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diff --git a/11330-0.txt b/11330-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a76525 --- /dev/null +++ b/11330-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1543 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11330 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. X, NO. 274.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1827. [PRICE 2d. + + + +ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSTRATIONS. + +No. II. + + +[Illustration: THE TEMPLE CHURCH.] + + +The Temple Church,[1] London, was erected in the twelfth century; but +among antiquarians considerable difference of opinion at various times +prevailed as to who were the original builders of these round churches, +which form the most striking and beautiful specimens of the architectural +skill of our Anglo-Norman ancestors. In England there are four examples of +round churches, almost in perfect preservation, namely, the church of St. +Mary, Temple; St. Sepulchre, Northampton; St. Mary, Cambridge; and that of +Little Maplestead, Essex. It was long thought that they were of Jewish +origin; but through the ingenious and learned essays of Mr. Essex and of +Mr. Britton, this erroneous notion has been entirely removed. Mr. Essex, in +his Essay, observes, in support of his opinion, that "their Temple at +Jerusalem was not of a circular form, neither was the Tabernacle of Moses; +nor do we find the modern Jews affect that figure in building their +synagogues. It has, however, been generally supposed that the round church +at Cambridge, that at Northampton, and some others, were built for +synagogues by the Jews while they were permitted to dwell in those places. +But as no probable reason can be assigned for this supposition, and I think +it is very certain that the Jews who were settled in Cambridge had their +synagogue, and probably dwelled together in a part of the town now called +the Jewry, so we may reasonably conclude the round churches we find in +other parts of this kingdom were not built by the Jews for synagogues, +whatever the places may be called in which they stand."--It has been +generally allowed by these and other writers on archaeology, that the +primitive church of this form was that of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, +and that the Temple Church at London was built by the Knights' Templars, +whose occupation was the protection of Christian pilgrims against the +Saracens. It has been further urged by a correspondent (Charles Clarke, +Esq. F.S.A.) in the first volume of Britton's "Architectural Antiquities," +that two of the before-mentioned round churches, namely, Northampton and +Cambridge, were in fact built by "affluent crusaders, in imitation of that +of the Holy Sepulchre;" and in support of his opinion he cites several +historical notices. + + [1] The circular part. + +The late perfect restoration of the Temple Church ought to be proudly +recorded in our architectural annals. The excellence of the workmanship, +and the native purity of the detail, evince not only scientific skill, but +also a laudable motive of preserving this antique specimen of pure +Anglo-Norman architecture from the ravages of time. Let the architect's +attention be directed to the western doorway, and also to the interior of +the church; and here, in good preservation, he will see excellent specimens +of their mode of ornamenting the moldings by the cable, the lozenge, the +cheveron, the nail-head, the billet, &c. &c., ornaments peculiar to the +_round style_. The circular-headed windows, with their slender columns, +also show, that in the restoration the style has not been tampered with; +but substantial authorities have been quoted to perfect this praiseworthy +attempt of the architect. That part of the church which has been added at a +later date than the circular part, and for the convenience of divine +worship, is lighted by the beautiful proportioned triple lancet-shaped +windows, so justly admired. A writer in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for May, +1827, after making some judicious remarks, seems to think the crosses on +the ends of the building, "as not in character with the building." Now as +to architectural propriety in the decorations of a Christian church, no +ornament could be better devised; and if we proceed to the antiquity of +such ornament, I would observe, that the adoption would be equally correct, +that being the insignia of the banner under which the Knights' Templars +originally fought. + +C. DAVY. + + * * * * * + + +BRIDGET TROT AND TIMOTHY GREEN. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + "'Tis a common tale, + An ordinary sorrow of man's life; + A tale of silent sufferings, hardly clothed + In bodily form." + +WORDSWORTH. + + + Miss Bridget _Trot_, a "_wo_"-man was, + Of excellent repute, + Who _kept a stand_ in Leadenhall, + And there disposed of fruit. + + And though in features rather _dark_, + No _fairer_ could be found; + For what she sold, like _ringing_ gold, + When _peeled_, was always _sound_! + + She had moreover notions _high_, + And thought herself above + The very _low_-ly common way + Of _falling_ into love. + + And therefore when to her his _suit_ + A _Snip_ did often press + With vows of love, she _cut_ him _short_ + At _length_, without _re-dress_. + + Yet nothing odd was there in this + One case, it must be said; + For who that wish'd a _perfect_ man + Could with a _ninth part_ wed? + + Not she for one, whatever he + Might do to make him _smart_, + And howsoe'er her saying "Nay" + Might add it to his heart. + + 'Tis very strange, (yet so it is,) + That vows should go for naught. + But she who _strove_ to 'scape love's _toils_ + Quite unawares was caught! + + For though so _hard_ to Snip _at first_, + _At last_ it chanced that she + A sort of soft emotion felt + Towards one Timothy, + + A butcher--_Green_ by name, but _red_ + In face, as was his cap, + And though he seldom tasted _wine_, + A _port_-ly sort of chap. + + This man one day in passing by, + In taste for what she'd got, + Saw Biddy's stall--and 'twas her _fate_ + To sell to him a _lot!_ + + She thought his manners very sweet, + He gave so fond a gaze; + (But dashing _blades_ of such like trades + Have ever _killing_ ways!) + + And whilst he paid the _coppers_ down, + He had the _brass_ to say + Her _fruit_ was sweet, but sweeter still + The _apple_ of her eye. + + Besides all this, he looked so neat + Whilst shouldering his tray; + So what with _steel, et cetera,_ + Her heart was _stole_ away! + + Lo! _shortly after_ both agreed, + They fixed the wedding day, + But _long before_ that day arriv'd + He took to stop away! + + From that same time her peace of mind + And comfort were at _steak_-- + She did so _lean_ to Mr. Green, + Her heart was like to break! + + At last she went one morn to see + What he could be about, + And hoped, alone, to find him _in_, + But he had just popt _out_. + + She ax'd, "Is Mr. Green at home?" + Of one who, with a laugh, + Replied, "He's not! but if you please + I'll fetch _his better half_." + + "His what?" scarce _uttered_ Bridget out, + With _utter_most dismay; + And _there_ she stopt, she could no more, + And nearly swoon'd _away!_ + + But when at length she was herself, + And saw her faithless clown. + She straightway went to blow him _up_, + But got a good set _down_! + + "Oh, cold and faithless Tim," quoth she, + "You vowed you couldn't _smother_ + Your _burning_ love for me, but now + You're married to another!" + + "Is this the way you treat me, sir? + Too _cheaply_ was I bought! + I loved you _dearly_, but it seems + That that _all went for naught_." + + She sighed, and gave one parting look, + Then tore herself away + From her false swain and Mrs. Green, + For ever and a day! + + And _very_ soon got _very_ ill, + And _very_ quick did die, + And _very_ truly _veri_fied + Her love for Timothy! + +W.R.H. + + * * * * * + + + +GREAT BELL OF GLASGOW. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +In the steeple of Glasgow is a great bell, which is twelve feet one inch in +circumference, and has a grave and deep tone. In 1789, it was accidentally +cracked by some persons who got admission to the steeple. It was, +therefore, sent to London, and cast anew. On the outside of it is the +following inscription:-- + + In the year of grace + 1594, + Marcus Knox, + a merchant of Glasgow, + zealous for the interests of the reformed religion, + caused me to be fabricated in Holland + for the use of his fellow citizens in Glasgow, + and placed me with solemnity + in the tower of their cathedral. + My function + was to announce, by the impress on my bosom, + (Me audito venias doctrinam sanctam ut discas;[2]) + and + I was taught to proclaim the hours of unheeded time. + 195 years had I sounded these awful warnings, + when I was broken + by the hands of inconsiderate and + unskilful men. + In the year 1790, + I was cast into the furnace, + refounded at London, + and returned to my sacred vocation. + Reader, + thou also shall know a resurrection, + may it be to eternal life. + +MALVINA. + + [2] Come, that ye may learn holy doctrine. + + + * * * * * + + FANCY. