</i>, son of a clerk.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Lure</i>, son of a tailor.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macgill</i>, son of a squire.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macbrehane</i>, son of a judge.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Tavish</i>, son of a savage.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Goff</i>, or <i>Gough</i>, smith.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Galt</i>, a Protestant.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Gillespie</i>, the bishop's squire.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>The whole of the above are literal translations without having recourse to +<i>fancy</i>, or <i>torturing the originals</i>; thus, <i>Macnamara</i>, called in Irish +<i>Mac Conmara</i>, from <i>mac</i>, a son, <i>con</i>, the genitive case of <i>cu</i>, a +hound, and <i>mara</i>, the genitive case of <i>muir</i>, the sea; and so of the +rest. It is proper, however, to observe, that although the name of +<i>Keating</i> sounds exactly in Irish a "<i>shower of fire</i>" yet as the Keatings +came at first from England, this cannot be the real origin of that name. +All the rest are literally correct.</p> + +<p>H.S.</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>ONIONS.</h3> + + +<p>Lord Bacon tells us of a man who fasted five days, without meat, bread, or +drink, by smelling a wisp of herbs, among which were strong <i>onions</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>PURCHASERS of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their sets are +informed, that every Volume is complete in itself, and may be purchased +separately. The whole of the numbers are now in print, and can be procured +by giving an order to any Bookseller or Newsvender.</p> + +<p>Complete sets Vol I. to XII. in boards, price £3. 5<i>s</i>. half bound, £4. +2<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p>LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS.</p> + +<p>CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, near +Somerset House.</p> + +<p>The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Embellished with nearly 150 +Engravings. Price 6s. 6d. boards</p> + +<p>The TALES of the GENII. Price 2s.</p> + +<p>The MICROCOSM. By the Right Hon. G. CANNING. &c. Price 2s.</p> + +<p>PLUTARCH'S LIVES, with Fifty Portraits, 2 vols. price 13s. boards.</p> + +<p>COWPER'S POEMS, with 12 Engravings, price 3s. 6d. boards.</p> + +<p>COOK'S VOYAGES, 2 vols. price 8s. boards.</p> + +<p>The CABINET of CURIOSITIES: or, WONDERS of the WORLD DISPLAYED. Price 5s. +hoards.</p> + +<p>BEAUTIES of SCOTT, 2 vols. price 7s. boards.</p> + +<p>The ARCANA of SCIENCE for 1828. Price 4s. 6d.</p> + +<p>Any of the above Works can be purchased in Parts.</p> + +<p>GOLDSMITH'S ESSAYS. Price 8d.</p> + +<p>DR. FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS. Price 1s. 2d.</p> + +<p>BACON'S ESSAYS Price 8d.</p> + +<p>SALMAGUNDI. Price 1s. 8d.</p> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b><a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a><p>Their annual meeting is in August, when the examination takes +place. Fourteen exhibitions have been instituted, each of the +exhibitioners being allowed forty pounds per annum to assist in their +support, for seven years, at either university.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b><a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a><p>See <i>Ode to London Stone</i>. MIRROR, No. 357, p. 114.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3:</b><a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a><p>See Shakspeare's Henry VI., part 2, act 4, scene 6.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4:</b><a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a><p>The ancient name for London.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5:</b><a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a><p>The cause of the great plague in 1665, was ascribed to the +importation of infected goods from Holland, where the plague had committed +great ravages the preceding year.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6:</b><a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a><p> Stowe in his history describes the London Stone, "fixed in +the ground very deep, fastened with bars of iron and otherwise, so +strongly set that if carts do runne against it through negligence, the +wheels be broken, and the stone itself unshaken."</p> + +<p>See No. 64 of the Mirror for an account of London Stone.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7:</b><a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a><p> When the church of St. Swithin was repaired in 1798, some of +the parishioners declared the London Stone a nuisance which ought to be +removed. Fortunately, one gentleman, Thomas Maiden, of Sherborne Laue, +interfered and rescued it from annihilation, and caused it to be placed in +its present situation.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote8" +name="footnote8"></a><b>Footnote 8:</b><a +href="#footnotetag8">(return)</a><p>From sources entirely +original.</p></blockquote> + + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11322 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/11322-h/images/359-1.png b/11322-h/images/359-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..84ce764 --- /dev/null +++ b/11322-h/images/359-1.png diff --git a/11322-h/images/359-2.png b/11322-h/images/359-2.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf4174c --- /dev/null +++ b/11322-h/images/359-2.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d93765b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11322 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11322) diff --git a/old/11322-8.txt b/old/11322-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c26625 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11322-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2011 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction., by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. + Volume 13, No. 359, Saturday, March 7, 1829. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February 26, 2004 [EBook #11322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 359 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Pauline, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XIII, NO. 359.] SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1829. [Price 2d. + + + + +RUGBY SCHOOL + + +[Illustration: Rugby School.] + + +On the eastern border of Warwickshire, about 13 miles from Coventry, and +16 from Warwick, stands the cheerful town of Rugby, a place of great +antiquity, but of little note previous to the erection of a grammar-school +there, towards the close of the sixteenth century. The circumstances under +which this school was founded, and the rank it has attained among our +classical seminaries, may probably be interesting to the reader. + +Rugby School was founded in the ninth year of Elizabeth, by Lawrence +Sheriff, grocer, of London, chiefly as a free grammar-school for the +children of the parishes of Rugby and Brownsover, and places adjacent. For +the accommodation of the master, who was, "if it conveniently might be, to +be ever a Master of Arts," he bequeathed a messuage at Rugby, in which it +is probable he had himself resided during the last few years of his life, +and he directed that there should be built, near this residence, a fair +and convenient school-house, to defray which expense, and of a contiguous +almshouse, he bequeathed the revenue of the rectory of Brownsover, and a +third portion of twenty-four acres of land, situate in _Lamb's Conduit +Fields_, "near London," and termed the Conduit Close. These eight acres +were of trivial value at the period; and in 1653, the trustees of the +property paid the schoolmaster a salary of 12_l_. a year, and each of the +alms-men 7_s_. 7_d_. In 1686, the Lamb's Conduit property was leased for +fifty years at 50_l_. per annum. The metropolis increased, and stretching +one of its _Briareusian_ arms in this direction, the once neglected field +rose in value, and in 1702 (thirty-four years before the expiration of the +above term) the trustees granted a fresh lease to William (afterwards Sir +William) Milman, of forty-three years, to commence at the termination of +the former lease. Building was not then a mania, and Sir William obtained +his term for 60_l_. per annum; so that until the year 1780, the annual +produce of the estate belonging to the Rugby charity, was only 116_l_. +17_s_. 6_d_.! But, shortly after the grant of an extended term to Sir W. +Milman, handsome streets of family houses sprung up, and it was computed +that a ground-rent of at least 1,600_l_. would accrue to the charity on +the expiration of his lease. A much greater income has, in fact, arisen, +and the revenues will be materially increased on the termination of the +present leases. + +The flourishing finances of this noble institution are well managed by +twelve trustees, chosen from the nobility and gentry of the country.[1] + +The ancient buildings of the Rugby seminary were a humble tenement for the +schoolmaster, a principal school-room, and two or three additional +school-rooms, built at different times, as the finances would allow. These +being found too limited, in 1808 the trustees commenced the erection of +the present structure, from the designs of Mr. Henry Hakewill. It stands +nearly on the same spot as the former humble building, and is composed of +white brick, the angles, cornices, and dressings to the windows and +openings being of Aldborough stone. The style of architecture is that of +the reign of Elizabeth, the period at which the school was founded. The +building is massy, august, and interesting from its graceful disposition +of parts. The principal front is that represented in our engraving, which +extends 220 feet. + +The schools are entered by a gateway opposite the street, which leads to +the principal court, a fine area, 90 feet long by 75 feet wide, with a +plain cloister on the east, south, and west sides. The buildings on the +south of the court comprise the dining hall, belonging to the boys in the +head master's house, and three schools for different classes; those on the +west are occupied by the great school; and on the north are the French and +writing schools. The east side adjoins the offices belonging to the head +master's house. About sixty boys are accommodated here; the remainder +lodge in the houses of the other masters, and in the town of Rugby. + +Lawrence Sheriff, the benevolent founder of this institution, was born at +Brownsover, whence he removed to London, where he kept a grocer's shop in +Newgate-street. A more gratifying portrait of true beneficence than +Sheriff's bequest can scarcely be found in British annals; and this +gratification is greatly enhanced by the justice with which his intentions +have been carried into effect at Rugby. The alms-houses were originally +for four poor old men; but the dwellings have been augmented in proportion +to the increased revenues. + + [1] Their annual meeting is in August, when the examination takes + place. Fourteen exhibitions have been instituted, each of the + exhibitioners being allowed forty pounds per annum to assist in + their support, for seven years, at either university. + + * * * * * + + + +CHOICE HINTS FOR A PLAN TO DISCHARGE THE NATIONAL DEBT. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +"Great events sometimes spring from trivial causes," of the truth of this +adage, no man is, I think, so great a _heretic_, as to express any +doubt--were such the case, it would be by no means difficult to conjure up +a host of evidence, in support of our proposition; but, seeing that "such +things are," let us at once to the point. + +The present age is so rife in whims and proposals, that I am rather +apprehensive, some may doubt the _feasibility_ of the following. +Nevertheless, it is, methinks, quite as good, as many others which +recently were strangled, in struggling for existence. + +In looking over some old pamphlets the other day, I met with the following +"true and particular account" of Mr. Peter Pounce, Postmaster, of +Petersham, and his horse, Prance. + +Now, according to my author (of whose veracity I entreat the reader to use +his own discretion) it seems this Mr. Pounce was an exceedingly good kind +of man, and that his horse, Prance, was also an exceedingly good kind of +horse; moreover, when the postmaster travelled, he usually put up at the +_George_, where there is exceeding good entertainment for both man and +horse. Upon one occasion, being in great haste, Mr. Pounce directed the +ostler not to put Prance into the stable, but to tie him to the brew-house +door. Now, as cruel fate would have it, there was just within the nag's +reach, a tub full of wine lees, which, luckless moment for him, (being +thirsty) he unceremoniously quaffed off in a trice, without even _here's +to you_. + +The consequence was, Prance fell down dead drunk; nay, he acted death so +much to the life, that his master, reckoning him absolutely defunct, had +him flayed, and sold his skin to a tanner, who happened to be drinking in +the alehouse kitchen. Mr. Pounce then walked in a solitary mood to his +home, and communicated the melancholy affair to his good lady, who wept +bitterly at Prance's untimely fate. + +But leaving her to dry her eyes, we return to the nag--the weather being +cold, he was by the loss of his skin, &c. quite sobered, and prudently +trotted to his master's door, at which he whinnied with much clamour for +admission. + +Bless me, my dear, exclaims Mrs. P. our nag's ghost is at the door--I know +him by his whinnies; upon which Mr. Pounce runs with alacrity to the +door, and sure enough there he was--no ghost--but in propriâ personâ +except his skin. In this exigence, the gentleman had four sheep killed +forthwith, and covered the nag with a woollen garment. To make short of +it, the horse rapidly recovered, and bore two tods of wool every year. + +From this narration it is proposed to embrace the manifest advantages +which offer themselves for improving the woollen trade--that great staple +of Britain's wealth, in manner following:-- + +First, then, let an accurate estimate be taken of the number of sheep +annually slaughtered in these kingdoms. + +Secondly.--Let proper officers be appointed to collect these skins into +commodious warehouses. + +Lastly.--That such a number of horses, mares, and geldings as the said +skins will conveniently cover, be flayed (without fear of Mr. Martin!) and +their backs forthwith enveloped in fleece. + +By this arrangement the following benefits will arise to the government +and community:-- + +1. Every horse whose hide was formerly only useful after death, will then +afford an annual profit by producing two tods of wool yearly, without any +loss to the tanner or shoemaker, who will still necessarily have as many +hides as heretofore. + +2. The health of that useful animal the horse, which is probably liable to +more disorders than any other (the human species excepted) will be much +better preserved by woollen than a hairy covering. + +3. There will be little occasion for saddles, &c. as the fleece will +afford a very easy seat, much softer than leather, and well adapted for +ladies and invalids. + +Lastly.--There will be an annual acquisition of about 40 millions +sterling, from this novel mode of procedure, of which please to accept the +following algebraical demonstration:-- + +Let _x_ be the unknown quantity; _a_, the horses; _b_, the sheep; then per +simple equations _x_, plus _a_, plus _b_, minus tods, plus sheepskins, +equal one thousand--then minus sheep, plus horses, minus wool, plus tods, +equal one million. Lastly, horses plus sheep, minus hides, plus fleeces, +in all equal forty millions. + + Quod erat demonstrandum. + +There, reader, if you are still a sceptic, I cannot help it. + +JACOBUS. + + * * * * * + + +ANSWER OF THE LONDON STONE.[2] + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Why hast thou mortal, on my slumber broken, + And dragged my struggling spirit back to earth? + Though "walls have ears," yet stones have never spoken. + Why am I made the object of thy mirth? + Why am I questioned thus to tell my fate, + And primal use? Yet hear--whilst I relate. + + When time was young, and earth was in her prime, + Secure I slept within her spacious womb; + And ages passed--I took no heed of time, + Until some Druid burst my dismal tomb, + And dragged me forth amidst the haunts of man. + And then, indeed my life of woe began. + + And ere great Caesar in triumphant pride, + Led on by conquest, bade Rome's eagles soar + To this fair isle; full many a victim died + Upon my breast, and I was drenched with gore: + For "midst the tangling horrors of the wood," + I stood an altar, stained with human blood. + + I've witnessed scenes, which I now dread to name, + I've seen the captive bound in wicker rods + Expire, midst shouts, to feed the sacred flame, + And glut the fury of offended gods; + Those days soon passed--the gospel's milder ray + Dispelled the gloom, and spread a brighter day. + + Then superstition tottered on her throne, + And hid her head in shades of gloomy night; + Quenched were her fires--her impious fanes o'er thrown, + Her mists dispersed before the Prince of Light, + Then sank my grandeur; in some lonely spot + I slept for years unnoticed and forgot. + + Until Vespasian, by Rome's stern command, + To quench rebellion in my native isle, + Brought his bold legions from a foreign strand, + Our land to torture, and our towers to spoil; + He hewed me in a fashion now unknown, + And dubbed me, what I am, "The London Stone." + + From me, the miles by Britons once were counted, + Close to my side were monies lent and paid; + If princes died--some gaudy herald mounted + Upon my head, and proclamations read; + Till Gresham rose; who used me very ill, + He moved the place of commerce to Cornhill. + + When reeling homewards from the tavern near, + Oft with prince Henry has old honest Jack + Sat on my breast, and I've been doomed to hear + Him talk of valour, and of unpaid sack; + And whilst he talked, the roysterers gave vent, + To peals of laughter and of merriment. + + Yes, I'm the hone that "City's Lord" essayed, + To make the whetstone of his rebel sword; + On me, with mischief rife, rebellious Cade + Sat whilst he thought and dubbed himself a Lord; + And bade my conduit pipe for one whole year + At city's cost, run naught but claret clear.[3] + + I could a tale of harrowing woes reveal, + Whilst York and Lancaster for mastery tried: + When men the ties of nature ceased to feel, + When sires beneath their offsprings' sabres died; + And sires 'gainst children clad themselves in arms, + And England mourned the din of war's alarms. + + Yes, I beheld the beauteous virgin queen, + And all the dauntless heroes of her court; + Where danger threatened, 'midst the danger seen, + Bending their fearless way to Tilbury Fort; + I heard the shouts of joy which Britons gave, + When th' Armada sank beneath the wave. + + I mind, Augusta,[4] well that fatal day, + When to thy ports with dire contagion fraught. + The laden vessel[5] stemmed its gallant way. + And to thy sons the plague disastrous brought; + Quick through thy walls the foul infection spread, + And thou became the city of the dead. + + Scarce ceased the plague--when to my aching sight + Appeared a scene of most terrific woe; + Around me burnt one monstrous blaze of light, + I warmed, and almost melted with its glow; + I burst the chains,[6] which bound me fast, asunder, + And now remain, to learned men a wonder. + + And when the city from her ruins rose, + I soon was left deserted and forlorn; + A porters' bench was raised beneath my nose. + And I became the object of their scorn: + I've heard the rascals, with a vacant stare, + Ask, just like you, what business I had there? + + Few years have passed, since I, by parish sages, + Was called a monstrous nuisance to the street, + And, though I'd borne the brunt of varying ages, + Was doomed for pavement 'neath the horses' feet, + Until a Maiden,[7] near to Sherborne Lane, + Saved me--and rescued London from that stain. + + And now, vain mortal, I have told thee all, + My fate, my primal use, the what and which; + And though my struggling spirit owned thy salt, + Once more I'll slumber in my holy niche, + And "Britain's sun may set," what's that to me, + Since I, stone-blind and dumb, for aye will be. + + J.E. + + [2] See _Ode to London Stone_. MIRROR, No. 357, p. 114. + + [3] See Shakspeare's Henry VI., part 2, act 4, scene 6. + + [4] The ancient name for London. + + [5] The cause of the great plague in 1665, was ascribed to the + importation of infected goods from Holland, where the plague + had committed great ravages the preceding year. + + [6] Stowe in his history describes the London Stone, "fixed in + the ground very deep, fastened with bars of iron and otherwise, + so strongly set that if carts do runne against it through + negligence, the wheels be broken, and the stone itself unshaken." + See No. 64 of the Mirror for an account of London Stone. + + [7] When the church of St. Swithin was repaired in 1798, some of + the parishioners declared the London Stone a nuisance which + ought to be removed. Fortunately, one gentleman, Thomas Maiden, + of Sherborne Laue, interfered and rescued it from annihilation, + and caused it to be placed in its present situation. + + * * * * * + + +HAVER BREAD. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +A correspondent wishes to be informed of the definition of the word +_avver_. In the 15th volume of the "Beauties of England and Wales," it is +alluded to thus:--"This county (Westmoreland) being supposed unfavourable +to the growth of wheat, black oats, called _haver_, and the species of +barley called _bere_, or _bigg_, were the only grains it produced. Of the +_haver_, bread was made, or the species of pottage called hasty pudding; +this bread being made into thin unleavened cakes, and laid up in chests +within the influence of the fire, has the quality of preserving its +sweetness for several months; it is still in common use. The _bigg_ was +chiefly made into malt, and each family brewed its own ale; during the hay +harvest the women drank a pleasant sharp beverage, made by infusing mint +or sage buttermilk in whey, and hence called _whey-whig_. Wheaten bread +was used on particular occasions; small loaves of it were given to persons +invited to funerals, which they were expected "to take and eat" at home, +in religious remembrance of their deceased neighbour; a custom, the +prototype of which is evidently seen in the establishment of the +eucharist, for in this county it still bears its _Saxon name_, _Arvel +bread_, from appull, _full of reverence_, meaning the holy bread used at +the communion." + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SKETCH-BOOK. + + * * * * * + + +BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. + + +Gray, as one of the party of dragoons who attended the Duke of Wellington, +proceeded onward at a sharp pace through the marching columns, which his +grace examined, with a close but quick glance, as he passed on, and after +a march of seven leagues, came up with the Belgian troops under the Prince +of Orange, who had been attacked and pushed back by the French. It was +about seven o'clock; none of the British troops had yet arrived within +some hours' march of the duke. The party of dragoons were ordered to +remain in readiness for duty in a cornfield near the road, on a rising +ground, which commanded a full view of the country in front, while the +duke and his staff proceeded to the left. + +The four biscuits which had been served out to each man at Brussels the +night before, with some cold beef, and the contents of their canteen, +helped to regale the dragoons after their long and rapid march, while the +stout steeds that had borne them found a delightful repast in the high rye +that waved under their noses. Here they beheld passing on the road beside +them many wounded Belgians, and could see before them, at the distance of +a quarter of a mile, the French bayonets glistening over the high fields +of corn, and hear distinctly the occasional discharges of musketry from +tirailleurs. Gray's heart leaped with joy, and he thought no more of +Brussels. + +"What's this place called?" inquired one of the dragoons, generally of his +comrades. + +"Called!--Oh, some jaw-breaking Dutch name of a yard long, I suppose," +replied another. "Ax Gentleman Gray--he'll tell you." + +"Well, Mr. Gray, do you know the name of this here place?" + +"I believe," replied Gray, "we are near a point called _Quatre Bras_, or +the four roads." + +"Well," rejoined the other, "if there were half-a-dozen roads, it wouldn't +be too much for these here Flemingers--yon road's not wide enough for +them, you see. Look, here's a regiment o' them coming back!" + +"Ah! poor fellows--we might be in the same situation," observed Gray; +"remember that their force is not strong in comparison with the French, by +the accounts that have been received; better to fall back at the first of +a fight than at the last." + +"I say, Jack," said another, with his mouth full of biscuit, "did you ever +meet with such a devil of a roadster as the _carpolar_ there with the +glazed cocked hat?" + +"Who do you mean?" said Jack. + +"Why the dook, to be sure--how he _did_ give it us on the long road +through the forest." + +"Ay--he's the lad; well, here's God bless his jolly old glazed hat any +way," cried the trooper, swallowing a horn of grog; "he's the boy what has +come from the Peninsula just to gi' 'em a leaf out of his book. He was a +dancing last night--riding like a devil all the morning--and I'll warrant +he'll be fighting all the afternoon by way of refreshing himself." + +"He look'd serious enough this morning though, Master Tom, as he was +turning out." + +"Serious! and so did you; hasn't he enough to make him look serious? Bony, +and all the flower of the French before him. I like to see him look +serious; he's just a thinking a bit, that's all. Look, look, look! where +he is now pelting away up the hill there. My eye! but he's a rum on'." + +"Ay, just as he was in the ould ground," cried an Hibernian. "'Pon my +sowl, I think I'm in Spain agin. There he is, success to him!--an' the +smell o' the powther too so natural." + +"The light troops are pushing on towards that wood," said Gray, fixing his +eyes on a particular spot. + +"Sure enough they are. Ah! we'll soon have the boys up who will set them +off with a flea in their ear." + +"Look--on the rising ground there, about half a mile away, how they are +moving about--that is a train of artillery--see the guns--there is a +regiment of infantry going to the left--do you see their bayonets? A fine +open place here for a battle." + +"Not so good as that which we passed--the plain fields we crossed +immediately after we left the forest of Soignes," said Gray: "however, +that little wood on our right, in front, which runs along the road, is a +good flank, and the village before us is a strong point." + +"Ay, but you see the Belgian troops couldn't keep it; the French have +pushed them out of it." + +"We'll soon have it again, I'll warrant; our men have a fine open ground +here, to give the French a lesson in dancing," cried the corporal of the +party, throwing himself down on his back in the corn. "Here I'll lie and +rest myself; and I don't think I shall be disturb'd by the buzzing of the +blue flies! I'll have a snooze, until the Highlanders shall come up." + +The party remained undisturbed, as the last speaker had intimated, until +about half-past one o'clock; nothing having been done in the way of attack +by the French. During the interval, Gray employed himself in watching +closely the scene around him, and mentally discussing the chances of the +now inevitably approaching fight. + +The hour of struggle was near--the pibroch burst upon the ears of the +troopers, and up they started. + +"Here they come," cried one.