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diff --git a/11331-0.txt b/11331-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..84349ff --- /dev/null +++ b/11331-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1618 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11331 *** + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION + +VOL. XIII, No. 363.] SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1829. [PRICE 2d. + + + + +GUY'S CLIFF. + + "A home of pleasure, a place meet for the Muses."--LELAND. + + +Warwick--what olden glories and tales of other times are associated with +this county. How many of its sites are connected with high-minded men and +great and glorious actions. To the antiquary, the poet, and the +philosopher, every foot is hallowed ground; and even the cold calculations +of the commercial speculator treat with regard a county whose manufactures +add to the stock of national wealth and importance. How many stories of +love, war, and chivalry are told of its halls, castles, and monasteries, +their lords and ladies and maidens of high birth. Kenilworth and +STRATFORD--Leicester, SHAKSPEARE and Warwick--like long trails of light, +all flit before us in this retrospective dream of the days of "merry +England." + +Guy's Cliff is situated about one mile and a half north-east of Warwick. +Here the river Avon winds through fertile meadows; and on its western bank, +a combination of rock and wood, singularly picturesque, invited at an early +period the reveries of superstitious seclusion and poetical fancy. It is +supposed that here was an oratory, and a cell for the hermit, in Saxon +times; and it is certain that a hermit dwelt in this lovely recess in the +reigns of Edward III. and Henry IV. This is the spot to which the renowned +_Guy_, Earl of Warwick, is said to have retired after his duel with the +Danish Colbrond;[1] and here his neglected countess, the fair Felicia, is +reported to have interred his remains. It appears that Henry V. visited +Guy's Cliff, and was so charmed with its natural beauties, and, probably, +so much interested by the wild legend connected with the place, that he +determined to found a chantry for two priests here. But war and an early +death prevented the performance of this, among many other pious and +benevolent intentions ascribed to the heroic Henry. Such a chantry was, +however, founded in the first year of Henry VI. by Richard Beauchamp, Earl +of Warwick; but the chapel and some contiguous buildings were not completed +till after the earl's decease. In this delightful retreat lived John Rous, +the antiquary, as a chantry priest. + + [1] See MIRROR, vol xiii. p. 114. + +About the middle of the eighteenth century, this estate passed to a private +gentleman, who built a handsome mansion here. But the chief attractions +are the natural beauties of the grounds--as the rock, on which the house +and chapel are built. Here is shown a cave, devoutly believed by +neighbouring peasants to be that which Guy "hewed with his own hands," and +in which he lived + + Like a Palmer poore. + +The chapel founded by Richard Beauchamp was a plain, substantial edifice. +The founder caused to be carved from the solid rock on which this chapel +abuts, a rude statue of the famous Earl Guy, about eight feet in height. It +would appear, from a print in Dugdale's Warwickshire, that this figure was +well preserved in the seventeenth century. + + * * * * * + + +ANCIENT CROSSES IN ENGLAND. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + "She doth stray about + By holy _crosses_, where she kneels and prays + For happy wedlock hours." + + SHAKSPEARE. + + +In former times, an idea of peculiar sanctity was annexed to crosses. They +not only marked civil and ecclesiastical limits, but probably served for +stations, when the bounds were visited in processions. It was a common +practice for mendicants to place themselves near some of these crosses, and +ask alms; whence the ancient proverb, "He begs like a cripple at a cross." +Cornwall abounds with stone crosses. In churchyards, by the side of roads, +and on the open downs, they remain solitary and neglected. In almost every +town that had an abbey, or any other religious foundation, there was one of +these structures. The monks frequently harangued the populace from these +crosses. Many of them still remain, exhibiting beautiful specimens of +architecture and sculpture. The most memorable and interesting objects of +this kind were those which King Edward I. erected at the different stages +where the corpse of Queen Eleanor rested, in its progress from +Nottinghamshire to London. Mr. Gough tells us, that there were originally +fifteen of these elegant structures; but only three are now remaining, +which, by their peculiar beauty, as specimens of architecture and +productions of art, serve to excite regret at the destruction of the +others. The first of the three above-mentioned, is the cross at Geddington, +about three miles from Kettering, in Northamptonshire. The second is the +Queen's Cross, near Northampton. The third is the cross at Waltham, in +Hertfordshire. For a further account of these crosses, see Mr. Britton's +"Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain." + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + +TO R.H., ON HER DEPARTURE FOR LONDON. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + "Alas for me! false hearts I've found, where I had deem'd them true, + And stricken hopes lie all around where'er I turn my view; + Yet it may be, when far remov'd, the voice of memory + May yet remind thee how we lov'd, with its reproving sigh." + + ANONYMOUS. + + + Farewell! farewell! a sad farewell! + 'Tis fate's decree that we should part; + Forebodings strange my bosom tell, + That others now will pain thy heart: + If so, calm as the waveless deep, + Whereby the passing gust has blown, + Unmark'd, the eye will turn to weep + O'er days that have so swiftly flown, + Remember me--remember me, + My latest thought will be for thee. + + The tale which to _thee_ I've confest + Another ne'er shall hear again; + Nor love, that link'd me with the blest, + Be darken'd with an earthly chain. + No, as the scroll above the dead, + The dreams of parted joys will last; + There is a bliss now love has fled, + To trace this record of the past. + Then, oh! mid all remember me-- + My latest thought will be for thee. + + Life hath been as a cloudy day, + Yet still it hath not _all_ been gloom, + For many a wild and broken ray + Hath cheer'd awhile my spirit's doom; + As flow'rets on a river's rim, + Whose shadows deck each passing wave, + Thought lingers on, perturb'd and dim, + Or sunbeam resting on a grave. + Remember me--remember me-- + My latest thought will be for thee. + + Where'er my feet may wander now, + No more awakes the slightest care; + It matters not--for still wilt thou + Be present 'mid my heart's despair. + So springs and blooms, in lonely state, + Some flow'ret on a roofless cot, + And decks with smiles, though desolate, + The gloomy stillness of the spot. + Remember me--remember me-- + My latest thought will be for thee. + + Though calm the eye, and still the tongue, + It needs not that the cheek be pale + To prove the heart by feelings wrung, + And brooding o'er a hopeless tale; + For calm is oft the ocean's breast, + Though 'neath its deep blue waters lie + A thousand wrecks--so sorrows rest + In still and silent misery. + Remember me--remember me-- + My latest thought will be for thee. + +H.P. + + * * * * * + + +THE COURSE OF LOVE. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Go, trace the forest maze, + Or Cretan lab'rinth solve, + On Nature's myst'ries gaze, + Or Gordian knot resolve. + + Tell whence the magnet's force, + The central motive scan, + Lay bare Nile's hidden source, + Earth's vast circumference span. + + Results from such detail + Skill superhuman prove: + Yet powers like these would fail + To tell the course of love. + + Direct the impulse fierce + Of ocean's watery sway; + When wint'ry tempests pierce, + Bind Boreas to obey. + + Go, mould the fleeting cloud, + The lucid dew-drop mix, + The solar radiance shroud, + The trembling moonbeam fix. + + Then bid the wand'ring star + Within the zodiac move; + 'Twere task more hard by far + To guide the course of love. + + Stop the meridian flight + Of Jove's proud plumy race; + Arrest the fiercest fight + When foe-men battle face. + + Forbid the earth to turn. + Forbid the tides to flow, + Forbid the sun to burn, + Forbid the winds to blow. + + Bid the fix'd orb of day. + Beyond his sphere to move, + Or cease th' attempt, I pray, + To stop the course of love. + +T.F. + + * * * * * + + +I'LL BE AT YOUR BALL + +(_For the Mirror._) + + Ah! ce n'est pas moi qui romprait la première l'union sacrée de nos + coeurs; vous le savez bien que ce n'est pas moi, et je rougirais + presque, d'assurer ce qui n'est que trop certain.