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + + _Me_, oft hath Fancy, in her fitful dream, + Seated within a far sequestered dell, + What time upon the noiseless waters fell, + Mingled with length'ning leafy shade, a gleam + Of the departing sun's environ'd beam; + While all was hush'd, save that the lone death-bell + Would seem to beat, and pensive smite mine ear + Like spirit's wail, now distant far, now near: + Then the night-breeze would seem to chill my cheek, + And viewless beings flitting round, to _speak!_ + And then, a throng of mournful thoughts would press + On this, my wild-ideal loneliness. + + Me, oft hath Fancy too, in musing hour + Seated (what time the blithesome summer-day + Was burning 'neath the fierce meridian ray) + Within that self-same lonely woodland bow'r + So sultry and still; but _then_, the tower, + The hamlet tow'r, sent forth a roundelay; + I seem'd to hear, till feelings o'er me stole + Faintly and sweet, enwrapping all my soul, + Joy, grief, were strangely blended in the sound. + The light, warm sigh of summer, was around, + But ne'er may speech, _such_ thoughts, _such_ visions tell, + Then, perfect most, when _indescribable!_ + +M.L.B. + + + * * * * * + + + +FINE ARTS + + * * * * * + + +THE PROGRESS OF PAINTING IN FRANCE. + +(_For the Mirror_.) + + +Whether the French were first indebted to the Roman school for their +knowledge of the art of painting is a matter of some doubt; indeed, several +celebrated French writers affirm, that they first had recourse to the +Florentine and Lombard schools; while others very strenuously declare, on +the other hand, that the Venetian artists were alone resorted to, on +account of the remarkable splendour of their colouring. A late author, +however, observes, that the French do not appear to have imitated any +school whatever, but to have adopted a style peculiar to themselves, which +though perhaps not a noble one, is nevertheless pleasing. Though it is +acknowledged that the French have a particular style, (i.e. a style of +their own,) yet their progress in the arts has been exceedingly fluctuating +and uncertain, so that it is actually impossible to ascertain who was the +first reputable artist amongst them. Cousin was a painter on glass, and +certainly obtained a good reputation amongst his countrymen. But he in fact +possessed very little merit, and his name would not doubtless have been +known to posterity had he not lived in a barbarous age, when the people +knew not how to discriminate his errors and defects. He was supposed to be +the best artist of his day, and consequently gained a reputation as such, +though his works are far beneath mediocrity. + +Francis I. was a great encourager of the fine arts, and the artists +themselves were liberally paid for their productions, until that king was +unfortunately taken prisoner at the battle of Pavia, in the year 1525. +After the death of Francis, the kingdom was distracted with civil wars, so +that painting was entirely neglected by his immediate successors. In the +year 1610, however, Louis XIII. recovered the arts from their languid +state. In his reign, Jaques Blanchard was the most flourishing painter; +although Francis Perier, Simon Voüet, C.A. Du Fresnoy, and Peter Mignard, +were equally gifted. + +Of Charles Alphonse Du Fresnoy, author of a Latin poem, entitled _De Arte +Graphica_, I shall attempt a little account. This painter was born at Paris +in the year 1611. His father, intending him for the profession of physic, +sent him to the university of Paris, where he made great progress in his +studies, and obtained several prizes in poetry. He had a great inclination +for painting as well as for poetry, and, though much against his father's +desire, resolved to leave off the study of physic, and commence that of +drawing. The force of his inclination subduing every measure adopted to +suppress it, he took every opportunity of cultivating his favourite study. +Leaving college, he placed himself under Francis Perier, from whom he +learned the art of designing. He afterwards thought fit to travel into +Italy, where he arrived in 1633. Being abandoned by his parents, who were +highly incensed at his having rejected the study of physic, he was reduced +to the utmost distress on his arrival at Rome, and was compelled to paint +trifling pieces for his daily subsistence. After two years of extreme toil +and difficulty, he was relieved by the arrival of Mignard, the artist, who +had formerly been the companion of his studies. Mignard evinced the warmest +regard for his friend, and they were afterwards known in Rome by the name +of the _inseparables_, for they lived in the same house, worked together, +and united the produce of their labours. They were employed to copy all the +best pictures in the Farnese Palace, and every evening attended an academy +of drawing. Mignard was superior in practice, while Fresnoy was perfect +master of the rules, history, and theory of his profession. They +communicated their sentiments to each other, Fresnoy furnishing his friend +with noble ideas, and the latter instructing the former to paint with more +ease and dispatch. Fresnoy painted several fine pictures in Rome, and, in +1653, he left that city, in company with his friend, travelled to Venice, +and then to Lombardy. Here the two friends parted,[3] Mignard returning to +Rome, and Fresnoy to his native city. After his arrival in Paris, he +painted some beautiful historical pictures, which established his +reputation. He perfectly understood architecture, and drew designs for many +elegant mansions in Paris. During his travels in Italy, he planned and +composed his _De Arte Graphica_, an excellent poem, full of valuable +information, and containing unerring rules for the painter. This poem was +twenty years in hand, and was not published until three years[4] after the +author's death, which took place in 1665. It has been observed, that +Fresnoy possessed the genius requisite for forming a great master; and had +he applied himself more strictly to painting, and educated pupils, he would +doubtless have proved one of the greatest painters France ever produced. +But, possessing high literary talents, he chose to lay down _precepts_ for +his countrymen, rather than to present them with _examples_ of his art. He +adhered too closely to the theory of painting, neglecting the more +essential part--practice. + + [3] When Mignard returned to Paris in 1658, he again went to reside + with his friend. + + [4] It appeared at Paris, in 12mo., with a French translation by + Mons. Du Piles, 1668. + +In the reign of Louis XIV., Nicholas Poussin distinguished himself as a +painter, by displaying exquisite knowledge and great skill in composition. +He generally painted ancient ruins, landscapes, and historical figures. He +was likewise well acquainted with the manners and customs of the ancients; +and, though he educated no pupils, and never had any imitators, his +pictures are universally admired in every European country. Charles le +Brun[5] established the French school,--an undertaking which Voüet had +previously attempted. Le Brun drew well, had a ready conception, and a +fertile imagination. His compositions are vast, but, in various instances, +they may justly be termed _outre_. He possessed the animation, but not the +inspiration of Raphael; and his design is not so pure as that of +Domenichino, nor so lively as that of Annibale Caracci. Eustache le Seur, +Le Brun's rival, possessed remarkable dignity, and wonderful correctness of +style. Indeed, by some he has been called the Raphael of France. Had he +lived longer, (for he died at the age of thirty-eight,) the French school, +under his direction, would most probably have adopted a manner which might +have been imitated, and which might have established the arts on an +eminence to vie with even imperial Rome. But, by the concurrence of +extraordinary circumstances, Le Brun was the fashionable painter of the +time, and it therefore became necessary to imitate _his_ manner, rather +than the more simple and more refined one of his rival. As Le Brun's +imitators wanted his genius, his faults not only became current, but more +glaring and deformed. + + [5] Le Brun was the pupil of Simon Voüet, and afterwards of Poussin. + +After Le Brun's death, which took place in 1690, the French artists +degenerated greatly, their productions being decorated in a gaudy and +theatrical way, without due regard to taste or decorum. Their school, some +years ago, altered its principles, under the auspices of the spirited Count +de Caylus, who possessed considerable merit as an artist. The count, by his +high rank and fortune, had the means of encouraging the imitators of the +ancients, and of procuring the best models in Italy for study. He, in +conjunction with Monsieur Vien, first formed the design of restoring a pure +taste in France; and if his countrymen had followed the path thus marked +out for them, they would now have been equal to the greatest of the Greek +painters. But it appears that they are incapable of rising to any very +extraordinary height in the arts, for, with the exception of Le Seur, and +one or two others, they have ever wanted that elevation of mind which so +eminently distinguished the Romans. Though De Caylus greatly purified +painting in his time, yet his precepts and examples had little or no weight +after his death, for the art again retrograded into its original state--a +state from which the French professors, as before observed, seem incapable +of rising. + +In our own days some few French artists have distinguished