--"Here they come," cried another--"the +gallant 42nd; look at the petticoat-devils, how they foot it along!" + +All stood on the highest part of the ground, to witness the arrival of the +troops, who were now within a quarter of a mile of them on the main road. +A hum arose. Belgian officers galloped down the road, and across the +fields in all directions; the duke was seen riding towards his expected +soldiers, and the scene was life at all points. The pibroch's sound grew +louder; and now the bands of the more distant regiments were heard; and +the harmonious bugles of the rifle corps, mingled their sounds with the +others. The long red line of Britons is fully before the sight, like a +giant stream of blood on the ripe and mellow bosom of the earth. Picton is +at its head, and the duke greets the heroic partner of his glory. The +first of the regiments passes close to the troopers, and receives a cheer +from them, which found a return in the relaxing muscles of the hardy +Scots. + +"What corps is that?" inquired one of the group. + +"The Royal Highlanders, the 42nd--don't you see they are turned up with +blue and gold?" replied another. + +"And what's this with the yellow facings?" + +"The old 92nd." + +"And the other Scotch regiment, with the green and gold?" + +"The 79th; three as good kilted corps as ever crossed the Tweed. And +there's the 95th rifle boys, as green as the wood they are going to take. +And there see the 28th,--and the 44th,--and the 32nd;--that's Picton's +division; a glorious set of fellows as ever slept." + +"And who are the fellows all in black?" + +"The bold Brunswick corps, with death's head on their caps--the +_undertakers_ of the French," cried the corporal. + +Never did a young hero gaze on a gallant army with more enthusiastic +feelings, than did Gray upon the troops before him--the sight stirred his +heart-strings. They were within shot of their foe, and half an hour should +see them in the bloody contest. He sighed to think that his own regiment +was not yet come up, with which he might share the glory of the fight. + +One after the other, the corps entered the fields, across the high corn, +from the road, to take up their positions for the battle. Neither cavalry +nor artillery had they to support them--their bayonets were their hopes; +and their wise general placed them accordingly in squares, and at such +distances as that one might support the other, while each would protect +itself, independently, if necessary. The rifle corps now advanced, to open +the business of the day by firing into a field of tirailleurs. The French +were not idle at this time; they advanced in masses--cavalry and infantry; +while a roar of cannon, that almost deafened every ear, covered the +attack. + +"They are coming on the centre," cried Gray: "see the cuirassiers--what a +body of men! Oh! where is our cavalry?" + +"Ay," cried a trooper; "and look, what columns of infantry!" + +All now remained in breathless anxiety, gazing on the approaching masses +of the enemy; not a word was spoken amongst the well-planted squares of +the British. The French are within fifty yards of them, and the battle +begins. + +"There," cried a trooper; "how our men give it to them!--there's a +volley!--look how the horses fall!--see, they can't stand it--hurra!--the +rascals are staggered--the 27th are after them--they deploy into line; +there the French go, with the bayonet at them, helter-skelter. But +observe, at a little distance from them, the enemy's dragoons are at the +42nd--the Scotch open and let them pass; but now they get it right and +left. Down they go; bravo! old Scotland." + +"By heaven!" cried Gray, "here come the Brunswick horse in confusion, +pursued by the cuirassiers along the road, near the village." + +All turned to gaze at the point: it was too true: their leader had fallen; +they had advanced too incautiously, and were therefore obliged to fall +back. + +"Here they come, and the French cavalry are close upon them. But see the +Highlanders in the ditch. Hark! there--they give them a volley. Down +tumble the horsemen!--look! they are in a heap on the ground." + +A shout from the troopers acknowledged the glorious truth. It was the fire +from the 92nd that achieved the triumph. + +The artillery, the musketry, and the shouting of the combatants, became so +deafening, that even the group of troopers unoccupied in the fight, and in +the rear, could scarcely hear each other's voice. Gray's party mounted +their horses now, in order to have a better view of the battle, and from +the situation of the ground on which they were standing, they beheld, in +awful anxiety, rush after rush made against the British infantry, whose +duty was evidently that of firm defence; they beheld wave after wave of +blue ranks advance over the rising bosom of the ground, and saw them +successively battered by the rocks they assaulted--the ground covered with +men and horses by the well-directed fire of the squares. The other +divisions of the English army were fast arriving, and taking up ground on +the left, in spite of the efforts of the French to prevent it, and thus +divide them from their comrades engaged. A "lull," (as the sailors say, +when the storm pauses a little,) took place, and both armies stood, as it +were, looking at each other. But another and more desperate attack soon +followed; the tempest returned with double violence. The mouths of Ney's +numerous cannon opened again; the smoke drifted over on the English, and +under its cover were seen advancing an immense force, for another struggle +with the right of the duke's line, in order to turn it, and possess +themselves of the village. The duke and his staff were in front of the +92nd regiment, and the balls playing on them had knocked down several of +his aides-de-camp. As the foe came near, the artillery ceased, the close +fight began, and several regiments at once poured in their fire: both +sides kept their ground, and hundreds fell at every discharge of musketry. +The duke now, in the pithy and familiar language of the soldier, cried out +to the Scots, "Ninety-second, you must charge these fellows." + +The word was magic; the kilts rushed against the blaze of the tirailleurs! +Their leader and their officer fell amongst them: but, alas! their blood +only enraged the men; fiercely as tigers they rush, and their bayonets +sink into the mass before them. The whole fly before them, while the +victorious Highlanders pursue them almost out of sight of their general. +Alas! many of these heroes fell in their gallant work. + +This glorious charge was beheld by Gray and his comrades with delight; +their shacos waved over their heads, and their cries of exultation fully +showed what a catching thing is the fever of the fight. One of the +dragoons now turned his eyes to the wood on the right, which the French +had possessed themselves of, and exclaimed, "But look, the guards have +come up, and are in the wood. Where did they come from? I didn't see them +before. Hark! how they shout; they are all amongst the trees." + +"Yes, and they'll not soon come back; they'll keep their ground, I'll +warrant," cried the corporal. + +At this moment the troopers were somewhat disarranged by a part of the +earth suddenly flying upwards in a cloud; it was the effect of a +cannon-ball which had struck the ground. They started a few paces +backwards, wiped their faces, and having all passed their jocular +sentiments on the occasion, coolly united again to view and comment on the +action. + +They continued to gaze on the busy and bloody scene, with but few +observations. Mass after mass was advancing against the steady squares of +infantry, and received with roars of musketry; the cavalry of the enemy, +desperate and disappointed, galloped about the close and well-guarded +Britons, cutting at the ranks, and dropping as they cut. Artillery +bellowed upon the unyielding heroes, whose ranks closed up at every point +where the dead had opened them; they cried aloud for the order to advance; +but received the cool and prudent negative of the watchful chief, who, +during the action, was moving from rank to rank, encouraging and elevating +the energies of his men. + +The repeated unsuccessful attacks of the French wore out the patience of +their general, and so thinned his ranks, that he at length ceased to +contend, and drew off his troops from the field, leaving the English +masters of it, and holding every point of the position which they had +taken up in the early part of the day.--_Tales of Military Life_. + + * * * * * + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + + +CHURCH SPIRES. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Mr. Bentham, in his "History of Ely Cathedral," says, that one of the +earliest spires of which we have any account, "is that of old St. Paul's, +finished in the year 1222." This spire was of timber covered with lead; +"but, not long after, they began to build them of stone, and to finish all +their buttresses in the same manner." Mr. Murphy observes that spires were +introduced in the 12th century, about the time that the practice of +burying in churches became general over Europe; and he supposes that the +pyramidal form of the spire, was used as the denotation of a church +comprising a cemetery. This representation he imagines to have been +borrowed "from the ancient Egyptians, who placed the pyramid over their +cemeteries, as denoting the soul under the emblem of a flame of fire, +(whence it is supposed to derive its origin) thus to testify their belief +of its immortality." There are other opinions respecting the origin of +spires. It may appear probable (says Mr. Brewer,) to many persons, that +such an elevated feature of our ancient churches was merely designed in +the simplicity of its first intention, to act as a guide to the place of +worship, when rural roads, throughout the whole country, were devious, and +rendered more obscure by thick masses of forest and woodland. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + +LEAD MINERS. + +[Illustration: Lead Miners.] + + +Lead is found in many countries, but is particularly abundant in England. +The lead-mines in Derbyshire are many, as the Odin, Speedwell, Tideswell +Moor, Dirtlow, &c.; and the ore is not only found in various soils, but +mingled with a variety of substances. The Odin mine, at the foot of Mam +Tor, and near it to the south, is the most celebrated and ancient of any +in the county, being worked by the Saxons, from whom it received its name, +whilst most of the mineral terms used there are of Saxon origin. The +Speedwell mine did not repay the cost of working it; and, therefore, after +an expense of 14,000_l_., and eleven years assiduous labour, was +abandoned. Its interior is worthy the attention of the tourist. + +Our engraving endeavours to represent the costume of women who work in +some of the Derbyshire lead-mines; they are capital figures, to which the +pencil can scarcely do justice; indeed, though this sketch was drawn from +nature, it conveys but an imperfect idea of beings, (_nondescripts_,) who +would assuredly delight Cruikshank. The dress of these women, of whom the +writer saw several emerged from mines a few miles from the Peak, seems +contrived to secure them from the cold and wet attendant upon their +employment. The head is much enwrapped, and the features nearly hidden, in +a muffling of handkerchiefs, over which is put a man's hat, in the manner +of the _paysannes_ of Wales, but not near so neat and stylish; besides, +the Welsh women are generally handsome, and become the hat; but the case +is far different with the _fair_ miners of Derbyshire, at least those whom +I saw, who were complete harridans. A man's coat, of coarse gray or dark +blue cloth, defends the arms, back, throat, and bosom of each _lady_ from +the cold; beneath it, but tucked up all round so as to form a kind of bag, +appears a gown of red stuff, which, set off by a bright green petticoat, +produces an effect singular and amusing; then come the shoes, at least +three inches thick, and long in proportion, bound on to the feet, in some +instances, with handkerchiefs, and thongs, and cords: it is a wonder that +the women can stir in such unwieldy slippers. Our party had stopped to +collect specimens of the lead ore, when the carriages were instantly +surrounded by these females, offering ore, zinc, slick-and-slide, and +various quartz crystals and fluor spars for sale; some of the women were +very old, and one in particular, who had worked in the mine from her +youth, was nearly a hundred years of age, yet she was upright and active, +and wrinkles alone betrayed the fact. + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + + +_The Colosseum_. + + +The curious mechanism by which it is proposed to elevate the visiters at +this emporium of wonders, is as follows: A large bucket or tank of water +will be connected with a movable platform that any number of persons may +be placed in equilibrium with its fluid contents, and directly a +sufficient quantity of water is introduced to produce a preponderance in +the tank, the persons stationed on the platform will ascend.--_The +Atlas_. + + +_Spots on the Sun_. + + +An ingenious individual in Providence has very recently succeeded, by +means of a seven-feet telescope, constructed by himself, on a new +principle, in bringing the entire image of the sun into a darkened room, +upon a white screen, to the size of eight feet in diameter. He writes us +that his astonishment was great when he perceived that every spot now upon +the face of the sun, nine in number, was distinctly transferred to the +screen, and was so plain that he could see every movement of them in their +various and sudden changes. He says he could plainly discover that those +spots were immense bodies of smoke, apparently issuing from volcanoes; and +as they seem occasionally forced upward from the craters, now forming +dense clouds, and now dispersing, considers those phenomena as accounting +for the rapid changes of those spots. The escape of such a vast quantity +of gas from the interior of the body of the sun would, he observes, as it +surrounds that luminary, produce that bright and dazzling appearance which +is the atmosphere of the sun. This theory may not accord with the opinions +of others who have made observations on the subject; but the writer, at +any rate, entertains the strongest belief of its truth. With the same +instrument, which is but just finished, he has also examined the moon, and +states his conviction that that body is covered with perpetual snow and +ice, the dark spots discoverable on its surface being frozen seas, and the +lighter spaces land covered with snow. Those circular places, which have a +rising cone in the centre, he thinks are extinguished volcanoes, as no +clouds are perceptible over the moon's face; which being covered with snow +and ice, accounts, as he imagines, for its clear atmosphere, or for the +absence of an atmosphere. This vast accumulation of ice and snow upon the +moon's surface may be explained, the writer conjectures, by the nature of +the moon's revolutions. He offers to construct instruments of the above +description, by which these phenomena may be observed, at prices from 50 +to 100 dollars; and at the same rate to furnish solar microscopes, on a +new principle, with a magnifying power at 12 feet distance, of +5,184,000.--_Boston Bulletin_. + + +_National Repository_. + + +Nearly two hundred specimens of curious works in arts and manufacture have +already been laid before the committee of this establishment; the opening +of which will take place in a few days. + + +_Iron Trade_. + + +In 1820, the whole iron made in Great Britain was 400,000 tons: in 1827, +it had increased to 690,000 tons, from 284 furnaces. About three-tenths of +this quantity are of a quality suitable for the foundry, which is all used +in Great Britain and Ireland, with the exception of a small quantity +exported to France and America. The other seven-tenths are made into bars, +rods, sheets, &c., of which a large quantity is exported to all parts of +the world.--_Repertory of Arts_. + + +_Indian Claystone_. + + +In some parts of India, the claystone contains numerous small _nodules_ or +lumps of clay iron-stone, which seldom exceed the size of a walnut. These +are picked up by the natives, and are smelted by means of charcoal in a +very small, rude furnace, blown by the hand-bellows, common all over +India, and still used in Europe by the Gipsies. Many of the hills composed +of claystone are neatly devoid of vegetation; their surface being bare and +smooth, and of a red or black colour. The soil produced by the action of +the atmosphere is not very productive; and so liable is it, in some +places, to consolidate, when deprived of its moisture, that, if it be not +constantly cultivated, it soon becomes hard and bare, and checks all +vegetation. + + +_Public Improvement_. + + +The spirit of general improvement pervades every part of the continent, +and is even more active in France than in Britain. In Britain, the spirit +of improvement is chiefly evinced in public works, and in the useful arts +and manufactures, and its efforts are characterized much more by +superfluity of wealth than by science or refinement: in Germany this +spirit is evinced in public buildings, in a superior taste, in +agriculture, and education--_Gard. Mag_. + + +_The Himalaya Mountains_. + + +This vast accumulation of sublime peaks, the pinnacles of our globe, is so +extensive, that a plane, resting on elevations 21,000 feet, may be +stretched in one direction as far as the Hindoo Cosh, for upwards of 1,000 +miles, above which rise loftier summits, increasing in height to nearly +6,000 feet more. + + +_To make Gold Size_. + + +Melt one pound of asphaltum, and pour into it another pound of linseed +oil, rendered drying by litharge; add also to it half a pound of red lead +or vermilion. When the varnish becomes thick or pasty, thin it by adding +one pound, or a pound and a half of spirit of turpentine; as more is +required in winter than in summer. + + +_Indian Corn_. + + +Mr. C. Hall Jessop, of Cheltenham, asserts that he "was the first who +recommended the Indian corn for field culture in this country," which he +did "in a letter to G. Talbot, Esq., of Guiting, seven years ago." + + +_Polishing Stones_. + + +The Hindoos polish all kinds of stones by means of powdered _corundrum_, +mixed with melted lac. The mixture being allowed to cool, is shaped into +oblong pieces, of three or four inches in length. The stone is polished by +being sprinkled with water; and at the same time rubbed with three oblong +masses; and the polish is increased by masses being used successively with +finer grains. + + +_Sensitive Plant_. + + +Mr. Burnet and Mr. Mayo have found, that at the moment the sensitive plant +is touched, so as to occasion motion, it _changes colour_. They have also +found that when a sensitive plant has been made to droop, the part in +which the moving power resides is blackened, so as to absorb the light of +the sun; the restoration of the plant to its natural state is much longer +in taking place. + + +_Indian Mills_. + + +In India, granite is hewn into hand-mills for grinding corn; two or four +of which are a load for an ass or a bullock, and are thus carried to the +bazaar for sale. These are the primeval mills of all countries, which are +mentioned in Scripture, and are still common among all uncivilized +nations. + + +_Musk_. + + +Dr. Davey, by some recent experiments, has proved that when musk, in +admixture with quicklime, smells of ammonia, it is impure or adulterated; +and further, that, to preserve it well, it should be made perfectly dry; +but when it is to be used as a perfume, it should be _moistened_. + + +_Loch Lomond_. + + +Mr. Galbraith has recently determined the quantity of water annually +discharged by the river Leven from the basin of Loch Lomond to be about +59,939 cubic feet per minute. Now, as 36 cubic feet of fresh water are +very near equal to a ton, this gives 1,665 tons per minute; and, supposing +the year to be 365 days, 5 hours, 40 minutes, the annual discharge, at +that rate, will be 877,295,085 tons. But as the river was rather below its +average height, one-third may be added to this result; and we have about +1,200,000,000, or twelve hundred millions of tons per annum. + + * * * * * + + + +MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.[8] + + [8] From sources entirely original. + + * * * * * + +SCOTCH MARRIAGES. + + +Our English love-smitten lads and lasses are pretty generally aware of the +facility with which the most awful and holy of all engagements may be +contracted in North Britain. They sometimes make the experiment in their +own persons; and, "by the simplicity of Venus' doves," old boys and old +girls have been known to follow, as fast as post-chaises, horses, and lads +could carry them, close upon the heels of their juniors, (bound on the +same errand,) to the blissful land o' cakes and matrimony. An English +gentleman, known to the writer, was making a few purchases in a shop, +wherein stood three or four other customers. A man and woman entered, and +the former, addressing the master of the shop and his aforesaid customers, +used, as he took the woman's right hand, words to this effect:--"Witness, +ye that are here present, that I (N. or M.) take this woman (N. or M.) for +my wedded wife." In like manner the _sposa_ desired all present to witness +that she took the man for her wedded husband, with her own full +acquiescence in, and approbation of, his determination. The English +gentleman who had witnessed, in silent amazement, this (to him) novel +engagement, was informed, after the departure of the happy couple, that +the marriage was to all intents and purposes valid by Scotch law, having +been solemnized as effectually as if by religious rites, in the presence +of respectable _housekeepers_, who, as such, were efficient witnesses, and +all that were requisite of _ceremonial_ to make the marriage good! + +I give this anecdote as related to me by the gentleman who saw the +incident mentioned; should there be any discrepancies in his relation, I +shall feel obliged by a _correct_ account of the manner of contracting +marriages in Scotland, from any of your correspondents capable of giving +such. + + +CAPUCHIN INTERMENT. + + +A gentleman, who had resided many years abroad, and particularly amongst +the Italian Catholics, once described to me the manner in which the +Capuchins inter the brethren of their order. These defunct _freres_ are +embalmed, arrayed in their peculiar habits, as when living; and in the +vaults of their monastic churches or chapels, ranged upright in niches +formed for this purpose. On certain days, particularly on the Feast of All +Souls, the doors of these cemeteries are opened to the public, who, as a +religious duty, flock in to view these singular and affecting relics of +mortality. The bodies undergo but little alteration in appearance for +centuries; but Mr. M. being tempted to touch the very long nose of one old +fellow, who _looked_ "a leathern Pharoah, grinning in the dark," it +disappeared in a shower of dust beneath his fingers. + + +A PARTY AT PALERMO. + + +"Palermo," said a lady whom I saw immediately after her return from a tour +in Sicily, "is indeed a beautiful city; but I thought some things strange +in the manners of the inhabitants. Mr. H. and myself were invited to a +music-party, at the house of a person in the best society, whereat +appeared most of the ladies in coloured and high morning dresses. Two +_tallow_ candles and a small lamp stood on the piano-forte in the +music-room, and from this room we descended by three or four steps into +another, containing a bed, over which was a shelf; upon the shelf was +placed one bottle of wine and a few glasses; and this being intended +expressly for the ladies, they were expected to go and help themselves +when they pleased; but a fresh bottle of wine was brought when the first +was exhausted." + + +FRENCH COUNTRY LIFE. + + +"The dinner-hour in the country," said a relation of the writer, who +spends a great deal of time in France, "is generally two o'clock, even +when company are invited to partake of the dinner; in which case, the +whole party has quitted the house by six or seven in the evening,--a +custom which ill accords with _English_ ideas of sociability. Three +table-cloths are usually laid upon the table, the first and second of +which are, or may be, removed during the repast; but the third is _never_ +drawn off, except to be changed for a clean one. In England, we pride +ourselves upon the fine mahogany of which our dinner-tables are made; we +endeavour to obtain, in the first instance, an excellent piece of wood, +and to improve it by assiduous rubbing and polishing. In France, it +matters not of what material the table is framed; a cloth is always upon +it; and I have seen the hospitable _board_ of many families of rank +literally formed of _deal_." + + +A DIFFERENCE. + + +"In this part of the world," says a private letter from India, +(Hyderabad,) "we do not talk of striking gongs for dinner, but +_ghuzzies_,--ghong meaning a horse or mare." + + +BOARDING. + + +In Ireland, when a man marries, who cannot afford to treat his friends to +whiskey upon the occasion, they take the door of his house off the hinges, +lay him upon it, and carry him thus upon their shoulders all day. In the +evening he is allowed to return to his deserted bride. This custom is +called "boarding," and is so frequent, as I myself can attest from +personal observation, as to attract but little attention from the +commonalty, and nothing like a mob. + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +THE MAN-MOUNTAIN. + + +We were all--Julia, her aunt, and myself, seated at a comfortable fire on +a December evening. The night was dark, starless, and rainy, while the +drops pattered upon the windows, and the wind howled at intervals along +the house-tops. In a word, it was as gloomy a night as one would wish to +see in this, the most dismal season of the year. Strictly speaking, I +should have been at home, for it was Sunday; and my own habitation was at +too great a distance to justify a visit of mere ceremony on so sacred a +day, and amid such stormy weather. The truth is, I sallied out to see +Julia. + +I verily believe I could write a whole volume about her. She came from the +north country, and was at this time on a visit to her aunt, in whose house +she resided; and in whose dining-room, at the period of my story, we were +all seated round a comfortable fire. Though a prodigious admirer of +beauty, I am a bad hand at describing it. To do Julia justice, however, I +must make the attempt. She was rather under the middle size, (not much,) +blue-eyed, auburn-haired, fair-complexioned, and her shape was of uncommon +elegance and proportion. Neck, bosom, waist, ankles, feet, hands, &c. all +were perfect, while her nose was beautifully Grecian, her mouth sweetness +itself, and her teeth as white and sparkling as pearls. In a word, I don't +believe that wide Scotland could boast of a prettier girl--to say nothing +of merry England and the Isle of Saints. + +It was at this time about eight o'clock: tea had just been over, the tray +removed, and the table put to rights. The star of my attraction was +seated at one side of the fire, myself at the opposite, the lady of the +house in the centre. We were all in excellent humour, and Julia and I eyed +each other in the most persevering style imaginable. Her aunt indeed +rallied us upon the occasion; and I thought Julia never appeared half so +beautiful as now. + +A servant bouncing by accident into a room where a gallant is on his knees +before his mistress, and in the act of "popping the question," is +vexatious. An ass thrusting its head through the broken window of a +country church, and braying aloud while the congregation are busily +chanting "Old Hundred," or some other equally devout melody, is vexatious. +An elderly gentleman losing his hat and wig on a windy day, is vexatious. +A young gentleman attempting to spring over a stile by way of showing his +agility to a bevy of approaching ladies, and coming plump down upon the +broadest part of his body, is vexatious. All these things are plagues and +annoyances sufficient to render life a perfect nuisance, and fill the +world with innumerable heart-breakings and _felo-de-sees_. But bad as they +are, they are nothing to the intolerable vexation experienced by me, (and +I believe by Julia too,) on hearing a slow, loud, solemn stroke of the +knocker upon the outer door. It was repeated once--twice--thrice. We heard +it simultaneously--we ceased speaking simultaneously--we (to wit, Julia +and I) ceased ogling each other simultaneously. The whole of us suspended +our conversation in a moment--looked to the door of the room--breathed +hard, and wondered what it could be. The reader will perhaps marvel how +such an impression could be produced by so very trivial a circumstance; +but if he himself had heard the sound, he would cease to wonder at the +strangeness of our feelings. The knocks were the most extraordinary ever +heard. They were not those petty, sharp, brisk, soda-water knocks given by +little, bustling, common-place men. On the contrary, they were slow, +sonorous, and determinate. What was still more remarkable, they were +_three_ in number, neither more nor less. + +Scarcely had our surprise time to subside, than we heard the outer door +opened by the servant--then it closed--then heavy footsteps, one, two, and +three, were audible in the lobby--then the dining-room door was opened; +and a form which filled the whole of its ample aperture, from top to +bottom, from right to left, made its appearance. It was the figure of a +man, but language would sink under his immensity. Never in heaven, or +earth, or air, or ocean, was such a man seen. He was hugeness itself--bulk +personified--the _beau ideal_ of amplitude. When the dining-room door was +first opened, the glare of the well-lighted lobby gleamed in upon us, +illuminating our whole apartment with increase of lustre; but no sooner +did he set his foot upon the threshold, than the lobby light behind him +was shut out. He filled the whole gorge of the door like an enormous +shade. + +Onward, clothed in black, came the moving mountain, and a very pleasing +monster he was. A neck like that of a rhinoceros sat piled between his +"Atlantean shoulders," and bore upon its tower-like and sturdy stem, a +countenance prepossessing from its good-humour, and amazing for its +plumpness and rubicundity. His cheeks were swollen out into billows of +fat--his eyes overhung with turgid and most majestic lids, and his chin +double, triple, ay quadruple. As for his mouth-- + + "It was enough to win a lady's heart + With its bewitching smile." + +Onward came the moving mountain--shaking the floor beneath his tread, +filling a tithe of the room with his bulk, and blackening every object +with his portentous shadow. + +I was amazed--I was confounded--I was horrified. Not so Julia and her +aunt, who, far from participating in my perturbed emotions, got up from +their seats, smiled with a welcoming nod, and requested him to sit down. + +"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said Julia. + +"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said her aunt. + +"Mr. Tims!" Gracious heavens, and was this the name of the mighty entrant? +Tims! Tims! Tims!