--_Corinne, par_ + MADAME DE STAEL. + + + I'll be at your ball--dear Eliza, + Could you doubt of my wish to be there, + When ask'd by the maiden I prize a- + Bove all maidens, though e'er so fair? + Busy fancy brings back in my dreams + The walks, still enchanting, we took, + When the zephyrs scarce ruffled the streams, + No sound heard, save the murm'ring brook; + The stars we together have watched-- + What pleasure these thoughts do recall! + Believe that your truly attached, + Dear Eliza, will be at your ball. + + Can study those feelings estrange, + Of affection so ardent and true? + Or absence or time ever change + A heart so devoted to you? + My voice may have altered its tone, + My brow may be furrow'd by care, + But, oh, dearest girl, there are none + Possess of my heart the least share. + You say that my hair is neglected, + That my dress don't become me at all; + Can you feel surprised I'm dejected, + Since I parted from you at your ball? + + I listlessly turn o'er the pages. + So fraught with amusement before + Tasso, Dante, and even the sages, + Once pleasing, are pleasing no more. + When I walk on the banks of the Mole, + Or recline 'neath our favourite tree, + As the needle is true to the pole, + So my thoughts still concentre in thee. + Old Time moves so slow, he appears, + "With age quite decrepit," to crawl; + And days seem now lengthen'd to years, + Before we shall meet--at your ball. + +DAFT JAMIE. + + * * * * * + + + +RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. + + * * * * * + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror._) + + Having occasionally (during my lucubrations) marked out sundry + choice excerpts, quips, and quiddities, from a variety of authors, I + shall, with your permission, submit to the reader an occasional + chapter, with a few original remarks, &c., which I hope will prove + agreeable. + + JACOBUS. + + +POSTURE MASTERS. + + +It is now a-days extremely common to style the tumble-down-dick exploits or +posture masters, balancers, conjurers, &c. an art. To ridicule such an +abuse of the term by applying it to mere adroitness, skill in trifles, and +labour-in-vain performances, Quinctilian gives us this merry +instance--"Qualis illius fuit, qui grana ciceris ex spatio distante missa, +in acum continue, et sine frustratione inserebat; quem cum spectasset +Alexander, donasse eum dicitur leguminis modio--quod quidem praemium fuit +illo opere dignissimum." Translation--Of this kind of art, was his, who, +standing at a certain distance, could continually, without missing, stick a +small pea upon the point of a needle; which when Alexander had witnessed, +he ordered him a bushel of that grain for his trouble, a reward quite +adequate to such an exploit. We have a similar story related, I think, of +Charles II.: a posture master climbed up Grantham steeple, and then stood +on his head upon the weathercock. The facetious monarch, after witnessing +his ascent, told him he might forthwith have a patent that none should do +the like but himself. + + * * * * * + + +TO MAKE BUBBLE AND SQUEAK. + +_Published by request of the gentlemen of both Universities._ + + +First--Take of beef, or mutton, or lamb, or veal, or any other meat, two +pounds and a half, or any other quantity; be sure to keep it in salt till +the saline particles have locked up all the animal juices, and rendered +the fibres hard of digestion; then boil it over a turf or peat fire, in a +brass kettle, covered with a copper lid, until it is over much done. + +Second--Take a large turned cabbage, and boil it in a bell metal pot until +it is done enough, or (if you think proper) too much. + +Thirdly--Slice the meat, and souse that and the cabbage both in a frying +pan together, and let them bubble and squeak over a charcoal fire for half +an hour, three minutes, and two seconds. + +Lastly--Devour the whole, which will not weigh more than _four_ pounds, for +a quantum sufficit; drink six pints of good, fat ale; sit, smoke, sleep, +snore, and forget your book. + + * * * * * + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + +_In defence of the two Universities._ + + +We can assure the public that the malicious report of the Greek language +being expelled from the abovenamed seats of Minerva, is entirely without +foundation; there being, at this moment, many thousand volumes written in +that tongue, actually extant, and quite unmolested in the several +libraries. + + * * * * * + + +HONEST PREJUDICES, + +_Or bona fide extracts from celebrated authors._ + + +Before the conquest of this country by the Normans, the land in Norfolk was +so light and fine, that the farmers usually plowed with two rabbits and a +case knife!--_Jones's Wonderful Changes_, p. 86.--Weep at this ye who are +now racking your inventive powers for improvements in agricultural +implements. See what your forefathers could accomplish by means the +simplest.--_Risum teneatis?_ + + * * * * * + + +There are many stories told of the craft of the fox to compass his prey, of +which Ol. Magnus hath many: such as feigning the bark of a dog to catch +prey near the houses; feigning himself dead to catch such animals as come +to feed upon him; laying his tail upon a wasp's nest and then rubbing it +hard against a tree, thus catching the wasps so killed; ridding himself of +fleas by gradually going into the water with a lock of wool in his mouth, +and so driving the fleas up into it and then leaving it in the water; by +catching crab fish with his tail, which he saith he himself was a witness +of.--_Derham's Physico-Theology_, book iv. chap. 11., and _Ol. Mag. Hist._ +lib. xviii. cap. 39, 40.--Peruse this ye incredulous lectors of Baron +Munch-Hausen, and Colonel Nimrod. Talk no more of the fertile genius of our +Yankee brethren, but candidly admit ye are blameworthy for withholding +credence to matters which rather border on the marvellous. + + * * * * * + + +Had man been a dwarf he could not have been a rational creature; for he +must then have had a jolt head, so there would not have been body and blood +enough to supply his brain with spirits, or he must have had a small head +answerable to his body, and so there would not have been brain enough for +his business.--_Grew's Cosmol. Sacr._ book i. chap. v. + +Had the calf of the leg been providentially and prominently placed +_before_, instead of being preposterously and prejudicially placed +_behind_, it had been evidently better; forasmuch as the human shin-bone +could not then have been so easily broken,--_Dr. Moreton's Beauty of the +Human Structure_, page 62.--What a pity it is that these two learned and +self-sufficient authors, were not consulted in the formation of their own +persons: doubtless they could have suggested many improvements, and would +have felt all the advantages with due effect--probably they might have +liked their heads to screw on and off like Saint Denis, of France, who +frequently carried his under his arm. + + * * * * * + + +The City of London is the largest city in the world, and the people of +London the wisest--_Wilson's Candid Traveller_, page 42.--Mark this, ye who +are levelling your _leaden_ wit at the worthy aldermen and cits of this +"large" and "wise" metropolis. + + * * * * * + + +At the famous battle of Crescy, gained by Edward III., notwithstanding a +vast carnage of the French, and an infinite number of prisoners, the +English lost only one 'squire, three knights, and a few of inferior +rank.--_History of England, by Goldsmith._ + +At the battle of Agincourt, gained by Henry V. the French lost ten thousand +men, and fourteen thousand prisoners; the English (although enfeebled by +disease, destitute of provisions, and harassed by fatigue) lost only forty +men in all--Ibid.--Hear these facts of ancient prowess, ye heroes of modern +times; who among ye ever gained such signal advantages with losses so +insignificant?--In good truth, I must admit, that even I was once inclined +to cry out with Mr. Burchell, "fudge;" but the following morceaux have +explained to me the (otherwise) mysterious relation:-- + +_One_ Englishman can beat _five_ Frenchmen.--_Williamson's Serious +Propositions_, page 78.--One English man-of-war, will beat a Dutch +fleet--_Nebolt's Naval Expeditions_, chap. iv. section 9.--Indeed! what a +scandalous shame it is then to call Admiral Blake a naval hero; surely he +could have been but a mere botch to make such a tough job of cutting up Van +Tromp, the Dutch commander. + + * * * * * + + +Though I have examined what all other authors have written on this affair +with great impartiality, yet I cannot conceive that any of them have the +least merit; nor do I find one man that has treated this subject sensibly, +besides myself.--_Smithson's Amiableness of Candour and Diffidence_, page +8.