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diff --git a/11342-0.txt b/11342-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af66aff --- /dev/null +++ b/11342-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1538 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11342 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 11342-h.htm or 11342-h.zip: + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/3/4/11342/11342-h/11342-h.htm) + or + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/3/4/11342/11342-h.zip) + + + + +THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. + +VOL. 13, No. 352.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1829. [PRICE 2d. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +PRINCE RUPERT'S PALACE + + +[Illustration: Prince Rupert's palace, Barbican.] + +Prince Rupert, who will be remembered in the annals of the useful and +fine arts when his military fame shall be forgotten, resided at a house +in Beech-lane, Barbican, of the remains of which the above is a +representation. His residence here was in the time of Charles II.; for +it is said that Charles paid him a visit, when the ringers of +Cripplegate had a guinea for complimenting the royal guest with a "merry +peal." As the abode of a man of science, (for the prince was one of the +most ingenious men of his time,) this engraving will doubtless be +acceptable to the readers of the MIRROR. It, moreover, shows that even +at that period, a residence in the City and its neighbourhood was not +thought derogatory to a man of rank or fortune.[1] + +With the historical character of Prince Rupert, most of our readers are +probably familiar. Many useful inventions resulted from his studies, +among which are the invention of "Prince's Metal," locks for fire-arms, +improvements in gunpowder, &c. After the restoration, he was admitted +into the Privy Council. He likewise became a fellow of the newly-founded +Royal Society, and a member of the Board of Trade; and to his influence +is ascribed the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company, of which he +was the first governor. Orford, Evelyn, and Vertue attribute to him the +invention of mezzotinto engraving; but this has been disputed, and, we +believe, disproved. + + [1] He likewise held the villa of Brandenburgh House, at + Hammersmith, since known as the residence of Queen Caroline. + + * * * * * + + + +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE COLOSSEUM, IN THE REGENT'S PARK. + + +By the courtesy of Mr. Hornor, the proprietor, we have been favoured +with a private view of the _interior_ of this stupendous building; and, +as it is our intention to illustrate the ensuing Number of the MIRROR +with a view of the exterior, we shall for the present confine ourselves +to such descriptive details as we have been enabled to collect in our +recent visit. The interior is, however, in an unfinished state; the +works are in actual progress, and the operations of the several artists +continue uninterrupted by the access of visiters. + +On entering the edifice by the large door in front, a staircase on the +right leads to a passage, which communicates with a circular saloon hung +with coloured drapery. This room, which, when finished, will be the +largest of the kind in London, occupies the whole internal space, or the +basement of the building, with the exception of the staircase leading to +the summit, which rises like a large column from the centre. This +circular saloon is intended for the exhibition of paintings and other +productions of the fine arts; and it redounds highly to the credit of +Mr. Hornor, that this exhibition is to be entirely free of charge to the +artists. Such an introduction of their works to public notice cannot +fail to prove mutually advantageous. + +It may be here necessary to state that the wall of the building +represents a panoramic _View of London_, as seen from the several +galleries of St. Paul's Cathedral--and that the view of the picture is +obtained from three galleries--the _first_ of which corresponds, in +relation to the view, with the first gallery at the summit of the dome +of St. Paul's; the _second_ is like that of the upper gallery on the +same edifice; and the _third_, from its great elevation, commands a view +of the remote distance which describes the horizon in the painting. +Above the last-mentioned gallery is placed the identical copper ball +which for so many years occupied the summit of St. Paul's; and above it +is a fac-simile of the cross by which it was surmounted. Over these is +hung the small wooden cabin in which Mr. Hornor made his drawings for +the picture, in the same perilous situation it occupied during the +period of the repairs which some years ago were done to the cathedral. A +small flight of stairs leads from this spot to the open gallery which +surrounds the top of the Colosseum, commanding a view of the Regent's +Park and the subjacent country. + +The communication with the galleries is by staircases of curious +construction, built on the outer side of the central column already +mentioned. This column is hollow, and within it a small circular chamber +is to be caused to ascend when freighted with company, by means of +machinery, with an imperceptible motion to the first gallery. The doors +of the chamber will then open, and by this novel means of being +elevated, visiters may avoid the fatigue of ascending by the stairs, and +then walk out into the gallery to enjoy the picture. + +In extent and accuracy, the Panorama is one of the most surprising +achievements of art in this or any other country. The picture covers +upwards of 40,000 square feet, or nearly an acre of canvass; the dome of +the building on which the sky is painted, is thirty feet more in +diameter than the cupola of St. Paul's; and the circumference of the +horizon from the point of view, is nearly 130 miles. The painting is +almost completed; indeed, sufficiently so, for the general effect; +although this will be considerably increased by the insertion of the +remaining details, and the last or finishing touches. Much as the +spectator will be struck by the fidelity of the representation, there is +one claim it has to his admiration, which has only to be explained to be +universally acknowledged. It is simply this. Only let such of our +readers as have ascended the galleries of St. Paul's, think of the +fatigue they experienced in the toil, and comparatively speaking, the +little gratification they experienced on their arrival at the summit. In +short, what had they for their pains but the distinct roofs of the +houses in the immediate vicinity, while the rest of the city was half +lost in fog and the smoke of "groves of chimneys." The only period at +which London _can be seen_, is at sun-rise on a fine summer +morning--such a morning, for instance, as that of the last Coronation. +This too must be before the many thousand fires are lighted--exactly the +period at which it is impossible to gain admittance to the cathedral. In +the Panorama of the Colosseum, therefore, alone it is that we can see +the "mighty heart," the town we inhabit; and for this grand scene we are +indebted to the indefatigable genius of Mr. Hornor.[2] + +The magnificent effect of the Panorama, however, baffles all description +of our pen. Indeed, the scene gives rise to so many inspiring +associations in an enthusiastic mind, that few Englishmen, and still +fewer Londoners, are equal to the detail of its description. Every inch +of the vast circumference abounds with subject for reflection. The +streets filled with passengers and vehicles--the grandeur of the public +buildings, churches, and palatial structures--the majestic river winding +grandly along, with the shipping, vessels, and gay trim of civic barges +gliding on its surface, its banks studded with splendid hospitals, +docks, and antique towers--and its stream crossed with magnificent +bridges--till it stretches away beyond the busy haunts of industry, to +the rural beauties of Richmond, and the castellated splendour of +Windsor. Of course, the river is the most attractive object in the +painting; but overlooking the merits of the town itself, and the world +of streets and buildings--the representation of the environs is +delightfully picturesque, and the distances are admirably executed; +while the whole forms an assemblage of grandeur, unparalleled in art, as +the reality is in the history of mankind. + +The grand and distinguishing merit of the Panorama at the Colosseum is, +however, of a higher order than we have yet pointed out to the reader. +It has the _unusual_ interest of picturesque effect with the most +scrupulous accuracy; and, in illustration of the latter excellence, so +plain are the principal streets in the view, that thousands of visitors +will be able to identify their own dwellings. We have termed this an +unusual effect, because we are accustomed to view panoramas as fine +productions of art, with fascinating and novel contrasts, and altogether +as beautiful pictures; but pleasing as may be their effect on the +spectator, it must fall very short of the intense interest created by +the topographical or map-like accuracy of Mr. Hornor's picture, which is +correct even to the most minute point of detail. Thousands of spectators +will therefore become rivetted by some particular objects, for every +Londoner can name a score of sites which are endeared to him by some +grateful recollections and associations of his life; whilst our country +friends will be lost in admiration at the immense knot of dwellings, +till they contrive to pick their road back to their inn or