--the thing was impossible. A man with such a name should +be able to go into a nut-shell; and here was one that the womb of a +mountain could scarcely contain! Had he been called Sir Bullion O'Dunder, +Sir Theodosius M'Turk, Sir Rugantino Magnificus, Sir Blunderbuss Blarney, +or some other high-sounding name, I should have been perfectly satisfied. +But to be called _Tims_! Upon my honour, I was shocked to hear it. + +Mr. Tims sat him down upon the great elbow-chair, for he was a friend, it +seems, of the family--a _weighty_ one assuredly; but one whose +acquaintanceship they were all glad to court. The ladies, in truth, seemed +much taken with his society. They put fifty questions to him about the +play--the assembly--the sermon--marriages--deaths--christenings, and what +not; the whole of which he answered with surprising volubility. His tongue +was the only active part about him, going as glibly as if he were ten +stones, instead of thirty, and as if he were a _Tims_ in person as well as +in name. In a short time I found myself totally neglected. Julia ceased to +eye me, her aunt to address me, so completely were their thoughts occupied +with the Man-Mountain. + +In about half an hour I began to feel confoundedly uncomfortable. I was a +mere cipher in the room; and what with the appalling bulk of Mr. Tims, the +attention the ladies bestowed upon him, and the neglect with which they +treated me, I sunk considerably in my own estimation. In proportion as +this feeling took possession of me, I experienced an involuntary respect +for the stranger. I admired his intimate knowledge of balls, dresses, +_faux pas_, marriages, and gossip of all sorts--and still more I admired +his bulk. I have an instinctive feeling of reverence towards "Stout +Gentlemen;" and, while contrasting my own puny form with his, I laboured +under a deep consciousness of personal insignificance. From being five +feet eight, I seemed to shrink to five feet one; from weighing ten stones, +I suddenly fell to seven and a half; while my portly rival sat opposite to +me, measuring at least a foot taller than myself, and weighing good thirty +stones, jockey weight. If any little fellow like me thinks of standing +well with his mistress, let him never appear in her presence with such a +gentleman as Mr. Tims. She will despise him to a certainty; nor, though +his soul be as large as Atlas or Teneriffe, will it compensate for the +paltry dimensions of his body. + +What was to be done? With the ladies, it was plain, I _could_ do nothing: +with Mr. Tims, it was equally plain, I _ought_ to do nothing--seeing that, +however much he was the cause of my uneasiness, he was at least the +_innocent_ cause, and therefore neither morally nor judicially amenable to +punishment. From respecting Mr. Tims I came to hate him; and I vowed +internally, that, rather than be annihilated by this enlarged edition of +Daniel Lambert, I would pitch him over the window. Had I been a giant, I +am sure I would have done it on the spot. The giants of old, it is well +known, raised Pelion upon Ossa, in their efforts to scale the throne of +heaven; and tossed enormous mountains at the godhead of Jupiter himself. +Unfortunately for me, Mr. Tims was a mountain, and I was no giant. + +I accordingly got up, and, pretending it was necessary that I should see +some person in the next street, abruptly left the room. Julia--I did not +expect it--saw me to the door, shook hands with me, and said she hoped I +would return to supper when my business was finished. Sweet girl! was it +possible she could prefer the Man-Mountain to me? + +Away I went into the open air. I had no business whatever to perform: it +was mere fudge; and I resolved to go home as fast as I could. + +But I did not go home. On the contrary, I kept strolling about from street +to street, sometimes thinking upon Julia, sometimes upon Mr. Tims. The +night was of the most melancholy description--a cold, cloudy, windy, rainy +December night. Not a soul was upon the streets excepting a solitary +straggler, returning hither and thither from an evening sermon, or an +occasional watchman gliding past with his lantern, like an incarnation of +the Will-o'-wisp. I strolled up and down for half an hour, wrapped in an +olive great-coat, and having a green silk umbrella over my head. It was +well I chanced to be so well fortified against the weather; for had it +been otherwise, I must have been drenched to the skin. Where I went I know +not, so deeply was my mind wound up in its various melancholy cogitations. +This, however, I do know, that, after striking against sundry lamp-posts, +and overturning a few old women in my fits of absence, I found myself +precisely at the point from which I set out, viz. at the door of Julia's +aunt's husband's house. + +I paused for a moment, uncertain whether to enter, and, in the meantime, +turning my eyes to the window, where, upon the white blind, I beheld the +enormous shadow of a human being. My flesh crept with horror on witnessing +this apparition, for I knew it to be the shadow of the Man-Mountain--the +dim reflection of Mr. Tims. No other human being could cast such a shade. +Its proportions were magnificent, and filled up the whole breadth of the +window-screen; nay, the shoulders shot away latterly beyond its utmost +limits, and were lost in space, having apparently nothing whereon to cast +their mighty image. On beholding this vast shade, my mind was filled with +a thousand exalted thoughts. + +I paused at the door for sometime, uncertain whether to enter; at last my +mind was made up, and I knocked, resolved to encounter the Man-Mountain a +second time, and, if possible, recover the lost glances of Julia. On +entering the dining-room, I found an accession to the company in the +person of our landlord, who sat opposite to Mr. Tims, listening to some +facetious story, which the latter gentleman seemed in the act of relating. +He had come home during my absence, and, like his wife and her niece, +appeared to be fascinated by the eloquence and humour of his stout friend. +At least, so I judged, for he merely recognised my presence by a slight +bow, and devoted the whole of his attention to the owner of the mighty +shadow. Julia and her aunt were similarly occupied, and I was more +neglected than ever. + +Perhaps the reader may think that there was something ludicrous in the +idea of such a man being in love. Not at all--the notion was sublime; +almost as sublime as his shadow--almost as overwhelming as his person. +Conceive the Man-Mountain playing the amiable with such a delicate young +creature like Julia. Conceive him falling on his knees before +her--pressing her delicate hand, and "popping the question," while his +large round eyes shed tears of affection and suspense, and his huge sides +shook with emotion! Conceive him enduring all the pangs of love-sickness, +never telling his love; "concealment, like a worm in the bud, preying upon +his damask cheek," while his hard-hearted mistress stood disdainfully by, +"like pity on a monument, _smiling_ at grief." Above all, conceive him +taking the lover's leap--say from Dunnet or Duncansby-head, where the +rocks tower four hundred feet above the Pentland Firth, and floundering in +the waters like an enormous whale; the herring shoals hurrying away from +his unwieldy gambols, as from the presence of the real sea-born leviathan. +Cacus in love was not more grand, or the gigantic Polyphemus, sighing at +the feet of Galatea, or infernal Pluto looking amiable beside his ravished +queen. Have you seen an elephant in love? If you have, you may conceive +what Mr. Tims would be in that interesting situation. + +Supper was brought in. It consisted of eggs, cold veal, bacon-ham, and a +Welsh rabbit. I must confess, that, perplexed as I was by all the previous +events of the evening, I felt a gratification at the present moment, in +the anxiety to see how the Man-Mountain would comport himself at table. I +had beheld his person and his shadow with equal admiration, and I doubted +not that his powers of eating were on the same great scale as his other +qualifications. They were, indeed. Zounds, how he did eat! Cold veal, +eggs, bacon-ham, and Welsh rabbit, disappeared "like the baseless fabric +of a vision, and left not a wreck behind;" so thoroughly had nine-tenths +of them taken up their abode in the _bread basket_ (vide Jon Bee) of the +Man-Mountain; the remaining tenth sufficed for the rest of the company, +viz. Julia, her aunt, her aunt's husband, and myself. + +Liquor was brought in, to wit, wine, brandy, whisky, and rum. I felt an +intense curiosity to see on which of the four Mr. Tims would fix his +choice. He fixed upon brandy, and made a capacious tumbler of hot toddy. I +did the same, and asked Julia to join me in taking a single glass--I was +forestalled by the Man-Mountain. I then asked the lady of the house the +same thing, but was forestalled by her husband. + +Meanwhile, the evening wearing on, the ladies retired, and Mr. Tims, the +landlord, and myself, were left to ourselves. This was the signal for a +fresh assault upon the brandy-bottle. Another tumbler was made--then +another--then a fourth. At this period Julia appeared at the door, and +beckoned upon the landlord, who arose from table, saying he would rejoin +us immediately. Mr. Tims and I were thus left alone, and so we continued, +for the landlord, strange to say, did not again appear. What became of him +I know not. I supposed he had gone to bed, and left his _great_ friend and +myself to pass the time as we were best able. + +We were now commencing our fifth tumbler, and I began to feel my whole +spirit pervaded by the most delightful sensations. My heart beat quicker, +my head sat more lightly than usual upon my shoulders; and sounds like the +distant hum of bees, or the music of the spheres, heard in echo afar off, +floated around me. There was no bar between me and perfect happiness, but +the Man-Mountain, who sat on the great elbow-chair opposite, drinking his +brandy-toddy, and occasionally humming an old song with the utmost +indifference. + +It was plain that he despised me. While any of the others were present he +was abundantly loquacious, but now he was as dumb as a fish--tippling in +silence, and answering such questions as I put to him in abrupt +monosyllables. The thing was intolerable, but I saw into it: Julia had +played me false; the "Mountain" was the man of her choice, and I his +despised and contemptible rival. + +These ideas passed rapidly through my mind, and were accompanied with +myriads of others. I bethought me of every thing connected with Mr. +Tims--his love for Julia--his elephantine dimensions, and his shadow, +huge and imposing as the image of the moon against the orb of day, during +an eclipse. Then I was transported away to the Arctic sea, where I saw him +floundering many a rood, "hugest of those that swim the ocean stream." +Then he was a Kraken fish, outspread like an island upon the deep: then a +mighty black cloud affrighting the mariners with its presence: then a +flying island, like that which greeted the bewildered eyes of Gulliver. At +last he resumed his human shape, and sat before me like "Andes, giant of +the Western Star," tippling the jorum, and sighing deeply. + +Yes, he sighed profoundly, passionately, tenderly; and the sighs came from +his breast like blasts of wind from the cavern of Eolus. By Jove, he was +in love; in love with Julia! and I thought it high time to probe him to +the quick. + +"Sir," said I, "you must be conscious that you have no right to love +Julia. You have no right to put your immense body between her and me. She +is my betrothed bride, and mine she shall be for ever." + +"I have weighty reasons for loving her," replied Mr. Tims. + +"Were your reasons as weighty as your person, you _shall not_ love her." + +"She _shall_ be mine," responded he, with a deeply-drawn sigh. "You +cannot, at least, prevent her image from being enshrined in my heart. No, +Julia! even when thou descendest to the grave, thy remembrance will cause +thee to live in my imagination, and I shall thus write thine elegy: + + I cannot deem thee dead--like the perfumes + Arising from Judea's vanished shrines + Thy voice still floats around me--nor can tombs + A thousand, from my memory hide the lines + Of beauty, on thine aspect which abode, + Like streaks of sunshine pictured there by God. + +She shall be mine," continued he in the same strain. "Prose and verse +shall woo her for my lady-love; and she shall blush and hang her head in +modest joy, even as the rose when listening to the music of her beloved +bulbul beneath the stars of night." + +These amorous effusions, and the tone of insufferable affectation with +which they were uttered, roused my corruption to its utmost pitch, and I +exclaimed aloud, "Think not, thou revivification of Falstaff--thou +enlarged edition of Lambert--thou folio of humanity--thou Titan--thou +Briareus--thou Sphynx--thou Goliath of Gath, that I shall bend beneath thy +ponderous insolence?" The Mountain was amazed at my courage; I was amazed +at it myself; but what will not Jove, inspired by brandy, effect? + +"No," continued I, seeing the impression my words had produced upon him, +"I despise thee, and defy thee, even as Hercules did Antaeus, as Sampson +did Harapha, as Orlando did Ferragus. 'Bulk without spirit vast,' I fear +thee not; come on." So saying, I rushed onward to the Mountain, who arose +from his seat to receive me. The following passage from the Agonistes of +Milton will give some idea of our encounter: + + "As with the force of winds and water pent, + When mountains tremble, these two massy pillars, + With horrible convulsion to and fro, + He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew + The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder, + Upon the heads of all who sat beneath." + +"Psha!" said Julia, blushing modestly, "can't you let me go?" Sweet Julia, +I had got her in my arms. + +"But where," said I, "is Mr. Tims?" + +"Mr. who?" said she. + +"The Man-Mountain." + +"Mr. Tims!--Man-Mountain!" resumed Julia, with unfeigned surprise. "I know +of no such persons. How jocular you are to-night--not to say how ill-bred, +for you have been asleep for the last five minutes!" + +"Sweet, sweet Julia!" + +A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN. + +_Blackwood's Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + +SONG. + +BY T. CAMPBELL. + + + 'Tis now the hour--'tis now the hour + To bow at Beauty's shrine; + Now whilst, our hearts confess the power + Of woman, wit, and wine; + And beaming eyes look on so bright, + Wit springs--wine sparkles in their light. + + In such an hour--in such an hour, + In such an hour as this, + While Pleasure's fount throws up a shower + Of social sprinkling bliss, + Why does my bosom heave the sigh + That mars delight?--She is not by! + + There was an hour--there was an hour + When I indulged the spell + That Love wound round me with a power + Words vainly try to tell-- + Though Love has fill'd my checker'd doom + With fruits and thorns, and light and gloom-- + + Yet there's an hour--there's still an hour + Whose coming sunshine may + Clear from the clouds that hang and lower + My fortune's future day; + That hour of hours beloved will be, + That hour that gives thee back to me! + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered tifles." + SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +What will our civic friends say to this, about the date of 1686?--"Among +other policies of assurance which appear at the Exchange, there is one of +no ordinary nature; which is, that Esquire Neale, who hath for some time +been a suitor to the rich Welsh widow Floyd, offers as many guineas as +people will take to receive thirty for each one in case he marry the said +widow. He hath already laid out as much as will bring him in 10 or 12,000 +guineas; he intends to make it 30,000, and then to present it to the lady +in case she marry him; and any one that will accept of guineas on that +condition may find as many as he pleases at Garraway's +coffee-house."--_Ellis Correspondence_. + + * * * * * + + +PAT O'KELLY, THE IRISH POET. + + + Three poets, of three different nations born, + With works immortal do this age adorn; + Byron, of England--Scott, of Scotia's blood--And, + Erin's pride, O'Kelly, great and good. + 'Twould take a Byron and a Scott, I tell ye, + Roll'd up in one, to make a Pat O'Kelly. + _Legends of the Lakes_. + + * * * * * + + +IRISH NAMES, MADE ENGLISH. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + _Macnamara_, son of a sea-hound. + _Macmahon_, son of a bear. + _Brien_, the force of water. + _Kennedy_, wearing a helmet. + _Horan_, the gold of poetry. + _Sullivan_, having but one eye. + _Gallagher_, the helper of Englishmen. + _Riordan_, a royal salmon. + _Lysaght_, a hired soldier. + _Finnoala_, white-shouldered. + _Una_, matchless. + _Farrell_, a fair man. + _Mohairey_, an early riser. + _Naghten_, a strong person. + _Trayner_, a strong man. + _Keeffe_, mild. + _Keating_, a shower of fire. + _Kinahan_, a moss trooper. + _Kearney_, a soldier. + _Leahy_, a champion. + _Macaveely_, son of the hero. + _Ardil_, of high descent. + _Dermid_, a god in arms. + _Toraylagh_, like a tower. + _Cairbre_, a royal person. + _Flinn_, red haired. + _Dwyer_, a dark man. + _Docharty_, dangerous. + _Mullane_, broad head. + _Cullane_, broad poll. + _Flaherty_, a powerful chief. + _Lalor_, or _Lawler_, one who speaks by halves. + _Tierney_, a lord. + _Bulger_, a Dutchman. + _Dougal_, a Dane. + _Mac Intosh_, son of the chief. + _Mac Tagart_, son of the priest. + _Mac'Nab_, son of the abbot. + _Mac Clery_, son of a clerk. + _Mac Lure_, son of a tailor. + _Macgill_, son of a squire. + _Macbrehane_, son of a judge. + _Mac Tavish_, son of a savage. + _Goff_, or _Gough_, smith. + _Galt_, a Protestant. + _Gillespie_, the bishop's squire. + +The whole of the above are literal translations without having recourse to +_fancy_, or _torturing the originals_; thus, _Macnamara_, called in Irish +_Mac Conmara_, from _mac_, a son, _con_, the genitive case of _cu_, a +hound, and _mara_, the genitive case of _muir_, the sea; and so of the +rest. It is proper, however, to observe, that although the name of +_Keating_ sounds exactly in Irish a "_shower of fire_" yet as the Keatings +came at first from England, this cannot be the real origin of that name. +All the rest are literally correct. + +H.S. + + * * * * * + + +ONIONS. + + +Lord Bacon tells us of a man who fasted five days, without meat, bread, or +drink, by smelling a wisp of herbs, among which were strong _onions_. + + * * * * * + +PURCHASERS of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their sets are +informed, that every Volume is complete in itself, and may be purchased +separately. 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 XII. in boards, price £3. 5_s_. half bound, £4. +2_s_. 6_d_. + + * * * * * + + +LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS. + +CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, near +Somerset House. + +The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. + Volume 13, No. 359, Saturday, March 7, 1829. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February 26, 2004 [EBook #11322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 359 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Pauline, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + <hr class="full" /> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>[pg 145]</span> + + <h1>THE MIRROR<br /> + OF<br /> + LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + + <table width="100%" summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> + <tr> + <td align="left"><b>Vol. XIII. No. 359.</b></td> + <td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1829.</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>PRICE 2d.</b></td> + </tr> + </table> + <hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>RUGBY SCHOOL</h2> + + +<div class="figure" style="width:100%;"><a href="images/359-1.png"><img width ="100%" src="images/359-1.png" alt="RUGBY SCHOOL"/></a><h3>RUGBY SCHOOL</h3></div> + +<p>On the eastern border of Warwickshire, about 13 miles from Coventry, and +16 from Warwick, stands the cheerful town of Rugby, a place of great +antiquity, but of little note previous to the erection of a grammar-school +there, towards the close of the sixteenth century. The circumstances under +which this school was founded, and the rank it has attained among our +classical seminaries, may probably be interesting to the reader.</p> + +<p>Rugby School was founded in the ninth year of Elizabeth, by Lawrence +Sheriff, grocer, of London, chiefly as a free grammar-school for the +children of the parishes of Rugby and Brownsover, and places adjacent. For +the accommodation of the master, who was, "if it conveniently might be, to +be ever a Master of Arts," he bequeathed a messuage at Rugby, in which it +is probable he had himself resided during the last few years of his life, +and he directed that there should be built, near this residence, a fair +and convenient school-house, to defray which expense, and of a contiguous +almshouse, he bequeathed the revenue of the rectory of Brownsover, and a +third portion of twenty-four acres of land, situate in <i>Lamb's Conduit +Fields</i>, "near London," and termed the Conduit Close. These eight acres +were of trivial value at the period; and in 1653, the trustees of the +property paid the schoolmaster a salary of 12<i>l</i>. a year, and each of the +alms-men 7<i>s</i>. 7<i>d</i>. In 1686, the Lamb's Conduit property was leased for +fifty years at 50<i>l</i>. per annum. The metropolis increased, and stretching +one of its <i>Briareusian</i> arms in this direction, the once neglected field +rose in value, and in 1702 (thirty-four years before the expiration of the +above term) the trustees granted a fresh lease to William (afterwards Sir +William) Milman, of forty-three years, to commence at the termination of +the former lease. Building was not then a mania, and Sir William obtained +his term for 60<i>l</i>. per annum; so that until the year 1780, the annual +produce of the estate belonging to the Rugby charity, was only 116<i>l</i>. +17<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>.! But, shortly after the grant of an extended term to Sir W. +Milman, handsome streets of family houses sprung up, and it was computed +that a ground-rent of at least 1,600<i>l</i>. would accrue to the charity on +the expiration of his lease. A much greater income has, in fact, arisen, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>[pg 146]</span> +and the revenues will be materially increased on the termination of the +present leases.</p> + +<p>The flourishing finances of this noble institution are well managed by +twelve trustees, chosen from the nobility and gentry of the country.<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> + +<p>The ancient buildings of the Rugby seminary were a humble tenement for the +schoolmaster, a principal school-room, and two or three additional +school-rooms, built at different times, as the finances would allow. These +being found too limited, in 1808 the trustees commenced the erection of +the present structure, from the designs of Mr. Henry Hakewill. It stands +nearly on the same spot as the former humble building, and is composed of +white brick, the angles, cornices, and dressings to the windows and +openings being of Aldborough stone. The style of architecture is that of +the reign of Elizabeth, the period at which the school was founded. The +building is massy, august, and interesting from its graceful disposition +of parts. The principal front is that represented in our engraving, which +extends 220 feet.</p> + +<p>The schools are entered by a gateway opposite the street, which leads to +the principal court, a fine area, 90 feet long by 75 feet wide, with a +plain cloister on the east, south, and west sides. The buildings on the +south of the court comprise the dining hall, belonging to the boys in the +head master's house, and three schools for different classes; those on the +west are occupied by the great school; and on the north are the French and +writing schools. The east side adjoins the offices belonging to the head +master's house. About sixty boys are accommodated here; the remainder +lodge in the houses of the other masters, and in the town of Rugby.</p> + +<p>Lawrence Sheriff, the benevolent founder of this institution, was born at +Brownsover, whence he removed to London, where he kept a grocer's shop in +Newgate-street. A more gratifying portrait of true beneficence than +Sheriff's bequest can scarcely be found in British annals; and this +gratification is greatly enhanced by the justice with which his intentions +have been carried into effect at Rugby. The alms-houses were originally +for four poor old men; but the dwellings have been augmented in proportion +to the increased revenues.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>CHOICE HINTS FOR A PLAN TO DISCHARGE THE NATIONAL DEBT.</h2> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<p>"Great events sometimes spring from trivial causes," of the truth of this +adage, no man is, I think, so great a <i>heretic</i>, as to express any +doubt—were such the case, it would be by no means difficult to conjure up +a host of evidence, in support of our proposition; but, seeing that "such +things are," let us at once to the point.</p> + +<p>The present age is so rife in whims and proposals, that I am rather +apprehensive, some may doubt the <i>feasibility</i> of the following. +Nevertheless, it is, methinks, quite as good, as many others which +recently were strangled, in struggling for existence.</p> + +<p>In looking over some old pamphlets the other day, I met with the following +"true and particular account" of Mr. Peter Pounce, Postmaster, of +Petersham, and his horse, Prance.</p> + +<p>Now, according to my author (of whose veracity I entreat the reader to use +his own discretion) it seems this Mr. Pounce was an exceedingly good kind +of man, and that his horse, Prance, was also an exceedingly good kind of +horse; moreover, when the postmaster travelled, he usually put up at the +<i>George</i>, where there is exceeding good entertainment for both man and +horse. Upon one occasion, being in great haste, Mr. Pounce directed the +ostler not to put Prance into the stable, but to tie him to the brew-house +door. Now, as cruel fate would have it, there was just within the nag's +reach, a tub full of wine lees, which, luckless moment for him, (being +thirsty) he unceremoniously quaffed off in a trice, without even <i>here's +to you</i>.</p> + +<p>The consequence was, Prance fell down dead drunk; nay, he acted death so +much to the life, that his master, reckoning him absolutely defunct, had +him flayed, and sold his skin to a tanner, who happened to be drinking in +the alehouse kitchen. Mr. Pounce then walked in a solitary mood to his +home, and communicated the melancholy affair to his good lady, who wept +bitterly at Prance's untimely fate.</p> + +<p>But leaving her to dry her eyes, we return to the nag—the weather being +cold, he was by the loss of his skin, &c. quite sobered, and prudently +trotted to his master's door, at which he whinnied with much clamour for +admission.</p> + +<p>Bless me, my dear, exclaims Mrs. P. our nag's ghost is at the door—I know +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>[pg 147]</span> +him by his whinnies; upon which Mr. Pounce runs with alacrity to the +door, and sure enough there he was—no ghost—but in propriâ personâ +except his skin. In this exigence, the gentleman had four sheep killed +forthwith, and covered the nag with a woollen garment. To make short of +it, the horse rapidly recovered, and bore two tods of wool every year.</p> + +<p>From this narration it is proposed to embrace the manifest advantages +which offer themselves for improving the woollen trade—that great staple +of Britain's wealth, in manner following:—</p> + +<p>First, then, let an accurate estimate be taken of the number of sheep +annually slaughtered in these kingdoms.</p> + +<p>Secondly.—Let proper officers be appointed to collect these skins into +commodious warehouses.</p> + +<p>Lastly.—That such a number of horses, mares, and geldings as the said +skins will conveniently cover, be flayed (without fear of Mr. Martin!) and +their backs forthwith enveloped in fleece.</p> + +<p>By this arrangement the following benefits will arise to the government +and community:—</p> + +<p>1. Every horse whose hide was formerly only useful after death, will then +afford an annual profit by producing two tods of wool yearly, without any +loss to the tanner or shoemaker, who will still necessarily have as many +hides as heretofore.</p> + +<p>2. The health of that useful animal the horse, which is probably liable to +more disorders than any other (the human species excepted) will be much +better preserved by woollen than a hairy covering.</p> + +<p>3. There will be little occasion for saddles, &c. as the fleece will +afford a very easy seat, much softer than leather, and well adapted for +ladies and invalids.</p> + +<p>Lastly.—There will be an annual acquisition of about 40 millions +sterling, from this novel mode of procedure, of which please to accept the +following algebraical demonstration:—</p> + +<p>Let <i>x</i> be the unknown quantity; <i>a</i>, the horses; <i>b</i>, the sheep; then per +simple equations <i>x</i>, plus <i>a</i>, plus <i>b</i>, minus tods, plus sheepskins, +equal one thousand—then minus sheep, plus horses, minus wool, plus tods, +equal one million. Lastly, horses plus sheep, minus hides, plus fleeces, +in all equal forty millions.