--What modesty! what candour! amiable critic! doubtless your ingenuous +style has obtained you a place on the shelves of the literati; and like +Ovid and Horace you have secured as well as assigned yourself an +immortality. + + * * * * * + + + +SELECT BIOGRAPHY. + + * * * * * + + +MEMOIR OF BOLIVAR. + + +The conspicuous part which Bolivar has acted throughout the revolution in +Colombia, and at the close of that in Peru, renders it imperative on us to +give some account of a character, identified with so many great and +extraordinary events. + +Simon Bolivar was born at Caracas on the 25th of July, 1783. He lost his +parents at an early age; and, in his sixteenth year, was sent to Europe to +finish his education. He made the tour of France and Italy. Having married +at Madrid, he embarked for Venezuela, where his wife died a few months +after her arrival. Bolivar went a second time to Europe, and was present at +the coronation of Napoleon. He returned to Caracas in company with Emparan, +appointed captain-general of Venezuela by the central junta at Seville. +Soon after the raising of the standard of independence (19th April, 1810) +in that country, he was sent to solicit the protection of Great Britain. He +was well received by the Marquess Wellesley, then secretary for Foreign +Affairs. The British government offered its mediation between Spain and her +colonies, but the offer was rejected by the court of Madrid. Bolivar +returned to his own country, accompanied by General Miranda, who was placed +in command of the Venezuelan troops. But the revolutionary government was +too feebly organized to give efficiency to the military force. Divisions +arose, and the cause of independence was on the retrograde, when the +dreadful earthquake of 1812, and the subsequent invasion by the Spanish +force under General Monteverde, for the time, precluded all possibility of +success. + +Bolivar, alleging that Miranda had betrayed his country by capitulating to +Monteverde, arrested him at La Guayra. Bolivar then demanded his passport, +and when taken before Monteverde, the Spanish general said that Colonel +Bolivar's request should be complied with, as a reward for his having +served the king of Spain by delivering up Miranda. Bolivar answered that he +arrested him to punish a traitor[2] to his country, and not to serve the +king. This answer had nearly included him in the general proscription; but +the good offices of Don Francisco Iturbe, secretary to Monteverde, procured +the passport, and Bolivar was allowed to sail for Curaçoa. From that island +he went to Carthagena, where he obtained the command of a small force, with +which he proceeded up the Magdalena, and having beaten parties of the +royalist troops at various points on that river, he continued his march +from Ocana to Cucutá, and solicited assistance from the government of +Cundinamarca. Five hundred men were placed at his disposal, and with these, +added to his own small party, Bolivar undertook to effect the liberation of +his country. Four thousand Spaniards, under General Correa, were then on +that part of the Venezuelan frontier. A division of these was beaten by +Bolivar, who pursued his march to Truxillo, defeating on the way several +royalist detachments. + + [2] Bolivar seems to have been hurried into a dreadful error by the + warmth of his feelings. Not only is the _expediency_ of the + capitulation admitted by eye witnesses of the first + respectability, but also that Miranda had no other alternative. + The rich and influential inhabitants withheld their support, not + that their political sentiments had undergone a change but + because they saw the useless of sacrificing property and life in + a wild attempt to stem the stream of public opinion; the bulk of + the people having become decidedly royalist in principle ever + since that earthquake, which had been represented by the + priesthood as a judgement of Heaven upon the insurgent cause. + +The Spaniards from the commencement of the war, had put to death all +persons whom they found with arms in their hands. The South Americans, on +the contrary, gave quarter to those royalists who fell into their power. +The natives consequently preferred entering the royalist ranks, feeling +secure that, in case of being made prisoners, their lives would be spared. +Bolivar, perceiving the great disadvantage under which he laboured, and as +a retaliation for the horrid butcheries committed by the Spaniards, issued +a proclamation at Truxillo, declaring, that from that time forward he +should wage a war of extermination. This declaration of _guerra à muerte_ +on the part of the independents made the danger, in that respect, equal on +both sides. + +Bolivar, having separated his small corps into two divisions, entrusted the +command of the second to the active General Rivas. Bolivar himself +penetrated the Llanos, after having beaten the Spaniards at Niquitao, +Carache, Varinas, Tahuana, and Torcones. He then advanced to Vitoria, +within twenty leagues of Caracas, where he was met by Spanish +commissioners, who sued for, and obtained, a capitulation. The conqueror +entered his native city in triumph. But this did not put an end to the war. +The Spaniards were faithless in the observance of the capitulation, and +Monteverde, from within the walls of Puerto Cabello, fomented the discord +which prevailed in the interior provinces. About this time a strong +reinforcement arrived from Spain. Bolivar was obliged to evacuate Caracas; +but the royalists were beaten at Viguirima, Barbula, and Las Trincheras. +However, the Spanish general Cevallos had time to raise four thousand +recruits in the province of Coro, which had always shown itself inimical to +the cause of independence. Bolivar next gained the important battle of +Araure, and repossessed himself of Caracas. On the 2nd of January, 1814, he +assembled the public authorities of the city, and resigned to them the +supreme authority he had exercised, and with which his triumphs had +invested him. They, however, refused to admit his resignation; conferred +upon him the title of LIBERATOR OF VENEZUELA; and named him dictator. + +About this period a Spaniard, Don José Tomas Boves, succeeded in bringing +about a counter-revolution in the Llanos, an immense tract of level +country, which traverses the centre of Venezuela, and extends to the +confines of New Granada. Boves organized a force, which consisted of men +mostly chosen for their desperate character, whom he led on by promises of +indiscriminate plunder, and by lavishing the greatest rewards upon the +perpetrators of the most revolting atrocities. The track of these ruffians, +to Calabozo, was every where marked with the blood of the aged and the +defenceless. Bolivar, who had detached a part of his force in pursuit of +Cevallos, had not above two thousand men left to make head against Boves, +who, with nearly five times that number, had possessed himself of the +fertile valleys of Aragua, and destroyed some patriot divisions sent to +check his progress. Bolivar took up a position at San Mateo, in order to +cover Caracas. A series of attacks, in the space of forty days, reduced the +number of Bolivar's force to four hundred. Cevallos had repaired the +effects of his defeat at Araure, and, reinforced by General Cagigal, had +penetrated to Valencia. The patriot division of the east having defeated +Boves at Bocachica, and compelled him to retire to the Llanos, and having +subsequently united with the remains of Bolivar's force, marched against +Cagigal and Cevallos, whose well-organized troops amounted to six thousand. +These were attacked and defeated by Bolivar, who then detached the greater +part of his force to reduce the province of Coro to submission, and himself +marched against Boves. Bolivar was overwhelmed by numbers at La Puerta. His +division dispersed, and fled to Cundinamarca. He was then obliged to +abandon Caracas. The same day witnessed the affecting spectacle of several +thousand inhabitants leaving their homes and property at the mercy of the +ruthless spoiler, while they themselves set out to face want, disease, and +death, in distant provinces. + +On the 17th of August, Bolivar lost the battle of Aragua. The subsequent +affairs of Maturin, Cumaná, Carupano, Guiria, Urica, and El Caris, were +fought, with varying success. All being lost in the east, Bolivar next +proceeded to Carthagena, and offered his services to New Granada, then +agitated by discordant parties of provincialists, centralists, +metropolists, federalists, royalists, and independents. A congress +assembled at Tunja conferred upon Bolivar the command of the forces of New +Granada. Santa Fé de Bogotá submitted, the provinces acknowledged the +congress, and an effort was made to establish a constitutional form of +government. + +Bolivar having proposed to take the town of Santa Marta, still held by the +Spaniards, he was authorized by the government of Santa Fé to procure guns, +&c., from the arsenals of Carthagena. The governor of that fortress refused +to furnish the necessary supplies. In order to enforce compliance, Bolivar +invested Carthagena, before which he remained a considerable time, when he +heard of the arrival at Margarita of General Morillo, with ten thousand +Spanish troops. Upon this, Bolivar placed his own investing force at the +disposal of his rival, the governor of Carthagena; and, unwilling that the +cause of his country should continue to suffer from the dissention which +had arisen between himself and the governor, withdrew to Jamaica. Morillo, +soon afterwards, laid siege to Carthagena, which, unfortunately, in +consequence of the long investment it had already sustained, was nearly +destitute of provisions, Bolivar sent from Jamaica some supplies for the +besieged garrison; but before they could arrive, that important fortress +was in possession of the Spaniards. This enabled them to reconquer New +Granada, and the blood of its citizens was made to stream from the +scaffold. + +At Kingston, Bolivar narrowly escaped assassination. The casual +circumstance of exchanging apartments with another person, caused the +murderer's dagger to be planted in the heart of a faithful follower, +instead of in that of Bolivar. The author of these memoirs happened to +live, for a few days, in the same boarding-house. Some officers of a +British line-of-battle ship, not speaking Spanish, requested him to invite +Bolivar, in their name, to dine with them. This was only a few weeks +previous to the intended assassination of Bolivar. + +From Jamaica, Bolivar went to Hayti, and was received at Port-au-Prince by +Petion with kind hospitality, and was assisted by him as far as his means +would allow. + +In April, 1816, he sailed with three hundred men to Margarita, which island +had lately again shaken off the Spanish yoke. He arrived at Juan Griego, +where he was proclaimed supreme chief of the republic. On the 1st of June +he sailed, and on the 3rd landed at Campano, where he beat nine hundred +Spaniards. He then opened a communication with patriot chieftains, who had +maintained themselves in isolated parties dispersed over the _llanos_ of +Cumaná, Barcelona, and the Apure. It is a curious fact, that the isolation +of several of these parties was so complete, that, for many months, they +did not know of any other than themselves being in arms for the delivery of +their country. It was only by their coming into accidental contact that +they discovered that there was more than one patriot guerilla in +existence.