themselves, +particularly Lefevre, who was the chief painter to Napoleon. A full-length +portrait of the emperor in his coronation robes, for which Lefevre received +the sum of five thousand Napoleons, and which I have lately had the +pleasure of seeing, is very correct in drawing, and extremely rich and +harmonious in colour; but it wants freedom and boldness of execution. + +To conclude--the French are acknowledged to do pretty well within the +precincts of their own country, though few of their pictures will stand in +competition with those of the Italians, or with those produced in our own +school. + +G.W.N. + + * * * * * + + + +MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + +No. XIII. + + * * * * * + + +SINGULAR JEWISH CUSTOM. + + +Burckhardt, in his "Travels through Syria," &c. informs us, that at +Tiberias, one of the four holy cities of the Talmud, the Jews observe a +singular custom in praying. While the rabbin recites the Psalms of David, +or the prayers extracted from them, the congregation frequently imitate, by +their voice or gestures, the meaning of some remarkable passages; for +example, when the rabbin pronounces the words, "Praise the Lord with the +sound of the trumpet," they imitate the sound of the trumpet through their +closed fists. When "a horrible tempest" occurs, they puff and blow to +represent a storm; or should he mention "the cries of the righteous in +distress," they all set up a loud screaming; and it not unfrequently +happens, that while some are still blowing the storm, others have already +begun the cries of the righteous, thus forming a concert which it is +difficult for any but a zealous Hebrew to hear with gravity. + + +CHARACTER OF THE KARPIANS, (ARABS.) + + +They are such consummate thieves and rogues, that, according to an ancient +tradition still current among them, they once tricked the devil himself. +The story is as follows:--The devil had acquired a right to their fields, +on which they agreed with him, that when their crops were ripe, they should +retain the upper part and the devil should have the lower. They sowed all +their lands with wheat, and the devil of course had nothing but the straw +for his share. Next year the old gentleman, fully determined not to be +again so bamboozled, stipulated that the upper part should belong to him +and the lower to the Karpians; but then they sowed all their grounds with +beet, turnips, and other esculent roots, and so the devil got nothing but +the green tops for his portion. + +_Memoirs of Artemi._ + + +THE MODERN WELSH. + + +The people of the principality are clean and industrious; there is, +however, in the nature of a Welshman such a hurriness of manner and want of +method, that he does nothing well; for his mind is over anxious, diverted +from one labour to another, and hence every thing is incomplete, and leaves +the appearance of confusion and negligence. The common exercises of the +Welsh are running, leaping, swimming, wrestling, throwing the bar, +dancing, hunting, fishing, and playing at fives against the church or +tower; and they constitute the joy of youth, and the admiration of old age. +The convivial amusements are singing and versification. In these favourite +exercises the performers are of humble merit; the singing is mere roar and +squeak; and the poetical effusions are nonsense, vested in the rags of +language; and always slanderous, because the mind of the bard is not +fertile in the production of topics. The Welsh character is the echo of +natural feeling, and acts from instantaneous motives. The fine arts are +strangers to the principality; and the Welshman seldom professes the +buskin, or the use of the mallet, the graver, or the chisel; but although +deficient in taste, he excels in duties and in intellect. + +_Jones's History of Wales._ + + +ITALIAN WOMEN. + + +Italy and England are undoubtedly possessed of a greater share of female +beauty than any other country in Europe. But the English and Italian +beauties, although both interesting, are very different from one another. +The former are unrivalled for the delicacy and bloom of their complexions, +the smoothness and mild expression of their features, their modest +carriage, and the cleanliness of their persons and dress; these are +qualities which strike every foreigner at his landing. On my first arrival +in England, I was asked by a friend how I liked the English women; to which +I replied that I thought them all handsome. This is the first impression +they produce. There is an air of calmness and pensiveness about them, which +surprises and interests particularly a native of the south. They seem to +look, if I may apply to them the fine lines of one of their living poets-- + + "With eyes so pure, that from the ray + Dark vice would turn abash'd away; + + * * * * * + + Yet fill'd with all youth's sweet desires, + Mingling the meek and vestal fires + Of other worlds, with all the bliss + The fond weak tenderness of this." + +The Italian beauties are of a different kind. Their features are more +regular, more animated; their complexions bear the marks of a warmer sun, +and their eyes seem to participate of its fires; their carriage is graceful +and noble; they have generally good figures; they are not indeed angelic +forms, but they are earthly Venuses. It has been supposed by some, that the +habitual view of those models of ideal beauty, the Greek statues, with +which Italy abounds, may be an indirect cause conducing to the general +beauty of the sex; be that as it may, I think the fine features and +beautiful forms of the Italian fair have a great influence upon the minds +of young artists, and this is perhaps one of the principal reasons why +Italy has so long excelled in figure painters. A handsome female +countenance, animated by the expression of the soul, is among the finest +works of nature; the sight of it elevates the mind, and kindles the sparks +of genius. Raphael took the models of his charming Madonnas from nature. +Titian, Guido, Caracci, and others, derived their ideas of female beauty +from the exquisite countenances so frequent in their native country. + +_Italy in the Nineteenth Century._ + + * * * * * + + + +MY COMMON-PLACE BOOK. + +No. XXII. + + * * * * * + + +A LINNET AT SEA. + + +It has been often observed, that birds, in the course of their flight from +one country to another, will frequently resort to the rigging of a ship, as +a resting-place in their transit across the wide ocean. Mr. Gray, in his +"Letters on Canada," gives the following instance:--Among the extraordinary +things, he observes, one meets with at sea, it is not one of the least +surprising to observe small _land birds_ several hundred miles from land. I +was sitting on deck, when, to my great surprise, my attention was arrested +by the warbling of a bird. I looked up, and saw a _linnet_ perched on the +rigging, and whistling with as much ardour as if on a bush in a green +meadow. It is not a little astonishing how these little birds should be +able to continue on the wing so long as is necessary to fly several +hundreds of miles, particularly when the usual shortness of their flight is +considered. They continue sometimes with a vessel several days, and are +frequently caught by the sailors; but it is remarked that they seldom live, +though every care is taken to give them proper food. When the vessel rolls +much, they find it difficult to retain their footing on the rigging, and +you see them forced, as it were, to resume their flight in search of a +better resting-place. + + +THE ADVANTAGES OF AFFLICTION. + + + Behold this vine, + I found it a wild tree, whose wanton strength + Had swollen into irregular twigs + And bold excrescences, + And spent itself in leaves and little rings; + So in the flourish of its outwardness + Wasting the sap and strength + That should have given forth fruit; + But when I pruned the tree, + Then it grew temperate in its vain expanse + Of useless leaves, and knotted, as thou seest, + Into these full, clear clusters, to repay + The hand that wisely wounded it. + Repine not, O my son! + In wisdom and in mercy heaven indicts, + Like a wise leech, its painful remedies. + +SOUTHEY. + + +WEATHERCOCKS. + + +Weathercocks do not always show the real direction of a very gentle wind. +The strange figures of them, usually the productions of capricious fancy, +is one cause of their imperfection as vanes to indicate the wind. Griffins, +half-moons, foxes, or figures of St. Margaret and the dragon, are not good +shapes for weathercocks, which ought to be plain fans, the large surface of +one side being counterbalanced against the weight of the other. + + +THE VALUE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS. + + +A general, though superficial acquaintance with such subjects as +well-educated men and women talk about in mixed society is absolutely +necessary. A practised eye will easily distinguish the silence of modest +attention from the mute weariness of ignorance. The most inveterate talker, +if he be not quite a fool, desires to be listened to as well as heard; and +a "yes" or a "no" may be placed and accented so as to show intelligence, or +betray stupidity. Grace in action and deportment is so essential, that it +may almost be said to make all that is beautiful in beauty. We do not mean +that a lady should, in dancing, walking, or sitting, display attitudes +worthy of a painter's model. In walking we, however, recommend something +between the listless saunter of a she-dandy, and the bustling gait of a +notable body, who perhaps saves three minutes out of four-and-twenty hours, +by doing every thing throughout the day with a jerk and a toss.