</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>Quod erat demonstrandum.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>There, reader, if you are still a sceptic, I cannot help it.</p> + +<p>JACOBUS.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>ANSWER OF THE LONDON STONE.<a id="footnotetag2" name="footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a></h2> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Why hast thou mortal, on my slumber broken,</p> +<p class="i6">And dragged my struggling spirit back to earth?</p> +<p class="i4">Though "walls have ears," yet stones have never spoken.</p> +<p class="i6">Why am I made the object of thy mirth?</p> +<p class="i4">Why am I questioned thus to tell my fate,</p> +<p class="i4">And primal use? Yet hear—whilst I relate.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">When time was young, and earth was in her prime,</p> +<p class="i6">Secure I slept within her spacious womb;</p> +<p class="i4">And ages passed—I took no heed of time,</p> +<p class="i6">Until some Druid burst my dismal tomb,</p> +<p class="i4">And dragged me forth amidst the haunts of man.</p> +<p class="i4">And then, indeed my life of woe began.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">And ere great Caesar in triumphant pride,</p> +<p class="i6">Led on by conquest, bade Rome's eagles soar</p> +<p class="i4">To this fair isle; full many a victim died</p> +<p class="i6">Upon my breast, and I was drenched with gore:</p> +<p class="i4">For "midst the tangling horrors of the wood,"</p> +<p class="i4">I stood an altar, stained with human blood.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I've witnessed scenes, which I now dread to name,</p> +<p class="i6">I've seen the captive bound in wicker rods</p> +<p class="i4">Expire, midst shouts, to feed the sacred flame,</p> +<p class="i6">And glut the fury of offended gods;</p> +<p class="i4">Those days soon passed—the gospel's milder ray</p> +<p class="i4">Dispelled the gloom, and spread a brighter day.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Then superstition tottered on her throne,</p> +<p class="i6">And hid her head in shades of gloomy night;</p> +<p class="i4">Quenched were her fires—her impious fanes o'er thrown,</p> +<p class="i6">Her mists dispersed before the Prince of Light,</p> +<p class="i4">Then sank my grandeur; in some lonely spot</p> +<p class="i4">I slept for years unnoticed and forgot.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Until Vespasian, by Rome's stern command,</p> +<p class="i6">To quench rebellion in my native isle,</p> +<p class="i4">Brought his bold legions from a foreign strand,</p> +<p class="i6">Our land to torture, and our towers to spoil;</p> +<p class="i4">He hewed me in a fashion now unknown,</p> +<p class="i4">And dubbed me, what I am, "The London Stone."</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">From me, the miles by Britons once were counted,</p> +<p class="i6">Close to my side were monies lent and paid;</p> +<p class="i4">If princes died—some gaudy herald mounted</p> +<p class="i6">Upon my head, and proclamations read;</p> +<p class="i4">Till Gresham rose; who used me very ill,</p> +<p class="i4">He moved the place of commerce to Cornhill.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">When reeling homewards from the tavern near,</p> +<p class="i6">Oft with prince Henry has old honest Jack</p> +<p class="i4">Sat on my breast, and I've been doomed to hear</p> +<p class="i6">Him talk of valour, and of unpaid sack;</p> +<p class="i4">And whilst he talked, the roysterers gave vent,</p> +<p class="i4">To peals of laughter and of merriment.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Yes, I'm the hone that "City's Lord" essayed,</p> +<p class="i6">To make the whetstone of his rebel sword;</p> +<p class="i4">On me, with mischief rife, rebellious Cade</p> +<p class="i6">Sat whilst he thought and dubbed himself a Lord;</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>[pg 148]</span> +<p class="i4">And bade my conduit pipe for one whole year</p> +<p class="i4">At city's cost, run naught but claret clear.<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href="#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I could a tale of harrowing woes reveal,</p> +<p class="i6">Whilst York and Lancaster for mastery tried:</p> +<p class="i4">When men the ties of nature ceased to feel,</p> +<p class="i6">When sires beneath their offsprings' sabres died;</p> +<p class="i4">And sires 'gainst children clad themselves in arms,</p> +<p class="i4">And England mourned the din of war's alarms.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Yes, I beheld the beauteous virgin queen,</p> +<p class="i6">And all the dauntless heroes of her court;</p> +<p class="i4">Where danger threatened, 'midst the danger seen,</p> +<p class="i6">Bending their fearless way to Tilbury Fort;</p> +<p class="i4">I heard the shouts of joy which Britons gave,</p> +<p class="i4">When th' Armada sank beneath the wave.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I mind, Augusta,<a id="footnotetag4" name="footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a> well that fatal day,</p> +<p class="i6">When to thy ports with dire contagion fraught.</p> +<p class="i4">The laden vessel<a id="footnotetag5" name="footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> stemmed its gallant way.</p> +<p class="i6">And to thy sons the plague disastrous brought;</p> +<p class="i4">Quick through thy walls the foul infection spread,</p> +<p class="i4">And thou became the city of the dead.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Scarce ceased the plague—when to my aching sight</p> +<p class="i6">Appeared a scene of most terrific woe;</p> +<p class="i4">Around me burnt one monstrous blaze of light,</p> +<p class="i6">I warmed, and almost melted with its glow;</p> +<p class="i4">I burst the chains,<a id="footnotetag6" name="footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> which bound me fast, asunder,</p> +<p class="i4">And now remain, to learned men a wonder.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">And when the city from her ruins rose,</p> +<p class="i6">I soon was left deserted and forlorn;</p> +<p class="i4">A porters' bench was raised beneath my nose.</p> +<p class="i6">And I became the object of their scorn:</p> +<p class="i4">I've heard the rascals, with a vacant stare,</p> +<p class="i4">Ask, just like you, what business I had there?</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Few years have passed, since I, by parish sages,</p> +<p class="i6">Was called a monstrous nuisance to the street,</p> +<p class="i4">And, though I'd borne the brunt of varying ages,</p> +<p class="i6">Was doomed for pavement 'neath the horses' feet,</p> +<p class="i4">Until a Maiden,<a id="footnotetag7" name="footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> near to Sherborne Lane,</p> +<p class="i4">Saved me—and rescued London from that stain.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">And now, vain mortal, I have told thee all,</p> +<p class="i6">My fate, my primal use, the what and which;</p> +<p class="i4">And though my struggling spirit owned thy salt,</p> +<p class="i6">Once more I'll slumber in my holy niche,</p> +<p class="i4">And "Britain's sun may set," what's that to me,</p> +<p class="i4">Since I, stone-blind and dumb, for aye will be.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i10"> J.E.</p> + </div> </div> + + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<h2>HAVER BREAD.</h2> + +<h4>(<i>To the Editor of the Mirror</i>.)</h4> + + +<p>A correspondent wishes to be informed of the definition of the word +<i>avver</i>. In the 15th volume of the "Beauties of England and Wales," it is +alluded to thus:—"This county (Westmoreland) being supposed unfavourable +to the growth of wheat, black oats, called <i>haver</i>, and the species of +barley called <i>bere</i>, or <i>bigg</i>, were the only grains it produced. Of the +<i>haver</i>, bread was made, or the species of pottage called hasty pudding; +this bread being made into thin unleavened cakes, and laid up in chests +within the influence of the fire, has the quality of preserving its +sweetness for several months; it is still in common use. The <i>bigg</i> was +chiefly made into malt, and each family brewed its own ale; during the hay +harvest the women drank a pleasant sharp beverage, made by infusing mint +or sage buttermilk in whey, and hence called <i>whey-whig</i>. Wheaten bread +was used on particular occasions; small loaves of it were given to persons +invited to funerals, which they were expected "to take and eat" at home, +in religious remembrance of their deceased neighbour; a custom, the +prototype of which is evidently seen in the establishment of the +eucharist, for in this county it still bears its <i>Saxon name</i>, <i>Arvel +bread</i>, from appull, <i>full of reverence</i>, meaning the holy bread used at +the communion."</p> + +<p>P.T.W.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>THE SKETCH-BOOK.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3>BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.</h3> + + +<p>Gray, as one of the party of dragoons who attended the Duke of Wellington, +proceeded onward at a sharp pace through the marching columns, which his +grace examined, with a close but quick glance, as he passed on, and after +a march of seven leagues, came up with the Belgian troops under the Prince +of Orange, who had been attacked and pushed back by the French. It was +about seven o'clock; none of the British troops had yet arrived within +some hours' march of the duke. The party of dragoons were ordered to +remain in readiness for duty in a cornfield near the road, on a rising +ground, which commanded a full view of the country in front, while the +duke and his staff proceeded to the left.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>[pg 149]</span> +<p>The four biscuits which had been served out to each man at Brussels the +night before, with some cold beef, and the contents of their canteen, +helped to regale the dragoons after their long and rapid march, while the +stout steeds that had borne them found a delightful repast in the high rye +that waved under their noses. Here they beheld passing on the road beside +them many wounded Belgians, and could see before them, at the distance of +a quarter of a mile, the French bayonets glistening over the high fields +of corn, and hear distinctly the occasional discharges of musketry from +tirailleurs. Gray's heart leaped with joy, and he thought no more of +Brussels.</p> + +<p>"What's this place called?" inquired one of the dragoons, generally of his +comrades.</p> + +<p>"Called!—Oh, some jaw-breaking Dutch name of a yard long, I suppose," +replied another. "Ax Gentleman Gray—he'll tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Gray, do you know the name of this here place?"</p> + +<p>"I believe," replied Gray, "we are near a point called <i>Quatre Bras</i>, or +the four roads."</p> + +<p>"Well," rejoined the other, "if there were half-a-dozen roads, it wouldn't +be too much for these here Flemingers—yon road's not wide enough for +them, you see. Look, here's a regiment o' them coming back!"</p> + +<p>"Ah! poor fellows—we might be in the same situation," observed Gray; +"remember that their force is not strong in comparison with the French, by +the accounts that have been received; better to fall back at the first of +a fight than at the last."</p> + +<p>"I say, Jack," said another, with his mouth full of biscuit, "did you ever +meet with such a devil of a roadster as the <i>carpolar</i> there with the +glazed cocked hat?"</p> + +<p>"Who do you mean?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Why the dook, to be sure—how he <i>did</i> give it us on the long road +through the forest."</p> + +<p>"Ay—he's the lad; well, here's God bless his jolly old glazed hat any +way," cried the trooper, swallowing a horn of grog; "he's the boy what has +come from the Peninsula just to gi' 'em a leaf out of his book. He was a +dancing last night—riding like a devil all the morning—and I'll warrant +he'll be fighting all the afternoon by way of refreshing himself."</p> + +<p>"He look'd serious enough this morning though, Master Tom, as he was +turning out."</p> + +<p>"Serious! and so did you; hasn't he enough to make him look serious? Bony, +and all the flower of the French before him. I like to see him look +serious; he's just a thinking a bit, that's all. Look, look, look! where +he is now pelting away up the hill there. My eye! but he's a rum on'."</p> + +<p>"Ay, just as he was in the ould ground," cried an Hibernian. "'Pon my +sowl, I think I'm in Spain agin. There he is, success to him!—an' the +smell o' the powther too so natural."</p> + +<p>"The light troops are pushing on towards that wood," said Gray, fixing his +eyes on a particular spot.</p> + +<p>"Sure enough they are. Ah! we'll soon have the boys up who will set them +off with a flea in their ear."</p> + +<p>"Look—on the rising ground there, about half a mile away, how they are +moving about—that is a train of artillery—see the guns—there is a +regiment of infantry going to the left—do you see their bayonets? A fine +open place here for a battle."</p> + +<p>"Not so good as that which we passed—the plain fields we crossed +immediately after we left the forest of Soignes," said Gray: "however, +that little wood on our right, in front, which runs along the road, is a +good flank, and the village before us is a strong point."</p> + +<p>"Ay, but you see the Belgian troops couldn't keep it; the French have +pushed them out of it."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon have it again, I'll warrant; our men have a fine open ground +here, to give the French a lesson in dancing," cried the corporal of the +party, throwing himself down on his back in the corn. "Here I'll lie and +rest myself; and I don't think I shall be disturb'd by the buzzing of the +blue flies! I'll have a snooze, until the Highlanders shall come up."</p> + +<p>The party remained undisturbed, as the last speaker had intimated, until +about half-past one o'clock; nothing having been done in the way of attack +by the French. During the interval, Gray employed himself in watching +closely the scene around him, and mentally discussing the chances of the +now inevitably approaching fight.</p> + +<p>The hour of struggle was near—the pibroch burst upon the ears of the +troopers, and up they started.</p> + +<p>"Here they come," cried one.—"Here they come," cried another—"the +gallant 42nd; look at the petticoat-devils, how they foot it along!"</p> + +<p>All stood on the highest part of the ground, to witness the arrival of the +troops, who were now within a quarter of a mile of them on the main road. +A hum arose. Belgian officers galloped down the road, and across the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>[pg 150]</span> +fields in all directions; the duke was seen riding towards his expected +soldiers, and the scene was life at all points. The pibroch's sound grew +louder; and now the bands of the more distant regiments were heard; and +the harmonious bugles of the rifle corps, mingled their sounds with the +others. The long red line of Britons is fully before the sight, like a +giant stream of blood on the ripe and mellow bosom of the earth. Picton is +at its head, and the duke greets the heroic partner of his glory. The +first of the regiments passes close to the troopers, and receives a cheer +from them, which found a return in the relaxing muscles of the hardy +Scots.</p> + +<p>"What corps is that?" inquired one of the group.</p> + +<p>"The Royal Highlanders, the 42nd—don't you see they are turned up with +blue and gold?" replied another.</p> + +<p>"And what's this with the yellow facings?"</p> + +<p>"The old 92nd."</p> + +<p>"And the other Scotch regiment, with the green and gold?"</p> + +<p>"The 79th; three as good kilted corps as ever crossed the Tweed. And +there's the 95th rifle boys, as green as the wood they are going to take. +And there see the 28th,—and the 44th,—and the 32nd;—that's Picton's +division; a glorious set of fellows as ever slept."</p> + +<p>"And who are the fellows all in black?"</p> + +<p>"The bold Brunswick corps, with death's head on their caps—the +<i>undertakers</i> of the French," cried the corporal.</p> + +<p>Never did a young hero gaze on a gallant army with more enthusiastic +feelings, than did Gray upon the troops before him—the sight stirred his +heart-strings. They were within shot of their foe, and half an hour should +see them in the bloody contest. He sighed to think that his own regiment +was not yet come up, with which he might share the glory of the fight.</p> + +<p>One after the other, the corps entered the fields, across the high corn, +from the road, to take up their positions for the battle. Neither cavalry +nor artillery had they to support them—their bayonets were their hopes; +and their wise general placed them accordingly in squares, and at such +distances as that one might support the other, while each would protect +itself, independently, if necessary. The rifle corps now advanced, to open +the business of the day by firing into a field of tirailleurs. The French +were not idle at this time; they advanced in masses—cavalry and infantry; +while a roar of cannon, that almost deafened every ear, covered the +attack.</p> + +<p>"They are coming on the centre," cried Gray: "see the cuirassiers—what a +body of men! Oh! where is our cavalry?"</p> + +<p>"Ay," cried a trooper; "and look, what columns of infantry!"</p> + +<p>All now remained in breathless anxiety, gazing on the approaching masses +of the enemy; not a word was spoken amongst the well-planted squares of +the British. The French are within fifty yards of them, and the battle +begins.</p> + +<p>"There," cried a trooper; "how our men give it to them!—there's a +volley!—look how the horses fall!—see, they can't stand it—hurra!—the +rascals are staggered—the 27th are after them—they deploy into line; +there the French go, with the bayonet at them, helter-skelter. But +observe, at a little distance from them, the enemy's dragoons are at the +42nd—the Scotch open and let them pass; but now they get it right and +left. Down they go; bravo! old Scotland."</p> + +<p>"By heaven!" cried Gray, "here come the Brunswick horse in confusion, +pursued by the cuirassiers along the road, near the village."</p> + +<p>All turned to gaze at the point: it was too true: their leader had fallen; +they had advanced too incautiously, and were therefore obliged to fall +back.</p> + +<p>"Here they come, and the French cavalry are close upon them. But see the +Highlanders in the ditch. Hark! there—they give them a volley. Down +tumble the horsemen!—look! they are in a heap on the ground."</p> + +<p>A shout from the troopers acknowledged the glorious truth. It was the fire +from the 92nd that achieved the triumph.</p> + +<p>The artillery, the musketry, and the shouting of the combatants, became so +deafening, that even the group of troopers unoccupied in the fight, and in +the rear, could scarcely hear each other's voice. Gray's party mounted +their horses now, in order to have a better view of the battle, and from +the situation of the ground on which they were standing, they beheld, in +awful anxiety, rush after rush made against the British infantry, whose +duty was evidently that of firm defence; they beheld wave after wave of +blue ranks advance over the rising bosom of the ground, and saw them +successively battered by the rocks they assaulted—the ground covered with +men and horses by the well-directed fire of the squares. The other +divisions of the English army were fast arriving, and taking up ground on +the left, in spite of the efforts of the French to prevent it, and thus +divide them from their comrades engaged. A "lull," (as the sailors say, +when the storm pauses a little,) took place, and both armies stood, as it +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>[pg 151]</span> +were, looking at each other. But another and more desperate attack soon +followed; the tempest returned with double violence. The mouths of Ney's +numerous cannon opened again; the smoke drifted over on the English, and +under its cover were seen advancing an immense force, for another struggle +with the right of the duke's line, in order to turn it, and possess +themselves of the village. The duke and his staff were in front of the +92nd regiment, and the balls playing on them had knocked down several of +his aides-de-camp. As the foe came near, the artillery ceased, the close +fight began, and several regiments at once poured in their fire: both +sides kept their ground, and hundreds fell at every discharge of musketry. +The duke now, in the pithy and familiar language of the soldier, cried out +to the Scots, "Ninety-second, you must charge these fellows."</p> + +<p>The word was magic; the kilts rushed against the blaze of the tirailleurs! +Their leader and their officer fell amongst them: but, alas! their blood +only enraged the men; fiercely as tigers they rush, and their bayonets +sink into the mass before them. The whole fly before them, while the +victorious Highlanders pursue them almost out of sight of their general. +Alas! many of these heroes fell in their gallant work.</p> + +<p>This glorious charge was beheld by Gray and his comrades with delight; +their shacos waved over their heads, and their cries of exultation fully +showed what a catching thing is the fever of the fight. One of the +dragoons now turned his eyes to the wood on the right, which the French +had possessed themselves of, and exclaimed, "But look, the guards have +come up, and are in the wood. Where did they come from? I didn't see them +before. Hark! how they shout; they are all amongst the trees."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and they'll not soon come back; they'll keep their ground, I'll +warrant," cried the corporal.</p> + +<p>At this moment the troopers were somewhat disarranged by a part of the +earth suddenly flying upwards in a cloud; it was the effect of a +cannon-ball which had struck the ground. They started a few paces +backwards, wiped their faces, and having all passed their jocular +sentiments on the occasion, coolly united again to view and comment on the +action.</p> + +<p>They continued to gaze on the busy and bloody scene, with but few +observations. Mass after mass was advancing against the steady squares of +infantry, and received with roars of musketry; the cavalry of the enemy, +desperate and disappointed, galloped about the close and well-guarded +Britons, cutting at the ranks, and dropping as they cut. Artillery +bellowed upon the unyielding heroes, whose ranks closed up at every point +where the dead had opened them; they cried aloud for the order to advance; +but received the cool and prudent negative of the watchful chief, who, +during the action, was moving from rank to rank, encouraging and elevating +the energies of his men.</p> + +<p>The repeated unsuccessful attacks of the French wore out the patience of +their general, and so thinned his ranks, that he at length ceased to +contend, and drew off his troops from the field, leaving the English +masters of it, and holding every point of the position which they had +taken up in the early part of the day.—<i>Tales of Military Life.</i></p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3>CHURCH SPIRES.</h3> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<p>Mr. Bentham, in his "History of Ely Cathedral," says, that one of the +earliest spires of which we have any account, "is that of old St. Paul's, +finished in the year 1222." This spire was of timber covered with lead; +"but, not long after, they began to build them of stone, and to finish all +their buttresses in the same manner." Mr. Murphy observes that spires were +introduced in the 12th century, about the time that the practice of +burying in churches became general over Europe; and he supposes that the +pyramidal form of the spire, was used as the denotation of a church +comprising a cemetery. This representation he imagines to have been +borrowed "from the ancient Egyptians, who placed the pyramid over their +cemeteries, as denoting the soul under the emblem of a flame of fire, +(whence it is supposed to derive its origin) thus to testify their belief +of its immortality." There are other opinions respecting the origin of +spires. It may appear probable (says Mr. Brewer,) to many persons, that +such an elevated feature of our ancient churches was merely designed in +the simplicity of its first intention, to act as a guide to the place of +worship, when rural roads, throughout the whole country, were devious, and +rendered more obscure by thick masses of forest and woodland.</p> + +<p>P.T.W.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>[pg 152]</span> + +<h2>LEAD MINERS.</h2> + +<div class="figure" style="width:100%;"><a href="images/359-2.png"><img width ="100%" src="images/359-2.png" alt="LEAD MINERS"/></a><h3>LEAD MINERS</h3></div> + +<p>Lead is found in many countries, but is particularly abundant in England. +The lead-mines in Derbyshire are many, as the Odin, Speedwell, Tideswell +Moor, Dirtlow, &c.; and the ore is not only found in various soils, but +mingled with a variety of substances. The Odin mine, at the foot of Mam +Tor, and near it to the south, is the most celebrated and ancient of any +in the county, being worked by the Saxons, from whom it received its name, +whilst most of the mineral terms used there are of Saxon origin. The +Speedwell mine did not repay the cost of working it; and, therefore, after +an expense of 14,000<i>l</i>., and eleven years assiduous labour, was +abandoned. Its interior is worthy the attention of the tourist.</p> + +<p>Our engraving endeavours to represent the costume of women who work in +some of the Derbyshire lead-mines; they are capital figures, to which the +pencil can scarcely do justice; indeed, though this sketch was drawn from +nature, it conveys but an imperfect idea of beings, (<i>nondescripts</i>,) who +would assuredly delight Cruikshank. The dress of these women, of whom the +writer saw several emerged from mines a few miles from the Peak, seems +contrived to secure them from the cold and wet attendant upon their +employment. The head is much enwrapped, and the features nearly hidden, in +a muffling of handkerchiefs, over which is put a man's hat, in the manner +of the <i>paysannes</i> of Wales, but not near so neat and stylish; besides, +the Welsh women are generally handsome, and become the hat; but the case +is far different with the <i>fair</i> miners of Derbyshire, at least those whom +I saw, who were complete harridans. A man's coat, of coarse gray or dark +blue cloth, defends the arms, back, throat, and bosom of each <i>lady</i> from +the cold; beneath it, but tucked up all round so as to form a kind of bag, +appears a gown of red stuff, which, set off by a bright green petticoat, +produces an effect singular and amusing; then come the shoes, at least +three inches thick, and long in proportion, bound on to the feet, in some +instances, with handkerchiefs, and thongs, and cords: it is a wonder that +the women can stir in such unwieldy slippers. Our party had stopped to +collect specimens of the lead ore, when the carriages were instantly +surrounded by these females, offering ore, zinc, slick-and-slide, and +various quartz crystals and fluor spars for sale; some of the women were +very old, and one in particular, who had worked in the mine from her +youth, was nearly a hundred years of age, yet she was upright and active, +and wrinkles alone betrayed the fact.</p> + +<p>M.L.B.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3><i>The Colosseum.</i></h3> + + +<p>The curious mechanism by which it is proposed to elevate the visiters at +this emporium of wonders, is as follows: A large bucket or tank of water +will be connected with a movable platform that any number of persons may +be placed in equilibrium with its fluid contents, and directly a +sufficient quantity of water is introduced to produce a preponderance in +the tank, the persons stationed on the platform will ascend.—<i>The +Atlas.</i></p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>[pg 153]</span> +<h3><i>Spots on the Sun.</i></h3> + + +<p>An ingenious individual in Providence has very recently succeeded, by +means of a seven-feet telescope, constructed by himself, on a new +principle, in bringing the entire image of the sun into a darkened room, +upon a white screen, to the size of eight feet in diameter. He writes us +that his astonishment was great when he perceived that every spot now upon +the face of the sun, nine in number, was distinctly transferred to the +screen, and was so plain that he could see every movement of them in their +various and sudden changes. He says he could plainly discover that those +spots were immense bodies of smoke, apparently issuing from volcanoes; and +as they seem occasionally forced upward from the craters, now forming +dense clouds, and now dispersing, considers those phenomena as accounting +for the rapid changes of those spots. The escape of such a vast quantity +of gas from the interior of the body of the sun would, he observes, as it +surrounds that luminary, produce that bright and dazzling appearance which +is the atmosphere of the sun. This theory may not accord with the opinions +of others who have made observations on the subject; but the writer, at +any rate, entertains the strongest belief of its truth. With the same +instrument, which is but just finished, he has also examined the moon, and +states his conviction that that body is covered with perpetual snow and +ice, the dark spots discoverable on its surface being frozen seas, and the +lighter spaces land covered with snow. Those circular places, which have a +rising cone in the centre, he thinks are extinguished volcanoes, as no +clouds are perceptible over the moon's face; which being covered with snow +and ice, accounts, as he imagines, for its clear atmosphere, or for the +absence of an atmosphere. This vast accumulation of ice and snow upon the +moon's surface may be explained, the writer conjectures, by the nature of +the moon's revolutions. He offers to construct instruments of the above +description, by which these phenomena may be observed, at prices from 50 +to 100 dollars; and at the same rate to furnish solar microscopes, on a +new principle, with a magnifying power at 12 feet distance, of +5,184,000.