temporary +abode in this queen of cities. In order to court the rigorous inspection +of the most critical visiters, engraved sections of the various parts of +the picture, numbered and described, will be placed in the compartments +to which the panorama corresponds; and for still further gratification, +glasses will he placed in the gallery, by which houses at the distance +of ten or twelve miles from the city may easily be discerned. All this +amounts to microscopic painting, or the most elaborate mosaic-work of +art. + +The effect of the near houses, or those in the immediate vicinity of St. +Paul's, is very striking; and the perspective and effect of light and +shade of the campanile towers in front of the cathedral are admirably +managed. In short, nothing can exceed the fine contrast of the bold and +broad buildings in the fore-ground with the work of the middle, and the +minuteness of the back-ground:-- + + Now to the sister hills that skirt her plain, + To lofty Harrow now, and now to where + Majestic Windsor lifts his princely brow, + In lovely contrast to this glorious view, + Calmly magnificent. + + Heavens! what a goodly prospect spreads around, + Of hills, and dales, and woods, and lawns, and spires, + ---------------------------------till all + The stretching landscape into mist decays. + +It seems scarcely possible for painting to achieve anything nearer to +reality than has been effected in the union of the projecting portions +and the flat surface of the picture--an effect which will be hailed with +enthusiasm by the spectator. This part is the work of Mr. Paris, "of +whose talents and valuable assistance in the execution of the painting," +says a writer in the _Times_, "the proprietor speaks in terms of +generous enthusiasm, which are well deserved, and equally honourable to +both parties." Another critical writer, in the _Weekly Review_, +likewise, pays a deserved tribute to the genius of Mr. Paris, in his +share of the painting. He says, "The spectator who shall view this +magnificent Panorama, without being previously informed of the +difficulties with which the able and indefatigable artist, Mr. E.T. +Paris, had to contend, however he may be struck with the _tout +ensemble_, will hardly be able to appreciate the merit of the work. In +the first place, as no one individual could accomplish such an +undertaking in a sufficiently short period, many artists were +necessarily employed; each of these had his own peculiar style, and +taste, and notions, which of course he would not depart from; when each +of the assistant artists, therefore, had finished his part, it was +necessary for Mr. Paris to go himself over the whole, retouch +everything, and reduce the various parts into harmony with each other. +This he has effected in the most admirable manner, so that, at present +the productions of numerous dissimilar pencils appear like the creation +of one man. Another, and perhaps still greater difficulty, was to +preserve the true perspective from so elevated and novel a point of +view, and on curved canvass; for, by the closing of the dome, that part +of the picture upon which the greatest distance was to be represented, +is in reality placed nearest to the spectator. We must observe, however, +that these difficulties have all been surmounted, and that the illusion +is most complete." + +Our limits advise us to quit the principal building, or that +appropriated to the panoramic view, especially as we cannot convey to +the reader an indistinct notion of the curious stair-work, machinery, +and carpentry of the ascents, &c. We were induced to ascend to the +exterior, but the mid-day smoke of the town, and the heavy fog of the +day, spoiled our view. Had it not been so, the numerous buildings below, +with the gardens, &c. would have reminded us that much yet remained to +be seen. We hastened down the staircase, as quickly as the loop-hole +light would allow, (for this part is to be lit with gas,) and returned +to the front court by the large door at which we entered. In the +entrance-hall are two aloes in tubs, one of them of noble size, and we +could not help contrasting this single triumph of Nature with the little +world of art we had just been exploring; and our train of reflection was +unbroken on our entering by the left-hand lodge-door, a range of arched +conservatories, in the centre of one of which is a _Camellia Japonica_, +which produces thirty varieties of flower, and is, perhaps, the most +magnificent specimen in England. Already here are several rare and +beautiful plants--a large proportion of exotics, and some of the most +curious plants of this country's growth. In the centre of one of the +chambers is a circular tank of water, surrounded by small _jets_, which +are to raise their streams so as to form a round case of water, within +which are to be aquatic plants, &c. At the end of this room aviaries are +in preparation. + +Hence we ascended into a beautiful reading-room, with French windows and +rusticated Gothic verandas. The _artistes_ were here busy in hanging the +walls, &c. with green damask moreen. The next room in the suite will be +a library of beautiful proportions; and beyond this will be another room +equally splendid, besides numerous other smaller apartments, in all +numbering thirty. The object of this part of the building is to afford +to subscribers all the advantages of a club and a reading-room, combined +with the novel and luxurious conveniences of the establishment. We now +come to what appears to us the _bijou_ of the whole. A passage leads +from the saloon to a suite of small chambers, representing a Swiss +cottage. One of these rooms is finished. It is wainscotted with coloured +(knotted) wood, and carved in imitation of the fanciful interior of the +dwellings of the Swiss mountaineers. The immense projecting chimney, its +capacious corners, and the stupendous fire-dogs, are truly +characteristic charms of cottage life; and the illusion is not a little +enhanced by the prospect from the windows, consisting of terrific rocks +and caverns,[3] among which a cascade is to fall from an immense height +into a lake, which is to spread immediately beneath the windows. The +water is not yet admitted here; but from some successful specimens of +this branch of art, which we have seen, we are induced to think the +Swiss cottage and its scenery will be very attractive. The exterior of +the dwelling, with its broad eaves, &c. is beautifully picturesque; and +the interior, supplied with a _suite_ of rustic furniture, is even +sufficiently unique for the _recherché_ taste of Mr. Hope. + +This is but an imperfect outline of the ingenious works which are now +just finishing at the Colosseum. The undertaking, as the name imports, +is one of the most gigantic enterprises for public gratification which +it has ever been our lot to witness; but great as may be the capital +already expended here, and indefatigable as have been the exertions of +the proprietor during the last seven years, it is almost impossible that +such genius should not be amply remunerated. As a concentration of every +refined amusement and luxurious comfort which the taste of the times can +dictate, the Colosseum will doubtless be without a rival in Europe. The +charms of useful and elegant literature will here alternate with the +exquisite masterpieces of modern art--and to aid these attractions, the +pure pleasures of the garden and green-house, and studies from the wild +and wonderful of sublime nature--will be superadded. The extent occupied +by the requisite buildings, &c. is, as we were informed, little short of +five acres. + +To conclude, the Colosseum will very shortly be opened to the public. In +the meantime, such persons as wish, may be gratified with a private view +of the works in their present state, on terms which have already been +announced by the proprietor. + + [2] It may be a test of the length of the reader's acquaintance + with the MIRROR--but at page 450, vol. i. he will find a brief + account of the means by which Mr. Hornor completed his sketches + for the Panorama--his erection of an observatory--and a faint + idea of the extreme perils, all which did not daunt the fearless + mind of this aspiring artist. Mr. Britton says the sketches made + for the projected picture, occupied 2,000 sheets of paper! + + [3] Mimic rocks and stones may be wrought into sublime effect; + and have often been introduced into landscape-gardening with + striking success. + + * * * * * + + +TO ---- + +(_For the Mirror._) + + + Yes! tis to thee love + I waken the string: + Yes! 