[3] Bolivar supplied some of them with arms, and at the same time +augmented his own force to a thousand men. The Spaniards assembled in +superior numbers to destroy them; but Bolivar embarked, and relanded at +Ocumare, with an intention of taking Caracas: great part, however, of the +Spanish army having by this time returned from New Granada to Venezuela, +Bolivar was obliged to re-embark for Margarita. + + [3] For the honour of the _llaneros_, this circumstance ought to be + more distinctly detailed. + +In 1817, he landed near Barcelona, where he collected seven hundred +recruits, and marched towards Caracas; but, being worsted in an affair at +Clarines, he fell back again upon Barcelona, where he shut himself up with +four hundred men, and made a successful resistance against a superior +force. + +Bolivar received some reinforcements from the interior of the province of +Cumaná, upon which he decided upon making the banks of the Orinoco the +theatre of his future efforts. Having further augmented his force, and +taken the necessary steps to keep alive the war in the districts on the +coast, he marched to the interior, beating several small royalist parties +which he encountered on his route. + +Of the Spanish army which had returned from New Granada, a division, under +the brave General La Torre, was destined to act against the patriots in +Guayana. A division of the latter, under General Piar, having obtained a +decisive victory, Bolivar was enabled to invest Angostura, and the town of +old Guyana, which were successively taken on the 3rd and 18th of July. + +In Angostura, Piar was found guilty, by a court-martial, of an attempt to +excite a war of colour. Piar (a man of colour himself) was the bravest of +the brave, and adored by his followers; but his execution stifled anarchy +in the bud. + +The rest of the year 1817 was actively spent in organizing a force to act +against Morillo, who had lately been reinforced by two thousand fresh +troops from the Peninsula, under General Canterac, then on his way from +Spain to Peru. An abundant supply of arms, received from England, was sent +to the patriot corps on the banks of the Apure. + +(_To be continued._) + + * * * * * + + +LEDYARD TO HIS MISTRESS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Dost wish to roam in foreign climes + Forget thy home and long past times? + Dost wish to be a wand'rer's bride, + And all thy thoughts in him confide? + Thou canst not traverse mountain seas, + Nor bear cold Lapland's freezing breeze; + Thou canst not bear the torrid heats, + Nor brave the toils a wand'rer meets; + Thou wouldst faint, dearest, with fatigue + Trav'ling the desert's sandy league. + + Pale hunger with her sickly pains + Will silence thy heroic strains; + Thy heart--now warmly beats--will chill + And stop thy lover's wonted skill. + He could not see thee pine and weep + Nor could he ease thy troubled sleep-- + 'Twould quite unman his firm resolve, + And with grief thy love involve. + +TERRENUS. + + * * * * * + + + +ROMAN ALTAR. + +(_To the Editor of the Mirror._) + + +Enclosed I send you a drawing of a Roman votive altar, which was found in +digging a cellar about six feet deep, in St. Sepulchre's Gate, Doncaster, +in the year 1781. It is the oldest relic of antiquity which Doncaster has +yet produced, and is of exquisite engraving and workmanship. Upon the +capital, or top of the stone, a small space above the sculpture of the +altar itself, is a crater or flowing bowl,[4] sacred to Bacchus, the god of +wine; on the dexter, or right side of the altar, is a flower-pot, or +cornucopiæ, with five branches in it, loaded with leaves and fruit, sacred +to Ceres, or Terra-Mater, the goddess of plants; and on the sinister, or +left side thereof, is a large jug or pitcher with a large handle, also +sacred to Bacchus. It is about 2 feet 6-1/2 inches in height, and 1 foot in +breadth at the base. The corporation employed a Mr. Richard John Tetlow, of +Ferrybridge, a celebrated antiquary, to interpret the inscription, and give +them his opinion on its age. They also sent it to the Antiquarian Society +in London for inspection. + + [4] If not a flowing bowl, then it is the shield of Diana. + +_Interpretation of the Society._ + +Matribus magnis,[5] Nantonius[6] Orberthol, vota solvit lubens merito. + + [5] Juno and Diana. + + [6] For Antoninus, in the year of Christ 161. Antoninus Philosophus + was the Roman emperor, and succeeded Antoninus Pius, according to + Dr. Littleton. + +_Translation._ + +To the great mothers, (goddesses,) Anthony Orberthol willingly and +meritoriously has performed his vows or promises. + +_Interpretation of Mr. Tetlow._ + +Lunæ, Latonæ, Lucinæ, Matribus magnis Antonius Orbis Romani Imperator Bonis +Oeis Altare. vota. solvit. lubens merito. + +_Translation._ + +To Luna, Latona, Lucina, the great good mothers, goddesses, Anthony, the +emperor of the Roman empire, hath erected, or dedicated, this altar. Freely +and fully he has discharged his vows and promises. + +It is, reasonably enough, conjectured from several corroborative +circumstances, that the altar above described is no less than 1,645 years +old. One of these circumstances is its being similar in some respects to +two other Roman altars which were found in England some years back, one of +which is related to have been made in the year of Christ 161. + +_Near Sheffield._ J.M. C----D. + + * * * * * + + + +NOTES OF A READER. + + * * * * * + + +SUNSET. + + + Day sets in glory, and the glowing air + Seems dreaming in delight; peace reigns around, + Save where some beetle starteth here and there + From the shut flowers that kiss the dewy ground-- + A burning ocean, stretching vast and far + The parting banners of the king of light, + Gleam round the temples of each living star + That comes forth in beauty with the night: + The west seems now like some illumined hall, + Where beam a thousand torches in their pride, + As if to light the joyous carnival + Held by the bright sun and his dark-robed bride, + Whose cloudy arms are round his bosom press'd, + As with her thousand eyes she woos him to his rest. + +_The African, a Tale._ + + * * * * * + + +BEES. + + +Alternations of torpor and animation cause greater exhaustion and loss of +physical powers, than would be occasioned by a continuance of uniform +torpor. This we infer from the fact, that in Russia, where the winters are +uniformly cold, bees do not perish; and in the West Indies where there is +perpetual verdure, they are never exhausted. + + * * * * * + + +Major Rennell--_clarum et venerabile nomen_--now in his 87th year, +possesses in full vigour, for the happiness of himself and friends, all +those intellectual faculties which have so eminently distinguished his long +and useful life; who, suffering little short of martyrdom, from the +frequent attacks of gout, still devotes hours and days to his favourite +pursuit; uniting with his studies all the playfulness and vivacity of +youth. + +_Quarterly Review._ + + * * * * * + + +WAR. + + +War! what miseries are heaped together in the sound!--What an accumulation +of curses is breathed in that one word. To us, happy in our insular +position, we have, within existing memory, known chiefly of war, its pomp +and circumstance alone; the gay parade, the glancing arms, the bright +colours, the inspiring music--these are what we see of war in its +outset;--glory, and praise, and badges of honour, these are what appear to +us as its result. The favourite son, the beloved brother, he who, perhaps, +is dearer still, returns to the home of his youth or of his heart, having +sown danger and reaped renown. Thus do we look on war. But ask the +inhabitant of a country _which has been the seat of war_, what is _his_ +opinion of it. He will tell you that he has seen his country ravaged, his +home violated, his family ---- But no! the tongue recoils from speaking the +horrors and atrocities of war thus brought into the bosom of a peaceful +home. All the amenities and charities of domestic life are outraged, are +annihilated. All that is dearest to man; all that tends to refine, to +soften him--to make him a noble and a better being--all these are trampled +under foot by a brutal soldiery--all these are torn from his heart for +ever! He will tell you that he detests war so much that he almost despises +its glories; and that he detests it because he has known its evils, and +felt how poorly and miserably they are compensated by the fame which is +given to the slaughterer and the destroyer, because he is such! + +_Tales of Passion._ + + * * * * * + + +THE NEWSPAPERS. + + +These square pieces of paper are the Agoras of modern life. The same +skilful division of labour which brings the fowl ready trussed to our doors +from the market, brings also an abstract