--Dancing, +unless it be done quietly and gracefully, without the fatal results of a +shining face, and red neck and arms, it is far better to forbear +altogether, it being a very superfluous quality in a gentlewoman; whereas +_to please_ by all honest means is her proper calling and occupation. A +high degree of _positive_ grace is very rare, especially in northern +climates, where the form is degraded and spoiled by ligatures and by cold; +but every woman may attain to _negative_ grace, by avoiding awkward and +unmeaning habits. The incessant twirling of a reticule, the assiduous +pulling of the fingers of a glove, opening and shutting a book, swinging a +bell-rope, &c. betray either impatience and weariness of the conversation, +disrespect of the speakers, or a want of ease and self-possession by no +means inseparably connected with modesty and humility; those persons who +are most awkward and shy among their superiors in rank or information being +generally most over-bearing and peremptory with their equals or inferiors. +We are almost ashamed, in the nineteenth century, to say any thing +concerning personal neatness; but cannot forbear hinting, that clean gloves +and neat shoes aid the captivating powers of a lady much more certainly +than pearl ear-rings or gold chains--that clean muslin is more bewitching +than dirty _blond lace_--and that a pocket-handkerchief should be like a +basilisk, a thing heard of, but never seen; we mean in the capacity in +which our cold-catching, rheum-exciting climate calls it into action. + + * * * * * + + + +SELECT BIOGRAPHY. + +No. LVII. + + * * * * * + + +KARL THEODORE KORNER. + + +Korner is one of the poets of whom modern Germany is justly proud. His was +not the mere theoretic heroism which contents itself with celebrating the +deeds of others. His own conduct embodied the most noble conceptions of his +imagination, and his life and death exhibited a splendid example of the +patriotism which breathed throughout his verse. He was born at Dresden in +1791. His education was of the most careful kind. He was not only +instructed in various branches of learning, but the elegant accomplishments +of the fine arts were added, and the exercises of the body were not less +attended to than those of the mind. Called upon to choose some occupation, +he determined to apply himself to mining, and took up his residence at +Vienna, where he enjoyed the advantage of a familiar intercourse with +William Von Humboldt, the Prussian ambassador, Frederic Schlegel, and other +eminent literary and scientific men. Here, within the short space of +fifteen months, he produced a rapid succession of dramas, operas, and +farces, as well as several small poems. The success of his works obtained +him the appointment of poet to the court. He was now in the enjoyment of +all that could render life happy--competence, distinction, esteem, +friendship and love; but he resolved to sacrifice them all "for that +greatest mortal blessing, his country's freedom." + +"Could I," says he, in a letter to his father, "could I, think you, stand +aloof, contented to celebrate with weak inspiration the success of my +conquering brethren? I am aware that you will suffer much anxiety,--My +mother too will weep--may God be her comfort!--I cannot spare you this +trial. That I simply offer my life is of little import; but that I offer +it, crowned as it is with all the flowery wreaths of love, of friendship, +and of joy,--that I cast away the sweet sensations which lived in the +conviction that I have caused you no inquietude, no anguish,--this indeed +is a sacrifice which can only be opposed to such a prize!" + +He left Vienna in March 1813, and joined the free corps which Major Von +Lutzow was then forming. This was a voluntary association, and the corps +was remarkable throughout the war for its valour and enterprise. In the +midst of the most active campaigns, Korner continued to pour forth his +verses. Other poets have written of battles in the retirement of the +closet, but he sang his song of war on the tented field, and amid the din +of conflict. Nor was this all: he collected too the strains of other poets, +and adapted them to appropriate airs, to animate the ardour of his +companions in arms. We cannot follow him through his career, brief as it +was; but the subjoined incident is too striking to be omitted, and is +especially adapted to our purpose, as it affords an opportunity of giving a +passage of his unpremeditated verse in a moment of pain and danger. + +On the 28th of May, Major Von Lutzow had determined on setting out on an +expedition towards Thuringia, with four squadrons of his cavalry, and fifty +cossacks. Korner earnestly entreated permission to accompany him, and his +desire was fulfilled by his being appointed adjutant by Major Von Lutzow, +who highly esteemed him, and wished to have him near his person. + +The expedition passed in ten days through Halberstadt, Eisleben, Buttstadt, +and Schlaitz, to Plauen, though not without encountering great danger from +the enemy, who were dispersed throughout these districts, but, also, not +without effecting some important results. Intelligence and information were +procured, ammunition was captured and seized, and couriers on missions of +importance were taken prisoners. The gallant troop acquired considerable +renown, and harassed the enemy much, especially by cutting off his +communications. A plan was in consequence laid by the French emperor for +the extirpation of the corps, that, as a deterring example, no man should +be left alive. The armistice, concluded at this moment, afforded an +opportunity for putting it in practice. (The Duke of Padua, it is +observable, particularly profited by this armistice; for being shut up in +Leipzig by Generals Woronzow and Czernichef, with the co-operation of two +battalions of the Lutzow infantry, he was only saved by this cessation of +hostilities.) + +Major Von Lutzow had received official information of the armistice at +Plauen. Without expecting to meet with any opposition, he chose the +shortest route to rejoin the infantry of his corps, having received the +most confidential assurances of safety from the enemy's commanding +officers, and proceeded along the high road, without interruption, to +Kitzen, a village in the neighbourhood of Leipzig; but here he found +himself surrounded and menaced by a very superior force. Theodore Korner +was despatched to demand an explanation; but, instead of replying, the +commander of the enemy struck at him with his sword; and it being now +twilight, a general attack was made on the three squadrons of the Lutzow +cavalry before they had drawn a sabre. Several were wounded and taken, and +others dispersed in the surrounding country; but Major Von Lutzow himself +was saved by the assistance of a squadron of Uhlans, who being in advance +with the Cossacks, formed the van-guard, and consequently were not assailed +at the same moment. He reached, with a considerable body of his troops, the +right bank of the Elbe, where the infantry of his corps, and a squadron of +its cavalry, were already collected. + +Korner received the first blow, which he was not prepared to parry, as he +approached close to the enemy's commanding officer to deliver his message +without drawing his sabre, and was thus severely wounded in the head: the +second blow only inflicted a slight injury. He fell back, but speedily +recovered himself, and his spirited steed bore him in safety to a +neighbouring wood. He was here occupied, at the first moment, with the +assistance of a comrade, in binding up his wounds, when he perceived a +troop of the enemy, who were in pursuit, riding towards him. His presence +of mind did not forsake him, but turning towards the wood, he called with a +loud voice, "Fourth squadron,--Advance!"