'tis to thee love + I only would sing; + And in thine eyes love, + I ask but to shine; + With softest affection, + As thou dost in mine. + + Dearest and kindest, + I ask but to be + Cherished by thee love, + As thou art by me; + Then shall our moments + Glide sunnily o'er. + And blest with each other, + We sigh for no more. + + Wife of thy bosom, + By thee loved alone, + No dearer blessing + This proud world can own: + All its attractions + Delighted I'll fly, + For thee love, to live, + And with thee love to die! + +H. + + * * * * * + + +HIEROGLYPHICAL CHARACTERS. + +(_For the Mirror._) + + +Hieroglyphics consist in certain symbols which are made to stand for +invisible objects, on account of some analogy which such symbols were +supposed to bear to the objects. Egypt was the country where this sort +of writing was most studied, and brought into a regular science. In +hieroglyphics was conveyed all the boasted knowledge of their priests. +According to the properties which they ascribed to animals, they chose +them to be the emblems of moral objects. Thus ingratitude was expressed +by a viper; imprudence, by a fly; wisdom, by an ant; knowledge, by an +eye; eternity, by a circle which has neither beginning nor end; a man +universally shunned, by an eel, which they supposed to be found with no +other fish. Sometimes they joined two or more of these characters +together, as a serpent with a hawk's head, denoted nature, with God +presiding over it. + +INA. + + * * * * * + + + +MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. + + +BULL-FIGHTS AT LIMA. + +_From General Miller's Memoirs. Second edition._ + + +The taste for bull-fights, introduced by the early Spaniards, is +retained by their American descendants with undiminished ardour. The +announcement of an exhibition of this kind produces a state of universal +excitement. The streets are thronged, and the population of the +surrounding country, dressed in their gayest attire, add to the +multitudes of the city. The sport is conducted with an éclat that +exceeds the bull-fights in every other part of South America, and +perhaps even surpasses those of Madrid. The death of the bull, when +properly managed, creates as much interest in the ladies of Lima, as the +death of the hare to the English huntress, or the winning horse to the +titled dames at Newmarket or Doncaster. Nor can the pugilistic _fancy_ +of England take a deeper interest in the event of a prize-fight, than +the gentlemen of Lima in the scientific worrying of a bull. It is +curious to observe how various are ideas of cruelty in different +countries. The English, for instance, exclaim against the barbarity of +the bull-fight, as compared with the noble sport of cock-fighting, +badger-baiting, &c. But their enlightened horror could not exceed the +disgust shown by a young South American, who witnessed a casual +boxing-match between two boys in Hyde Park, surrounded and encouraged, +as he expressed himself, by well-dressed barbarians. It is amusing to +witness the complacency with which one nation accuses another of +cruelty, without taking a glance at customs at home. The bulls destined +for the ring are obtained principally from the woods in the valleys of +Chincha, where they are bred in a wild state. To catch and drive them to +Lima, a distance of sixty leagues, is a matter of no inconsiderable +expense. A bull is given by each _gremio_, or incorporated trading +company of the city. The gremios vie in decorating their donation, which +is bedizened with ribbons and flowers; across its shoulders are +suspended mantles richly embroidered with the arms of the gremio to +which it belongs, all of which become the perquisite of the _Toreador_ +or _Matador_ who slays the bull. The price of admission is four reals, +or two shillings; but an additional charge is made for seats in the +boxes; and the managers pay a considerable tax to government on every +performance. Early in the afternoon of the day fixed upon for a +bull-fight, every street leading to the amphitheatre is crowded with +carriages, horsemen, and pedestrians. All are in the highest state of +excitement, the highest glee, and in full dress. The business of the +ring commences, about 2 p.m. by a curious sort of prelude. A company of +soldiers perform a _despejo_, or a military pantomime. The men having +been previously drilled for that purpose, go through a variety of +fanciful evolutions, forming the Roman and Greek crosses, stars, and +figures, so describing a sentence, such as _viva la patria, viva San +Martin_, or the name of any other person who happens to be at the head +of the government. As a _finale_, the soldiers form a circle, face +outwards, then advance towards the boxes, preserving their circular +order, which they extend, until they approach close enough to climb up +to the benches. Every movement is made to the sound of the drum; the +effect is exceedingly good. A band of music is likewise in attendance, +and plays at intervals. The prelude being over, six or seven toreador +enter the arena on foot, dressed in silk jackets of different colours, +richly spangled or bordered with gold or silver lace. One or two of +these men, and who are called _matadores_, are pardoned criminals, and +they receive a considerable sum for every bull they kill. About the same +time various amateurs, well mounted on steeds gaily caparisoned, +fancifully and tastefully attired, present themselves. When all is +prepared, a door is opened under the box occupied by the municipality, +and a bull rushes from a pen. At first he gazes about as if in surprise, +but is soon put upon his mettle, by the waving of flags and the throwing +of darts, crackers, and other annoyances. The amateur cavaliers display +their horsemanship and skill in provoking and in eluding his vengeance, +in order to catch the eye of some favourite fair one, and to gain the +applause of their friends and the audience. They infuriate the animal by +waving a mantle over his head, and when pursued they do not allow their +horses to advance more than a few inches from the horns of the angry +bull. When at full speed, they make their horse revolve upon his hind +legs, and remain in readiness to make a second turn upon the animal. +This operation is several times repeated with equal agility and +boldness, and is called _capear_. The amateurs then promenade around to +acknowledge the plaudits bestowed. This species of sparring on horseback +with the bull, is practised only in South America. Indeed in no other +part of the world is the training of the horses, or the dexterity of the +horseman, equal to the performance of such exploits. Effigies made of +skin and filled with wind, and others made of straw, in which are live +birds, are placed in the arena. The bull tosses them in the air, but +being made heavy at the base, they come to the ground always retaining +an upright posture. The straw figures are furnished with fire-works, +which are made to take fire when the birds escape from within, and it +sometimes happens that the bull has the flaming and cracking figure upon +his horns. Sometimes the bull is maddened by fire-works being fastened +on him, which go off in succession. The crackers being expended, the +animal usually stands gazing around with rolling tongue, panting sides, +and eyes sparkling with rage. He is then faced by the principal matador, +who holds a straight sword in one hand and a flag in the other; as the +bull runs at him with full speed, the matador coolly, but with great +celerity, takes one step to the left, holding the flag just over the +spot he occupied when the bull took aim. Being foiled, the bull wheels +round, and charges his tormentor a second time, who again skilfully +eludes being caught on the horns: this is repeated about three times, to +the great delight of the audience. At length the matador assumes a sort +of fencing attitude, and at the critical moment, plunges his sword into +the bull's neck, near to its shoulders, when it falls dead at his feet. +Handkerchiefs are waved, and applauding shouts resound from every side. +Four horses richly harnessed then appear. The dead bull is quickly fixed +to traces, and dragged out at a gallop, cheered by continued +acclamations. + + "Four steeds that spurn the rein, as swift as shy, + Hurl the dark bulk along, scarce seen in dashing by." + + BYRON. + +Other bulls are killed in the same way by successive matadores. One is +generally despatched by means of a long knife grasped by the matador, so +that when his arm is extended, the blade is perpendicular to the wrist. +The bull being worried for a time, the matador, instead of receiving him +on the point of a sword as before, steps one pace aside as the bull runs +at him, and adroitly plunges the knife into the spinal marrow behind the +horns, and the animal drops dead instantaneously. Another bull is next +attacked by mounted picadores, armed with lances. Their legs are +protected by padding. Their horses are of little value, and cannot +easily get out of the way of the bull. Neither do the riders often +attempt it; to do so being considered cowardly. The consequence is, the +horses generally receive a mortal gore; part of their entrails are +frequently torn out, and exhibit a most disgusting spectacle. The riders +run considerable risk, for their lances are inadequate to killing the +bull, which after being gored and mangled, is finally despatched by a +matador. + +The next bull, as he sallies from the pen, is encountered by six or +eight Indians with short lances, who kneel down like the front rank of a +battalion to receive a cavalry charge. One or two Indians are usually +tossed; the others follow up the bull, and when he turns upon them, they +drop on one knee and receive him as before. They are seldom able to +despatch him, and a matador steps forward to end his sufferings. Some of +the Indians are often much hurt: they invariably make themselves half +drunk before they enter the circus, alleging that they can fight the +bull better when they see double. Again, another bull is let into the +ring for the lanzada, or trial of the lance, the handle of which is very +long and strong, fixed into a wooden socket secured to the ground, and +supported by an Indian torrero. The head of the lance is a long blade of +highly tempered steel; and made sharp as a razor. Before the bull is +permitted to leave the pen, he is rendered furious by a variety of +torments. When he has been sufficiently maddened, the doors are thrown +open, and the animal makes a rush at the Indian, who is dressed in +scarlet, and directs the lance as he kneels on the ground. The raging +bull runs at him; but he steadily points the lance, so as to