—<i>Boston Bulletin.</i></p> + + +<h3><i>National Repository.</i></h3> + + +<p>Nearly two hundred specimens of curious works in arts and manufacture have +already been laid before the committee of this establishment; the opening +of which will take place in a few days.</p> + + +<h3><i>Iron Trade.</i></h3> + + +<p>In 1820, the whole iron made in Great Britain was 400,000 tons: in 1827, +it had increased to 690,000 tons, from 284 furnaces. About three-tenths of +this quantity are of a quality suitable for the foundry, which is all used +in Great Britain and Ireland, with the exception of a small quantity +exported to France and America. The other seven-tenths are made into bars, +rods, sheets, &c., of which a large quantity is exported to all parts of +the world.—<i>Repertory of Arts</i>.</p> + + +<h3><i>Indian Claystone</i>.</h3> + + +<p>In some parts of India, the claystone contains numerous small <i>nodules</i> or +lumps of clay iron-stone, which seldom exceed the size of a walnut. These +are picked up by the natives, and are smelted by means of charcoal in a +very small, rude furnace, blown by the hand-bellows, common all over +India, and still used in Europe by the Gipsies. Many of the hills composed +of claystone are neatly devoid of vegetation; their surface being bare and +smooth, and of a red or black colour. The soil produced by the action of +the atmosphere is not very productive; and so liable is it, in some +places, to consolidate, when deprived of its moisture, that, if it be not +constantly cultivated, it soon becomes hard and bare, and checks all +vegetation.</p> + + +<h3><i>Public Improvement</i>.</h3> + + +<p>The spirit of general improvement pervades every part of the continent, +and is even more active in France than in Britain. In Britain, the spirit +of improvement is chiefly evinced in public works, and in the useful arts +and manufactures, and its efforts are characterized much more by +superfluity of wealth than by science or refinement: in Germany this +spirit is evinced in public buildings, in a superior taste, in +agriculture, and education—<i>Gard. Mag</i>.</p> + + +<h3><i>The Himalaya Mountains</i>.</h3> + + +<p>This vast accumulation of sublime peaks, the pinnacles of our globe, is so +extensive, that a plane, resting on elevations 21,000 feet, may be +stretched in one direction as far as the Hindoo Cosh, for upwards of 1,000 +miles, above which rise loftier summits, increasing in height to nearly +6,000 feet more.</p> + + +<h3><i>To make Gold Size</i>.</h3> + + +<p>Melt one pound of asphaltum, and pour into it another pound of linseed +oil, rendered drying by litharge; add also to it half a pound of red lead +or vermilion. When the varnish becomes thick or pasty, thin it by adding +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>[pg 154]</span> +one pound, or a pound and a half of spirit of turpentine; as more is +required in winter than in summer.</p> + + +<h3><i>Indian Corn.</i></h3> + + +<p>Mr. C. Hall Jessop, of Cheltenham, asserts that he "was the first who +recommended the Indian corn for field culture in this country," which he +did "in a letter to G. Talbot, Esq., of Guiting, seven years ago."</p> + + +<h3><i>Polishing Stones.</i></h3> + + +<p>The Hindoos polish all kinds of stones by means of powdered <i>corundrum</i>, +mixed with melted lac. The mixture being allowed to cool, is shaped into +oblong pieces, of three or four inches in length. The stone is polished by +being sprinkled with water; and at the same time rubbed with three oblong +masses; and the polish is increased by masses being used successively with +finer grains.</p> + + +<h3><i>Sensitive Plant.</i></h3> + + +<p>Mr. Burnet and Mr. Mayo have found, that at the moment the sensitive plant +is touched, so as to occasion motion, it <i>changes colour</i>. They have also +found that when a sensitive plant has been made to droop, the part in +which the moving power resides is blackened, so as to absorb the light of +the sun; the restoration of the plant to its natural state is much longer +in taking place.</p> + + +<h3><i>Indian Mills.</i></h3> + + +<p>In India, granite is hewn into hand-mills for grinding corn; two or four +of which are a load for an ass or a bullock, and are thus carried to the +bazaar for sale. These are the primeval mills of all countries, which are +mentioned in Scripture, and are still common among all uncivilized +nations.</p> + + +<h3><i>Musk.</i></h3> + + +<p>Dr. Davey, by some recent experiments, has proved that when musk, in +admixture with quicklime, smells of ammonia, it is impure or adulterated; +and further, that, to preserve it well, it should be made perfectly dry; +but when it is to be used as a perfume, it should be <i>moistened</i>.</p> + + +<h3><i>Loch Lomond.</i></h3> + + +<p>Mr. Galbraith has recently determined the quantity of water annually +discharged by the river Leven from the basin of Loch Lomond to be about +59,939 cubic feet per minute. Now, as 36 cubic feet of fresh water are +very near equal to a ton, this gives 1,665 tons per minute; and, supposing +the year to be 365 days, 5 hours, 40 minutes, the annual discharge, at +that rate, will be 877,295,085 tons. But as the river was rather below its +average height, one-third may be added to this result; and we have about +1,200,000,000, or twelve hundred millions of tons per annum.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.<a id="footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href="#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a></h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3>SCOTCH MARRIAGES.</h3> + + +<p>Our English love-smitten lads and lasses are pretty generally aware of the +facility with which the most awful and holy of all engagements may be +contracted in North Britain. They sometimes make the experiment in their +own persons; and, "by the simplicity of Venus' doves," old boys and old +girls have been known to follow, as fast as post-chaises, horses, and lads +could carry them, close upon the heels of their juniors, (bound on the +same errand,) to the blissful land o' cakes and matrimony. An English +gentleman, known to the writer, was making a few purchases in a shop, +wherein stood three or four other customers. A man and woman entered, and +the former, addressing the master of the shop and his aforesaid customers, +used, as he took the woman's right hand, words to this effect:—"Witness, +ye that are here present, that I (N. or M.) take this woman (N. or M.) for +my wedded wife." In like manner the <i>sposa</i> desired all present to witness +that she took the man for her wedded husband, with her own full +acquiescence in, and approbation of, his determination. The English +gentleman who had witnessed, in silent amazement, this (to him) novel +engagement, was informed, after the departure of the happy couple, that +the marriage was to all intents and purposes valid by Scotch law, having +been solemnized as effectually as if by religious rites, in the presence +of respectable <i>housekeepers</i>, who, as such, were efficient witnesses, and +all that were requisite of <i>ceremonial</i> to make the marriage good!</p> + +<p>I give this anecdote as related to me by the gentleman who saw the +incident mentioned; should there be any discrepancies in his relation, I +shall feel obliged by a <i>correct</i> account of the manner of contracting +marriages in Scotland, from any of your correspondents capable of giving +such.</p> + + + +<h3>CAPUCHIN INTERMENT.</h3> + + +<p>A gentleman, who had resided many years abroad, and particularly amongst +the Italian Catholics, once described to me the manner in which the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page155" name="page155"></a>[pg 155]</span> +Capuchins inter the brethren of their order. These defunct <i>freres</i> are +embalmed, arrayed in their peculiar habits, as when living; and in the +vaults of their monastic churches or chapels, ranged upright in niches +formed for this purpose. On certain days, particularly on the Feast of All +Souls, the doors of these cemeteries are opened to the public, who, as a +religious duty, flock in to view these singular and affecting relics of +mortality. The bodies undergo but little alteration in appearance for +centuries; but Mr. M. being tempted to touch the very long nose of one old +fellow, who <i>looked</i> "a leathern Pharoah, grinning in the dark," it +disappeared in a shower of dust beneath his fingers.</p> + + +<h3>A PARTY AT PALERMO.</h3> + + +<p>"Palermo," said a lady whom I saw immediately after her return from a tour +in Sicily, "is indeed a beautiful city; but I thought some things strange +in the manners of the inhabitants. Mr. H. and myself were invited to a +music-party, at the house of a person in the best society, whereat +appeared most of the ladies in coloured and high morning dresses. Two +<i>tallow</i> candles and a small lamp stood on the piano-forte in the +music-room, and from this room we descended by three or four steps into +another, containing a bed, over which was a shelf; upon the shelf was +placed one bottle of wine and a few glasses; and this being intended +expressly for the ladies, they were expected to go and help themselves +when they pleased; but a fresh bottle of wine was brought when the first +was exhausted."</p> + + +<h3>FRENCH COUNTRY LIFE.</h3> + + +<p>"The dinner-hour in the country," said a relation of the writer, who +spends a great deal of time in France, "is generally two o'clock, even +when company are invited to partake of the dinner; in which case, the +whole party has quitted the house by six or seven in the evening,—a +custom which ill accords with <i>English</i> ideas of sociability. Three +table-cloths are usually laid upon the table, the first and second of +which are, or may be, removed during the repast; but the third is <i>never</i> +drawn off, except to be changed for a clean one. In England, we pride +ourselves upon the fine mahogany of which our dinner-tables are made; we +endeavour to obtain, in the first instance, an excellent piece of wood, +and to improve it by assiduous rubbing and polishing. In France, it +matters not of what material the table is framed; a cloth is always upon +it; and I have seen the hospitable <i>board</i> of many families of rank +literally formed of <i>deal</i>."</p> + + +<h3>A DIFFERENCE.</h3> + + +<p>"In this part of the world," says a private letter from India, +(Hyderabad,) "we do not talk of striking gongs for dinner, but +<i>ghuzzies</i>,—ghong meaning a horse or mare."</p> + + +<h3>BOARDING.</h3> + + +<p>In Ireland, when a man marries, who cannot afford to treat his friends to +whiskey upon the occasion, they take the door of his house off the hinges, +lay him upon it, and carry him thus upon their shoulders all day. In the +evening he is allowed to return to his deserted bride. This custom is +called "boarding," and is so frequent, as I myself can attest from +personal observation, as to attract but little attention from the +commonalty, and nothing like a mob.</p> + +<p>M.L.B.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.</h2> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>THE MAN-MOUNTAIN.</h3> + + +<p>We were all—Julia, her aunt, and myself, seated at a comfortable fire on +a December evening. The night was dark, starless, and rainy, while the +drops pattered upon the windows, and the wind howled at intervals along +the house-tops. In a word, it was as gloomy a night as one would wish to +see in this, the most dismal season of the year. Strictly speaking, I +should have been at home, for it was Sunday; and my own habitation was at +too great a distance to justify a visit of mere ceremony on so sacred a +day, and amid such stormy weather. The truth is, I sallied out to see +Julia.</p> + +<p>I verily believe I could write a whole volume about her. She came from the +north country, and was at this time on a visit to her aunt, in whose house +she resided; and in whose dining-room, at the period of my story, we were +all seated round a comfortable fire. Though a prodigious admirer of +beauty, I am a bad hand at describing it. To do Julia justice, however, I +must make the attempt. She was rather under the middle size, (not much,) +blue-eyed, auburn-haired, fair-complexioned, and her shape was of uncommon +elegance and proportion. Neck, bosom, waist, ankles, feet, hands, &c. all +were perfect, while her nose was beautifully Grecian, her mouth sweetness +itself, and her teeth as white and sparkling as pearls. In a word, I don't +believe that wide Scotland could boast of a prettier girl—to say nothing +of merry England and the Isle of Saints.</p> + +<p>It was at this time about eight o'clock: tea had just been over, the tray +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page156" name="page156"></a>[pg 156]</span> +removed, and the table put to rights. The star of my attraction was +seated at one side of the fire, myself at the opposite, the lady of the +house in the centre. We were all in excellent humour, and Julia and I eyed +each other in the most persevering style imaginable. Her aunt indeed +rallied us upon the occasion; and I thought Julia never appeared half so +beautiful as now.</p> + +<p>A servant bouncing by accident into a room where a gallant is on his knees +before his mistress, and in the act of "popping the question," is +vexatious. An ass thrusting its head through the broken window of a +country church, and braying aloud while the congregation are busily +chanting "Old Hundred," or some other equally devout melody, is vexatious. +An elderly gentleman losing his hat and wig on a windy day, is vexatious. +A young gentleman attempting to spring over a stile by way of showing his +agility to a bevy of approaching ladies, and coming plump down upon the +broadest part of his body, is vexatious. All these things are plagues and +annoyances sufficient to render life a perfect nuisance, and fill the +world with innumerable heart-breakings and <i>felo-de-sees</i>. But bad as they +are, they are nothing to the intolerable vexation experienced by me, (and +I believe by Julia too,) on hearing a slow, loud, solemn stroke of the +knocker upon the outer door. It was repeated once—twice—thrice. We heard +it simultaneously—we ceased speaking simultaneously—we (to wit, Julia +and I) ceased ogling each other simultaneously. The whole of us suspended +our conversation in a moment—looked to the door of the room—breathed +hard, and wondered what it could be. The reader will perhaps marvel how +such an impression could be produced by so very trivial a circumstance; +but if he himself had heard the sound, he would cease to wonder at the +strangeness of our feelings. The knocks were the most extraordinary ever +heard. They were not those petty, sharp, brisk, soda-water knocks given by +little, bustling, common-place men. On the contrary, they were slow, +sonorous, and determinate. What was still more remarkable, they were +<i>three</i> in number, neither more nor less.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had our surprise time to subside, than we heard the outer door +opened by the servant—then it closed—then heavy footsteps, one, two, and +three, were audible in the lobby—then the dining-room door was opened; +and a form which filled the whole of its ample aperture, from top to +bottom, from right to left, made its appearance. It was the figure of a +man, but language would sink under his immensity. Never in heaven, or +earth, or air, or ocean, was such a man seen. He was hugeness itself—bulk +personified—the <i>beau ideal</i> of amplitude. When the dining-room door was +first opened, the glare of the well-lighted lobby gleamed in upon us, +illuminating our whole apartment with increase of lustre; but no sooner +did he set his foot upon the threshold, than the lobby light behind him +was shut out. He filled the whole gorge of the door like an enormous +shade.</p> + +<p>Onward, clothed in black, came the moving mountain, and a very pleasing +monster he was. A neck like that of a rhinoceros sat piled between his +"Atlantean shoulders," and bore upon its tower-like and sturdy stem, a +countenance prepossessing from its good-humour, and amazing for its +plumpness and rubicundity. His cheeks were swollen out into billows of +fat—his eyes overhung with turgid and most majestic lids, and his chin +double, triple, ay quadruple. As for his mouth—</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">"It was enough to win a lady's heart</p> +<p class="i4">With its bewitching smile."</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>Onward came the moving mountain—shaking the floor beneath his tread, +filling a tithe of the room with his bulk, and blackening every object +with his portentous shadow.</p> + +<p>I was amazed—I was confounded—I was horrified. Not so Julia and her +aunt, who, far from participating in my perturbed emotions, got up from +their seats, smiled with a welcoming nod, and requested him to sit down.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said Julia.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said her aunt.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tims!" Gracious heavens, and was this the name of the mighty entrant? +Tims! Tims! Tims!—the thing was impossible. A man with such a name should +be able to go into a nut-shell; and here was one that the womb of a +mountain could scarcely contain! Had he been called Sir Bullion O'Dunder, +Sir Theodosius M'Turk, Sir Rugantino Magnificus, Sir Blunderbuss Blarney, +or some other high-sounding name, I should have been perfectly satisfied. +But to be called <i>Tims</i>! Upon my honour, I was shocked to hear it.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tims sat him down upon the great elbow-chair, for he was a friend, it +seems, of the family—a <i>weighty</i> one assuredly; but one whose +acquaintanceship they were all glad to court. The ladies, in truth, seemed +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>[pg 157]</span> +much taken with his society. They put fifty questions to him about the +play—the assembly—the sermon—marriages—deaths—christenings, and what +not; the whole of which he answered with surprising volubility. His tongue +was the only active part about him, going as glibly as if he were ten +stones, instead of thirty, and as if he were a <i>Tims</i> in person as well as +in name. In a short time I found myself totally neglected. Julia ceased to +eye me, her aunt to address me, so completely were their thoughts occupied +with the Man-Mountain.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour I began to feel confoundedly uncomfortable. I was a +mere cipher in the room; and what with the appalling bulk of Mr. Tims, the +attention the ladies bestowed upon him, and the neglect with which they +treated me, I sunk considerably in my own estimation. In proportion as +this feeling took possession of me, I experienced an involuntary respect +for the stranger. I admired his intimate knowledge of balls, dresses, +<i>faux pas</i>, marriages, and gossip of all sorts—and still more I admired +his bulk. I have an instinctive feeling of reverence towards "Stout +Gentlemen;" and, while contrasting my own puny form with his, I laboured +under a deep consciousness of personal insignificance. From being five +feet eight, I seemed to shrink to five feet one; from weighing ten stones, +I suddenly fell to seven and a half; while my portly rival sat opposite to +me, measuring at least a foot taller than myself, and weighing good thirty +stones, jockey weight. If any little fellow like me thinks of standing +well with his mistress, let him never appear in her presence with such a +gentleman as Mr. Tims. She will despise him to a certainty; nor, though +his soul be as large as Atlas or Teneriffe, will it compensate for the +paltry dimensions of his body.</p> + +<p>What was to be done? With the ladies, it was plain, I <i>could</i> do nothing: +with Mr. Tims, it was equally plain, I <i>ought</i> to do nothing—seeing that, +however much he was the cause of my uneasiness, he was at least the +<i>innocent</i> cause, and therefore neither morally nor judicially amenable to +punishment. From respecting Mr. Tims I came to hate him; and I vowed +internally, that, rather than be annihilated by this enlarged edition of +Daniel Lambert, I would pitch him over the window. Had I been a giant, I +am sure I would have done it on the spot. The giants of old, it is well +known, raised Pelion upon Ossa, in their efforts to scale the throne of +heaven; and tossed enormous mountains at the godhead of Jupiter himself. +Unfortunately for me, Mr. Tims was a mountain, and I was no giant.</p> + +<p>I accordingly got up, and, pretending it was necessary that I should see +some person in the next street, abruptly left the room. Julia—I did not +expect it—saw me to the door, shook hands with me, and said she hoped I +would return to supper when my business was finished. Sweet girl! was it +possible she could prefer the Man-Mountain to me?</p> + +<p>Away I went into the open air. I had no business whatever to perform: it +was mere fudge; and I resolved to go home as fast as I could.</p> + +<p>But I did not go home. On the contrary, I kept strolling about from street +to street, sometimes thinking upon Julia, sometimes upon Mr. Tims. The +night was of the most melancholy description—a cold, cloudy, windy, rainy +December night. Not a soul was upon the streets excepting a solitary +straggler, returning hither and thither from an evening sermon, or an +occasional watchman gliding past with his lantern, like an incarnation of +the Will-o'-wisp. I strolled up and down for half an hour, wrapped in an +olive great-coat, and having a green silk umbrella over my head. It was +well I chanced to be so well fortified against the weather; for had it +been otherwise, I must have been drenched to the skin. Where I went I know +not, so deeply was my mind wound up in its various melancholy cogitations. +This, however, I do know, that, after striking against sundry lamp-posts, +and overturning a few old women in my fits of absence, I found myself +precisely at the point from which I set out, viz. at the door of Julia's +aunt's husband's house.</p> + +<p>I paused for a moment, uncertain whether to enter, and, in the meantime, +turning my eyes to the window, where, upon the white blind, I beheld the +enormous shadow of a human being. My flesh crept with horror on witnessing +this apparition, for I knew it to be the shadow of the Man-Mountain—the +dim reflection of Mr. Tims. No other human being could cast such a shade. +Its proportions were magnificent, and filled up the whole breadth of the +window-screen; nay, the shoulders shot away latterly beyond its utmost +limits, and were lost in space, having apparently nothing whereon to cast +their mighty image. On beholding this vast shade, my mind was filled with +a thousand exalted thoughts.</p> + +<p>I paused at the door for sometime, uncertain whether to enter; at last my +mind was made up, and I knocked, resolved to encounter the Man-Mountain a +second time, and, if possible, recover the lost glances of Julia. On +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>[pg 158]</span> +entering the dining-room, I found an accession to the company in the +person of our landlord, who sat opposite to Mr. Tims, listening to some +facetious story, which the latter gentleman seemed in the act of relating. +He had come home during my absence, and, like his wife and her niece, +appeared to be fascinated by the eloquence and humour of his stout friend. +At least, so I judged, for he merely recognised my presence by a slight +bow, and devoted the whole of his attention to the owner of the mighty +shadow. Julia and her aunt were similarly occupied, and I was more +neglected than ever.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the reader may think that there was something ludicrous in the +idea of such a man being in love. Not at all—the notion was sublime; +almost as sublime as his shadow—almost as overwhelming as his person. +Conceive the Man-Mountain playing the amiable with such a delicate young +creature like Julia. Conceive him falling on his knees before +her—pressing her delicate hand, and "popping the question," while his +large round eyes shed tears of affection and suspense, and his huge sides +shook with emotion! Conceive him enduring all the pangs of love-sickness, +never telling his love; "concealment, like a worm in the bud, preying upon +his damask cheek," while his hard-hearted mistress stood disdainfully by, +"like pity on a monument, <i>smiling</i> at grief." Above all, conceive him +taking the lover's leap—say from Dunnet or Duncansby-head, where the +rocks tower four hundred feet above the Pentland Firth, and floundering in +the waters like an enormous whale; the herring shoals hurrying away from +his unwieldy gambols, as from the presence of the real sea-born leviathan. +Cacus in love was not more grand, or the gigantic Polyphemus, sighing at +the feet of Galatea, or infernal Pluto looking amiable beside his ravished +queen. Have you seen an elephant in love? If you have, you may conceive +what Mr. Tims would be in that interesting situation.</p> + +<p>Supper was brought in. It consisted of eggs, cold veal, bacon-ham, and a +Welsh rabbit. I must confess, that, perplexed as I was by all the previous +events of the evening, I felt a gratification at the present moment, in +the anxiety to see how the Man-Mountain would comport himself at table. I +had beheld his person and his shadow with equal admiration, and I doubted +not that his powers of eating were on the same great scale as his other +qualifications. They were, indeed. Zounds, how he did eat! Cold veal, +eggs, bacon-ham, and Welsh rabbit, disappeared "like the baseless fabric +of a vision, and left not a wreck behind;" so thoroughly had nine-tenths +of them taken up their abode in the <i>bread basket</i> (vide Jon Bee) of the +Man-Mountain; the remaining tenth sufficed for the rest of the company, +viz. Julia, her aunt, her aunt's husband, and myself.</p> + +<p>Liquor was brought in, to wit, wine, brandy, whisky, and rum. I felt an +intense curiosity to see on which of the four Mr. Tims would fix his +choice. He fixed upon brandy, and made a capacious tumbler of hot toddy. I +did the same, and asked Julia to join me in taking a single glass—I was +forestalled by the Man-Mountain. I then asked the lady of the house the +same thing, but was forestalled by her husband.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the evening wearing on, the ladies retired, and Mr. Tims, the +landlord, and myself, were left to ourselves. This was the signal for a +fresh assault upon the brandy-bottle. Another tumbler was made—then +another—then a fourth. At this period Julia appeared at the door, and +beckoned upon the landlord, who arose from table, saying he would rejoin +us immediately. Mr. Tims and I were thus left alone, and so we continued, +for the landlord, strange to say, did not again appear. What became of him +I know not. I supposed he had gone to bed, and left his <i>great</i> friend and +myself to pass the time as we were best able.</p> + +<p>We were now commencing our fifth tumbler, and I began to feel my whole +spirit pervaded by the most delightful sensations. My heart beat quicker, +my head sat more lightly than usual upon my shoulders; and sounds like the +distant hum of bees, or the music of the spheres, heard in echo afar off, +floated around me. There was no bar between me and perfect happiness, but +the Man-Mountain, who sat on the great elbow-chair opposite, drinking his +brandy-toddy, and occasionally humming an old song with the utmost +indifference.</p> + +<p>It was plain that he despised me. While any of the others were present he +was abundantly loquacious, but now he was as dumb as a fish—tippling in +silence, and answering such questions as I put to him in abrupt +monosyllables. The thing was intolerable, but I saw into it: Julia had +played me false; the "Mountain" was the man of her choice, and I his +despised and contemptible rival.</p> + +<p>These ideas passed rapidly through my mind, and were accompanied with +myriads of others. I bethought me of every thing connected with Mr. +Tims—his love for Julia—his elephantine dimensions, and his shadow, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>[pg 159]</span> +huge and imposing as the image of the moon against the orb of day, during +an eclipse. Then I was transported away to the Arctic sea, where I saw him +floundering many a rood, "hugest of those that swim the ocean stream." +Then he was a Kraken fish, outspread like an island upon the deep: then a +mighty black cloud affrighting the mariners with its presence: then a +flying island, like that which greeted the bewildered eyes of Gulliver. At +last he resumed his human shape, and sat before me like "Andes, giant of +the Western Star," tippling the jorum, and sighing deeply.