--His stratagem succeeded--the +enemy were appalled, drew back, and thus afforded him time to conceal +himself deeper in the wood. It had now become dark, and he found a place in +the thicket where he could remain undiscovered. + +The pain of the deeper wound became very severe, his strength was +exhausted, and his last hope was gone. It was in this extremity that he +composed the beautiful sonnet, of which the following is a translation:-- + +FAREWELL TO LIFE. + +[Written in the night of the 17th and 18th of June, as I lay, severely +wounded and helpless in a wood, expecting to die.] + + "My deep wound burns;--my pale lips quake in death,-- + I feel my fainting heart resign its strife, + And reaching now the limit of my life, + Lord, to thy will I yield my parting breath! + + Yet many a dream hath charm'd my youthful eye; + And must life's fairy visions all depart; + Oh surely no! for all that fired my heart + To rapture here, shall live with me on high. + + And that fair form that won my earliest vow, + That my young spirit prized all else above, + And now adored as freedom, now as love, + Stands in seraphic guise, before me now. + + And as my fading senses fade away, + It beckons me, on high, to realms of endless day!" + +During the night he heard the enemy searching the wood near him, but +afterwards fell asleep, and was saved in the morning by two peasants. He +was conveyed secretly into Leipsic, which was then under the French yoke, +and where the concealment of any of the Lutzow free corps was prohibited, +under severe punishment. He subsequently travelled in safety to Berlin, and +having recovered from his wound, rejoined the corps of Lutzow on the right +bank of the Elbe. Hostilities recommenced on the 17th of August; and on the +28th an engagement took place near Rosenberg, in which Korner fell. He was +in pursuit of a body of the enemy, when the riflemen, who had found a +rallying-place in some under-wood, sent forth a shower of balls upon their +pursuers. By one of these Korner was wounded in the abdomen, the liver and +spine were injured, and he was immediately deprived of speech and +consciousness. He was carried to a neighbouring wood, but all medical aid +was vain. He was buried under an oak in the village of Wobbelin, about a +mile from Ludwigslust. A tomb has since been placed over his remains, and +enclosed by a wall. He died at the early age of twenty-two. + +_From a Critical Notice of The Life of Korner, New Monthly Mag._ + + + * * * * * + + +Cannot he that wisely declines walking upon the ice for fear of falling, +though possibly it might carry him sooner to his journey's end, as wisely +forbear drinking more wine than is necessary, for fear of being drunk and +the ill-consequences thereof?--_Lord Clarendon._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE NOVELIST. + +No. CX. + + * * * * * + + +THE RESCUE. + +_By Miss Roberts._ + + "King Stephen was a worthy peer." + + +The hall was lofty, sculptured round with armorial devices, and hung with +gaily-embroidered banners, which waved in the wind streaming from the +crannies in windows which had suffered some dilapidation from the hand of +time. Minstrel harps rang throughout the wide apartment, and at a board +well covered with smoking viands--haunches of the red deer, bustards, +cranes, quarters of mutton, pasties, the grinning heads of wild boars,--and +flanked with flagons of wine, and tankards of foaming ale, sat King +Stephen, surrounded by the flower of the Norman nobles, whose voices had +placed him on the English throne. In the midst of the feast, the jovial +glee of the wassailers was interrupted by the entrance of a page, who, +forcing his way through the yeomen and lacqueys crowding at the door, flew +with breathless haste to the feet of the king, and falling down on his +knees, in faltering accents delivered the message with which he had been +intrusted. "Up, gallants," exclaimed the martial monarch, "don your +harness, and ride as lightly as you may to the relief of the Countess of +Clare, she lies in peril of her life and honour, beleaguered by a rabble of +unnurtured Welsh savages, who, lacking respect for beauty, have directed +their arms against a woman. Swollen with vain pride at their late victory, +(the fiend hang the coward loons who fled before them,) they have sworn to +make this noble lady serve them barefoot in their camp. By St. Dennis and +my good sword, were I not hampered by this pestilent invasion of the Scots, +I would desire no better pastime than to drive the ill-conditioned serfs +howling from the walls. Say, who amongst you will undertake the +enterprise?--What, all silent? are ye knights? are ye men? do I reign over +christian warriors, valiant captains who have been sworn to protect beauty +in distress; or are ye like the graceless dogs of Mahomed, insensible to +female honour?" "My ranks are wonderous scant," returned Milo Fitzwalter, +"I may not reckon twenty men at arms in the whole train, and varlets have I +none; but it boots not to number spears when danger presses; so to horse +and away. Beshrew me, were it the termagant Queen Maude herself, I'd do my +best to rescue her in this extremity."--"Thou art a true knight, +Fitzwalter," replied the king, "and wilt prosper: the Saint's benizon be +with thee, for thou must speed on this errand with such tall men as thou +canst muster of thine own proper followers: the Scots, whom the devil +confound, leave me too much work, to spare a single lance from mine own +array. We will drink to thy success, and to the health of the fair +countess, in a flask of the right Bourdeaux: and tell the lady that thy +monarch grudges thee this glorious deed; for by my Halidom, an thou winnest +her unscathed from the hands of these Welsh churls, thou wilt merit a niche +beside the most renowned of Charlemagne's paladins." Fitzwalter made no +answer, but he armed in haste, and, leaping into his saddle, gave the spur +to his gallant steed, and followed by his esquires and men at arms, rested +not either night or day, until he reached the marches of Wales. The lions +of England still proudly flying over the castle walls, assured him that the +countess had been enabled to hold out against the savage horde, who +surrounded it on all sides. The besiegers set up a furious yell as the +knight and his party approached their encampment. Half naked, their eyes +glaring wildly from beneath a mass of yellow hair, and scantily armed with +the rudest species of offensive and defensive weapons, their numbers alone +made them terrible; and had the castle been manned and victualled, it might +have long defied their utmost strength. Drawing their falchions, the knight +and his party keeping closely together, and thus forming an impenetrable +wedge, cut their desperate path through the fierce swarm of opposing foes, +who, like incarnate demons, rushed to the onslaught, and fell in heaps +before the biting steel of these experienced soldiers. Pressing forward +with unyielding bravery, Fitzwalter won the castle walls; whence, with the +assistance of such frail aid as the living spectres on the battlements +could give, he beat back the Welsh host, and in another quarter of an hour, +having dispersed the enemy with frightful loss, gained free entrance to the +castle. Feeble was the shout of triumph which welcomed Fitzwalter and his +brave companions; the corpses of the unburied dead lay strewed upon the +pavement; the heroic countess, and her attendant damsels, clad in the +armour of the slain, weakened by famine, and hopeless of succour, yet still +striving to deceive the besiegers by the display of living warriors, by +this stratagem retarded the assault which they could not repel. Fitzwalter +took advantage of the darkness of the night, and the panic of the +Welshmen, to withdraw from a fortress which was destitute of all the +implements of war; and with the rescued ladies mounted behind them, the +brave band returned to the court of King Stephen; and the charms of the +fair one, and the valour of her chivalric defender, formed the theme of the +minstrel in every knightly hall and lady's bower throughout Christendom. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + * * * * * + + +THE CONFESSIONS OF AN ENGLISH NOVEL READER. + + +How shall I describe the emotions with which I read the first novel I ever +perused! A school-fellow had secretly brought with him from home after the +holidays, the novel of Peregrine Pickle, which he carefully concealed in +his trunk. He at first lent it to some of the elder boys, who read it, and +enlarging on some of the most despicable incidents to be found, disgusted +my meek spirit of it, by their report. It seemed to violate all my +cherished ideas of beauty and soft luxury. I was then about fourteen years +of age, and my companions persuaded me to a perusal. I took it up +listlessly, expecting but little pleasure, but what language can paint the +manner in which I was entranced by it? I read it over and over with +increased delight, my entire soul and frame of mind and passions seemed to +be suddenly changed and remodelled. I forgot Ariadne and Telemachus, and +Tom Pipes and Hatchway became my idols, the undivided objects of my +admiration. + +I had hitherto been a remarkably quiet and inoffensive boy; Telemachus I +considered never took delight in robbing orchards. I had the confidence of +my teachers from my uniform rejection of any participation in the rude +affrays, the catastrophe of which dramas was in general an almost universal +flogging match. My admiration naturally led to its probable result, a +desire to imitate--I firmly resolved to become a Peregrine. I soon promoted +myself to be the leader of every mad prank that the wit of a spirit +suddenly excited to activity could devise. In the first fortnight I got +flogged for tying a huge mass of brown paper to the tail of the favourite +cat of the master's lady, with which she rushed with an insane and +terrifying distraction into the drawing-room. We owed a spite to a +neighbouring milkman for tale-bearing, and we rendered his pump, the great +source of profit, useless, by filling it with soot and mire. The old woman +who served the school with tarts, and who, in her endeavours to please all +palates, brought some varieties heated over a charcoal fire, had her +apparatus blown to atoms by an ounce of gunpowder, insinuated with so much +art, that although done before her face, she could attach no one with the +offence. All became riot, waste, and destruction under the guidance of my +beloved Peregrine. + +But, ah! the poor Count--amiable, patient, and long-suffering Gaul! He was +an unhappy refugee, who had sought a home, by becoming the