receive the +bull on its point. Such is the force with which he plunges at his +opponent, that the lance generally enters at the head, and breaking +through skull and bones, comes out at the sides or back. Finally, a bull +with tail erect, comes bellowing and bounding in, with a man strapped on +his back. The animal jumps and capers about, making every effort to rid +himself of his burthen, to the no small amusement of the spectators. The +rider at length loosens the straps, and the bull is attacked on all +sides by amateurs and matadores on foot and on horseback. When a matador +has killed a bull, he bows to the government box, then to the +municipality, and then all around, receiving plaudits in proportion to +the skill he has shown, and the sport he has afforded. Advancing then to +the box of the municipality, he receives his reward from one of the +members, who is appointed as judge on the occasion, which consists of a +few dollars thrown into the arena. When the spectators are particularly +gratified by the performance, they also throw money into the ring. + + * * * * * + + + +THE ANECDOTE GALLERY. + + +ANECDOTES OF CELEBRATED AUTHORS, FRENCH AND ITALIAN. + + +Crebillon's manner of life was extremely singular. He slept little, and +lay very hard; he was always surrounded with about thirty cats and dogs; +and used to smoke tobacco, to keep his room sweet against their +exhalations. Being one day asked, in a large company, which of his works +he thought the best? "I don't know," answered he, "which is my best +production; but this (pointing to his son, who was present) is certainly +my worst." "It is," replied the son, with vivacity, "because no +Carthusian had a hand in it," alluding to the report that the best +passages in his father's tragedies had been written by a Carthusian +friar, who was his friend. + +Molieres, the celebrated French priest and mathematician, was a very +irritable man, which led him frequently into passions, of which one was +the cause of his death in 1742. In other respects he was reckoned a very +amiable character; but was apt to be so absent, or absorbed in his +studies, as to appear almost wholly insensible to surrounding objects. +His infirmity in this respect became known, and he was accordingly made +the subject of depredations. A shoe-black once finding him profoundly +absorbed in a reverie, contrived to steal the silver buckles from his +shoes, replacing them with iron ones. At another time, while at his +studies, a villain broke into the room in which he was sitting, and +demanded his money; Molieres, without rising from his studies, or giving +any alarm, coolly showed him where it was, requesting him, as a great +favour, that he would not derange his papers. + +Ariosto, the celebrated Italian poet, being asked why he had not built +his house in a more magnificent manner, and more suitable to the noble +descriptions which he had given of sumptuous palaces, beautiful +porticoes, and pleasant fountains, in his _Orlando Furioso_, he replied, +"that words were combined together with less expense than stones." To +such a degree was he charmed with his own verse, and so much did he also +excel in his manner of reading, that he was always disgusted if he heard +his own writings repeated with an ill grace and accent. Accordingly, it +is said, that, when he accidentally heard a potter singing a stanza of +his _Orlando_ in an incorrect and ungraceful manner, he was so incensed, +that he rushed into his shop and broke several of the pots which were +exposed to sale; when the potter expostulated with him for this +unprovoked injury, Ariosto replied, "I indeed have broken half a dozen +of your pots, which are not worth so many halfpence, and you have +spoiled a stanza of mine, which is worth a considerable sum of gold." He +was so attached to a plain and frugal mode of life, that he says of +himself in one of his poems, "that he was a fit person to have lived in +the world when acorns were the food of mankind." His constitution was +delicate and infirm; and, notwithstanding his temperance and general +abstemiousness, his health was often interrupted. He bore his last +sickness with uncommon resolution and serenity; affirming, "that he was +willing to die on many accounts, and particularly because he found that +the greatest divines were of opinion that we shall know one another in +the other world;" and he observed to those who were with him, "that many +of his friends were departed, whom he desired to visit, and that he +thought every moment tedious till he gained that happiness." + +Dante, the celebrated Italian poet, has been described by Boccacio, as +of a middle stature, of a pensive and melancholy expression in his +countenance. He was courteous and civil, and his way of living extremely +temperate. He is said to have been a very absent man, of which instances +have been recorded; once meeting with a book in an apothecary's, which +he had been long looking for, he opened it, and read from morning till +night without being roused from his pursuit by the distraction and +tumult occasioned by a great wedding passing through the street. For +some time he roved about Italy in an indigent and distressed condition, +till he was hospitably received by the Lord of Ravenna, his patron and +friend. + +Paul Scarron, whose life abounds with curious features, married +Mademoiselle d'Aubignè, afterwards the celebrated Madame de Maintenon, +who was at that time only sixteen years of age. On his marriage, the +notary asked him what dowry he would settle upon his wife? he replied, +"Immortality: the names of the wives of kings die with them, but the +name of Scarron's wife shall live for ever." He was accustomed to talk +to his superiors with great freedom, and in a very jocular style. In a +dedication to the king, he thus addressed his majesty: "I shall +endeavour to persuade your majesty, that you would do yourself no +injury, were you to do me a small favour; for in that case I should +become gay. If I should become more gay, I should write sprightly +comedies; and if I should write sprightly comedies, your majesty would +be amused, and thus your money would not be lost. All this appears so +evident that I should certainly be convinced of it, if I were as great a +king as I am now a poor unfortunate man." Scarron took pleasure in +reading his works to his friends, as he composed them; he used to call +it trying them. Segrais and another person coming to him one day, "Take +a chair," he said, "and sit down, that I may examine my Comic Romance." +When he saw them laugh very heartily, he said he was satisfied, "my book +will be well received since it makes persons of such delicate taste +laugh." He was not disappointed in his expectations, for the Romance had +a great run. In the year 1638, he was attending the Carnival at Mons, of +which he was a canon. Having put on the dress of a savage, he was +followed by a troop of boys into a morass, where he was kept so long, +that the cold penetrated his debilitated limbs, which became contracted +in such a manner, that he used to compare his body to the shape of a Z. +He died in 1660, at the age of fifty; he said to his friends who +surrounded his dying bed, "I shall never make you weep so much as I have +made you laugh." In his epitaph, made by himself, he desires, in a +mixture of the comic and the pathetic, that the passengers would not +awaken, by their noise, poor Scarron from the first good sleep he had +ever enjoyed. + +P.T.W. + + * * * * * + + + +THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS_. + + +LEGENDS OF THE LAKES; OR, SAYINGS AND DOINGS AT KILLARNEY. + +_By T. Crofton Croker, Esq._ + + +Two volumes of "tickling" legendary tales are almost too much for our +laughter-holding sides, but more especially at this merry +season--fraught with humour--and when reminiscences of the past make up +for lack of realities of the present. To "notice" such a work is ten +times more (we had almost said) trouble than to despatch half a dozen +dull books, or a dozen harmless, well-meaning satires on human nature. +But we will do our best to detach some of the good things from Mr. +Croker's volumes, although the humour of the _sketches_ which adorn +them, is of too subtle a quality for our pen or sheet to hold. + +Mr. Croker takes for granted that when people go to see the Lakes of +Killarney, they do not intend making a very serious business of the +excursion; but rather desire, while their eyes are pleased with romantic +scenery, that their ears should be tickled by legendary tales; and +accordingly he thinks it extraordinary that no guide-book should exist +for the local traditions of Killarney. This accounts for our finding Mr. +Croker on the box of the Killarney mail coach, beside Mat. Crowley, the +driver, at page 2, of his first volume. Here is no preamble about +"friends pressing the author to print--not intended for the public +eye--a mere note-book," &c.