</p> + +<p>Yes, he sighed profoundly, passionately, tenderly; and the sighs came from +his breast like blasts of wind from the cavern of Eolus. By Jove, he was +in love; in love with Julia! and I thought it high time to probe him to +the quick.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said I, "you must be conscious that you have no right to love +Julia. You have no right to put your immense body between her and me. She +is my betrothed bride, and mine she shall be for ever."</p> + +<p>"I have weighty reasons for loving her," replied Mr. Tims.</p> + +<p>"Were your reasons as weighty as your person, you <i>shall not</i> love her."</p> + +<p>"She <i>shall</i> be mine," responded he, with a deeply-drawn sigh. "You +cannot, at least, prevent her image from being enshrined in my heart. No, +Julia! even when thou descendest to the grave, thy remembrance will cause +thee to live in my imagination, and I shall thus write thine elegy:</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">I cannot deem thee dead—like the perfumes</p> +<p class="i6">Arising from Judea's vanished shrines</p> +<p class="i4">Thy voice still floats around me—nor can tombs</p> +<p class="i6">A thousand, from my memory hide the lines</p> +<p class="i4">Of beauty, on thine aspect which abode,</p> +<p class="i4">Like streaks of sunshine pictured there by God.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>She shall be mine," continued he in the same strain. "Prose and verse +shall woo her for my lady-love; and she shall blush and hang her head in +modest joy, even as the rose when listening to the music of her beloved +bulbul beneath the stars of night."</p> + +<p>These amorous effusions, and the tone of insufferable affectation with +which they were uttered, roused my corruption to its utmost pitch, and I +exclaimed aloud, "Think not, thou revivification of Falstaff—thou +enlarged edition of Lambert—thou folio of humanity—thou Titan—thou +Briareus—thou Sphynx—thou Goliath of Gath, that I shall bend beneath thy +ponderous insolence?" The Mountain was amazed at my courage; I was amazed +at it myself; but what will not Jove, inspired by brandy, effect?</p> + +<p>"No," continued I, seeing the impression my words had produced upon him, +"I despise thee, and defy thee, even as Hercules did Antaeus, as Sampson +did Harapha, as Orlando did Ferragus. 'Bulk without spirit vast,' I fear +thee not; come on." So saying, I rushed onward to the Mountain, who arose +from his seat to receive me. The following passage from the Agonistes of +Milton will give some idea of our encounter:</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">"As with the force of winds and water pent,</p> +<p class="i4">When mountains tremble, these two massy pillars,</p> +<p class="i4">With horrible convulsion to and fro,</p> +<p class="i4">He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew</p> +<p class="i4">The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder,</p> +<p class="i4">Upon the heads of all who sat beneath."</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>"Psha!" said Julia, blushing modestly, "can't you let me go?" Sweet Julia, +I had got her in my arms.</p> + +<p>"But where," said I, "is Mr. Tims?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. who?" said she.</p> + +<p>"The Man-Mountain."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tims!—Man-Mountain!" resumed Julia, with unfeigned surprise. "I know +of no such persons. How jocular you are to-night—not to say how ill-bred, +for you have been asleep for the last five minutes!"</p> + +<p>"Sweet, sweet Julia!"</p> + +<p>A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN.</p> + +<p><i>Blackwood's Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>SONG.</h3> + +<h4>BY T. CAMPBELL.</h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">'Tis now the hour—'tis now the hour</p> +<p class="i6">To bow at Beauty's shrine;</p> +<p class="i4">Now whilst, our hearts confess the power</p> +<p class="i6">Of woman, wit, and wine;</p> +<p class="i4">And beaming eyes look on so bright,</p> +<p class="i4">Wit springs—wine sparkles in their light.</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">In such an hour—in such an hour,</p> +<p class="i6">In such an hour as this,</p> +<p class="i4">While Pleasure's fount throws up a shower</p> +<p class="i6">Of social sprinkling bliss,</p> +<p class="i4">Why does my bosom heave the sigh</p> +<p class="i4">That mars delight?—She is not by!</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">There was an hour—there was an hour</p> +<p class="i6">When I indulged the spell</p> +<p class="i4">That Love wound round me with a power</p> +<p class="i6">Words vainly try to tell—</p> +<p class="i4">Though Love has fill'd my checker'd doom</p> +<p class="i4">With fruits and thorns, and light and gloom—</p> + </div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Yet there's an hour—there's still an hour</p> +<p class="i6">Whose coming sunshine may</p> +<p class="i4">Clear from the clouds that hang and lower</p> +<p class="i6">My fortune's future day;</p> +<p class="i4">That hour of hours beloved will be,</p> +<p class="i4">That hour that gives thee back to me!</p> + </div> </div> + +<p><i>New Monthly Magazine.</i></p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + +<h2>THE GATHERER.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">"A snapper-up of unconsidered tifles."</p> +<p class="i8">SHAKSPEARE.</p> + </div> </div> + +<hr /> + + +<p>What will our civic friends say to this, about the date of 1686?—"Among +other policies of assurance which appear at the Exchange, there is one of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>[pg 160]</span> +no ordinary nature; which is, that Esquire Neale, who hath for some time +been a suitor to the rich Welsh widow Floyd, offers as many guineas as +people will take to receive thirty for each one in case he marry the said +widow. He hath already laid out as much as will bring him in 10 or 12,000 +guineas; he intends to make it 30,000, and then to present it to the lady +in case she marry him; and any one that will accept of guineas on that +condition may find as many as he pleases at Garraway's +coffee-house."—<i>Ellis Correspondence.</i></p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>PAT O'KELLY, THE IRISH POET.</h3> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Three poets, of three different nations born,</p> +<p class="i4">With works immortal do this age adorn;</p> +<p class="i4">Byron, of England—Scott, of Scotia's blood—And,</p> +<p class="i4">Erin's pride, O'Kelly, great and good.</p> +<p class="i4">'Twould take a Byron and a Scott, I tell ye,</p> +<p class="i4">Roll'd up in one, to make a Pat O'Kelly.</p> +<p class="i8"><i>Legends of the Lakes.</i></p> + </div> </div> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>IRISH NAMES, MADE ENGLISH.</h3> + +<h4><i>(For the Mirror.)</i></h4> + + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"><i>Macnamara</i>, son of a sea-hound.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macmahon</i>, son of a bear.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Brien</i>, the force of water.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Kennedy</i>, wearing a helmet.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Horan</i>, the gold of poetry.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Sullivan</i>, having but one eye.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Gallagher</i>, the helper of Englishmen.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Riordan</i>, a royal salmon.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Lysaght</i>, a hired soldier.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Finnoala</i>, white-shouldered.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Una</i>, matchless.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Farrell</i>, a fair man.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mohairey</i>, an early riser.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Naghten</i>, a strong person.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Trayner</i>, a strong man.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Keeffe</i>, mild.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Keating</i>, a shower of fire.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Kinahan</i>, a moss trooper.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Kearney</i>, a soldier.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Leahy</i>, a champion.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macaveely</i>, son of the hero.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Ardil</i>, of high descent.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Dermid</i>, a god in arms.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Toraylagh</i>, like a tower.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Cairbre</i>, a royal person.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Flinn</i>, red haired.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Dwyer</i>, a dark man.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Docharty</i>, dangerous.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mullane</i>, broad head.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Cullane</i>, broad poll.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Flaherty</i>, a powerful chief.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Lalor</i>, or <i>Lawler</i>, one who speaks by halves.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Tierney</i>, a lord.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Bulger</i>, a Dutchman.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Dougal</i>, a Dane.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Intosh</i>, son of the chief.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Tagart</i>, son of the priest.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac'Nab</i>, son of the abbot.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Clery</i>, son of a clerk.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Lure</i>, son of a tailor.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macgill</i>, son of a squire.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Macbrehane</i>, son of a judge.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Mac Tavish</i>, son of a savage.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Goff</i>, or <i>Gough</i>, smith.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Galt</i>, a Protestant.</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Gillespie</i>, the bishop's squire.</p> + </div> </div> + +<p>The whole of the above are literal translations without having recourse to +<i>fancy</i>, or <i>torturing the originals</i>; thus, <i>Macnamara</i>, called in Irish +<i>Mac Conmara</i>, from <i>mac</i>, a son, <i>con</i>, the genitive case of <i>cu</i>, a +hound, and <i>mara</i>, the genitive case of <i>muir</i>, the sea; and so of the +rest. It is proper, however, to observe, that although the name of +<i>Keating</i> sounds exactly in Irish a "<i>shower of fire</i>" yet as the Keatings +came at first from England, this cannot be the real origin of that name. +All the rest are literally correct.</p> + +<p>H.S.</p> + +<hr /> + + +<h3>ONIONS.</h3> + + +<p>Lord Bacon tells us of a man who fasted five days, without meat, bread, or +drink, by smelling a wisp of herbs, among which were strong <i>onions</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>PURCHASERS of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their sets are +informed, that every Volume is complete in itself, and may be purchased +separately. The whole of the numbers are now in print, and can be procured +by giving an order to any Bookseller or Newsvender.</p> + +<p>Complete sets Vol I. to XII. in boards, price £3. 5<i>s</i>. half bound, £4. +2<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p>LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS.</p> + +<p>CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, near +Somerset House.</p> + +<p>The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Embellished with nearly 150 +Engravings. Price 6s. 6d. boards</p> + +<p>The TALES of the GENII. Price 2s.</p> + +<p>The MICROCOSM. By the Right Hon. G. CANNING. &c. Price 2s.</p> + +<p>PLUTARCH'S LIVES, with Fifty Portraits, 2 vols. price 13s. boards.</p> + +<p>COWPER'S POEMS, with 12 Engravings, price 3s. 6d. boards.</p> + +<p>COOK'S VOYAGES, 2 vols. price 8s. boards.</p> + +<p>The CABINET of CURIOSITIES: or, WONDERS of the WORLD DISPLAYED. Price 5s. +hoards.</p> + +<p>BEAUTIES of SCOTT, 2 vols. price 7s. boards.</p> + +<p>The ARCANA of SCIENCE for 1828. Price 4s. 6d.</p> + +<p>Any of the above Works can be purchased in Parts.</p> + +<p>GOLDSMITH'S ESSAYS. Price 8d.</p> + +<p>DR. FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS. Price 1s. 2d.</p> + +<p>BACON'S ESSAYS Price 8d.</p> + +<p>SALMAGUNDI. Price 1s. 8d.</p> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b><a href="#footnotetag1">(return)</a><p>Their annual meeting is in August, when the examination takes +place. Fourteen exhibitions have been instituted, each of the +exhibitioners being allowed forty pounds per annum to assist in their +support, for seven years, at either university.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote2" name="footnote2"></a><b>Footnote 2:</b><a href="#footnotetag2">(return)</a><p>See <i>Ode to London Stone</i>. MIRROR, No. 357, p. 114.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote3" name="footnote3"></a><b>Footnote 3:</b><a href="#footnotetag3">(return)</a><p>See Shakspeare's Henry VI., part 2, act 4, scene 6.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote4" name="footnote4"></a><b>Footnote 4:</b><a href="#footnotetag4">(return)</a><p>The ancient name for London.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote5" name="footnote5"></a><b>Footnote 5:</b><a href="#footnotetag5">(return)</a><p>The cause of the great plague in 1665, was ascribed to the +importation of infected goods from Holland, where the plague had committed +great ravages the preceding year.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote6" name="footnote6"></a><b>Footnote 6:</b><a href="#footnotetag6">(return)</a><p> Stowe in his history describes the London Stone, "fixed in +the ground very deep, fastened with bars of iron and otherwise, so +strongly set that if carts do runne against it through negligence, the +wheels be broken, and the stone itself unshaken."</p> + +<p>See No. 64 of the Mirror for an account of London Stone.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote7" name="footnote7"></a><b>Footnote 7:</b><a href="#footnotetag7">(return)</a><p> When the church of St. Swithin was repaired in 1798, some of +the parishioners declared the London Stone a nuisance which ought to be +removed. Fortunately, one gentleman, Thomas Maiden, of Sherborne Laue, +interfered and rescued it from annihilation, and caused it to be placed in +its present situation.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote8" +name="footnote8"></a><b>Footnote 8:</b><a +href="#footnotetag8">(return)</a><p>From sources entirely +original.</p></blockquote> + + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 359 *** + +***** This file should be named 11322-h.htm or 11322-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/3/2/11322/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Pauline, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/old/11322-h/images/359-1.png b/old/11322-h/images/359-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..84ce764 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11322-h/images/359-1.png diff --git a/old/11322-h/images/359-2.png b/old/11322-h/images/359-2.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf4174c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11322-h/images/359-2.png diff --git a/old/11322.txt b/old/11322.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9891810 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11322.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2011 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and +Instruction., by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. + Volume 13, No. 359, Saturday, March 7, 1829. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February 26, 2004 [EBook #11322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 359 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Pauline, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. XIII, NO. 359.] SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1829. [Price 2d. + + + + +RUGBY SCHOOL + + +[Illustration: Rugby School.] + + +On the eastern border of Warwickshire, about 13 miles from Coventry, and +16 from Warwick, stands the cheerful town of Rugby, a place of great +antiquity, but of little note previous to the erection of a grammar-school +there, towards the close of the sixteenth century. The circumstances under +which this school was founded, and the rank it has attained among our +classical seminaries, may probably be interesting to the reader. + +Rugby School was founded in the ninth year of Elizabeth, by Lawrence +Sheriff, grocer, of London, chiefly as a free grammar-school for the +children of the parishes of Rugby and Brownsover, and places adjacent. For +the accommodation of the master, who was, "if it conveniently might be, to +be ever a Master of Arts," he bequeathed a messuage at Rugby, in which it +is probable he had himself resided during the last few years of his life, +and he directed that there should be built, near this residence, a fair +and convenient school-house, to defray which expense, and of a contiguous +almshouse, he bequeathed the revenue of the rectory of Brownsover, and a +third portion of twenty-four acres of land, situate in _Lamb's Conduit +Fields_, "near London," and termed the Conduit Close. These eight acres +were of trivial value at the period; and in 1653, the trustees of the +property paid the schoolmaster a salary of 12_l_. a year, and each of the +alms-men 7_s_. 7_d_. In 1686, the Lamb's Conduit property was leased for +fifty years at 50_l_. per annum. The metropolis increased, and stretching +one of its _Briareusian_ arms in this direction, the once neglected field +rose in value, and in 1702 (thirty-four years before the expiration of the +above term) the trustees granted a fresh lease to William (afterwards Sir +William) Milman, of forty-three years, to commence at the termination of +the former lease. Building was not then a mania, and Sir William obtained +his term for 60_l_. per annum; so that until the year 1780, the annual +produce of the estate belonging to the Rugby charity, was only 116_l_. +17_s_. 6_d_.! But, shortly after the grant of an extended term to Sir W. +Milman, handsome streets of family houses sprung up, and it was computed +that a ground-rent of at least 1,600_l_. would accrue to the charity on +the expiration of his lease. A much greater income has, in fact, arisen, +and the revenues will be materially increased on the termination of the +present leases. + +The flourishing finances of this noble institution are well managed by +twelve trustees, chosen from the nobility and gentry of the country.[1] + +The ancient buildings of the Rugby seminary were a humble tenement for the +schoolmaster, a principal school-room, and two or three additional +school-rooms, built at different times, as the finances would allow. These +being found too limited, in 1808 the trustees commenced the erection of +the present structure, from the designs of Mr. Henry Hakewill. It stands +nearly on the same spot as the former humble building, and is composed of +white brick, the angles, cornices, and dressings to the windows and +openings being of Aldborough stone. The style of architecture is that of +the reign of Elizabeth, the period at which the school was founded. The +building is massy, august, and interesting from its graceful disposition +of parts. The principal front is that represented in our engraving, which +extends 220 feet. + +The schools are entered by a gateway opposite the street, which leads to +the principal court, a fine area, 90 feet long by 75 feet wide, with a +plain cloister on the east, south, and west sides. The buildings on the +south of the court comprise the dining hall, belonging to the boys in the +head master's house, and three schools for different classes; those on the +west are occupied by the great school; and on the north are the French and +writing schools. The east side adjoins the offices belonging to the head +master's house. About sixty boys are accommodated here; the remainder +lodge in the houses of the other masters, and in the town of Rugby. + +Lawrence Sheriff, the benevolent founder of this institution, was born at +Brownsover, whence he removed to London, where he kept a grocer's shop in +Newgate-street. A more gratifying portrait of true beneficence than +Sheriff's bequest can scarcely be found in British annals; and this +gratification is greatly enhanced by the justice with which his intentions +have been carried into effect at Rugby. The alms-houses were originally +for four poor old men; but the dwellings have been augmented in proportion +to the increased revenues. + + [1] Their annual meeting is in August, when the examination takes + place. Fourteen exhibitions have been instituted, each of the + exhibitioners being allowed forty pounds per annum to assist in + their support, for seven years, at either university. + + * * * * * + + + +CHOICE HINTS FOR A PLAN TO DISCHARGE THE NATIONAL DEBT. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +"Great events sometimes spring from trivial causes," of the truth of this +adage, no man is, I think, so great a _heretic_, as to express any +doubt--were such the case, it would be by no means difficult to conjure up +a host of evidence, in support of our proposition; but, seeing that "such +things are," let us at once to the point. + +The present age is so rife in whims and proposals, that I am rather +apprehensive, some may doubt the _feasibility_ of the following. +Nevertheless, it is, methinks, quite as good, as many others which +recently were strangled, in struggling for existence. + +In looking over some old pamphlets the other day, I met with the following +"true and particular account" of Mr. Peter Pounce, Postmaster, of +Petersham, and his horse, Prance. + +Now, according to my author (of whose veracity I entreat the reader to use +his own discretion) it seems this Mr. Pounce was an exceedingly good kind +of man, and that his horse, Prance, was also an exceedingly good kind of +horse; moreover, when the postmaster travelled, he usually put up at the +_George_, where there is exceeding good entertainment for both man and +horse. Upon one occasion, being in great haste, Mr. Pounce directed the +ostler not to put Prance into the stable, but to tie him to the brew-house +door. Now, as cruel fate would have it, there was just within the nag's +reach, a tub full of wine lees, which, luckless moment for him, (being +thirsty) he unceremoniously quaffed off in a trice, without even _here's +to you_. + +The consequence was, Prance fell down dead drunk; nay, he acted death so +much to the life, that his master, reckoning him absolutely defunct, had +him flayed, and sold his skin to a tanner, who happened to be drinking in +the alehouse kitchen. Mr. Pounce then walked in a solitary mood to his +home, and communicated the melancholy affair to his good lady, who wept +bitterly at Prance's untimely fate. + +But leaving her to dry her eyes, we return to the nag--the weather being +cold, he was by the loss of his skin, &c. quite sobered, and prudently +trotted to his master's door, at which he whinnied with much clamour for +admission. + +Bless me, my dear, exclaims Mrs. P. our nag's ghost is at the door--I know +him by his whinnies; upon which Mr. Pounce runs with alacrity to the +door, and sure enough there he was--no ghost--but in propria persona +except his skin. In this exigence, the gentleman had four sheep killed +forthwith, and covered the nag with a woollen garment. To make short of +it, the horse rapidly recovered, and bore two tods of wool every year. + +From this narration it is proposed to embrace the manifest advantages +which offer themselves for improving the woollen trade--that great staple +of Britain's wealth, in manner following:-- + +First, then, let an accurate estimate be taken of the number of sheep +annually slaughtered in these kingdoms. + +Secondly.--Let proper officers be appointed to collect these skins into +commodious warehouses. + +Lastly.--That such a number of horses, mares, and geldings as the said +skins will conveniently cover, be flayed (without fear of Mr. Martin!) and +their backs forthwith enveloped in fleece. + +By this arrangement the following benefits will arise to the government +and community:-- + +1. Every horse whose hide was formerly only useful after death, will then +afford an annual profit by producing two tods of wool yearly, without any +loss to the tanner or shoemaker, who will still necessarily have as many +hides as heretofore. + +2. The health of that useful animal the horse, which is probably liable to +more disorders than any other (the human species excepted) will be much +better preserved by woollen than a hairy covering. + +3. There will be little occasion for saddles, &c. as the fleece will +afford a very easy seat, much softer than leather, and well adapted for +ladies and invalids. + +Lastly.--There will be an annual acquisition of about 40 millions +sterling, from this novel mode of procedure, of which please to accept the +following algebraical demonstration:-- + +Let _x_ be the unknown quantity; _a_, the horses; _b_, the sheep; then per +simple equations _x_, plus _a_, plus _b_, minus tods, plus sheepskins, +equal one thousand--then minus sheep, plus horses, minus wool, plus tods, +equal one million. Lastly, horses plus sheep, minus hides, plus fleeces, +in all equal forty millions. + + Quod erat demonstrandum. + +There, reader, if you are still a sceptic, I cannot help it. + +JACOBUS. + + * * * * * + + +ANSWER OF THE LONDON STONE.[2] + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + Why hast thou mortal, on my slumber broken, + And dragged my struggling spirit back to earth? + Though "walls have ears," yet stones have never spoken. + Why am I made the object of thy mirth? + Why am I questioned thus to tell my fate, + And primal use? Yet hear--whilst I relate. + + When time was young, and earth was in her prime, + Secure I slept within her spacious womb; + And ages passed--I took no heed of time, + Until some Druid burst my dismal tomb, + And dragged me forth amidst the haunts of man. + And then, indeed my life of woe began. + + And ere great Caesar in triumphant pride, + Led on by conquest, bade Rome's eagles soar + To this fair isle; full many a victim died + Upon my breast, and I was drenched with gore: + For "midst the tangling horrors of the wood," + I stood an altar, stained with human blood. + + I've witnessed scenes, which I now dread to name, + I've seen the captive bound in wicker rods + Expire, midst shouts, to feed the sacred flame, + And glut the fury of offended gods; + Those days soon passed--the gospel's milder ray + Dispelled the gloom, and spread a brighter day. + + Then superstition tottered on her throne, + And hid her head in shades of gloomy night; + Quenched were her fires--her impious fanes o'er thrown, + Her mists dispersed before the Prince of Light, + Then sank my grandeur; in some lonely spot + I slept for years unnoticed and forgot. + + Until Vespasian, by Rome's stern command, + To quench rebellion in my native isle, + Brought his bold legions from a foreign strand, + Our land to torture, and our towers to spoil; + He hewed me in a fashion now unknown, + And dubbed me, what I am, "The London Stone." + + From me, the miles by Britons once were counted, + Close to my side were monies lent and paid; + If princes died--some gaudy herald mounted + Upon my head, and proclamations read; + Till Gresham rose; who used me very ill, + He moved the place of commerce to Cornhill. + + When reeling homewards from the tavern near, + Oft with prince Henry has old honest Jack + Sat on my breast, and I've been doomed to hear + Him talk of valour, and of unpaid sack; + And whilst he talked, the roysterers gave vent, + To peals of laughter and of merriment. + + Yes, I'm the hone that "City's Lord" essayed, + To make the whetstone of his rebel sword; + On me, with mischief rife, rebellious Cade + Sat whilst he thought and dubbed himself a Lord; + And bade my conduit pipe for one whole year + At city's cost, run naught but claret clear.