reviled, +insulted teacher of his native tongue to a mob of heartless ruffians. How +well do I remember his neat but thread-bare coat and pigtail; his stooping +gait, not the decrepitude of age, but as though it sprang from the +abasement of his fortune; his endurance of injury to a certain point, when +patience suddenly forsook him, and his, to us, irresistibly comic rage and +exasperation! What would that generous seaman Pipes have thought a +defenceless Frenchman fit for, but as the object of spirited and +well-conducted pranks? Nothing cruel or revengeful, but only to show our +own superior wit and address in concerted and premeditated annoyance. + +I had gained with a most surprising rapidity upon the confidence of the +most conspicuous rioters in the school. There was something so noble and +daring in all my designs, that they seemed to yield willingly to so +superior a spirit. The sudden alteration in my manners had been noticed +with secret wonder by the masters, and they, thinking to check my fatal +tendencies at the outset, had inflicted on me several severe and +well-merited chastisements. I converted even these into means of extending +my influence. I had borne them like a hero, a very Peregrine. No groan--no +sigh--no bellowing promise of amendment, had lessened my dignity. Under the +torture, I was sullen and silent. The stoutest heart in the school envied +my manhood and composure. + +The poor French teacher had been the hereditary object of annoyance for +several generations of boys. The meekest and most chicken-hearted scrubs in +the school tried their apprenticeship to mischief upon him, and were +tutored to more noble game by beginning with the Count. They split and cut +his pens into a thousand fantastic shapes during a momentary absence; they +filled his snuff with the most odious pulverulents. They placed on his desk +rude, but expressive designs of a guillotine, with a meagre fellow in +ruffles and no shirt, running in the extremity of speed from the spot. +These, and a thousand exhibitions of budding genius, and original sin, were +our daily subjects of merriment and applause. I taught them nobler arts, or +rather the spirit of Pickle which spake within me. It was nothing to annoy +on such a petty and momentary scale; let the art and forethought of +Hatchway be exhibited. + +The amiable Frenchman was a zealous Catholic, and upon certain festivals +always received from a Catholic gentleman of rank and fortune in the +neighbourhood, an invitation to visit him. On these occasions his dress was +the most ludicrous imaginable, being compounded of remnants of pristine +finery, such as his wardrobe could afford, without attention to uniformity, +or consistency of colour. Above all, he possessed a pair of light pea-green +small clothes, on which he much prided himself, and I swore by old Trunnion +to be their murderer. His custom on the aforesaid visits was to dress +early, and then hastily to dismiss his lessons, and proceed immediately. + +Having gained intelligence of an approaching field day, we prepared a +strong solution of gum, with which we varnished the bottom of a leather +chair upon which he sat in the school. The morning came, his green _media_ +and white silk stockings were hailed with the most extravagant but secret +exultation. He seated himself, and let us run as we pleased through our +tasks, with an unusual portion of smiles and pleasantries, and then looking +at his watch, he attempted hastily to rise! in vain--there seemed an +indissoluble bond of union between him and the chair; the most grotesque +series of strugglings ensued, and by one desperate effort he was erect, a +thin coating of the black leather which he had torn off, firmly adhering to +his dress! Nothing abated my delight at my success, but the thought that my +magnus Apollo, Pickle, was not there to enjoy it; to see the poor Count +stand mute with a mixed passion of rage and distress for several seconds, +and then to witness his fruitless attempts to view the full extent of the +injury, which, notwithstanding the surprising flexibility of his vertebrae, +he was unable to compass. Tom Pipes I felt certain would have died on the +spot, he must have split. + +_The Inspector_. + + * * * * * + + +CONTRAST OF CLIMATE. + + +Suppose yourself to have spent the first half of a foggy, sleety, chill, +moist, melancholy, English winter at some miserable country village in +Kent. Suppose about the first of February, while the whole landscape around +is still floating in mud, buried in snow, or fast bound by frost, and the +atmosphere so thick with fog, that one can scarcely point at mid-day to the +spot where the sun stands in the heavens,--that your catarrh grows so +alarming, that in a fit of despondency you trundle yourself aboard a ship +in the Downs getting under way for a warmer climate. Suppose, that after a +smacking run of about eight days before a fresh gale, (during the whole of +which you are of course too sick and qualmy to leave your cot,) you awake +one morning, and find yourself snugly at anchor in the bay of Funchal; and +the romantic, sun-bright mountains of Madeira, gorgeously crested with a +mass of brilliant clouds, looking in at your cabin-window. It seems +downright enchantment! You leap up as if there was a new soul in your body. +You hurry ashore in the first boat. Your cough, lassitude, and qualmishness +have altogether left you. Your step is elastic, and your spirits as buoyant +as a lark in spring. You luxuriate amidst beautiful gardens glowing with +roses, jessamines, honey-suckles, and a thousand other odoriferous shrubs +and flowers in full bloom. You wander through a boundless maze of rising +vineries curling their budding tendrils around the trellis-work, and +terrace above terrace up the declivities of the mountains. You recline +among orange-groves bending under the load of ripe golden fruit; and as you +stretch yourself at ease by some clear, gurgling rill, in the midst of all +this loveliness, you ask yourself, is this a dream--or are these indeed the +gardens of the Hesperides? Reader, if you have the blue devils at +Christmas, you may realize all this, and reach Madeira, as I have done, in +eight days from the Downs. + +_London Weekly Review._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_. + + * * * * * + + +ANECDOTES OF THE FACULTY. + + +_Quacks._ + + +We are not without plenty of ignorant and impudent pretenders at the +present day; but the celebrated Mrs. Mapp, the bone-setter of Epsom, +surpasses them all. She was the daughter of a man named Wallis, a +bone-setter at Hindon, in Wiltshire, and sister to the celebrated "Polly +Peachem," who married the Duke of Bolton. Upon some _family quarrel_, +Sally Wallis left her professional parent, and wandered up and down the +country in a miserable manner, calling herself "Crazy Sally," and pursuing, +in her perambulations, a course that fairly justified the title. Arriving +at last at Epsom, she succeeded in humbugging the worthy bumpkins of that +place, so decidedly, that a subscription was set on foot to keep her among +them; but her fame extending to the metropolis, the dupes of London, a +numerous class then as well as now, thought it no trouble to go ten miles +to see the conjuror, till at length, she was pleased to bless the afflicted +of London with her presence, and once a week drove to the Grecian +Coffee-house, in a coach and six with out-riders! and all the appearance of +nobility. It was in one of these journeys, passing through Kent-street, in +the Borough, that being taken for a certain woman of quality from the +Electorate in Germany, a great mob followed, and bestowed on her many +bitter reproaches, till madame, perceiving some mistake, looked out of the +window, and accosted them in this gentle manner, "D----n your bloods, don't +you know me? I am Mrs. Mapp, the _bone-setter!_" Upon which, they instantly +changed their revilings into loud huzzas. + +_Wadd's Mems., Maxims, and Memoirs._ + + +_Dr. Radcliffe._ + + +Among the many singularities related of Radcliffe, it has been noticed, +that when he was in a convivial party, he was unwilling to leave it, even +though sent for by persons of the highest distinction. Whilst he was thus +deeply engaged at a tavern, he was called on by a grenadier, who desired +his immediate attendance on his _colonel_; but no entreaties could prevail +on the disciple of Esculapius to postpone his sacrifice to Bacchus. "Sir," +quoth the soldier, "_my orders are to bring you._" And being a very +powerful man, he took him up in his arms, and carried him off per force. +After traversing some dirty lanes, the doctor and his escort arrived at a +narrow alley--"What the D----l is all this," said Radcliffe, "your colonel +don't live here?"--"No," said his military friend,--"no, my _colonel_ does +not live here--but my _comrade_ does, and he's worth _two_ of the +_colonel_,--so, by G----d, doctor, if you don't do your _best_ for _him_, +it will be the _worst_ for _you!