--but he begins his journey with the first +crack of the whip, and a "righte merrie" journey it is. + +Our facetious friend soon reaches Killarney, and is introduced to the +lord high-admiral of the lakes, and then, as the newspapers say of a +pantomime, the "fun begins." Our first extract is + +O'SULLIVAN'S PUNCH BOWL. + +"What are we to land here for?" said I to the coxswain. + +"Only just to show your honour O'Sullivan's cascade," was the reply. +"Here, Doolan, show the gentleman the way." Ascending a rugged path +through the wood, we soon reached the foot of the fall. + +"Isn't that as fine a sight as you'd meet with in a month of Sundays," +said Doolan. "Only see how the white water comes _biling_ like a pot of +_praties_ over the big, black rocks, down it comes, one tumble over the +other, the green trees all the while stretching out their arms as if +they wanted to stop it. And then it makes such a _dickins_ of a _nise_ +as it pounces into that black pool at the bottom, that it's enough to +bother the brains of a man entirely. Why, then, isn't it a wonder how +all that water sprung up out of the mountain? for sure, isn't there a +bit of a lake above there, in the hollow of the hill that the waterfall +comes out of,--they calls it O'Sullivan's Punch Bowl?" + +"And, pray, who was this O'Sullivan that had such a capacious Punch +Bowl?" + +"Och, then, 'tis he's the fine, portly looking _jantleman_, and has a +_vice_ (voice) as big as twenty; 'twould do your heart good to hear the +cry of him on a stag hunt day, making the mountain ring again." + +"Well, Doolan, you haven't told me all this time who O'Sullivan is." + +"Why, then, that's the _quare_ question for your honour to be after +_axing_ me. Sure all the country knows O'Sullivan of Toomies, for didn't +him, and his father before him, live at the butt end of the mountain, +near the neck of the Lawn; and wasn't they great chieftains in the +_ould_ times; and hadn't they a great sketch of country to themselves: +they haven't so much now, for their hearts were too big for their +_manes_ (means;) and that's the _rason_ O'Sullivan was obligated to sell +this part of the mountain to Mr. Herbert of Mucruss?" + +"A sad story this, Doolan; but it seems to me these O'Sullivans must +have been very fond of a bowl of punch, or why is the lake you mentioned +called O'Sullivan's Punch Bowl?" + +"Oh, then, your honour's as sharp as a needle entirely; but about that +same lake it's a _quare_ story sure enough. A long time before there was +a waterfall here at all, one of the _rale ould_ O'Sullivans was out all +day hunting the red deer among the mountains. Well, sir, just as he was +getting quite weary, and was wishing for a drop of the _cratur_ to put +him in spirits--" + +"Or spirits into him," said I. + +"Oh, sure, 'tis all the same thing," returned Doolan with a grin, +intended for a smile. "'Tis all one surely, if a man can only have the +drop when he wants it. Well, what should O'Sullivan see but the most +beautiful stag that ever was seen before or since in this world; for he +was as big as a colt, and had horns upon him like a weaver's beam, and a +collar of real gold round his neck. Away went the stag, and away went +the dogs after him full cry, and O'Sullivan after the dogs, for he was +determined to have that beautiful fine stag; and though, as I said, he +was tired and weary enough, you'd think the sight of that stag put fresh +life into him. A pretty bit of a dance he led him, for he was an +enchanted stag. Away he went entirely off by Macgillicuddy's Reeks, +round by the mountains of the Upper Lake, crossed the river by the +Eagle's Nest, and never stopped nor staid till he came to where the +Punch Bowl is now. When O'Sullivan came to the same place he was fairly +ready to drop, and for certain that was no wonder; but what vexed him +more than all was to find his dogs at fault, and the never a bit of a +stag to be seen high nor low. Well, my dear _sowl_, he didn't know what +to make of it, and seeing there was no use in staying there, and it so +late, he whistled his dogs to him, and was just going to go home. The +moon was just setting over to the top of the mountain shedding her +light, broad and bright, over the edge of the wood and down on the lake, +which was like a sheet of silver, except where the islands threw their +black shadows over the water. O'Sullivan looked about him, and began to +grow quite dismal in himself, for sure it was a lonesome sight, and +besides he had a sort of dread upon him, though he couldn't tell the +reason why. So not liking to stay there, as I said before, he was just +going to make the best of his way home, when, who should he see, but +Fuan Mac Cool (Fingal.) standing like a big _joint_ (giant) on the top +of a rock. 'Hallo, O'Sullivan,' says he, 'where are you going so fast?' +says he, 'come back with me,' says he, 'I want to have some talk with +you.' You may be sure it was O'Sullivan was amazed and a little bit +frightened too, though he wouldn't _pertind_ to it; and it would be no +wonder if he was; for if O'Sullivan had a big _vice_, (voice) Fuan Mac +Cool had a bigger ten times, and it made the mountains shake again like +thunder, and all the eagles fly up to the moon. 'What do you want with +me?' says O'Sullivan, at the same time putting on as _bould_ a face as +he could. 'I want to know what business you had hunting my stag?' says +Fuan, 'by the vestment,' says he, 'if 'twas any one else but yourself, +O'Sullivan, I'd play the red vengeance with him. But, as you're one of +the right sort, I'll pass it over this time; and, as my stag has led you +a pretty dance over the mountains, I'll give you a drop of good drink, +O'Sullivan; only take my advice, and never hunt my stag again.' Then +Fuan Mac Cool stamped with his foot, and all of a sudden, just in the +hollow which his foot made in the mountain, there came up a little lake, +which tumbled down the rocks, and made the waterfall. When O'Sullivan +went to take a drink of it, what should it be but _rale_ whiskey punch, +and it staid the same way, running with whiskey punch, morning, noon, +and night, until the _Sasenaghs_[4] came into the country, when all at +once it was turned to water, though it goes still by the name of +O'Sullivan's Punch Bowl.'" + + [4] Saxons--The English. + + * * * * * + +In the island, the guide importunes Mr. Croker to visit the shelf of a +rock overshadowed by yew, and called the Bed of Honour, "because 'twas +there a lord-lieutenant of Ireland would go to sleep to cool himself +after drinking plenty of whiskey punch." He is cautioned against +venturing too near the ledge of a rock, "the very spot the poor author +gentleman fell from; they called him Hell--Hell--no, 'twasn't Hell, +either, but Hal; oh, then, what a head I have upon me--oh, I have it +now--Hallam's the name, your honour." + +"What the author of the Middle Ages?" + +"True for you, sir, he was a middle aged man;" "and then there was +another great writing gentleman, one Sir Walter Scott," &c. + +Mr. Croker chances to be confined to his hotel by the rainy weather, and +this circumstance introduces the following legend, narrated by one of +his old friends:-- + +"Well, well," said Lynch, smiling, "I'll give you the legend of Saint +Swithin exactly as it was told to me about a month since--I have +occasionally employed an industrious, poor man, named Tom Doody, to work +in my garden. 'Well, Tom,' said I to him, 'this is Swithin's day, and +not a drop of rain--you see the old saying of "forty days' rain" goes +for nothing.'--'O, but the day isn't over yet,' said Tom, 'so you'd +better not halloo, sir, till you're out of the wood. I'll go bail we'll +have rain some time of the day, and then you may be sure of it for the +forty days.'--'If that's the way, Tom,' said I, 'this same Swithin must +have been the thirstiest saint in the calendar; and it's quite certain +he must be a real Irish saint, since he's so fond of the drop.'--'You +may laugh if you please,' said Tom, resting on his spade, 'you may laugh +if you please, but it's a bad thing any how to _spake_ that way of the +saints; and, sure, Saint Swithin was a blessed priest, and the rain was +a miracle sent on his account; but may be you never heard how it came to +pass.'--'No, Tom, I did not,' said I--'Well, then, I'll tell you,' said +he, 'how it was. Saint Swithin was a priest, and a very holy man, so +holy that he went by no other name but that of the blessed priest. He +wasn't like the priests now-a-days, who ride about on fine horses, with +spectacles stuck upon their noses, and horsewhips in their hands, and +polished boots on their legs, that fit them as _nate_ as a Limerick +glove (God forgive me for _spaking_ ill of the _clargy_, but some of +them have no more conscience than a pig in a _pratie_ garden;') I give +you Doody's own words," said Mr. Lynch. + +"That's exactly what I wish." + +"And he continued--'Saint Swithin was not that kind of priest, no such +thing; for he did nothing but pray from morning to night, so that he +brought a blessing on the whole country round; and could cure all sorts +of diseases, and was so charitable that he'd give away the shirt off his +back. Then, whenever he went out, it was quite plain and sober, on a +rough little _mountainy garran_; and he thought himself grand entirely +if his big _ould_ fashioned boots got a rub of the _grase_. It was no +wonder he should be called the blessed priest, and that the people far +and near should flock to him to mass and confession; or that they +thought it a blessed thing to have him lay his hands on their heads. +It's a pity the likes of him should ever die, but there's no help for +death; and sure if he wasn't so good entirely he'd have been left, and +not be taken away as he was; for 'tis them that are most wanting the +first to go. The news of his death flew about like lightning; and there +was nothing but _ullagoning_ through all the country, and they had no +less than right, for they lost a good friend the day he died. However, +from _ullagoning_, they soon came to fighting about where he was to be +buried. His own parish wouldn't part with him if they got half Ireland, +and sure they had the best right to him; but the next parish wanted to +get him by the _lauve laider_ (strong hand,) for they thought it would +bring a blessing on them to have his bones among them; so his own +parishioners at last took and buried him by night, without the others +knowing any thing about it. When the others heard it they were tearing +mad, and raised a large faction, thinking to take him up and carry him +away in spite of his parishioners; so they had a great battle upon it; +but those who had the best right to him were beat out and out, and the +others were just going to take him up, when there came all at once such +rain as was never seen before or since; it was so heavy that they were +obliged to run away half _drownded_, and give it up as a bad job. They +thought, however, that it wouldn't last long, and that they could come +again; but they were out in that, for it never stopped raining in that +manner for forty days, so they were obliged to give it up entirely; and +ever since that time there's always more or less rain on Saint Swithin's +day, and for forty days after.' + +"Just as Tom Doody had finished his story there came a tremendous +shower. 