of the + + Votum, timor, ira, voluptas, +Gaudia, discursus, + +which agitate the great metropolis, and even opinions, ready prepared, to +the breakfast tables of our remotest farms, ere the controversial warmth +has had time to cool. In the centre of this square, where you observe the +larger character, a public orator, "vias et verba locans," takes his daily +stand. One makes his speech in the morning, and another reserves his for +the evening; a third class, either disposed to take less trouble, or, +finding it convenient to construct their speeches from fragments of the +daily orations, harangue once in two or three days; while a fourth waylay +the people in their road to visit the temples on our hebdomadal festivals. +But cast your eyes to another part of these our artificial forums, and +observe the number of small divisions which fill up the space. There are +stalls of merchandize. The ancient venders must have been noisy, and a +frequent cause of annoyance to political speakers; but here the hawkers of +wet and dry goods, the hawkers of medicine, the hawkers of personal +services, the hawkers of husbands and wives, (for among us these articles +are often cried up for sale,) and lastly, the hawkers of religions, moral, +and political wisdom, all cry out at once, without tumult or confusion, yet +so as to be heard in these days through the remotest corners of these +islands.... If a peculiarly bloody murder has been tried, or if some +domestic intrigue has produced a complicated love story, however offensive +in its details, you will find our reading crowd stationary in that quarter, +to enjoy the tragic stimulants of terror and pity. We have also a modest +corner of the square appropriated to the use of our posts; but like +Polydorus's ghost, they generally utter doleful soliloquies, which no one +will stop to hear. + +_London Review._ + + * * * * * + + +BEAUTY. + + +It is vain to dispute about the matter; moralists may moralize, preachers +may sermonize about it as much as they please; still beauty is a most +delightful thing,--and a really lovely woman a most enchanting object to +gaze on. I am aware of all that can be said about roses fading, and cheeks +withering, and lips growing thin and pale. No one, indeed, need be ignorant +of every change which can be rung upon this peal of bells, for every one +must have heard them in every possible, and impossible, variety of +combination. Give time, and complexion will decay, and lips and cheeks will +shrink and grow wrinkled, sure enough. But it is needless to anticipate the +work of years, or to give credit to old Time for his conquests before he +has won them. The edge of his scythe does more execution than that of the +conqueror's sword: we need not add the work of fancy to _his_,--it is more +than sufficiently sure and rapid already. + +_Tales of Passion._ + + * * * * * + + +PRE-AUX-CLERCS. + + +In 1559, the most frequented promenade in Paris was the _Pré-aux-Clercs_, +situated where a part of the Faubourg St. Germain is at present. The +students of the university were generally in favour of the reformed +religion, and not only made a profession of it, but publicly defended its +principles. They had been in the habit of meeting at this place for several +years, and the monks of the Abbey St. Victor having refused to let them +assemble in the Pré-aux-Clercs, a serious affair sprung out of the refusal, +and several rencounters took place, in which blood was shed; the students, +being the most numerous, carried their point, the monks resigned the field +to them, and the Pré-aux-Clercs was more than ever frequented. It became +the grand rendezvous of all the Protestants, who would sing Marot's psalms +during the summer evenings; and such numbers giving confidence, many +persons declared themselves Protestants, whose rank had hitherto deterred +them from such a step. Among such, the most eminent was Anthony of Bourbon, +first prince of the blood, and, in right of his wife, king of Navarre. + +_Browning's History of the Hugonots._ + + * * * * * + + +LOVE. + + +When she learned the vocabulary, she did not find that admiration meant +love; she did not find that gratitude meant love; she did not find that +habit meant love; she did not find that approbation meant love; but in +process of time she began to suspect that all these put together produced a +feeling very much like love. + +_Rank and Talent._ + + * * * * * + + +HUGONOTS. + + +Various definitions of this epithet exist. Pasquier says it arose from +their assembling at Hugon's Tower, at Tours; he also mentions, that in 1540 +he heard them called _Tourangeaux_. Some have attributed the term to the +commencement of their petitions, "_Huc nos venimus._" A more probable +reason is to be found in the name of a party at Geneva, called _Eignots_, a +term derived from the German, and signifying a sworn confederate. Voltaire +and the Jesuit Maimbourg are both of this opinion. + +_Browning's History of the Hugonots._ + + * * * * * + + +A ROUT. + + +A great, large, noisy, tumultuous, promiscuous, crowding, crushing, +perfumed, feathered, flowered, painted, gabbling, sneering, idle, +gossiping, rest-breaking, horse-killing, panel-breaking, supper-scrambling +evening-party is much better imagined than described, for the description +is not worth the time of writing or reading it. + +_Rank and Talent._ + + * * * * * + + +PLEASURE. + + + We are mad gamesters in this world below, + All hopes on one uncertain die to throw; + How vain is man's pursuit, with passion blind, + To follow that which leaves us still behind! + Go! clasp the shadow, make it all thine own, + Place on the flying breeze thine airy throne; + Weave the thin sunbeams of the morning sky; + Catch the light April clouds before they fly; + Chase the bright sun unto the fading west, + And wake him early from his golden rest; + Seeking th' impossible, let life be past, + But never dream of pleasure that shall last. + +_The Ruined City._ + + * * * * * + + +GERMAN LIFE. + + +One day (says a late adventurer,) that I was quartered in a farm-house, +along with some of our German dragoons, the owner came to complain to me +that the soldiers had been killing his fowls, and pointed out one man in +particular as the principal offender. The fact being brought home to the +dragoon, he excused himself by saying, "One shiken come frighten my horse, +and I give him one kick, and he die." "Oh, but," said I, "the _patron_ +contends that you killed more than one fowl." "Oh yes; that shiken moder +see me kick that shiken, so she come fly in my face, and I give her one +kick, and she die." Of course I reported the culprit to his officer, by +whom he was punished as a notorious offender. + +_Twelve Years' Military Adventures._ + + * * * * * + + +THE HEIR. + + +Persons who are very rich, and have no legal heirs, may entertain +themselves very much at the expense of hungry expectants and lean +legacy-hunters. Who has not seen a poor dog standing on his hind legs, and +bobbing up and down after a bone scarcely worth picking, with which some +mischief-loving varlet has tantalized the poor animal till all its limbs +have ached? That poor dog shadows out the legacy-hunter or possible heir. + +_Rank and Talent._ + + * * * * * + + +The author of "_The Journal of a Naturalist_," just published, relates the +following incident that occurred a few years past at a lime-kiln, (on the +old Bristol Road) because it manifests how perfectly insensible the human +frame may be to pains and afflictions in peculiar circumstances; and that +which would be torture if endured in general, may be experienced at other +times without any sense of suffering. A travelling man one winter's evening +laid himself down upon the platform of a lime-kiln, placing his feet, +probably numbed with cold, upon the heap of stones newly put on to burn +through the night. Sleep overcame him in this situation; the fire gradually +rising and increasing until it ignited the stones upon which his feet were +placed. Lulled by the warmth, he still slept; and though the fire +increased until it burned one foot (which probably was extended over a vent +hole) and part of the leg, above the ankle, entirely off, consuming that +part so effectually, that no fragment of it was ever discovered; the +wretched being slept on! and in this state was found by the kiln-man in the +morning. Insensible to any pain, and ignorant of his misfortune, he +attempted to rise and pursue his journey, but missing his shoe, requested +to have it found; and when he was raised, putting his burnt limb to the +ground to support his body, the extremity of his leg-bone, the tibia, +crumbled into fragments, having been calcined into lime. Still he expressed +no sense of pain, and probably experienced none, from the gradual operation +of the fire and his own torpidity during the hours his foot was consuming. +This poor drover survived his misfortunes in the hospital about a +fortnight; but the fire having extended to other parts of his body, +recovery was hopeless. + + * * * * * + + +GAMING. + + +Gambling, the besetting sin of the indolent in many countries, is ruinously +general throughout South America. In England, and other European states, it +is pretty much limited to the unemployed of the upper classes, who furnish +a never-ending supply of dupes to knavery. In South America the passion +taints all ages, both sexes, and every rank. The dregs of society yield to +the fascination as blindly as the high-born and wealthy of the