[3] + + I could a tale of harrowing woes reveal, + Whilst York and Lancaster for mastery tried: + When men the ties of nature ceased to feel, + When sires beneath their offsprings' sabres died; + And sires 'gainst children clad themselves in arms, + And England mourned the din of war's alarms. + + Yes, I beheld the beauteous virgin queen, + And all the dauntless heroes of her court; + Where danger threatened, 'midst the danger seen, + Bending their fearless way to Tilbury Fort; + I heard the shouts of joy which Britons gave, + When th' Armada sank beneath the wave. + + I mind, Augusta,[4] well that fatal day, + When to thy ports with dire contagion fraught. + The laden vessel[5] stemmed its gallant way. + And to thy sons the plague disastrous brought; + Quick through thy walls the foul infection spread, + And thou became the city of the dead. + + Scarce ceased the plague--when to my aching sight + Appeared a scene of most terrific woe; + Around me burnt one monstrous blaze of light, + I warmed, and almost melted with its glow; + I burst the chains,[6] which bound me fast, asunder, + And now remain, to learned men a wonder. + + And when the city from her ruins rose, + I soon was left deserted and forlorn; + A porters' bench was raised beneath my nose. + And I became the object of their scorn: + I've heard the rascals, with a vacant stare, + Ask, just like you, what business I had there? + + Few years have passed, since I, by parish sages, + Was called a monstrous nuisance to the street, + And, though I'd borne the brunt of varying ages, + Was doomed for pavement 'neath the horses' feet, + Until a Maiden,[7] near to Sherborne Lane, + Saved me--and rescued London from that stain. + + And now, vain mortal, I have told thee all, + My fate, my primal use, the what and which; + And though my struggling spirit owned thy salt, + Once more I'll slumber in my holy niche, + And "Britain's sun may set," what's that to me, + Since I, stone-blind and dumb, for aye will be. + + J.E. + + [2] See _Ode to London Stone_. MIRROR, No. 357, p. 114. + + [3] See Shakspeare's Henry VI., part 2, act 4, scene 6. + + [4] The ancient name for London. + + [5] The cause of the great plague in 1665, was ascribed to the + importation of infected goods from Holland, where the plague + had committed great ravages the preceding year. + + [6] Stowe in his history describes the London Stone, "fixed in + the ground very deep, fastened with bars of iron and otherwise, + so strongly set that if carts do runne against it through + negligence, the wheels be broken, and the stone itself unshaken." + See No. 64 of the Mirror for an account of London Stone. + + [7] When the church of St. Swithin was repaired in 1798, some of + the parishioners declared the London Stone a nuisance which + ought to be removed. Fortunately, one gentleman, Thomas Maiden, + of Sherborne Laue, interfered and rescued it from annihilation, + and caused it to be placed in its present situation. + + * * * * * + + +HAVER BREAD. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.) + + +A correspondent wishes to be informed of the definition of the word +_avver_. In the 15th volume of the "Beauties of England and Wales," it is +alluded to thus:--"This county (Westmoreland) being supposed unfavourable +to the growth of wheat, black oats, called _haver_, and the species of +barley called _bere_, or _bigg_, were the only grains it produced. Of the +_haver_, bread was made, or the species of pottage called hasty pudding; +this bread being made into thin unleavened cakes, and laid up in chests +within the influence of the fire, has the quality of preserving its +sweetness for several months; it is still in common use. The _bigg_ was +chiefly made into malt, and each family brewed its own ale; during the hay +harvest the women drank a pleasant sharp beverage, made by infusing mint +or sage buttermilk in whey, and hence called _whey-whig_. Wheaten bread +was used on particular occasions; small loaves of it were given to persons +invited to funerals, which they were expected "to take and eat" at home, +in religious remembrance of their deceased neighbour; a custom, the +prototype of which is evidently seen in the establishment of the +eucharist, for in this county it still bears its _Saxon name_, _Arvel +bread_, from appull, _full of reverence_, meaning the holy bread used at +the communion." + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE SKETCH-BOOK. + + * * * * * + + +BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. + + +Gray, as one of the party of dragoons who attended the Duke of Wellington, +proceeded onward at a sharp pace through the marching columns, which his +grace examined, with a close but quick glance, as he passed on, and after +a march of seven leagues, came up with the Belgian troops under the Prince +of Orange, who had been attacked and pushed back by the French. It was +about seven o'clock; none of the British troops had yet arrived within +some hours' march of the duke. The party of dragoons were ordered to +remain in readiness for duty in a cornfield near the road, on a rising +ground, which commanded a full view of the country in front, while the +duke and his staff proceeded to the left. + +The four biscuits which had been served out to each man at Brussels the +night before, with some cold beef, and the contents of their canteen, +helped to regale the dragoons after their long and rapid march, while the +stout steeds that had borne them found a delightful repast in the high rye +that waved under their noses. Here they beheld passing on the road beside +them many wounded Belgians, and could see before them, at the distance of +a quarter of a mile, the French bayonets glistening over the high fields +of corn, and hear distinctly the occasional discharges of musketry from +tirailleurs. Gray's heart leaped with joy, and he thought no more of +Brussels. + +"What's this place called?" inquired one of the dragoons, generally of his +comrades. + +"Called!--Oh, some jaw-breaking Dutch name of a yard long, I suppose," +replied another. "Ax Gentleman Gray--he'll tell you." + +"Well, Mr. Gray, do you know the name of this here place?" + +"I believe," replied Gray, "we are near a point called _Quatre Bras_, or +the four roads." + +"Well," rejoined the other, "if there were half-a-dozen roads, it wouldn't +be too much for these here Flemingers--yon road's not wide enough for +them, you see. Look, here's a regiment o' them coming back!" + +"Ah! poor fellows--we might be in the same situation," observed Gray; +"remember that their force is not strong in comparison with the French, by +the accounts that have been received; better to fall back at the first of +a fight than at the last." + +"I say, Jack," said another, with his mouth full of biscuit, "did you ever +meet with such a devil of a roadster as the _carpolar_ there with the +glazed cocked hat?" + +"Who do you mean?" said Jack. + +"Why the dook, to be sure--how he _did_ give it us on the long road +through the forest." + +"Ay--he's the lad; well, here's God bless his jolly old glazed hat any +way," cried the trooper, swallowing a horn of grog; "he's the boy what has +come from the Peninsula just to gi' 'em a leaf out of his book. He was a +dancing last night--riding like a devil all the morning--and I'll warrant +he'll be fighting all the afternoon by way of refreshing himself." + +"He look'd serious enough this morning though, Master Tom, as he was +turning out." + +"Serious! and so did you; hasn't he enough to make him look serious? Bony, +and all the flower of the French before him. I like to see him look +serious; he's just a thinking a bit, that's all. Look, look, look! where +he is now pelting away up the hill there. My eye! but he's a rum on'." + +"Ay, just as he was in the ould ground," cried an Hibernian. "'Pon my +sowl, I think I'm in Spain agin. There he is, success to him!--an' the +smell o' the powther too so natural." + +"The light troops are pushing on towards that wood," said Gray, fixing his +eyes on a particular spot. + +"Sure enough they are. Ah! we'll soon have the boys up who will set them +off with a flea in their ear." + +"Look--on the rising ground there, about half a mile away, how they are +moving about--that is a train of artillery--see the guns--there is a +regiment of infantry going to the left--do you see their bayonets? A fine +open place here for a battle." + +"Not so good as that which we passed--the plain fields we crossed +immediately after we left the forest of Soignes," said Gray: "however, +that little wood on our right, in front, which runs along the road, is a +good flank, and the village before us is a strong point." + +"Ay, but you see the Belgian troops couldn't keep it; the French have +pushed them out of it." + +"We'll soon have it again, I'll warrant; our men have a fine open ground +here, to give the French a lesson in dancing," cried the corporal of the +party, throwing himself down on his back in the corn. "Here I'll lie and +rest myself; and I don't think I shall be disturb'd by the buzzing of the +blue flies! I'll have a snooze, until the Highlanders shall come up." + +The party remained undisturbed, as the last speaker had intimated, until +about half-past one o'clock; nothing having been done in the way of attack +by the French. During the interval, Gray employed himself in watching +closely the scene around him, and mentally discussing the chances of the +now inevitably approaching fight. + +The hour of struggle was near--the pibroch burst upon the ears of the +troopers, and up they started. + +"Here they come," cried one.--"Here they come," cried another--"the +gallant 42nd; look at the petticoat-devils, how they foot it along!" + +All stood on the highest part of the ground, to witness the arrival of the +troops, who were now within a quarter of a mile of them on the main road. +A hum arose. Belgian officers galloped down the road, and across the +fields in all directions; the duke was seen riding towards his expected +soldiers, and the scene was life at all points. The pibroch's sound grew +louder; and now the bands of the more distant regiments were heard; and +the harmonious bugles of the rifle corps, mingled their sounds with the +others. The long red line of Britons is fully before the sight, like a +giant stream of blood on the ripe and mellow bosom of the earth. Picton is +at its head, and the duke greets the heroic partner of his glory. The +first of the regiments passes close to the troopers, and receives a cheer +from them, which found a return in the relaxing muscles of the hardy +Scots. + +"What corps is that?" inquired one of the group. + +"The Royal Highlanders, the 42nd--don't you see they are turned up with +blue and gold?" replied another. + +"And what's this with the yellow facings?" + +"The old 92nd." + +"And the other Scotch regiment, with the green and gold?" + +"The 79th; three as good kilted corps as ever crossed the Tweed. And +there's the 95th rifle boys, as green as the wood they are going to take. +And there see the 28th,--and the 44th,--and the 32nd;--that's Picton's +division; a glorious set of fellows as ever slept." + +"And who are the fellows all in black?" + +"The bold Brunswick corps, with death's head on their caps--the +_undertakers_ of the French," cried the corporal. + +Never did a young hero gaze on a gallant army with more enthusiastic +feelings, than did Gray upon the troops before him--the sight stirred his +heart-strings. They were within shot of their foe, and half an hour should +see them in the bloody contest. He sighed to think that his own regiment +was not yet come up, with which he might share the glory of the fight. + +One after the other, the corps entered the fields, across the high corn, +from the road, to take up their positions for the battle. Neither cavalry +nor artillery had they to support them--their bayonets were their hopes; +and their wise general placed them accordingly in squares, and at such +distances as that one might support the other, while each would protect +itself, independently, if necessary. The rifle corps now advanced, to open +the business of the day by firing into a field of tirailleurs. The French +were not idle at this time; they advanced in masses--cavalry and infantry; +while a roar of cannon, that almost deafened every ear, covered the +attack. + +"They are coming on the centre," cried Gray: "see the cuirassiers--what a +body of men! Oh! where is our cavalry?" + +"Ay," cried a trooper; "and look, what columns of infantry!" + +All now remained in breathless anxiety, gazing on the approaching masses +of the enemy; not a word was spoken amongst the well-planted squares of +the British. The French are within fifty yards of them, and the battle +begins. + +"There," cried a trooper; "how our men give it to them!--there's a +volley!--look how the horses fall!--see, they can't stand it--hurra!--the +rascals are staggered--the 27th are after them--they deploy into line; +there the French go, with the bayonet at them, helter-skelter. But +observe, at a little distance from them, the enemy's dragoons are at the +42nd--the Scotch open and let them pass; but now they get it right and +left. Down they go; bravo! old Scotland." + +"By heaven!" cried Gray, "here come the Brunswick horse in confusion, +pursued by the cuirassiers along the road, near the village." + +All turned to gaze at the point: it was too true: their leader had fallen; +they had advanced too incautiously, and were therefore obliged to fall +back. + +"Here they come, and the French cavalry are close upon them. But see the +Highlanders in the ditch. Hark! there--they give them a volley. Down +tumble the horsemen!--look! they are in a heap on the ground." + +A shout from the troopers acknowledged the glorious truth. It was the fire +from the 92nd that achieved the triumph. + +The artillery, the musketry, and the shouting of the combatants, became so +deafening, that even the group of troopers unoccupied in the fight, and in +the rear, could scarcely hear each other's voice. Gray's party mounted +their horses now, in order to have a better view of the battle, and from +the situation of the ground on which they were standing, they beheld, in +awful anxiety, rush after rush made against the British infantry, whose +duty was evidently that of firm defence; they beheld wave after wave of +blue ranks advance over the rising bosom of the ground, and saw them +successively battered by the rocks they assaulted--the ground covered with +men and horses by the well-directed fire of the squares. The other +divisions of the English army were fast arriving, and taking up ground on +the left, in spite of the efforts of the French to prevent it, and thus +divide them from their comrades engaged. A "lull," (as the sailors say, +when the storm pauses a little,) took place, and both armies stood, as it +were, looking at each other. But another and more desperate attack soon +followed; the tempest returned with double violence. The mouths of Ney's +numerous cannon opened again; the smoke drifted over on the English, and +under its cover were seen advancing an immense force, for another struggle +with the right of the duke's line, in order to turn it, and possess +themselves of the village. The duke and his staff were in front of the +92nd regiment, and the balls playing on them had knocked down several of +his aides-de-camp. As the foe came near, the artillery ceased, the close +fight began, and several regiments at once poured in their fire: both +sides kept their ground, and hundreds fell at every discharge of musketry. +The duke now, in the pithy and familiar language of the soldier, cried out +to the Scots, "Ninety-second, you must charge these fellows." + +The word was magic; the kilts rushed against the blaze of the tirailleurs! +Their leader and their officer fell amongst them: but, alas! their blood +only enraged the men; fiercely as tigers they rush, and their bayonets +sink into the mass before them. The whole fly before them, while the +victorious Highlanders pursue them almost out of sight of their general. +Alas! many of these heroes fell in their gallant work. + +This glorious charge was beheld by Gray and his comrades with delight; +their shacos waved over their heads, and their cries of exultation fully +showed what a catching thing is the fever of the fight. One of the +dragoons now turned his eyes to the wood on the right, which the French +had possessed themselves of, and exclaimed, "But look, the guards have +come up, and are in the wood. Where did they come from? I didn't see them +before. Hark! how they shout; they are all amongst the trees." + +"Yes, and they'll not soon come back; they'll keep their ground, I'll +warrant," cried the corporal. + +At this moment the troopers were somewhat disarranged by a part of the +earth suddenly flying upwards in a cloud; it was the effect of a +cannon-ball which had struck the ground. They started a few paces +backwards, wiped their faces, and having all passed their jocular +sentiments on the occasion, coolly united again to view and comment on the +action. + +They continued to gaze on the busy and bloody scene, with but few +observations. Mass after mass was advancing against the steady squares of +infantry, and received with roars of musketry; the cavalry of the enemy, +desperate and disappointed, galloped about the close and well-guarded +Britons, cutting at the ranks, and dropping as they cut. Artillery +bellowed upon the unyielding heroes, whose ranks closed up at every point +where the dead had opened them; they cried aloud for the order to advance; +but received the cool and prudent negative of the watchful chief, who, +during the action, was moving from rank to rank, encouraging and elevating +the energies of his men. + +The repeated unsuccessful attacks of the French wore out the patience of +their general, and so thinned his ranks, that he at length ceased to +contend, and drew off his troops from the field, leaving the English +masters of it, and holding every point of the position which they had +taken up in the early part of the day.--_Tales of Military Life_. + + * * * * * + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + + +CHURCH SPIRES. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Mr. Bentham, in his "History of Ely Cathedral," says, that one of the +earliest spires of which we have any account, "is that of old St. Paul's, +finished in the year 1222." This spire was of timber covered with lead; +"but, not long after, they began to build them of stone, and to finish all +their buttresses in the same manner." Mr. Murphy observes that spires were +introduced in the 12th century, about the time that the practice of +burying in churches became general over Europe; and he supposes that the +pyramidal form of the spire, was used as the denotation of a church +comprising a cemetery. This representation he imagines to have been +borrowed "from the ancient Egyptians, who placed the pyramid over their +cemeteries, as denoting the soul under the emblem of a flame of fire, +(whence it is supposed to derive its origin) thus to testify their belief +of its immortality." There are other opinions respecting the origin of +spires. It may appear probable (says Mr. Brewer,) to many persons, that +such an elevated feature of our ancient churches was merely designed in +the simplicity of its first intention, to act as a guide to the place of +worship, when rural roads, throughout the whole country, were devious, and +rendered more obscure by thick masses of forest and woodland. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + +LEAD MINERS. + +[Illustration: Lead Miners.] + + +Lead is found in many countries, but is particularly abundant in England. +The lead-mines in Derbyshire are many, as the Odin, Speedwell, Tideswell +Moor, Dirtlow, &c.; and the ore is not only found in various soils, but +mingled with a variety of substances. The Odin mine, at the foot of Mam +Tor, and near it to the south, is the most celebrated and ancient of any +in the county, being worked by the Saxons, from whom it received its name, +whilst most of the mineral terms used there are of Saxon origin. The +Speedwell mine did not repay the cost of working it; and, therefore, after +an expense of 14,000_l_., and eleven years assiduous labour, was +abandoned. Its interior is worthy the attention of the tourist. + +Our engraving endeavours to represent the costume of women who work in +some of the Derbyshire lead-mines; they are capital figures, to which the +pencil can scarcely do justice; indeed, though this sketch was drawn from +nature, it conveys but an imperfect idea of beings, (_nondescripts_,) who +would assuredly delight Cruikshank. The dress of these women, of whom the +writer saw several emerged from mines a few miles from the Peak, seems +contrived to secure them from the cold and wet attendant upon their +employment. The head is much enwrapped, and the features nearly hidden, in +a muffling of handkerchiefs, over which is put a man's hat, in the manner +of the _paysannes_ of Wales, but not near so neat and stylish; besides, +the Welsh women are generally handsome, and become the hat; but the case +is far different with the _fair_ miners of Derbyshire, at least those whom +I saw, who were complete harridans. A man's coat, of coarse gray or dark +blue cloth, defends the arms, back, throat, and bosom of each _lady_ from +the cold; beneath it, but tucked up all round so as to form a kind of bag, +appears a gown of red stuff, which, set off by a bright green petticoat, +produces an effect singular and amusing; then come the shoes, at least +three inches thick, and long in proportion, bound on to the feet, in some +instances, with handkerchiefs, and thongs, and cords: it is a wonder that +the women can stir in such unwieldy slippers. Our party had stopped to +collect specimens of the lead ore, when the carriages were instantly +surrounded by these females, offering ore, zinc, slick-and-slide, and +various quartz crystals and fluor spars for sale; some of the women were +very old, and one in particular, who had worked in the mine from her +youth, was nearly a hundred years of age, yet she was upright and active, +and wrinkles alone betrayed the fact. + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + + * * * * * + + +_The Colosseum_. + + +The curious mechanism by which it is proposed to elevate the visiters at +this emporium of wonders, is as follows: A large bucket or tank of water +will be connected with a movable platform that any number of persons may +be placed in equilibrium with its fluid contents, and directly a +sufficient quantity of water is introduced to produce a preponderance in +the tank, the persons stationed on the platform will ascend.--_The +Atlas_. + + +_Spots on the Sun_. + + +An ingenious individual in Providence has very recently succeeded, by +means of a seven-feet telescope, constructed by himself, on a new +principle, in bringing the entire image of the sun into a darkened room, +upon a white screen, to the size of eight feet in diameter. He writes us +that his astonishment was great when he perceived that every spot now upon +the face of the sun, nine in number, was distinctly transferred to the +screen, and was so plain that he could see every movement of them in their +various and sudden changes. He says he could plainly discover that those +spots were immense bodies of smoke, apparently issuing from volcanoes; and +as they seem occasionally forced upward from the craters, now forming +dense clouds, and now dispersing, considers those phenomena as accounting +for the rapid changes of those spots. The escape of such a vast quantity +of gas from the interior of the body of the sun would, he observes, as it +surrounds that luminary, produce that bright and dazzling appearance which +is the atmosphere of the sun. This theory may not accord with the opinions +of others who have made observations on the subject; but the writer, at +any rate, entertains the strongest belief of its truth. With the same +instrument, which is but just finished, he has also examined the moon, and +states his conviction that that body is covered with perpetual snow and +ice, the dark spots discoverable on its surface being frozen seas, and the +lighter spaces land covered with snow. Those circular places, which have a +rising cone in the centre, he thinks are extinguished volcanoes, as no +clouds are perceptible over the moon's face; which being covered with snow +and ice, accounts, as he imagines, for its clear atmosphere, or for the +absence of an atmosphere. This vast accumulation of ice and snow upon the +moon's surface may be explained, the writer conjectures, by the nature of +the moon's revolutions. He offers to construct instruments of the above +description, by which these phenomena may be observed, at prices from 50 +to 100 dollars; and at the same rate to furnish solar microscopes, on a +new principle, with a magnifying power at 12 feet distance, of +5,184,000.--_Boston Bulletin_. + + +_National Repository_. + + +Nearly two hundred specimens of curious works in arts and manufacture have +already been laid before the committee of this establishment; the opening +of which will take place in a few days. + + +_Iron Trade_. + + +In 1820, the whole iron made in Great Britain was 400,000 tons: in 1827, +it had increased to 690,000 tons, from 284 furnaces. About three-tenths of +this quantity are of a quality suitable for the foundry, which is all used +in Great Britain and Ireland, with the exception of a small quantity +exported to France and America. The other seven-tenths are made into bars, +rods, sheets, &c., of which a large quantity is exported to all parts of +the world.--_Repertory of Arts_. + + +_Indian Claystone_. + + +In some parts of India, the claystone contains numerous small _nodules_ or +lumps of clay iron-stone, which seldom exceed the size of a walnut. These +are picked up by the natives, and are smelted by means of charcoal in a +very small, rude furnace, blown by the hand-bellows, common all over +India, and still used in Europe by the Gipsies. Many of the hills composed +of claystone are neatly devoid of vegetation; their surface being bare and +smooth, and of a red or black colour. The soil produced by the action of +the atmosphere is not very productive; and so liable is it, in some +places, to consolidate, when deprived of its moisture, that, if it be not +constantly cultivated, it soon becomes hard and bare, and checks all +vegetation. + + +_Public Improvement_. + + +The spirit of general improvement pervades every part of the continent, +and is even more active in France than in Britain. In Britain, the spirit +of improvement is chiefly evinced in public works, and in the useful arts +and manufactures, and its efforts are characterized much more by +superfluity of wealth than by science or refinement: in Germany this +spirit is evinced in public buildings, in a superior taste, in +agriculture, and education--_Gard. Mag_. + + +_The Himalaya Mountains_. + + +This vast accumulation of sublime peaks, the pinnacles of our globe, is so +extensive, that a plane, resting on elevations 21,000 feet, may be +stretched in one direction as far as the Hindoo Cosh, for upwards of 1,000 +miles, above which rise loftier summits, increasing in height to nearly +6,000 feet more. + + +_To make Gold Size_. + + +Melt one pound of asphaltum, and pour into it another pound of linseed +oil, rendered drying by litharge; add also to it half a pound of red lead +or vermilion. When the varnish becomes thick or pasty, thin it by adding +one pound, or a pound and a half of spirit of turpentine; as more is +required in winter than in summer. + + +_Indian Corn_. + + +Mr. C. Hall Jessop, of Cheltenham, asserts that he "was the first who +recommended the Indian corn for field culture in this country," which he +did "in a letter to G. Talbot, Esq., of Guiting, seven years ago." + + +_Polishing Stones_. + + +The Hindoos polish all kinds of stones by means of powdered _corundrum_, +mixed with melted lac. The mixture being allowed to cool, is shaped into +oblong pieces, of three or four inches in length. The stone is polished by +being sprinkled with water; and at the same time rubbed with three oblong +masses; and the polish is increased by masses being used successively with +finer grains. + + +_Sensitive Plant_. + + +Mr. Burnet and Mr. Mayo have found, that at the moment the sensitive plant +is touched, so as to occasion motion, it _changes colour_. They have also +found that when a sensitive plant has been made to droop, the part in +which the moving power resides is blackened, so as to absorb the light of +the sun; the restoration of the plant to its natural state is much longer +in taking place. + + +_Indian Mills_. + + +In India, granite is hewn into hand-mills for grinding corn; two or four +of which are a load for an ass or a bullock, and are thus carried to the +bazaar for sale. These are the primeval mills of all countries, which are +mentioned in Scripture, and are still common among all uncivilized +nations. + + +_Musk_. + + +Dr. Davey, by some recent experiments, has proved that when musk, in +admixture with quicklime, smells of ammonia, it is impure or adulterated; +and further, that, to preserve it well, it should be made perfectly dry; +but when it is to be used as a perfume, it should be _moistened_. + + +_Loch Lomond_. + + +Mr. Galbraith has recently determined the quantity of water annually +discharged by the river Leven from the basin of Loch Lomond to be about +59,939 cubic feet per minute. Now, as 36 cubic feet of fresh water are +very near equal to a ton, this gives 1,665 tons per minute; and, supposing +the year to be 365 days, 5 hours, 40 minutes, the annual discharge, at +that rate, will be 877,295,085 tons. But as the river was rather below its +average height, one-third may be added to this result; and we have about +1,200,000,000, or twelve hundred millions of tons per annum. + + * * * * * + + + +MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.