'There now, why,' said Tom, with a look of triumph, as we ran +for shelter, 'there now, why, isn't it a true bill? well, I knew Saint +Swithin wouldn't fail us.' And I, as the very elements seemed to be in +his favour, was obliged to leave him the victory." + + * * * * * + +We pass over Mr. Croker's account of Mucruss Abbey and all its legendary +lore, to "Tim Marcks's adventures with a walking skull," at Aghadoe. + +"A fine extensive prospect this," said I to General Picket, so was my +guide called. + +"That's the good truth for your honour," he replied, "only it's a mighty +lonesome place, and they say it's haunted by spirits, though Tim Marcks +says there's no such thing. May be your honour wouldn't know _Thicus +Morckus_; he's a long _stocah_ of a fellow, with a big nose, wears knee +breeches, corderoy leggings, and takes a power of snuff. And, if your +honour would like to see him, he lives at Corrigmalvin, at the top of +High Street, in the town of Killarney. To be sure, some people say, all +that comes from Tim isn't gospel, but that's neither here nor there; so, +as I was saying, 'I don't believe in spirits,' says he to me, of a day +he was mending the road here, and I along with him--'The dickins you +don't,' says I, 'and what's your _rason_ for that same?'--'I'll tell you +that,' says he; 'it was a _could_ frosty night in the month of December, +the doors were shut, and we were all sitting by the side of a blazing +turf fire. My father was smoking his _doodeen_ in the chimney corner, my +mother was overseeing the girls that were tonging the flax, and I and +the other _gossoons_ were doing nothing at all, only roasting _praties_ +in the ashes. "Was the colt brought in?" says my father. "Wisha, fakes +then! I believes not," says I. "Why, then, Tim," says he, "you must run +and drive him in directly, for it's a mortal could night." "And where is +he, father?" says I. "In the far field, at the other side of the _ould_ +church," says he. "Murder!" says I, for I didn't like the thoughts of +going near the _ould_ church at all, at all. But there was no use in +saying _agen_ it, for my father (God be merciful to him!) had us under +as much command as a regiment of soldiers. So away I went, with a light +foot and a heavy heart. Well, I soon came to the bounds' ditch between +the farm and the _berrin_ ground of the _ould_ church. Then I slackened +my pace a little, and kept looking hither and over, for fear of being +taken by surprise. The moon was shining clear as day, so that I could +see the gray tombstones and the white skulls; when, all at once, I +thought one of them began to move. I could hardly believe my two eyes; +but, fakes, it was true enough; for presently it came walking down the +hill, quite leisurely at first, then a little faster, till at last it +came rolling at the rate of a fox hunt. "Twill be stopped at the bounds' +ditch," thinks I; but I was never more out in my reckoning, for it +bowled fair through the gap, and made directly up to me. "By the mortal +frost," says I, "I'm done for;" and away I scampered as fast as my legs +could carry me; but the skull came faster after me, for I could hear +every lump it gave against the stones. It's a long stretch of a hill +from the _berrin_ ground down to the road; but you'd think I wasn't +longer getting down than whilst you'd be saying "Jack Robinson." Sure +enough I did make great haste; but if I did, "the more haste the worse +speed," they say, and so by me any how, for I went souse up to my neck +in a dirty _Lochaune_ by the side of the road. Well, when I recovered a +little, what would I see but the skull at the edge of the _Lochaune_, +stuck fast in a furze bush, and grinning down at me. "Oh, you're there," +says I; "I'll have one rap at you any how, for worse than die I can't;" +so I up with a lump of a blackthorn, I had in my fist, and gives it a +rap, when what should it be after all, but a huge rat, which had got +into the skull, and, trying to get out again, it made it to roll down +the hill in that frightful way. To be sure,' said Tim, 'to be sure it +was mighty frightful, but it wasn't a ghost after all; and, indeed, +(barring that) I never saw any thing worse than myself, though we lived +for a long time near the _ould_ church of Aghadoe.'" + +This is all we can spare room for at present. The second volume is +untouched, and will afford us a few extractable pieces--but they must be +short. We have heard of all stages of laughter--as being +convulsed--ready to burst--splitting sides--and if our readers promise +not to _die_, in due order, with laughter--we may probably recur to Mr. +Croker's very tickling volumes. + + * * * * * + + +SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY. + +_Analogous Growth of Trees and Animals._ + + +Trees placed in an exposed situation have their resources;--the object +being to protect the sap-vessels, which transmit nutriment, and which +lie betwixt the wood and the bark, the tree never fails to throw out, +and especially on the side most exposed to the blast, a thick coating of +bark, designed to protect, and which effectually does protect, the +sap-vessels and the process of circulation to which they are adapted, +from the injury which necessarily must otherwise ensue. Now, if an +animal is in danger of suffocation from want of vital air, instead of +starving by being exposed to its unqualified rigour, instinct or reason +directs the sufferer to approach those apertures through which any +supply of that necessary of human life can be attained, and induces man, +at the same time, to free himself from any coverings which may be +rendered oppressive by the state in which he finds himself. Now it may +be easily proved, that a similar instinct to that which induced the +unfortunate sufferers in the black-hole of Calcutta to struggle with the +last efforts to approach the solitary aperture which admitted air to +their dungeon, and to throw from them their garments, in order to +encourage the exertions which nature made to relieve herself by +perspiration, is proper, also, to the noblest of the vegetable tribe. +Look at a wood or plantation which has not been duly thinned:--the trees +which exist will be seen drawn up to poles, with narrow and scanty tops, +endeavouring to make their way towards such openings to the sky as might +permit the access of light and air. If entirely precluded by the boughs +which have closed over them, the weaker plants will be found strangely +distorted by attempts to get out at a side of the plantation; and +finally, if overpowered in these attempts by the obstacles opposed to +them, they inevitably perish. As men throw aside their garments, +influenced by a close situation, trees placed in similar circumstances, +exhibit a bark thin and beautifully green and succulent, entirely +divested of that thick, coarse, protecting substance which covers the +sap-vessels in an exposed position. + +There is a singular and beautiful process of action and re-action which +takes place betwixt the progress of the roots and of the branches. The +latter must, by their vigour and numbers, stretch out under ground +before the branches can develope themselves in the air; and, on the +other hand, it is necessary that the branches so develope themselves, to +give employment to the roots in collecting food. There is a system of +close commerce between them; if either fail in discharging their part, +the other must suffer in proportion. The increase of the branches, +therefore, in exposed trees is and must be in proportion with that of +the roots, and _vice versâ_; and as the exposed tree spreads its +branches on every side to balance itself against the wind, as it +shortens its stem or trunk, to afford the mechanical force of the +tempest a shorter lever to act upon, so numerous and strong roots spread +themselves under ground, by way of anchorage, to an extent and in a +manner unknown to sheltered trees.--_Quarterly Review_. + + * * * * * + + +_Preservation of Eggs._ + + +Relative to the preservation of eggs by immersion in lime-water, M. +Peschier has given most satisfactory evidence of the efficacy of the +process. Eggs which he had preserved for six years in this way, being +boiled and tried, were found perfectly fresh and good; and a +confectioner of Geneva has used a whole cask of eggs preserved by the +same means. In the small way eggs may be thus preserved in bottles or +other vessels. They are to be introduced when quite fresh, the bottle +then filled with lime-water, a little powdered lime sprinkled in at +last, and then the bottle closed. To prepare the lime-water, twenty or +thirty pints of water are to be mixed up with five or six pounds of +slaked quick-lime put into a covered vessel allowed to clear by +standing, and the lime-water immediately used. + + * * * * * + + + +SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. + + +ARRIVALS AT A WATERING PLACE. + + +SCENE--A conversazione at Lady Crumpton's--Whist and weariness, +caricatures and Chinese Puzzle.