old or of +the new world. It speaks much in favour of the revolution, that this vice +is sensibly diminishing in Peru, and to the unfortunate Monteagudo belongs +the honour of having been the first to attempt its eradication. A noted +gambler was once as much an object of admiration in South America as a +six-bottle man was in England fifty years ago. The houses of the great were +converted into nightly hells, where the priesthood were amongst the most +regular and adventurous attendants. Those places are now more innocently +enlivened by music and dancing. Buena Vista, a seat of the late Marquess of +Montemira, six leagues from Lima, was the Sunday rendezvous of every +fashionable of the capital who had a few doubloons to risk on the turn of a +card. On one occasion, a fortunate player, the celebrated Baquijano, was +under the necessity of sending for a bullock car to convey his winnings, +amounting to above thirty thousand dollars: a mule thus laden with specie +was a common occurrence. Chorillos, a fishing town, three leagues south of +Lima, is a fashionable watering place for a limited season. Here immense +sums are won and lost; but political and literary coteries, formerly +unknown, daily lessen the numbers of the votaries of fortune. + +So strong was this ruling passion, that when the patriot army has been +closely pursued by the royalists, and pay has been issued to lighten the +military chest, the officers, upon halting, would spread their ponchos on +the ground, and play until it was time to resume the march; and this was +frequently done even on the eve of a battle. Soldiers on piquet often +gambled within sight of an enemy's advanced post. + +_Memoirs of Gen. Miller._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE NATURALIST. + + * * * * * + + +VOLCANIC ISLAND OF ST. CHRISTOPHER. + + +This island is entirely composed of volcanic matter, in some places +alternating with submarine productions. The principal mountain is situated +at the western end of the island; it is an exhausted volcano, called in +books of navigation, charts, &c., Mount Misery. The summit of this mountain +is 3,711 feet above the sea; it appears to consist of large masses of +volcanic rocks, roasted stones, cinders, pumice, and iron-clay. The whole +extent of land, to the sea-shore on either side, may be considered as the +base of this mountain, as it rises with a pretty steep ascent towards it; +but from the part which is generally considered the foot of the mountain, +it takes a sudden rise of an average angle of about 50 degrees. To the +east, another chain of mountains runs, of a similar formation, though of +inferior height. On the summits of these there are no remains that indicate +their having ever possessed a crater: so that whether any of them have +originally been volcanoes, or whether they have been formed by an +accumulation of matter thrown out of Mount Misery, it is difficult to +decide. That the low lands have been thrown from the mouth of the volcano +is evident, from the regular strata of volcanic substances of which they +consist; these too are interspersed with masses of volcanic rock, and other +stones, some of the lesser ones entirely roasted through, and some of the +larger ones to certain depths from their surfaces. Masses, also, of +iron-clay, enclosing various pebbles, which have been burnt into a kind of +red brick, are abundantly found in many places. There is scarcely any thing +that can be called a path, or even a track, to the mouth of the crater of +Mount Misery; indeed, there are but few whose curiosity is sufficiently +strong to induce them to undertake this expedition. The common course for +those who do, is to take a negro man as a guide, with a cutlass, or large +knife, to clear away the underwood, and form a kind of path as he goes on. +The ascent is very irregular, in some places being gentle, in others almost +perpendicular; in which case the hands are obliged to assist the operations +of the feet. In wet weather, the ascent of this mountain is extremely +laborious, as a great part of it consists of clay, which then becomes so +slippery as to render the getting up almost impracticable. About half-way +up on the south side, and in a very pretty, romantic situation, there is a +natural spring of remarkably cool water. On the north side, at about the +same height, there is a waterfall, which, though small and insignificant in +itself, has a pleasing appearance, as it rushes over the rocks, and through +the trees and shrubs. This mountain is thickly clothed with wood, which in +many places not only excludes the rays of the sun, but produces a sombre, +gloomy appearance; this, with the occasional plaintive coo of the mountain +dove, (the only sound heard at this height,) creates in the mind sensations +of pleasing melancholy. In some parts an open space suddenly appears, from +whence the whole country below bursts unexpectedly upon the view, which +has, as may be supposed, an extremely fine effect. The thermometer, on the +top of the mountain when the writer visited it, stood at 65, being a +difference of 15 degrees from the low lands, where it stood at 80 degrees. +The descent into the crater on the north and east sides is perfectly +perpendicular; on the south and west sides, it slopes at an average angle +of not more than 18 or 20 degrees from the perpendicular; consequently, +persons descending are often obliged to let themselves down by clinging to +projecting corners of rocks, or the branches and roots of shrubs, which +grow all the way down; nor is this mode of travelling particularly safe, +for should any of these give way, the consequence would probably be highly +dangerous. The bottom of the crater, which, as nearly as could be +estimated, is about 2,500 feet below the summit of the mountain, and +contains about forty-five or fifty acres, may be said to be divided into +three parts: the lowest side (to the south) consists of a large pond or +lake, formed entirely by the rain-water collected from the sides of the +crater--accordingly its extent is greater or less, as the season is wet or +dry; the centre part is covered with small ferns, palms, and shrubs, and +some curious species of moss; the upper part, to the north, is that which +is called the Soufriere. The ground here consists of large beds of +pipe-clay, in some places perfectly white, in others of a bluish or black +colour, from the presence of iron pyrites. These are intermixed with masses +and irregular beds of gray cinders and score, pumice, various kinds of +lava, lithomarge, and fuller's earth. Amidst these beds of clay there are +several hot springs, small, but boiling with much violence, and emitting +large quantities of steam. A rumbling noise is heard under the whole of +this part of the crater. The hot springs are not stationary, but suddenly +disappear, and burst up in another place. The ground in many parts is too +hot to be walked upon: a great quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen gas is +likewise emitted, which is exceedingly disagreeable to the smell; and +occasionally such a volume of it arises, as is almost suffocating, and +resembles much the smell of rotten eggs. The watches of the writer and his +companion during his visit, and every article of gold or silver about their +persons, were in a few moments turned perfectly black, from the effect of +this gas. + +_Brande's Journal._ + + * * * * * + + + +MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + * * * * * + + +ROYAL LIFE IN PERSIA. + + +The religious duties of the king of Persia require him to rise early. As he +sleeps in the interior apartments, which no male is allowed to approach, +his attendants are either females or eunuchs. After he is dressed with +their aid, he sits for an hour or two in the hall of the haram, where his +levees are conducted with the same ceremony as in his outer apartments. +Female officers arrange the crowd of his wives and slaves with the +strictest attention to the order of precedency. After hearing the reports +of the persons intrusted with the internal government of the haram, and +consulting with his principal wives, who are generally seated, the monarch +leaves the interior apartments. The moment he comes out, he is met by +officers in waiting, and proceeds to one of his private halls, where he is +immediately joined by some of his principal favourites, and enters into +familiar conversation with them: all the young princes of the blood attend +this morning levee, to pay their respects. After this is over, he calls for +breakfast. The preparing his meals is superintended by the nauzir, or chief +steward of the household. The viands are put into dishes of fine china, +with silver covers, and placed in a close tray, which is locked and sealed +by the steward. This tray is covered with a rich shawl, and carried to the +king, when the steward breaks the seal, and places the dishes before him. +Some of the infant princes are generally present, and partake in this +repast. The chief physician is invariably in attendance at every meal. His +presence is deemed necessary, the courtiers say, that he may prescribe an +instant remedy, if any thing should disagree with the monarch; but this +precaution, no doubt, owes its origin to that suspicion which is +continually haunting the minds of such as exercise despotic power. When his +public duties are performed, he usually retires to the haram, where he +sometimes indulges in a short repose. Some time before sunset he always +makes his appearance in the outer apartments, and either again attends to +public business or takes a ride. His dinner is brought between eight and +nine, with the same precautions and ceremonies as at breakfast. He eats, +like his subjects, seated upon a carpet, and the dishes are placed on a +rich embroidered cloth, spread for the occasion. Some of the former kings +used to indulge openly in drinking wine; but none of the reigning family +have yet outraged the religious feelings of their subjects by so flagrant a +violation of the laws of Mahomed. Bowls filled with sherbet, made of every +species of fruit, furnish the beverage of the royal meals; and there are +few countries where more pains are bestowed to gratify the palate with the +most delicate viands. After dinner, the king retires to the interior +apartments, where it is said that he is often amused till a late hour by +the singers and dancers of his haram. It is impossible, however, to speak +of his occupations after he passes the threshold of his inner palace. He is +there surrounded by a scene calculated, beyond all others, to debase and +degrade the human character. + +The harams are governed by the strictest discipline; and this must be +necessary to preserve the peace of a community, where the arrogance of +power, the pride of birth, the ties of kindred, the intrigues of art, and +the pretensions of beauty, are in constant collision. The usual routine of +the king's life is often interrupted by urgent public affairs, and +sometimes by amusement. The reigning family has hitherto disdained those +enervating and luxurious habits which led the last Seffavean monarchs to +confine themselves to their harams. They not only attend personally to +public business, but are continually practising manly exercises, and engage +in field sports with all the ardour of a race who cherish the habits of +their Tartar ancestors. The present king is an expert marksman and an +excellent horseman; few weeks pass without his partaking in the pleasures +of the chase. The king has always a historiographer and a chief poet. The +one writes the annals of his reign; the other, who has a high rank at +court, composes odes in his praise, and, with grateful ardour, celebrates +the munificence of his patron. A giant and a dwarf were at one period of +the present reign part of the royal establishment; and it is never without +a jester, who enjoys an extraordinary latitude of speech, and, both in his +dress and manner, assumes the habit and appearance of folly. It is usual to +laugh at the witticisms of these jesters, even when they are the most +severe; and the sovereign himself respects their privilege. The tribe to +which Kerreem Khan belonged, speak a language which, from its rudeness, is +denominated "the barbarous dialect." As this prince was one day sitting in +public, he commanded his jester to go and bring him word what a dog, that +was barking very loud, wanted. The courtiers smiled at this sally of their +monarch. The jester went, and, after appearing to listen for some time with +profound attention, returned, and said, with a grave air, "Your majesty +must send one of the chief officers of your own family to report what that +gentleman says: he speaks no language except "the barbarous dialect," with +which they are familiar, but of which I do not understand one word." The +good-humoured monarch laughed heartily at this jest, and gave the wit a +present. This anecdote, to which many similar might be added, shows that +there is little difference between the office of jester at the modern court +of Persia, and that which some centuries ago existed at every court in +Europe. A resemblance even in trifling forms merits attention, as it may +lead to conclusions on the progress of knowledge and the condition of +society; and from the character of their amusements, we may perhaps judge +as correctly as from their more serious occupations, of the degree of +civilization which a people has attained. In the court there is always a +person who bears the name of "story-teller to his majesty;" and the duties +of his office require a man of no mean acquirements. Though passionately +fond of public exhibitions, the Persians have none that deserve the name of +theatrical entertainments; but though strangers to the regular drama, their +stories are often dramatic; and those whose occupation is to tell them, +sometimes display so extraordinary a skill, and such varied powers, that we +can hardly believe, while we look on their altered countenances and listen +to their changed tones, that it is the same person, who at one moment tells +a plain narrative in his natural voice, then speaks in the hoarse and angry +tone of offended authority, and next subdues the passions he has excited by +the softest sounds of feminine tenderness. The art of relating stories is +attended both with profit and reputation. Great numbers attempt it, but few +succeed. + +The person whose office it is to amuse his majesty with these stories is +always in attendance. It is equally his duty to beguile the fatigue of a +long march, and to soothe the mind when disturbed by the toils of public +affairs; and his tales are artfully made to suit the disposition and +momentary humour of the monarch. Sometimes he recites a story of the genii; +at others he speaks of the warlike deeds of former sovereigns, or of the +love of some wandering prince. Often the story is of coarser materials, and +the king is entertained with low and obscene adventures. In no court is +more rigid attention paid to ceremony. Looks, words, the motions of the +body, are all regulated by the strictest forms. When the king is seated in +public, his sons, ministers, and courtiers, stand erect, with their hands +crossed, and in the exact place belonging to their rank. They watch his +looks, and a glance is a command. If he speaks to them, you hear a voice +reply, and see the lips move, but not a motion or gesture betrays that +there is animation in any other part of the frame. The monarch often speaks +in the third person: "The king is pleased," "The king commands." His +ministers usually style him "The object of the world's regard." They are as +particular in forms of speech as in other ceremonies; and superiority and +inferiority of rank, in all their gradations, are implied by the terms used +in the commonest conversations. + +_Sir J. Malcolm's History of Persia._ + + * * * * * + + + +THE COSMOPOLITE. + + * * * * * + + +We love an occasional stroll into the environs of London--_on foot_--and +_alone_. On foot, because we hate the machinery of a coach--and alone, +because we have only our own leisure to consult, and there is no time lost +in "making up minds." On such occasions we have no set object in view, but +we determine to make "good in every thing." A book, great or small, is then +to us a great evil; and putting a map into one's pocket is about as absurd +as Peter Fin's taking Cook's Voyages on his journey to Brighton. We read +the other day of a reviewer who started from Charing Cross with a blue bag +filled with books for his criticship: he read at Camberwell, and he read at +Dulwich--he wrote in the sanded and smoke-dried parlour of the Lion, the +Lamb, or the Fox--and he wrote whilst his steak was grilling at the +_auberge_ at Dulwich--and he went home in a hackney-coach: "Lord how he +went out--Lord how he came in." Another brother talks of rambling in a +secluded village field with Gilbert White's "Natural History of Selborne," +or the "Journal of a Naturalist," in his hand. All this is very pleasant +and mighty pretty; but it is not true; and we stake our critical character +that neither Gilbert White nor our "Naturalist" did such things, or if they +did, that they were not essential to their writings. Making notes and +comparing them with others, after a long walk, is another matter; but to +walk out into the country to read a book on natural philosophy is not +indicative of a susceptible mind. For our own part, we want no book but the +broad volume of Nature--but to derive profit as well as pleasure, we must +go out with some of the philosophy of Nature in our hearts--for walking is +like travelling, (which is only a long walk,)--"a man must carry knowledge +with him, if he would bring home knowledge." We think Mr. Hazlitt talks of +lying a whole day on Salisbury Plain as one of his greatest enjoyments, and +he is doubtless sincere. When we set out on such a walk as we are about to +take, with the reader's consent, we quote Thomson for our exordium:-- + + To me be Nature's volume broad display'd; + And to peruse its all instructive page, + + * * * * * + + My sole delight; as through the falling glooms + Pensive I stray, or with the rising dawn + On Fancy's eagle wing excursive soar; + +--and starting from our metropolis, we love to watch the ebbing of +population, the dwindling from groves of chimneys and worlds of bricks and +mortar to tricksy cottages marshalled with the plumb-line, or sprinkled +over "farmy fields" facing Macadamized roads, and collecting more dust in +one month than would have ransomed all the captive kings of history, sacred +or profane. There we love to trace the ramifications of art from the steam +and gas chimneys of the metropolis to the quiet dell, in whose seclusion +you might imagine yourself a hundred miles from town, were it not for the +hum of the great tun that is fretting and working at a distance. On the +road you enjoy scenes that are to be found in no printed book. Nay, every +sign-board is a study. Those near the town would do honour to the +President's pencil; as you advance, they retrograde--and as Art declines, +Nature smiles still sweeter and softer in never-ending successions of woods +and groves, hills and dales, glassy lakes and pebbly streams, with all the +variegated charms of rustic life. + +But we are getting too _rural_; for our "Suburban Stroll" extended but to +Dulwich and back, about four miles south of London. Twenty years since, we +remember, the parish of Camberwell (which includes Peckham and Dulwich) was +a pleasant village, with several mansions inhabited by citizens of +property, who retired hither for air and recreation; now the whole district +is crowded with lath and plaster cottages, and sugar-bakers' boxes, which +appear well adapted for twelfth-cake kings and queens.