_" + + +_Duels._ + + +Many medical duels have been prevented by the difficulty of arranging the +"methodus pugnandi." In the instance of Dr. Brocklesby, the number of +paces could not be agreed upon; and in the affair between Akenside and +Ballow, one had determined never to fight in the morning, and the other +that he would never fight in the afternoon. John Wilkes, who did not stand +upon ceremony in these little affairs, when asked by Lord Talbot, "How many +times they were to fire?" replied, "just as often as your Lordship pleases; +I have brought _a bag of bullets and a flask of gunpowder_." + + +_William Hunter._ + + +Dr. William Hunter used to relate the following anecdote:--During the +American war, he was consulted by the daughter of a peer, who confessed +herself pregnant, and requested his assistance; he advised her to retire +for a time to the house of some confidential friend; she said that was +impossible, as her father would not suffer her to be absent from him a +single day. Some of the servants were, therefore, let into the secret, and +the doctor made his arrangement with the treasurer of the Foundling +Hospital for the reception of the child, for which he was to pay +190l.--The lady was desired to weigh well if she could bear pain without +alarming the family by her cries; she said "Yes,"--and she kept her word. +At the usual period she was delivered, not of one child only, but of twins. +The doctor, bearing the two children, was conducted by a French servant +through the kitchen, and left to ascend the area steps into the street. +Luckily the lady's maid recollected that the door of the area might perhaps +be locked; and she followed the doctor just in time to prevent his being +detained at the gate. He deposited the children at the Foundling Hospital, +and paid for each 100l. The father of the children was a colonel of the +army, who went with his regiment to America, and died there. The mother +afterwards married a person of her own rank. + + +_John Hunter._ + + +Hunter was a philosopher in more senses than one; he had philosophy enough +to bear prosperity, as well as adversity, and with a rough exterior was a +very kind man. The poor could command his services more than the rich. He +would see an industrious tradesman before a duke, when his house was full +of grandees, "you have no time to spare," he would say, "you live by it; +most of these can wait, they have nothing to do when they go home." No man +cared less for the profits of the profession, or more for the honour of +it. He cared not for money himself, and wished the Doctor [his brother +William] to estimate it by the same scale, when he sent a poor man with +this laconic note:-- + + "Dear Brother,--The bearer wants your advice. I do not know the + nature of the case. He has no money, and you have plenty, so you are + well met." + + "Yours, J. HUNTER." + +He was applied to once to perform a serious operation on a tradesman's +wife; the fee agreed upon was twenty guineas. He heard no more of the case +for two months; at the end of which time he was called upon to perform it. +In the course of his attendance, he found out that the cause of the delay +had been the difficulty under which the patient's husband had laboured to +raise the money; and that they were worthy people, who had been +unfortunate, and were by no means able to support the expense of such an +affliction. "I sent back to the husband nineteen guineas, and kept the +twentieth," said he, "that they might not be hurt with an idea of too great +obligation. It somewhat more than paid me for the expense I had been at in +the business." + + * * * * * + + +BURMESE BOATS. + + +The Burman war-boat is formed of the trunk of the magnificent teak tree, +first roughly shaped, and then expanded by means of fire, until it attains +sufficient width to admit two people, sitting abreast. On this a gunwale, +rising a foot above the water, is fixed, and the stem and stern taper to a +point, the latter being much higher than the other, and ornamented with +fret-work and gilding. On the bow is placed a gun, sometimes of a +nine-pounder calibre, but generally smaller, and the centre of the boat is +occupied by the rowers, varying in number from twenty to a hundred, who in +the large boats use the oar, and in the small ones the paddle. A war-boat +in motion is a very pleasing object. The rapidity with which it moves, its +lightness, and small surface above the water, the uniform pulling of the +oar falling in cadence with the songs of the boatmen, who, taking the lead +from one of their number, join in chorus, and keep time with the dip of +their oars; the rich gilding which adorns the boat, and the neat, uniform +dress of the crew, place it, to the eye of a stranger, in a curious and +interesting point of view: and in regard to appearance, induces him, when +contrasting it with an English boat, to give the former the preference. In +point of swiftness, our best men-of-war boats could not compete with them; +and of this superiority they generally availed themselves when an action +was impending. + +The boats we had captured at Rangoon, and were cutting down for the +transport of the army, were totally of a different nature. These, built on +the same plan as ours are, but with flat bottoms, belonged to traders, and +were solely adapted to the transport of merchandise. The stern, fancifully +ornamented, rises two or three stages above the deck, and is the seat of +the helmsman. The inside of the boat is filled with goods, and thatched +over, leaving sufficient room underneath to accommodate two or three +families--men, women, and children--who promiscuously take up their abode +there. + +This description of boat is not propelled by oars, but by long poles, the +ends of which being placed against the shoulders of the boatmen, they run +the whole length of the boat, and push her forward with considerable +velocity. The space on which they act is formed by strong outriggers on +either side of the boat, which answer the twofold purpose of preventing her +upsetting, which she otherwise would do from the excess of top-weight, and +of increasing her width and accommodation. + +The third class of boat is that used throughout the country, and which, to +those who inhabit the banks of rivers, becomes a necessary appendage, and +to many a home. It is a mere canoe, decked with split bamboo, and partly +covered in with mats, so as to afford shelter from the sun by day, and the +dews by night. One man steers, and two others either row or paddle; but, +when the wind is favourable, they use a sail. This is generally made at the +moment, with the scarfs they wear over their shoulders, tied together. Two +bamboos constitute the mast and yard, the sail being fastened between them; +yet, with this fragile rigging, and with the gunwale of the boat almost +under water with every puff of wind, they stem the most rapid currents at +all seasons of the year, and, such is their skill in steering, seldom meet +with an accident. It was in these boats that the majority of the +inhabitants of Rangoon, and the adjacent villages, fled upon our approach; +and these formed their only habitation during the many months they kept +aloof from us. + +_Two Years in Ava_. + + * * * * * + + + +MISCELLANIES. + + * * * * * + + +SONNET. + + +ON A YOUTH WHO DIED OF EXCESSIVE FRUIT-PIE. + + + Currants have check'd the current of my blood, + And berries brought me to be buried here; + Pears have pared off my body's hardihood, + And plums and plumbers spare not one so spare. + Fain would I feign my fall, so fair a fare + Lessens not hate, yet 'tis a lesson good: + Gilt will not long hide guilt; such thin wash'd ware + Wears quickly, and its rude touch soon is rued. + Grave on my grave some sentence grave and terse, + That lies not as it lies upon my clay, + But, in a gentle strain of unstrained verse, + Prays all to pity a poor patty's prey-- + Rehearses I was fruitful to my hearse, + Tell that my days are told, and soon I'm toll'd away! + + +THE VEIL OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. + + +Maria Stuart has been canonized, and placed among the martyrs by the +Jesuits. Of course there are relics of hers. Her prayer-book was long shown +in France; and her apologist published in an English journal a sonnet which +she was said to have composed, and to have written with her own hand in +this book. A celebrated German actress, Mrs. Hendel-Schutz, who excited +admiration by her attitudes, and also performed Schiller's "Maria" with +great applause in several cities of Germany, affirmed that a cross which +she wore on her neck was the very same that once belonged to the +unfortunate queen. Relics of this description have never yet been subjected +to the proof of their authenticity. But if there is anything which may be +reasonably believed to have been once the property of the queen, _it is the +veil with which she covered her head on the scaffold, after the +executioner_, whether from awkwardness or confusion is uncertain, _had +wounded the unfortunate victim in the shoulder by a false blow_. This veil +still exists, and is in the possession of Sir J.C. Hippisley, who claims to +be descended from the Stuart's by the mother's side. He had an engraving +made from it by Matteo Diottavi, in Rome, 1818, and gave copies to his +friends. + +The veil is embroidered with gold spangles by (as is said) the queen's own +hand, in regular rows crossing each other, so as to form small squares, and +edged with a gold border, to which another border has been subsequently +joined, in which the following words are embroidered in letters of gold:-- + + "Velum Serenissimae Mariae, Scotiae et Galliae Reginae Martyris, quo + induebatur dum ab Heretica ad mortem iniustissimam condemnata fuit. + Anno Sal. MDLXXXVI. a