--Young ladies making tea, and young +gentlemen making the agreeable.--The stableboy handing rout-cakes.-- +Music expressive of there being nothing to do. + + I play a spade--such strange new faces + Are flocking in from near and far: + Such frights--Miss Dobbs holds all the aces.-- + One can't imagine who they are! + The lodgings at enormous prices, + New donkeys, and another fly-- + And Madame Bonbon out of ices, + Although we're scarcely in July-- + We're quite as sociable as any, + But our old horse can hardly crawl-- + And really where there are so many, + We can't tell where we ought to call. + + Pray who has seen the odd old fellow + Who took the Doctor's house last week?-- + A pretty chariot,--livery yellow, + Almost as yellow as his cheek-- + A widower, sixty-five, and surly, + And stiffer than a poplar-tree-- + Drinks rum and water, gets up early + To dip his carcass in the sea-- + He's always in a monstrous hurry, + And always talking of Bengal; + They say his cook makes noble curry-- + I think, Louisa, we should call. + + And so Miss Jones, the mantua-maker, + Has let her cottage on the hill?-- + The drollest man, a sugar-baker, + Last year imported from the till-- + Prates of his _orses_ and his _oney_, + Is quite in love with fields and farms-- + A horrid Vandal,--but his money + Will buy a glorious coat of arms; + Old Clyster makes him take the waters; + Some say he means to give a ball-- + And after all, with thirteen daughters, + I think, Sir Thomas, you might call. + + That poor young man!--I'm sure and certain + Despair is making up his shroud: + He walks all night beneath the curtain + Of the dim sky and murky cloud-- + Draws landscapes,--throws such mournful glances!-- + Writes verses,--has such splendid eyes-- + An ugly name,--but Laura fancies + He's some great person in disguise! + And since his dress is all the fashion, + And since he's very dark and tall, + I think that, out of pure compassion, + I'll get papa to go and call. + + So Lord St. Ives is occupying + The whole of Mr. Ford's Hotel-- + Last Saturday his man was trying + A little nag I want to sell. + He brought a lady in the carriage-- + Blue eyes,--eighteen, or thereabouts-- + Of course, you know, we _hope_ it's marriage! + But yet the _femme de chambre_ doubts. + She look'd so pensive when we met her-- + Poor thing! and such a charming shawl! + Well! till we understand it better, + It's quite impossible to call. + + Old Mr. Fund, the London banker, + Arrived to-day at Premium Court-- + I would not, for the world, cast anchor + In such a horrid dangerous port-- + Such dust and rubbish, lath and plaster, + (Contractors play the meanest tricks) + The roof's as crazy as its master, + And he was born in fifty-six-- + Stairs creaking--cracks in every landing, + The colonnade is sure to fall-- + We sha'n't find post or pillar standing, + Unless we make great haste to call. + + Who was that sweetest of sweet creatures, + Last Sunday, in the Rector's seat? + The finest shape,--the loveliest features, + I never saw such tiny feet. + My brother,--(this is quite between us) + Poor Arthur,--'twas a sad affair! + Love at first sight,--She's quite a Venus, + But then she's poorer far than fair-- + And so my father and my mother + Agreed it would not do at all-- + And so,--I'm sorry for my brother! + It's settled that we're not to call. + + And there's an author, full of knowledge-- + And there's a captain on half-pay-- + And there's a baronet from college, + Who keeps a boy, and rides a bay-- + And sweet Sir Marcus from the Shannon, + Fine specimen of brogue and bone-- + And Doctor Calipee, the canon, + Who weighs, I fancy, twenty stone-- + A maiden lady is adorning + The faded front of Lily Hall-- + Upon my word, the first fine morning, + We'll make around, my dear, and call. + + Alas! disturb not, maid and matron, + The swallow in my humble thatch-- + Your son may find a better patron, + Your niece may meet a richer match-- + I can't afford to give a dinner, + I never was on Almack's list-- + And since I seldom rise a winner, + I never like to play at whist-- + Unknown to me the stocks are falling-- + Unwatch'd by me the glass may fall-- + Let all the world pursue its calling, + I'm not at home if people call. + +_London Magazine._ + + * * * * * + + +WINE DRINKING. + + + Use a little wine, for thy stomach's sake. + + I Tim. v. 23. + +So says St. Paul--and this seems to have been the opinion of the most +ancient philosophers and physicians. A moderate use of it has been +sanctioned by the wise and good in all ages. Those who have denied its +virtues are those who have not been able to drink it. Asclepiades wrote +upon wine, the use of which he introduced with almost every remedy, +observing, that the gods had bestowed no more valuable gift on man: even +the surly Diogenes drank it; for it is said of him, that he liked that +wine best, which he drank at other people's cost--a notion adopted by +the oinopholous Mosely, who, when asked, "What wine do you drink, +doctor?" answered, "Port at home--claret abroad!" + +Hippocrates, the father of physic, recommends a cheerful glass; and +Rhases, an ancient Arabian physician, says, no liquor is equal to good +wine. Reineck wrote a dissertation "De Potu Vinoso;" and the learned Dr. +Shaw lauded the "juice of the grape." But the stoutest of its medical +advocates was Tobias Whitaker, physician to Charles II., who undertook +to prove the possibility of maintaining life, from infancy to old age, +without sickness, by the use of wine! + +It must, however, be remembered, that Whitaker was cordially attached to +wine, and a greater friend to the vintner than to the apothecary, having +as utter a dislike to unpalatable medicines, as the most squeamish of +his patients; therefore, Dr. Toby's evidence must be taken with caution, +independently of the courtly spirit that might have led him to adapt his +theories to the times. + +It has been questioned whether the use of wine was known to the +antediluvian world; but there can be do doubt, in the corrupt state of +man, that wine would have its share in his debasement, and it may be +very strongly inferred, from the circumstance that Noah planted a +vineyard, and, moreover, "that he drank of the wine, and was drunken," +(Gen, ix. 20.)--a sad stain in the character of a man who was "perfect +in his generation;" and which also proves that, in the earliest period +of the world, the very best of men were liable to fall into error and +excess. + +But the antiquity and propriety of wine-drinking is not matter of +question. The archbishop of Seville, Antonio de Solis, who lived to be +110 years old, drank wine; and even that wonderful pattern of propriety, +Cornaro, did the same: but the question is about quantity. Sir William +Temple was pleased to lay down a rule, and limit propriety to three +glasses. "I drink one glass," says he, "for health, a second for +refreshment, a third for a friend; but he that offers a fourth is an +enemy." + +As in eating, so in drinking, in the question of quantity--much depends +on the capacity of the stomach. A very abstemious friend of mine, not +long since, dined tete-a-tete with a gentleman well known for his +kindness and hospitality, and not less so for his powers of bibulation. +After dinner, at which a fair share of many excellent wines was taken, +Port and Madeira were put on the table, and before the host, a _magnum_ +of Claret. My friend drank his usual quantum, three glasses of Madeira, +during which time a great portion of the magnum had disappeared; and +soon afterwards, being emptied, the host said, "I think we can just +manage a bottle between us." The bottle was brought, and very shortly +disappeared, without the aid of the visiter. + +The same gentleman and Lord ----, at the Angel at Bury, fell in with +some excellent Claret. They had disposed of six bottles, when the +landlord, who did not guess or _gauge_ the _quality_ of his customers +(the bell being rung for a fresh supply,) begged very gently to hint +that it was expensive stuff, being fifteen shillings a bottle! "Oh! is +it so? then bring up two bottles directly!" + +We have nothing, however, in modern times, at all equal to the account +given of some of the ancients. The elder Cato, we are told, warmed good +principles with a considerable quantity of good wine.