[7] Twenty years ago, +we enjoyed the embowered walk of Camberwell Grove, and above all, _Grove +Hill_, the retreat of Dr. John Coakley Lettsom, till his benevolence +overmuch obliged him to part with this delightful residence. Well do we +remember the picturesque effect of Grove Hill, the unostentatious, +casino-like villa, ornamented with classic figures of Liberality, Plenty, +and Flora--and the sheet of water whose surface was broken by a stream from +a dank and moss-crusted fountain in its centre. Then, the high, overarching +grove, and its summit, traditionally said to be the spot where George +Barnwell murdered his uncle, the incident that gave rise to Lillo's +pathetic tragedy. But the march of improvement has extended hither--the +walk can scarcely be traced: still there is abundance of timber, for the +grove has disappeared, and scores of new houses have sprung up with almost +magical effect--and the whole scene reminds us of one of the change-scenes +of a pantomime. The builder's _share_ has turned over nearly every inch of +the ground, and fresh gravel and loose loam remind the philosophical +pedestrian that all is change beneath as well as on the surface. Of the +mock villas that have been "put up" in this quarter, we must speak with +forbearance. Their little bits of Gothic plastered here and there; their +puny machicolations, square and pointed arches, and stained glass "cut out +into little stars"--are but sorry specimens of taste, and but poor +indications of comfort. They seem to totter like card-houses, and all their +spick-and-span finery vanishes beside a wing of the picturesque--a cottage +in true rustic taste, with rudely-arched virandahs, formed of limbs and +trunks of trees, intermixed with evergreens, and reminding us of the +"gnarled oaks and soft myrtles" of the poet's fancy; and with trimmed +arches of thatch over little casements, with flowers + + "Blinding the lower panes." + +Now is the little hatch-gate slammed with the wind, contrasting its rude +sound with the rusty creak of the "invisible" iron fence just set up, but +already + + So loose that it but wants another push + To leap from off its hinges; + +--the milk-white window-sill, or painted flower-pots ranged on bars of +cast-iron, like so many toys of Nature. Such was the contrast when we last +visited the "Grove;" the picturesque cottage was then as we have described +it, and its new-born neighbours were rising fast on every side, and we +would not insure its existence for a week longer; for the slicing, cutting, +and carving of this once beautiful spot, exceeds all credibility. With all +these changes, however, the fine panoramic view of two hundred miles may +still be enjoyed from this spot, and overlooking the meaner glories of the +GREAT CITY at your feet, the eye rests on the "sister hills," Harrow spire, +and where + + Majestic Windsor lifts his princely brow; + +Shooter's Hill and Greenwich, with tower, dome, and turret; Sydenham and +Norwood on the south; and Chelsea and the _unbridged_ winding Thames on the +west. Art has not yet thrown up her screens, so as to fence in this world +of beauties from our enjoyment. Here we sit down and rest our recreant +limbs, leaving the reader to enjoy the innumerable reflections which our +poor mention has called up. Another fine day, and we may proceed in our +stroll. + +PHILO. + + [7] In the neighbourhood of Dulwich, we remember the mansion of a + retired confectioner, which wags styled _Lollipop Hall_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. + + SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +EPIGRAM. + +_The Division of Justice._ + + + John Hobbs, partridge-snaring, was dragged to the 'Squire, + The Magistrate flamed, but the statute hung fire. + "Burns states," says the Clerk, "that tread-mill will do, + For two months, if the culprit's convicted by two." + "Two months and two magistrates: I sit alone. + Well, Clerk, we must _halve_ it--commit him for _one_." + + * * * * * + + +HUDSON AND HIS PIGS. + + +The following is extracted from a recent American (private) letter:-- + +Hudson, who is a general dealer, purchased a cottage, to which pertained +amongst other _furniture_ a sty. As this was of course uninhabited, his +first care was to supply it with inmates, and, having purchased a couple of +fine pigs, he set off homewards with his bargains comfortably lodged in his +cart. Upon arriving at Buenos Ayres, a part of the harness broke, down went +the cart, and out shot Hudson and his bristly companions backwards; but +unfortunately falling upon one of the poor animals, he crushed him to +death. This was bad, Hudson looked blank, as who does not upon perceiving +Dame Fortune playing him foul? and woeful was it indeed to witness death +amongst his live stock; in this dilemma however, his wits did not utterly +forsake him, and concluding that if he could make the animal bleed, it +would probably be marketable and not prove a _dead_ loss, he proceeded to +act on this prudent supposition, and immediately cut its throat; which +sanguinary act so alarmed the companion pig, that taking to his heels, he +instantly made off (like his swinish brethren of old) towards the sea. Poor +Hudson, between the dead and the living pig, was dreadfully distressed, +being apprehensive of losing both; however being fortunate enough to engage +a man to pursue the absconded delinquent, he proceeded home with the +defunct, and by dint of ablutions, and scrapings, &c. really made of it "a +very pretty pig." This done, it was hung up in the dairy or beer-cellar, I +know not which, ready for market, and if Hudson plumed himself upon +cheating fortune at least in one instance, he was not to blame; but, lo! in +the morning, poor pig, presented a hideous and horrible spectacle, and poor +Hudson stood aghast to behold it! The cats had made during the night so +plentiful a repast upon his new purchase, so that instead of a handsome +corpse there remained only a mangled assemblage of bloody bones, and +fragments of flesh! Poor Hudson! but after all, these misfortunes were +mainly attributable to his own carelessness, and as to whether he ever +recovered his truant pig, I cannot say; perhaps the man may be in pursuit +of him still. + +S.L. + + * * * * * + + +ON A PERSON SAYING HE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME ON MUSIC. + + + On music that you spend your time, + You surely can't mean what you say, + For all who know you must allow + You keep time whilst you sing or play. + + * * * * * + + +OLD PARR. + + +Thomas Parr lived to the extraordinary age of 152 years. He was of the +county of Salop, born anno 1483. He lived in the reigns of ten princes, +viz. Edward IV., King Edward V., King Richard III., King Henry VII., King +Henry VIII., King Edward VI., Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, and +King Charles, was buried at Westminster Abbey, November 15, 1635. + +C.K.W. + + * * * * * + + +THE MARCH OF INTELLECT. + + +Colonel Despreaux, in a late pamphlet on the Police of Paris, remarks, that +there seem to be different periods for different crimes. He had always +observed the summer months to be comparatively months of low riot. November +began the burglaries, January and February the stealing of +pocket-handkerchiefs and snuff-boxes, probably from the conflux to the +theatres at that time. But, that swindling transactions, and all other +frauds that require peculiar dexterity, were prevalent about _March_. + + * * * * * + + +LONDON LEVELS. + + +The most lofty site in the immediate vicinity of London is the tavern +called Jack Straw's Castle, on the brow of Hampstead Heath, which is 443 +feet above the Thames. The top of the cross of St. Paul's Cathedral is 407 +feet, whilst its base, or ground-line, is 52 feet. The base of the lowest +building is that of the Bricklayer's Arms, Kent Road, the sill of the south +door of which is only six inches above the high-water mark. The sill of the +north entrance-door of Westminster Hall is only 11 inches. + + * * * * * + + +Lately published, with a Frontispiece, and thirty other Engravings, price +5s. + +THE ARCANA OF SCIENCE, AND ANNUAL REGISTER OF THE USEFUL ARTS, FOR 1829. + +"This is a valuable register of the progress of science and arts during the +past year. Engravings and a low price qualify it for extensive +utility"--_Literary Gazette. March 21._ + +"An agreeable and useful little volume."--_Athenæum, Feb._ 18. + + * * * * * + +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. 5s. half bound, £4. 2s. +6d. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, +and Instruction, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11331 *** |