[8] + + [8] From sources entirely original. + + * * * * * + +SCOTCH MARRIAGES. + + +Our English love-smitten lads and lasses are pretty generally aware of the +facility with which the most awful and holy of all engagements may be +contracted in North Britain. They sometimes make the experiment in their +own persons; and, "by the simplicity of Venus' doves," old boys and old +girls have been known to follow, as fast as post-chaises, horses, and lads +could carry them, close upon the heels of their juniors, (bound on the +same errand,) to the blissful land o' cakes and matrimony. An English +gentleman, known to the writer, was making a few purchases in a shop, +wherein stood three or four other customers. A man and woman entered, and +the former, addressing the master of the shop and his aforesaid customers, +used, as he took the woman's right hand, words to this effect:--"Witness, +ye that are here present, that I (N. or M.) take this woman (N. or M.) for +my wedded wife." In like manner the _sposa_ desired all present to witness +that she took the man for her wedded husband, with her own full +acquiescence in, and approbation of, his determination. The English +gentleman who had witnessed, in silent amazement, this (to him) novel +engagement, was informed, after the departure of the happy couple, that +the marriage was to all intents and purposes valid by Scotch law, having +been solemnized as effectually as if by religious rites, in the presence +of respectable _housekeepers_, who, as such, were efficient witnesses, and +all that were requisite of _ceremonial_ to make the marriage good! + +I give this anecdote as related to me by the gentleman who saw the +incident mentioned; should there be any discrepancies in his relation, I +shall feel obliged by a _correct_ account of the manner of contracting +marriages in Scotland, from any of your correspondents capable of giving +such. + + +CAPUCHIN INTERMENT. + + +A gentleman, who had resided many years abroad, and particularly amongst +the Italian Catholics, once described to me the manner in which the +Capuchins inter the brethren of their order. These defunct _freres_ are +embalmed, arrayed in their peculiar habits, as when living; and in the +vaults of their monastic churches or chapels, ranged upright in niches +formed for this purpose. On certain days, particularly on the Feast of All +Souls, the doors of these cemeteries are opened to the public, who, as a +religious duty, flock in to view these singular and affecting relics of +mortality. The bodies undergo but little alteration in appearance for +centuries; but Mr. M. being tempted to touch the very long nose of one old +fellow, who _looked_ "a leathern Pharoah, grinning in the dark," it +disappeared in a shower of dust beneath his fingers. + + +A PARTY AT PALERMO. + + +"Palermo," said a lady whom I saw immediately after her return from a tour +in Sicily, "is indeed a beautiful city; but I thought some things strange +in the manners of the inhabitants. Mr. H. and myself were invited to a +music-party, at the house of a person in the best society, whereat +appeared most of the ladies in coloured and high morning dresses. Two +_tallow_ candles and a small lamp stood on the piano-forte in the +music-room, and from this room we descended by three or four steps into +another, containing a bed, over which was a shelf; upon the shelf was +placed one bottle of wine and a few glasses; and this being intended +expressly for the ladies, they were expected to go and help themselves +when they pleased; but a fresh bottle of wine was brought when the first +was exhausted." + + +FRENCH COUNTRY LIFE. + + +"The dinner-hour in the country," said a relation of the writer, who +spends a great deal of time in France, "is generally two o'clock, even +when company are invited to partake of the dinner; in which case, the +whole party has quitted the house by six or seven in the evening,--a +custom which ill accords with _English_ ideas of sociability. Three +table-cloths are usually laid upon the table, the first and second of +which are, or may be, removed during the repast; but the third is _never_ +drawn off, except to be changed for a clean one. In England, we pride +ourselves upon the fine mahogany of which our dinner-tables are made; we +endeavour to obtain, in the first instance, an excellent piece of wood, +and to improve it by assiduous rubbing and polishing. In France, it +matters not of what material the table is framed; a cloth is always upon +it; and I have seen the hospitable _board_ of many families of rank +literally formed of _deal_." + + +A DIFFERENCE. + + +"In this part of the world," says a private letter from India, +(Hyderabad,) "we do not talk of striking gongs for dinner, but +_ghuzzies_,--ghong meaning a horse or mare." + + +BOARDING. + + +In Ireland, when a man marries, who cannot afford to treat his friends to +whiskey upon the occasion, they take the door of his house off the hinges, +lay him upon it, and carry him thus upon their shoulders all day. In the +evening he is allowed to return to his deserted bride. This custom is +called "boarding," and is so frequent, as I myself can attest from +personal observation, as to attract but little attention from the +commonalty, and nothing like a mob. + +M.L.B. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +THE MAN-MOUNTAIN. + + +We were all--Julia, her aunt, and myself, seated at a comfortable fire on +a December evening. The night was dark, starless, and rainy, while the +drops pattered upon the windows, and the wind howled at intervals along +the house-tops. In a word, it was as gloomy a night as one would wish to +see in this, the most dismal season of the year. Strictly speaking, I +should have been at home, for it was Sunday; and my own habitation was at +too great a distance to justify a visit of mere ceremony on so sacred a +day, and amid such stormy weather. The truth is, I sallied out to see +Julia. + +I verily believe I could write a whole volume about her. She came from the +north country, and was at this time on a visit to her aunt, in whose house +she resided; and in whose dining-room, at the period of my story, we were +all seated round a comfortable fire. Though a prodigious admirer of +beauty, I am a bad hand at describing it. To do Julia justice, however, I +must make the attempt. She was rather under the middle size, (not much,) +blue-eyed, auburn-haired, fair-complexioned, and her shape was of uncommon +elegance and proportion. Neck, bosom, waist, ankles, feet, hands, &c. all +were perfect, while her nose was beautifully Grecian, her mouth sweetness +itself, and her teeth as white and sparkling as pearls. In a word, I don't +believe that wide Scotland could boast of a prettier girl--to say nothing +of merry England and the Isle of Saints. + +It was at this time about eight o'clock: tea had just been over, the tray +removed, and the table put to rights. The star of my attraction was +seated at one side of the fire, myself at the opposite, the lady of the +house in the centre. We were all in excellent humour, and Julia and I eyed +each other in the most persevering style imaginable. Her aunt indeed +rallied us upon the occasion; and I thought Julia never appeared half so +beautiful as now. + +A servant bouncing by accident into a room where a gallant is on his knees +before his mistress, and in the act of "popping the question," is +vexatious. An ass thrusting its head through the broken window of a +country church, and braying aloud while the congregation are busily +chanting "Old Hundred," or some other equally devout melody, is vexatious. +An elderly gentleman losing his hat and wig on a windy day, is vexatious. +A young gentleman attempting to spring over a stile by way of showing his +agility to a bevy of approaching ladies, and coming plump down upon the +broadest part of his body, is vexatious. All these things are plagues and +annoyances sufficient to render life a perfect nuisance, and fill the +world with innumerable heart-breakings and _felo-de-sees_. But bad as they +are, they are nothing to the intolerable vexation experienced by me, (and +I believe by Julia too,) on hearing a slow, loud, solemn stroke of the +knocker upon the outer door. It was repeated once--twice--thrice. We heard +it simultaneously--we ceased speaking simultaneously--we (to wit, Julia +and I) ceased ogling each other simultaneously. The whole of us suspended +our conversation in a moment--looked to the door of the room--breathed +hard, and wondered what it could be. The reader will perhaps marvel how +such an impression could be produced by so very trivial a circumstance; +but if he himself had heard the sound, he would cease to wonder at the +strangeness of our feelings. The knocks were the most extraordinary ever +heard. They were not those petty, sharp, brisk, soda-water knocks given by +little, bustling, common-place men. On the contrary, they were slow, +sonorous, and determinate. What was still more remarkable, they were +_three_ in number, neither more nor less. + +Scarcely had our surprise time to subside, than we heard the outer door +opened by the servant--then it closed--then heavy footsteps, one, two, and +three, were audible in the lobby--then the dining-room door was opened; +and a form which filled the whole of its ample aperture, from top to +bottom, from right to left, made its appearance. It was the figure of a +man, but language would sink under his immensity. Never in heaven, or +earth, or air, or ocean, was such a man seen. He was hugeness itself--bulk +personified--the _beau ideal_ of amplitude. When the dining-room door was +first opened, the glare of the well-lighted lobby gleamed in upon us, +illuminating our whole apartment with increase of lustre; but no sooner +did he set his foot upon the threshold, than the lobby light behind him +was shut out. He filled the whole gorge of the door like an enormous +shade. + +Onward, clothed in black, came the moving mountain, and a very pleasing +monster he was. A neck like that of a rhinoceros sat piled between his +"Atlantean shoulders," and bore upon its tower-like and sturdy stem, a +countenance prepossessing from its good-humour, and amazing for its +plumpness and rubicundity. His cheeks were swollen out into billows of +fat--his eyes overhung with turgid and most majestic lids, and his chin +double, triple, ay quadruple. As for his mouth-- + + "It was enough to win a lady's heart + With its bewitching smile." + +Onward came the moving mountain--shaking the floor beneath his tread, +filling a tithe of the room with his bulk, and blackening every object +with his portentous shadow. + +I was amazed--I was confounded--I was horrified. Not so Julia and her +aunt, who, far from participating in my perturbed emotions, got up from +their seats, smiled with a welcoming nod, and requested him to sit down. + +"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said Julia. + +"Glad to see you, Mr. Tims," said her aunt. + +"Mr. Tims!" Gracious heavens, and was this the name of the mighty entrant? +Tims! Tims! Tims!--the thing was impossible. A man with such a name should +be able to go into a nut-shell; and here was one that the womb of a +mountain could scarcely contain! Had he been called Sir Bullion O'Dunder, +Sir Theodosius M'Turk, Sir Rugantino Magnificus, Sir Blunderbuss Blarney, +or some other high-sounding name, I should have been perfectly satisfied. +But to be called _Tims_! Upon my honour, I was shocked to hear it. + +Mr. Tims sat him down upon the great elbow-chair, for he was a friend, it +seems, of the family--a _weighty_ one assuredly; but one whose +acquaintanceship they were all glad to court. The ladies, in truth, seemed +much taken with his society. They put fifty questions to him about the +play--the assembly--the sermon--marriages--deaths--christenings, and what +not; the whole of which he answered with surprising volubility. His tongue +was the only active part about him, going as glibly as if he were ten +stones, instead of thirty, and as if he were a _Tims_ in person as well as +in name. In a short time I found myself totally neglected. Julia ceased to +eye me, her aunt to address me, so completely were their thoughts occupied +with the Man-Mountain. + +In about half an hour I began to feel confoundedly uncomfortable. I was a +mere cipher in the room; and what with the appalling bulk of Mr. Tims, the +attention the ladies bestowed upon him, and the neglect with which they +treated me, I sunk considerably in my own estimation. In proportion as +this feeling took possession of me, I experienced an involuntary respect +for the stranger. I admired his intimate knowledge of balls, dresses, +_faux pas_, marriages, and gossip of all sorts--and still more I admired +his bulk. I have an instinctive feeling of reverence towards "Stout +Gentlemen;" and, while contrasting my own puny form with his, I laboured +under a deep consciousness of personal insignificance. From being five +feet eight, I seemed to shrink to five feet one; from weighing ten stones, +I suddenly fell to seven and a half; while my portly rival sat opposite to +me, measuring at least a foot taller than myself, and weighing good thirty +stones, jockey weight. If any little fellow like me thinks of standing +well with his mistress, let him never appear in her presence with such a +gentleman as Mr. Tims. She will despise him to a certainty; nor, though +his soul be as large as Atlas or Teneriffe, will it compensate for the +paltry dimensions of his body. + +What was to be done? With the ladies, it was plain, I _could_ do nothing: +with Mr. Tims, it was equally plain, I _ought_ to do nothing--seeing that, +however much he was the cause of my uneasiness, he was at least the +_innocent_ cause, and therefore neither morally nor judicially amenable to +punishment. From respecting Mr. Tims I came to hate him; and I vowed +internally, that, rather than be annihilated by this enlarged edition of +Daniel Lambert, I would pitch him over the window. Had I been a giant, I +am sure I would have done it on the spot. The giants of old, it is well +known, raised Pelion upon Ossa, in their efforts to scale the throne of +heaven; and tossed enormous mountains at the godhead of Jupiter himself. +Unfortunately for me, Mr. Tims was a mountain, and I was no giant. + +I accordingly got up, and, pretending it was necessary that I should see +some person in the next street, abruptly left the room. Julia--I did not +expect it--saw me to the door, shook hands with me, and said she hoped I +would return to supper when my business was finished. Sweet girl! was it +possible she could prefer the Man-Mountain to me? + +Away I went into the open air. I had no business whatever to perform: it +was mere fudge; and I resolved to go home as fast as I could. + +But I did not go home. On the contrary, I kept strolling about from street +to street, sometimes thinking upon Julia, sometimes upon Mr. Tims. The +night was of the most melancholy description--a cold, cloudy, windy, rainy +December night. Not a soul was upon the streets excepting a solitary +straggler, returning hither and thither from an evening sermon, or an +occasional watchman gliding past with his lantern, like an incarnation of +the Will-o'-wisp. I strolled up and down for half an hour, wrapped in an +olive great-coat, and having a green silk umbrella over my head. It was +well I chanced to be so well fortified against the weather; for had it +been otherwise, I must have been drenched to the skin. Where I went I know +not, so deeply was my mind wound up in its various melancholy cogitations. +This, however, I do know, that, after striking against sundry lamp-posts, +and overturning a few old women in my fits of absence, I found myself +precisely at the point from which I set out, viz. at the door of Julia's +aunt's husband's house. + +I paused for a moment, uncertain whether to enter, and, in the meantime, +turning my eyes to the window, where, upon the white blind, I beheld the +enormous shadow of a human being. My flesh crept with horror on witnessing +this apparition, for I knew it to be the shadow of the Man-Mountain--the +dim reflection of Mr. Tims. No other human being could cast such a shade. +Its proportions were magnificent, and filled up the whole breadth of the +window-screen; nay, the shoulders shot away latterly beyond its utmost +limits, and were lost in space, having apparently nothing whereon to cast +their mighty image. On beholding this vast shade, my mind was filled with +a thousand exalted thoughts. + +I paused at the door for sometime, uncertain whether to enter; at last my +mind was made up, and I knocked, resolved to encounter the Man-Mountain a +second time, and, if possible, recover the lost glances of Julia. On +entering the dining-room, I found an accession to the company in the +person of our landlord, who sat opposite to Mr. Tims, listening to some +facetious story, which the latter gentleman seemed in the act of relating. +He had come home during my absence, and, like his wife and her niece, +appeared to be fascinated by the eloquence and humour of his stout friend. +At least, so I judged, for he merely recognised my presence by a slight +bow, and devoted the whole of his attention to the owner of the mighty +shadow. Julia and her aunt were similarly occupied, and I was more +neglected than ever. + +Perhaps the reader may think that there was something ludicrous in the +idea of such a man being in love. Not at all--the notion was sublime; +almost as sublime as his shadow--almost as overwhelming as his person. +Conceive the Man-Mountain playing the amiable with such a delicate young +creature like Julia. Conceive him falling on his knees before +her--pressing her delicate hand, and "popping the question," while his +large round eyes shed tears of affection and suspense, and his huge sides +shook with emotion! Conceive him enduring all the pangs of love-sickness, +never telling his love; "concealment, like a worm in the bud, preying upon +his damask cheek," while his hard-hearted mistress stood disdainfully by, +"like pity on a monument, _smiling_ at grief." Above all, conceive him +taking the lover's leap--say from Dunnet or Duncansby-head, where the +rocks tower four hundred feet above the Pentland Firth, and floundering in +the waters like an enormous whale; the herring shoals hurrying away from +his unwieldy gambols, as from the presence of the real sea-born leviathan. +Cacus in love was not more grand, or the gigantic Polyphemus, sighing at +the feet of Galatea, or infernal Pluto looking amiable beside his ravished +queen. Have you seen an elephant in love? If you have, you may conceive +what Mr. Tims would be in that interesting situation. + +Supper was brought in. It consisted of eggs, cold veal, bacon-ham, and a +Welsh rabbit. I must confess, that, perplexed as I was by all the previous +events of the evening, I felt a gratification at the present moment, in +the anxiety to see how the Man-Mountain would comport himself at table. I +had beheld his person and his shadow with equal admiration, and I doubted +not that his powers of eating were on the same great scale as his other +qualifications. They were, indeed. Zounds, how he did eat! Cold veal, +eggs, bacon-ham, and Welsh rabbit, disappeared "like the baseless fabric +of a vision, and left not a wreck behind;" so thoroughly had nine-tenths +of them taken up their abode in the _bread basket_ (vide Jon Bee) of the +Man-Mountain; the remaining tenth sufficed for the rest of the company, +viz. Julia, her aunt, her aunt's husband, and myself. + +Liquor was brought in, to wit, wine, brandy, whisky, and rum. I felt an +intense curiosity to see on which of the four Mr. Tims would fix his +choice. He fixed upon brandy, and made a capacious tumbler of hot toddy. I +did the same, and asked Julia to join me in taking a single glass--I was +forestalled by the Man-Mountain. I then asked the lady of the house the +same thing, but was forestalled by her husband. + +Meanwhile, the evening wearing on, the ladies retired, and Mr. Tims, the +landlord, and myself, were left to ourselves. This was the signal for a +fresh assault upon the brandy-bottle. Another tumbler was made--then +another--then a fourth. At this period Julia appeared at the door, and +beckoned upon the landlord, who arose from table, saying he would rejoin +us immediately. Mr. Tims and I were thus left alone, and so we continued, +for the landlord, strange to say, did not again appear. What became of him +I know not. I supposed he had gone to bed, and left his _great_ friend and +myself to pass the time as we were best able. + +We were now commencing our fifth tumbler, and I began to feel my whole +spirit pervaded by the most delightful sensations. My heart beat quicker, +my head sat more lightly than usual upon my shoulders; and sounds like the +distant hum of bees, or the music of the spheres, heard in echo afar off, +floated around me. There was no bar between me and perfect happiness, but +the Man-Mountain, who sat on the great elbow-chair opposite, drinking his +brandy-toddy, and occasionally humming an old song with the utmost +indifference. + +It was plain that he despised me. While any of the others were present he +was abundantly loquacious, but now he was as dumb as a fish--tippling in +silence, and answering such questions as I put to him in abrupt +monosyllables. The thing was intolerable, but I saw into it: Julia had +played me false; the "Mountain" was the man of her choice, and I his +despised and contemptible rival. + +These ideas passed rapidly through my mind, and were accompanied with +myriads of others. I bethought me of every thing connected with Mr. +Tims--his love for Julia--his elephantine dimensions, and his shadow, +huge and imposing as the image of the moon against the orb of day, during +an eclipse. Then I was transported away to the Arctic sea, where I saw him +floundering many a rood, "hugest of those that swim the ocean stream." +Then he was a Kraken fish, outspread like an island upon the deep: then a +mighty black cloud affrighting the mariners with its presence: then a +flying island, like that which greeted the bewildered eyes of Gulliver. At +last he resumed his human shape, and sat before me like "Andes, giant of +the Western Star," tippling the jorum, and sighing deeply. + +Yes, he sighed profoundly, passionately, tenderly; and the sighs came from +his breast like blasts of wind from the cavern of Eolus. By Jove, he was +in love; in love with Julia! and I thought it high time to probe him to +the quick. + +"Sir," said I, "you must be conscious that you have no right to love +Julia. You have no right to put your immense body between her and me. She +is my betrothed bride, and mine she shall be for ever." + +"I have weighty reasons for loving her," replied Mr. Tims. + +"Were your reasons as weighty as your person, you _shall not_ love her." + +"She _shall_ be mine," responded he, with a deeply-drawn sigh. "You +cannot, at least, prevent her image from being enshrined in my heart. No, +Julia! even when thou descendest to the grave, thy remembrance will cause +thee to live in my imagination, and I shall thus write thine elegy: + + I cannot deem thee dead--like the perfumes + Arising from Judea's vanished shrines + Thy voice still floats around me--nor can tombs + A thousand, from my memory hide the lines + Of beauty, on thine aspect which abode, + Like streaks of sunshine pictured there by God. + +She shall be mine," continued he in the same strain. "Prose and verse +shall woo her for my lady-love; and she shall blush and hang her head in +modest joy, even as the rose when listening to the music of her beloved +bulbul beneath the stars of night." + +These amorous effusions, and the tone of insufferable affectation with +which they were uttered, roused my corruption to its utmost pitch, and I +exclaimed aloud, "Think not, thou revivification of Falstaff--thou +enlarged edition of Lambert--thou folio of humanity--thou Titan--thou +Briareus--thou Sphynx--thou Goliath of Gath, that I shall bend beneath thy +ponderous insolence?" The Mountain was amazed at my courage; I was amazed +at it myself; but what will not Jove, inspired by brandy, effect? + +"No," continued I, seeing the impression my words had produced upon him, +"I despise thee, and defy thee, even as Hercules did Antaeus, as Sampson +did Harapha, as Orlando did Ferragus. 'Bulk without spirit vast,' I fear +thee not; come on." So saying, I rushed onward to the Mountain, who arose +from his seat to receive me. The following passage from the Agonistes of +Milton will give some idea of our encounter: + + "As with the force of winds and water pent, + When mountains tremble, these two massy pillars, + With horrible convulsion to and fro, + He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew + The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder, + Upon the heads of all who sat beneath." + +"Psha!" said Julia, blushing modestly, "can't you let me go?" Sweet Julia, +I had got her in my arms. + +"But where," said I, "is Mr. Tims?" + +"Mr. who?" said she. + +"The Man-Mountain." + +"Mr. Tims!--Man-Mountain!" resumed Julia, with unfeigned surprise. "I know +of no such persons. How jocular you are to-night--not to say how ill-bred, +for you have been asleep for the last five minutes!" + +"Sweet, sweet Julia!" + +A MODERN PYTHAGOREAN. + +_Blackwood's Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + +SONG. + +BY T. CAMPBELL. + + + 'Tis now the hour--'tis now the hour + To bow at Beauty's shrine; + Now whilst, our hearts confess the power + Of woman, wit, and wine; + And beaming eyes look on so bright, + Wit springs--wine sparkles in their light. + + In such an hour--in such an hour, + In such an hour as this, + While Pleasure's fount throws up a shower + Of social sprinkling bliss, + Why does my bosom heave the sigh + That mars delight?--She is not by! + + There was an hour--there was an hour + When I indulged the spell + That Love wound round me with a power + Words vainly try to tell-- + Though Love has fill'd my checker'd doom + With fruits and thorns, and light and gloom-- + + Yet there's an hour--there's still an hour + Whose coming sunshine may + Clear from the clouds that hang and lower + My fortune's future day; + That hour of hours beloved will be, + That hour that gives thee back to me! + +_New Monthly Magazine_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + + "A snapper-up of unconsidered tifles." + SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +What will our civic friends say to this, about the date of 1686?--"Among +other policies of assurance which appear at the Exchange, there is one of +no ordinary nature; which is, that Esquire Neale, who hath for some time +been a suitor to the rich Welsh widow Floyd, offers as many guineas as +people will take to receive thirty for each one in case he marry the said +widow. He hath already laid out as much as will bring him in 10 or 12,000 +guineas; he intends to make it 30,000, and then to present it to the lady +in case she marry him; and any one that will accept of guineas on that +condition may find as many as he pleases at Garraway's +coffee-house."--_Ellis Correspondence_. + + * * * * * + + +PAT O'KELLY, THE IRISH POET. + + + Three poets, of three different nations born, + With works immortal do this age adorn; + Byron, of England--Scott, of Scotia's blood--And, + Erin's pride, O'Kelly, great and good. + 'Twould take a Byron and a Scott, I tell ye, + Roll'd up in one, to make a Pat O'Kelly. + _Legends of the Lakes_. + + * * * * * + + +IRISH NAMES, MADE ENGLISH. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + _Macnamara_, son of a sea-hound. + _Macmahon_, son of a bear. + _Brien_, the force of water. + _Kennedy_, wearing a helmet. + _Horan_, the gold of poetry. + _Sullivan_, having but one eye. + _Gallagher_, the helper of Englishmen. + _Riordan_, a royal salmon. + _Lysaght_, a hired soldier. + _Finnoala_, white-shouldered. + _Una_, matchless. + _Farrell_, a fair man. + _Mohairey_, an early riser. + _Naghten_, a strong person. + _Trayner_, a strong man. + _Keeffe_, mild. + _Keating_, a shower of fire. + _Kinahan_, a moss trooper. + _Kearney_, a soldier. + _Leahy_, a champion. + _Macaveely_, son of the hero. + _Ardil_, of high descent. + _Dermid_, a god in arms. + _Toraylagh_, like a tower. + _Cairbre_, a royal person. + _Flinn_, red haired. + _Dwyer_, a dark man. + _Docharty_, dangerous. + _Mullane_, broad head. + _Cullane_, broad poll. + _Flaherty_, a powerful chief. + _Lalor_, or _Lawler_, one who speaks by halves. + _Tierney_, a lord. + _Bulger_, a Dutchman. + _Dougal_, a Dane. + _Mac Intosh_, son of the chief. + _Mac Tagart_, son of the priest. + _Mac'Nab_, son of the abbot. + _Mac Clery_, son of a clerk. + _Mac Lure_, son of a tailor. + _Macgill_, son of a squire. + _Macbrehane_, son of a judge. + _Mac Tavish_, son of a savage. + _Goff_, or _Gough_, smith. + _Galt_, a Protestant. + _Gillespie_, the bishop's squire. + +The whole of the above are literal translations without having recourse to +_fancy_, or _torturing the originals_; thus, _Macnamara_, called in Irish +_Mac Conmara_, from _mac_, a son, _con_, the genitive case of _cu_, a +hound, and _mara_, the genitive case of _muir_, the sea; and so of the +rest. It is proper, however, to observe, that although the name of +_Keating_ sounds exactly in Irish a "_shower of fire_" yet as the Keatings +came at first from England, this cannot be the real origin of that name. +All the rest are literally correct. + +H.S. + + * * * * * + + +ONIONS. + + +Lord Bacon tells us of a man who fasted five days, without meat, bread, or +drink, by smelling a wisp of herbs, among which were strong _onions_. + + * * * * * + +PURCHASERS of the MIRROR, who may wish to complete their sets are +informed, that every Volume is complete in itself, and may be purchased +separately. 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 XII. in boards, price L3. 5_s_. half bound, L4. +2_s_. 6_d_. + + * * * * * + + +LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS. + +CHEAP and POPULAR WORKS published at the MIRROR OFFICE in the Strand, near +Somerset House. + +The ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. 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