nobilissima matrona Anglicana diu conservatum + et tandem, donationis ergo Deo, et Societati Jesu consecratum." + +On the plate there is an inscription, with a double certificate of its +authenticity, which states, that this veil, a family treasure of the +expelled house of Stuart, was finally in possession of the last branch of +that family, the cardinal of York, who preserved it for many years in his +private chapel, among the most precious relics, and at his death bequeathed +it to Sir J. Hippisley, together with a valuable Plutarch, and a Codex with +painted (illuminated) letters, and a gold coin struck in Scotland in the +reign of queen Mary; and it was specially consecrated by Pope Pius VII. in +his palace on the Quirinal, April 29, 1818. Sir John Hippisley, during a +former residence at Rome, had been very intimate with the cardinal of York, +and was instrumental in obtaining for him, when he with the other cardinals +emigrated to Venice in 1798, a pension of £4,000. a-year from the Prince of +Wales, now King George IV.; but for which, the fugitive cardinal, all whose +revenues were seized by the French, would have been exposed to the greatest +distress. The cardinal desired to requite this service by the bequest of +what he considered so valuable. According to a note on the plate, the veil +is eighty-nine English inches long, and forty-three broad, so that it seems +to have been rather a kind of shawl or scarf than a veil. If we remember +rightly, Melville in his Memoirs, which Schiller had read, speaks of a +handkerchief belonging to the queen, which she gave away before her death, +and Schiller founds upon this anecdote the well-known words of the farewell +scene, addressed to Hannah Kennedy. + + "Accept this handkerchief! with my own hand + For thee I've work'd it in my hours of sadness + And interwoven with my scalding tears: + With this thou'lt bind my eyes." + + +DREAMS. + + + Oh! there is a dream of early youth, + And it never comes again; + 'Tis a vision of light, of life, and truth, + That flits across the brain: + And love is the theme of that early dream. + So wild, so warm, so new, + That in all our after years I deem, + That early dream we rue. + + Oh! there is a dream of maturer years, + More turbulent by far; + 'Tis a vision of blood, and of woman's tears, + For the theme of that dream is war: + And we toil in the field of danger and death, + And shout in the battle array, + Till we find that fame is a bodyless breath, + That vanisheth away. + + Oh! there is a dream of hoary age, + 'Tis a vision of gold in store-- + Of sums noted down on the figured page, + To be counted o'er and o'er: + And we fondly trust in our glittering dust, + As a refuge from grief and pain, + Till our limbs are laid on that last dark bed, + Where the wealth of the world is vain. + + And is it thus, from man's birth to his grave-- + In the path which all are treading? + Is there naught in that long career to save + From remorse and self-upbraiding? + O yes, there's a dream so pure, so bright, + That the being to whom it is given, + Hath bathed in a sea of living light-- + And the theme of that dream is Heaven. + + * * * * * + + + +THE LECTURER + + * * * * * + + +AN EXCERP FROM ABERNETHY'S LECTURES. + + +When I was speaking of the cure of the digestive organs, I spoke of +stomachic irritation, and said it was occasioned by some morbid +peculiarity. It is difficult to find out the exigents; it must be done by +experiment. We give a medicine, it answers. The digestive organs have such +a sympathy with contiguous organs, that no wonder if such contiguous organs +are affected. The liver, for instance, cannot perform its office aright if +the bowels are uncomfortable. Violent drastics are wrong, they do not do +good; you cannot go on giving physic every day, this will teaze the bowels +and not tranquilize them, The cure is to repeat the excitement of +progressive action. People in general will not find out that what may be an +adequate excitement one day, may not be an adequate excitement on another +day. As to these things, they are easily managed, and you should attend to +them. Every person advanced in life knows this, and attends to it. Doctor +Curry, whom I used to call the poetical doctor, says, very justly, "It is +in medicine as it is in morals, you must break bad habits, and establish +good ones." + +Where the liver is primarily affected, small doses of quicksilver act in a +wonderful and a prodigious manner. How the stomach, when wrong, disturbs +the head, is apparent to every one. How a faulty action of the liver +disturbs the head is also well known; but the liver, in an especial manner, +disturbs the head. + +A Yorkshireman came three hundred miles, as he told me, on purpose to see +me, and he said he was going back again by the mail the same night. I asked +him what could induce him to come so far. His reply was, "Why you once set +up a friend of mine, and I thought you could set me up too." + +I would have you keep your eyes open to this, that we are perpetually +putting wrong our digestive organs by our absurdities in diet. These +organs, if long wrong, will affect the spinal chord, producing lumbar +numbness. Now, then, I have surveyed the influence of local maladies in +disturbing the nervous energies, and now I say there is a reflected action +in them, and they become a fruitful source of a numerous and dissimilar +progeny of local diseases. + +People are disposed to say I am apt to exaggerate too much; but I merely +relate what I have seen in my time, and you will all have numerous +instances by and by of making the same observations, and I think at last +you will come to the same conclusions. + +I now speak of local diseases; and, first, of phlegmonous inflammation. I +do not much like the term phlegmonous inflammation, because phlegmon alone +is inflammation. That the vessels, particularly the arteries, of inflamed +parts are disposed to receive more blood, is manifest. Mr. Hunter froze the +ears of rabbits, and the arteries inflamed and were filled with blood, +throbbing, and pain. When there is great disturbance of the arterious +system, with throbbing, there is always acute pain. In common whitlow of +the finger, how the arteries of the arm, the brachial in particular, throb, +is well known. In proportion as arteries are excited to vehement action, +some difficulty occurs to the transmission of the blood into the veins. Dr. +Phillips found that inflamed blood is slower in cooling than common blood. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + "I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's + stuff."--_Wotton_. + + * * * * * + +Sir Boyle Roche, was arguing for the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill, in +Ireland:--"It would surely be better, Mr. Speaker," said he, "to give up +not only a _part_, but, if necessary, even the _whole_, of our +constitution, to preserve _the remainder!_" + +_Barrington's Sketches_. + + * * * * * + + +A short time since the manager of Sadler's Wells, wishing to make an +alteration in his bills, sent an old one with the corrections made in the +margin, to the printer. In a few days a proof was forwarded to Mr. T. +Dibdin, when it read thus--"Under the patronage of his Royal Highness the +Duke of Clarence, Lord High _Patron of England and Admiral of this +Theatre_." + + * * * * * + + +A WELSH INVITATION. + + +Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys' compliments to Mr. +Charles Morgan, Mrs. Charles Morgan, Miss Charles Morgan, and the governess +whose name Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys do not +recollect, and Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys +request the favour of the company of Mr. Charles Morgan, Mrs. Charles +Morgan, and Miss Charles Morgan, and the governess whose name Mr. Walter +Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys do not recollect, to dinner on +Monday week next. Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys +beg to inform Mr. Charles Morgan, Mrs. Charles Morgan, and Miss Charles +Morgan, and the governess whose name Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, +and Miss Sandys do not recollect, that Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter +Norton, and Miss Sandys can accommodate Mr. Charles Morgan, Mrs. Charles +Morgan, and Miss Charles Morgan, and the governess whose name Mr. Walter +Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys do not recollect, with beds, if +remaining the night is agreeable to Mr. Charles Morgan, Mrs. Charles +Morgan, Miss Charles Morgan, and the governess whose name Mr. Walter +Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys do not recollect. + +Llandillon Castle. + + * * * * * + + + Bob sick--thought life was drawing to its end, + His cheek grew pale, his tongue began to falter, + Justly alarmed, he begg'd a rev'rend friend + Would send him "_a companion to the altar._" + His friend forgot, Bob grew from worse to worse, + (A state to which he's always sure to alter,) + When he received a _night-cap_ from his nurse, + Who thought it a _companion to the halter_! + + * * * * * + + +An Irish paper, in noticing a coroner's inquest on a young woman who had +drowned herself, says, the jury, after an hour's deliberation, brought in a +verdict of _wilful murder against herself_. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11330 *** |