[5] But Cicero's +son exceeds all others; so much so, that he got the name of _Bicongius_, +because he was accustomed to drink two congii[6] at a sitting. Pliny, +and others, abound in grand examples, that prove we have degenerated at +any rate in this respect, for these convivials were neither sick nor +sorry. Even that eminent debauchee, Nero, was only three times sick in +fourteen years. "Nam qui luxuriae immoderatissimae esset, ter omnino per +xiv. annos languit; atque ita, ut neque _vino_, neque consuetudine +_reliqua_ abstineret." + +The Abbé de Voisenon, a very diminutive man, said to his physician, who +ordered him a quart of ptisan per hour, "Ah! my friend, how can you +desire me to swallow a quart an hour? I hold only a pint." + +Wine has not only been considered good for the body, but has, from the +earliest period, been thought invigorating to the mind. Thus we find it +a constant theme of praise with poets. Martial says-- + + Regnat nocte calix, volvuntur biblia mane, + Cum Phoebo Bacchus dividit imperium. + + All night I drink, and study hard all day; + Bacchus and Phoebus hold divided sway. + +Horace has done ample justice to it; and even Homer says-- + + The weary find new strength in generous wine. + +Upon the principle, no doubt, of expanding the imagination, we find, so +early as 1374, old Geoffrey Chaucer had a pitcher of wine a day allowed +him. Ben Jonson, in after times, had the third of a pipe annually; and a +certain share of this invigorating aliment has been the portion of +Laureates down to the present day. + +Nor are the poets the only eulogists of wine. Some of the greatest names +in history are to be found in the list. We find Mr. Burke furnishing +reasons why the rich and the great should have their share of wine. He +says, they are among _the unhappy_--they feel personal pain and domestic +sorrow--they pay their full contingent to the contributions levied on +mortality in these matters;--therefore they require this sovereign balm. +"Some charitable dole," says he, "is wanting to those, our often _very +unhappy brethren_, to fill the gloomy void that reigns in minds which +have nothing on earth to hope or fear; something to relieve the killing +languor and over-laboured lassitude of those who have nothing to do." + +This observation of Mr. Burke's introduces it to our notice as a +remedy--as a medicine, in the hands of a physician. Thus we find +particular wines recommended by particular doctors, having a fashionable +run as specifics:--at one time all the gouty people were drinking +Madeira; and many a man persuaded himself he had a fit of _flying_ gout, +for the sake of the remedy.[7] Somebody, however, found out that Madeira +contained acid, and straight the cellars were rummaged for old Sherry. +This change was attributed to Dr. Baillie, who had no more to do with it +than Boerhaave, as he has been known to declare. Sherry, and nothing but +Sherry, however, could or would the _Podagres_ drink. + +Dr. Reynolds, who lived and practised very much with the higher orders, +had a predilection for that noble and expensive comforter, Hoc! which +short word, from his lips, has often made the doctor's physic as costly +as the doctor's fee. + +Wine has also been recommended, by the highest medical authorities, as +alleviating the infirmities of old age. + +A Greek physician recommended it to Alexander as the pure blood of the +earth. + +Though an excess in wine is highly blamable, yet it is more pardonable +than most other excesses. The progressive steps to it are cheerful, +animating, and seducing; the melancholy are relieved, the grave +enlivened, the witty and gay inspired--which is the very reverse of +excess in eating: for, Nature satisfied, every additional morsel carries +dulness and stupidity with it. "Every inordinate cup is unbless'd, and +the ingredient is a devil," says Shakspeare. + +"King Edgar, like a king of good fellows," adds Selden, "or master of +the revels, made a law for Drinking. He gave orders that studs, or knobs +of silver or gold (so Malmesbury tells us.) should be fastened to the +sides of their cups, or drinking vessels, that when every one knew his +mark or boundary, he should, out of modesty, not either himself covet, +or force another to desire, more than his stint." This is the only law, +before the first parliament under king James, that has been made against +those swill-bowls, + + Swabbers of drunken feasts, and lusty rowers, + In full-brimmed rummers that do ply their oars, + +"who, by their carouses (tippling up Nestor's years as if they were +celebrating the goddess _Anna Perenna_,) do, at the same time, drink +others' health, and mischief and spoil their own and the public." + +An argument very much after this fashion was held by the learned Sir +Thomas More. Sir Thomas was sent ambassador to the Emperor by king Henry +the Eighth. The morning he was to have his audience, _knowing the virtue +of wine_, he ordered his servant to bring him a good large glass of +Sack; and, having drunk that, called for another. The servant, with +officious ignorance, would have dissuaded him from it, but in vain; the +ambassador drank off a second, and demanded a third, which he likewise +drank off; insisting on a fourth, he was over-persuaded by his servant +to let it alone; so he went to his audience. But when he returned home, +he called for his servant, and threatened him with his cane. "You +rogue," said he, "what mischief have you done me! I spoke so to the +emperor, on the inspiration of those three glasses that I drank, that he +told me I was fit to govern three parts of the world. Now, you dog! if I +had drunk the fourth glass, I had been fit to govern all the world." + +The French, a very sober people, have a proverb-- + + Qu'il faut, à chaque mois, + S'enivrer au moins une fois. + +Which has been improved by some, on this side the water, into an excuse +for getting drunk every day in the week, for fear that the _specific +day_ should be missed. It would, however, startle some of our sober +readers, to find this made a question of grave argument--yet, "whether +it is not healthful to be drunk once a month," is treated on by Dr. Carr +in his letters to Dr. Quincy.--_Brande's Jour._ + + [5] Cato allowed his slaves, during the Saturnalia, four bottles + of wine per diem. + + [6] Two congii are seven quarts, or eight bottles! + + [7] An eminent house-painter in the city, a governor of St. + Bartholomew's Hospital, got a receipt for the Painter's Cholic + (cholica pictonum,) which contained all sorts of comfortable + things--the chief ingredients being Cogniac brandy and spices. + It did wonders with the first two or three cases; but he found + the success of the remedy so increased the frequency of the + complaint, that he was compelled to give up his medical + treatment; for as long as he had the _Specific_, his men were + constantly making wry faces at him. + + * * * * * + +It is somewhat curious that two illustrious members of the Royal Society +should have distinguished themselves on _Angling_. Nearly 200 years ago, +Prince Rupert studied the art of tempering _fish-hooks_; and the other +day Sir Humphry Davy published a volume on _Fly-fishing_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE GATHERER. + + + A snapper up of unconsidered trifles + + SHAKSPEARE. + + * * * * * + + +PUNS. + + +It was a good defence of baskets of game and periodical remittances of +Norfolk turkeys, that "_Presents_ endear _absents_." + + * * * * * + +Some one observed, on hearing of the _Manchew_ Tartars, that they must +be a race of Cannibals; on which another said, that he concluded the +Chinese must be a tribe of the Celtes, (_Sell-Teas_.) + + * * * * * + +Bannister being impudently asked, "If he was not a relation of Lord +STAIR?" good-humouredly answered, "It must then be by collateral +descent." + + * * * * * + +A gentleman having received a shot in _the Temple_, Mr. Theodore Hook +remarked that it was a _legal wound_; an inveterate punster who +overheard this never forgave himself for not replying on the spot, "As +it was not fatal, it could only have been a _Gray's Inn_ (grazing) +wound." + + * * * * * + + +TOASTS. + + +After the battle of Assaye, at a _fête_, I recollect, on one of these +occasions, a rather illiterate character, who used to say that "Father +and he fit, caise he sold the beastesses for too little money; so he +coummed out a cadet," sat as vice-president; the toast of "General +Wellesley, and the heroes of Assaye," was, as usual, given from the +chair; when Mr. Vice, rising majestically, and holding aloft his +brimming glass, with a sonorous voice, and north-country accent, echoed +the toast in the words, "General Wellesley, and here he is I +say!"--_Twelve Years' Military Adventures, &c_. + + * * * * * + + +THE MUG-HOUSE CLUB. + +(_From "A Journey through England," 1722_.) + + +In the City of London, almost every parish hath its separate club, where +the citizens, after the fatigue of the day is over in their shops, and +on the Exchange, unbend their thoughts before they go to bed. + +But the most diverting, or amusing of all, is the Mug-House-Club in +Long-Acre, where, every Wednesday and Saturday, a mixture of gentlemen, +lawyers, and tradesmen, meet in a great room, and are seldom under a +hundred. + +They have a grave old gentleman in his own gray hairs, now within a few +months of ninety years old, who is their president; and sits in an +armed-chair, some steps higher than the rest of the company, to keep the +whole room in order. A harp plays all the time at the lower end of the +room; and every now and then one or other of the company rises and +entertains the rest with a song, and (by the by) some are good masters. +Here is nothing drank but ale, and every gentleman hath his separate +mug, which he chalks on the table where he sits as it is brought in; and +every one retires when he pleases, as from a coffee-house. + +The room is always so diverted with songs, and drinking from one table +to another to one another's healths, that there is no room for politics, +or any thing that can sour conversation. + +One must be there by seven to get room, and after ten the company are +for the most part gone. + +This is a winter's amusement, that is agreeable enough to a stranger for +once or twice, and he is well diverted with the different humours, when +the Mugs overflow. + + * * * * * + + +JOY AND SORROW. + + + The light of heaven unheeded shines, + If cloudless be our skies; + But when it beams on life's dark clouds, + What _rainbow_ beauties rise! + +_Lit. 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